My boys loved The General. What fun!

Also, I have done this very thing, and my ds13 is now doing very well with Omnibus 2, so skipping some SOTW didn't harm him.

I agree. At this age, you really don't need to worry about "covering" everything.

I second this opinion. Check the website for sample lessons.

Yes, we're doing RS5 in 6th right now. It's a good fit for my ds.

The 3rd edition of Jacobs includes SAT questions, and other enhancements. You can find used copies for cheap on Amazon (mine was $46). I recommend the 3rd edition.

For my ds, who turned 9 in January, here's the plan for '08-'09: Science: Continue and step up the nature journalling. Math: Singapore 3A or Math-U-See Gamma Lang Arts: Classical Writing: Aesop B and Rod/Staff 4 Elementary Greek (finish book 1 and start book 2) History: Famous Men of Ren/Ref and put things in Ren History Portfolio Literature: Choose from books in the house for independent reading (I'm picky about the children's books I buy. This way, no matter what they choose from the shelf, it's something good.) That's it. We delay formal math & grammar until fourth grade, so this will be his first serious year of school. He has been doing Singapore 2A, and can add & subtract multiple-digit numbers, so we're ready to get into multiplication. On my list, the "fun" things are the nature journalling and the history portfolio. My kids have figured out that they can take digital pictures of hard-to-copy things, like lizards & birds, use the photos (on the computer screen -- nice and large) as models for drawing. We use the Homeschool in the Woods figures for the timeline in the History Portfolio, as well as for pictures in the body of the portfolio. That's all I can think of. Oh yes, we also do Spell to Write & Read, but as Classical Writing ramps up, SWR fades out. HTH,

I use the older Greenleaf guide, and I'm not sure what has changed since Memoria started publishing them. I'm curious to know, though. For what it's worth, I'm glad I have the guide -- it gives additional reading ideas (though not as many as the AG for SOTW), discussion questions, vocabulary, and ties the lessons in with the Cultural Atlas for Young People.

Thanks, Paula. Yes, I thought the kits were pricey, too.

Is the workbook the activities book, or is the acitivities book something else?

for...finger of...horses in them of the fight of ...resolve in...silence for ourselves & horses (compound Obj of prep) before us Did I get all the ones you got? :)

I agree with "rode on" and "just up," though "up" is tricky, because it's really acting like an adjective, being used instead of the word "awake," and modifying farmer. There isn't a better one though, so those are the two I would choose as well.

We use Omnibus, and it's loaded with discussion questions, essay assignments, etc. If you can afford to buy it, you could use it as a reference or for ideas, even if you don't want to use it as a primary text.

You may want to consider Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, and To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Someone else mentioned Uncle Tom's Cabin, which is important, though not really about the Civil War. I really like Angelina's suggestions re: the Puritan writers. We tend to think of modern writers when we think of American Lit., and forget those who came before.

Pro - sounds nice and simple Pro - what you said about going over the info twice. Con - no depth as you go along Con - what will she read for non-fiction during independent reading times? Science only? History from another time period? Or will your dd read fiction only?

I'm going to have my ds12 use this next year, while big brother does Apologia Biology. I'm just buying the old version (2nd edition) very cheaply, in case we don't end up liking it. I'm wondering if: 1) I really need the TM, if I read the lessons along with my ds. 2) I need the activity book. Is this where the rubber meets the road? Are the activities engaging? 3) I need the dissecting stuff, because big brother will be dissecting stuff in biology, and we'll have that stuff. (Can I say "stuff" one more time?) Any other opinions or advice on this curriculum will be greatly appreciated. I've only used BJU one other time, way back when I taught 6th grade reading at a Christian school. TIA,

My ds just started Diogenes, and we love how you just work through the book, lesson by lesson. No "Day 1 A&I" followed by "Day 1 WP," etc. We're not even using the workbook. So far, we've found the lessons to be clear and easy to understand, but we're only at about lesson 6 or so. No essays yet.

I agree.

I'm buying that Uncle Josh CD!!

Ask me in a year or two, and I'll add the Omnibus texts. Background info, discussion, comments, questions and tests on the great books -- what a resource for logic & rhetoric-stage studies!

(Not in any particular order) 1. Homeschool in the Woods Timeline Figs CD-Rom WOW!! 2. Uncle Josh's Outline Maps (have the book and now I want the CD) 3. Spell to Write & Read, specifically the WISE Guide and the Alpha List 4. The Harp and Laurel Wreath

Are you saying you'll be doing both Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 in 8th grade? Is this how videotext does it? Those are usually each a one-year course.

Yes, this is very well put together.

Yes, my brother's family uses this. Like Veritas, you'll use a variety of curricula, but it's all scheduled out for you, and you can buy everything you need from them.

Have you looked at SOTW? Will this not do what you're asking? I think that SWB does a great job giving the history and background information for the major religions, with maybe a bit more emphasis on Judaism & Christianity than the others.