Oh good! Well, I'm starting to look forward to that book. I've never read it.

Heehee! I appreciate your comments. I'll look into the book--I'm intrigued. You aren't the first person to say start with A Christmas Carol for Dickens. The only reason that I hesitate with that one is that we've seen it so many times on TV in so many versions including the Muppets. :001_smile: I'm afraid the kids might revolt. So, is the book just really that good? Why is it helpful to read that one first?

Thanks for your input. You know, I've had Great Expectations on my list to read aloud for awhile now, but every time I think about reading it, I chicken out. Usually because I hear things that are not positive about Dickens---He's so hard to read, you can't keep up with the characters, you should WATCH Dickens, not read him, and on and on…. Anyone have a say about Dickens??

Lori, Thanks for the great list. We've read some of these, but not most of them. I appreciate your comments on the books as well! It's so helpful to see what others who have read the books think about them. I'm getting excited now about a new year of read alouds with my older kids!

Thanks for the suggestion. I've not ever heard of The Mouse That Roared. I do like Peter Sellers. I'll check it out!

Kareni, Thanks for your input. I was thinking those books might be better for my youngers but wasn't sure. Scarlet Pimpernel! I have seen the movie, but have never read the book. I love the movie, but generally the book is always better. I like this idea. Thanks!

Thank you! That's just the kind of feedback I need. I really haven't read a lot of classics--part of my education that I regret. So, I just don't know about some lit. My kids are not easily scared by things, but I will proceed with caution concerning Poe. I keep hearing how much people love Watership Down, and my dad suggested I read that one once when I was in my 20's--he loved it. I just never read it.

Here is a list I have going of some possible read alouds for my older children who will be in 7th, 9th, and 11th grades in the fall. Most, I am not familiar with, so feel free to to tell me what you think. What would you add? What would you delete? I'm trying to move away from historical fiction for our read alouds. 1. Little Lord Fauntleroy 2. Sherlock Holmes 3. The Search for Delicious 4. Swiss Family Robinson 5. Watership Down 6. Poetry and short stories by Edgar Allan Poe 7. Prydain Chronicles ? 8. Half Magic

So many good ones to have to choose from! But, I have to agree with the vote on Roll of Thunder for the simple reason that it will have good food for discussion. The Great Turkey Walk and By the Great Horn Spoon were favs here and I read them aloud, but my dc could easily have read them to themselves.

Here's mine.

I hear ya! And, yes, 2 boys would be easier than one, or at least it seems to me because my son is the only boy in our family with a bunch of girls who like to color, draw, write, and craft. The older he gets, the more I can see he needs physical exercise and lots of it.

My oldest dd is very driven. She came up with an idea one time to make a movie based on the history we were studying that year. She learned how to use the editing software we had and movie making became her hobby. Since then, she has made 4 movies--each one longer and better. We now own a Mac complete with imovie, and we have a nice video camera. My ds does help with the movie making. He acts in it, but my oldest 2 dd's do most of the work. When they are writing script or making costumes, my younger 2 get bored. Last year, they included their cousins and friends, and just recently held their first auditions for their new movie. Here is the trailer for the movie they made last year. It was 75 minutes long and had a blooper reel and special feature. We studied ancient history last year which you will see reflected in the trailer. Enjoy!

Wow! Thanks everyone for the great ideas and the encouragement. I'm going to print out all these suggestions and ponder them.

I really want to do this for my kids (or to them it will seem to them) for this summer. My plan is to implement something this summer, and if all goes well, continue the plan through the school year. I want reduced screen time to become the norm for our home. We have rules in place already, but somehow they still manage to spend a large part of their day in front of a screen. Screens are everywhere! TV, computers, DS, Iphones, etc. The problem I foresee happening is that my youngest two will get bored. They will aggravate and complain. I know it will take time for the new norm to happen without complaining, but I'd like to brainstorm a list of things the kids can do IN PLACE of watching a screen. Then, I can at least say, "Here is a list of things to help you think of something else to do". I really need help with ideas for a boy who hates to color and do crafts. 1. board games 2. play outside 3. wash the car 4. go for a walk 5. color 6. make something 7. READ!!! 8. play w/ toys (Lego, dolls) Any other suggestions?? Our summers are long because my oldest 2 make a movie every summer, and they need lots of time to do this--it keeps them busy and productive, so I like it. :)

I'm reading "Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy Lee DeMoss, but I just finished "To Kill a Mockingbird"--absolutely the best book I've read this year and really almost my all-time favorite book thus far. 16 and 14 year old are reading "Christy". 11 year old is reading "A Voice in the Dark: The story of Richard Wurmbrand" 8 year old isn't reading yet--I'm reading her: Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Mr. Popper's Penguins. Our read aloud is "Pilgrim's Progress" in Today's English Our favorite read aloud this year was "The Great and Terrible Quest" set in the middle ages.

We love doing this. We decorate with scrapbook papers too. Here's a link on my blog that will give you some visual aids. :)

Mmm… So, the info from the student book was also in the TE?

I understand. Ha!

Has anyone used The Argument Builder? What do you think about it? Easy to use? Teach concepts well? Is it teacher intensive?

This looks really neat. Has anyone used this? What do you think of it?

Another question about A of A. Did you feel like the teacher's manual was necessary?

Thanks for this info. That thread did not convince me not to use the DVD's although I agree that the sample was somewhat dull. Also, for the price, if I can do the book with my dc just as well without the DVD's, I'd probably rather do without. Does anyone else have an opinion on the DVD's? Do they really lend that much more to the book?

Thanks for that link--very helpful!

Thanks. I was wondering how much time it would take. There is a DVD that goes with it? Where do get that? Is the Discovery of Deduction by the same company/author? Mm…I guess I need to look at that book as well. Anyone else done the D of D?

LOL! That would be a disadvantage. I haven't done Fallacy Detective yet, but would still like to, so it's good to know I good use them together. Was it easy to coordinate the two?