Why do you think MM7 would be good to supplement TC? Thanks. Anyone with any idea about LoF supplementation? TC is a complete course, from what I've read, and LoF is at the high school levels, so it might be a too much. Are there enough word problems in TC?

Thank you for looking into this and your recommendation. Rachel

Does anyone know the difference between these two products from The Critical Thinking Skills Company? The Critical Thinking in United States History is made up of 4 books The US History Detective Bk. 1 seems to be new. Thanks, Rachel

Could I get opinions? Would LoF be necessary as a supplement if using Tabletclass? This would be in Pre-Alg and on through high school. My son gets frustrated in the lack of explanation in the LOF. I'm also concerned with the best use of his time and two math curriculums, at the higher levels, may be a misuse of his time. Any thoughts? Thanks, Rachel

bump... :bigear:

Hi, I need some help. When you click "watch advert", is there a means to go directly to that advert at a future time without having to scroll to find it again? I looked all over, but couldn't figure it out. :confused1: Thanks, Rachel

Yes, thanks so much!

HI, I am looking at switching my son from MUS (he's finishing Zeta now) to Tablet Class Pre.-Alg., but I have a question: Does TC Pre-Alg cover negative numbers? I read on a previous posting the recommendation to start TC only after the negative number teaching in MUS. I'd really prefer to avoid buying MUS and TC in one year. Thanks for your help, Rachel

Yes, disgusting. Thankfully (finally), in 1994, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Lutheran World Federation repudiated his words: "we [Lutherans] who bear his name and heritage must with pain acknowledge also Luther's anti-Judaic diatribes and the violent recommendations of his later writings against the Jews. As did many of Luther's own companions in the sixteenth century, we reject this violent invective, and yet more do we express our deep and abiding sorrow over its tragic effects on subsequent generations. In concert with the Lutheran World Federation, we particularly deplore the appropriation of Luther's words by modern anti-Semites for the teaching of hatred toward Judaism or toward the Jewish people in our day. Grieving the complicity of our own tradition within this history, moreover, we express our urgent desire to live out our faith in Jesus Christ with love and respect for the Jewish people." On the other hand, we have the wonderful Lutheran, Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the inspirational and courageous counter to Lutheran's words; who stood up for what was right during WWII, as a righteous gentile, before the age of reconciliation of the Church and the Jewish people began. A prime example of one person standing out amongst the masses. Rachel

A book that be helpful to him that specifically analyses Germany and the Holocaust going back to the 16th c.: Hitler's War Against the Jews: A Young Reader's Version of the War Against the Jews, 1933-1945, by Lucy S. Dawidowicz by David Altshuler. http://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-War-Against-Jews-Dawidowicz/dp/0874412226/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1433174830&sr=1-7&keywords=hitler%27s+war+against Rachel

