We got rid of cable a couple years ago. Thought we would be lost without the all those channnels and the local cable news. Nope, we seemed to have survived. My dh did, however, install an antena. . . yes, we've gone backwards. :001_smile: Anyway, we get the channels we enjoy without the '150 channels and nothing on' syndrome. This includes American Idol, Extreme Home Makeover and other local shows as well as PBS History Detective and Antiques Roadshow. I think the total cost for installing the antena was around $200. A one time cost and then just enjoy! Oh, and we decided to invest in Netflix, the $5/mo plan which means 2 movies in a 30 day period (one at a time though) but we've enjoyed some great family movie time together watching some of the classics.

I didn't start my boys until Level 3. Before that we focused on phonics and lots of reading.

Thank you! After looking over the placement tests and the samples found at Exodus Books, I think my best option would be to start him at level 5B. He has covered much of what I'm seeing in the 5A, and some of what's covered in 5B; but there are a few concepts in 5B I think he should cover. Is this going to be difficult to do? Can I jump in mid level? Oh, I wish I could just get my hands on the books and look through them. sigh.

http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm Here's a website link to the placement tests. :001_smile:

I have heard about Singapore for many years but never really checked it out. I just looked at it today and am totally amazed at the samples! I would like to give this a try with my soon to be 7th grader but would I need to start at the Primary 6th level since he has not done this program yet? Has anyone jumped right in at a higher level?

:iagree: But don't think I didn't worry that I'd ruined my daughter because she was my guinea pig when it came to trying out "the best" curriculum. Do you know what she knows now?? She learned that she can do anything if she puts her mind to it because I taught her how to love learning. Believe me, she had gaps. . . many of them. . .but she's doing just fine!

I haven't used Ray's but looking at some samples it looks a lot like Practical Arithmetic which I have used for elementary math for my youngest. I really liked it because it didn't have lots of color (which totally distracted my son even though he said he liked it) AND it covered everything in units. By that I mean my son was immersed in a new concept until he understood it and could do the problems without thinking. I also like the old fashioned way of wording the word problems. . . there were some that really made my ds think! Anyway, for elementary years I think the foundation was laid well with this kind of math program. JMHO,

The funny thing is. . .what I like most about this program is that I want to learn it too! So my ds is stuck with me doing this alongside him. Sometimes he just hates how excited I get. . .there is no way I would let him have all the fun! :tongue_smilie:

Yes, this was my dilemma. I only have 3 years to go with my oldest son so I would rather jump right in to WVWW. I guess, I was just worried that there would be some foundation laid in Starting Points that would frustrate us if we didn't have it. I like your idea of some summer reading. :001_smile: Thanks!

What Kel said is 'right on' with the exception that after completing an SWI level you can move on to the same SICC level. The great thing about the SWI's is that Mr Pudewa does the teaching for you while you get up to speed with the program. Some people use only the SWI and SICC. Also, the SWI's are usually only 15 or so weeks long. You can stretch it out if you want but we did it in the 15 weeks. The SICC's are a year's worth of writing. So in my opinion, your best option would be to purchase the TWSS/SWI combo. Watch the teacher training dvd's whenever you can fit them in. Definitely watch the SWI lessons with your children so that you know what's expected of them. When they are done the level of SWI, you can move onto the same level of SICC and then progress through the SICC levels. Does that make sense? In other words, if you start with SWI A, when you are done you could move onto SICC A, then SICC B and finally SICC C. I don't believe you need to do the other SWI's in between. There is a yahoo group called IEWFamilies that you could check out. They are a great resource to have as you work through the program. :001_smile:

My ds15 is ready for a solid worldview curriculum. I like what I see in the Cornerstone materials. The only question is do I start him in Starting Points or jump right into Worldviews of the Western World I. Has anyone gone from Starting Points into WVWW or even skipped Starting Points and gone right into WVWW? What would be the pros and cons to doing it both ways?? Thanks,

Teresa, I totally understand where you are coming from. Our family on both sides think we are nuts not only because the Lord is the center of our family and our lives but also because we choose to homeschool. My dad was our only supporter and losing him 6 years ago to a stroke was more difficult than I could have imagined. I miss his enthusiasm. But as for your sister's hard work and burning the candle at both ends, I know for a fact my family doesn't have a clue as to how much time, energy and effort is put into teaching and training up our children. Our goal is for eternal reward not temporal and so we won't necessarily see all the benefits in the here and now. But the One who sees all, sees our effort, knows our heart and is pleased with our desire to do what is best for our family. So stand your ground where you feel you need to, I know it's hard because I had to do the same thing a few years ago with my inlaws. Eventually, I think they learn to respect the fact that we mean to do this and we mean to do it our way. . .period. Take deep breaths, don't let them upset you, just know that they don't understand but that it's not important that they understand or approve. From one 'people pleaser' to another, you are not alone. :001_smile:

Yes, you can use just the SWI's if cost is an issue. I liked having both and I learned a lot working through the teacher training dvd's. However, I will strongly recommend that you watch the lesson with your children and if possible do the writing lesson as well yourself. I say this because in doing it yourself you will learn how the program works and know better how to help if your children are struggling with anything. What I have learned is that even though Mr. Pudewa is teaching the lesson, the children at home watching the dvd don't have access to asking him any questions they might have and so you will be the only source of clarification for them and the more you know about how IEW works the better.

