I had this exact same issue except we are doing Preparing. So I tried it. It's too much writing in my opinion unless you do everything orally. I have 4 HOD manuals and there is plenty of copywork, dictation, and writing in general. I too do not care for R&S so I am going to drop grammar (shh!) until forth or fifth and do AG jr, and then AG in 6th or 7th. That is what I am doing with the olders. I have found that at a young age grammar has a hard time sticking. I really love PLL and ILL, but most of it is already covered in the HOD manuals (except for picture study and a few other things). These are just my ramblings. Take what you will:tongue_smilie: HTH! Kristen

I'm sorry your having these issues! I understand your love for TOG! For us it just became too much. I have boys ;) and they are more math science oriented. They are ahead in these areas, and enjoy spending lots of time with these subjects. I had a D, UG, and LG boy. Once we got to the D level it became too much. The books were great, but trying to pull the info required to answer the questions took too much time. I finally gave up the questions and started having them narrate what they read. I focused on what they got out of what they read to try to make it more fun to just learn. If we started a book and they didn't like it I just dropped it. I also started more Bible framework study. By the time we had finished one 4 yr cycle I was done. It was taking too much time, and our focus had changed. I had many of the books for all levels for all years and the print versions. I sold it all. All this to say, if the curriculum isn't working for you drop it or cut way back. It will be ok also if you want to take a break for a year as well. Do you think it might help if your oldest dd did more personal Bible study, and maybe a history study that interests her? Like the history of art or the history of science or a particular animal study? Maybe if she had a choice to focus on what her interests are she might enjoy and work harder? I'm sure working on her attitude issues is important and should be a priority as well. (Which I know you said you are working through;)) IMHO switch if you think you need to, or just take a break. :D I hope this helps some in your journey. Let us know what you decide. Kristen

I am also asking this same question. We are currently using ECC as well with a 12, 10, 8 and 6 yr old. I am very happy with it. The older package is perfect for my 12ds. I don't think CTG is going to work for oldest. First of all he has read all the books already:tongue_smilie:! But I have heard that 13 is too young for the highschool. So I don't really know where to go from here. I would love to know from others who have done with a jr. high child. Thanks for any input:) Kristen

It was really a toss up between flying and swimming. But in the end my kids liked flying best. We will never forget the section on bats!! Kristen

Well I have 5 sons. Love everyone! But I have all my life wanted a daughter. Last year I got one:) The comments used to be "are you going to try for the girl!!" What is this "trying" business? Now the comments are "Oh she'll never have a boyfriend" or "she'll be so spoiled!":glare: You should have heard all of us in the sonogram room (yes all boys came to watch) when we found out it was a girl. Funny but I do have a friend who has 5 girls and one boy! I would love to have 4 or so more!! (girls please) Kristen

Toothsoap. Combo of olive oil, peppermint, spearmint and something else I think. Few drops on your toothbrush and leaves your teeth clean and fresh feeling. I order it online. I think I just did a search for toothsoap. Kristen

Love the phonics!! Memoria has revised a classical phonics book for the teacher, and I have learned so much. I have used OPGTR with 3 of my dc and like it, but could never get the kids to like it. My youngers are really enjoying this. Wish I had it years ago. Sra workbooks are great and like the overall approach. I feel it is well rounded. They have a 60 day money back trial. I tried it because of that. It was worth the try. HTH! Kristen

Hi, WWE is writing with ease Writing program writen by Susan Bauer one of the authors of The Well Trained Mind. FLL is a grammar program put out by the same publishing co. written by her mother Jesse Wise. Most libraries have The Well Trained Mind (TWTM). It is worth the read. It's full of helpful homeschool ideas (if you have not read it yet). I have learned alot and own my own copy! I have used both these programs. They are teacher friendly and my kids have enjoyed them. Do a search and there is lots of info on each. HTH! Blessings, Kristen

We do warm olive oil and then place a piece of raw garlic in the ear. My oldest ds (11) had and ear infection after a cold two months ago. Never had to use oral meds. Better in 24hrs. Hope your ds feels better soon! Kristen

Thanks for the responses! MaryCatherine, thanks for the specifics. This is what I was looking for.:) Just printed my tickets, and boys are so excited. Thanks again, Kristen

Bump :001_smile:

Have any of you gone to this? It is usually in May the day before the Arlington Book Fair. If you have gone what was your line wait time? I think they close the park to just homeschoolers, and I was hoping this would cut down on time waiting in line. We have small ones and know that long lines are not going to be fun for them. Do you think it is worth it? We would never go on our own, but the tickets are discounted. Any help would be appreciated!:) Kristen 5 boys, and one baby girl!!

