We really enjoyed Stepping Stones to Bigger Faith for Little People.

We use the DVDs and have no problems with them. As a disclaimer, I have to admit I also speak with a slow Southern drawl, so that may have something to do with it not being that big of an issue to me. :001_smile: My dd occasionally giggles when Mrs. Lowe stumbles over something, but I don't consider it a big deal. If she had an actual instructor those things would happen as well...and I'd be paying for that, too. Even more than the DVDs, however, I would recommend that you add Ludere Latine. I am very impressed with the addition. Each lesson has about four puzzles/games. Typically they are a word search, matching, and two crossword puzzles--one for derivatives and one for grammar. We generally skip the derivatives one, but the grammar one has been extremely helpful in cementing both the vocabulary and the grammar.

My ds has been enjoying The Classical Child Is Born at bedtime. It seems to soothe him. Music with singing is too distracting for him.... Some of the songs are rather upbeat, but I keep the volume low. Best wishes. I know how hard that can be.

On second thought, The Seven Silly Eaters likely wouldn't work since their initial "cooperation" was accidental and somewhat fraught with frustration...though it is a darling book, and the cooperation, accidental at first or not, causes great kindness to an overworked momma. I'm so glad you started this post. :) I had never heard of Dogger or Do Unto Otters.

I love The Carrot Seed...would that be dedication, determination? The Seven Silly Eaters is one of my favorite picture books. It starts off with everyone being very particular about what they eat, but in the end they work together and create a food that everyone enjoys. Cooperation? Are these even character traits? :001_smile: You might check out the books included with Beautiful Feet's Teaching Character Through Literature here.

MCT stands for Michael Clay Thompson. If you search here you'll find a ton more info about it. You can also go to Royal Fireworks Press and search there. This has been my question about MCT as well. We used CLE last year and stopped to read through Grammar Island and start Practice Island. We've started off this year back in CLE, and at some point I'm planning to read through Grammar Island again this year and pick up where we left off in PI. I'll add in the other MCT supplements as well. I've been curious about the things like "your, you're" and "their, there, they're"...things CLE covers but MCT hasn't yet (in what limited experience I have with it). MCT does a fantastic job of introducing the 8 parts of speech and Practice Island does a great job of cementing that knowledge. I'm just curious if, since MCT was developed originally for gifted students, it was used in gifted programs which generally meet once a week and provide instruction above and beyond that which children are already receiving in their traditional classes. That made me wonder if it worked better as a supplement than as a complete curriculum...however, as I said, I'm just in the beginning stages, so I'm just in the wondering place too. :001_smile:

I'm really just giving you a bump to see if anyone knows first hand. However, I wanted to add that I know they changed the format on their accompanying CHOW cd to an online access...probably due to system issues (having to keep software up with changing programs) and possibly to cut down on reselling cds. I'm thinking this format (switching all of their cds to online access) is just better for them as a business, and that the content is likely to be the same or close to the same.

I've heard good things here about the CLE diagramming books. You could probably search CLE diagramming here and get more specifics about it.

How old is your son? His age may have a lot to do with the advice people have to give. Sometimes what an older kid is longing for is more challenge as opposed to fun.

I had purchased the SWR Spelling Rule Cards a long time ago when I was considering the program. I ended up selling everything else, but held on to those. We weren't really having trouble with the CLE spelling because dd has a great memory and was learning to spell by memorizing the words. However, I pulled the cards out to add in just to give her more tools for understanding why things are spelled as they are.

My daughter is 8. We do Latin five days a week. We use LC1 and our week goes like this: Mon.--Watch DVD Lesson Tues.--Review vocab and listen to cd Wed.--Review vocab and listen to cd Thurs.--Complete workbook lesson Fri.--Games and puzzles from Ludere Latine As far as why.... Cheryl Lowe of Memoria Press and Highlands Latin School talks a lot about that topic during the first twenty minutes or so of her talk "How to Teach Latin" found here on the MP website (look towards the middle of the page where it says "2010 Indianapolis Mini-Convention"). We probably all have a lot of different reasons, but she highlights many good ones there.

Some of my favorite books: How To Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way Basic Montessori Teaching Montessori in the Home: Preschool Years I taught in a Montessori classroom, and there are many materials that can be handmade. Some of the ones that would be more difficult to make at home but are good to have: pink tower, brown stair, hundred board and number rods. Most of the practical life materials can be put together rather inexpensively at home. I look for smaller pitchers and bowls and trays, etc. in thrift stores. Strawberry hullers are very cheap and are great for transferring pom-poms from one bowl to another. I love this catalog: Montessori Services and the same company puts out this catalog for parents as opposed to schools: For Small Hands This book is rather old, but it has some ideas for how to duplicate some of the materials at home.

He sounds familiar. :001_smile: My husband has enjoyed reading: The Borrowers Tale of Despereaux Charlotte's Web The Hobbit Dangerous Journey Chronicles of Narnia

I have an extra LA 405 that I'd be happy to put in the mail for you just to get a look at, whether you use it or not. Just send me a pm. The LA builds on itself, so you won't be able to try it out with your child since it is in the middle of the year, but it will at least give you an idea of what the program is like. All of the points made are very valid ones, so you really have to consider the learning style and personality of your dc. My dd is a quick learner, as I said, but she can be a very fidgety, easily distracted child as well. She started CLE LA 3 last year and had previously been through GWG 1/2. I sit with her during math, Latin and writing, and we read aloud many other subjects. This is the only material that she does sitting alone, and I have explained to her the importance of paying special attention to directions and working carefully. Of course, if she has any questions, we go over those--when she is finished--and I've told her to skip any sections she doesn't understand for us to do together afterwards. CLE works for us because it allows her to foster independence and teaches her study skills. That being said, we also love MCT, and we plan to alternate between the two as we did last year. MCT is more teacher-intensive with less written work for the student. She loves MCT, but I feel it is important to keep CLE in the mix for all the reasons I have mentioned.

