Living Books Curriculum schedules both. We loved it. It was not confusing at all. They schedule with a weekly plan rather than daily and you break it down according to your preference... We studied the American Revolution and Ancient Egypt this past year in second grade along with Explorers/colonies and Old Testament History in first grade. It was great. Rebecca

I would like to purchase a nice volume of Hans Christian Anderson. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good version? I would like one translated as nearly as possible to the original, etc. Illustrations would be great- but I would rather have correct text. Also, Rainbow Resource lists their volumes as 7-adult. Does that mean these fairytales are appropriate for seventh graders to adult or does that mean the reading level is 7th grade and up? I am a little confused. Thank you, Rebecca

Or you could be like me and do both! ;) You could always do the history readings during a lunch or snack time and that might help the younger one pay attention- while eating... I took a look at my books and it is a lot of text- but it is broken up in manageable , small, chunks. I am not much help because I haven't actually used these books yet. I do know that you can read them online- so you could "try them out" on your little guy and see how he does? Maybe someone who has used these will chime in... Hope this helps, Rebecca

Johanna, I understand. I am super tired so sorry about that. I am also using them with a 8.5 and a young 7 year (turning 7 July 3) old next year. I don't have any BTDT experience yet... Do you think more "visual" books would appeal? Hope this makes sense! Rebecca

Why do you think they are boring? Have you read them? We are using them too! I think the same package... If it is, the scheduled readings are short... you can read anything for a few minutes- kwim? :001_smile: I would consider fleshing out the topics with more living books if you are worried about interest remaining "high." Sincerely, Rebecca

Do you mean pop up or lift the flap? My two year old loves the blue lift the flap: Where's Spot Also a lift the flap: Old MacDonald. Rebecca

Do you play/read music at all? If not, you would probably have to teach yourself first before you could teach your children. I posted this question awhile back and got a variety of wonderful responses including Piano Course for Christians, and others. I ended up choosing Bastien for now. We are going to start my seven year old ds in the fall. I am comfortable "starting" him and then moving him to a teacher after time. I do read music, though. Rebecca

FWIW, I did read the full quote you linked. I have also read a lot of other information on the site at different times. I am not unfamiliar with it. As Ambleside says- and other CM programs- there is more than one way to implement the method... so I was just offering a different perspective on the amt. of books point of view. It sounds like you have a lot of school besides those thirteen books! Unfortunately- I don't know how much to read to get them done... maybe someone else will chime in... Sincerely, Rebecca

Disclaimer: I do not use Ambleside... Following CM is more than just slowly reading books... also one important key that it mentioned many, many times in The Original Homeschooling Series is: that Charlotte Mason, herself, said that children should be fed with worthy books: MANY worthy books... there is a definite emphasis on variety and quantity of quality and interesting books throughout the volumes. I do not think thirteen books is too many for one year of school... however, you would have to flesh it out with your child yourself. I think as far as what to do would depend on what thirteen books you chose. Are they a variety like: history, literature, etc. I would have no problem starting in one of each type all at once- for example: poetry, history, literature, etc. Then just read a small portion from each book a week.... when you finish those- begin the next set of selections... If you want those books to last for your whole year- pace them for 36 weeks... FWIW, we have been using Living Books Curriculum- we are reading out of science, american history, world history, literature, art, etc. all during the same week- my children have had no problem "staying" with the stories... In fact last week, I was reading two american history books ( a chapter at a time) to my second grader because we lost one by accident for a week or so! and had to catch up...) I hope this helps... Rebecca

I would recommend Living Books Curriculum! You might want to add that one to your list of choices! Rebecca

I was going to recommend Ben and Me as well... My son read it himself and now we are reading it for school... He loves it... as do my other sons.

Are doing all the packing yourself? We moved twice in the last year and a half... once from PA to NC in November of 06 and then from a rental home to "our home" in August of 07. Somewhere I read that school can be "let go" somewhat prior to the move and then picked up in full force once you are in the "new" place in order to facilitate a sense of order, etc. This is what we did. Both moves, I started school almost immediately upon completing our move. With our first move in Nov- it was lightning fast- we moved in one month. No school- only crazy packing with friends and family enjoying our children. Our second move was slower... over several months... with that move- I kept a modified (somewhat) school going- school "lite" so to speak- and then went right into our full force school schedule as soon as we were "reasonably" unpacked.... then I got side-lined with morning sickness! but that is another story! We finished unpacking as were able (on weekends- etc.) The first move: we stayed in boxes with a lot of stuff and had a storage unit-because we were renting and knew we were not there to stay. The second move- we moved in "little" trips at a time before the actual "big" move- so we unpacked as we moved with those "little" trips. If I had to do it again: I would go on "school lite" (to keep some order in the day!) and again- start up school as soon as immediately possible after the move. It helps (at least my kids) with the transition. Also- for some reason with both moves- I had this incredible "urgency" to collect and make sure I had all my curriculum for the next school we would be starting. (I am doing this again with pregnancy- must be a form of nesting!!!) but I don't know how smart that was- because then I had to haul all the boxes when they could have just been delivered to my door! Hope this helps, Rebecca

