I have read many lovely reviews about Wasko Lit. My son participated in the recent free Modern Poetry class and enjoyed it immensely. I see this is not simply a discussion class but requires 2 literary analysis papers and a project. My question is, does Mr. Wasko guide them through how to write a literary analysis paper or is that something they should know before enrolling?

I can't seem to find the answer to this question on the website. I am considering enrolling my son (11th grade for the 2022-2023 school year) in the Early Modern Literature LIVE class. However, when I read the description for the self-paced option, it seems to indicate that the class is not discussion based. Am I, therefore, correct in believing that aside from receiving a grade, there is no other tangible difference between the LIVE and self-paced course? In addition, if there is no difference between the Live and Self-Paced course, then why would one take the Live class? Is tuition the same for the self-paced course?

I switched math programs a couple of years ago to Math Mammoth. To be safe and make sure there were no gaps, I set my son up 2 levels behind. He has quickly gone through the levels and is about to finish 6B. Here is my issue...with our schedule I need him to start Algebra this coming fall so that he can fit in all of the high school math he needs to fit in. Can I skip Math Mammoth 7 and go directly into Algebra? Or can I pick and choose some concepts to go over in the summer from MM 7A/B like a mini-course to get him set up for Algebra? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

We have AAS 1-3. However, after level 2 we moved and 2 years later I am just now unpacking Level 3. :unsure: Anyway...my 4th grader is not pleased to be doing what he considers his younger sister's work of Level 3. I was thinking of moving on to something else, perhaps Rod & Staff Spelling. If I were to move to Rod & Staff, could I just pick up at 4th grade or do I need to do some of the earlier books as a preliminary step? Any advice appreciated!

We are currently using BFSU K-2 for my 2nd grader. We jumped on the BFSU train late and just started it this year, but will complete it soon. Anyway...I love it and my son loves it. I was naturally going to move on to Vol. 2 for 3rd grade but am intrigued by Science in the Beginning. It appears to be less work on my part (i will have a 1st grader and toddler keeping me busy as well) and also appears to combine the Sciences (which I believe is a strong point of BFSU). Any thoughts? Experience with either?

For my son's first grade year we used Singapore Math 1A/1B Standards Edition. However, during this time I was introduced to Strayer Upton Practical Arithmetic and think I'm in love :wub: Anyway, I realize SU doesn't begin till 3rd grade so here is my question: What do I do until then? Do I continue on with Singapore 2A/2B for 2nd grade? Do I go ahead and start with SU in 2nd and just take it slowly? Or perhaps go sans any formal math curriculum and review math facts this year as needed then pick up with SU in third? Also, for those who use SU, what do you follow/plan to follow it with when moving into higher math?

I am currently reading Paddle to the Sea w/my 1st grader and thought it would be nice to add in the Map work & study guide from Beautiful Feet. Next year (2nd grade) we plan on reading Tree in the Trail and Seabird so I thought we could save those maps and that portion of the study guide for when that time comes. However, I noticed that they have it graded third through seventh grade. Do you think it's too much for a first grader to understand? Or even later on in second grade with Tree in the Trail and Seabird?

Our piano teacher, dr., dentist, etc. actually LOVE that we homeschool because that makes us more flexible in scheduling :lol: While others have to schedule far in advance we always seemingly get to pop in at a moment's notice.

Are you familiar with Elemental Science? I'm waffling bettween it and REAL Science? What is it about RSO that you find appealing? :001_smile:

Thanks so much for the input. I'm thinking perhaps Elemental Science might work out for us. I also liked the Nature Connection rec, but we already do one hour nature challenges as well through the Handbook of Nature Study blog.

I posted about my issues using Apologia Astronomy but am willing to try to finish out the year with it b/c my son wants to do Astronomy. http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showthread.php?t=428415 However, having been recommended Elemental Science Grammar Stage Earth Sci & Astr, I'm wondering if I could do a switch without too much problem if I start with the astronomy portion first. What do you think? Feel free to tell me what you think about Elem Sci as well.

My son is in first grade and we're using Apologia Astronomy twice a week. Also we are using AIG's God's Design for Life: Human Body once a week (beginner level) because my son was interested in the human body and I heard Apologia's Elem Anatomy might be too complex for him right now. We love our AIG Human Body lessons--short, to the point, and engaging. We also supplement with TCR My Body and that adds another element of fun and engaging learning. I know that the Human Body portion of God's Design for Life is only supposed to take 1/3 of the year but spacing it out over a year gives us time to really absorb and discuss it. I wish I could say the same for Astronomy. My son does enjoy it to an extent, as he loves the idea of space, but I am having a hard time with the textbook. I find the writing to be rather poor in some areas. It almost over explains some ideas which causes confusion and then completely drops a huge concept down with almost no explanation. Thank goodness my son is interested or it would be like pulling teeth. We self-pace and try to do the fun activities (that balloon solar system is probably one of the worst ways to create a solar system but that's a whole other post) but I still dread the textbook. The Jr. Notebooking Journal is nice, but I almost feel like an empty sketchbook would work just as well. I'm pretty bummed because I really wanted to like it. Anyway, we'll finish it out as best we can but even though I had initially decided to use Apologia through the Elem. years, I must find something else after this experience. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Do you expect your first grader to do lengthy narrations? Do you expect them to fill out the Jr. Notebooking Journal completely? Do you just read and what they get they get, what they don't, they don't? My son showed an interest in Astronomy so I purchased the Apologia Astronomy and Jr. Notebooking Journal, but it seems like so much. He likes my reading to him but focus isn't completely there and he misses a lot. But then he tells my husband at dinner about birds migratory patterns and constellations. I don't know. This is my first year "officially" homeschooling (we did 3yo-K Montessori style but our school district doesn't consider it official till first grade) and this is my first year using a Science curriculum. I'm just a bit unsure of what I'm aiming for with my son. Any advice?

