I agree with OhElizabeth about Guerber books. They are great for that reading level. They could be used as your spine and are great for narration and outlining. Then add an encylopedia for more information. I really don't care for the Usborne Encyclopedias. They are very choppy visually, with lots of boxes of info. It is very hard to outline or do a narration from pages like this, in my opinion. I think the Kingfisher are better, but I haven't seen the Oxford, they may be even better. I would highly recommend the SWB audios: A plan for teaching writing (middle grades and high school)& What is literary Analysis. These really make things clear for each grade level: what they should be doing, and how to incorporate it. The Genevieve Foster books are fun too (for historical fiction). Hope this helps, Katie

:lurk5: I'm planning to do it 2 days, but would love to hear that it will work... Katie

I am not going to be much help, but I looked very hard at AO last year. I just couldn't get around the idea of not doing my 3 dds together in history and science. So, I used AO as a reading list instead of trying to use it for them individually. I really love a lot of their book rec's. So, I went through the lists for each year and put them in a chronological order (that is the history/ free reading/ literature/ bios) to match up to our 4 yr history cycle. My girls last year were 6th, 4th, and 1st. We were on yr 2 medieval/renaissance. I just picked books from the list that match the time period. We read King Arthur (Howard Pyle) orally and LOVED it. I was surprised that my girls understood the language so well. I was so excited. They want to read the next volume as well. So, I am sticking with WTM rec's but am including AO's booklists because they are fantastic. I don't worry about what year they do them in, as long as they cover them before graduating. I do love how CM/AO wants the children to stretch the books out over a longer period. I made up reading charts that scheduled their books over 12 weeks or so, usually 1 chapter/week (depending on the book, some were 2). They were reading 5-6 books at a time (plus what I was reading to them), and they really enjoyed it. I think it is so true that they thought about the characters/events much more and was so much better than cramming through a book in a week or two. That was way off topic...:lol: I want us to be able to discuss our topics as well, so we're going to stay together. And image how much the younger ones will learn from the older dd. Katie

We use MUS. Primer is just getting used to the blocks(and their colors) and counting. I am sure you could go on to Alpha. Katie

I like the remedia on too. Here is a link to see it: http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Outlining+Grades+5-8/022872/1279376714-33452 Katie

What grade is he going to be in? Katie

Do the lessons look like they are going to be easy to print off, can you pick one particular sheet to print? Do you print just sheets to teach the lesson or are there students sheets to print off? I do have this book. I found it a little difficult to weed through all the text to do a lesson. I really like the concepts taught, but would also like it planned for me, open and go, so that I know art will get done. I love art. Thanks for the suggestion. I may get it out and look through it some more. I was looking through Usborne's Complete book of art ideas (we have this) and thought those would be fun to mix in for the year. It is a really neat book. Katie

Thank you all. Thanks Kareni for the links/pposts too. I guess I am also curious if I should get the whole package with the painting and other lessons or just the phonics of drawing. Katie

We use this: http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Typing+Instructor+for+Kids+Platinm+V5+Win-Mac/031007/1279031850-2072652 My girls, 5th and 7th this fall, love it. It is fun, and it works. Katie

terrible to bump my own post.... but anyone use this?

sorry... bump

Hi, I really like what I see of this, but am still not sure. Can anyone that has used this let me know what you thought of it? Has anyone used this with Logic stage children? I want an art course that teaches a more realistic style, not cartoonish. I have looked at Feed my Sheep and How great thou art. I like the boxes for them to practice what is being taught, but am afraid it is a little cartoonish at times. This may not be accurate. I also have Artistic Pursuits (gr4-6 level) bk 1, but am not crazy about the layout. I also feel like they need more of the basics of drawing first. So, I have searched this forum for Phonics of Drawing reviews and most were just getting started with it. Thanks, Katie