Though I agree with the 'scapegoat' theory and leading the masses (why 'the mob' is so dangerous), especially after the way Germany was handled after WWI, setting the stage for someone like Hitler to manipulate the mob, it's only partially true that "being different" has been a cause. History doesn't bear that out, really. If 'being different' was a good portion of the situation with the Jewish people, then the Jewish Haskalah (Enlightenment of the 18th-19th c.) would have resolved those differences. Assimilation would have taken away that stigma. In fact, that's exactly what the haskalah movement taught and it took root the strongest in the Germanic lands. The leaders said to look gentile on the outside, learn your country's language and culture, be Jewish only on the inside; that your differentness is the problem. Though prior to the Enlightenment,the same issue applies in Spain during the centuries-long Inquisition. The Sephardi Jews who had converted to Christianity were not immune to questioning, torture, and either banishment or death. Even those who had risen high in the church's ranks as devoted New Christians, were not immune. It didn't work in the Dreyfus Affair in France, an assimilated Jewish officer who was falsely accused where historical anti-semitic attacks were used against him in the press (drawings, renderings, and in the court). A case which propelled a young, assimilated journalist, named Herzl, who believed in the Enlightenment theory, to conclude that that theory's promise had failed. At which time political Zionism began. http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-dreyfus-affair/ And in the mass-scale eugenics program, the protection assumed by assimilation did not work for Germany's assimilated Jewish community (who had fought in huge percentages for the "Fatherland" in WWI and were very patriotic Germans), nor for those in other occupied lands, who became clumped in together with their distinctly Jewish "in appearance" brethren in the camps. There are many other examples. In America, it has generally proven more successful; though until recently, as we see within the Universities. So, I agree with Herzl that the promise of assimilation has proved a failure. I would also point out the power of story (ex: the legend "The Wandering Jew") and art (Michelangelo's Moses 'with horns') among others, as powerful mediums of information that taught both the scholoars and the ignorant in the Middle Ages (similar to racist "art" created in the Jim Crow south to promote sterotypes). Another point to consider: isn't it ironic that Jews can be both 'evil capitalists' and 'neo-cons' controlling the world, needing to be rooted out; while simultaneously, being 'communists', bringing in a world devoid of religion and trying to control everyone in that way. Both of these accusations are based on historical actions by a few individuals who happened to be Jewish, but are expanded to encompass the entire People and now, reflected in much anti-Zionism worldwide. The former based in the Middle Ages 'moneylending' and later the Rothchild's success; the latter, reflected by the fact that Marx was of Jewish descent (ignore the fact that he wasn't raised in his Covenant religion), as was secular Marxists Lenin and Trotsky (let's ignore that Stalin wasn't Jewish). The context was that a change in the governance of Russia was supported by a huge segment of the Jewish community. They had suffered under the Tzars in the progroms and under the systemic anti-semitic laws and culture so of course they wanted change, but not necessarily communism (it not being the goal of the 1905 revolution by large portions of Russia). A minority who turned away from their Covenant faith and pursued Marxism are used as examples to further the conspiracy theories of an entire people. Of those that promote these and other conspiracy theories (and they exist in people in positions of government power today in Europe and the Middle East), it's amazing what they claim 0.2% of the world's population have done and are doing **sarcasm here**. It's all so illogical. :banghead: So, this small slice of examples, I think shows that this is a very complex issue. IMO, much more than your average bigotry, racism, and minority oppression (not minimizing these issues, just pointing out there are distinctive differences). To respond to a previous comment, after extensive and ongoing study done due to raising Jewish children (myself not being Jewish), I think history shows it has historically been mainly theological; but became more political and economic in the modern era (but still rooted in certain theological anti-Jewish and anti-semitic accusations). This is a very worthwhile conversation...though I apologize for being long-winded! Rachel

