Me, too. Blech.

Well, since I am an oldie and began homeschooling before most of those products came out, I am content and will continue with my original plan: K: finish Phonics Pathways; copywork 1/2: FLL 1&2; narrations for history and science; daily copywork 3: FLL 3; narrations for history, science, and some reading assignments; daily copywork or dictation 4: Aesop A&B (I might add in FLL4 for my next child since it is available now) 5: Homer A, Beginning Poetry & Harvey's 6: Homer B & Harvey's 7: Maxim, Intermediate Poetry & Harvey's 8: Chreia & Harvey's etc. (This is all approximate since we school year round and just begin the next thing when ready.) I have been extremely pleased with the preparedness of my oldest three children to start CW Aesop in 4th grade following 3 years of copywork, dictation, and narration. I do not feel the need to add to (or, frankly complicate) what we have done. If it ain't broke... :-)

:iagree:

I have used Phonics Pathways 4 times successfully and I don't think I would ever switch. Simple. Cost-effective. Gets the job done.

You can find it at IEW's site.

The advantage, for me, is that it is open and go. I spend a lot of time planning writing and history, and I love that LDTPM can just be done with absolutely no prep time on my part. Other than that, I'm sure a similar program could be cobbled together for next to no $. LDTPM is pricey - probably way overpriced for what it is - but with 5 kids (and the fact that I anticipate using it for 10-12 straight years :-) it is worth it for me.

We use a really big jar filled with folded-up papers on which I have carefully written favorite Scriptures, book quotes, and poetry that we love as a family. The child pulls two out and then picks which one he/she would like to copy that day. We keep them all in a 3-ring copywork notebook.

I have been an avid fan of LDTPM for four years now. In that time, my oldest two children have memorized 56 poems. And they really have them tucked away in those brains! We do a time of poetry recitation every Monday morning, and they amaze me with their abilities to recite. The first benefit that I saw was simply a love of poetry and a desire to read/know more. This began straightaway, from day 1 of using the program. Secondly, exposure to rich and sophisticated language has increased their vocabulary. I will frequently hear a verse repeated at an apt moment, or even better, hear a parody of one of the poems they have memorized. I love that they have a rather mature understanding of metaphor and other figures of speech. Thirdly, the constant memorizing has increased their ability to memorize. I keep thinking that their brains will eventually fill up with all of these poems and Scriptures. But they seem even more able to easily memorize as time goes on. Finally, it has exposed them to some great classics, such as Frost's Road Not Taken, Whitman's O Captain! My Captain!, and Thayer's Casey at the Bat. Many of the poems are great conversation starters, teaching about historical events or providing windows into another time or culture. Plus, it's just fun! That's an added bonus.

We school year round, so we move into new books when we're ready, regardless of what time of year.

Overstock.com has great book prices and $2.95 shipping.

:iagree: What she said :-)

Something that helped me schedule Singapore Math: Go through the book you are working on. Check the exercise length and difficulty and then fill an Excel spreadsheet or Word table with the order and number of assignments. For instance, my Singapore Math 6B spreadsheet reads: text & ex. 1 + 2 text & ex. 3 Practice 1A (text) text & ex. 4 text & ex. 5 + 6 etc. This helps me to know the appropriate amount to schedule for him in a week. I fill in what he is to do on his assignment sheet, and he does it. I schedule a week's worth at a time. At the end of the week I cross off what he has done on my spreadsheet and schedule the next week's work. This way I have a great visual of how much is left to complete. HTH,

My piano playing composer husband got his Masters at the Hartt School - University of Hartford.

I made this last week and they were really yummy - moist and filling. Instead of Raisin Bran cereal I used All Bran Buds and used half white and half wheat flour. Apple Carrot Muffins

Our standard read-aloud times are mid-morning while everyone eats their snack (30 minutes) and immediately following lunch (30-60 minutes). My 2 year old comes and goes during these times, but the kids have gotten used to that and are not distracted.

I've been teaching some level of SOTW for 7 straight years and I LOVE the activity guide. I use the review questions every time, have all of the recommended reading marked as to whether we own it, my local library has it, or I can ILL it. I use the recommended pages for our encyclopedias. We use the coloring pages and maps (the directions for the maps are in the book), and do a smattering of the projects and games. For us, at least, the activity guide is more than half of the program.

Being a displaced New Englander, I'm loving it. Variation is good. However, I will agree with Bill that spacing out the rain would have been nice, too. The only thing I am getting tired of is lots of muddy doggie-prints all over my dark hardwood floors.

Well, I can tell you what I would probably do in your situation. I would open with something you can work on together - Bible time, memory work, etc. Then I would split them up. Have your son work on some of his independent work while you work with your daughter. I typically spend 30 minutes alone with my 1st grader while my others attack their independent work or do their chores. Then I sit him down to complete his seat work (math, Miquon, ETC, copywork) while I work with one of my olders. I keep my youngers at the table quietly doing puzzles, painting, etc. while I work with the olders. Also, my youngest 2 spend 45-60 minutes playing quietly in their room every morning - usually listening to books on CD. We do a mid-morning snack while I read aloud to everyone. Quiet time in the afternoons can also be great for getting to some of your work/projects. In the past we have had 60 minutes of quiet reading time - each of the kids in their own separate place. Just some ideas. Hope it helps you some.

Personally, I would use the extra room as a playroom or a craft room. I think it is a very good thing for kids to share rooms. Even when we've had the room my kids have shared. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Look it up Book of Explorers by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel was a great resource for all of the explorers mentioned in SOTW 2 Joan of Arc, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, & Good Queen Bess, all by Diane Stanley were great additions to our studies. We loved making the Celtic weapons and staging a Celtic battle in the yard, complete with blue face paint. (ch. 2) We enjoyed a whole week of composing haikus (ch. 9). Designing a coat of arms was a great project (ch. 17) Definitely watch Henry V with Kenneth Branagh & see a Shakespeare play in person, if you can. (ch. 26)

As a native Bay-stater, MA really has some great town names and even better pronunciations for them. My personal favorite is Leicester (Les-tuh) :-)

That is why my church created it's own. It is very thorough, and much better than anything else I've seen.

Actually, nope :-) Universal City Walk 8:25 show :-)

I would agree with this completely. The only people I know IRL who do all of the child-centered classes/shopping/sports are 2 income families - the rest of us cannot afford it. Instead we hike, play at the park, and ride our bikes together as a family. I personally believe, based on experience, that our child-focused culture comes out of the busy lives we have cultivated for ourselves: both parents working, school, sports, classes, volunteering, birthday party madness, etc. etc. Most (not all) of the homeschooling families I know are much more involved in community issues and volunteering. Most of the women I know have some kind of skill or expertise that could bring in income, if necessary. They just prefer, to their family's benefit, to stay home and be the best wife, mother, homemaker, and teacher they can.

I agree with everything you said. We watched it on IMAX 3-D (maybe the same one :-) and enjoyed it thoroughly as a viewing experience.