Other-our copywork is our penmanship. This way it is cheap and easy;)! Kristen

Just took my just turned 9yr old in as he said he couldn't see. He got his first pair of glasses last Dec. His perscription had doubled. We went to Walmart. $45 for exam and $38 total for lenses and frames. They also have a one year warranty on all frames for any breaks. We did not use any insurance. I would go ahead and get an exam if I were you. My eyes changed every six months to a year when I was 8yrs to about 14 yrs. HTH, Kristen

Yes, we tried TOG classic and dropped it to try SL and WP. Came back and Love TOG redisigned. We are fixn to finish our 3rd year. Kristen Ds10 Ds9 Ds7 Ds5 Ds2 baby girl due Thanksgiving

Hi, I have 5 ds and a dd! due on Thanksgiving. Our schedual is similar to pp. *Breakfast *morning chores *piano practice (i'm like you I teach them myself) Lesson from Mom when nessesary *Bible/Memory verses *ds 10, ds 9, ds 7 work on their "list" (usually Greek, history lapbooks for younger two and ds 10 starts his list) *mom works with ds 5 (Phonics, writing, math) usually ds 3 joins in, then they go play quietly *mom works with ds7 (reading, math, grammar, writing, spelling) and 9 on (math, LA,) *As ds7 and ds 9 are working I give ds 10 what lessons he needs and assign work as the different subjects get finished. *ds 7 is done in about 2 hrs. Ds 9 about 3. ds 10 takes about 4 hrs. for the basics. What he does not finish in the morning he does after lunch *lunch/break *quiet time/naps/ds 10 and 9 do history and lit reading *read alouds for all *break *chores/outside play *dinner *time with dad This is what we do. Good luck with getting back into classical. You can do it! Kristen

No, no....It's not a contraction. It's a word. Yall Kristen from Texas :D

Me too! I have looked at this too for a 2nd and 4th. Have you had a chance to look through it at all? Has anyone else seen this or used it? :bigear: Thanks for the question! Kristen

I have enjoyed all the comments. I am extroverted and enjoy phone and face to face conversations. But you know what...I really don't like posting on forums like this or chats. I don't spell well and don't feel I write well either. It seems I can get my words out better vocally than written. Maybe if I had had a better education I would feel more confident...but probably not.:glare: There seems to be many different feelings about forum chat. It's very interesting. Kristen

My midwife gave me some literature about why labor starts. When the baby is ready his lungs give off a protine in the amniotic fluid which is absorbed by the placenta. The placenta sends off a hormone to the mother that says "baby is ready". Then over the next 48hrs or so mom sends baby a burst of immunities. (and gets mom's body ready) This doesn't really help other than let you know that waiting is good if seen in this light.:glare: Hope your baby comes soon! Kristen did someone mention crying!!

I looked through this at a recent convention. It looks good, but lots more words and less pictures than the previous ones. I am thinking of saving it for when my dc get another year under there belt. What do yall think? Kristen

I will take a shot at an answer.;) We use MCT for Grammar, poetry and vocab. I am pretty sure you can use just the grammar book as stand alone or with another LA. I am not familiar with the other programs you have used, but I would say there is not harm in going with the first level of MCT. If your student finds the first level easy then go through it quickly. My ds loves the first grammar island book! Keep in mind that the instruction books only last a few months. The practice worksheets are helpfull to fill (review) the rest of the school year. HTH, Kristen

My son says that he thinks there is more content in the passages than WWE3. (They contain more info with the same # of paragraphs). He says this makes his narrations longer, but he "doesn't mind". WWE 4 includes science selections (looking forward to these) and more history selections. It also includes some poetry. The dictation is longer, but we are hanging in there.;) I am very happy with WWE4. I sure hope SWB writes something for 5-8th grade. KWIM? Kristen

We have enjoyed WWE 4. Having done WWE 3 and a few weeks of WWE4 I feel my ds 10 is writing much better in other areas as well. I think you could continue with WWE 4 so your ds gets a very good foundation. Finishing this series can really help writing in the future. Keep in mind you can skip a week in the workbook if you do not like the selection or you want to move forward faster. WWE takes the pressure off the student as far as "coming up with something to write". My ds is now able to organize his thoughts before putting them down on paper. This was a big struggle we had with other writing programs. Best of all my son enjoys it! That can go along way.:D If you have WTM you might reread the section on writing in the grammar stage. It really helped me understand the thought process behind WWE. These are just some quick thoughts that I hope help:) Kristen

I have an 8 yr old ds and he is half way through level F. With math I have always gone over a concept once, if they get it, I go on. This keeps it interesting. I say go through the rest of C this way and then move on to D, or if she can handle it go strait to D. The beginning of the level has a review of the past levels. We love to play lots of math games around here! HTH! Kristen Just so you know I am not GT, but my boys are in some areas so please forgive my spelling and typos:tongue_smilie: