I know... I am all over the place with writing and grammar. I have read enough about MCT on the forums that I want to give it a try, but I also see that some have stated that there are a few things lacking in it, with regards to assessment testing. So, I am thinking of adding in Editor in Chief or Daily Paragraph Editing, along with something fun like the "Unjournaling" book at amazon. I can find a million things I like, it's just trying to make them fit all together in the course of a year. This is my first rodeo with HS, and I don't want to overwhelm, but want just the right mix. So far in my amazon cart are 6 + 1 TTraits of Writing: The Complete Guide (Grades 3 and up), Daily Trait Warm-Ups: 180 Revision and Editing Activities (which MAY just replace the Editor in Chief). I also like the Trait Crate: Grade's 1 & 4. Those boxes look fantastic. I am just wondering if it's too early to implement IEW's version of Traits and if perhaps something like Evan Moor's Daily 6 Trait Writing or one of the Culham 6 + 1 Traits would work better for an introduction. It will be nice to get some responses from folks who have liked one over the other better for this age range.

I am planning on using MCT for our primary language arts, but still would like to supplement the writing portion. I have looked at WWE (for copywork & dictation) and plan on using that, but need to teach (or at least assess their writing) using the 6 Traits of Writing because of state assessment testing that they will be doing. I don't mind using the 6 Traits, but I am not sure how best to implement it. I have been looking at Ruth Culham's 6 + 1 Writing Traits books on amazon, as well as her Trait Crates for each grade (which all look great), but I also see that IEW teaches the 6 Traits as well. Has anyone used or know about how the 6 + 1 Traits books are vs IEW for a 1st & 4th grader. Evan Moor also has a 6 Traits book for each grade level, and I have wondered about that as well. Can anyone give me insight about the best direction to follow. Will they all end up on the same road eventually, or is one better for elementary grades than the other? I feel like I am "almost" crazy enough to implement them ALL... and I know that we will regret that idea. But, I don't want to miss something.

We have begun to use MEP this summer, and I intend on doing it in conjunction with MM for my 1st and 4th graders. How would you suggest using MEP? So far I have only printed out the practice pages for each child, and when they get stumped (or I get stumped) we look back in the Lessons plans for that question and review what is expected. I am wondering if I am missing the boat here with not following the FULL Lesson plans for the practice books as well as The Poster Collection for the younger child. If I am also doing MM, is it too much? Or is there real valuable info there that I am missing not doing the complete MEP?

I've been doing some of the 3rd grade samples this summer as review for my daughter who is going into 4th grade. I really like the program, it seems to have EVERYTHING you need all in one spot. I will say that I have also been drawn to adding in MEP math (it's free) and sort of like mental math or fun math. We've been adding a couple of pages from MEP to MM and I am pleased with how it's going so far. I have thought of adding in Singapore's CWP as well. I don't think it's a necessity to add anything, I just like jumping around and mixing things up for fun to see that their brains are engaged in something completely different.

That's sort of what I was thinking to. I actually was wanting to do an intro chemistry for both the 1st & 4th grader together, and I was trying to figure out if the concepts taught in both levels of RS4K were different enough from Elemental Science Chemistry that it would go together without overlap. I KNOW I want to use McHenry, as I just love her science series, but I was unsure about the other two.

I have been considering doing Elemental Science Chemistry this upcoming semester and using The Elements by McHenry with my 4th grader. I have seen others that have brought in RS4K Prelevel 1 on up through Level 1 Chemistry. My question is.. what are the main differences between RS4K Chemistry and Elemental Science Chemistry. Is one program so vastly different from the other that using them both over time might be a good thing? Are they easy enough to do together? I have an upcoming 4th grader (new to homeschooling) as well as a 1st grader and I would like to integrate science. Neither has had much in PS... the older has had a study in rocks one year and magnets in another for a part of a semester. Although they learn loads reading & in nature. I remember when I entered into college years back, chemistry was a weak area although I had always done well in it at the high school I was at. That being said, I would love to be able to focus more on chemistry and physics in these next few years (still keeping it light and easy for the younger one), but giving them a solid understanding of The Periodic Table and just a feeling of being comfortable with the subject, so that they are able to really grasp the material at a higher level down the road. Do these two programs (RS4K and elemental science) along with McHenry do an overall great job, or is there something I am missing.

