I am needing to really drill and cement math facts with my eight year old. He is an auditory learner- so I thought chanting facts thru flash cards or using the audio memory songs cd? What is your favorite approach? Thanks! Rebecca

I am using Spelling Wisdom this year. We are identifying words that could be a problem, studying them, copying them several times. Then copying the verse. Then writing it from dictation. If it is wrong, correct it and study some more. We do this until it is written perfectly from dictation. We move on as soon as the piece can be completed perfectly from dictation. I am working with my son: teaching him the visualization concept and how to study the words. HTH, Rebecca

I agree with Kisa! Rod and Staff does not have an official website. There is a website called Rod and Staff books. http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com. They sell curriculum and books and you can view a lot of their stuff. Also: Nature Workshop Plus sells Little Jewel Books and other Rod and Staff readers. I think they might also sell the preschool set with the Bible Stories and activity books. Just this weekend, I was going through some papers and stumbled upon a flyer that Rod and Staff must have put in one of their newsletters. I can't find it now! It had their curriculum (which is textbooks btw) pictured for years preschool through 6 I believe- anyway- I noticed they had this little guide that shows how to use Little Jewel books to teach science- and maybe social studies? If you ordered their catalog- you could see everything they have and I am sure that little guide would be in it. I don't have their number handy- maybe someone else does? I will try to look for it and post it later. You can also see samples of their textbooks per grade for free. They will send you the samples. As for us, I have used the Little Jewel books as read alouds. However, some are definitely science! I am sorry if I misconstrued- and you thought they were a curriculum package. I hope this helps Rebecca

You are correct that you can choose your own books for Read Aloud and Readers. You mean the DITHOR readers, right? There are suggestions for Read Aloud aka Storytime in the appendix of the Bigger Guide. Many great suggestions... The suggestions are broken down by genre. The Read Aloud selections are meant to be read by you to the student. DITHOR is meant to be read by your daughter to you and to herself. Hope this helps... The DITHOR Guide does not have any suggestions. You can see their website for the 2/3 sets they sell to get ideas. Or you can pay five dollars for their book suggestions packet. This packet has suggestions for all the genres at all the different levels of DITHOR. They are also working on offering 4/5 sets- but they are not ready yet. You can use any book you choose for both Storytime and DITHOR. It is just important to be sure it matches the genre being studied: i.e. choose a biography during the biography unit, etc. I hope this helps. Your welcome.:) Rebecca

I am using this with my eight year old son. We love it. He is at third grade level. My seven year old son joins in to the readings and he loves them too. He is second grade level. Drawn into the Heart of Reading is supposed to be used with this program. We haven't started it yet. The activities do not require tons of supplies. They are very doable for a busy mom. I choose HOD this year for several reasons... and one of them was because of I have six children 8 and under and I need something that will enable me to educate them thoroughly, is highly organized, and is open and go. As far as the activities: there have been a couple I haven't gotten too- or haven't done. I do one of two things: ascertain if my son already has the knowledge the activity is teaching, get to the activity when I am able on a different day. I also use the "boxes" like reminders... reminding me to cover everything. There are great discussion prompts. It is not a program you can just hand to your daughter though. You have to be willing/ and or able to sit down with her at certain points of the day and work through some of the program together. However, the work: mapping, notebook pages, etc. has all been excellent for my son and he takes a lot of pride in his work and shows forth great effort! In other words, he can truly complete the assignments- I am not doing them for him. I think by the end of the year, children are supposed to be more independent- and able to complete even more of the program on their own. My priorities are the notebooking, timeline, vocabulary assignments- so I make sure to always cover those. I also keep a focus on narration ala Charlotte Mason. HOD is a lesson plan you can take and modify for your needs. For my third grader: I am using Spelling Wisdom for dictation and Rod and Staff 3 for grammar. Bigger... recommends Rod and Staff 2 and they have spelling/dictation in the appendix based on CM methods. I would agree that it is lighter, less expensive, and more doable than SL. It is also "all in one." All your skill areas are covered through the guide. SL "calls" because of the wonderful quantity of literature. I would think about what you are really wanting to accomplish with your daughter's school. That might help you choose! I love HOD because of all the choices it affords me. I can read one biography for storytime- or I can read three- it is up to me! I can use my grammar program or the one they recommend- it is up to me! I can use a world map or a globe... I can teach geography with the prompts in the guide- or teach the same concept my own way. Finally, if you are a christian- the christ-centeredness is a special appeal. I found myself encouraging a friend and as I was listening to myself- realized I was repeating a lesson from Bigger Hearts... HTH, Rebecca

Monica (Krazzymommy), reading through your posts on this thread- I wanted to recommend Rod and Staff products to you. I don't know if you are familiar with them at all. They are very sweet, gentle, and there is no violence. The preschool program has a bible component. My children loved the Bible Stories and the littles ones (four and up) can color in the matching coloring book. They sell sweet children's books that are very inexpensive called Little Jewel Books. They emphasize obedience, God's creation, character qualities, etc. We love them. Just another product to research if you feel led...:) Rebecca

