Owl & Mouse has free printable maps, that you can print from one page size to 7 feet across. Link Amanda

I had a friend ask me about this the other day too. clwcain- could you compare/contrast CM with genuine classical? (I'm assuming that you are referring to LCC.) Thanks, Amanda

We used PLL and ILL by Serl (from Lost Classics) as well. I like it because it's not boring, can be done orally if you want and incorporates classic poems and some picture study as well. The price is attractive as well. Each book is $14.95 and covers 2 years. HTH, Amanda

I have a Mac and I had the same issue when I tried downloading the try before you buy for the Real Science Odyssey from Pandia Press. I emailed them and they emailed me the files I was looking for, and those worked. Amanda

:iagree:

Thanks Karen! Does LToW expect that the student has previously gone through a writing program? Also, when you say teacher intensive, do you mean that in a learning to implement the program way or in a working with your child during lesson time way? Thanks! Amanda

Has anyone used The Lost Tools of Writing program from the Circe Institute? I would be interested in hearing pros and cons about it. Thanks! Amanda

Science- BFSU ($22.45), and/or nature study with field guides (you could use some online or from the library, or buy a few golden guides as they're $6.95 each) History- There are a TON of history books on http://www.heritage-history.com There's also searchable maps and images. Comprehensive Language Arts (includes grammar)- The Language Lessons series from Queen homeschool ($19.95 each book) or PLL by serl ($14.95 non-consumable and good for 2 years) with some copywork Spelling- Natural Speller (non-consumable good through 8th grade, $22) or prepared dictation from books Reading- Good books from the library Writing- by writing, I'm assuming handwriting... Beautiful Handwriting for Children by Penny Gardner (link $8 ebook) or if they already know how to form letters, then copywork either free from online or pick out of books. Latin (if you're interested)- Song School Latin from CAP $22.95, just get the student book, it has the CD and you don't need the teacher's edition. School for under $100 (plus math, but I've already responded on your other post.)

This may be helpful: http://www.italicbuilders.com I haven't used these personally, but, it does seem to use classic literature sources. HTH, Amanda

Another vote for Singapore here! Amanda

You didn't mention the ages, and everyone's idea of cheap is different, but, our favorite is Singapore. There are 2 textbooks and 2 workbooks each year ($7.95 each). That's the basics for $31.80. For hand-holding, more information about the concepts, mental math practice and some activity ideas, there's the Home Instructor's Guides (2 for each year @ $16.50 each). So, for about $65 you have a very good curriculum. If you have more than 1 child in the same level, just get some additional workbooks. (The prices I put in there are from Rainbow Resource.) If that's more than you were aiming for, and your kids are between 3rd and 8th grade, then another program is Practical Arithmetics. There are 3 hardcover, non-consumable books in the series. Each book covers 2 years, and are $13.95. Like I mentioned, I like Singapore better, personally, but, if things are really tight, you can get some solid math skills from the Practical Arithmetics books. HTH, Amanda

We use cloth napkins pretty much exclusively. I'm not sure how many we have. I have some I use just for the kids, especially the boys as they can get very messy. They use some wash cloths/face cloths. I like the terry for them; it cleans them up better. :) Some of those are stained, but, they don't mind. We basically use them until they get dirty. With my youngest that generally means every meal; he's 2. I also have some white wash cloths that we use in place of paper towels on most occasions. They work well, but sometimes there's just something that's REALLY yucky, and then I use paper towels. These I bleach on occasion to sanitize and whiten. ~Amanda

I looked on their site, but I couldn't seem to find this. Where do I look? Thanks! Amanda

My dd8 loves Green's Robin Hood book, but, agrees with the above posters that the Tales of Ancient Egypt book was boring. We are currently reading The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (not just about the pharaohs) by Elizabeth Payne and enjoying it. Also, Boy of the Pyramids By Ruth Fosdick Jones is a good storybook-type historical fiction. (You can find that one here.) HTH, Amanda

:iagree: We use these too.

If you don't want to read historical fiction, then read history books that are told like stories. One place you can go to is http://www.heritage-history.com/ They have a ton of books to download or read online for free, and they also have some CD compilations with a bunch of books in formatted PDF format for easy printing and reading. HTH, Amanda

:iagree: Kristina said what I was thinking. I actually felt a little bad when I realized that I just wasn't going to be able to use BSFU as a main science program. I knew I wasn't going to be able to devote a ton of time to creating my own science program, so I went with REAL Science by Pandia Press, supplemented by some science books we have. Amanda

On this site, you can download and print maps of any size. (You piece the really big maps together.) HTH, Amanda

I've looked at both the revised and the original SOTW activity pages. The main difference is that some of the pages have been redone for a more polished "professional" type of look. You could use the revised pages with the original version of the book.

Here's another title for you to take a peek at: Our Little Celtic Cousin from Long Ago http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=stein&book=celtic&story=_contents

:iagree: I was going to suggest The Book of Virtues by Bennett too. There's a little bit of everything in there! The short list the pp wrote is good, but if you were going to limit it to only one book, I'd go with this one. HTH, Amanda

The rock kit that they sell includes: talc, magnetite, muscovite mica, pyrite, plagioclase feldspar, quarts crystal, pink granite, basalt, snowflake obsidian, conglomerate, sandstone, shale, marble, slate, and schist. It doesn't include a streak plate or a glass plate, but the Earth Science book talks like it does. I guess Pandia Press used to make the kits themselves, but don't any longer. When that switch happened, the streak plate and glass plate no longer came with the kit. One place that sells rock kits, and the plates is Home Science Tools. I'm not sure if their kits come with the same rocks, I haven't checked. I have ordered from them and I found their prices good, their shipping fast and they have a TON of science stuff, so it might be a good place to check out. HTH, Amanda

Like what the other posters have said, I don't know if that would be the best way to really learn skill subjects such as math and spelling. It might work for content subjects such as history and science and the like. We've changed our schedule this year so we have our skill subjects first, then a once-a-week content subject. So, we are only doing history once a week, and science once a week, that way we can focus on one thing longer which seems to be working for us. HTH, Amanda

:iagree: This was what I was going to suggest too. You can download the original version from the gutenberg project (but no pictures) or read it online (there's a link to purchase the original version from Yesterday's Classics there too.) HTH, Amanda

I'm a little late in coming to this thread, but there are free downloadable fonts that are italic. With these you could type up your own copywork. Jarman and Jardotty-a dotted version HTH, Amanda