Years back when I was on the "public school" program, when the kids were about 4 they had an interest in learning how to read. My thought was, "hey, what a great idea, that way when they go into kindergarten already reading they will feel like 'I got this' and not be nervous with the whole new experience." So, I headed to Costco one day and found Hooked On Phonics Learn to Read program that had 5 levels. Every night for about 15 minutes before bed and normal bedtime reading I would work with each of them (they are two years apart, so they each got their turns at the age of 4). Honestly, by the time they were 5 they both were reading fluently, with only 15 minutes a day of instruction. I thought that program was outstanding. My dd was reading chapter books during her kindergarten year, and my son ended his by getting to the same point. Unfortunately for my kids though, the school didn't embrace the fact that I had taught them to read so they were sat in a corner while the other kids learned, instead of given some sort of differentiated instruction to keep growing at their level. Thus, one of the reasons we are now homeschooling. That being said, I did love that program, used it well with them both and will use it again with my 2 year old when the time comes.

Out of curiosity for planning purposes, how long does it typically take to do a lesson? Not including adding in online videos or separate books about the subject. Just the actual lesson and activity the book suggests.

G, I think I may have seen you over at the BFSU forum as well? As you can see, I am attacking on all fronts with this question! ;-) It will be wonderful to see your ideas for supplementing with a 4th grader. Also, Angela's work is great for my 1st grader who will be doing it. Can I ask though Angela, your list shows Brain Pop and Discovery used for online learning to supplement BFSU. How do I sign up for the DE section at their website, do you have to get permission to access those videos online? Does it cost?

Oh my goodness Angela, that is an impressive document you have outlining BFSU. I appreciate having access to that! Stacey, if you don't mind my hijacking the post for a second, can I ask Angela a question? Having done this with your little one, do you think it could also suit an older child (4th grader)? Is there anything that you might add to the lesson for an older one? I would love to hear from others as well, about how they are either integrating BFSU into a different curriculum, OR how they have supplemented it as a spine. Thanks for the question Stacey... it's one I have been trying to figure out as well.

I'm in the same boat. Only I have an upcoming 1st & 4th grader (new to homeschooling) that I am interested in doing it with. My needs are to make sure and create a full curriculum using it as a spine, but supplementing it for my older child. I am having a hard time searching for options in adding to it, so I joined the yahoo group and posted a message. They have a lot of good ideas, and have been using it for awhile, so I would suggest that. Also, I found a blog website http://www.rumphiusromp.blogspot.com that incorporates BFSU along with Apologia and she has loads of photos and lessons she has posted about if you move down the right column of her page and click on science. I will say that on BFSU's yahoo site, some spoke of using sciencenetlink.com lessons, or bill nye the science guy website & DVDs. Also the Magic School Bus DVDs & books.

I had a chance to look up both of the book suggestions and loved them! Thanks so much. I think having struggled with a so-so education in Chemistry I want to have my kids not RUN from the site of a periodic table.

I guess another way I could ask this is, "Has anyone used The Elements separately?" or "Elemental Science Chemistry" separately? And if so, do you think that they are both stand alone programs, or would there be time to do them together?

Has anyone used these two programs together in the scope of a year? I have a 1st & 4th grader that I will most likely be teaching grammar stage chemistry to next year and do like the looks of Elemental Science, then adding in The Elements by Ellen McHenry for the 4th grader. She also reads very well, so I would like to bring in some extra science readers for her spare time. (She likes to read at night in her bed with a flash light for an hour). I thought about using the Noeo science books for this (not the curriculum). Any other suggestions for a readers list to go with Elemental Chemistry, or does she have her own extensive readers list? What about The Elements? It says it can be used with an 8 year old up to a 13 year old, so I figured the content was suitable for her age. Thanks for any suggestions or ideas!

So.. will there be any need for an answer key for Y1-6? I guess I have grown accustomed to the idea of having the answers in the back of a book somewhere. LOL.