I am so glad for you too! That is a great story! Rebecca

I am glad I looked at this thread! I am currently using a modified MFW K (phonics, bible concept, and badge- sometimes one craft per week) with three of my children who are ALL at different levels. Do you have the same goals for your four and five year old? For example: I have my almost four joining in... my goal for her is letter recognition and sound recognition... if she gets some blending- wonderful! She is too young to do the handwriting- I write the letters for her- she traces (sometimes)... with the math worksheet- I draw the amount of pictures- she colors and counts them, etc. FWIW, she does fine with the cutting and pasting! It is perfect for my just turned five year old- who is learning how to form letters, etc. He is working perfectly with the program. My six and a half year old is also joining in. He is using Reading Made Easy for phonics and is doing K with us for better sound discrimination and reinforcement. It is easy for him and great reinforcement. He writes words instead of letters, etc. I taught K before to my oldest who will be 8 in two weeks. This is my first time using it for multiple students. In this capacity I feel like I have seen the beauty of the system! I think it is nicely designed for a variety of levels learning to work together. As mentioned above, I am using it in a modified form to meet my goals. We do not do every single item listed every week. I keep the goals in mind as we move through it. As far as how we do it: we are all at the table together. I guide each student through each activity. I tend to start with the youngest and work my way up. The children finish at their own pace. I am usually working last with my five year old who is learning how to write this year and needs my one on one in this area. My six year old already knows how to write and my daughter is too young. If I find them looking to one another for their answers- (mainly five and six year old) I encourage them to keep their eyes on their own paper! We are blending: I do the blend ladder with each one individually- but while we are all at the table. It has been working very well. I hope this helps, Rebecca

Here are some thoughts for what it is worth!!!! First, I have not read the Read Aloud Handbook. Second, a big component of CM method is utilizing books that "warm the imagination", nurture thinking... in short feed your child with living ideas. (Can't quote exactly right now.) Also, CM doesn't consider a child "school age" until 6 years. If those books are not working, definitely set them aside! Humbly offered: my second grader (age 7 1/2) is not too keen about pinocchio-and we will be reading Lang's blue book in third grade (next year- this is tentative) but my other children: at that time young 7, 5, and 4 will NOT be joining in. He also got scared of the children's pilgrim progress when I tried to read it to him ( I think he was five or six!) and still doesn't want anything to do with it!:001_huh: We haven't and won't at this time read Peter Pan... Anyway, personally, at age 4/5 I think the goal should be exposing your child to plenty of high quality literature(perfectly legitimate to do this through picture books) and increasing their ability to sit through longer and longer read alouds. Then-when they are ready for the more complex literature they will have the ability to sit through it and pay attention. I also want to develop a delight and love for books in my children- always- but especially at this age. One of the first chapter books my 4/5 year olds have loved is Charlotte's Web (Wilbur is threatened to be killed and Charlotte does die- so you have to use your discernment.) We have also loved Rod and Staff chapter books like Caterpillar Green and Sweet Singer, etc. I would read Beatrix Potter (the whole collection) if your child is not scared by Mr. McGregor! Winnie the Pooh- the whole collection(although we like this for six and up) The Little Animal Treasury by Phoebe Dunn Children's Book of Home and Family is nice... a generous quantity of wonderful picture books like A New Coat for Anna Make Way for Ducklings Little Engine that could Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Katy and The Big Snow I could go on and on... James Herriot's Treasury We read Black Beauty at a pretty young age and also Misty by Marguerite Henry all of these contain longer stories that will help your child get used to listening and following a more complex plot. There are so many delightful picture books- and some are so perfectly suited to that age- it just wouldn't be the same later- and you don't want to miss them! Hope there is something here that helps! Rebecca

