I guess it would depend upon what your goals are. My husband and I want them to be able to fully communicate in Israel in oral and written Hebrew and also to be able to fully understand Biblical Hebrew for reading, studying, and translating purposes. Is he ready to switch? I had mine switch when they had mastered print. My dd is 11 and needed more time before switching, and my son was age 10. It is my understanding that the Script form of writing is the more common form of writing in Hebrew when people are writing to each other; at least in Israel, which is our standard at home. I think it's important to know both, just like in English, for a well-rounded workable knowledge of the language. In SI, he'll be writing in print for the exercises in the book, so he'll get continued practice. Not in form, like in ABQ, but just for answering questions. Do you think he needs more practice in print? There are free options online for continued practice in form if needed. HTH! G-d Bless, Rachel

@wendy: When he finishes ABQ, he can go directly into SH 1, no problem. SI 1 does assume you've already done some type of primer. I do recommend the TG. It has some grammar instruction and other language facts that need to be taught that aren't in the student text. My son used ABQ just for fun (in other words, no bookwork, just computer on Fridays) after he had finished Shalom Uvrachah, while doing SI 1. **For script practice, the Alef Bet Quest Script book worked great! My son finished it this past year and dd is starting it alongside SI 1, which also has writing in it, but not Script practice. BH has print and script posters for the wall and I ordered 2 of each of those years ago. I then hung up both a script and a print poster in their rooms-I call it learning by osmosis. Writing in Hebrew seems to have come easily to them. So there's another idea if writing in Hebrew is important to you. I will be giving my son Hebrew copywork this next year for him to continue in his Script. Have to figure out a plan on what-still a plan in progress! I forgot to mention an addition I used w/my dd this past year. I mentioned that language doesn't come as easily to her and she's the type that likes "activity books" for reinforcement; whereas they would have been just busy work for my son. Well, BH created a "funbook" to go with Shamlom Uvrachah that has been good for her. She finished it this year and is going into SI 1. None of you here would require it, but I thought I'd mention it for anyone else just starting out who had a child like my dd. BH is also starting a new online option for their materials, too. Some cons for us (though not bad enough to have prevented use): I should mention that if you use BH and your child will be having a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, they may be corrected on some of the vowels special rules, if your shul uses Israeli pronunciation rules. BH Modern Hebrew isn't exactly Israeli Hebrew pronuciation-which is what our shul teaches. Other synagogues may not teach Israeli pronunciation, so it may not be an issue; but ours does in it's classes, though we follow an Ashkenaz service style/liturgy. It wasn't a big deal and they adjusted easily-it was less than a handful of changes. So when they come upon it in the SI text, they use the Israeli pronunciation. Also, BH doesn't teach the names of the vowels (nikkud); they learned that in their BM class. I've determined since then that that is important to know, so you'll have to glean that info. from somewhere else in order to teach it; an easy task. Just thought I'd mention it! Shalom, Rachel

I forgot to mention that we also subscribe to the Jerusalem Post Ivrit monthly magazine for beginning Hebrew learners. It's great; there are different levels of nikkud usage-easy, med to no vowels at all. There are activities with in, too. I think it is very well done and creates further connection w/Israel. Also, Jpost also has an IvritTAlk program using Skype or over the phone. You get to interact with personal Ulpan teachers in Israel to advance your Hebrew; your schedule is up to you, how often depends upon the subscription to buy,etc and there's homework. After their B'nei Mitzvah, I plan on incorpating this program into our week. Just thought I'd share. @laughinglioness: I've heard good things about RS; that's great that your husband can communicate w/others; I just wish it weren't so expensive. Though I'd still have the issue of teaching them grammar even if I could use it.:glare: Shalom, RAchel

