My only concern -- and maybe it is a good thing -- would be... since the desired recall is somewhat different, do you think it changes the way your child listens to the story? If it does change the way he listens, knowing that he will have to tell back differently, would you view that as a positive or a negative (or just neutral)? Just thinking aloud again.... ;)

That's very interesting, Ana. How old is Button? So do you think just alternating CM and SWB style narrations would work well? No necessarily alternating strictly, but you know, just mixing it up. Or doing them somewhat equally while solidifying the SWB-style, then once that is established we could back off in frequency so it's more like a 3:1 split? Hmmm... maybe we could do full CM narrations then at the conclusion of that have them come up with a 3 sentence key point summary? Just thinking out loud here....

What a great story, Angie! That's really neat how it worked out! I was going to say (before I saw that second post from you) that once you go through the SWI-A the kids will have the flow of IEW down, at least in general, and then going a theme-based one should be good. So depending on when you and your friend start the SWI-A and what pace you keep, you could perhaps switch to the theme afterward. OR... maybe you'll love doing SWI-A with a friend and then go on to the other DVD set of SICC-A! ;)

To start, you could have the youngest (or the one who gives the least detailed narrations) start by just having him tell what he remembers, which might not be much at first, then ask another child to fill in more details. Or if they all narrate at a similar level of detail/retention, let Child A begin narrating, then stop him midway and ask Child B to continue. Or you could alternate days/readings where today it is Child A's turn and tomorrow Child B will narrate (I tend to do this less, at least as a pattern, because on their "off" reading my kids would get a bit complacent). lol Or you could ask each child to tell what their favorite part was in the story. Another thing I do when I'm pressed for time myself is I will have each child draw a picture, but then they have to find a quote from the story that depicts the scene and is meaningful to the story. Can you explain the difference? I think I am most familiar with CM-style narrations where the child basically tells what they know... which can get quite detailed with my kiddos. lol Are the SWB-type narrations like the "3 sentence summary" that is used in WWE? I am interested in what you see as being different between the two styles, as well as what you feel the value is from each. Thanks!

[i clicked once on submit... honest! lol]

We switched completely to a Brother B&W Laser printer a few years ago. I thought I'd miss the color option more -- once in a while it's nice, but I've been quite satisfied without it. I did take a flash drive over to Office Depot 2-3 times to print off a couple of color pages, and that filled the need. ;) Just a few months ago we added a color inkjet multi, primarily because we also needed fax and copy capabilities. I thought I would be tempted to do more printing in color now that it's here, but I haven't printed but ONE document in color since then! I just love the laser... and the price on printing with it!

kiwik, my kids do like the Yesterday's Classics (YC) and HH books, but the 4yo just listens to what he wants to (which isn't very much). He actually pays the most attention to D'Aulaire's Greek Myths (which isn't part of either collection), but probably because his sisters love those stories so much. YC has much more than history, so that might be a good fit for your ages. But if looking at history, the first one that popped into my mind is Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans (assuming you are from the US, lol). However, I think this book is best suited as a first history that a child can read to himself (or read out loud to or with you, but not as a read aloud). But the nice thing with both YC and HH is that all of their "books" are online so you can just read them there to preview and perhaps find a good match for your 5.5yos. arborite, thank you for sharing more about what you guys do! What is the full title of that Oxford University Press book?

As far as the LA stuff goes, I think copywork (and possibly dictation) can go far with grammar and spelling. You can teach grammar at the point of need at this level and/or use something like Emma Serl's Primary Language Lessons (just the little book -- no need to buy the consummable version that some place sells) and work though that book. And you can skip lessons here or there and do many of the orally even, depending on the child. Spelling is well covered with the child studying the passage BEFORE the copywork or dictation -- you (or the child) picks out the potential trouble words, you write them down on a whiteboard or whatever, the child studies it until they can picture the word in their mind and have got it. Then the write the passage. And again, grammar can be taught in these passages as well. You can choose your own copywork from books you're reading, or use something like Simply Charlotte Mason's Spelling Wisdom or some of the many other copywork resources out there (some free, some not).

