I have been doing BJU DVDs for 3 years. The longest I ever done anything. B4 that we did Sonlight, MUS etc. My dc were 1st, 3rd and 6th when I started. We are now upcoming 1st, 4th, 6th and 9th graders. I am wanting to abandon the whole kit and kaboodle. Math is simply ridiculous (imho) in the complicated nature it tries to present things (elementary). Often I will have to reteach the lesson in "english" they can understand and they are like oh yeah I get that. I am teaching the rest of this year. Reading...30 min lecture too. We dropped and am having them read whole books. English...They still stumble over nouns & verbs!!!!!!!!:001_huh: Still struggle w/ writing. I've stopped and am teaching the basics of paragraph writing. History & Science were fine with the exception they were staring @ the t.v. all day. So, 9th grader. Did fine with everything. She wants to continue but I want to bail. I never see her as she is confined in bedroom ALL DAY watching these DVDs. I feel like it is passive and easy for her and that's why she has no interest in changing. I am thinking Apologia Elementary Science for the youngers; read alone/narrate. TT for math-did sample lessons & luved it. Nervous though b/c of bad reviews. History STOW CDs together. Easy Grammar and IEW writing @ co-op for 6th grader. 9th grader.. NWH-includes whole books but yet still textbooky like she likes & do a few PP Guides. TT Alg 1....BJU DVDs go to 45 min lectures as well in the Science. Was gonna try Apologia Physical Science. Am I crazy for doing a 360? I am NOT math savvy so can't rightly compare any algebra programs. I hate to upset my 9th grader but feel like she needs less/none screen time with BJU. She will be doing the IEW co-op as well. I was gonna get her an EG Grade 9 instead of BJU English as well. Plz tell me that I am doing the right or wrong thing???? My little kids LOVE that I have taken there screen time away with the DVDs. My 3rd grader who HATES to read begged to read instead of watch the Reading DVDs. He narrates whatever he can read in 30 mins gladly:) THANKS for reading. Plz feel free to comment on any of this and not on other parts since I know this is a lot. Barb

Thanks Chris!!

You know she doesn't "love" crafts either. Thanks for pointing that out! Blessings, Barb

Thanks so much!!!

for their health credit? My dd is finishing up 8th grade. I thought of adding some books that covered s*x etc and a Babysitting/CPR course. I wonder if the Apologia will be too young for her? Did you use the notebook? We have been doing BJU DVDs for 3 yrs now and hoping to get away from the fill in the blank method. I had comtemplated Lifepacs for Health but again fill in the blanks. Any recommendations? It needs to be self taught:o) Thx, Barb

don't think the Daily Grams is necessary? Is it overkill? Thx, Barb

I have 2 boys coming up 4th & 6th grades. We've been doing BJU English via DVDs and there is NO retention. I am not married to combining them but wondering if I should say in the old 4/5 or should I just get them their own levels? I've heard the old EG is easier to teach and doesn't cover as much as fast??? However, the new has extra Daily Grams practice etc.. Thx, Barb

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that Saxon would be a good one to transition from but I don't remember where I read that. I see that SL recommends Horizons then TT. Thx, Barb

you use for 1st and 2nd grade?? Thanks, Barb

I let my boys do some samles of TT (3rd & 5th) and they LOVED it. We have been doing BJU DVDs for 3 years. It's a love/hate relationship for me. The LONG, drawn out WORDY lessons are well, long & wordy;) I am often needed to explain/simplify things. The TT lessons seemed so simple & to the point. I liked the built in review of previous lessons and the engagement required of my student unlike the 30 mins of passive viewing of the BJU DVDs. However, based on the comments regarding TT I'm guessing I "should" weed thru wordiness and stick with BJU? My dd is in 8th using BJU DVDs and has no interest in switching over even the though the lectures are 45 mins next year. She actually is just reading her pre-algebra book & foregoing the lesson. Not sure if that will be an option next year? I have read a MULTITUDE of posts regarding TT:D on this board and the high school board. So, not to beat a dead horse but just wondering if anyone thinks the grass is greener on the other side? We do ALL subjects with BJU DVDS so it creates a long school day for her especially. I am thinking of replacing some subjects. Thanks, Barb

This year will be our 3rd year using DVDs w/BJU! Write that down in the history books that Mom didn't switch curriculum for 2 WHOLE years! My 8yob does very well with BJU/DVDS. He's the "just give me the facts maam" kinda guy. He has retained much and has often gotten out his dry crusty history book from 1st grade to tell me about this/that. He bombed with MUS, as well as with SL. He couldn't remember anything and got frustrated easily. There are SEVERAL yahoo boards of BJU/DVD/homesatters etc..that can give you lots of feedback regarding this curriculum. I'm not sure about combining. My boys are 15 mos apart, yet they are 2 grade levels apart and I've tried and tried and tried to combine them in grammar, science, history etc. It has always been a diaster. That's one reason I love DVDS b/c everyone can be right where they are suppose to be. hth, Barb

Scritpure Truth

Thanks ladies for the tips! I have a friend who has Level 2 that I can have, wonder if that's too little for my 3rd and 5th grader??

