I don't care about history time-period, I just want something good for the summer. My older boys are asking me to go through The Lord of the Rings trilogy again, and I may do this, but might like one, shorter book first to read that my daughter will enjoy as well. We are reading Anne of Green Gables on Friday nights (we alternate between read-aloud & family movie), so it doesn't have to be a book about a girl. Previous read-alouds that we ALL have loved: Little House Series Moffats books Howard Pyle stuff, especially Men of Iron The Yearling Swallows & Amazons (Is the sequel good? Maybe that's an idea.) The Bronze Bow Chronicles of Narnia Lord of the Rings -- daughter was too young to have any opinion on this the last time we read it. :) E.B. White books, but we're beyond that now Suggestions, anyone? TIA

If you feel he's ready for what you've laid out, then go for it! I would say, however, that you want to be sure he's mature enough to appreciate and understand the Susan Cooper series. With my dc, I wait until 5th or 6th grade to read those. Definitely go for all cursive in 4th grade. Whatever makes this easier is what you should do.

otherwise I don't think I've every seen a free shipping offer.

Okay, I'm opening a can of worms now: How are lapbooks not twaddle? Or is my definition off? To me, all the extra busy-craftsy things we do along with history and science & literature are "twaddle." Someone steer me straight here. :)

I was a bit disappointed with it as well, so we didn't stick with it. What's funny is I remember the same thing about one of the Rossetti poems being shortened! Here's a link to a bunch of her poems: Christina Rossetti poems from Ambleside Online

I know! I'm excited about it!

Michelle, quick question here -- I got a 4th edition from Bookmooch (free) & plan to use it with Omnibus. Do you know if it's missing anything or terribly different? I don't mind not having accurate page numbers, but was wondering about content.

I'm looking forward to learning more about, and applying this approach, which I think I've already begun to implement a little without realizing it. (For example, whereas I used to feel like I had a "real" school day if we did history, now I'm asking if they've done Latin & math, or copywork/memory work for the little ones.)

What is Manon des Sources? Do you mean Manon of the Spring, the sequel to Jean de Florette, or is there a movie I've missed?

the manipulative-based work at the same time. Even then, they could share. ;)

I think that General Science gives a great foundation for higher-level science study. My ds13 enjoyed it, but he did have to work hard memorizing the terminology for tests. I've chosen not to use it with ds#2, because it is a bit dry. Since ds#1 will be doing Apologia's Biology course next year, I've chosen a cheap, used copy of BJU's Life Science for him, so that he can join his brother in microscope use and dissection.

I have a freebie list that's published on Lulu.com that you can download. Just do a search on my name (Julie Shields) and look for the Dictation Selections book.

I remember, when reading Lost Tools that D.W. talked about "division of labor" as a reason for sending your children to school instead of home-schooling. I saw his point, but didn't fully agree with him, and will be home-schooling my first high-schooler this fall. I have four other children, and one more on the way. There just isn't a school around (assuming we could afford it anyway) that is doing what I want to do with my children. If this is what you want for your children, you CAN do it. I didn't know any Latin when we started, but there are so many good programs out there, that I was able to teach it, and begin learning it myself. You'll be able to do this as well. Since Wilson's book has been published, there has been tremendous growth in the number and quality of resources available to homeschoolers. My oldest ds, for example, will be taking an online course through Veritas Press next year. May I suggest two other books to read or browse through (in addition to SWB's book, of course). They may help you to come up with your own philosophy and plan for classically educating your children: 1) Teaching the Trivium, by Harvey & Laurie Bluedorn 2) The Latin-Centered Curriculm, by Andrew Campbell Home-schooling all the way through grade 12 is not for everyone, but it can be done, and it can be done well, so be encouraged!

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What do you mean by "switch back and forth"? Will you require two methods from him? He needs to learn one way to form his cursive letters, but in my opinion, once he's comfortable, it shouldn't matter if he's copying from two different types of samples. Or do you just mean that he'll go from HWT manuscript to the LLATL cursive method? That also should be okay, but I would probably use the paper with the gridlines he's used to (i.e., keep the 2-line HWT paper for a while, if that's what you've been using).

Secondly, I am very much enjoying Latin the the Christian Trivium. My 8th gr. ds is finishing up Volume II, and my ds12 will begin Volume 1 this fall, after finishing Latina Christiana II. I'm anticipating my next big discovery will be what I read in Andrew Campbell's Latin-Centered Curriculum. I'm sorry you didn't make it to the Florida convention this year. I know that NC had theirs at the same time. Some day I'll get to see/hear you in person!

My son also got as far as the first or second grievance. I think it was a good exercise. Hmm. I should see if he remembers it!

Memoria Press has a French program designed for later elementary/middle school, but in the course description they say that if you complete two books in one year, it equals one high school credit. The layout is very similar to Latina Christiana. This is what I will probably use for French 1 (i.e., books 1 & 2 of First Start French), both for the affordable price, and the simplicity of the layout & lessons.

Stories of composers' lives can be a nice addition, but if you're trying to put together a music curriculum, the best thing is lots of exposure to good music, opportunities to sing (and dance or move around), and maybe even private lessons on an instrument. The bios add depth to your history study, but don't actually teach music, per se, and it won't hurt one bit to wait until the logic or rhetoric stage to dig in to the composers' lives. (I have my degree in music education, if that means anything.) ;)

I thought I had found two men that both books covered, but looking again, I only see one: Lorenzo de Medici (15th century).

Here's a link to the Greenleaf catalog, with a description: Greenleaf Press (Famous Men of Ren/Ref)

I had pre-ordered it at a convention last month and it arrived yesterday. This book would fit well in Year 3 of the standard WTM 4-year cycle, spanning the 15th to 19th centuries, and including both European and American figures. I can see why the Shearers wrote "Ren/Ref," however. If you go from FM of the Middle Ages to FM of Modern Times, you'll be skipping many great Renaissance artists, and the reformers as well (Huss, Wycliffe, Luther, Calvin, Knox).

Short answer -- not published yet. :)

I saw it years ago, before I was married. Can't remember why it's rated PG-13.

This probably won't have essay prompts, though. I've used some of VP's guides in the past, and they consist primarily of comprehension questions w/ a few activites thrown in.