Thanks for your reply, arborite. I see your son is 12yo... so do you use one Ancient Rome book from HH as a "core" or "spine" book and then add in other HH books? Or are you using a more structured curriculum and then HH for supplemental reading? I do really like the way HH's books are formatted for the Kindle, in fact that's part of why I'd like to do more with the e-books in our studies. I do have "All Through the Ages" still as well.... I wonder how similar some of those overview pages are compared to HH's study guides.... I guess the problem is that I just feel a little overwhelmed at the sheer number of e-books (not to mention resources already sitting on my shelves from so many years of hs-ing). And for the most part, they're all pretty good. It's like there's just too many choices for me, lol. So my solution? Look for another book -- a study guide -- to help me pull it all together and make sense of my jumbled thoughts. ;) Oh, and I bought the TimeQuest maps, so I should be set on maps as well... if I actually use them. <sigh>

I love the e-book selections through Heritage History, and am wondering if anyone has used the corresponding study guides for the various CD volumes. I am particularly considering the Young Readers collection. Do you think it's worth it? How do you use it? Are the "core" selections like a "spine" for the year (do you pick one, or read all)? I was hoping for some essay questions/topics or something -- lol, a girl can dream! -- but it doesn't look like it has that. I do have the Yesterday's Classics collection (on sale), and I notice there is a LOT of crossover between that and HH's Young Readers... although YC has quite a lot of nature, science, etc. in addition to history. But if the study guide is worth it, then I think I'd buy the HH Young Readers collection as a whole. I would love to put together a more comprehensive history curriculum (and other subjects) using resources like this. I'd love to hear from others moving in that direction. Thanks!

I totally agree with CM's philosophy on grammar and the "intuitive" nature of it mentioned by someone earlier. My older were raised on a "true" CM education and were excellent writers, had a terrific grasp on grammar and language, did very well on standardized tests when needed -- all without the years of formal grammar instruction. IDK if some of that is that they were naturally predisposed to do well with some of that, versus it being a direct consequence of an education firmly rooted in the classics and CM philosophy. But it worked for them. Very well. I am greatly enjoying this thread because I have been floundering with my younger crew... not being as consistent or committed to what I already know works beautifully. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts! BTW, I went looking for McGuffeys on the Kindle after a PP mentioned it and found these. Are these the blue swirly covered revised editions that many seem to prefer? I only have the Mott Media version, and these are definitely different.

Ugh. I don't know what to do!! lol But I really appreciate all the comments and experiences shared. I'm still not sure what we're going to do... but I will be thinking about all of this in my sleepless nights to come.... ;)

This is very interesting, to say the least. I appreciate all the comments so far and you've given me much to consider. I worry about spending years "learning" the language and still feeling like they know very little. And then there is the "use it or lose it" factor -- I think that is true with any foreign language, but is it even worse with a language like this that does not share a common root with English? In terms of the time commitment in high school that was mentioned, how different is that from, say, a student who is studying Spanish or French and wants to take those tests in high school. Do you think Mandarin is that much more intense? I'm not challenging the idea, just asking what you think. Or maybe it's easier to just "sneak by" with those other languages? What about college? Do you think it would be more "impressive" to list out Mandarin instead of Spanish, for example? What value do you see in the big picture of the future in learning Mandarin (assuming there is no personal family connection, of course) over another? Do you think it is/will be a more desirable language than Spanish or others?

I'm asking because I am trying to decide in the big picture if my 4,7,8yo should stick with learning Mandarin and I would love to hear from someone who is further down the path with this subject. My now-college-age kids learned Spanish in elem-middle school ages, then switched to ASL for high school and did very well with that. But Chinese? I love the idea of it, but it's a bit more daunting! If your kids are fluent, do you have any recommendations (or warnings) for me as I'm testing the waters? My goal for them is not necessarily to pass those AP/SATs, but having gone through the college app process twice already, I am mindful of it even though my younger ones seem so young. I now know how fast the time goes! lol We've been going to a Mandarin class 2x a month with a native speaker for the past 6 months, but little new ground is covered due to the spacing of classes. My kids know numbers up to really 10,000s, dates, body parts, some greetings, songs -- the can speak and understand all of that, but for writing they mostly just know the numbers and dates. However I'm at the point of needing to jump in with both feet (thinking Better Chinese, but confused at the options) or... IDK... maybe abandon it? We do know a few native Mandarin speakers -- acquaintances more than friends at this point -- they are happy to talk a bit with the girls, but I don't think a regular tutor will be in the budget for quite some time. Thanks so much for any thoughts to share!

