My kids have detested Rod and Staff the past few years we have used it!! We have used grades 2-6. The other day they were able to look at a friends Abeka Grammar workbook and are BEGGING me to please consider switching. Why?? Because of all of the writing. I have to say that I am a bit sad, but I do agree with them. They would much rather have a workbook format, and they feel like Abeka does not seem so "busy".... the instructions are to the point instead of using 2-4 pages to explain something. It also takes them about 45 minutes to complete a lesson, even when they do not do all of the exercises. I also really need something that they could just pick up, read and go do on their own. My friend who has used Abeka Grammar from grades 1-7 says that her children, for the most part, are able to pick up and go with Abeka...... and it rarely takes more that 15-20 minutes!!! So, I would love some feed back from you guys.... and can I just get by with just buying the answer key for Abeka? I just don't know what would benefit me in their "curruculum guides" Thanks!! Jennifer

I just wanted to get some opinions on this. Is it comprehensive, or should I prepare to add to the program? If you have used it, what type of results have your children had? Jennifer

I emailed Mary from LiCT and she said this: We wrote them when we were teaching 12 year old homeschoolers in San Jose... Although they are suitable for this age, they are also accredited by the University of California as a complete high school course. I think your sons are "just right". And I never lie. Honestly I think I feel much better now:) This is such a tough decision!!!!! AARRGG!!!!!

Profmom, Thanks for your reply! The only other Latin exposure we have had is English from the Roots Up 1. So, they are really truly beginners. I did not know that LiCT was really for High School. Hmmm... Do you think it may be better to do a year of Latina Christiana or Latin for Children and then move on to LiCT? Oh, and yes, I will be learning this with my children. I was planning on starting on something myself this summer, just so I can be ahead of my children. Thanks again for any insight!! Jennifer

Thanks Laura, Yes, I figured it would be a bit too much for a 9yo. I will probably just do Latin for the older ones, and wait a few years for the younger one. I do know that I would not be able to handle teaching two different latin programs at once! Thanks!

I am researching Latin programs and am really having a tough time making a decision here. I just discovered Latin in the Christian Trivium and it looks good. I love the Christian empasis. My questions are: Would this program work well if we have ZERO latin knowledge for a 13 and 12yo? Maybe even a 9yo tagging along? Is this program pretty easy to use and understand? Any pro's and con's? Thanks!

I need something that can be used by a very scared mommy:001_huh: I am really scared to teach Latin! Can I possibly do it? This will be for a 13, 12 and 9yo. I have looked at Latiana Christiana and thought about using that in conjunction with their root program. (forgot what it was called?? root power??) Then, I saw Lively Latin. I really like the Christian aspect of LC. What else is out there Thanks... I am scared :001_unsure: :scared:

Have you printed off the samples and really read them well yet? The reason I ask is that when I first looked at the samples, it was waaaay overwhelming to me too. Then, I decided to print out the 3 weeks worth of samples and have read every single page, and NOW I have a better grasp of how it works. It does not seem so daunting. We are awaiting TOG 2 and I could not be more excited. It is everything I was trying to pull together myself, and more. Jen

:lol:I am getting ready to order books for TOG 2 YEAH... and I know that my older two will be in dialectic, but am having trouble placing my 8yo, soon to be 9yo. She will be in 4th grade this coming fall, and is a stong reader. I am thinking of putting her in Upper Grammar. Will this be too challenging for her? I will have her read most of her books on her own, with discussion after her.... Opinions?? Jennifer

Would it be possible to start with TOG 3, even if we have not covered what is in TOG 2? My children are really wanting to get to more modern history. However, I don't want to have to continually back track!! opinions?

Thanks.... Just what I needed to hear!

