Thank you this is all wonderful advice! We do have the activity guide and are trying to get into the activities. We're getting ready to make our scrolls and clay tablets. So did anyone actually mummify a chicken. Nasty but fascinating.

Yes, it helps immensely! I so appreciate everyone that has taken the time to share their experiences and wisdom. I've considered putting it away until next year but I think we'll continue on with it, with just a different attitude. I thought at first it was learning history in general that she was bored with but we are also reading A Child's History of the World and I read that to her while she is doing the coloring page from the SOTW activity guide and she always asks me to read "more", "more"! As soon as I stopped asking the questions with SOTW she asked to read more of it too. So I will just lighten it up, skip the questions and review what we've covered informally and through discussion and through additional reading and activities that we're doing with the Activity Guide. If the whole thing starts to explode on us, we'll shelve it for awhile. I really like your suggestion on having me start the narration and letting her finish it. She really likes coming up with her own thing but maybe what I'll do is do the first narration with me starting it and having her finish it and then asking her if she'd like to do one of her own. I think it is wise to have them write their own narrations. I am really liking WWE and the nice thing about it is that it gradually builds them into writing their own narrations as well. We had our first week where she wrote her own narration last week and it went well. Thank you for sharing everything else as well. Very helpful.

Thank you! This is how I also felt and what I knew instinctively but it is nice to have some hand holding in the beginning when you are questioning what you are doing all the time. She actually really seems to enjoy Writing With Ease and she is getting really good at answering the questions in complete sentences and she can do a narration just fine it just tends not to be central to the "point" all though I haven't told her that. I'm just praising her for her efforts. For some reason she just really dislikes doing the questions and somewhat the narration with SOTW. My guess is that there is so much more information in SOTW and to try and retain and answer the questions is more difficult than in the stories in WWE. Especially because she is very familiar with every story we've come across so far in WWE and so she has background knowledge that allows her to answer the questions with much less thought and less actual recall. That is why I think it would be better for us to read through SOTW now as a fun introductory read-a-loud and then come back to it again and I think that familiarity and additional age will make all the difference in the world. She's really enjoying the book and learning itself just not the pressure to remember specific details.

Thanks!!! Bookmarked it :)

Thank you so much for your specific book recommendations. They will be very helpful and I will start looking into them. So far I have only read TWTM in regards to Classical Education, specifically. I've also read many articles, websites, threads, etc but I was wondering what other texts were out there in regards to the method. I was so happy to have found TWTM because we were kind of floundering on where to go. Initially, as my daughter was a toddler I'd been very attracted to Unschooling and had read a few books on the topic. However, after being around unschooling families in our community I have not been able to see fruits that I am comfortable with in the long term results. Then I came across ambleside and really enjoyed the information there but I really prefer the more chronological approach presented in the WTM. In regards to reading and learning about how to teach the subject matter and how kids learn best, etc. Where are you finding your reliable sources (or are those the books that you've shared)? I ask because the experts seem to be changing their opinions all the time and frankly I'm not interested in how public schooled students learn best, etc. So I am very interested in learning about good resources or individuals that are well respected in this field and also something that is not a "fad". Thank you so much for your help.

Thanks! We don't do any type of testing over here yet either. I just started with the review questions and did the narrations. I think I'm going to back off for now. The important thing is that her exposure to history is fun and exciting.

If you do not believe these things, if they do not resonate with your spiritual instincts then I would avoid this Church. These concepts will resonate within almost any other teachings because the path to salvation and the nature of our spirits will be within almost any other teaching. You need to find a Church that has a concept of salvation and of our spiritual natures that speaks to you.

Are people referring to "A plan for teaching writing" or to "Writing without fear" or is it worth purchasing both?

