You can download them here. Hope that helps!

I use the fridge!

If you end up using it, I would love to hear how it goes!

OsmosisMom, I've been looking at TOG for the Logic Stage students I have around as well as for my kids when they get big enough. I'm interested in how you're thinking of doing this from an Islamic perspective, what modifications you see yourself making, etc.

I've been doing REAL Science (Life) but am thinking of switching to SL. I like the experiments in REAL Science, but I don't think my ds is retaining much. It's not like it's over his head, it's just that he's not interested in listening to me read aloud the one black & white lesson page. He'd do much better with a book-based curriculum (he LOVES read alouds from books). I have read many of the suggested books from REAL Science which have been good, but another problem we have with it may just be the content. It's not inspiring delight for us, which is what science should do at this stage, I think. My ds loves the experiments because he loves science and anything project-related, but he's not excited about the human body or animal classification. I think I'm okay with a more hodge-podge collection of science topics (rather than biology for a whole year) that SL would provide at this stage at least. Plus, se7en makes it look SO fun!! I'm also a big tweaker though and never do things the simple, easy way. So I am scheduling in BFSU as an occasional supplement for the inquiry-based method it utilizes and Outdoor Hour for nature study. And I'm even looking at Apologia's Zoology books to have around just to read -- after I take my black sharpie to them, of course. :) I'm afraid I'm not much help, but I'm in the same boat if that's any consolation.

My ds is only 5.5, but we recently have added Ask to the magazines we get and LOVE. Click is more at his *reading* level, but he loves to have Ask read aloud. It's a wonderful magazine, solid content, amazing photos, and quirky comic humor. Perfect for us!

Has anyone used Suzanne Strauss Art's books as a (multi-volume) logic-stage spine?

Wow! Your plan sounds great to me. Personally, I appreciate having the work done for me in the WWE workbook, but I do think you're likely to have more history retention as a result of your efforts. It would make sense to me to a narration after reading the SOTW section and another after your shorter WWE passage. On the other hand, I like the exposure to classic literature the WWE workbook provides. We're only a few weeks in, and we're reading Pinocchio, ordered the Blue Fairy Tale Book, and have a rapidly growing To Read list.

My ds won't be six until the end of October and we school year round, but here is what we'll be using in the fall, we've started most already: English: AAS, ETC, WWE, FLL Math: RightStart plus Miquon Science: REAL Science Life plus Outdoor Hour nature study History: SOTW 1 with AG (with tons of supplementary books) Literature: AO year 1 I'm not entirely satisfied with REAL science right now. My son loves it (because he loves all science), but I'm looking at other options, maybe BFSU. ETA: We're also doing Quran (memorization), Arabic, and Islamic Studies, but without curricula.

I honestly haven't found much that is very appealing. I'm considering a career writing Islamic children's books lol for just this reason. Have you seen Demi's Muhammad? I don't use it in my house because of the pictures of angels, prophets, and al-Buraaq (the beast), but I do think it is beautifully done and true to our traditions. If you're up for movies, The Message (with Anthony Quinn) is good, as are the PBS documentaries Islam: Empire of Faith and Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet. National Geographic's Inside Mecca is good too. These latter two also highlight the diversity of the Muslims today. I wish I could recommend other books, but there just aren't too many good ones (at least that I know of). Hopefully others will step in with some other ideas...

Seattle (my hometown!) has an AMAZING zoo. I second the Pacific Science Center (be sure to check out the motion simulator and the butterflies), Pike Place Market, and the aquarium is also very nice. If you'll be near the coast, you must visit Kalaloch Beach #4. Lake Quinault Lodge is an amazing place to stay in that area, in the middle of the Olympic National Park's rain forest. This is a really great place for hiking, very family-friendly.

In the chapter that describes the Quran first being revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), SOTW has two paragraphs that I find completely bizarre: "Suddenly he heard a faint musical sound. It grew louder and louder, as though bells were ringing all around him. He opened his eyes, but he could see nothing but rock and sand." ... "Suddenly Muhammad saw a silk scroll, floating in the air. Words were written on it in letters of fire. And although Muhammad had never learned to read, suddenly he knew what the words said!" Never in my religious studies (as a Muslim) have I ever seen these things. Music/bells? Silk scrolls? Words in fire? Muhammad learning to read? I have never heard these things before. They seem very strange to me and make the story seem completely different. That said, I use SOTW, greatly appreciate what it does, and just edit as I find necessary. I do think about all the people learning about Islam for the first time thinking this is our story, but I hope everyone takes history with some salt.

