Hi, My son has been using Rod and Staff grade 6 math, and has expressed how her really, really, wants to go on to Algebra. Well, we have decided to go on to Teaching Textbooks after he finished the R&S series. We went ahead and let him take the TT pre-algebra placement test, just to see if he was really ready. He made a 100 on it. Also, it only took him about 35 minutes to complete it. We were very shocked. Is TT not that advanced, or has R&S really prepared him??? I am now concerned about TT not being up to standards. Also, I am wondering if I should go ahead and give him the Algebra placement test. Is there quite a bit of review in Algebra 1? Any advice would be great..

Well, I have tried Konos, My Father's World and a more textbook approach with Rod and Staff..... It was ALL a disaster!! What am I doing now? Well, we are using the Robinson Curriculum for the bulk of our reading and vocabulary instruction. We will use their grammar program when each child turns 13. Until then, I will correct their essays that they write. I am also using IEW SWI-B. We use Mystery of History and Story of the World as our history base as well as historic read alouds. We also notebook for history. Notebooking consists of a written essay/notebook page on each topic we study. We also study latin/greek roots with English from the Roots up. Soooo, in a nutshell, we are sticking to the 3r's. Since we have made this change, I have seen my children blossom. They are reading much more, and their writing has improved... because they are writing each and everyday. I teach grammar when the need arises:) We get their spelling from their writing.. you get the idea. LESS IS MORE... I am learning this!! I will probably utilize more of Ambleside Online next year. Hope this helps!!

Is it ok to skip a level in R&S math? I am noticing how extremely similar the 6th and 7th grade book are. Would I do my son harm to skip the 7th book and move on to the 8th? He is doing excellent in math, and is reataining everything very well! He is complaining of it being so easy. He really wants to move on to Algebra soooo bad! What do you think?

My son really wants to move on to Algebra!! He is at the very end of Rod and Staff 6 and has done extremely well with it. When can I move him on to algebra? Should I go ahead and do the 7th grade Rod and Staff book first? We were planning on doing Teaching Textbooks after Rod and Staff. Thanks for any suggestions.

I'll play... I went to Lake Worth High School.. we were the frogs. My principal was Mr. Craft. 1st- Mrs. Ray (yuck) 2nd- Mrs. Slider 3rd- Mrs. Robinson :) 4th- Mrs. Stule :mad: This lady was weird. We use to think that she would pick the many scabs on her face and eat them with her lunch!! Too Funny! This teacher was MEAN.. she would walk around and spank your hand with a ruler!! 5th-Mrs. White:D She was a wonderful teacher!! We had middle school from 6th-8th and high school from 9-12.

Yes, we switched this year from Saxon for grades 3, 5 and 6. This is the best decision we have ever made. The children love this math, they know their math now, and they understand their math. Just like Heather said... You can move quickly if a child masters a concept quickly, and slow down if he needs more practice. Love it! Love it! Love it!!!

We have been using Rod and Staff Grammar, and the kids detest it, but will do it with a good attitude. I have Easy Grammar sitting on the shelf and they are begging to do it. In fact, they have been making up silly "jingles" as to why they hate Rod and Staff... It is actually quite funny!! They loved it when we did EG for a few weeks.... sigh.. Why do I feel CHAINED to do Rod and Staff?????? We just started using IEW and Writing Strands for writing.. so writing will be covered. Please let me know this is ok. As for diagraming, I just thought I would teach them the basics as we go. Thanks

It seems like we NEVER get everything done!! We do get math done, but then it gets hard to keep them on task. I have to continue to ask if they got ________(fill in the blank) done. It is usually a no, a sigh, and then they go back to work. However, it seems to take them forever, and we still do not get anything done. Here is what was on my 11yo's assignment sheet today: Rod and Staff Math Rod and Staff English (done orally) Daily Editing Spelling (SWO) Latin/Greek-English from the Roots up IEW-SWI-B Read a chapter from 2 different books History- read lesson from MOH; write a brief paragraph for notebook Science-Draw a diagram for notebook spanish-rosetta stone on computer Does this look like too much? She managed to get Math, English and spelling done. It is 3:30 and I had to prod her to go read... and it is unlikely that we will get to the other things on the list today. I really don't know what to do anymore. I feel guilty as it is that they are still doing school when public school is already out. SIGH... It do feel like I have to keep them on task all the time. I just told them that they are expected to complete their assignments for the week, and if it is not done then they will be expected to get them completed on Friday (an off day for us) or on the weekend as homework. Please let me know if I am being unreasonable. We are soooo behind in some subjects because we are not getting them completed. help!!

Can you tell me how much you do a week? I am trying to figure out "how" to use this well. How long did it take you to complete the entire course? Thanks

Daisy, We are using MOH 2 along with SOTW 2 and LOVE it. We were using MFW RTR, but felt like we were tweaking it to death too. We really did not care for Streams of Civilization at all. It was over my 8yo head, and too fact oriented for my 11&12yo.. they were bored. So, we started using MOH and SOTW. It is a great fit because everyone enjoys it. I have my older two write about each and every topic. Most of the time they will do it in the form of notebooking. My 8yo is required to notebook too. They all love this too... the only downfall is that they can get really into the notebooking and take hours doing it. However, they are searching on the internet for more info... ect.. so it really is not that bad. I really wanted to enjoy MFW, but it just would not work!! I need to sell it, just to keep it from "haunting" me because I am not using it anymore. I do have a question for you... I was thinking of having my 8yo do Rod and Staff History and Science next year too. Do you think that R&S 4th along with SOTW 3 would be too much for her? How long is a typical chapter? Thanks, Jennifer

