Well, I remember purchasing TWTM soon after it came out and spending every free moment reading it and making notes and planning. :D Then I purchased any core book Susan recommended but when I tried to implement the classical approach with my dd, I struggled. . .badly. I found this forum and registered but didn't do much other than lurk (I think that was back in 2000).When I realized that my daughter wasn't responding to the classical approach and that I certainly wasn't up-to-speed either, we backed off and I spent a few years just trying to find our place. I would visit the old boards occasionally to see what was new and maybe look at the buy/sell section but I don't think I ever posted because I didn't feel qualified. Fast forward to Feb 2008, I rediscovered this forum and was astonished at how much had changed! I also was excited because my middle ds was ripe for the classical approach and so was I! I reregistered and have been blessed by all the wisdom shared on this board.

I am going to start this book over the summer and saw this guide mentioned in an earlier post and was just wondering if it is necessary. Does it really help with getting through the book? I hate to spend $$ on something that I don't really need.

:iagree:

Lisa, I so appreciate you taking the time to write this overview. I have been looking at this program since last fall when I finally gave up on Classical Writing which is also a great program but it was a failure for us because *I* couldn't wrap my head around the big picture. I personally don't mind if a writing program is 'teacher intensive' but I, at least, need to see where it's going. If that makes any sense. :D Anyway, from your overview, I can see better how this program works and am leaning more and more in favor of it for next year. Now I just have to convince dh that spending another $150 for a writing program is worth it. :tongue_smilie:

Great question! My ds16 has been a fan of youtube for the past year and there have been times when my dh or I have had to step in and say, "Enough! Log off." He generally is watching silly comedic videos and for him it's a great stress release. It's actually quite humerous for the rest of us because he will sit at the computer (which is in a very public location between LR and DR) with the headphones on so he doesn't bother us, but every few minutes he will bust out laughing and that usually draws our attention which can lead to the rest of us standing over his shoulder trying to see what is so hilarious! :lol: As for FB, he just started with that a month or so ago. He has a few friends from church that he hangs with and they all have FB accounts so he wanted his own in order to chat with them. I look at it this way, my oldest dd spent a good deal of her free time as a teen on the phone talking with her friends but my ds enjoys chatting online with his. Since it's almost summer break and his school year is winding down I've let him spend a little more time than usual on FB. However, this is one of those times where I think he will suffer the consequences of his decision all on his own because, before FB, he was ontrack to complete all his schoolwork by the end of May. Now it's looking more like the middle of June and maybe later if he doesn't get a handle on limiting his online time. I've told him that I will not 'nag' him but he has to be responsible to get his work done and his 'year' isn't done until the work is completed! Maybe I'm crazy but I look at this as one opportunity to teach him to be responsible for his own time which is exactly what he says he wants. We will see. I do agree with you though about figuring this all out before they head off on their own. I read recently (I think it was in a post on this forum) that it's better to let your children stumble while still under your roof so that you can guide them with love and wisdom through it. I look at computer usage and TV viewing in that way.

Hi Wendy, My ds16 did this his 8th grade year as well. I asked him how long he thought it took him each day and although he couldn't pinpoint it exactly he thinks he averaged 20-30min on the workbook pages. He did say some days took a little longer if he had to spend time looking back in the book for the answers.

:iagree::iagree::iagree: PLEASE!!! Open the box. . put us out of our misery! :D

Has anyone used this woodworking book with their children? My younger ds13 needs something hands-on and this looks like it might be perfect but I just wondered if anyone has tried it yet. http://www.woodworkersresource.com/products/woodshop-for-kids/index.html If anyone has any other recommendations, I would love to hear them! Thanks,

Christine, I don't worry so much about the percentiles, but I do look at and compare the number of problems they got right compared to the total number of problems. I also take into consideration if they've moved up a level in the testing. If they are making progress in answering more questions correctly then I consider that as a good sign they are progressing.

Thank you ladies! Well, it looks like I've got some more researching to do. Perhaps I need to go at this from a different angle. Susan C. ~ I like your idea of using Standard Deviants then Practice Makes Perfect. I checked both to see it they also offer Italian and they do! emubird ~ I'm also going to check to see if my library carries Pimsleur. It's probably a good thing I don't need to make a final decision until August.

I've read through most of the posts regarding Rosetta Stone and have tentatively put it on my 'to buy' list for next year. The only thing making me hesitate is the price tag. Tell Me More looks similar but costs less. Is it a good program?

Have you looked at Kingdom of God by Francis Breisch, Jr.? Here is Christian Liberty's description: This text by Francis Breisch, Jr., provides high school students with a thorough Old Testament survey course. Each of the books of the Old Testament is analyzed in detail, and students are provided with thought provoking comprehension questions and map work. (Christian Schools International)

Actually, I'm wondering if your background in Italian may help your Latin studies. An excerpt from Latin Book One (Scott,Horn): Thus we have today the French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Rumanian languages, each of which is really Latin in a changed form. These are known as the Romance languages. I am using this Latin book with my ds13. It is available online for free w/answer key. If you're interested check it out at the yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Latinbk1/ The files section contain the lessons and answer key.

