We do math once a week and read all the time. We all need the break. ;)

We've been using BF for two years now. There are so many things I like about it, but there are a few that might be deal breakers for me. I love doing one program, read aloud with both (7th, 5th) kids. They get a great long-term view of history and how one thing affects generations and even our lives now. I find, though, that even though we read regulary (religiously because it is too hard to keep up otherwise), discuss and review in our discussions, the kids need other things, like quizzes and tests for going back and nailing it down in their memories. I was making up quizzes for them to keep everything straight and I'm exhausted. BF is a lot of work, even for the basic reading. I also have them write about some topics. Does anyone know of a curriculum that takes an approach similar to that of BF, but offers quizzes/tests and is maybe a little less time consuming?:confused: Desperate for ideas!! Thanks.

Yes, I am the Maureen you think I am :D Wow, you really answered my question. I came back to check with more questions than I started with. I was just reading about Discovery of Deduction and wondered if that would be a better follow up. We are finishing our year of Art of Argument and Fallacy Detective. They've loved it and are applying the knowledge like crazy. What I didn't want to do was get a formal logic text that would bog them down in terms that they couldn't apply to real life at all, or at least for a very long time. How practical is Discovery of Deduction? I did, BTW, get the copy of Traditional Logic. Thanks for asking!!

Thanks for the info. Have you used the 3rd one, BTW? Would you recommend that or going with something else at that level?

Has anyone used the 2nd book in the Veritas Press series, The Argument Builder? I'm pretty sure it follows The Art of Argument. We're using that along with Fallacy Detective this year and I'm trying to find a follow-up for next year. Any insights would be helpful. Thanks!:001_smile:

I agree that establishing attitudes, expectations is so important. That will be a smoother transition if you take advantage of snuggle-time opportunities. How healing for them after going through a rough time! One practical note to keep her math skills sharp is the online program, ALEKS. She does a placement test and will likely test 80-90% mastery of her grade. She then just works daily at her own pace to complete the year. You need to play around with the quizzing, review, etc. to get the most out of the program. I've really appreciated it. I love that it corrects them immediately and they can progress at their own pace. It's taken a lot of playing around on my end so that I can properly review, have them study, etc, but it's been good for us.

I agree with General in 8th and Physical in 9th. I like Apologia texts a lot. The test taking has been great for my son. One plug for the co-op situation is that it's a very different experience for them to prepare for a test that will be submitted to someone else. Over the last two years, my son's study skills have improved tremendously.

Lightning Literature 7th grade. Lightning Lit 8th grade Combo of Art of Argument and Fallacy Detective ALEKS Math Story Grammar (writing work) Grammar for Middle School Students (also writing)

The logical fallacy requirement seems a little odd to me for that age, but if you have to teach it, The Fallacy Detective is pretty easy to understand. You can take your time and then he can begin to find examples for you from TV commercials and print ads. They begin to pop up everywhere once the kids become familiar with them. HTH:)

I reviewed TMM Spanish for our co-op last year. One problem for us was that they don't accommodate Macs. They say that there is some conversion software (or whatever it is), but it added A LOT to the cost. Also, it is very grammar based. Whereas RS has very clear, obvious pictures, TMM will take a photo of a person holding a photograph and assume that it is clear that the co-workers are conversing about their children. What they call a beginner level is not. It also seemed geared for adults in content and approach. Also, the grammar explanations were not really written with children in mind. I was very excited about a program like RS, but with grammatical explanations. I was VERY disappointed in TMM and we didn't end up using it.

I've really enjoyed Lightning Literature 7th grade this year. I just finished planning my co-op year for next year's 8th grade and it's even better. What I love about it is that it takes those young years and teaches them concepts that they can really apply in HS. She explains very well and the assignments are great. I always tweak curricula in one way or another and this one I've used fairly straight away. I have, though, added writing instruction as they offer practice more than instruction. There is some, but it's beyond the scope of the course.

I'm not sure what you've used for imitating, but they can use ALL of their own ideas while imitating great structure in Don and Jenny Kilgallon's Story Grammar. I've had wonderful success with lots of kids using it in our co-op. They always plug in their own ideas to the existing structure and they're thrilled with the results. Then they can begin to apply the "tools" on their own eventually (some within a few assignments). It's been a great supplement for us. I also use Grammar for Middle School Students. I'm not nuts about the titles because they're a little misleading. :)

I've been browsing logic texts and I just saw The Argument Builder. We're doing a combo of Art of Argument and Fallacy Detective. The website says it is a good follow-up, but I was looking for some first-hand experience if anyone has any with the curriculum. Thanks.

Thanks for responding. It's so helpful. For those using ALEKS as a supplement, what is your primary program?

I've been using ALEKS for my 5th and 7th graders with some success. I'm wondering about the upper grades. We'll continue in 8th with Pre-Algebra, but not sure about high school. Any opinions?

I'm using ALEKS for my second year now. I thought at first that there were major gaps, but as I've learned to work the program I've found what I've needed to meet the needs for review, drill, etc. We're NOT mathy and I so appreciate no longer being the bearer of bad news that my son has to do over all the long division problems he got wrong (after he just spent over an hour doing them). This now works for us.:001_smile:

We're finishing up our 7th grade year with a combination of Fallacy Detective and Art of Argument. They work very well together. Fallacy Detective is very easy to read and understand, but AA is well organized and thorough. There is a lot of overlap which is great for their understanding (if you can make it clear that some of the same fallacies have several names). For 8th, we plan to begin with formal logic. I'm still reviewing curricula. I'd love suggestions...:confused:

In our co-op we've taken 3 years to complete Apologia's General and Physical Science. It worked wonderfully, giving us the opportunity to really discuss, review material, do all the experiments, etc. We have the kids take the tests at home, but collect and grade them and grade the lab books. The problem is that going forward, it will be a logistical nightmare to try to manage this with new families coming in with children at both the seventh and eighth grade levels.. We think we might need to put them into one year, but we don't want to just race through without really dealing with the material. Any ideas? Anyone cover them thoroughly in a co-op in 30 weeks? HOW?? PLEASE help me!!!

Phew! I was getting lost with the curriculum abbreviations. So glad I finally noticed this post.

I honestly wouldn't take that risk. Plenty of pedophiles are married and old. I am all for respecting our husbands, but not at the expense of our children's safety. I'll pray for you. I hope your husband will see that his first obligation is to his nuclear family.

Has anyone used Tools for Thinking, by Norman Birkett? I haven't seen it mentioned in any reviews of logic courses, while others are used for comparisons. I'm wondering how it might be in a 30-week co-op setting. I've seen one group do it, but they just go over exercises each week and require that the kids commit to 60 min. per day. That's way too much for my logic needs. Any ideas? Thanks, Maureen

Hi Everyone. I'm teaching an 8th grade logic course for our co-op next year. This year we've done a combination of Art of Argument and Fallacy Detective. We've made it fun and the kids have had a ball with it. They are really mastering informal logic and applying it everywhere. I've been looking for a follow up course for next year. I know that formal logic usually follows informal. I just don't want a theoretical course now that they are using and enjoying this material. Is there something that would teach formal logic and is applicable? Maybe combining with debate or speech?? Has anyone used Logic 1: Tools for Thinking? I've read here about Traditional Logic I. Has anyone done this in a co-op setting, supplementing with Handbook of Christian Apologetics and Socrates Meets Jesus? I'd love ANY suggestions you have for a co-op setting. Thanks, MaureenNJ:confused: