We just use the book. I find it more fiddly and annoying to use the CD player and find the spot, than to just pick up the book and read the poem. It is definitely useable just with the book.

I am using Ambleside, my kids are 17 months apart but the younger has LDs, older is very smart, and so there is more than normal gap between them. They do a lot together. Both are in the same Ambleside year. However, they do different maths books, and I have quite different expectations of them both in their writing. The older does more work, a heavier grammar text. I help the younger a lot more. More and more though I am combining them, especially since I am making up their writing assignments myself rather than leaving them to a curriculum- so I often give them the same topic. I love that we read the same books and so can have 3 way discussions- when it comes to CM and narrations and talking about books, I think that is a real advantage of having more than one child doing a year- they can really learn by seeing what the other child sees in a book or character or perspective. One thing I do do though is slightly vary their free reading, appropriate to their temperaments. Mine are a boy and girl, and my girl read Little Women, my boy read Little Men (and loved it!). I "feed" them both literature I think they will really enjoy. So I do try and individualise their programs for them, while it just seems to work out that we combine more and more as well.

We have had the IEW Poetry Memorisation book for maybe a couple of years at the most- my kids are ages 12 and 14. We are maybe halfway through the book. We take it slowly. 5 minutes a day, 3 days a week, on memorywork. We read our present poem, we go over a couple of old ones. We read another poem not for memorisation each day too. Altogether 10 minutes max. I think it is good memory training, and the kids seems to enjoy the poems, most of them, and don't mind memory work at all. The IEW book is great for all ages of kids. The first poems are silly, and my kids really loved them and love to recite them even now. Ooey Gooey is just the best.

We only do poetry memorisation and all we do is read the poem every day, once, until it is memorised, and recite a couple of others to keep them fresh. 5 minutes max. I don't mind how long it takes- different poems take different amounts of time. The Jabberwocky just took us about 8-10 weeks, 5 minutes a day, 3 days a week. I just cant imagine spending half an hour on trying to memorise a poem, every day. We read poetry every day, though. Maths drill, latin endings- all these things we spend a maximum of 5 minutes on, when we do them. Thats not to say what you are doing is wrong...it just seems inefficient, but maybe you are having an intense season of memorisation, and thats fine too. Its just not that big a priority around here, although we enjoy what we do and over the years it has added up.

I probably post less but I didn't answer the poll because it doesn't seem like a relevent question for me. I post less because the new format means I don't get so sucked into discussions that are enticingly inflammatory, or plain interesting, but just not relevent to me. It's nothing to do with the classic or not classic issue. I learned a lot about the whole "what's classical" issue way back when LCC first came out, I read Climbing Parnassus, and I think i got a good feel for what it all means, and after diving right for the more pure "classic", I ended up backing off into what works for my family. So I don't really care what other people think is classic anymore. TWTM recommends plenty of curricula that can be used in many contexts apart from a classic or neoclassic context, and so these boards reflect that. Its all good.

I had it bad for years. But to some extent it has burned itself out. I have bought and sold so much- but at least I know what people are taking about around here, and what most of the acronyms are referring to! Buying 2nd hand is helpful. It costs less when you realise you cant use all the stuff you have bought. You lose less on resale- less difference between your buying and selling prices. Nowadays i am more into buying Living, Classic Books than curriculum, and I love searching high and low for a good bargain. My shelves are stacked. There is one guy- I think his last name is Davis, he wrote an Angel in the Marble- and I love what he says- buying curriculum is part of a homeschooling parent's teacher training. Because what other training do we have, if we havn't done this before? Although it can get compulsive and addictive, (and its so much more fun, and easier, to buy curriculum that teach the kids day in day out!) I think we need to be gentle with ourselves about the apparent wasteage. We all want the best for our kids, and its hard to know what is going to work and what isn't, for us, for our kids, without making quite a few mistakes first. I am actually glad I have seen and used a lot of what is out there. Its out of my system! I have learned, nothing replaces the teacher. Still, the right materials can make the job easier.

I am relieved by this thread, because I didnt realise so many other kids suffered a logic deficit! And, after seeing so many people here rave about the Dandilion Logic books I was rather disappointed to find that my poor son just struggled so hard with Logic Liftoff. we gave up fairly quickly before he felt too disheartened. My daughter sailed through all her Logic books. I thought it must be easy, but my ds12 finds them sooooo hard. I ended up giving up for now. I feel his mathematics book, in particular problem solving but all of it, really, teaches enough logical thinking for him, for now. It's important with my son, and probably many LD kids, to keep him feeling successful. Failing miserably at logic puzzles, even quite easy ones, was certainly not doing that. I would rather he do something he can do that challenges him a little, even if its several grades lower, than have him make too many mistakes. I haven't gone any further with it. My son is improving all the time with his mathematics (he has an Australian maths book that is designed for LD kids who find it hard to follow instructions, and it is very clearly laid out,and it is still hard for him, but he is progressing). I am thinking it may be another year or three before we are ready to tackle Logic as a separate subject, and if we don't get there, but he can untangle mathematical word problems,and follow instructions (neither of which are easy for him now- he more often than not just guesses) then I will be satisfied. He did do some of the Mind Benders. He struggled but got through those first easy books. But the Logic Liftoff was very demoralising.