DEFINITELY STICK WITH THE CURRICULUM THAT YOU LOVE! AND THAT YOU CAN EFFECTIVELY USE! (HA! I write that after finding the curriculum that I LOVE (Living Books) and having to tweak it so much- it is not even the same...oh well...) There is a CD by David Hazell that explains their philosophy and the classical method. You will find more info about it on the MFW boards. I, personally, have never listened to it- but it might help you with the classical education aspect. If you love the curriculum you can always tweak it and fine tune it to make it what you really want... Also, sometimes we LOVE the "idea" of something but the reality doesn't work. Do not be afraid to change your plan after you implement it if it really isn't working. I love the concept of MFW and I tried to make it work for us- but it just doesn't- so matter how much I think it is great- it is not for us! KWIM? But I had to learn that the hard way... By the way- there is no LAW that says you HAVE to do a three time rotation. If you look at Christine Miller's site and Greenleaf Press you will see perfectly acceptable history rotation options that are still "classical." Hope this helps, Rebecca

Gentle Giant Octopus (non-fiction) This is a read and wonder book. There is also a sea turtle and a whale book from read and wonder. Nico's Octopus (fiction) One Small Square: Coral Reef What's Under the Sea (Usborne) Rebecca

Dear Mommaduck, I didn't mean to offend... I know that that question has been asked many times before (with their various programs) and it is copyrighted. I know it is frustrating... I think if MFW knew you were purchasing they would give you the list ahead of time... Just a thought... Rebecca

The list is copyrighted. It can't be distributed... I would call MFW and tell them and get the list directly from them. Rebecca

I haven't read anything about that... but the one thing that struck me while reading your post is this: You (the teacher) are the only one who really prepares your child for college. Curriculum is just your tool. Ultimately, it is your responsibility. No one "program" will accomplish that for you. There are a variety of factors that will prepare your child for higher level learning... I hope this makes sense, Rebecca

Jessica, Why do you want a project for each composer? You could have your dd pick her favorite piece at the end of your "term" and play it during a special time with your family. At the end of the four "terms" you could have her describe her favorite composer/composition and share why she chose it. I think timelining is a great tool. We are also studying composers next year: three. We keep a timeline book- so we will just place them in the appropriate place. I will have my son color the picture for the time line book and narrate to me all that he can about the composer. If she is a good writer: you could write her narration and have her copy it for her notebook. I don't know if any of this is beneficial. With all the learning your third grader will be doing, you might want to consider if you want to make composer study so "skill" focused... if that makes sense. HTH, Rebecca

Living Books Curriculum includes health in their course of study. You can see what books they use by visiting their online catalog and viewing the science thread. The first grade curriculum includes a program/textbook called Growing Strong and Healthy. It is included on the CD in the curriculum. I am not sure if you can purchase it separately. http://www.livingbookscurriculum.com/livingbooks-science.htm HTH, Rebecca

MichelleWI, I would love to see a list of your favorite books! Our family is very similar- it is a typical day to see the little non- readers sitting on the floor "reading" books and looking at them- often together in pairs. :001_smile: All five of my children have their very own special shelf with carefully chosen favorites. Then we have the "homeschool" shelf. This has our school books such as science, history, etc. It also has our field guides, etc. We also have the "brown bookshelf" where other books go- that are fine- but not as special and not for school, etc. Maybe they were given by family as gifts, etc. Maybe I bought them years ago and we have since received something better- etc. My answer: OWN THE BOOK: BUT ONLY THE ONE YOU LOVE! Our home school room- is basically a book room! I do buy lots of books- I can't find them at libraries. One example would be the One Small Square books that my sons love. Neither here in NC nor in PA did our library have them. A lot of the quality Christian literature that we have- cannot be found in our local library. We give books for all occassions- Christmas, birthday, etc. It is "expected." Rebecca

I don't consider myself strictly classical- so I don't know if it will help but: second grade this year: Living Books Curriculum grade two (stopped in depth study of Ancient Egypt and went to using first half of MOH vol. one with added read alouds) FLL 2 SM 1A/1B and Rod and Staff 2 Memoria Press Copybook 3 second grade next year: Rod and Staff grammar 2 (this child is utterly sick of FLL from having listened to older brother for two years- knows all the poems by heart, etc.) Memoria Press Copybook 3 SM 1A/1B continue with phonics as necessary and use emerging reader pack with schedule/questions from Heart of Dakota History/Science/Literature/Bible, etc. with older third grade brother HTH, Rebecca

God and the History of Art is a chronological four year treatment of art from a christian perspective. I have not personally used it- but I was just researching it for our own family. It is recommended for ages 10 and up. I do not know what artists are covered- it moves through historic time period... It might be a text you could "spring" from... HTH, Rebecca P.S. FWIW, I decided not to use it and follow CM's method for picture study.