My ds who is finishing 9th grade is also finishing his first year of Latin study using Latin Road to English Grammar. We are now looking into and most likely going to use Wheelock's next. I know some have had some difficulty with Wheelock's but I've found a resource that I hope will help with that; plus, I like that it's a parts to whole approach. Now, if I had oodles of money, I would sign my ds up in a heartbeat in the Lukeion online program which I believe also uses Wheelock's. Here is their website: http://www.lukeion.org/credentials.htm The other resource is: http://www.classicsprofessor.com/Wheelock_Files.html On this site, there are audio lectures and study aids written by a professor who uses Wheelocks in his college class and who has written the Comprehesive Guide to Wheelocks. It looks helpful. I'm definitely going to use this resource. HTHs,

Another resource is this site. . . http://www.classicsprofessor.com/Wheelock_Files.html This is the same guy who wrote A Comprehensive Guide to Wheelock. It has lectures and study aids. Check it out.

I purchased two Sonlight cores last year to use with my two boys. Spent a pretty penny on them too . . . but, I needed the year planned out for me. I was burned out trying to do my own thing. My boys both loved the year of reading, reading and more reading. We have returned this year to me planning out our history studies. BUT, when our year was up, I sold both cores and recouped most of my investment! Something to think about.

You know, these days nothing would surprise me. I can't imagine why your son would say it was the exact same thing unless it was; because he had nothing to gain by saying it. So, you might wonder, why would the schools/teachers give the kids a heads-up on the material?? Well, the school district in which I live is struggling each year to show 'adequate yearly progress' which is required under the 'No Child Left Behind' Act so. . . . I wouldn't be surprised to find schools or school districts making sure their kids do well. KWIM Not saying it is happening. . .just wouldn't be surprised that's all.

I have All Through the Ages and I have used Truthquest with my ds's. All Through the Ages. . .Christine Miller has organized the lists by chronology, geography, science/mathematics, arts and Great Books. A great resource for anyone to use in their homeschool. Truthquest . . .Michelle Miller gives more of a history commentary with suggested reading lists. She includes prompts for writing assignments as well. I believe she was (or maybe still is) a librarian. Her knowledge of history as well as all the many good books available is impressive. Although with this curriculum, you would need to purchase a few books to cover all of history but if you're interested in the added commentary then it's worth it. My boys and I really enjoyed her American History guide and it did recommend some books not listed in All Through the Ages but I don't think enough to make it a needed second resource to it. So, I guess you could say All Through the Ages is just a booklist although a very good one and Truthquest is more of a history commentary with many suggested books to fill out the study. I still have my All Through the Ages book. :001_smile:

Holly, That is exactly right but it is so worth the effort. I think your idea of using the summer to get ahead will be very beneficial for you; but even if you don't and you only stay a week or two ahead you will find it's very doable. If I could do it then anyone can do it. ;) Now my next teaching challenge will be CW. We will begin that next fall.

I thought I might just clarify a few things for you. . . The DVD's are really for the teacher. I let my ds watch along with me only when I thought he would benefit but that wasn't often. The DVD's are more of an overview of how you, the teacher, are to implement the program and teach the different concepts. The student text really does all the teaching and the TM helps to schedule the year and has all the answers to the text/tests/worksheets. If you are not going to work alongside your student (actually this worked best when I was at least a week or two ahead of him) then this is not the program for you. I can only say that it really helped my son and me get our foot in the door of Latin. As for a refund, I don't know.

Melissa, Part of the problem with not knowing WHY something was wrong could have been because it wasn't necessarily wrong. In Latin, although there are definitely better or more acceptable ways to order the words, because the endings determine the job (subject, DO, OP, IO, etc) you have some discretion as to the order. This took my ds and me a few lessons to figure out because we would have the right words with the right endings but some in a different order and I would assume we were wrong until I went back and watched the DVD again and caught her comment where she states that in the ans key she is only going to show one option. Boy did I feel dumb. . but my ds got a good laugh watching me pull my graying hair out by the roots while trying to figure out how we got something different! Again, I definitely wouldn't have had success with this program if I wasn't doing it alongside my ds.

:iagree:ME too! : ) And we have to be in a real heat wave for me to turn it more to the cool temp. Oh, and I've lived in US all my life.

Well, I certainly don't have all the Pampered Chef things that I would like but of what I do have. . . these are my favs: batter bowl veg. peeler ~ haven't found a better one anywhere silicone spatulas ~ they really don't stain!!! Stones!!!! ~ french fries and pizza wouldn't be as good without them Apple slicer ~ kiddos love this one : ) whisk sm. metal spatula (not sure what it's exact name is but I love it) Okay, I don't think there is anything I own of theirs that I don't just LOVE!

Well, after having done many years of Shurley it took a while to adjust to a different style of finding and labeling parts of speech and honestly, I don't think my ds learned anything new from doing this program. However, I think for certain learning styles, this program would work very well. It's just that my son already knew most of what was taught and his Latin study this year is doing more in the way of the reinforcement that he needed so this program for us was kind of repetitious.

:001_smile: Looks like a good plan. My ds who is finishing up 9th grade this year did Analytical Grammar (through season 1 & 2) and IEW SICC-C with no trouble.