I had a weekly chart that listed each day of the week and a special acitivity for that day. For example: Sunday: Church Monday: Baking Tuesday: Swim Wednesday: Awana Thursday: Big Clean-Up Friday: Painting Saturday: Free Day I started this before he was reading (3yo) so I had the days of the week written out but the activities were picture cards. Everyday I'd say something like, "It's Monday, what do we do today?" And he would respond by looking at the chart, "Baking!" He eventually understood the order and names by doing it this way all before he was 4yo. I waited on the months of the year until he was 5 for numbering purposes. Then I started having him make his own calendar and gave him stickers to mark activities, holidays, and bdays. I also wrote out the months of the year on cardstock and made cards out of them for him to put into order. He used a control chart at first but quickly learned to do it on his own.

with your chosen curriculum. I've been to their website, but find it gives me more questions than answers. I talked to someone at a recent conference but didn't have time to fully delve. I have already chosen and purchased curriculum for my 6 year old (Ambleside Yr1, Singapore Math, Apologia Astronomy, Montessori Grammar, AAS 2/3). Will this "jive" with CC or cause confusion? Is CC done independent of the other schooling you're doing at home? Should you be doing a strictly classical method at home for it to be the most useful? And most importantly, is it something you find necessary? What I mean to say is, if you have your chosen curriculum and feel pretty confident everything will be covered by you, is there another reason to sign up with CC or will it be overkill? 3hrs is no a small amount of time and the tuition on top of regular curriculum purchases just makes me wonder if signing up is worth it. Good & bad reviews welcome :)

Would you mind telling me what district this is as I also live in WNY.:001_unsure: *crossing fingers*

Thank you all very much. I feel like I'm making too big a deal out of it, but then again, I don't know how my district operates and want to be sure. I actually don't know anyone who homeschools in my district, only surrounding districts so I have no idea how it is to deal w/my particular district.

This is exactly what I needed! Thank you so much :)

For those of you who are using Ambleside Online AND live in New York state... I rec'd my IHIP form from my school district today. This is my first year to fill one out and I am curious on what I should do. Under the English/Language Arts portion should I simply write "Ambleside Curriculum" or list the books being used from Ambeside? Or should I write something else entirely? Any help would be appreciated :)

Fun thread. Love seeing how others do it. We budget $2200/year. This includes all curriculum for my one official (by state standards) homeschooler, classes (music, ballet, year-long gym & swim) for 2 children and supplies needed (swimsuits, new leotard or ballet shoes, etc.), museum and zoo memberships, supplies (ink for our laser printer, cardstock, pencils, art supplies, etc.), extra books to supplement or for fun reading, for moments when I find an incredible deal on curricula for the future (e.g., I found SingMath Standards 4a txtbk, wkbk, hig, and tests in perfect unused condition at the library sale for a total of $2!!), and homeschool conference registration. Then I take the leftover and divide by 12 months and that gives me a monthly spending allowance for the little extras that might come up (field trips, concerts, etc.). Now, I'm only really spending for 2 (6 and 4) but will eventually have a 3rd (she is only 18 months) to worry about as well. Of course, I'm hoping the cost doesn't go up too much as I'll really only be buying new curriculum for the oldest (with the exception of consumables). But time will only tell :)

I know this is an older post but I wanted to add... I just came back from a homeschool conference and Homeschool in the Woods was in the vendor hall. The WWII lapbook was AMAZING! Well, all of their work is pretty spectacular. The Mr., who is a history buff was so enamored with it, I thought he was going to buy the package for himself :)

I finally have all the components to Miquon math in my possesion. I rec'd the First Grade Diary first so I began to read and study it. I'm really trying to make sure I understand all there is to it so I've been poring over it slowly. Well, a few days later I rec'd the Lab Annot. and Notes to Teachers and began wondering...which one should I start reading? Should I continue with the Diary or stop and begin the Annot. or Notes? Does it matter? There seems to be a wealth of information in all of them and I want to get a firm grasp before beginning with my son. So what do you suggest?

Thank you everyone! KristenR I really enjoyed reading your blog. I downloaded the Cuisenaire Activity and Exploration Book and can't wait to use it with my 3 year old as well. My plan was to introduce Miquon first, then ease into Singapore. Perhaps it's gonna happen sooner than I had anticipated. Once again, thanks so much for all the encouragement :)

I'm getting worn out. So many materials, so much time. I've been doing Montessori math with my son for primary (3-6) but planned to move on to Singapore/Miquon starting in the Summer. However, I am so tempted to quit Montessori Math now and just move on to Singapore. We're about to start working with the complete bead material, division with racks and tubes, small and large bead frame, blah, blah, blah...and I'm really getting overwhelmed with the time (especially if I end up making most of the materials) and expense (if I don't make most of the materials). What would you do?