Same here. Switched to doing all problems around halfway through Algebra 1. My son had comprehension problems on a couple of concepts that became evident after several tests. I went back and looked at how many times he had practiced the concept in the daily work, and it wasn't enough. No problems after doing all the problems. For Algebra 2, he did all the problems unless it was the one day of the week he went to tutorial or if it was an unusually busy day (doctor appointments, etc.). On those days he followed the MFW plan. Of course, with Algebra 2, the plan often had all problems scheduled.

There are so many required courses for high schoolers that offering your student the choice of choosing his elective seems like the kindest option. If you want to outsource it, is there a course you can find through local co-op, tutorial or online with something like Landry Academy? Elective options at my kids' tutorial include logic, speech, debate, health and nutrition, archery and assorted computer courses. But you could really have fun with it. What would he love to take? I took a second foreign language as an elective in college and really enjoyed it. I was the only one in the class who wasn't filling a requirement.

I wish I could say I had my panic attack over oldest entering high school and now have it out of my system. But it seems to come and go, particularly as I realize, goodness, I need to have a GENERAL idea of what the next four years looks like so that I have enough but not too many credits working next year. I'm learning the language of high school planning. Feeling confident that everything will really be okay if mom can just RELAX. Isn't that what I tell new homeschooling moms? But I've done kindergarten or second grade or fourth grade three times by now. I haven't done this yet! Thankful for support and encouragement.

My three children used English from the Roots Up Vol 1 over the course of two years at various grade levels, early elementary up to 6th. It was scheduled in My Father's World Creation to Greeks and Rome to the Reformation. We did it as a group: presentation of the lesson, follow-up memory checks. The kids created/wrote sentences with the words on their own. How much you require with the derivations is up to you. I required my oldest to do all of the words. I'd say it is more teacher intensive than a workbook but the lessons are short. Follow-up memory work probably takes the most time. I loved it for group lessons because we could turn it into a game. I'd consider it more introductory. I'd suspect more work would be needed with the words to really retain all of them well, but working with an older student may make a difference in that area. I am also looking at Vocabulary from Classical Roots for my now-8th grader (this is the same kid who was 5th and 6th when we did English from the Roots Up).

Just finished Level 300 with my youngest. She also used 100 and 200 previously. My opinion is the TM is not necessary at all for teaching with 300. There is really no instruction to the teacher in the TM that you don't have in the student's LUs. I don't believe an answer key is available so it is useful for that but no substantive additional comments for presenting the lessons. I would definitely buy TMs for 100 and 200.

Some already mentioned and Diane Stanley bios http://dianestanley.com/category/books/biography-history/

I think you'll be fine. Do the placement test to make sure and if that's fine I'm sure you'll have no worries. I have switched one child from Saxon to CLE and the same child back to Saxon. No real problems w/ CLE. It was a grass may be greener switch that also included time with Teaching Textbooks and Math Mammoth but I realized that I just really like Saxon. I have an older child who has been w/ Saxon 1 through Saxon 7/6. If you stay with Saxon, I highly recommend Art Reed's book Using John Saxon's Math Books. http://www.homeschoolwithsaxon.com/review-about.php. There are so many Saxon editions, so many different ideas (right or wrong) about skipping certain books, moving a grade ahead, doing odd problems only or even problems only, how to grade tests. This short book really helps make sense of all that. I did not buy it until recently (used through WTM classifieds!) and I wish I'd had it when my oldest started 5/4. You can also go to that website and read past newsletters. If you don't buy the book, do read over those newsletter articles.They're a big help.

Great resource. Thanks! Currently reading ahead for Black Horses for the King. Know of any stand-alone guides for this book, free or fee? So far it looks like I'm writing my own for this title.

I haven't worn them in years. I don't think they are expected anymore, certainly not by anyone under 35. If they really make you feel more pulled together and confident go ahead and wear them but I'd choose something sheer and light. If you hate them I think you have society's full approval to not wear them. I still can't get used to all the exposed bra straps, however, but I'm not under 35. :001_smile:

I think I am ready to get my 6th grader off of readers with workbooks and into literature for his "reading" work. He used Pathways and most recently CLE reading for the last two years. I am looking at Memoria Press literature (the 5th grade coincides nicely with our history period this year). The only thing stopping me is missing out on some of the teaching he was getting with CLE. Beyond reading comprehension and vocab it includes learning literary devices like figures of speech, story elements like setting, conflict and symbolism, and poetry rhythm and rhyme. He does read literature on his own (but I haven't required anything more than a quick book report or narration) and we do read-alouds that pair up with our history period, but I'd rather he dive in a little deeper with his novels now. Any suggestions if you have used either or both or if you know of a separate guide to teach some of these other things? P.S. He uses Rod and Staff for grammar and poetry has been included there but not the rest that I recall.

