RE: math facts I recommend something like "Times Tales". It uses a simple story to help kids memorize math facts. There may be other things like it. It's great for kids who don't pick up math facts through repitition. I'll leave the reading issues to the more experienced hs families out there. I also pulled my kids from ps. We started hs at 2nd and 4th grades, and just finished our second year of hs. What I learned was that the first year is a HUGE adjustment, both for me and the kids. Suddenly I had no free time and had to be the expert, the teacher, the superwoman, and the kids could no longer view home time as the goof off place (compared to behaving seriously at school). For your first year, aim to be as simple as possible. Seriously. The first year is the transition year, the learning curve year. So make it easier on you and him by choosing as simple a program as possible. Your focuses are clearly math and LA, so let history and science just be fun. Go with with simple for science. You've been given some good curriculum ideas. You can even print off science stds for his grade level if you like, use that as a guide for topics and just do science 2 or 3 times a month. Make it hands-on and with as little book work as possible, if any. Just have a little worksheet that sums up what he learned in your lesson. The point of science in elementary is to show the kids that science is fun, not to have them memorize the periodic table and the laws of science. Do the fun, amazing experiments that'll catch his attention. For history, SOTW1 is a great place to start. But don't go in feeling like you have to do all the activities, or even do one activity every time. Often, I just read through the lesson aloud, or let the kids take turns reading, they do a coloring sheet, and we may or may not do a timeline character. We always do the maps. And that's it. I only do the activities that look really interesting and that are easliy accomplished. I don't expect my kids to remember everything. They'll get that when they're older. And aim to finish school each day before lunch time. Free yourself up to low key afternoons or put all your fun activities in the afternoon. Make your hs experience fun and low stress for the poor kid. Help him find that learning is fun and not torture. When you can get him to see that, half your battle is won. Hope that helps! -Melissa

So to update this, my kids and I tried the 2day sample from familyfitness. The kids loved it. They enjoyed the routine of it and the simple games they suggest. I like that it brings discipline to PE, it encourages daily exercise with variety, yet discipline, and we don't have enough regular sporty things scheduled in as I'd like. Plus, this Mommy needs regular exercise... I might just go for it! Melissa

Let's hear it for moms who love to research curriculum and plan for the next year! We just finished up, and faced down our first year with a lamb at the fair (crazy and fun!), and I am ready to plan out next year. Crazy. But it feels good to have a project to set my mind to without the pressure of schooling gnawing at me. Anybody else happy to be here too? Melissa

I had similar trouble with my ds9. He resisted piano practice. He has that natural talent for rhythm and picking up music by ear. We were given advice by a mom of grown children that we are following. 1. Why are you pushing? You don't have to answer but its important as a parent to know your reasoning. Is it for your glory? Because ds loves performing? Your goals or his? 2. If you keep pushing and he's resisting, in the end your son will hate music. Consider instead giving him a break. Let him switch instruments for 6mos or a year. Maybe let him do something completely unrelated to music. Perhaps he wants to spread his wings. At some point music has to become his choice. If he chooses it, he will go back to it and will manage his own practicing. Of its not that important to him, then Mom you just have to let it go. Your son is young yet and he has a strong music foundation. So that if he stops now for a while, he has that base of knowledge and experience to come back to when he's ready. And wouldn't you rather it was his own passion for music that drove him rather than yours?

Here's my quick answer 1. The licking may be a dietary need, like for salt. I'd ask the vet about that one. 2. The barking is a dog thing and may never get better. Try a puppy obedience class. That might help. 3. The viewing is definitely a puppy thing. Its like babies putting things in their mouths. Partly to discover, partly to sooth the teething. As long as you don't let bad habits develop and keep focusing the pup on acceptable chew toys then she will grow out of it once her adult teeth are in. Overall I'd say a visit to your vet is in order, for a check up. Then ask all these questions there for a professional opinion. Melissa

Funny you should bring this up. Just this weekend my dh mentioned it. He heard an interview with the author I believe on the Dave Ramsey radio show last week and was wanting to read it himself. You get a good feeling for the a book, its author and the purpose of it when you listen to interviews. You might be able to listen yourself by googling interviews with the author. I say go for it!

I'm answering my own question. No, the TOC is not complete at CBD. I finally looked deeper at the image, and it only shows up to week 18 out of 36 weeks. The CBD product description tells you how many weeks and the numer of pages. FYI...:tongue_smilie:

Is the TOC from CBD complete? I can't tell. It looks like the TOC might be more than one page? "Mentor Materials for Part II, page 189" But it sounds like doing CW once a week all year is enough? Where can I find SWB's comments on the TCW and WWS? Thanks!

I don't have my copy in hand yet. Can anybody tell me how many lessons total are in the WWS? Or how many days a week we should be using WWS? I'm planning ahead already for the new year :tongue_smilie: Thanks!