CLE has been a great fit here. There is a lot of repetition, but I personally think that is good. I have a quick learner, but still she needs repetition to internalize say the uses of "their, there, they're" or "two, to, too." I consider it similar to learning and practicing math facts so that they become something you do without thinking. The handwriting and spelling have also worked well for us. Many people supplement the spelling, so that is something to keep in mind regarding an all-in-one. We have added in the spelling rules cards from SWR simply because I already had them. It is work, and dd does grumble about it sometimes. However, I am very pleased with what she is learning and retaining through it. I'm also pleased with how thorough it is and all that is covered. ETA--I've looked at R&S, and I am sure it is a wonderful program (though, again, the grammar is not an all in one). Many home schoolers I greatly respect swear by it. I just never liked the looks of it...and the format of CLE (consumable, user-friendly layout) just appealed to me more. Hopefully you can get your hands on a copy of both and get a better idea of what would be the best fit for your family.

LC1. I wrestled and wrestled with what to do for Latin. I loved the idea of Lively Latin and all the great reviews, but I really wanted a program with a dvd option. For whatever reason, LfC never really appealed to me, though I know it works very well for many. LC1 had many mixed reviews. I was also uncertain about the concept of studying only vocab and grammar with little translation work. Now I'm sold. I think it is of great advantage to get these conjugations and declensions down while she is in the prime memorization age prior to moving into a program with much translation. Dd is young, so there will be much time for that later. LC1 coupled with Ludere Latine is working very well for us.

Definitely go to iTunes U. Search under "literature" and you'll find a lot of audio books of classics...many for children. You just have to surf through the results. Some will be lectures. I can't attest to the quality of all of the narrators, as I only have listened to Anne of Green Gables. I can say I enjoyed listening to that book. :001_smile:

I believe Polis may be similar, unfortunately the translations are in French. :) However, it may eventually be available in English.

Seriously, I can't tell you how it works...as some of the stories seemed so convoluted to me, but it did help with my dd. She had to think about it a little bit still, but the memory devices helped tremendously at a time when I was ready to pull my hair out. It seems to have a good resale value, so at least you should be able to sell it if it doesn't work for your dc.

Welcome! The curriculum board here is definitely the place for finding out about the wealth of materials available. I've learned so much here...and have been visiting since my first child was still in diapers. :) Jumping in is hard, but once you do you often find out it wasn't as scary as you anticipated. With support from a wise homeschooling friend you are light years ahead already. Blessings on your new journey!

Personally, the logic stage is the time I'm saving my stress for in these subjects. :001_smile: Until then it is for the fun of it...learning about our world and the people who've walked on it. I don't expect her to be able to remember all of the information we read about or study (although the more fun the learning at this age, the more remembered) but when we do get to more serious study of these subjects I think that she will have, as SWB states, pegs to hang the deeper facts on.

I have been satisfied with the materials I've used from MP. Also, their customer service is wonderful. Tanya is so quick to answer any questions asked by email or on the forum. I have used (or am using this year) the following materials: Prima Latina, Latina Christiana 1, Introduction to Classical Studies, the Henle guide (for myself), and their version of Famous Men of Rome. I have on my shelf for use later on two other Famous Men books as well as the teacher guides and student guides. I plan to purchase the kindergarten curriculum when my youngest is ready, and I'm considering purchasing their States and Capitals book to use this year with my oldest. In fact, when they finish putting together their curriculum packets based on what is taught at Highlands Latin school, I may be persuaded to purchase a boxed set of curriculum for the first time. :) So, as you can see, I have and will use a lot of their products. I'm not certain, though, how they compare to VP products.

Haven't seen these before, but now I'm curious. :001_smile: Just giving you a bump to see if anyone responds.

I definitely remember that. :001_smile: I'm more fuzzy on the date though. I'm thinking it was a brief Christmas thing. Seems like I remember the promotion saying, "Our gift to you." I think the only reason I knew anything about it was that someone posted it here...perhaps on the general board. I hope they repeat it this year!

Sorry! I didn't see your question till now. I picked the Intro. to Classical Studies guide because I like the combination of the three books together. I also like that it is stretched over a longer period of time, and so the reading is not cumbersome at all. We don't use it as our primary history, but instead we are able to do it in addition to what we are using (A Child's History of the World, currently). I definitely do not plan to use the Greek Myth study guide later on nor will we use the Christian Studies guides for Bible. I have another Bible program that we follow. Perhaps when she is older I'll consider going through FMR again with the more in-depth guide, but probably not. However, I do have Famous Men of Greece and Famous Men of the Middle Ages and plan to use them in the future with the guides. I love the series. Have you looked at the sample lessons here? They will give you a good idea what you'd be getting, as the same format continues through the whole guide. You can also see samples of their guides and compare. (eta: :blushing: sorry, I now see that was the same link you had already posted.) I like this format better for my dd's age right now. I think the guides would be too much, but having the oral questions is a good fit. Of course, you could also assign the answers to be written or use the other guides orally, but this works for us. She also fills out the outline for the chapters studied in CHOW using the workbook from Calvert. Hope this helps somehow...please feel free to send me a pm if you have more questions or if I can help in any other way. I get notifications in my email so I'll respond faster. :001_smile: