I am 11 and I just wanted to write about how I liked Apologia's botany book. I was use to do "more" (I thought:blush:and boy, was I in for a suprise!) hands on science, but once I started Botany, I was zoomin' through the lessons...and doing science every single day of the schoolweek!!!!! :w00t: (even when it recomended 2 days of science/week). For the experiments? There were so many that I couldn't even do them all and that's what I call good science. I even made homemade soap which I gave out for xmas gifts. Getting the notebooking journal was worth the money, definitley:thumbup: and it was great! The book includes a shedule for 2 days/wk science, and a cold climate schedule (which we used). I know other kids would love this book, too (and they do!)and it is so fun to have a notebooking journal to record everything on. Although you can't finish everything in the book, it is really fun to go through and I liked disecting a flower....just to name 1 cool thing. I learned a lot about botany through apologia's books! Apologia botany was great, and I am excited about doing zoology next year:D

Hi, Do you have any suggestions for Latin programs for my daughter who is in grade 6 currently? Any ideas would be great! :) Shannon

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I'm looking for a reading curriculum for a 6th grader. Which of these programs has the best stories? So far, I've downloaded a CLE sample and was really impressed by the story and Bible references in the workbook it had. While I didn't exactly agree with the pacifist stance, it caused a great discussion and lots to think about with my daughter. I'm leaning towards this one currently but also have investigated R&S and Pathways Readers. Any opinions? Thanks, Shannon

Hi Rebecca, Don't mean to hijack again (like another post I read):) but I am planning on doing HOD but am also looking at CLE for LA. I noticed you are doing that as well. Could you tell me your experience with CLE have you used it long? Also, do you then skip the LA portions of HOD or do them as well? Thanks, Shannon

Hi, Your curriculum looks neat. Can one see the books list you use or must you purchase it first? Also, when are the subsequent lessons due out? Thanks, Shannon

Thanks Des. Hopefully I'll get a few more ideas! How do you find the BF study guides in general since you are using the Ancients one? Thanks, Shannon

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Is there anyway of lining up the Beautiful Feet Primary and INtermediate Am. History courses? My oldest is 10 so I'd love to do the INtermediate with her however my others are 8 and 6 so I don't want to exclude them. Has anyone done this? Thanks, Shannon

I can't help you with the planning question but I was wondering if you think it's possible to combine the BF primary and intermediate. That's what I'm hoping to do. Do they line up at all in topic selection? I have a grade 6, 4, 1 students and when I phoned, they recommended doing the INtermediate but I know it would be over the head of my youngest ( and maybe even the midddle) in terms of activities. Do you have both guides to give me some guidance of how you could do it? Thanks, Shannon

I can't help you with the planning question but I was wondering if you think it's possible to combine the BF primary and intermediate. That's what I'm hoping to do. Do they line up at all in topic selection? I have a grade 6, 4, 1 students and when I phoned, they recommended doing the INtermediate but I know it would be over the head of my youngest ( and maybe even the midddle) in terms of activities. Do you have both guides to give me some guidance of how you could do it? Thanks, Shannon

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I never thought I'd be looking for these but I'm looking for some Reading . a great reader, learned to read early and it all has come fairly easy for her. However I'm noticing now that we are hitting 6th grade she's kind of plateaued. I have never used a formal reading program, more books and novels she's chosen. She's not too bad narrating but seems to have a bit of trouble with it at times (she's sometimes reluctant). I'd love to do a reading program this year and work on skills like context clues, inferring etc. So far, I'm looking at Rod and Staff, CLE or literature guides (like Progeny press) with books. I'm probably leaning towards the first two. Anyone care to share their experience with these programs? I understand they are both Mennonite and CLE uses coloured pictures. What about story content? Are they quite "Mennonite" at the grade 5 or 6 level? I read one story on CLE website for grade 6 about pacifism but are there many like that? Thanks for your help, Shannon

What are your opinions on this? I'd use it for grade 2,3 and 5. I have never done a 'Formal" reading program, more CM style, but feel I need to concentrate on my kids reading skills a bit more. I know it's bare bones stuff but does everything have to be exciting? I know lots of people use it for English but what about the readers and reading workbooks? Thanks for your help, Shannon