In reading posts for awhile it is clear that some of you have been here a very long time and that the dynamic of the board has changed over the last few years, etc. For those of you who have been classically homeschooling your children for a long time (past the elementary school stage) what advice do you have for those just starting out. If you were able to redo your elementary years (maybe you are doing just that with your younger children) what would you do different? What have you done that has proven to be very successful. What was not? Feel free to discuss anything within classically homeschooling that strikes you as you read this whether it was your schedule, a subject, a particular curriculum, an activity, your attitude, etc. If there are particular threads (older I'm assuming) that have really aided you do you still have them linked somewhere and would you mind sharing? You don't need to answer all of my questions, just speak to those you feel strongly on. Also, if you haven't been at this for a long time but want to share something go right on ahead but please clarify somewhere in you post that you've only been at this for a limited amount of time (less than 5 years). I just felt it would be helpful to really clarify what type of information I'm seeking. If someone wants to speak to my very personal concerns/thoughts in regards to the following that is fine too but I can start a different thread later: My daughter is 5, almost six. She has always been a bit ahead academic wise. I decided to do first grade with her this year because Kindergarten seemed too remedial. This is our first year of formal schooling prior to this she learned everything she knows just by our daily life and me exposing her to things, etc. Things are going really well and she seems to do well. The only aspect that we seem to be encountering the very beginning of resistance on is reviews questions after we've read something (history mostly) and to a very small degree narration. Her narrations do not usually speak to the major point of the story. I assume that is normal at this stage and it is to be ignored and that later on down the road she'll be able to decipher what is truly important? What have you done, if this has been your experience too, in regards to a frustration with the chapter questions. I'm speaking particularly to Story of the World. My daughter really enjoys it when I don't try to follow up with questions. So yesterday, for the first time, I skipped the questions on Story of the World and she asked me to read more. She dreads reading the book knowing that I'm going to ask questions. So my non-experienced instinct says read through the book as an oral read aloud simply for fun without really delving into it and if we have time read the other books in the series this year and then next year (when she'd be 6/7) try again...OR read through all the books in the series for merely enjoyment and begin ancients again around 8/9 at which point we'd focus more on questions/narrations/activities. Basically, should I make her suck it up or do I back off. She'll be six next month. It hasn't been a big traumatic thing or anything it's just one of those "do we havvveee to???"

This was our first chapter book read-a-loud and we both really loved it. I'd never read the original before either and so it was a lot of fun for both of us. We really liked comparing and contrasting it to the movie too, which we own.

THANK YOU! I use chrome too. I did the same thing but then couldn't find a "print" button and gave up. LOL. I still dislike not having a toolbar at the top on chrome. Still not used to it.

Yes, that is where I've noticed the dates too.

For us it was between Handwriting without tears and Getty Dubay Italic (based on many local recommendations from other homeschoolers). My daughter chose the italic writing because she wants to write "pretty" and we are doing book "a". She loves it.

I'm having a hard time just printing the image. It prints out both pages with all the advertising, etc. I was hoping for a full size picture of the art and none of the advertising. I tried highlighting just the picture and printing only the "selection" but then it printed blank. Any tips?

I think there is no valid argument for worrying about it. I think the bigger point, which you illustrated, is the ability for an individual to adapt to situations that they become faced with. That is a true test of preparedness. To try and prepare a student for a public classroom setting, without being in a public classroom, is nearly impossible. More important things to consider is teaching your child to be observant, a critical thinker and adaptable and then no matter what situation she finds herself in she will then be able to adapt. I grew up in public school, didn't have a stay at home mom, don't have any food allergies, etc but I have adapted to being a stay at home mom that homeschools her kids with a son who can barely tolerate to eat food in general. We all learn to adapt based on the needs that present themselves to us. Teaching stress management is also a good lifelong skill to have.

One more thing. And I think this helps all children that tend to lie. Help them become writers. Teach them that making up things and purporting it as truth to people in real life is not okay. That is a lie. Tell them that if they want to do the same thing and write it down as a story, then they are writing and become an author. This is how I help my 5 year old. She is becoming a very creative and talented writer. She narrates her stories and I write them down. I allow her to use our names and the situations we've been in and she can embellish, lie or what not all she wants as long as it is written as a "story". This has really helped her decipher between when it's okay to say whatever you want and when you need to stick with what actually happened.