Have you looked at this blog yet? It looks very helpful... http://satorismiles.com/curriculum/story-of-the-world-1/

I'm going to be using WWS with my 6th grader in the fall. I can't wait to get my hands on our copy! -Melissa

We used MOH2 and I did buy a folderbook but discovered folderbooks aren't for us at this stage. My opinion is use what you know already, if you have a system in place. Choose simple first, then if you find you're bored with it, try something new. If you are a folderbook family try them out, if not, put your efforts in to the activities. It just depends on how much you want to put into the lessons, and how your family works. I found that just focusing on their suggested activities, or adding more of my own was enough to make the year great. But if you want your kids to, say, get into the geography seriously, one of their map/geography products might be a great investment. Just take your time and really think about what you will really use. Melissa

My dd4 is in the pre-reading phase and I want to move forward with it. She has a whole year before K, so I've got time to take my time ;) Aside from a great program, what are the steps/stages I need to go through in teaching reading in order of importance? And then what books to use, in order to correspond to these steps? For example, here is my guess: 1. read aloud to her 2. letter recognition (capital and lower case) 3. letter sounds 4. .... 5. .... Books: 1. Dr. Seuss 2. Bob Books 3. Step 1 readers? Thanks bunches!:D Melissa

I so appreciate the pros and cons. Yes, I too thought it could be a waste of time. But like fraidycat said, I can plan ideas like crazy but not so good on following through. Being disciplined on my own is not something I'm good at. We do lots of outdoor play, trampoline, riding lessons, scouts, etc. What I like about this program, or the idea of, is teaching my kids how to keep physically fit in a way that is a life long thing. They don't really "get" stretching and the purpose of it. They are sloppy in their execution of jumping jacks, et al. This might be our answer for healthy habits. Especially on days we don't head out for activities. I have a dd10 who if I don't get her outdoors/exercised each day, or at most two days, she gets irritable and rather intense, with pent up energy. With something like this I'm hoping it's varied and interesting enough that it keeps the kids' interest. But I realize this could be totally useless for our family. I did download a few samples to research better. Thanks so much ladies!

I just found information on PE curriculum from Family Time Fitness. Anybody have opinions on this? Melissa

CQLA Level A It had so much potential. Even ps teachers I know thought it looked really good. But in using it, we'd find errors or references to material not listed in the worksheets (turns out some of it wanted us to use other books they sell; nowhere in the paperwork does it even suggest you purchase those books) The spelling notebook doesn't help my dd at all. The writing piece has them doing the same kinds of things, using the same step by step process every time. Never adjusting to, "now that you know how to do A, let's skip A and start at B. It says it's character based, but other than a list of character words in a box on Day 1 every week, there was little reference to character. Had optional penmanship of scripture, sometimes reading selections, or a "character focus". But I felt it was the barest hint of character based, not enough to be a main selling point. I felt like "wacky words"/homophones section it on to/two/too and their/there/they're way too many times.:glare: I do like how it has flexibility built in for basic or more challenging work throughout the week.

OK, I'm working hard under a time crunch to determine my DD's LA program for next year. She'll be in 6th grade. Can you help me pinpoint an LA program? LA is her strength, but I haven't done a good job, I don't believe, in improving her writing over the last two years. I was in survival mode, lol. For 6th grade, the skills I'd like to see for her LA program focus on are: 1. ability to read and analyze a book or passage (not just reading for pleasure anymore but looking for the meanings/messages in the text) 2. improving writing skills (quality not quantity) 3. grammar & sentence diagramming 4. note taking skills (in prep for middle school) Just a note, we have not done much with narration/dictation at this point. I'm not against it, but it's not a skill she's strong in. If that matters...

I'm looking at doing WWS1 next year with my 6th grader. But also looking into novel units (read assigned book, do comp questions, maybe write a small essay) throughout the year. Is this redundant? Will doing novel units duplicate work done in WWS? Or is this a good plan...? I was considering adding in FLL4 to bump up her grammar skills, but it was pointed out that a 6th grader might be too advanced for FLL4. Anybody have advice? Melissa

Amber, that looks amazing! I love it! I am definitely going to get it for my kids. I wish I'd known about it when dd was in 4th. Can you tell me does it come in one giant newspaper printing, or does it come in 4 separate printings? Melissa

I'm not sure how flexible this charter is. I've had friends there that simply TOLD their teacher what their kids were going to learn, and completely ignored state stds. Then I've had friends whose teacher made them stick with the stds. So if we use SOTW4 and hit on CA history there, what do you recommend for my 6th grader who needs to touch on the Ancients? That clearly isn't covered in SOTW4, lol!

On a side note, would FLL4 be appropriate for a 6th grader who could use a tune-up or would it be too far behind for 6th grade? I looked at Easy Grammar 5th/6th and FLL4 looked more challenging...

Oh, thanks for mentioning that, MyLittleBears....but don't worry, I'm looking at them for my two kids, one at each level. :thumbup1:

Can you tell me if FLL and WWE/WWS together make a complete language arts program? I suppose I'd still need a spelling and a reading piece, but otherwise is there anything else needed? Thanks, Melissa

As of this evening, I'm thinking Writing With Skill 1 and The Creative Writer 1, along with a tune up with FLL4, might be just the ticket for my dd10 next year. Anybody use these writing books yet? Melissa

Does anyone know how it works in CA at a public charter school on social studies? Say if you are doing SOTW4 and state stds want you to study ancient civilizations or CA history? Personal opinions about public charter schools aside (please), anyone have advice on that? Would you double up on your history (SOTW4 and state stds) or just focus on SOTW4 and to heck with state stds or just do stds? Thanks!