dropping chemistry and grammar from 3rd grade? I know it may seem drastic, but at that age, you can do nature journaling and have some good science books on the shelves for perusing. Also, since you're doing Latin and Writing Tales, you should be getting enough grammar already. This is what I started doing after reading Teaching the Trivium. I am currently reading The Latin-Centered Curriculum and it says the same things in regard to science & grammar for a third-grader (and even a 4th grader). Just an idea to use or toss. :)

and we usually work on three types: 1)Scripture, 2)catechism questions, and 3)poetry. (Subject-specific memorization, such as Latin vocab/grammar, is done separately.) Each week I let my dc choose a new verse and a new poem (unless they are working on a longer poem and haven't finished yet). They also proceed to the next catechism question in the book. Right before morning devotions, my dc sit down with their memory work and review silently. (Some need to say their selections out loud, or at least whisper them, so we spread out in to a couple of rooms for this.) On Fridays, we have recitations. The children have come to enjoy standing up in front of their sibings and reciting their work (and earning M&Ms!). New memory work is also used as copywork on Monday (and continuing to Tuesday if necessary). This is another way of reinforcing the passages.

Thanks, latinteach. I was looking for S.& S.'s for both, but could only find detailed descriptions of LiCT. I'll check out the link from Michelle. Looks like I'll stay with LiCT for at least one more year, though.

Thanks, Michelle. I couldn't find a scope & sequence on the Memoria Press website for Henle, and didn't know where else to look.

Thanks! That's very helpful.

nm

Those of you who use Henle, do you also you the Memoria Press Guide? How helpful is it? Would you recommend it as a) a "must-have" b) a "must-have" only if you need daily lesson plans laid out for you c) helpful, but not necessary d) not worth the extra $$$ Thanks!

Has anyone completed LiCT Volume II, and then moved to Henle III? Can you tell me if the "move" was successful? Because Henle looks to have more readings from the classics, I'm considering switching from LiCT. My ds is still working out of Volume II (LiCT) and I don't want to rock the boat too much. We also do enjoy the history readings about the family that encounters Christ. If you're using LiCT Volume III or IV, would you say that you are getting good doses of classics in the original languages? And are you pleased with the program? I have been pleased so far, but after reading LCC, I'm having second thoughts. That's all. TIA,

How about Greenmantle, by John Buchan? Actually, most of his Richard Hannay series books are set around or during WWI.

Very interesting! BTW, are you enjoying Omnibus? We had a difficult time with I, but are loving II, and will be doing III next year.

We also use spiral bound books, from JoAnn, or wherever I can get them cheaply. RRC also sells some sketchbooks for $1.75 or so, that we have used. The older the child, the higher-quality sketchbook they use. I splurged on a nice wooden box of Prismacolor pencils from Timberdoodle (actually a very good price) and we use these only for school art projects & nature journals, so they have "special" status. For the most part, our nature study is done in our own backyard. Examples of entries include: -bugs found -birds -lizards -leaves & trees (bark specimens, etc.) -flowers -things growing in the vegetable garden -sky & weather -general descriptions of weather and scenery (i.e., draw what you see in the backyard -- the "big picture") My older dc are also allowed to roam the neighborhood for interesting specimens. For things like birds & lizards, I let them use a digital camera to take a picture, and then draw from the image on the computer screen. All entries must include the date & location (usually home for us), and preferable also include a description of the weather. Here's an example of one of my ds's pages: "Little Peep"

I have sinced changed in my philosophy a bit, becoming more language-based instead of history-based, so I'm doing things differently now, but putting that aside, here are my comments: 1) SOTW was fun to read, but did become less so by Volume 4, especially for the younger children. Volume 4 seemed more appropriate for 5th-6th grade students. 2) By Volume 3, I started feeling like there was just too much info to cover, and began picking/choosing the chapters we would read. 3) The AGs for SOTW are wonderful and very thorough, but I had trouble finding many of the literature suggestions, either because they were out of print, or because my library isn't very good. :confused: What I would do the second time around is go through the AG ahead of time, and put all the supplementary books on my "Bookmooch" wishlist. I would do this as early as possible. (Bookmooch didn't exist when I went through the cycle the first time, but it has since been very helpful.) 4) Doing the notebooks for history, science, AND reading got to be a bit much, so we focused on history and science, and didn't do narrations as often for reading. With multiple children, it can be a bit frustrating getting all of them to do their narrations when they have to be copied into the notebook. 5) My most difficult narrations were those that had to come from the Usborne Nature Encyclopedia. I would read the entire spread, and then ask for a narration. It was just too much info to summarize and/or choose from. What I would do differently is read a sub-section and then have dc narrate from that, or read the spread, and then ask which part was the most interesting. Then I'd re-read that paragraph or section, and we'd do the notebook page from that. 6) I confess that I did not have my dc memorize all dates/kings/lists in WTM. I don't regret this, however. I'm not big on the memorization of lists & facts in grade-school. I would rather they memorize passages from literature and Scripture. (But that's a philosophical thing, so you can throw it out if you want to.) 7) I liked SWB's guidelines for the amount of time to be spent on a subject area, combined with a "do the next thing" approach. Her sample schedules, etc. were very helpful in planning, and in deciding if we were on the right track. 8) Doing Phonics Pathways worked well, and starting SWA about halfway through was a good fit. (Does she still suggest this? I used the original WTM). Gotta run -- hope my comments have been helpful.

It's just harder to use, because the student pages aren't reproduced for you in the TM. If I remember correctly, it is the TM that was revised, not the workbooks. I used to use the older version, and then switched. Much easier!

Just remembered we're talking 8th grade here. My fictions recs might be a bit easy. Then again, Across Five Aprils is a classic, so if she's never read it, she might as well!

For non-fiction, there's the Landmark book, Gettysburg, and Jean Fritz's book on Stonewall Jackson (I think it's just called Stonewall). For fiction not mentioned by Carol, there's Across Five Aprils and Shades of Gray.

Ditto! (re: Plaid Dad's Steinbeck post).

I think I'll start with Call it Courage and The Borrowers, and we may then be ready to get back into Tolkien. If not, I'll keep going down this list. Thanks again!

That's hilarious (about the dead pet books). And Ginger Pye was a hit with us as well. :)

I'm always trying to get them to read that series, but keep forgetting to put the first one on hold at the library! Our library seems only to have the sequels on the shelf. I will go put it on hold right now! Thanks for the suggestion.

We haven't read Call it Courage/I], so that might be a good one to try. They love The Whipping Boy, and we've read the others as well. Thanks!

They love The Phantom Tollbooth, but they've all read it independently already. Great suggestion, though!

There are actually only two Americans mentioned: George Washington & Abraham Lincoln.

It will take you through the 19th century, which is why I said it would correspond with SOTW3. I didn't mean the all the people talked about were also mentioned in SOTW, just that they cover roughly the same time period, in case anyone was wondering.

I think it's because of the quotable, profound truths I would find, like "To obey God, one must disobey himself," and that kind of thing. I will agree that the plot moves very slowly because of all the "extra" stuff.

Didn't like Mary Poppins either. That's one where I definitely prefer the movie!