Have you ever checked out KAPLA blocks? A quick search online would help you find used blocks as well as several youtube videos showing all the towers and structures that have been built using them. I have found when we have to be indoors, items like these help, as there are sooooooo many ways to use them. I don't know if you allow them computer time, but integrating typing lessons during the summer might also be nice. http://www.typingadventure.com seems to be a fun one at my house. There are free trial versions online. A free tutorial is http://www.typingweb.com and I've seen my daughter grow by leaps and bounds using this tutorial in only one month. When all else fails, get huge gymnasium mats online and put up a climbing wall indoors! LOL... all kidding aside, we are seriously considering the latter in our downstairs basement area for those wintery or rainy days.

Thanks so much for the information. Is there any need for a passcode with levels 1 - 6? What would I need that for?

When I go to their website and look at Practice Book 1a (Pages 1 to 30), Lesson Plans for (Lessons 1 to 30) and Copymasters for (Lessons 1 to 30) is that all I need to get started? Do I also need to print out the number, lines, sign & shape cards and the posters? Is it fairly clear once you start lesson one? Like it will say Lesson Plan 1 Week 1, then Lesson Plan 2 Week 1 (presumably done on day two?) How do you use this program with your kids? Is it their primary math 5 days a week, or do you use something else and substitute this in a few days a week?

I would love to integrate MEP into our Singapore next year. I might even like to use it as the primary if I could just figure out their website. Just for the sake of clearing up the confusion could I have some help starting Year 1, 2 or 3 (most likely where my kids will fall). Is there some sort of book that I need to have in conjunction with the printable online Practice Book? Take for example when I click on Lesson Plans Yr 1 (lessons 1-30) it says in the right hand side all the resources needed on the teacher's desk as well as the pupils desk. One of them is Mathematics 1a. Is that a text that is not available to buy? What are the Copymasters for? Essentially.. how do I use this program most effectively? Could someone lay out their experience for me? Thanks so much.

Winter Promise also has a great US History. A lot of literature (some of it the same as Sonlight) as well as hands on, time travelers stuff. I think it's American Story 1 & 2 , or All American I

Mr. Qs Life science is free for the year's lesson, except for the downloading and printing of it. My library also has all the SOTW books and even the activity guide that I copied out of. Does your state have a virtual academy perhaps that you might be interested in joining? My kids are enrolled in CVA (Columbia Virtual Academy) and it gives me the funds and the freedom to pick curriculums for my children and school at home. So, that might be an option for you to look into as well? Good luck with your journey.

I appreciate the info. I do think that I will be starting them both with MCT Island and WWE (for their levels). With the 1st grader I have considered just having him listen along, and also looking into adding Aesop's Fables Vol 1 (Reading, Writing, etc) from the same website as MCT. I don't feel it's necessary to push along the grammar at his age, I just want it fun and engaging. But, I do think there is no way he will be ready to move ahead to higher level writing in the Town and Voyage series anytime soon. That is where my question lies. What to do when you want to slow down MCT and progress sideways for a bit.

Can anyone tell me what their thoughts about starting MCT at a young age? I have a soon to be 1st grader (who reads ch. books and writes well) and a 4th grader (also good to go) and would like to start MCT Island with them this next year. I will do some basic grammar this summer (The Sentence Family, Mad Libs, School House Rocks DVDs), but I've heard people on the WTM forums question what to do if it's started too early. What would you recommend branching off with when we hit a wall with the younger one? Do you do a different "formal" grammar, LA curriculum for a bit.. or just redo MCT at a harder level? Also, anyone put IEW with MCT? Or use IEW, MCT and WWE? Is that WAY too much?? Thanks for your thoughts!

I'm sorry.. I'm not making any sense. LOL I meant to say History Odyssey by Pandia Press Level 2 with Level 1 (which uses SOTW). So, knowing that, would you say that K12s History Odyssey is still the preferred curriculum over pandia press?

I am so terribly sorry for your loss. It is unimaginable, and absolutely a huge wake up call to busy mom's like me to grab my kids and hug them. I can imagine that your son was such an inspiration to his friends, family & country to have served in the US Military. I know that he will be missed every day by each of you, and I will pray that you find strength and peace during this VERY trying time in your life. God Bless you.