Also CW just reduced the price on their recorded online group tutorials for Aesop and Homer accelerated to $50 for 6 month access. http://www.classicalwritingtutorials.com/CWT/SubAesopHomerAccelerated.htm There are also "How to teach" tutorials for each level. http://www.classicalwritingtutorials.com/CWT/CourseHowToTeach.htm

I use them both mostly for information and structure for me. Are you looking for specific literature guides or a general curriculum? There are lots of specific literature guides for detailed information on particular works- I know the threads are out there but I don't have them right now. Garlic Press, Greenleaf Press, Progeny Press, Spark, Teaching Company lectures,... Even with some of the structured literature programs, people find literature guides helpful.

I'm not sure what you should do but I do have both Teaching the Classics and Reading Roadmaps. Both are designed for the teacher. However, I select parts of the TTC DVD for ds(16) to watch and he finds that Mr. Andrews is quite an entertaining speaker! I also use the reproducible Story Chart, as well as some of the Socratic List of questions in the appendix for discussions and writing assignments. Reading Roadmaps contains for every grade level through 12th: 1. a framework for lesson plans (not specific detailed plans) to implement the literary analysis described in TTC on a daily, weekly, monthly, six-week, quarterly, or seasonal basis , 2. lists of titles for each grade level, including short synopses of plot, conflict, theme, devices, 3. a section on writing literary essays and grading them, 4. a section with detailed learning objectives for each grade level, 5. a section on grading and credits as well as a reproducible literature grade sheet, and 6. a section describing the major historical periods in western literature and associated authors and titles of important works, 7. an appendix of literary terms. I hope this helps!

The author of How the Brain Learns recommends fruit snacks such as oranges as well as getting up and moving around when permitted.

Some of Mark Twain's short stories are funny and interesting.

Jane in NC- my dd also thought the ACT writing prompt was weird - something about whether students who didn't spend four years in high school missed out on important social, academic, etc. opportunities. My dd really let loose on that one!

Some libraries have this series: http://www.recordedbooks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=scholar.show_course&course_id=49 Sometimes I listen to the lectures, take notes, and then present the info to my ds.

My dd took Wes Callihan's Great Books 1 tutorial 4 years ago while she was enrolled in 9th grade in the public school because she nneded more challenging work than was provided at school. In the GB 1 class, Mr. Callihan mostly lectured. There was some class participation by electronic white board, and one of the students took notes for the class. I understand that students in more advanced GB classes participate more in the lecture. Mr. Callihan provided assignments in the form of questions about the reading. I think he assigned a couple of essays but did not grade or comment on them. My dd enjoyed the challenging work and found Mr. C. to be a kind and interesting teacher. If you want the papers graded, you have to hire an outside writing evaluation service. My only gripe was that unless payment was involved, Mr. C. didn't respond to emails or attempts at communicating with him.

My ds found this link yesterday as we were slogging through weekly OT readings- ESV study Bible online and recording - http://www.esvbible.org/book-you-want

Found this book in the library How the Brain Learns by David A. Sousa which has been helpful in understanding how to teach and optimize learning.

Good resource!

My daughter had severe growth retardation due to sleep apnea caused by enlarged adenoids. Apparently growth hormone is released at night during sleep. If the child's sleep is disrupted (by adenoid obstruction or perhaps lung disease in your son's case), the growth hormone is not released and growth is inadequate. In my daughter's case, removal of her adenoids resulted in a 20 lb. weight gain within a year as well as growth in height of several inches. She is still small, but her height and weight are on the charts at least now. I would have him evaluated by an endocrinologist who can perhaps determine whether his growth hormone levels are normal. Best to you!

I've used K12 middle school science. The lack of a textbook drove me nuts- all of the instructional information was on-line. However, I will say that the course was thorough and well-organized, and that the student materials were also helpful and interesting. What about the Thinkwell science courses for high school?

We are using Prentice Hall Biology by Miller, Levine and the DIVE CD. For teacher's materials, I went through Kolbe to obtain the Study Workbook solutions, quarterly tests, and weekly plans. Dr. Shormann, the author of the DIVE CD's, provided me with a syllabus that matches the text. I'd be glad to post it if you'd like.

