We notebook history, but that is about it for now. I use these pages for notebooking our history. My ds is not a big fan of putting the notebooking pages together so we keep it simple. I just put what ever we do(like maps or coloring pages) onto the notebooking pages. I will also look for pictures on the internet if we did things orally to help him remember what we did. I also add the SOTW narriation to the page that we do. When we did a notebooked gladiators, I added a seperate page on first aid with free lapbooking minit books I had found. I don't really spend a lot of time on gathering things for the notebook. I spend maybe 15 to 20min at the most searching for things or pictures online.

My ds loves history, and we have just finished TOG Y1. I was going to start TOG Y2 but I really want to wait a couple of months (we homeschool year around). Does anyone have suggestions on what to do in the interim? I would prefer to stay away from the modern for now, but any era will do. TIA

I am intrested in this also.

bump

Doesn't Sonlight have a teacher's guide for this set of books? I am not sure how much it costs or what it has in it though. Also not sure if it is for the ages you are looking for. Not much help, huh :tongue_smilie:

I do subscribe, and can find what I want most of the time. I teach a couple of on going co-ops so for me it is worth it. Scholastic has one and so does Teacher Created Resources called Classroom Zoom. Both of these are cheaper than Teacherfile Box, but I can't find as much for the age group that I am currently teaching.

bump :001_smile:

I use technology for exposure, but not for teaching. I like the educational games and tv shows for reinforcement or exposure. Even though my kids have this stuff on hand I do limit the amount of time spent on each, and what they watch/do. Between the Lions has been a great show for my ds. He learned about silent e and compound words from one of their shows. My kids are not fluent in reading yet, but if given the choice they would like to have me read to them more than watching a tv show. They also act like it is Christmas morning when I get back from the library.

I am intrested in using this with a small co-op. We would have ages ranging from 6-12. Is this something in your opinion we could pull off or do you think it would become to complicated? Do you think the kids would get bored with it after awhile? Is there something like this only secular? TIA

No you didn't. For some reason they didn't put the first episode on the website. I found and used this from you tube for our first week. I advised everyone of the issue of the first episode. All of the other episodes have the link to watch them on the Salsa website.

I have been doing the Salsa program as a part of a co-op. All of the materials are free. It is written for teachers that do not speak Spanish. If you look at the parents and educators section you will find detailed lesson plans for free as well. HTH

We are using Mr.Q science program in a science co-op. The first year Life Science is free. It was written for homeschoolers, and has at least 2 activites per chapter. The thing I really like about this program is that it uses scientific words that I have not seen in other programs. I thought it might be too much for my ds6 to comprehend, but so far that has not been an issue. He is a local guy here in our community, so we get the added benefit of going to the homeschool demos. HTH

Maybe something like the Math Play book would work for you? I still use the Stuart J. Murphy books with my kids. His books have some activites that go with the book in the back of each book. Here is a website that I found that has a math books on different levels. Then I check to see if my library has them instead of buying them. I use Saxon K just because I have it otherwise I would use the Math Play and living math books. HTH

I was courious about this so I went to the website. According to the website go to the grade level you want, then click on the downloadable activities square. Once our are on that page scroll down to the yellow bars. HTH

You could look over this: http://www.eequalsmcq.com/classicsciinfo.htm If you are only teaching for a short time you could focus on a section of this. I find that it suites a range of kids and has at least 2 hands on activities per chapter. Maybe a Janice VanCleave book or two?

If I didn't have a lot of money this is what I would do: History: Mosaic History(free) http://bringinguplearners.com/mosaic-myths-maps-and-marvels/ and buy either STOW or the other book that she recommends or http://www.abookintime.com/ if I just wanted to piece something together myself. I would make a history notebook with these free pages http://www.notebookingpages.com/index.php?page=Free-History-Notebooking-Pages Science: Barb's nature study, the internet, books from the library, and some nature journal items. If they were intrested in hands on kind of stuff you can do that for free here each week http://kidswhothink.blogspot.com/ or If you wanted an all inclusive science you can try this life science http://www.eequalsmcq.com/ . We are currently using it now in a science co-op, and really like it. The one downside is that some of the directions for the experiments are not very clear. Reading: could be included in the Mosaic History or follow the recommendations from TWTM. Pick one book from every section of the library to read. I could also use this http://www.mce.k12tn.net/units/units_with_books.htm We have used www.homeschoolshare.com in the past and have loved it. My ds just likes history more. Grammer: First Language Lessons. I bought my copy used for $12 dollars and it will last 2 years. Spelling: I would use words from our history or if doing HSS I would use the vocabulary words. Writing: I would use history narration as a writing activity and add it to their notebook. I could also use this http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/printables/writing.htm

Thanks for posting this! We are starting the Middle Ages in a couple of weeks.

I really like the REAL Life Science, but found we were just not doing it at home on a regular basis (not the programs fault). When we did get around to getting back on the science track, I found that we needed to be outside or have live animals(such as butterflies, pill bugs, fish). We live in an area that has a nice cold winter. The experiments and activities that we did do though have stuck in my ds head. I opted for a weekly co-op with other families who all had older kid than I did. We are using this for our Life Science. http://www.eequalsmcq.com/homeschoolers.htm There are pros and cons to this curriculum. Pros-it is free-will give your kids a great science vocabulary-it builds apon itself but is easily doable if you just do certain chapters-experiments are with things that you may have at home-he tries to keep experiments low cost. Cons-He is not always clear on some of his experiments HTH

bump :001_smile:

I write a course of study so I can keep track of what we are using and why. I usually review this every 6 months. I imput everything into Homeschool Tracker. Once that is done I usually spend about 20min making an agenda for each child. I also add any field trips or co-ops at that time. I really like HST because it allows me to have a schedule, but change it easily if I need to. I really hated paper schedules b/c I would always have arrows, and it would look messy. Now all I have to do it just move a box, and the reschedule is done. HTH

I looked at this today. I was wondering the same thing. Does anyone know how this would compare to United Streaming?

I have been doing this with a couple of other families. It is starting to grow on me. I have noticed that some of the experiments are not that clear. For example it will say you need a piece of cardboard but you need a square.

I am also a phone hater. I take phone calls for work, so when I am off work no phones. I have trained people not to call, because they can never get a hold of me. I love calling my dad(he is also a phone hater). The longest conversation we had on the phone was 4 min! I do have to say that I will call people back only if I know they will not keep me on the phone. I have one friend that will spend 4-5 hrs a day on the phone. That would drive me crazy!:blink:

We don't do lapbooks all the time since not all of my kids like lapbooking. For my younger we have been putting together lapbooks from homeschoolshare.com. We read the book, talk about a subject, and then make the mini book to put into the lapbook. On Friday of that week, I read the book, and we review going over the mini books as we glue them into the lapbook. For my ds that hates glue, scissors, or any crafty stuff, I to a kind of lap-n-note. I use the subject he loves the most (history) and put his mini books into notebooking pages. He likes to look at notebooks or lapbooks as long as he doesnt have to put it together. For my ds history notebook to just use a lot of what we already have done. For example adding maps, coloring pages, and narrations. The only thing I add beyond that are some pictures I find on the internet or magazines. As a general rule we work on one at a time per child. I have also noticed that my dc don't like certain pre made lapbooks, so I always spend time tweaking them to fit our needs.

Thanks for the post I had not heard of this until now. I went to the website and I found that this is exactly what I have been looking for. I look forward to using this system. I bought the week at a glance page. It just seemed easier on me and the trees :001_smile:.