Thank you so much! I ordered one of the Scientists in the Field books, and I see that our library has quite few different ones if she likes the setup. These look great and I so appreciate the recommendations! Also, love the oceanography thread and I am going to take my time exploring some of that for her. :thumbup:

We don't do much for birthday gifts, and my 7yo has decided that she would like a book on becoming a diver, an astronaut, or a scientist...or a book to help her in those interests (or a nature or history book). I would love to find something on a Kindle, but am open to a "real" book. She reads comfortably in the 3rd-5th grade range. Any suggestions? Thanks!

So isn't there anything for writing assignments? I thought there was. :/ I have gone through TTC and currently have done the story chart diagram with my kids for several children's books like Beatrix Potter stories. They are doing great with mapping out the elements -- characters, setting, exposition, rising action, climax, denoument, conclusion, theme, conflict. I was thinking Reading Roadmaps might be good to enhance what they are doing, particularly as they do more on their own, but I was especially hoping for more as we move into the realm of writing. I'm not sure that I'm satisfied with their book choices.... to me I don't see many of what I consider "classics" although maybe I need to be more accepting?? You know, TTC has bunches of questions in the back.... I wonder if those could be expanded more for writing? I'll have to pull that out again....

Thank you so much for sharing this! I began studying CM a looong time ago, but have more recently drifted away from some of what had proven to be so good. This digital version version is just thing to encourage me in the changes I want to make. Thanks! :thumbup:

I don't have an iPad and at times the idea sounds great (we are Apple-lovers, in general), but I do have the Fire and love it. My primary purpose for it though was as a reader, and I've got some fabulous books loaded onto it from Yesterday's Classics and Heritage History. The app stuff and email and such is a bonus, but not the main reason for it. Also, I do use it to play videos for the kids -- like at breakfast table while I'm preparing food they will watch an educational video or scripture stories, and the sound and volume on the Fire is terrific! An iPad was out of contention based on price, and we talked about getting a Nexus, but then my dh surprised me with the Fire and I do love it.

OK, so part of the little memory cards concept is that the kids are using those to quiz themselves and reinforce. So if you didn't buy the memory cards would you make your own? Or would you come up with other ways to "drill" and reinforce? I did buy the current history cards, so would I probably want to use the 4th edition book because earlier editions use VP cards? And then what about the music component? I know there is the timeline song, but is science and grammar memory cards all set to music on the music CD? I'm not sure exactly how the Resource CD differs from the cycle/music CD (although I you can print your own cards from the Resource CD). I will have to look into that. Thanks!

Thank you, this is great!

Does anyone know the answer to this? Is there any kind of a support group for CC at home? -- I guess specifically like some of those ideas Des mentioned.

lol -- ya, I get what you're saying. ;) OK so I should have asked this at the beginning, but I'm also interested to hear from everyone if you are learning simplified or traditional characters. We've been learning simplified, but I know it can be a hot topic.

I've used Spelling Wisdom and found there to be quality selections with that. You may want to give thought to which level you buy, but I think there are samples online. I'm sure there are free websites out there for that kind of thing too, but I bought the PDF version of this long ago for my olders and still use it with the youngers. ETA: Most entries come from classic literature, I think, although there are definitely some Bible verses for sure and sometimes just sayings or quotes from famous people in history.

I don't have an answer for you on this, but share a lot of your feelings! I have wanted to post something like that, too. I am relatively new to my current area, but honestly it feels like it can be hard to meet people if you don't do CC. It feels like peer pressure, lol. But I do see merits to certain aspects of the program, and the history cards and songs are a big part of that for sure. Will be following this topic for sure! (And Gentemommy, I'm curious how old your kids are, too.)