Oraetstudia: Just wondering what you think of WWS and WWE. Along with Imitation in Writing, I am looking at WWS and also considering Jump In for next year for 6th grade. DS has been using Write with the Best Vol. 1 this year. I don't think I want to do Vol. 2. Also looking at WWE and Wordsmith Apprentice for youngers. Thanks!

:bigear: interested, too

Just a follow up. Lots of good info in the newsletter section of this website http://homeschoolwithsaxon.com/newsletter.php. But I still bought the book at a good used price, and I've glad that I did. If you plan to use Saxon 54 and up it's definitely worth having for information on the different editions, grading tests, how to evaluate placement, how to handle the daily work, etc.

The Boxcar Children

I can't help you with what it's like to use both at the same time, but I do have experience with three children and MFW. If you still feel like trying it at the time it comes around (is it two years from now?) go for it. I think it depends on how much teaching time you are putting into all your subjects for all your schooling children. For me, it would be difficult. My youngest will be in second next year and I plan for her to just join in on RtR. You might look at adding in some of the "real" books from Adventures without doing the full study. We did enjoy our year with Adventures, though (did it with 3rd and 1st).

Intrigued... http://www.learnwithworld.com/writewithworld/

This was not my "curriculum" but the monthy magazines from their Zoobooks subscription were read cover to cover by my kids for a few years. Our library also began selling off their old ones for $.25 each somewhere in there and they pretty much completed a collection. I am amazed by how much they know and remember from Zoobooks. My 9 yo still pulls them out and re-reads sometimes. My 7 yo has not really gotten into them yet.

:iagree: Also agree with pp who has some mandatory outside time when the weather is decent. This isn't an issue w/ my younger two (closer in age and both girls) but it is necessary with my 11 yo who became more sedentary last year (don't know if it's age or moving to new town). I tell him I don't care if he reads a book outside but outside he's going. He usually walks the dog and jumps on the trampoline. The trampoline is the best thing we've ever done as far as outdoor equipment. We've had for about 3-4 years and worth every penny many times over. Hoola hoops are great, too, with limited yard space. Can be done inside on rainy days, too! Sometimes all three of them get going and it cracks me up. Also, nerf gun battles popular around our house.

Some recent comments on Write with the Best http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=368979

Thanks for the replies! I will take a closer look at the website (just noticed some links to newsletters I hadn't seen before) and see what I think after that.

Is this book worth owning? I can't find a copy to borrow. I have not been able to find threads here on it, (I apologized if I overlooked...found MANY on Art Reed DVDs). Don't mind the investment if it tells me more than "do all the problems." Would also appreciate a definitive answer on what to do between 7/6 and Algebra 1. Skip a book...don't skip a a book...in general, don't start algebra before 8th grade. What's a former English/journalism major to do? :confused: Lots of conflicting info I've read over the last few years and next year I need to have a plan. Do plan to use Saxon long term with one kiddo at least.

Going through the steps of each unit is meant to help the student before he is asked to write his own passage. Once he gets to that point of starting to write his own passage (which is about midway through the unit or 5 or so lessons) there is a list for each unit that guides him ("How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph" with eight numbered points, "How to Write a Dialogue" with nine points, etc. There also are general writing guidelines, proofreading checklists and grading criteria.

Good point. In each unit the student goes through the passage and underlines specific nouns and descriptive verbs, adverbs and adjectives, each in a different color. Underlining figures of speech are added in the poetry units. Some passages are about a page long (double spaced lines) and some are many pages long like with the short story or the narrative poem.

Math: Singapore 2A/2B and CLE Math 2 English: R&S 2 Reading: Pathway Readers and workbooks Phonics: Phonics Pathways, finishing up Handwriting: ARFH T or Cursive Connections Spelling: AAS 3 & 4 Unit/other: MFW Rome to Reformation for Bible, history, vocab, science (Apologia Elementary Exploring Creation w/ Astronomy being one used),etc.

The writing load is not bad. No more than Ds has been asked to do in R&S English assignments the last few years. There are units on descriptive paragraphs (an object, a place and a character), writing dialogue, friendly letters, rhyming verse... all of these are reasonably short writing. The narrative poem, short story and fable are dependent on your writer. I think the simplest unit is the rhyming verse and understand why the book is arranged the way it is, but I think I will make that the first lesson when I use it with my girls. It expects a certain amount of proficiency at identifying parts of speech. (For earlier grades it's not a problem if the student's been in a program like R&S but if it is PLL, which my daughter's been using this year, I think it would be tough). It says Grades 3-12 but I think it's more like 4th grade and up. Students spend as much time deconstructing the sample passage as writing. There are 9 units and the average unit is about 10 lesson parts or "days."