In response to one of your assertions is, yes, since the second century, the early church fathers promoted anti-Judaism; collectively blaming the Jewish people for the crucifixion (hence the heinous term "Christ-killer" used through the centuries), taking New Testament verses out of context, as well as replacement theology. All promoting anti-Judaism and later, anti-semitism as it became about "race". It wasn't till the 20th c., after the Holocaust, Vatican II, the new scholarship of the NT context, and general changing of views that the ingrained anti-Judiasm has decreased; though only to increase again in the last few years. Old stereotypes are being recycled and new expressions of old forms of anti-semitism are resurfacing. There's nothing new under the sun :crying: The reasons for previous exiles Before the Common Era and the 1st c. under Rome weren't based on the same prejudices created by historical Christianity, though they were traumatic and need studying, too. They reverbarate throughout time and affect currect issues, amazingly. Also, the forms of oppression of Jews (and Christians) under the historical calipates are different than what existed in Europe. As for good History spines, I have several options. For you: Wanderings: Chaim Potok's History of the Jews (excellent) Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the Church and the Jewish People – Dr. Micheal Brown 5000 Years of Jewish History in 5 Hours – Rav Berel Wein audio lecture Though obviously, he is not an historian on the issues presented in Acts and the Epistles, as he promotes the old perspectives on Paul that are being dismatled by new scholarship of the time and of the NT, and inaccurate religious views of America's Founders (he repeats the inaccurate progressive view and IMO, wrongly connecting the Enlightenment with secularism); otherwise, he shines with his specialty-Jewish history) Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know about it's People and It's History – Joseph Telushkin Echoes of Glory: The Story of the Jews in the Classical Era – R. Berel Wein Herald of Destiny: The Story of the Jews 750-1650 – Rabbi Berel Wein Triumph of Survival: The Story of the Jews in the Modern Era 1650-1996 – Rabbi Berel Wein Faith and Fate : The Story of the Jewish people in the Twentieth century – R. Berel Wein * SIr Martin Gilbert books Judaism in the First Three Centuries of the Christian Era – George Foote Moore – Three Vol. Work -highly regarded as unbiased and uses primary sources for research * Read what Martin Luther wrote (among other sermons he gave), which gave much of the moral authority behind actions committed in Nazi Germany: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/Luther_on_Jews.html * and the forgery that was circulated by Henry Ford in America and is still circulated and influential: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/protocols.html For your son: I have a long lost of living, historical fiction books that if you want, I can email the list to you. Just PM me. Otherwise, any of these would do well: The Time-chart of History of Jewish History – Chartwell Books (for that helpful visual) or for the more in-depth history buff: A Historical Atlas of the Jewish People: From the Time of the Patriarchs to the Present - Eli Bar Navi The Atlas of Great Jewish Communities: A Voyage Through History -Sondra Leiman – ages 9-12- primary sources, bios; 1st. Cen. Jerusalem to Modern-day Israel Sand and Stars: The Jewish Journey Through Time Vol. 1 : A Jewish History for Young People– From the Second Temple to the 16th Cen. - Berel Wein - age 10-16 Sand and Stars: The Jewish Journey Through Time Vol. 2: A Jewish History for Young people – From the 16th Cen. To the Present – age 10-16 (again, same caveat as above on his promoting the old perspective on Paul and the Progressive view of America's Founders, otherwise, good) The History of the Jewish People – Behrman House – gr. 5-7 Vol. 1 Ancient Israel to 1880's America Vol. 2 The Birth of Zionism to Our Time My People: Abba Eban's History of the Jews Vol. 1 – Genesis-1776 -gr. 6-7 Vol. 2 - 18th Cen. To Our Own – gr. 7-8 This Land of Liberty: A History of America's Jews – Helene Kinvin/Behrman House- primary source documents – Gr. 7-9 From Ur to Eternity Vol. 1: From Patriarchs to Spanish Inquisition – Barbera Engel – Ktav Publ.- ages 10-13 From Ur to Eternity Vol. 2: From Expulsion to Eternity – Barbera Engel – Ktav Publ. - ages 10-13 As for other media: This may be the one you watched. I think it is valuable becuase it brought forth characters and issues not generally touched upon in other documentaries: The Story of the Jews - Based upon Simon Schama's book- PBS http://www.pbs.org/wnet/story-jews/ Hope this helps, Rachel

Thank you! I'm going to look now. I plan on using this book this next year and it's great that I can get it on audio. Rachel

Thanks again for your responses. I would choose the two-volume version and not the one vol. condensed version; so hopefully there will be additional material than what you have experienced (of course, I'm assuming that you're referring to the 1 vol. version, alpidarkomama). The only other general history material I've used is the two-volume Seymour Rossel books and they were fine for the ages intended-middle elementary. I'm fine if it's fairly general, though not fine w/simplification; like I said, I read-aloud and they read independently many biographies and other books of historical fiction too that parallels whatever stream of history we're studying. I have collected a very long and extensive booklist (and always expanding!) for what I call our "living Jewish history" selections. I just need a good basic spine to pull it together. We'll be making our rounds again in high school w/Rabbi Wein's materials and they are also learning history via their B'nei Mitzvah classes. I'd love to have Artscroll's The Jewish Experience: 2,000 Years, but it's a little pricey for me this year :sad:. Rachel

bump...:)