I doubt I'll be much help to you. I read your blog and your first grader is probably slightly ahead of mine, but I'll write a post anyway-since you asked and I like discussing it! I don't follow the schedule of a Jewish Day School; I want to accomplish similar aims, but just on a Charlotte Mason schedule! One of the many benefits of homeschooling, right? This article made me feel better about that decision: http://chinuchathome.info/index.php/Chinuch-Resources/Curriculum/Limudei-Kodesh-Curriculum.html My children are the first to learn Hebrew in our family that I know of (don't know about his great-grandparents, they were Holocaust victims-may they rest in peace) and I have been learning right along with them; however, my son has definitely surpassed me in recall time and remembering little facts concerning the language. I will continue learning with them, just-the-same. I've used Behrman House (BH) from the beginning: starting with the K-2 materials that just teaches the Alef Bet, to Shalom Uvrachah till now, when they are Shalom Ivrit (SI). I'd have to say that I am happy with the results for the most part. They also have enjoyed it-no tears or griping. My son is a natural w/language; my dd not as easily, but she's moving along. It's not as rigorous as others, but it has served us well. This past year, we were assisted by their B'nei Mitzvah Hebrew teacher, too; even though he used a different curriculum (KTAV), it strengthened the both of them well and they made a 99 and a 101 on their oral exams!! :hurray: Beginning in Aug. they begin working on their parshah and trope. Anyway, back to the subject... Son is starting Shalom Ivrit 2 DD is starting SI 1 Prayer practice: 2x /wk: Kol Yisrael: Prayers of Our People CD-ROM + Book son- Vol. 2 of 3 dd- Vol. 1 of 3 Daily SI (Sun-Th): flashcard drill. Read the Hebrew story/lesson aloud Then go back and translate it orally At the start of a new chapter, they write the vocabulary words in their machberot; Hebrew on right, then English to the left of the page alongside. Have a test either that week or the next week-depending upon how many words are in that Chapter. The only disappointment w/BH is the very subtle presentation of grammar concepts; though my son has absorbed them. However, this is where my CM philosophy comes into play that makes me feel better. If I had drilled them early on w/hardcore workbooks, whose to say it'd do any good or instill a love for the language? CM recommended that intensive grammar specific learning not start until 4th gr. or age 10; I suppose I could apply that to any language. As long as they END-UP- before leaving home- being able to communicate in Israel (they will visit w/our Shul in 2-3 years, though I think my son will end up living there eventually) and be able to translate from the Chumash; modern Hebrew and Biblical Hebrew are my goals, in that order. Due to their ages, they are ready to move up a notch; so this next year, beginning after Simchat Torah, I want to bring in dikduk specific learning. I was looking at L'shon HaTorah, the workbooks for junior high/high; but I don't know if there is a TG now (there wasn't last year) and if there is, whether it is in Hebrew or English (like the BH TG has a complete replica of the student book in Hebrew and Eng.). Also, I don't know if I can even begin the program at the junior high level or if we have to go back to the younger ones- they may be too young in presentation and content, since, like I said, the grammar concepts have been "embedded" in BH. Does that make sense? I'm considering emailing the author to ask questions. Perhaps you can enlighten me since I know you have looked at it. The other one that I am leaning HEAVILY towards is the DAVKA DIKDUK 1 cd-rom program: http://www.judaicaforkids.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=19&products_id=1094&osCsid=1d8839801235d8365805481f67c975fa Morah Moriah also has some interesting things, too. Well, there you go. Don't know if that satisfied your curiosity or not! I think I said more than you asked. Shalom, Rachel

I've been very happy with both PLL and ILL. ILL is for 4-6th gr. range. I haven't used Simply Grammar so I can't compare.I find Serl's materials to be thorough and covers a lot of ground. How about using reading Grammar-Land aloud and have them use the worksheets--http://www.hslaunch.com/mypage/profile/525 I have a two 11 yr. olds and they are in ILL and we do Grammar-Land 1x a week. They've learned alot from GL. Come ages 13, I will have them do Our Mother Tongue alongside Write with the Best. Also, the Teacher's Guide for ILL is a must, IMO. I got the ILL hardback and its TG from Amazon. HTH, Rachel **amendment: I just went and looked at the samples and age range (up to 8th) for SG and I actually think it would complement ILL since it's focus is strictly on Grammar, whereas ILL is LA in general. I still recommend GL and the worksheets, but I don't know how old your oldest is (I guess I shouldv'e looked) and how they'd respond to the story-like concept within GL. Both of mine get a kick out it. Anyway, I'm considering picking up myself as an in-between after GL and before OMT. Hope you find what's best for ya'll.