I'm sure that this is an unnecessary post but I will add it, just in case. I used to lie all the time. All of the time and for no good reason, like you said. I also became a very good writer because of the ability to concoct amazingly believable lies, but that is not my point. Now that I am older and understand so much more of who I was then and who I am now and much of how I came to be who I am I realize that the abuse I was subjected to as a child is a result of the need to lie. I was sexually molested as a child and had to live with my abuser for the rest of my life. It only happened once but it changed my whole life. We were an otherwise outwardly normal family and my parents were very well respected (and still are) to this day. In order to preserve any sense of sanity I think I developed an amazing ability to tell lies. I hardly ever, ever got caught. I was good at it. It was a survival skill. Because the most important lie was to forget and believe that what happened, never did. That way I could go on hugging, talking and playing with my abuser until in adulthood I had to actually grieve and experience the pain and hurt of what actually happened. Don't get me started on our backwards judicial system and how there is no way to socially punish him for what he did. I hope and pray that her lying has absolutely nothing to do with abuse in any form but I have noticed as I have interacted with more women throughout my life that it is a common trait. Especially for those who have adapted well to life and lead, for the most part, healthy stable lives. Abuse is amazingly rampant. Seriously, it's disgusting. I meet women all the time and without any words I can usually feel it. It's there, hiding. Usually after knowing them for awhile it comes out or after I share my past they admit their own abuse. I will tell you that out of all of the many women I have met (and I am white, upper middle class...abuse crosses ALL boundaries, race and economic status) none of their abusers have ever been prosecuted, been in a courtroom or spent a night in jail. Sigh. Anyway, I'm sorry if my post offends you or others. Abuse is hard for many people to talk about but that needs to change. I believe a lot of the reason that abuse continues to plague our society is because people WON'T talk about it. It's an ugly topic so people want to turn the other way and not hear about it and it is very hush hush. Or they want to believe it could NEVER happen to them. My mom would have never guessed and we were really, really close. So, I hope your daughter's lying has a different source but all though it is important to address the character issue make sure you find the source. It is important to know *why* she is lying not just how to change it. I have not researched lying enough to know other causes but it would probably be worth some research.

Wow, what a lucky little girl! :001_smile:

If you're going to get one. My tip is to check craigslist. We have multiple people selling used ones in perfect condition for $60-80. It's not saving you tons, but some. I thought about it but right now my daughter just wants one from Michael's so DH and I decided to wait until she is older and cares more to get her a real one.

We successfully used the Shettles method to conceive a boy. A book I really recommend for every woman is "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" here on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Charge-Your-Fertility-Anniversary/dp/0060881909/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288332962&sr=8-1 We've been using this for family planning and when we were ready to conceive we used the Shettles method via this book: http://www.amazon.com/How-Choose-Sex-Your-Baby/dp/0767926102/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288333029&sr=1-1 All though I have the earlier version of this book that I picked up at a used book store. The specific things I did, besides timing to ovulation was: robitussin to thin mucus (the original stuff), and pre-seed: http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Seed-Personal-Lubricant-Multi-use-Tube/dp/B001DNIMH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288333130&sr=8-1 We didn't use any douches. Editing to add: I think it is really important to know your cycle. I think you should definitely start with Taking Charge of Your Fertility to really know your own body. This book was SO empowering to me in regards to knowing what was going on in my body and understanding everything. I mean, you'd think after years of being taught puberty and such in school you'd know your body but seriously I was amazed and miffed at the same time. I wish it was standard teaching for girls.

I was just thinking about this last night. I really wish one would have been included in the activity guide. In fact, I wish they would make one, even if to purchase separately, that showed all of the covered topics in SOTW 1-4.

I regret buying the book. The workbook works perfect and all of the printing and thinking is done for you.

