I'm researching a middle-school grammar curriculum to use for next year, and everything that I've been exposed to so far seems to be just about parts of speech, diagramming sentences and mechanics of writing. English is not my first language, and when I learned it as a foreign language in school, it seems that we did a lot more in grammar than just the things listed above. We learned about verb tenses and we conjugated verbs all the time in all the different tenses. We converted different types of direct speech sentences into indirect speech. We converted sentences of all the different tenses from active into passive voice and vice versa. We probably did many other things that I can't remember right now, but it was definitely not all about just diagramming. I've done FLL and MCT and even the CC essentials program with my kids and it seems that all we ever do is talk about parts of speech and diagramming. They are doing well with those things, but the things that they don't know about, such as how to conjugate verbs (both regular and irregular) in all the different tenses (and of course I don't mean just present simple, past simple and present progressive, but really all the tenses that exist in English) are given very little (if any) attention. Is this because that's saved for later grades in these curricula and it will come, or is it just not the focus of grammar instruction in the US at all? I almost feel like digging up my old English foreign language books to teach grammar straight from there. I am looking for a really solid rigorous and thorough grammar curriculum for my kids for next year. I'm done with fluff. The following excellent threads were helpful to me: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/324737-kiss-grammar-questions/ http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/229007-had-it-with-mct-is-there-a-structural-grammar-curriculum/?hl=structural%20grammar Based on what I read in there I want to give KISS grammar a try, but nobody in those threads addresses whether there is some emphasis on the different tenses and verb conjugation and all the other stuff I mentioned above. Can someone who is using KISS reassure me that all of this is covered thoroughly and also what are other examples of really solid rigorous curricula that cover everything? I would also love to read some more of the great grammar threads that have happened on these boards over the years, so if you are aware of some great ones other than the 2 I linked above, would you please post links?

sdunckel and FawnsFunnyFarm, did your kids discover how to blend through reading eggs or is that something they already knew how to do when you started using reading eggs?

We started using the bob books, but after the first two I realized that he is not ready for them, because he doesn't get blending. He says all the sounds correctly of the word he sees, but then doesn't get the connection between that and saying the whole word from those sounds. He needs help with blending, and I have heard that this is a skill that just needs to click on its own at some point, through lots of practice and repetition, so I was thinking an online program that he can do by himself would be best for this, since he can do the lessons as many times as he wants without me, until it clicks. He has watched all the "preschool prep" dvds with the sight words, blends and digraphs, he has clicked through (just as play) all the free stuff on starfall (that doesn't require a subscription), he has watched all the leapfrog dvds as well. That is all the "instruction" he has received. We also own all the Mcguffy readers and speller, but I haven't tried those with him, since he can't blend yet. I have older kids that i am homeschooling, so I always prefer something he can do somewhat independently over something that requires my constant attention, but I really just want to go for something that has worked for everybody and I'm willing to even get something teacher-intensive, because this is an important skill without which we can't go forward.

I only know of starfall.com and readingeggs.com. Which one would be better for a kid who knows all his sounds but doesn't get blending yet? I'm looking for something fun, and yet something that will definitely get him over the hump and help him learn to sound out words rather than just guess. What's your best online subscription recommendation and why?

I'm pregnant and sleep on my back. It's the only comfortable way for me to sleep (especially late in pregnancy).

Ruth, your "hints" are awesome. I wouldn't call them hints even. A hint to me means giving away a part of the solution (even a small part). What you described encourages the kids to think of new ways to attack the problem, without giving away those "new ways", if that makes sense. I was lucky enough to grow up in a country where this was the way of teaching for most teachers in most schools (well at least in mine). So this kind of approach comes to me very naturally. Sometimes it drives my kids batty that they won't get a straight answer from me (and not just math, but anytime they get stuck on anything), but oh the spark in their eyes when they figure it out for themselves a(fter my question/comment to them) is priceless!!!! and they can take ownership of the solution and are not left with "Oh yeah I get it, but how do I come up with that myself?" which I think is the problem with giving them a hint of the solution. Like I said, I didn't need to train myself to learn to talk this way. This is the only way I know how to teach, because this is what was modeled to me my whole school life. However, if it doesn't come naturally to talk in this way for someone, I would like to whole heartedly suggest Polya's "How to Solve it". He tells you what to say to your students in what situation and the reasoning behind it. His choice of examples for the problem solving strategies ranges from simple ones to Calculus, but you can get a lot out of the book even if you don't know any calculus. Also "Creative Problem Solving" by George Lenchner paraphrases in a way that's easier to understand some of the main points from Polya in the beginning section of the book and this one is an easy read (but it's for teachers of younger pre-algebra kids, meaning the sample problems are from pre-algebra material). And last but not least, the final step in helping kids learn how to intuit or come up with the solutions themselves came to me from none other but Andrew Pudewa from IEW. He was talking about violin teaching and the many questions that he has to ask his students at the beginning of each lesson in order for them to position the instruments and fingers properly etc and he said he knows he has done his job well, when the students start asking themselves these questions without him because then they can do it right even when he is not around. In the same way I think that's the ultimate goal in problem-solving. That at some point when the kids get stuck, instead of "mom I need help" they will have a conversation in their own head and ask themselves the very same questions that you would have. This happens in our house sometimes this way. One of them will yell "Mom I need help". I go to him and he tells me what he's stuck on and instead of my even asking the good questions all I say is , "Now what am I going to ask you?" or "Now what am I going to say to you?" and then he takes over and asks himself the things he has heard me ask him a million times:).