So, I have been reading over the website, and samples, but am still a bit confused. This is more like a unit study, right? Does history actually go in chronological order? Like SOTW, or MOH does? Is it comprehensive, or does it just touch on certain people? Do the questions make sense? One other question.... how long does a typical day with TOG take... I would have an UG and 2 D using it at this time. It seems like ALOT to accomplish in one week! THANKS~

Thanks for the replies..... I actually feel alot better about Sonlight now. I have been trying to check out books from the library to pre-read for core 7, and so far so good.... but I was just starting to get very concerned!! Sounds like the questionable books are few and far between, and would not hurt to take them out if I thought necessary. I do agree that it does depend on the emotional maturity of the child. So, I guess I will have to use discernment when that time actually comes. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I was reading Sonlight's catalog, I saw several books with s**ual content in them. I know that their arguement is to give a picture of how history was, but I just don't know if I want my children reading this! I don't have my catalog right beside me so I cannot give actual names of the books in question.. but, I did read on the SL's message board that one of the books made the actual parent feel "dirty" while reading it. Oh... this one is The Flames of Rome, I think. Then there is one that has references to s*x while ministering to New York Gangs or something. Anyway, I am just wondering what everyone thinks of this. It almost seems like I am giving my child "thoughts" I would rather them not have. They already know that the Romans commited sinful acts to get what they wanted, but do we need to go into the gory details. They already know what teenagers are facing and doing these days, but do we need to let them read about it in a book??????? So, am I being overly cautious here? Thoughts?? This really makes me sad, because I was all set to just go with Sonlight:glare:

Hang in there, it does get better. It took me a few years to get into the hang of it. Just when I thought I knew what I was doing, I would add another baby to the family! Everything you mentioned is honestly really normal. Remember not to try and duplicate a classroom. Relax and have fun. Is there anything he wants to learn about? Bugs? An animal? Go get some library books and read, and explore together. Then make a lapbook to go with what your learning and impress your hubby!!;) My oldest son would not, could not sit still and focus at 7 either... which led to many, many tears from him and me. I think I tried to push too much on him too soon. I really tried to follow The Well Trained Mind to a T!! It burned us out completely! I just recently listened to some of Susan Wise Bauers CD's and they really helped me and I sure wish I listened to them 6 years ago! I listened to Writing without Fear, An Overview of the Well Trained Mind, and her science one. They were all great! After listenening to her actually talk I realised that I in fact was trying to push my son (and my daughter) to do things they were not mentally, physically able to do. My kiddo's just needed some extra time to run..:auto: Some kids just need more time. Now, with my 8yo girl (3rd child) homeschooling has been a dream!! Really!! She is a totally different person than my older two. She does her work, WANTS to do her work and does it neatly and without complaining. I did not push her too early either. We learned to read, then I just had her do copywork/dictation and read aloud to me everyday. I also read to her tons. Then she kind of branched out and started reading books on her own. I don't know why she was different???? Anyway, sorry fo the book:001_huh: I just wanted to encourage you to relax and realise your at home... don't re-create school at home!! I know it is hard, but really he is only 7!! Hugs:grouphug: hang in there, it does get better.... Jen

I just wanted to thank everyone for your suggestions... I still have not come to a conclusion:glare:, but am leaning towards Sonlight. I am thinking of spreading Core 7 out over 2 years, and adding in more books, projects, ect.. That way we can absorb the material and my younger child can benefit from it. Then, We will move on to Core 100, while my younger does Core 3 and 4. I really want to study JUST American History in depth as well. I STILL have TOG on my mind, but if I have to pull it all together, I just don't think I will follow through with it:tongue_smilie: But, I LOVED what I saw... so I guess that makes be a "box checker" homeschooler:glare: THANKS!!!

I have not read the responses, so this may have already been suggested, but we use The Narrow Way from the Pearables..It is a character curriculum and teaches the virtues as stated in 2 Peter 1 4-8. It covers quite thoroughly the following virtues: Faith, Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, Godliness, Brotherly kindness, Charity. We have also used Our Families 24 Ways by Clay and Sally Clarkson and that was wonderful... we will probably reuse that book when we are done with The Narrow Way. These are both very meaty. Hope this helps! I applaud you for obeying the Lord!!