As for me and my house. . . we vote Lee!!!! Although, if Crystal were to win we would not be upset because she is one very talented 'Mama' :D. It's just that we vote based on whether or not we would buy/listen to their music so Lee gets our vote. We are BIG Daughtry and Cook fans too!

Have you looked at KISS grammar? Here is the link http://home.pct.edu/~evavra/kiss/wb/PBooks/index.htm I'm thinking of using this with my ds13.

Yes, right now I'm wavering on whether or not to purchase a particular writing curriculum. Not because I'm afraid it isn't a good one but more because I know that a curriculum is only as good as my commitment to following through with it. I have in the past spent good money on stuff I never got around to using simply because there just wasn't enough time or motivation. I've also purchased wonderful programs that it turned out didn't suit my dc's learning styles nor mine so into the 'for sale' box they went. Just recently, before making a substantial investment in a particular curriculum, my dh asked with a very serious face, "If I say, 'Go ahead and order it', will you actually use it?" Good question and this time I was sure that the answer was yes so I ordered it. However, the writing one I'm still wavering/praying about. Now, as for wavering over whether or not to switch to another because of problems, I've done that too. A couple of times, the switch was unnecessary and didn't correct the problem the way I anticipated but ther were a couple times that switching was a life saver. I guess my question to you would be, why do you think your oldest needs to switch math? What are the issues you are having? If you are convinced that the issues could be solved using MUS then I say switch but if you do then be prepared to commit to the MUS approach. Jumping around from one to another may cause more harm than good. Believe me, I know and it's the one thing I'm striving to be better at with my two boys. (sticking it out with any given curriculum, that is :D)

When I was in elementary school, there was a teacher named Sandy Beach. :lol:

My dh decided he wanted a clock that tells time in binary. . . now in the family room there sits a clock that flashes all the time. . .columns of tiny blue blinking dots of lights with each blink changing the number of lights. I sometimes stand there and stare at it wondering how anybody can actually tell what time it is by simply looking at columns of blinking blue lights!

:iagree: We gave up on cable a few years ago and switched to a Netflix account. My dss got the PS3 for Christmas and we hooked it up to the big TV in the fam. rm so now we get streaming Netflix and can watch some great documentaries, movies and cable tv shows we never were able to before like Dirty Jobs! Worth the $$$ and the only time we have noticed a problem is when my older ds is on the computer in the next room watching videos on Youtube. For some reason it affects the streaming download and can cause the streaming to stop while it waits to retrieve the info.

1. What's your name? Sue 2. How many kids do you have (include ages if you wish) 3 ~ DD21, DS16, DS13 (this week!) 3. What curriculum/curricula do you use? Eclectic mix (Apologia, Rainbow, TT, Systematic Math, Trad. Logic, Notgrass, IEW, OYAN, Latin Book 1, etc) 4. Something interesting about yourself. a) My highschool graduation gift from my mom & dad was to spend a month with my dad bicycling over the Rocky Mtns of Colorado. b) I became a Grandma at the young age of 42. :) 5. What's your favorite season? Christmas, then fall and spring 6. Favorite subject to teach: History and Latin 7. What's your HS approach in a nutshell? Classical for the most part. 8. Why did you decide to homeschool? My DD was finishing up 3rd grade at a local private Christian school and struggling academically. She has a mild case of dyslexia. I decided she needed more one on one. After our first year's success, my dh and I decided we would keep at it with all our dc and we haven't looked back!

That reminds me. . . I need a cup of coffee!:lol: I don't have a muffin to go with it, but I DO have a big ol' bar of Hersey's Dark chocolate hidden in the fridge. That will have to do. :D

My ds is finishing up TT Geometry. I purchased the CD's because I wanted something he could go to if he needed extra help. For the most part, he has read the text and done the work just fine but there were a few times when he just didn't understand and would put in the CD and watch the lesson then the solutions to the problems with which he was struggling. It has been a great help!

Hi Charles, If you go to this link http://circeinstitute.org/demo_ltw.shtml , you can download a pdf sample copy of the teacher guide and student workbook that will give you a better idea of the program.

Cynthia, My oldest ds started with Nance's Introductory Logic. When he completed that, I decided to switch him to Trad. Logic because my ds is definitely more language based. He is enjoying Trad. Logic (he is halfway through Trad. Logic 2) and says he likes the way it is presented better than Nance's Intro. I believe this is just personal preference because he did learn alot from Nance's but he *prefers* Cothran's teaching approach. :) I also notice that your son will be doing One Year Adventure Novel next year which may mean he is more language based as well?? My ds is loving OYAN this year! **I also agree with Lori D., pick one and go with it!

I believe AskDrCallahan.com has the dvd instruction for Jacobs geometry. :)