I love threads like this! Good thing I checked the boards today:). I'm following this for sure.

I am of the opinion that the purpose of Scratch is to "dip their toes in the water". Taking a class on it would take the fun out of it. It is so intuitively designed so that kids can discover things on their own. If you want them to love it, I would let them keep fiddling with it. When my kids take a class it would be on a more serious language (python perhaps), but that's best done after they are already conviced they love coding and Scratch is great for instilling that love:) I mean if they are asking for a class I would go for it, but otherwise I would just let them enjoy what they are doing on their own.

Ok from the little bit that I can glean online, so far I'm really liking "So you really want to learn Spanish" by Galore Park. Thank you for suggesting that one. The fact that is British is a definite plus for me, because I really think the Britts know how to write curriculum well in general, and especially foreign language. Their site is down at the moment, but I'm looking forward to browsing the samples. My only concern is that is teaching European Spanish, when I would prefer that we learn Latin American Spanish. The differences are minor enough though, that I wonder if it even matters.

This is a definite plus!

Love this! Is BtB an acronym? What does it stand for? Where do I find it? And is there writing involved?

Thank you for the suggestions. I will check them all out and evaluate. I'm just at the beginning of my research, so I haven't looked very closely at anything yet. Your suggestions will be my starting point:). Keep them coming!

I know there is a ton of different curricula out there, but I need your help in narrowing it down. We've been doing Mango Spanish online (for free through our library) for 3 years now and we are almost done. However this is strictly conversational, there is no serious study of grammar (except for brief explanations of what is being used) , absolutely no writing, no reading. We are ready to step it up and study this language seriously in all its details and we would like to progress towards being able to write and read fluently, not just speak. I am looking for a serious curriculum that works towards mastery of the grammar of the language and mastery of writing and mastery of reading (being able to read Spanish books in their original and then write about them in Spanish) Now, my children that I've been studying Spanish with are young (9 and 7), so I'm looking for a multi-year curriculum that takes it slow, but leads toward total mastery. I think those of you that are not from the US should know what I'm talking about, because this is how foreign language is studied in other countries. The curriculum starts in the elementary grades and matures in content and difficulty of concepts and depth each year and carries you through to adulthood and mastery. You buy a new level each year and then at some point you are able to start taking offical exams from that country to certify your language mastery etc. So does something like this exist for Spanish? Actually, I'm sure it does, I just need to know what it is:)

I know a family that travels through Central and South America extensively and they always say that Belize is their absolute favorite vacation place.

Quark has posted some excellent suggestions (as always). I was not aware of the "modular arithmetic" website. Thank you so much! I don't know how you find this stuff.

I did all the spinning baby suggestions including Webster's with my chiro with my 2nd and my 3rd. My 2nd was positioned perfectly and I ended up with an awesome labor/birth. However it did not work with my 3rd and I had pretty traumatic birth experience. Being pregnant with my 4th, I don't believe in the helpfulness of those suggestions anymore. I think I am used to watching my posture by now and I will be sitting exclusively on my birthing ball later in pregnancy, but I am not paying for any more chiropractic care for positioning. I honestly think that it makes very little (if any) difference.

The company would have to tell you no, to keep them from any liability. However, if the pie looks and smells ok, I would take 1 bite to make sure it tastes ok. If I am still feeling fine the next day I would eat one slice and wait one more day. After that I would feel safe for the whole family to eat it.

I would love to have the training materials as well if possible. I am coaching for the first time this year as well, and the non-robot side is what intimidates me:). I don't even know how to get the kids to do any research. They just want to program and play with the robot.

She is wonderful :Angel_anim: . I love her blog.

lewelma, that is so cool:). Different continents, but kids with the same passions and similar abilities can still be friends:) How fun! Did you guys plan to sign them up for the same class together, or was it a coincidence ?

Not helpful, but out of curiosity, you guys switched out of BA? Why?

I love all the suggestions. Thank you all (and keep them coming if you think of some more). A lot of these are familiar to me from when my older two were little, but it's been a few years and I just couldn't think of many of them. We read Fireman Small today at nap time and every time the books said that he got in bed and pulled the covers over his head, we pulled the covers over our head and giggled. He laughed and laughed for many minutes. This age is so fun and he is so easily entertained, we're going to have a blast with these books. He doesn't get much attention during the school year because I have to focus on homeschooling the older two, so I'm hoping to make it up to him during the summer.

Thank you, that looks like a great list!

I would like to check out some really good quality picture books from the library, to read to my 3 year old. I've been searching for good lists online, but came up empty handed. Would you mind sharing your favorite books to read with children that age?

My ideal co-op would be very large (say, at least 15 kids in each grade) so that we can enter events/competitions where a team is needed of similar age children. It would also be a strong community outside of co-op days (mom's and dad's nights out, parent book clubs, birthday parties, field trips. Basically we would all become the closest of friends, and share life together outside of homeschooling as well). All the parents would take the co-op classes seriously and would spend time with their children completing work that needs to be done each week, so that the classes can progress well.