This is my first year but I've all ready made quite a few blunders. Since I had no personal experience I made a lot of purchases based off of suggestions or based off of amazing reviews only to get them in my hands and realize we just can't use them yet or I don't care for them. At first I thought, I'll keep them for the next kids or *in case* we need them. After reading this thread they're going back pronto! Thankfully most of my purchases have been on Amazon.com where things are cheaper and Amazon has an amazing return policy. I am returning the following today: History Pockets - Ancient Civilizations (there are plenty of activities in the SOTW activity guide we have and we can barely find enough time for all of the additional reading and activities in that so I know we'll never get to this). Blackline Maps of World History Complete Set 5000BC-present with CD Rom: This seems like an amazing resource to have but right now all the maps we need are in the SOTW activity guide. Maybe I'll buy this again someday but right now it would be $30 just sitting on a shelf for how many years? The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading: Bought it based on recommendations from other and to have two resources for teaching reading. We own Phonics Pathways after checking it out from the library and loving it. After looking this over I don't like the layout at all. I'm sure it's good as far as content but Phonics Pathways is working great for us. The Kingfisher First Human Body Encyclopedia: Bought based off of WTM recommendations but we are using Elemental Science Biology which recommends a different text. So, sending this back. Green Thumbs: A Kid's Activity Guide to Indoor and Outdoor Gardening Returning for the exact same reason as the First Human Body text. Bought based off of WTM but ES recommends different texts and thumbing through it I know we'll never work on these on our own. There is just not enough time in a day. The best news? It only costs me $7 to return all of these books with a prepaid label I printed off Amazon. I just drop it off at any UPS location and they take $7 out of my refund. I'd much rather waste $7 with a no hassle return than regret all of it sitting on my shelf. Shipping to me was free since I have a prime account with them. So I am only out the $7 all together and the return is no questions asked. Highly recommend Amazon. However, be aware if you don't buy directly through amazon (meaning you purchase an item for a vendor via amazon) returns are more difficult. I'm sure we won't wind up using one of the three math programs we have and tons of other things but luckily I've received all those items for free at a local homeschool give away function. Oh, Handwriting Without Tears is another one I was going to use and now I am getting rid of. My daughter wanted to do italic instead, which I prefer too.

It is aliens trying to make contact.

Wow. I had always assumed those books were to be read by the parent to the child. I also can't stand the abridged versions but eventually I might cave and read a few if for no other reason that it takes us forever to get through the originals because my 2 year old makes read-a-loud time few and far between, mostly only before bed for chapter books. The abridged versions are much shorter. I noticed at Costco a few weeks ago that they have a nice collection of hard backed classics for very reasonable. They are all abridged. At Barnes and Noble they have the original classics for $9.99 each and they are buy 2 get one free. They are nice editions with built in book marks. Plus we get the 20% off home educators discount. For us, it is a gradual process. Maybe we are the only one who have this issue but this is what has helped us. My daughter is 5 and until recently had no desire to listen to chapter books, even as a read-a-loud. She would much rather grab a golden book, a Dr. Seuss or *gasp* a Disney Princess or Barbie book. Until recently she didn't want to watch any movie unless it was animated. She has just recently started enjoying movies like Heidi or Shirley Temple, etc. To graduate her we started by reading the original fairytales to movies she was familiar with and comparing and contrasting the originals to the Disney version. She has loved this. For our first chapter book we read the original Wizard of Oz and she did great with that. My daughter has needed a visual picture of what she knows and what she's all ready been interested in to make the leap. We have the original Jungle Book and Black Beauty to try next. Right now we are reading A Little Princess which she has never seen before so I'm hoping she'll take to it. She picked this book based on the title. ;-) We are only a few chapters in so far. If she struggles with it I'll let her watch the movie first and then continue with the book. I understand this wasn't really the original question but maybe other parents have children like mine that don't automatically have a taste for classics. Clearly our experience would be different if we were a household that didn't permit Barbie and watching Disney movies in the first place but we are. I grew up being allowed those things, enjoying those things and also having a great respect and love for "classics" so I'm not too worried.