I used RS4K Chemistry, but truthfully, all it made me feel was that I could tick off science, that I had finally covered some chemistry- it alleviated my guilt. I don't honestly think what they learned was incredibly significant in the larger scheme of things, and my kids didn't understand the last 2 or 3 chapters out of the 10. I am more of the mindset nowadays that developing a passion for nature, for how things work, for the world around us, encouraging curiosity, is of more benefit that technical knowledge, up to a certain point- probably around 12-14 or later. Now maybe that isn't going to be the case for all kids, and they might crave technical know how, I know many do, but my kids are only now enjoying science, with a teacher who is NOT me, and I feel I could have actually done nothing till now (they are 12 and 14) and they would have been fine! Just because a child is scientifically inclined doesn't mean doing things earlier is necessarily a good thing. Anyway, thats something everyone has to work out for themselves and I am just sharing my own experience. My dad is an astrophysicist and I like science, but I have not been very successful in teaching my kids in a way that they really grasp the high concepts, or inspired them. I have resorted to a teacher. RS4K is good, in a way, but in the end I think I wasted my money.

After doing lots of drill with my two, I let it go and allowed them to have a tables sheet on their desks. It wasnt long before they knew them, but it took the pressure off and the stress. I just don't think you can force something like that. I would at least give it a break. I personally dont think it holds kids back in maths to not have their tables down cold- if they have done drill, its all in there and it will come. Some kids just dont memorise so easily as others, but mine seem to know them now that they use them.

Here in Australia diagramming sentences in unknown, and grammar is not covered anywhere near as intensely as it seems to be in the U.S. I think it is the same in Britain. This neoClassical approach emphasises grammar, but it's certainly not the only way to do things. You can do as much or as little as you like. I don't want to put my 2nd child through AG either, although my first does it pretty well and I may as well continue it with her. My 2nd is just not going to handle it. I am looking for something lighter and less intense for him and I don't care if it has diagramming or not. I haven't yet found what I am looking for!

Hawthorne's Greek Myths are good, but D'Aulaires are just beautiful. Also, the Children's Homer.

I have just finished the Geurber book with my kids. For some reason, they did not enjoy it when they had to read it themselves...it is a bit "cut and dry" in a way- the chapters are short and somehow I dndt feel they flowed well when I read it to myself, either. However, it has worked beautifully as a read aloud- somehow that just brought it alive for us and we really enjoyed it then.

For that age, the Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence. I have just read the Bronze Bow before I hand it to my kids, who are 12 and 14. I agree with the person who said they think this book is better saved for older children. It will be perfect for my kids, but I don't think they would have got nearly as much out of it a couple of years ago. It has a deep message.

Not grade one but our 2nd time through, I spent 10 weeks on Prehistory, and early Ancient civilizations (Sumer mainly), 10 weeks on Egypt, India, China, Africa, covering various Asian religions, 10 weeks on Greece and 10 weeks on Rome. I have loved doing it this way. (we have four 10 week terms in our school year).

It depends on how you want to do it, really. You could just read the stories and have the child narrate them back. But the AG has maps, colouring in pages, other books you can read, and activities related to each chapter. I think all these things help to make pegs in the child's mind. I found the maps in particular to be a wonderful way for the kids to become familiar with the geography of the world. I don't think the CDs are necessary at all though- again, it just depends how you want to do it. I bought them once and my kids rebelled and didn't like them- they much prefer me to read aloud to them. But thats us. Plenty of other families love the CDs, and I was envious of kids who would listen to them over and over. But they are just the book being read aloud by someone else , nothing more than that.

Writing Without Fear is one of my favourite and most used purchaes from PHP. It really is excellent and gives a wonderful "bigger picture" as well as specifics, about the learning to writing process. I highly recommend it.

Maths, reading, and usually some type of writing/language arts is daily. We have two days where we are out of the house a lot....it is for lessons (science, drama, sport), but it cuts into our home lesson time. So, we do all our history and science and extra bits and pieces- foreign languages, art, music appreciation, etc on the other three days. We do CM so we do a lot of short subjects- daily poem for example- which we only do on the three days we are home all day.