Excellent! Since I'm going to use Our Mother Tongue, I'm glad the grammar is just enough. I guess I"ll determine whether the instruction is enough in the area of poetry when the time comes. You've been great answering my questions!:) Blessings to you, Rachel

Thank you so much. I, too plan on LL from LotR. My son (11) has already read them, so it will be nice to dig in deeper and my dd (10) will have by then. SO mine would look like: ILL - 4-6th Meaningful Composition 4, first semester (maybe second) WwtB and OMT - 7th LL from LotR and OMT - 8th After that, I'm not sure. I'm mostly CM in philosophy, using much of AO suggestions for books as well as other great books lists; I use oral/written narrations. I'm looking at different resources for the upper "grades": Excellence in Lit.; Lightening Lit.; Figuratively Speaking; Teaching the Classics so I can just use any books I want without any need for a "curriculum (my preference-but I want them as independent as possible by HS); and something to teach the research paper. Two final questions, is WwtB pretty thorough in it's poetry instruction or should I look at something like Poetry Primer and The Grammar of Poetry; and does it instruct regarding essays, so that they wouldn't need any other instruction in that area before moving into HS? Much appreciated, Rachel

Thank you, Martha. So, for the exception of research papers, you think it covers all forms of writing? I'm just trying to get a firm handle (and sense of security!) on this. I am considering using it after mine finish ILL alongside OMT. Rachel

Thank you! So would you say that the research paper is the only form of writing that it doesn't cover? What resource would you recommend for learning the research paper? I was looking at Jump-In for all of these but I really don't like the style of presetnation of these skills, even though I know it's considered to be thorough.

I see that WWTB teaches most areas of writing: descriptive, book reviews (i.e.critiques), expository and persuasive, in addition to others. However, does it teach how to write a book report? Would you say that with the skills learned in Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 that your child has the skills to write a report without it being directly taught? Also, what about research papers? Thanks, Rachel

Yes, unfortunately, Fulbright's won't be ready till after her Chemistry and Physics one that is coming out next year. Rachel

If you want one from Creationist perspective, then The WOnders of Creation series has one by Geologist John Morris: The Geology Book; there's a study guide to go with it, too. Another is Geology By Design. Rachel

Thanks everybody. I think I'll keep O'Dell's book as a leisure read (my dd has enjoyed two other books by him) and use Henty (or attempt it, at least) as the read aloud. Also, thanks for the heads-up on the selection from Netflix. After reading about the storyline of the Seven Serpents Trilogy, I am not comfortable with it. Thanks anyway! Rachel

Should I use Scott O'Dell's The King's Fifth or Henty's By Right of Conquest for our history literature selection? I want more history than fiction, but definitely a good, living story. I have an 11 yr. old and a 10.5 yr. old who read for themselves above age/grade level. Thanks, Rachel

I've seen it, but they've already listened to James Baldwin's version; actually 2-3 years ago, so I don't really want another adapted version at their ages. JB's version has been sufficient. Yes, I mean those two parts. I thought I read one of the reviewers mention that it only covered the first part, just wanted to confirm it. I'm assuming there are study guides available for both parts, of course. I think I'll wait till next year when I have 12 yr. olds, but I'm not going to wait till high school for PP. Knowing my children, I firmly believe they will do well with the unabridged next year; if I'm wrong, we'll try again the following year, but I don't think that will be necessary. Now, I will wait till high school to read The Holy War. @i.love.lucy Thank you for the link to the free resources. Thanks, Rachel

Thanks! Is it for both parts or just the first? I noticed that the reviews were positive on the depth of the questions (I don't want surface level questions). Anyone else have any thatr they have used and recommend? Rachel