:lurk5:

I've used this, and I LOVE it! I felt like such a little kid because they started me off in the qa'idah, but alhamdulillah I got through that in just a couple sessions. After the qa'idah, we read juz 'amma then started at baqarah. It's great not only for the tajweed instruction, but also for establishing and increasing your reading habits. Plus, they can schedule classes at any time. I highly recommend it.

Not to completely change the subject, but I always wonder what SWB thinks of TOG... Has she ever talked about it?

If your friends are at all like me, I doubt they would find an invitation so such an event offensive or objectionable. As a Muslim in the US, I am often invited to things that I don't think are appropriate for me to attend. However, I always appreciate the invitation. If it were me, I'd invite them. Give them a heads-up about the content (a website or brochure they could preview?) and maybe the crowd, but definitely invite them. :001_smile:

SWB recommends four spines: Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History, the DK spine you linked to, National Geographic Almanac of World History, and DK's History: The Definitive Visual Guide. She lists them in that order, the notes seem to suggest they are in order of increasing difficulty.

I used them when I taught a class of third graders (all boys), they came in the Saxon kit. The kids loved them once they got the hang of the string. They used to race each other, and even me! I had two or three students though who didn't have well-developed hand-eye coordination, and they found them incredibly frustrating and not at all helpful for learning the facts.

If I let myself, I can seriously stress about the whole concept of teaching Islamic history. I'll be starting SOTW 1 with my oldest sometime this fall insha'Allah. The ancients seem easy enough as there are so many resources for stories of the prophets. I'm really tired of the series Quran Stories for Kids/Little Hearts -- the text and the pictures drive me crazy. The kids don't mind though, so I try to reword the worst parts and grit my teeth through the rest. I do like Goodword Kidz's Tell Me About.... series. We've read though Yusuf and Musa, and they're much more indepth, complete, and the pictures are a huge improvement. They also put the prophets in their historical context. Kate, what resources did you use for seerah? I'm not sure if I will try to find kid resources or if I should work through Martin Lings' seerah or When the Moon Split or some such simple adult book. I feel that since ancients are easier to plan, I should work out the next few years. I'd love to stay on a four year schedule, but perhaps it's more realistic to plan two 6-year cycles. I have the three-volume History of Islam -- I think I need to work though that myself so I have a better concept of the history myself.

What books does Kinza use for Arabic and Islamic Studies? Their website lists the content of their programs but not the titles of any books (except SWO and SOTW). Seems a little strange to me... maybe if I contacted them they would give a list?

I've known a few Muslim families who have used this, although I haven't heard any reviews. I would love help with the Arabic / Islamic Studies, but Kinza doesn't seem to have it. Any input to the contrary? I'm also coming from a slightly different camp than Hamza Yusuf, but that's a big can of worms lol. Ad-Duha Academy has some interesting things going on, not classical, but resources of a type I haven't seen elsewhere. My boys like the Muhammad & Maryam aqeedah books, but nothing else appealed to them. I'd be interested in though in seeing where a student is at coming out of their program, in terms of Arabic and Islamic Studies knowledge. Kate in Arabia -- your tafseer booklets are amaaaazing masha'Allah! You should seriously consider marketing them (and working on a set for the younger crowd insha'Allah). ;) Thanks for the tip, though. I'm actually off to check out the resources Kinza uses, just for a little refresher. :)

Sorry to hijack, but Kate, what are you using for your religious studies?

I used the read-aloud books selectively in a K-2 class I taught many years ago. I also took the shared-inquiry teacher training course. I found the stories really sparked great discussions, even with little kids. I'm not sure how well they would work in a homeschool environment with fewer kids. I notice you have twins: three (yourself included) would make a better discussion than two, I would think. My main problem with the books was so many stories included magic, creation stories I consider false, etc. So many! I had to skip probably 1/3 of the stories, and I wouldn't consider myself uber-sensitive. We did read Jack and the Beanstalk, for example, even though it contained "magic" seeds. I have a stack of the K-1 Read Alouds on my shelf, not quite sure what I'll do with them. If you have specific questions about JGB, I'd be happy to answer as best as I can. The books change format around grade two or three, if I remember correctly.

I'd never really thought about this, but I found the NYT article very interesting. Thanks! :001_smile:

I'm using REAL Science Biology with my son, but I have the same problem with not having the "common household items" on hand. REAL Science has a nice materials list in the front, so I just put a wanted ad on Freecycle for all the items I needed for the first ten weeks that I didn't have. I spent an hour or so driving around one morning picking everything up (many people could supply multiple items, thankfully) and got myself a free supplies kit! Gotta love Freecycle. I'll do it again for the next ten weeks when the time comes.