:iagree: I like that.

Latin Prep by Galore Park. SOTW, the 4 year history cycle, and the linking of literature to history. Love it- has made all the difference to our homeschooling. Thankyou. The concept of Freewriting (Bravewriter, but its not a new concept of course), as a part of a total approach to learning to write,, for my dyslexic reluctant writer, at a certain stage. It really helped him learn to let go and write. Along with copywork, dictation, narration, and Imitative writing. As much as possible I am learning not to use textbooks and workbooks and using living books to teach with, which is why, now that we have finished SOTW, I am gravitating toward Ambleside. It just works best for us.

I live in Australia where there is a LOT of sunshine and a very minimum of UV protection. Big hole in the ozone down here. 5-10 minutes in the sun constitutes sunburn. When I was a kid, I had a beautiful golden tan. I tanned well. And I also got badly sunburned very often. Right through my teens, I didnt listen to my mum. I always had a beautiful tan from spending hours on the sun. Since I was about 18 i have kept out of the sun because I realised I had put myself at great risk of skin cancer. I dont believe in suntan cream. Toxic stuff. So I jsut stay out of teh sun, andcover myself when out. I went to a skin specialist 2 weeks ago. He asked me all the questions- yes, i was badly sunburned as a child. Yes I have moles etc. Then he checked me over and said I had really excellent skin for my age (41)- much better than most people. I cna only put it down to staying out of the sun for the last 20 years. When I say stay out of the sun, thats pretty impossible down here. I get plenty of sunshine. But not the type that gives you a tan. Just early morning and late afternoon sun.

I agree it could well be gall bladder related. Eggs are a strong gall bladder problem trigger. But it could also be severe food sensitivities. But I don't think you are going to find a band aid solution. I think you need to listen to your body and take care of it. I would get yourself some strong digestive enzymes. I don't know the brand names from the U.S. And take them before every meal. And I would take Yakult and/or acidopholous - a lot of it. My husband has lots of digestive issues and he sometimes takes 2 yakults a day. It doesn't fix the problem but it makes it much easier to live with. I would keep a food diary and write down everything that affects you. And then see if the digestive enzymes help. Write it all down for a while,and experiment to find what are your triggers, and if anything helps. personally, I dont find doctors usualyl know a lot about digestive issues, but if it is gallbladder related, they may want to whip it out. There are other ways to manage, but you would have to go to someone skilled with natural therapies.

I like most housecleaning once I am in the mood. It's just getting in the mood! I love getting a room really clean. When I want to. The bit that I find the most of a challenge is changing sheets (so I don't do it much :) ) and then all that dusting and vacuuming behind furniture. Today we shifted furniture and I had to vacuum. Ick. But it's done and now it feels good. I like the feeling of having done good cleaning jobs. But I need Flylady to kick my butt into doing them regularly rather than just when the mood hits me.

Hate would be too strong a word for any book I can think of. There are plenty that I would not myself read if I wasn't homeschooling, but i do enjoy them when I am enticed to read for the good of my children! I actually enjoyed all literature at highschool- Hardy, Lawrence, 1984, even the Lord of the Flies...except for the Odyssey because it was tiny print and we weren't hand held enough. And I love the Odyssey now. Although, I am embarrassed to say, even watching Shakespeare is slightly tortuous to me, let alone listening to it, or worse, reading it. I find it boring, and I am sure there is so much more I should be getting out of it. I am still doing Shakespeare with my kids though and I am hoping it will grow on me. Its a bit like classical music, I am hoping- I studied it a school but would never choose to listen to it, but now as an adult, I appreciate it much more, and do listen to it for pleasure, at times.

I am happy with my progress even though I forgot to shine my sink last night. I did it this morning instead and forgave myself :) I did actually forget because I was watchin tv with the kids in my room, and then went to sleep. I am still not back to where I have been with Flylady before, but I am doing better than I was recently. Shoes, hair, clothes, laundry, dishes...basic routine is going well enough. I haven't decluttered for a couple of days, but I have got off my butt when getting sucked into the computer and done a basic room pick up before allowing myself to blob.

Yes, it would. I am often amazed when this issue comes up that so many people apparently support it. I don't think you would get anything like a majority supporting it here in Australia. Like the gun issue. We don't have the death penalty and we don't have guns. And we (by far a majority) prefer it that way, and from this position it looks barbaric to have laws that support guns or the death penalty. But would we feel the same if we were born and raised in a different culture? I think there is probably less independent thinking and more cultural influence than we generally realise or would like to admit- both for and against.