I know, you guys are right. Our original plan of "absolutely no dating" obviously backfired, thanks to church - LOL! And, my dh was *really* upset - he didn't get to give his "how you should go about choosing *the* girl" speech he's been working on for oh-so-many years. But, you know, what do you do when they obviously like each other, and the most they are going to do is sit beside each other in church? We felt like if we put up too much of a fight, it would just be counter-productive and ruin the transparency we've had with him up til now. So, thanks *so much* for your posts! After reading them I'm sure God *is* providing this time for us to put a more sturdy nix on the whole thing. And that *will* hopefully go over better with the girlfriend, as well as giving him more time to mature. =) Rhonda

Edited to say: this situation has been resolved. I merely wanted to answer Remudamom's post. thanks, Rhonda

I think that probably would be better than just a flashcard! I'm trying to think of a way to make a durable roots charts - something to help ds use his roots while he's reading to help deduce what an unfamiliar word means. Maybe I should look at lapbooks more closely for that.... Thanks for posting! Rhonda

Actually, I bet you'll do quite well. I think, looking back on our failed public school experience, that I was *too* hands-off. Now, I wish I had channeled more of our energy to extending their school learning. The thrill of discovering doesn't have to go away just because she's in school. I'm sure your daughter will appreciate your wanting to continue to do the "extras" that are the bonuses of homeschooling. As my mom says, "Enjoy it while it lasts." Though you will need to grieve what you are losing, this new phase of life will be a time of less pressure on you to teach the basics, and just enjoy the journey with your daughter. Best wishes! Rhonda

Seriously, my boys will be right there with ya, baby! Rhonda

Well, if you have ever read how Nan (on the high school board) does her lit studies, we are going to try something similar. Since I have an 8th grader we're going to read along (each person will have his/her own book) as we listen to the books on CD. For this, we'll be using the 8th grade "Required" reading list in WTM. Then, they will read the unabridged books from the 4th grade list, and historical fiction for "free" reading. Yeah, I know that means it's no longer *completely* "free"! But, they tend to spend all their free reading time moping around saying, "I just can't find a good book." - so, problem solved. I have a list (from WTM and SL), and probably I'll let them read one true "free" book for each book (or two) read from the list. I am sacrificing our historical read-alouds to make this work, and I hate that! But, this was the best I could come up with knowing that I wanted the boys to be reading the same lit book at the same time to help facilitate our lit discussions. btw - I was very nervous about doing that 8th grade list. So, I did check, and the reading level for the 8th grade list is basically 6th grade. That's the same as the 5th grade list. I didn't think twice about throwing that 5th grade list at my older ds, even though he was so far behind after coming out of public school. He rose to the challenge, so I'm cautiously optimistic that all my fears of doing the 8th grade list in 5th grade will be for naught. Actually, the literature on the 8th grade list has *not* been that dark so far - I haven't read it all, yet. (The Importance of Being Earnest is hilarious!) I wonder if the historical fiction might be darker because it is dramatizing the darker moments - while the fiction of the time maybe tried to escape? Just theorizing.... =) Rhonda

Well, the only ones in school here are boys - and they would *so* despise having to do anything remotely like a lapbook. Definitely busywork in their world, when a simple report on notebook paper slapped behind the last report will do! And, *no way* I'm spending time forcing them to do it, just so they can toss it in the closet underneath the dirty clothes they think they're hiding from me. =) I'm not saying *I'll* never do one - dd is only 3yo. Funny how she can cut on a line with scissors already - something I'm not 100% certain ds's can do at 10 and 13. (And, yes, even my 13yods noticed that, "Hey, she holds the pencil like you told us to, Mom!") =) Rhonda

Thanks! I'm very visual, too. And even having taken Spanish in high school, it still ires me when they switch a "v" to a "b" sound. (Not that an English speaker really has room to complain about non-phonetic pronunciation - LOL!!) The vocabulary list does sound like something we would use. Or, maybe I should just use the La Clase Divertida that's gathering dust in the corner? I think this will be high on my priority list at convention next week - the only thing besides hearing SWB!!! =) Rhonda

