I think I'm going to do Elementary Sentence Composing to finish out this year and look to Middle School Grammar for next. For some reason I thought Elementary would be too young, but it sounds like it'll fit this age group.

Were you able to jump into SCMS without having done the elementary level?

I wondered about the terminology and that's what drove me to consider doing the elementary book. We did FLL 1-4.

I'm floundering a bit with writing instruction for my dd. Partly because I don't know how to evaluate if she's where she should be at the end of grade 5, partly because we bombed WWE 4, partly because I'm overwhelmed with the plethora of options. This year we ditched WWE 4 when we were about 12 weeks in because it was causing tears. For both of us ;) I then purchased Essentials in Writing just because I wanted something more traditional as an experiment and I appreciated that the DVDs took me out of the role of writing teacher. (I wish I had gone with IEW instead....but I didn't). We flew through EIW and will be wrapping it up in the next 3 weeks. I would like to use Killgallon for the remainder of this year and perhaps into next year or somehow alongside WWS next year and beyond. Where should I begin?? Elementary Sentence Composing? Grammar for Middle School? After one (both?) of those I'd like to use Paragraphs for Middle School. And I refuse to plan beyond that at this point :p Any insight? Am I on the right track?

I feel like I'm spinning. Screw the logic stage LOL

WWS...... Forgive me.

I would either shave it off or trim it quite close amd very neat. Dh was once passed over for a job due to facial hair. He keeps it quite short but after the interview process a friend "on the inside" told him that the boss thought he was too scraggly.

Still on the fence...

What? What? What???

Dd is finishing up AAS 7 and I'm looking to curriculum for next year. I'm considering going with Rod and Staff because it turns to root study in grade 7 and 8. I don't recall anyone really talking about this as a vocab option though the program is often touted as a strong spelling program. The other option is Spelling Workout for next year and then move to something like Vocabulary from Classical Roots in grade 7. I looked at VfCR at the convention this weekend and my first impression wasn't great. Thoughts? (I'm in Canada which sometimes complicates my ability to get certain products - Rod and Staff is harder to get, for example)

Next year I'm really excited to be doing SL Core F. I'm looking forward to a break from history and a focus on cultures. Secondly I'm excited about where she'll be in her French studies - getting to some more exciting stuff as she learns more and we'll be able to start conversing. We're starting WWS next year and I'm feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Finally, I'm looking forward to being done All About Spelling!! Ha.

I love the name Mabel! And Ruth was my Grandma's name too.

Care to elaborate? What skills and how have you focused on developing them?

Um, maybe in May. I am busy planning next yeat and want some guidance!

Honestly, their website is always bad. So frustrating!

I do hope its still on tomorrow! I had about 5 things i wanted to get....

I just bought 180 Essential Vocabulary Words from the Scholastic dollar days sale. The have one for grades 3-6. Looks good enough for $1! We also study vocabulary as we read together but this will be an easy way to sneak a bit more in.

Where is everyone purchasing Vocabulary Workshop?

Thank you, Susan! As someone who loves the concept of Writing With Ease, and adores listening to your writing lectures, but struggles to put it all into practice without strangling anyone....I appreciate the update. We had already taken a break from WWE 4 (made it about halfway through - dictations being the most difficult) and are working through EIW 5 this year so I'm very pleased to see that work it's way into your scope and sequence!

I would probably do it. I sent my oldest to preschool and my middle to a one day a week kindergarten program at a private school. I wish I could have done something similar for my youngest. Now, I was 100% comfortable with the teachers so that helped a great deal. If you have any reason not to trust the adults interacting with your dd that would make me uncomfortable. Also, I've learned over the years to trust my gut. Well, I'm still learning. But every time I go against my gut I regret it. If for some reason your gut still says no and you think it has more than your own anxiety as a source, I would keep her home.

I've got an oldest in grade 5 this year and I'm also feeling the pressure and suddenly questioning my methods and choices. I have been a very confident homeschool mom but suddenly I'm panicking that I was wrong. Somehow in the younger years it always seemed easy and like we had lots of time to get to everything. Now I'm thinking all the time about gaps in both content and skill. The thing is, I'm sure some sort of gaps would be there regardless of educational environment. But I heartily wish someone else was responsible for them.

I do this regularly, don't sweat it. And usually have a new perspective and feel embarrassed the next day lol Homeschooling is a huge responsibility and it comes with moments of panic. Most days the forums are wonderful and encouraging, but if I'm feeling insecure at all about what we're doing the forums can make me feel like I'm doing everything wrong :p I'm glad you feel better and that today the forums have been an encouragement to you. It'll be someone else's turn tomorrow ;)

I started using CLE with my middle who struggles with Math and was crying over Singapore. It has made a world of difference. I do think some of it has to do with maturity and that she'll "get" more of it as she gets older. It also has to do with frustration tolerance and her inability to excell at a mastery based program. Do you teach the lesson to your CLE user? I have stuck with teaching the lesson to dd because, having taught her older sis with Singapore, I can augment the lessons with some conceptual pieces that aren't there in CLE. I pull our manipulatives, add MM worksheets if necessary, and still have her working through CWP (a grade level behind) to try and make sure she can think critically about what she's doing.

We'll be here soon too...listening.

Confession: I bit my 10 year old's head off, chewed it up, and spit it out today. Texted my husband and said I need an island to run away to today. I am irritated today by chewing, coughing, breathing, pencil dropping. I recognize there is really nothing they can do right today, because of my own level of irritability. We got thru school this morning, just barely, and they are watching a movie thru lunch.