The units are connected with The Bible In Pictures for Little Eyes, your own Bible, or A Child's First Bible by Kenneth Taylor...so the activities reinforce and emphasize what those children's bibles are portraying. The dramatic activity about Pharoah's son being dead directly ties into the Bible story used: The King is Very Sorry He Hurt God's People. This is from the New Bible in Pictures... This story directly states that "God's angel came and the boy died because there was no blood on the door." People have different philosophies and convictions on what out of the Bible they read to their children. Charlotte Mason herself recommended careful exposure. Our family shelters our children pretty seriously. However, we do not shelter from the Bible at all during our family bible time or from stories in the children's bibles we have chosen for our children. I agree that this will affect what you choose and your comfort level. I haven't used Little Hands to Heaven. However, my dear sister has... and has loved it and felt that it has really nurtured her little ones in the Lord. I do have it on my shelf for next year with my little guy who will be three. I also know that that was the author's intent- to nurture faith in little ones. It might not be the way you feel comfortable or right doing it... It is okay not to like something... it doesn't mean that the author is doing something wrong.

What a beautiful testimony! Praise God! Rebecca

I don't think the activities are violent at all. I think in skipping them, you would lose a lot of the uniqueness and specialness of the program. If it is not for you, I would choose something else instead and sell it/return it. I am using two full programs and part of a third this year. I have found nothing violent. In LHFHG: The Family Time Bible does have some more explicit paintings. This has not been a problem for our family- but it is a heads up for you. HTH, Rebecca

Jello White cake with oil/confectioner sugar glaze. Could add some cinnamon for flavor. I do not know of any soy free, dairy free margarines at this time. Fresh Fruit decoratively cut... Something made with eggs and sugar and flour? HTH, Rebecca

Earth Balance Whipped. De-Licious! No dairy. K pareve. Organic, too I actually just usually steam veggies. I also love fresh beans simmered in a little kosher salt. Yum! We make spinach with olive oil, garlic powder and onion powder. Rebecca

Well, Today was a little better. I think just- so exhausted as we had a very hectic and exhausting weekend. Hopefully tomorrow will be better... I can always hope-right? We have lots of disrespect, attitude, etc. with the children all at the same time and sometimes- I am just worn out and don't know what to do... Thanks for all the replies, Rebecca

LisaK, Do you mainly use textbooks/workbooks for your school? Have you found this to be easier? Congratulations on your little girl coming soon! Our dd is named Abigaile... Rebecca

TiredMama, Do you school when Dad gets home from work? Thanks for your support! Rebecca

Cathmom, Yes- that is how my day can go... but then sometimes I am just so tired. Yes- I have run into that dynamic with the combining... I have struggled with this... It seems that my seven and five year old combine better (they are 16 months apart) than my eight and seven year old (just under 15 months apart)... Using Heart of Dakota has helped me- because it is time conscious and age appropriate...and skill level focused. Thanks for posting, Rebecca

Osmosis mom, Today I had another appointment- I kept your words in mind. i.e. it will do wonders for your self-esteem if you get anything done at all- etc. I have to say- that really helped me!!! Thank you! Your wise words helped, Rebecca

Quiver10, I think I do need to consciously prepare more on Sunday nights. Maybe that will help... So, do you give your time to your younger ones first? Do you school everyone together and just move from child to child as needed? Have you had issues training with chores? Just some ponderings, Thanks for posting on my thread. Rebecca

Faithr, Thanks for the idea about getting DH involved. I am blessed that DH carries the load with a huge amount of household chores so that I can nurse our baby and school. This year I have had to school a little in the evenings when he is home sometimes- but that is not our preference- However, he will help that way.... Thanks! Rebecca

Calico Kat, I laughed when I read your post. How have you trained your kids to know YOU MEAN IT regarding the no interuptions?? I just reread the part where you said you raise your hand as in stop. That is a great idea. I often have my children raise their hands if they have something to say at lunch if everyone is talking over each other. Hmmm... Also- thanks for the chore link! DH didn't think it was for us- but I really appreciated it!:) So do you just block out school time and then pick up when it is over? Do you do anything special with the little ones at another time? Thanks, Rebecca

Susan in TN, Yes- adjust the expectations... you are right. I do try to plow through- and seem to prefer to work that way- but I seem to frazzle the family and the littles go bonkers while I am "plowing through" with the olders... that is why I attempt the moth schedule- so everyone's needs are met at least reasonably well... but I am not so good at staying on schedule! Do you mind sharing what your chores are that you do in those designated times? Do you train for them? Thank you so much. Rebecca

Beth (3lilreds), Thank you! You have some great points...! I am going to make a checklist for my third and second grader. I think that will help. Also- my DH's name is Todd!:001_smile: and I live in NC (western)... Thanks again, Rebecca

Thank you for the idea about schooling with a seven day week. Maybe I will try to space our school out more. It just seems like time is eaten up! I am trying for a four day week in order to clean the house on Fridays. Rebecca

You can also use a solution of baking soda and water along with a sponge! How did it go? Rebecca

Also- what are you doing during your chore time? Chores are NOT going well over here this year either. Thanks, Rebecca I will work on a signature later.

Forgot to add: my little nursling is NOT on a schedule and still wakes up at least two times to eat. He is 17 pounds, six ounces, four months old and exclusively breastfed...