Thanks for these suggestions! I will definately look into megawords. I just wanted to give a quick update of my morning.. I just did a review test with her, and she got 31 wrong out of 80:eek: So, something is amiss. I have really taken a backseat to spelling... I need to do something.. what I don't know yet. I don't know if Rod and Staff is the problem or not. I usually have had them just do it independently, and maybe they have not totally understood the lessons... or I think maybe they were just trying to get the lesson done instead of any "active" learning taking place????? Thanks again

How old are your children? We are using MOH2 with SOTW2, and they love it. We also notebook and look things up on the computer. Jen

I am allowing spelling to drive me bananas!! Ok.. we were using Rod and Staff Spelling for grades 3, 5 and 6. My 5th and 6th grader HATE this spelling. They think it is hard... not so much the words, but the exercises. My 3rd grader loves Rod and Staff though! So, I bought Spelling Wisdom, but am finding that it is not getting done. Mainly because we just don't "get" to it. I am finding that if I don't have a prepared, go sit and do it program, then it will NOT get done. We do go over misspellings in their compositions, but I don't make them write it 5x or anything like that. I just don't know what to do. I have thought about getting Spelling Workout, because the exercises seem FAR more simple, and easy. I would love some advice here. If I do switch, should I start them at the beginning of the 5th and 6th book, or go ahead and advance them a grade? Or.. should I just make them grind out Rod and Staff and think about switching next year. We have gotten to lesson 13 in Rod and Staff. SIGH Oh.. I should add that spelling is by far, the weakest subject for my children. My son scored in the 90th percentile in everything on his SAT's except spelling... which he scored in the 40th percentile:eek: My daughter scored int the 50th:eek: Also... would it hurt them to just drop spelling? I feel like it would... any experiences you can share with me?? Jen

BUMP:D I would love to hear this answer also;)

My children do not care much for historical fiction either. They LOVE reading biographies though. They will read some historical fiction, but it really depends on the time period being studied. I have just allowed them to pretty much pick out what they want to read. They always make great choices too. I do, however, make them read through a biography a month. They are working their way through missionary biographies at the moment.

Rod and Staff 1st-8th Teaching Textbooks 9-12th The above is my plan so far. I may go to Saxon for 9-12th, but am pretty positive that I will go with TT.

Here it is.... GREAT BLOG http://higherupandfurtherin.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I also wanted to mention that my son has confessed to not using certain words because he did not know how to spell them:( So, he just thought of an easier word. He did say he really wants to know how to spell too:rolleyes: I just need to figure out what is going to work!!

I could use some advice on teaching spelling. Is it necessary to use a curriculum? If I don't, then it does fall by the wayside. I do correct their spelling in compositions, but I don't make them write the misspelled words 5x each, or even test them on it later. I just have tooooo much going on to do that. We started off the year with Rod and Staff, which the kids hated, and then dropped it because of the tears. Then I bought Spelling Wisdom, but am starting to feel like we are not really learning any "skills". KWIM?? So, I guess my question is, should I just grind out a spelling program? If so, what do you recommend? I have used Rod and Staff Spelling and I like it, but my children do not. It is VERY detailed. I have thought about going with Spelling Power or Spelling Workout... or have even thought about finishing out Rod and Staff.

I am being nosy.. but what books did you not like and what did you not like about them?

I just wanted to thank everyone for your replies. I think I will have my older 2 start doing history on their own. Like I said in my last post, I will continue to read ahead in the evening on my own to make sure I know history myself!!! LOL Then I will have them notebook and write a paragraph on what they read. I do read novels pertaining to the time period out loud still, so we do interact quite a bit. It is just soooo tought to read a novel, then read history and science out loud. This would honestly be several solid hours of me just reading out loud a day. Unfortunately, with the ages of my younger children, it is just not doable. When they are napping, I HAVE to have a "sanity" break... if you know what I mean. I do spend some time doing school with the olders during nap... but usually this time is for quietly reading, or completing Rosetta Stone spanish on computer or something QUIET!! Thanks again... and I would love to hear more suggestions!!!

I voted for sweets.... but I also love salty snack too. However, if you put a HUGE chocolate anything in front of me versus chips... well, I will take the chocolate any ole' day!!

So sorry to hear this. I have prayed for you and your son. I pray that the Prince of Peace will bring peace through this situation.

I am using SOTW/MOH for history right now, and doing a study of the human body for science. I am finding it very difficult to "get" to science and history with my children. After I spend time on English, Math, and so on... It is hard to spend even MORE time with them for History and Science. I feel like my 2 younger ones are suffering and needing more of my time... not to mention my house!! Another thing is the constant interuption during history/science read aloud. So my question is... has anyone had their children just read SOTW/MOH themselves, then fill out the notebooking pages I have ready for them? I guess I feel a bit guilty for not doing this with them. I would always have these pre-read for discussion too. I feel like this would take a big load off. Same for science. I think I could just give them a "reading list" each day and then help them with experiments/projects. Please.... tell me what you do!!!!

I am feeling like I need to add a vocabulary program to our school. We already do English From the Roots Up, but I feel like a regular vocabulary program would be good too. I was thinking of adding Wordly Wise. I would love your thoughts on this.