Free world history course on this website. I haven't looked at this too thoroughly but it looks interesting? http://conservapedia.com/Conservapedia:Index

Something to think about. http://kansas.watchdog.org/7834/student-loan-racket-enables-higher-educatio-bubble/

I just started using TOG for my 10th grade son. We're doing Year 1, Rhetoric in the first semester (trimming), and then second semester, moving on to Year 2. From what I've read on these boards Year 2 is quite challenging so I will be cutting and pasting that as well and am not opposed to using outside resources like TC lectures. I'd like to start Year 3 next fall, so we can finish up with Year 4 in his senior year. My son loves that the history readings are not from a textbook. I like the level of reading and thinking required, but I find it challenging to read bits and pieces of so many different books at the same time. But I guess the unit-study style curriculum has its advantages in terms of maintaining the interest of a teenager. We still have not quite got the hang of the weekly discussions, so any help you all can offer would be much appreciated. I haven't had the time to listen to the lectures on using TOG that Marcia Somerville put together, as I'm assuming she addressed this rather major feature of her curriculum there. Thanks!

What year are you using? TOG 1 streamlined to fit 1 semester instead of a full year; hopefully I'll keep on top of things so we can use TOG 2 starting 2cnd semester- Rhetoric level What year(s) have you used in the past? First time using TOG What age students are you using it with? 10th grade ds I think I have the days, weeks organized now and understand how to use the curriculum at a basic level. My ds loves the selection of history reading, especially likes not having to read a dry textbook. I'm finding it a little difficult to skip around in so many different books from week to week. I kind of like to just stay with one book until I finish it.

I've used K12 math elementary and middle school. I think in high school, the course is supervised by a teacher, whereas at the middle and elementary levels, it could be purchased independently without the teacher supervision. I liked the texts that were used and the lessons were well-organized and thorough. There really wasn't much on-line in terms of course content. The on-line portion was mostly lesson plans and tracking. You might find out what texts are used since that is an important component for a student working on their own even with teacher supervision. You also might find out what "student help" resources are available and how closely the k12 teacher works with the student.

For sentences, someone once posted that Don Killgallon's book Sentence Composing for High School was good. IEW recommends Victor Pellegrino's book A Writer's Guide to Powerful Paragraphs. I went down the tubes for IEW's Teaching Writing program and Student Writing Intensive Level C this summer after reading a great post from Janet in NJbecause I needed to ramp up my son's writing very quickly. My son loves it and his writing has improved dramatically in a very short time. We're going on the IEW's Elegant Essay as soon as he's finished with SWIC.

Is this a new publisher? The Latin looks wonderful for beginners. The logic and argument also seems to be written in a way that would interest even a reluctant student. Thanks!

I'm looking at TOG year 2 rhetoric level for my 10th grader. One of the main reasons for my interest is that I have the impression that TOG ties literature, history, and religious studies to philosophical, historical, and political contexts and themes, looking for "big ideas" and developing the "big picture." Am I correct in this assumption? As a teacher who is often learning alongside my student, sometimes I feel that I miss the forest for the trees. Particularly with literature, I find myself relying on a hodgepodge of Teaching Company lectures, literature guides, etc., often time-consuming to find and study in addition to preparing the literature unit. And then I'm always feeling like I missed the "big picture." I'm hoping TOG will simplify this. Thanks for any input you all have!

Thanks Angela. I was also looking at Debra Bell's Pre-AP Biology on-line class that Janice in NJ had posted. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2837277&highlight=debra+Bell#post2837277 and http://debrabell.com/online-classes/

:bigear::bigear: Anyone? How about BJU Biology, Chem, Physics with DIVE, DIVE CLEP Professor as prep for the SAT 2 subject tests?

Brigid in NC - Would your friends be willing to spend a few minutes writing out how they condensed tog into 2 years, or if you have some ideas, could you share them? I understand "The Loom" has pared-down reading lists also- do these help? Thanks!