You can only see the next day; that way you can print it out the night before if you like. All the long-term, yearly, term, weekly and daily planning is on paper. I use Sonya's Five-Step planning method. I didn't buy the book/DVD seminar(though it's helpful to many) , but followed the steps given via her blog. I think once you get your feet wet in it, you'll discover that it's an outstanding price. If you have any questions after subscribing, please feel free to PM me or post on the SCM Forum-others there are extremely helpful. Rachel

Great! I appreciate the reviews. I am planning my year and have a few things undecided, so this helps a lot; we begin at the end of Oct. I am planning on using Rabbi Wein's series for high school; can you tell more about what makes it such a great resource compared to others you have used? I'd also like to incorporate Chaim Potak's narrative version of history; my CM side demands it!:) Have you listened to Rabbi Wein's audio: 5000 Years of Jewish History? I was considering incorporating it prior to high school; I like audios to "fill in the gaps" so-to-speak, but I don't know how dry it may be. As in, is it in a lecturing style or a lively telling? Rachel

Sure! After you have put in the amount of info from your Resource, the next page is the Resource Scheduler page. Thre you assign it to whom you would like; then a sub-section follows with subject (this is still pre-selected, but they are working on you being able to design your own subject categories). Next is 'Study Method'; here is where you can customize what you want done. For example, I have 'listen to audio', 'read 2 chapters and do oral narration', 'copy words on MOnday and study all week', etc. Then there's a 'start date' option OR a 'start after' with a drop down tab with your previous entries if you're not concerned with it poopping onto the schedule at a certain date but after another book (for example, the NArnia series, the first one I had a start date, the rest I just had each one follow the preceding one); OR a 'Use With' option, too. Then you click on which day(s) of the week you want it used. Also, if it's a resource that is 'leisure reading andyou don't have a set time for, I just either put in on Sun. and when it's read, I click on 'resources not scheduled' for that particular day and everything will come up asnd you can click worked on or finshed OR you can assign it everyday and just minimize the resource if you decide it won't be used that day before printing the schedule out. My children like having a schedule that they can check either W-worked onor F-finished. I just take their sheet at the end of the day or whenever, and go through and click and it's done. Doesn't take long at all. The long part is the planning and entry process, but once it's done it's done and if I must tweak, it's already in there adn I can adjust things, but that's no big deal. At the end of the year, I use the Summary or Detailed Report to make my Year-End summation. It's extremely flexible and adjusts to each family's uniqueness. Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know and I'll do my best.

I am trying to decide between From Ur to Eternity Vol. 1: From Patriarchs to Spanish Inquisition by Barbera Engel and Ktav Publ. http://www.ktav.com/product_info.php?products_id=2350 and The History of the Jewish People Vol. 1 Ancient Israel to 1880's America by Behrman House: http://behrman.powerwebbook.com/productdetails.cfm?sku=190 I've used BH products for 5 years and I like that this particular series of two volumes has historian Jonathan Sarna as a contributor. That being said, I'd still like to know if anyone has any first hand experience with either one. I don't want twaddle; I take history seriously. We read regularly from biographies and historical fiction for our Jewish history, but I also like to have a "spine". My children are 11 and 12. Todah, Rachel edit: I'm also considering Teaching Jewish History by Julia Berger, but don't know much about it. I like the content of what I've seen of Teaching Haftorah of the same series. Any experience with this title from Berger? It's also distributed by BH: http://behrman.powerwebbook.com/productdetails.cfm?sku=A183

