Here are my plans so far for my son who will be in the 3rd next year... Math - Rod & Staff 3 Grammar - Rod & Staff 3 Spelling - Rod & Staff 3 Writing - Unsure, most likely narration WWE style History - Still not a priority for us at this stage, so just various books (probably some TOG suggestions since my oldest uses that) Science - Unsure, maybe Elemental Science Grammar Stage Chemistry or Rod & Staff Science 3

I went from Math Mammoth with my oldest to R&S for some of the same reasons you mentioned - I wanted more explanation for me to be able to help him more...I still have MM on hand for extra practice if I need it, but I find the explanations and guidance in R&S to be just what we needed...My two younger ones are doing R&S as well, from the beginning...

My second grader uses Rod & Staff grade 2 level and we love it!...We do it orally and my son enjoys that...I also noticed that WTM recommends starting with the 3rd grade level, but I am not sure why...We are really enjoying the second grade level, so I would recommend trying that...

My oldest son has used both (we used Spellong Workout in the past and has used R&S for the past two years)...SWO involved me more slightly because it was more difficult for my son to understand the writing and extra parts to it...In theory, they both should only involve you to give the quiz, but the extra stuff with SWO had to be explained more, where he understands R&S more on his own...We prefer R&S...

I agree with Boscopup...You will end up doing Rod & Staff again because FLL ends at level 4, so just stick with it, esp. if it is working...We use Rod & Staff here, but my second grader did some of FLL when he was in first grade...I am simply waiting until second grade to do Rod & Staff grammar with my now first grader...We do Rod & Staff grammar orally in the early grades, so it is not too time consuming for us...

My 6 year old is learning cursive now...My 8 year old only writes his school work in cursive...He learned about a year or so ago...

This is a quote from the blog post... TOG finds replacements for any book that goes out of print as soon as it goes out of print...They even have access to the old plans that involve out of print books...So basically, you can use the current book or an older one and still print out the lesson plans that go along with it, so I don't understand this comment...If you buy TOG used, you may not have access to what I am mentioning, but you can't list that as a con of the curriculum...It is simply a con of buying it used...

This...It is very difficult to explain what Waldorf is, because it is a way of educating in light of an anthroposophical view of the world and mankind...I can explain to you how Waldorf manifests itself, but without an understanding in anthroposophy, it is hard to understand...That is why Waldorf teacher training begins with several courses in anthroposophy...Trust me, I have taken them :tongue_smilie: There are great components to Waldorf that can be imitated, but you cannot "do Waldorf" without understanding or embracing anthroposophy...There are things I like about Waldorf, but I am not an anthroposophist, so it always falls apart for me every time I try it...I tried it again at the beginning of this school year... I am sorry this is not a good explanation...I will look for an old post where I was thinking more clearly and have a better explanation, but I am afraid such a post does not esist :blush5:

The statement in bold makes a lot of sense... The above bolded statements are pretty much how I feel...We are in this for the long haul, but sometimes I wonder if I am being foolish for thinking that way...We have had some issues over the years (and still have some), and I really wanted others perspective on whether no longer homeschooling is even an option for them...It can be difficult to know whether you are being emotional, or if a change is needed...I pretty much decided years ago that we will work out what ever comes our way, but I also don't want to be a fool that overlooks the obvious - knowing the boat is sinking and stay aboard anyway and drown the family... I don't think our boat is sinking yet (at least not beyond what we can repair and deal with), I am just not so sure that I should continue on with the mindset that nothing would stop me from homeschooling...I just want to have a realistic view of things... But no, we are not on the verge of stopping :) ...But we do have to come up with a plan to help our boys deal with some character issues (that going to school won't solve), and I need to make sure the boys are getting the best education they can here...I don't think my standard is high enough for my oldest...I would like to challenge him more...

:iagree:

Have you decided to homeschool to the end no matter what, or do you have specifics things you look for to determine whether you should continue?...Have you said to yourself, "I know I should stop when..."...I guess what I am asking is do you have any warning signs that you look for to let you know that this may not be for you?

[font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=4][color=#b22222]I have a second grader this year, and my youngest will most likely do second grade next year...Here is our second grade plans (what we are doing this year and what will continue with my younger next year)...[/color][/size][/font] [font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=4][color=#b22222]Phonics/Reading - Rod & Staff 2 and Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading [/color][/size][/font] [font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=4][color=#b22222]Math - Rod & Staff 2[/color][/size][/font] [font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=4][color=#b22222]Spelling - Rod & Staff 2[/color][/size][/font] [font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=4][color=#b22222]Grammar/English - Rod & Staff 2[/color][/size][/font] [font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=4][color=#b22222]Health - Rod & Staff 2[/color][/size][/font] [font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=4][color=#b22222]Science - We do Rod & Staff Science, but I will most likely either switch back to Elemental Science (which I loved) or drop the subject for now[/color][/size][/font] [font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=4][color=#b22222]We will also listen to Story of the World 2 on CD...[/color][/size][/font]

We don't do History at all in the early years...I started History with my oldest in the 5th grade, and plan to do the same with my younger two...My younger two focus on Phonics, Reading, Math and Writing - the basic skills...We own SOTW on CD, and they all love listening to it, but as far as teaching History as a subject to anyone in less than 5th grade, to quote Sweet Brown, "Ain't nobody got time for that" :tongue_smilie:

My son is also young (his birthday is Sep. 4th) and he is in the 6th grade this year...He is 12 years old...Last year was difficult for us, and it is getting better this year...I would really think about letting him do 6th grade work next year...I am happy that my two September birthday boys are in the lower grade level (My 2nd grader turned 8 on Sep. 9th)...That extra year of maturity helps a lot...It will also take some of the pressure of both of you to be at 7th grade level next year...

:iagree: This is what I was going to say...I like TTC, but it is very expesnsive (I borrowed it from a friend)...Susan's talk above is what I listen to, and all that is really necessary...

This is so very true!...I cannot "Like" this comment enough!...It has taken me YEARS to realize this...I am finally understanding what it means to be a 1st generation doer of most of the things I am currently doing... There are people who seem to "do it all"...Most of us can think of someone...They don't really "do it all", they just do "more" of certain or many things than we do...I am willing to bet that they grew up seeing something modeled for them (cooking, cleaning, teaching, etc.) that now makes it easier for them to function, just like Hunter said...Since I did not grow up that way, I am doing the best that I can...I will NEVER do the best that can be done... I feel discouraged often about where things are with my family, like many people do I am sure...It can be hard sometimes...But I know that I am growing and changing for the better by the year as a mom...Just wish I started out a little farther down the line :tongue_smilie:

Even though I have way more than 50 posts...It just says I cannot start a new topic... Help :)

The popcorn one means lurking (nothing to add, just listening)

This...

I have three boys and I just feel like we are done...My oldest is 12, youngest is 6, and I can't imagine starting over at this point...We have done nothing permanent, but I just don't feel like I will have another child...Finances are very tight now too, so it doesn't make sense to us to have another... I agree with a previous poster who said I feel like everyone is here now :001_smile:

:grouphug: I am so sorry to hear this...I wish there was something to say or do to make things better, but I know there isn't... :grouphug:

:iagree:

Thank you...I had about 5 mins to read something here on the forums and I am so glad that I chose to read this ;)

:iagree:

:iagree: I never understood why people buy milk, frozen goods, or any refrigerated items when they are expecting to loose power...Seems like you would just loose more money when the stuff goes bad...