I know there's a crowd who thinks Rosetta Stone isn't really enough for a high school credit by itself. I guess they supplement grammar and reading? (Frankly, I haven't paid that much attention! And, I probably wouldn't supplement for middle school. But your post got me thinking about high school, which is only a year away - yikes!) Do Levels 3 and 4 have the student reading and writing as well as "conversing"? Thanks for chiming in! Rhonda

Awww, man! I thought the computer stuff was fun. Guess I'm easily entertained, huh? Better have ds take a look first......(like, he's *so* in the mood to discuss school right now - LOL!) Thanks, it's helpful to hear from someone who *did* use the computer! Rhonda

Did you get to use the CD-Rom for the computer? =)

Actually, this would be a break from Latin. I'm a little worried that LC2 will be overwhelming for him - this is one of those "up the ante" sort of years for him. (Bless his little heart, he's not gonna know what hit him! - LOL) Also, one of his good friends is Hispanic - parents speak no English. So, there's motivation there. I was confused - but now I see they have just started offering a CD-Rom for the computer along with a workbook. So, maybe some of the boring-ness has been dealt with. (I'm hopeful, anyway. "Boring" was mentioned in just about every review!) Thanks for the link! Rhonda

I'll vote here - I have a rising 5th grader studying Modern this next year. But, I also have an 8th grader! And, I've been waiting for *3 lo-o-o-ong years* to get to the Modern Literature lists!!!! I couldn't bear to go back to mythology and miss all those books! =) One thing I have thought of doing (but most likely won't) is doing a 3-year cycle after doing Modern in 9th grade (like Omnibus - but using my own stuff). Whatever you do will be great, though! Rhonda

Does it work? What do you like/dislike? Do you like it better than Rosetta Stone? This would be for my 5th grade ds, and maybe my 8th grader - if he's interested and can find the time. Thanks for any feedback! Rhonda

[quote name=Colleen in NS;383103 For example' date=' in history, it's recommended that the student make an outline, then write reports for two different topics of interest that week. In science, it's do an experiment, write about it, then write a report on a related topic later that week. How do you get a 5th grade boy, reluctant writer, to do all that?? Or is there a different way that's just as good, to arrange writing assignments for these two subjects each week? If anyone else wants to chime in, I'd sure appreciate it. :) I know you don't really want to hear from me *again*! But, just thought I'd remind you re: those history reports, for 5th grade the directions are "to write several sentences (a minimum of three; five to six is better)". So, start at three sentences. Hey - start with one report/week until that's easy-peasy! Basically, I'm shooting for two one-paragraph "reports" with my 5th grader this year. Go look at the samples on the original WTM website: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/galleryindex.php. It will help you guage what an outline, or a report, in 5th grade really looks like. (Sorry, I don't know how to make my link just say "here" - still so much to learn!) Sorry, I failed WTM Science. But, the amount of writing seems pretty much on par with the History recs. The history outline = the experiment write up. The two history "reports" = one longer science report. The sample is 11 sentences, but I would ask for maybe 5 or 6 to start - and work up to a two-paragraph report. (Though, one thing I do utterly despise is having to write out the steps of the experiments when a picture would work better - maybe you could opt to have him draw the set-up of the experiment for that part?) I wish I knew more what to just expose my oldest to, as well. For example, I didn't make my younger ds master The Lord's Prayer in Prima Latina because I knew he would get it again in LCI. That sort of thing. But, I'm guessing that's all part of "teacher education" :glare:. Oh well, guess that's what makes first-borns so tough! Best wishes! Rhonda