Which level would you use for an 8th grader who is a natural writer but doesn't "love" to do it and does just enough to get by on writing assignments? Also, 5th and 3rd grade boys who have very little experience in this area. Getting them to journal a few sentences is like pulling teeth. I dare say the 3rd grader writes more easily than the 5th. Thank you! Barb

Never heard of it but I am going for something DVD driven that I can be "hands off" with:o) Thank you! Barb

Thanks! I actually made Bs in Spanish as the teacher wouldn't let me sleep like I did in all the other classes:001_huh: I remember very little. Blessings! Barb

Are theses alike or is SOS like Rosetta Stone? I'm thinking with BJU dd would get more grammar/vocabulary out of it than Rosetta Stone. I see that SOS doesn't have a workbook and that it is all online. Thank you:) Barb

Hi, I am pretty much a lurker here although I had to respond to this post! This is our story verbatim. I have been worried, embarassed to tell people what I use and quite humbled to accept that I can't do it ALL with 4 kids in school. However, I am learning to be grateful for BJU. I can actually be a wife and a mother now whereas before I was only a homeschool teacher. I have confidence in BJU when I see the different elements of classical education intertwined in this "boxed" curricula such as dictation, writing across the board in all subjects, math concepts taught not just formulas and so on. My kids also tell me what they have learned and want to show me on the DVD whether it be a worm dissection, cotton field etc. I appreciate you sharing this. Terri Maxwell of MOTH has several "textbook" articles on her Titus2 website that are encouraging. Blessings, Barb

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Joyce Meyers!

Super!!!! That's what I needed to know! We have a Walmart that is MUCH closer than an Office Depot. Thanks so much for the info! Barb

I wanted to chime in here and tell you it's ok to switch to a textbook:o) We did SL for 2 1/2 years; Core 1+2, 3+4 and half of 5. I also attempted to do two cores; Core 1 when I did Core 3+4--big mistake. I have 4dc who were THEN 5th, 2nd (ds), K-5(ds) and a 2yog. What a diaster the first 6 weeks of school were. I also bought two cores of science that year. I read aloud so much that bottom hurt from sitting and I was always behind!!!! I got irritated beyond belief b/c of interruptions, lack of paying attention and the simple fact we weren't accomplishing anything in other subjects b/c we were so busy reading. I switched to BJU and everybody is happy. My now 2nd grader retains much from what he reads. He has often pulled that dry crusty textbook down for last year to look up something he read. He is always spouting off "stuff" he learned. Before when we did SL, he couldn't tell me a thing about what I just read. I would guess he is ADHD if he were tested. He can NOT sit still to save his life. We tried coloring books, legos etc and it didn't help him to retain anything and was a distration for the rest of us. Now, if I had only 1 child I would go SL all the way. I loved the togetherness and conversation I had with dd#1 when we first started. I feel it is MY learning style however all my kids say they much prefer a textbook. My 7th grader says she can't remember anything from the previous Cores as it was sporadic and didn't really "tie" it altogether for her (we did it ALL). She requests to stay with a textbook! Shocking, I know but I guess that's why we hs so we can accomodate their needs. What's hard is when "their" needs are different than Mom's or "time/child" doesn't fit into Mom's mold. I did a little conference within our hs group this year for new hs parents and think it applies here. What works today might not work tomorrow. What worked with 1 child might now work when you have 4. I personally would shelf it. My 7th grader NEVER sits with a book in her hand and says she hates to read. She WAS an avid reader but not anymore. We all became to dread reading aloud. She would ask to just read it to herself b/c it was faster, she understood it better and we weren't interrupted by siblings. Sorry to ramble! Barb

Aaah, sweet! I think I would like the option of them wearing it! A buck is what I'm looking for. I've always created chore charts in excel and recently purchase Choreganizers but not loving it. Still nagging... Thanks ladies, Barb

Thanks, I was trying to avoid buying the book and all. I just need the clip on pocket thing.

I am trying to find the clear vinyl pockets that clip on or use a strap. Where did you find yours? Thanks, Barb