I really don't have a recommendation for you, as I am debating between Writing Tales, IEW and Classical Writing myself. However, I wanted to encourage you to buy and listen to SWB Writing without Fear. This really helped me quite a bit! Jen

My 8yo writes at least one written narration page a week, sometimes two and they are usually a page long. Now, this child is a girl AND she enjoys writing! If I asked this of my 13yo when he was 8 OR 9, he would have had a melt down!! At that age, he just gave me a sentence or two on paper, but could narrate wonderfully! Now, he can write without problem, and is pretty good at it. It is still not his favorite thing to do though. You could also write, or type his narrations on the computer and allow him to illustrate it. This is what I did for my son when he was younger. I am so glad I did because it is just precious to go back and look at those pages now!! Jen

Thanks for all the suggestions.. Stephanie- we wanted to start with Core 7 because we have already read SOTW 1 and 2, as well as Augustus Ceasars World and World of Colombus and Sons. Again, thanks!! I have yet to make a decision, but everyones advice so far, is getting me closer!

So, I am literally losing sleep over HISTORY!! I am trying to choose from TOG, Sonlight 7 or just stick to TWTM!! My thoughts on Sonlight... All planned out for me:001_smile:, but I don't like how fast it moves through the time periods... I could spread it out over 2 years and add to it. However, I would need to do 2 cores... one for my olders 13&12 and one for my younger 9yo. I am not sure that I can pull that off with a 4 and 2yo:glare: TOG- Easy to combine all children on the same time period. But, it looks like quite a bit a prep work:tongue_smilie: I know I would probably fizzle out??? I don't know:confused: TWTM- I would have to find readers and plan it all out. I actually don't mind doing this, but I do not have time to pre-read everything to know if they are really "gettting" the books. On the other hand, they are great narrators and usually tell me in detail about books they are reading??? And, of course I would really like for my children to all be on the same time period. We gave MFW Rome to the Reformation a try and it did not go so well. Alot of the stuff went over my 8yo head, while my oldest was bored and wanted more!!!! So... I need one of you gals to make this decision for me:lol::lol: Pretty Please:D Seriously, what advice do you have, given the ages of my children.. which will be by fall 13, 12, 9, 4 and 2. Idears???

I really do not have much of an answer for you, but have always wondered this same thing myself. Then I started thinking... How did "I" learn to spell??? I was put on that 12 year public school plan with spelling lists, and I seem to be able to spell ok. I don't think I am the BEST speller, but not too bad. So, I DO think exposure is good. I also think seeing words by reading is good too. I think it is a combination of all these things. We are using Spelling Work Out at the moment, and I think it is fine. I am also going to start going through a "most commonly misspelled word list" too. And, I add a few misspelled words from their writing to their lists. I don't know if it is working or not, but I do see a year to year improvement. Baby steps, I suppose:) Blessings, Jen

Well, after agonizing over what to do for history... sonlight, wtm, ect.. TOG was brought to my attention. I have spent the past couple hours :001_huh: at their website reading and reading. I really liked what I saw, and it seems as if I have been trying to do the same thing myself. My questions are: Is there a booklist? How do I know what to buy? I see their teachers manual, but I have yet to find a detailed book list. I really want to have most things on my shelf, because it just makes things flow so much better. How much am I looking at spending here? I know the TM is $225, but honestly, how much more am I looking at?? How much daily time is spent on TOG? I will be teaching a 13, 12, and 9yo with a 4yo and 2yo. Any other info would be great. I have got to make a decision pronto... Hubby wants me to purchase everything I need by the end of the month!!!

Well, as time goes by, I am doing more and more things as outlined in the WTM. I sure wish I would have stuck to it in the past... but other things sparked curriosity... However, it seems I always come back to the good ole' WTM. I do have a friend in town that uses the WTM as outlined, except for the Latic part, and loves it. Her children are very bright, and they work hard. They usually start school about 830 and don't finish until 4 sometimes. Two of her children have competed in PSIA and walk away 1st in the catagories they compete in. The have learned to focus and concentrate. Their father is also a college professor, and he wholeheartedly endorses the WTM. Oh... he thinks outlining the KHE is great!

Monique.. Actually TOG was on my list to look at, but I thought it would be too intense. Is it not?