We're doing the same yr 3 history. I have 2nd, 5rd, and 7th graders. We are using H. Guerber's The Story of the 13 Colonies and part of The Great Republic for my 7th grader (maybe 5th too). I really like America First by Lawton, Evans (on mainlesson.com). I think I might use it too with my 7th grader. Then my 2nd grader will use the Mara Pratt series American History Stories. I haven't yet decided if my 5th gdd will do these or the above. We are also scheduling the G. Foster books in the mix (World of Cap. John Smith, World of William Penn, and George Washington's World). Plus lots of books from WTM and Ambleside (historical fiction and biographies). There are just so many great books for american history. HTH, Katie

We did last year with my 4th grader. She was in ps for 3rd grade and didn't have any writing experience either. We started with WWE 1 (since I was using it for my 1st grader) and worked through selected lessons. I probably did every 3rd lesson. Then I bought WWE 2, and we did the same with it. I really saw an improvment quickly. I would have done WWE 3 too, but I just didn't get around to ordering it. We were doing R&S too. I just don't do the writing excercises in R&S. In your case, you might buy WWE 2 and 3. Then work them both through both levels in one year. Just skip some in each. You can see them get progressively harder. You may not even need level 4, once you see what to do. SWB's audios on writing are great for understanding what to do to teach writing. I think they really helped me understand how to incorporate writing into history and science; and not make it such a seperate subject. I highly rec. buying all three levels if you are a big picture kind of person, I am. I needed to know what the goal is for high school to understand what to do to get there. Plus, I have a 7th grader. HTH, Katie

I think the Helene Guerber books might be good for this. Then it could match up with your history. You can see samples of chapters on the site. http://www.nothingnewpress.com/guerber.shtml Katie

I think you could easily add in the outlining workbooks. They are a very gentle way of teaching outlining. My girls find these fun to do. They are WTM recs. Then he would be prepared for it when you add it in to his writing. Here's a link to the books: http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Outlining+Grades+5-8/022872/1278731713-393585 http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Beginning+Outlining+Grades+3-4/022861/1278731713-393585 HTH, Katie

I don't know of a guide, but we used these this past year. I had my 6th grade dd do this: On Tuesday, read a chapter, then she was to write 1 sentence/per paragraph - summarizing, or recognizing the most important facts in each paragraph of the text. So, 1 sentence per paragraph of text. (not sure if I am wording this well) It made a nice paragraph/narration when done. I think the chapters are great for this. On Thursday, read the next chapter, then she was to write a 2 level outline for the chapter. Again, a complete sentence per paragraph, with a roman numeral. Then add supporting details to make it a 2 level outline. HTH, Katie I plan on doing this again this year with 13 colonies and the great republic, but we'll adapt the assignments to the recommendations of SWB's audios on teaching writing. I love her audios on writing.

Just thought I would share that Turner Classic Movies channel has 3 Lincoln movies starting at 7central tonight. I love to record these for history. Sorry for the late notice, just saw the schedule. Katie

I agree with Medieval Mom. I read the spines aloud, and then have them indep. read historical fiction, biographies, or other interesting informational books at their individual levels. I am going to use the pratt books, maybe some of SOTW, with my 2nd and 5th grade dds this year as my spine(s). Same thing with science. HTH, Katie

Oh I love this site! THANKS so much for sharing! Katie

I like originals. We read some difficult works this year to my 1st, 4th, and 6th grade daughters. I was so surprised at how well they understood them. Some were read alouds and others were ind. reading. They got used to the language quickly. The 1st grader had no problem keeping up either. After reading some info on Ambleside, I am convinced originals are the way to go for us. They have a great reading list. I am also sorry that I let my oldest read a few abridged versions a few years ago, and now I don't think she'll want to go back and read the originals. Katie

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bump Anyone do it orally? Maybe combine 2 levels, I'll have a level 2 and 4, plus level 6. I was thinking if the lessons line up, level 4 could read her lesson, while I read the lesson with the youngest, then alternate asking questions orally? That is if the lessons line up, I think they are close. Anyone else have any tips? Thanks, Katie

Thanks Colleen, Do you mind if I ask why you are using TL instead of IL? Katie

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