Okay, I'm wanting to do Am. History for the whole family this coming year. I have a 10, 8yr. old 6 and 4 yr. old. I know I am tempted to put something together myself because I have quite a few read-alouds etc. but I really think I do better with "someone else's" set schedule.:) I want something we can mostly read together and then have the oldest two read some follow up material and do some mapping, writing etc. while my 6yr. old does Draw, Right, Now and History pockets etc. to follow along somewhat. She also has a bunch of I Can Read books about Am. History. Someone gave me Abeka Gr. 4 text, The History of the USA with a workbook of maps so I was thinking I could give this to my oldest to do somewhat independantly. To keep the whole family together on this, I've been considering Beautiful Feet (perhaps the Primary level) or now recently I've noticed Biblioplan. Can anyone give me advice on these two programs? Thanks, Shannon

I noticed you have Bravewriter listed in your signature. I haven't bought Writer's Jungle yet but my daughter did take the Kids Beginner Class and enjoyed it. This program interests me and my daughter loves creative writing. I'm just nervous about purchasing it because I feel she's at the stage where maybe she needs more to learn all the "structures" of writing rather than just focusing on creativity. Do you mind sharing how you've used the program? Thanks again, Shannon

Has anyone used LA 3 or 3+4? Did you like the writing assigments? I'm considering that for Am. History LA or using IEW Am. History Theme book for writing. Need opinions! My daughter is pretty good at creative writing but has never done a formal writing program. We are studying AM. History this year. Thanks, Shannon

I'm looking into this and wondering if I could make it work without buying the DVDs. It looks pretty self-explanatory. Has anyone tried this? Shannon

We've done the Genesis one and my daughter really enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it's for your 3rd grader though, probably your oldest would like it and it fosters a bit of independance. Tip: Photocopy the bibilical passage at the back as it is used often and it's bothersome to flip back and forth so often. Shannon

Thanks, I was looking for that thread and could find it again. I will print it out so I don't "lose" it again. Shannon

Those of you doing Bigger w/extensions I am thinking of doing these for my 10 yr. old, whicle my 8 yr. old does as written. Do you read First American History with everyone, and then the oldest branches off and does their own reading? Also, do you require oral and written narrations for the extension books? Do you think I need to add more advanced mapping for an older student? It looks good but I just don't want her to be doing extra reading, I want her accountable for it as well. Thanks, Shannon

Hi Shelley, Yes, I have thought of that. Thanks for the advice. My other dilemma with using Sonlight was I wasn't really thrilled with the history spines so was going to change those. My question is, do you think Eggleston's books is a good enough spine for an older child? I could use the one in the extension package but I was leaning toward using Marshalls "This Country of Ours" which was recommended. I could then use the Sonlight readers by themselves as an extension package (like you suggested). Have you done Bigger w/extensions? If so, how did you find it? Thanks, Shannon

Okay, I'm debating between two possibilities. I'm going to do HOD Bigger with my then to be 9yr. old as written and for my oldest, who will be 10, either doing CTC or doing Sonlight 3+4. If I did Sonlight 3+4 with my eldest she would pretty much do it independantly but the girls would still be studying the same history era. I love the look of HOD and Bigger fits my younger daughter perfectly (she would do best with things broken down into smaller tasks) , however my oldest is quite an avid reader and Sonlight seems to have so many good titles that I think she'd enjoy. We'd perhaps do the read-alouds together as a family. Any thoughts? Thanks, Shannon:confused:

I'm looking at these, both the Primary and Intermediate levels. Anyone care to share their experience? Thanks, Shannon

Don't have any specific advice but we've tried doing family worship nearly every night here for the past year. We sing hymns, read a Bible story or Psalm and pray together. Just wondering if you've read a book called Family Driven Faith by Voddie Bauchan Jr. Excellent on the importance of home discipleship. My recommendation is involve you husband as much as possible and endure the "bumps" from those in your family not used to sitting for long. It does get better and the kids actually look forward to it now. Shannon