I've been using it from they beginning-3 years, I think. They are always working on the next project to make it even more customizable (the SCM ORG. wish list). It's worth the 9.95 a month for the ease of of my year. You can customize by pages or chapters or lessons, or none at all; it doesn't matter. You're putting the info. in yourself. You can also customize HOW you want to use a resource; you couldn't do that a little over a year ago. Once you get all your materials and directions in, you just push print and go. Plus, there's a place for notes for the out-of-the-ordinary experiences (like a play or DVD) Also, the tech support is right there and responsive. Your weekly schedule and those supplies are usually written on paper; I plan in advance on paper first, then put in the infomation for the year (and tweak it as I go if I change my in, if a resource isn't working out or for whatever reason). The idea behind not being able to see a week in advance is that it's supposed to "flow" with life. What you may have planned for on the next Thurs. isn't always what happens, so you're not a slave to it, but it's your servant.

May I suggest listening to the sermons of or reading directly from the writings of John Wesley himself? He was quite prolific. Also, here's a link to the Wesleyan Center online. Did you know that William Wilburforce was a Methodist and that Wesley's last letter was to him? http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/ Lastly, a blog with other blogs and recommended reading: http://arminiantoday.com/recommended-reading-on-arminianism/ HTH, Rachel

The Jerusalem Post magazine comes once a month, at the beginning of a new Hebrew month. For example, we just received for the month of Tamuz (yes, a little behind since it has to cross the ocean!). It comes every month. Every page is in color; there are 34 pages, not including the front and back cover. Each issue has recipes in a addition to current events, there's a special poster insert, activities in Hebrew and grammar and writing practice for children; loads of vocabulary words and the articles and activities are completely related to the corresponding Holidays for that month. There's so much in each magazine. This month it advertised a new book called Stick Around: http://gingerhood.com/stick-around/stick-around/ I tried to do something similar by writing the Hebrew on pieces of paper and taping them around the house, but I like this better. I wish I could tell you my cost, but I spread it out over a few months and combined it with the International JPost. My subscription ends in ELUL, so two more months. I was able to arrange which day of the month to have money drawn. When I look at the corner of the magazine it reads Price in USA $7 . Shabbat Shalom, Rachel

My dd switched hands till quite late; in fact she still is quite handy with both. By the time she was around 8, I did start reminding her to only use her left hand for eating because when she used her right it was messier; but she could do her artwork as a lefty or righty for quite a long time. She has now (age 11) settled on her left hand. my husband ws ambidextrous when he was little, though favoring the left; however the nuns forced him to be right-handed and now he can do very little with the left. She did have motor skills issues, which is why, later at 6, I had her use HWT. Mydd still has weakness in her fingers, as far as grip goes, so I don't go to her to open up jars! She pushes too hard on stuff, but is also able to grab, with her fingers, the smallest bug/insect; she's an amazing artist and can draw incredible things with little training and likes small, detailed work. She has sensory issues, but they have become managable and do not determine her choices for her. Just have him keep doing normal, child-like, creative things (I don't mean pushing buttons on a video game or touch screen) with his fingers and hands that promote dexterity and strength without worrying about it too much. Simply, I wouldn't worry about it. Eventually he'll settle it on his own or be completely ambidextrous; either way, it's okay. Besides at his age, there's no need to push any formal pencil writing anyway. Rachel

Could it be this one: http://behrman.powerwebbook.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=6271 I was looking at that one myself. If it's the same one, then your plug for it is encouraging. I've used many things from BH since my children's K years. Their Israel materials for children have been great, too. Though some of their materials present some concepts that are more liberal than our own teachings at home, it hasn't detered the usefulness of the products.:) I've also used some of their adult Hebrew materials. Rachel

That makes sense. Come to think of it, I haven't seen any practice workbooks specifically for learning print either, like there exists for script. The print forms are taught and practiced within the context of learning the alefbet and decoding books, like you said above. In the BH primer, Shalom Uvrachah, you have a choice between a print version and a script version. With the primer ABQ, the practice in the book is of print, but you can purchase a script practice book alongside. In SI, there are no writing practice skills taught; when my son started SI 1, that's when he started the ABQ script book. Rachel