I've heard good things about Habibi. I haven't read these so I suggest your own discretion, but have them on my children's reading list: Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood http://www.amazon.com/Tasting-Sky-Palestinian-Ibtisam-Barakat/dp/0374357331/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top Checkpoints: http://www.amazon.com/Checkpoints-Marilyn-Levy/dp/0827608705/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318339042&sr=1-1#_ Although not Palestinian related, it's a story of the Taliban and it's treament of women you may find intersting: Breadwinner (+ a sequel) http://www.amazon.com/Breadwinner-Deborah-Ellis/dp/0888994168/ref=pd_sim_b20#_ It may also be useful to read a bio of the first post-1967 War Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kolleck and how he handled the unification: http://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Kolleck-Builder-Jerusalem-Biography/dp/0827605617/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2NW551NBHH75R&colid=32EUHOOU35JRH I second Bonheoffer (for adult reading- Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy by Eric Metaxas and The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945 ) and Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place, though for a high school level and definitely study the history Eugenics thought and practice. Along those lines of Eugenics (and for high school/adult reading) is the personal story of Rose Price; I have heard her story personally. She was held for 5 years in concentration camps and experimented on multiple times and was witness to many others around her. However, with all she went through, was able to forgive a soldier personally who had had a hand in her abuse: A Rose from the Ashes http://www.amazon.com/Rose-Ashes-Price/dp/1881022668 I'm not aware of your children's ages, and I don't know exactly what you're looking for so I'll just post what I have and you can choose; but these are the books my children have read: The Winged Watchman – Holland Nazi resistance - Hilda Van Stockum-ages 10+ Ten Thousand Children: True Stories Told by Children Who Escaped the Holocaust on the Kindertransport- Anne Fox – gr. 4-8 Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps – Andrea Warren – ages, for a mature 10+ Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow -Susan Bartoletti - gr. 5-8 The Devil's Arithmetic – Modern times and 1942 Poland- Jane Yolen- ages, for a mature 10+ No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War – personal memoir, Anita Lobel – ages 10-16 Number the Stars – Denmark Nazi Resistance- Lois Lowry – ages 8-12 The Shadow Children – Steven Schmer – Upper Elementary Others: Of Heroes, Hooks, and Heirlooms – Holocaust – Faye Silton- ages 8-12 Terrible Things – Eve Bunting – Holocaust Allegory- ages 4-8 Far From the Place We Called Home – Kindertransport England – Sarah Schleimer- ages 12+ The Hidden Children- Howard Greenfield-ages 8-12 The Righteous Among the Gentiles: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust – Mordacai Paldiel (with Vad Yashem)-High School/Adult Escape from Warsaw – Ian Serralier – ages 12+ , 1942, based on true accounts In the Mouth of the Wolf – bio, Poland WWII- Rose Zar - ages 10+ Rescue: The Story of How Gentiles Saved Jews in the Holocaust -Milton Meltzer -ages 12+ Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story – Jews saved to Japan- Ken Mochzuki-gr. 2-5 Remember Not to Forget: A Memory of the Holocaust – introduction to Holocaust- Norman Finkelstein – age 6+ Raoul Wallenburg: The Man Who Stopped Death – saved Jewish lives-Sharon Linnea-ages 9+ My Heart in a Suitcase – Anne Fox-Library of Holocaust Testimonies The Holocaust: A History of Courage and Resistance – Bea Stadtler-gr. 4-6 The Holocaust: The World and the Jews 1933-1945 – Seymour Rossel-gr. 7-9 Hitler's War Against the Jews- David Altshuler - gr. 9 – adapted from Lucy Dawidowicz's book The Endless Steppe – Esther Hautzig – Russian side of line, transported to Siberia in 1941 HTH, Rachel

Can someone give me what they think is the best study guide for Pilgrim's Progress? I'm not interested in anything fancy or a unit study. I will be reading it aloud to two 11 yr. olds in our last term this coming year; requiring oral narration sometimes, but also desiring a guide w/questions if I need it. Thanks, Rachel

I have talked to the company and they do not have this product any longer and have no real intetnion of bringing it back.:( Rachel

A quick follow-up question (or two): I want to use Our Mother Tongue in a couple of years. If I do, wouldn't that replace the need for the WG Advanced? Wouldn't it be sufficient to do the Basic this year and maybe the Word Works and then skip the Adv. and move into OMT? Rachel

Thank you. I'll have a 10.5 yro and an 11 yr. old. Do ya'll buy a separate word card set for each child? How long does each time you do it take you? So the supplemental workbk is for reinforcement of the concepts in Basic? I was wondering about that... I like the color-coded concept; I'm just leary about the money. I was wondering if they used different colored highlighters in sentences for the different "parts", would I get basicly the same visual distinctions that WG offers without the expense? Of course, that doesn't replace the Word Works, does it? I have one very visual child and one very kinesthetic one. Thank you, Rachel

Could someone give me an idea how long it would take to work through the WG BAsic program? Thanks, Rachel

bumping...

Anyone used the TfT Write On! Quick Kit to teach the principles of composition taught in Meaningful Composition? It's much less than the MC books. It consists of an audio cd and a booklet for you to learn from and then teach. If you have listened to it, what did you think? Thanks, Rachel

:iagree:Very well said. Rachel