:iagree::iagree::iagree: So sorry, Jean. Saying a prayer for you~ Rhonda

I have both. Honestly, I use WEM now. But, it took watching the TTC videos for me to understand how to have a "discussion" with my boys. But, they are younger than yours. Yours might be willing to sit down with their own copy of WEM and read along with you as you all answer the questions & discuss the reasons for your answers. (I really like WEM better because you ask the same questions for each genre. If it doesn't apply, you skip it. TtC forces you to pre-choose your questions, so they're almost leading questions; and I have a hard time figuring out which question would be best until *after* I've gone through the WEM questions.) hth, Rhonda

Though it is rather maddening to think that since we are *still* so dependent on OPEC, the same thing could happen any day. :001_smile: Rhonda

she's graduated 4 out of 5, and though I'm sure none of them ever considered medical school, it is a bit demoralizing to visit her immaculate home. And eat her always-home-cooked meals. And listen while she regales me with stories of all the non-school and really exciting things she does while we're still finishing school every day. Not to mention all the church work she does. Or, that she does her hair and make-up to a T every day. Though, what's worse is having her ds call mine at 10am *every* *day* and ask, "Are you done, yet?" Basically, there is *nothing* that I will win at if I try to compare my life to hers. And, yet, there is *something* very precious that is here in this house that isn't at hers. I can't describe it, but I know that I would be very loathe to trade places with her. I don't know for sure that it's due to a curriculum - though in the short while I used Abeka I dreamed of being just like my friend. I'm sure there is something very precious at your house, too. Whatever you decide to do, keep that and never let it go. :001_smile: Rhonda

(boy, I can't wait to do Modern history next year!) I was young, so my memories are vague. (As in, I remember thinking it would be cool if suddenly everybody had to have a horse to pull their cars - and then we could all live like the Ingle's in Little House On the Prairie - LOL!!!) So...why is it that even though gas prices have spiked, we aren't seeing the really long lines now? (Sorry to be so dense!) Thanks, Rhonda

We used SOTW-3 in 7th grade last year, and we'll be using SOTW-4 in 8th grade. But, that isn't *all* that we do. Here's an old post that summarizes how we did last year, and what we're planning to do this year: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29533 Best wishes! Rhonda

I can so relate to your other comment about not *really* lounging, too. When I worked from home, it took a long, *long* time for me to feel comfortable not being "on" all the time. And, I didn't homeschool at the time! And, I *do* understand how difficult it is to set boundaries of "work" and "home" when work *is* home. And how very stressful that can be. I'm pretty sure things came to a head around here at some point. IOW, my dh set me straight! We only rarely fight, but seems I do vaguely remember him telling me basically to just get over myself. (said with a "hindsight is 20/20" smile on my face - it *was* what I needed to hear!) His favorite song at the time had the lyrics along the lines of "If you want to be somebody else, if you're tired of fighting battles with yourself...(something I forget)...change your mind," and I remember him quoting it to me a number of times! I *knew* this - that our thoughts and expectations affect us emotionally. That it isn't really so much the circumstances that we find ourselves in that zap us of our happiness; our reactions, our thoughts, our misbeliefs about those circumstances *do*. But, I think we all go through seasons where it's just hard to see where we need some adjusting. (If you're interested, my favorite book is Telling Yourself the Truth by William Backus. It is all about finding those misbeliefs and replacing them with the word of God. I know, the last thing you probably want is a book recommendation! :)) You have such high standards, Colleen - many of which I used to share and have sacrificed in order to find peace. You are a true inspiration! So, I earnestly pray that you will find a way to continue being true to all that you hold dear. :001_smile: Rhonda

which, I realize some people think R&S-7 is overkill. But my ds is learning how to write *really* good, complex sentences. :001_smile: Rhonda

There are times my kids read their science and history by themselves, and then we discuss it (they are rising 5th and 8th). They normally read library books for extra reading/report writing on their own. But, frankly, if they can understand *everything* on their own with no input from an adult, then I think they are probably not reaching their potential in that subject. (IOW, The books are too easy.) :) Rhonda

And, after several other churches, we are back in a Christian Church now. So, your words hold alot of weight. Thanks for chiming in! :001_smile: Rhonda