We've moved into Derek Owens' Pre-algebra from CLE 600. This program is available at www.lucideducation.com for purchase...so you buy the workbooks and solutions cd and watch the videos online. She has transitioned well. I love that he does all the teaching as I also don't have a strong background in math.

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Someone recommended this one here: https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=2977 I found it through amazon marketplace for a very good price.

Not that they are similar in format, but we found Visual Latin provided the same breath of fresh air to our Latin studies that MCT brought to Language Arts.

Hewitt has one that also includes the book I Dare You: https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Junior/jItem.aspx?id=3374

I often had a sensation that felt like a vacuum sucking the air around me. It made me feel very strange and off balance. Then the aura would come. While I think the episode you describe is not uncommon, if it is uncommon to you I think it might be worth mentioning to a doctor.

Math: CLE Language Arts: Language Lessons Through Literature, still figuring out spelling History: Currently planning TOG for dd, so I will include him in that Science: Still deciding Latin: Song School 2 Bible: Memory work, reading through The Golden Bible Art: outside community class Logic: MindBenders

I can't remember what all was recommended, but if you email Dwane he will let you know. We used the online LL beginners class, and I found the teacher materials and the online aids at Focus Publishing the most helpful. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1585100749?ie=UTF8&at=&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links http://focusbookstore.com/llonline.aspx (the $14.95 option listed at the top)

Tentative plans: Math--Finish Pre-Algebra and move into Algebra (Derek Owens) Grammar--Rod & Staff 7 with some MCT as a supplement Writing--Finish IEW Following Narnia, Killgallon Vocabulary-- Finish Caesar's English 2 History--Possibly TOG year one--still deciding Science--Looking at the Life Science from Catholic Heritage Curricula which is currently being updated into the Behold and See science series Logic--Art of Argument Literature--TOG if we go that route; possibly slowly working through Windows to the World if not Latin--Latin Alive 2 Bible--Continuing through The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study by Starr Meade; Memorizing the Bible guides by Kimberly Garcia We'll be transitioning from piano to voice lessons. I'll need to seek outside art lessons as her current free community class ends at 6th grade. She'll be taking dance for p.e.

Perhaps it would help him just to read through Understanding the Logic of English by the author of the Logic of English materials. If you think he needs a program (which it sounds like you don't :) ) you might look at Spellbound. It is for that age group and goes through the phonics of spelling. The teacher guide has dictations to help them put the rules into practice in their writing.

My dd loves Behold and See 6 from Catholic Heritage. (btw--We aren't Catholic, and that hasn't been an issue.) The format is lovely and colorful and the text engaging. The experiments generally require on-hand items. She always wants to tell me about everything she reads. I was very excited to see that they are reformatting their Life Science into the Behold and See series. It will be available in March. https://www.chcweb.com/catalog/samples.php?products_id=4232

You might also look at MP's Intro to Classical Studies. It has more than Bible, but it includes a schedule for reading through the Golden Bible in a year. It also schedules Famous Men of Rome and D'Aulaire's Greek Myths.

Seven may be a little early for Visual Latin. My daughter (also a bright, advanced language student) did level one of VL at age nine without much struggle, but I would be hesitant with a child younger. Also, even though I am a HUGE fan of VL, it really shines (IMO) after a child has spent some time in amongst the bits and pieces of Latin through a grammar based program. It helps to open a child's eyes up to the big picture of the language and to see how all of the pieces fit together. My advice, if it is financially an option, would be to try the Latin for Children self-paced online program. I was able to see a little of Primer A in the production stages, and would happily have used it had it not been for the fact that my daughter was passed that level. I am keeping it in mind for when my son is older. It would be something your dd could do on her own pace and it would give her plenty of the grammar drills she needs.

Pegasus is correct, and I probably should not have used the term "journal prompts" as it does have a particular definition attached. They are definitely not creative as much as technical. I meant they will be told what to write. However, the what is simply technical (as seen in the examples I mentioned), and not directed in the sense of content. The content of the journal entries that are already included in the journal is what I wasn't crazy about, but it seems to simply serve as an example of what the kids can do and provides inspiration for their journal assignments. For instance, the character in the journal starts out investigating earth and humans, so he is recording questions that he has about both. The first journal assignment is to write 5 questions a day for 5 days, so, in effect, the journal itself serves as a sort of prompt, as it provides creative examples of what is assigned and the child could continue in the pattern of the author. However, they could also do the assignments from a different perspective.

A few things now that I've looked through it a bit: It's scheduled for three days a week; however, there is flexibility to change that. The teacher guide is set up under the three-day schedule, though. Since the instruction is given through the dvds, the teacher guide mainly helps you facilitate the class and know how to grade. The student is expected to do most things independently. Each lesson has a workbook assignment. In addition to watching the lessons and completing the workbook, the student will be writing (using creative journal prompts) five days a week in the included journal.There are many short stories included in the workbooks: Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry, The Lady or the Tiger by Stockton, The Necklace by Maupassant...about eight in all. These are used to highlight literary devices the student is being introduced to through the workbook. There are also discussion questions for each story. Opinions so far: I think it is going to be a very enjoyable program. The workbook lessons appear to be very engaging. I haven't watched any lessons yet, so no comment to that. The journal is a bit iffy. It is very attractive and creative. Some of the content seems a bit cliche and definitely middle-school age (in my skimming through I found a brief mention of a girl dying of an overdose). I do like the concept of having them write something every day, and the prompts themselves are fairly vague: "Write 5 exchanges of dialogue each day for 5 days." "Write a paragraph of at least 5 sentences each day for 5 days."

Some of us like to see the big picture and have a more structured plan to follow. To be honest, without such a plan I often fail to stay the course. I'm sure our minds all work in very different ways in that regard. What's easy for some is harder for others. OP, thanks so much for taking the time to plot this out and for sharing it with us. I only wish you'd done level 3 as well :) but I'll be holding on to level 4 for future use.

I just received it in the mail today. I haven't had much time to peruse it yet, though. If you have specific questions...I'll try to answer.

The Yesterday's Classics set periodically goes on sale for $49. I'm not sure when, but it was on sale recently and it seems like the sale occurs a couple of times a year. I would not purchase it except when it is on that sale. I did purchase it on the sale and definitely don't regret it. I love their readers by Treadwell and the books by Clara Dillingham Pierson. Also, we have enjoyed the "Famous Stories" books by James Baldwin, Kipling's Just So Stories and Nesbit's Beautiful Stories of Shakespeare for grades 1-4. Although many of these can be found inexpensively on the web, I love the formatting and illustrations in the YC set.

I used the free printables here. I printed out one set of the alphabet and put the pages in a binder with page protectors. My ds used a dry-erase marker for practice. Most of the sheets have the directional guides for constructing each letter. We've also used this book and others by this author.

We're switching after 600 for the same reasons already mentioned re: pre-algebra. We'll be moving into Derek Owens 1-yr pre-algebra as opposed to two years with CLE. I have been VERY pleased with CLE, though, and I will be using it with ds also starting next year. eta: I always teach the new material when it is introduced. Perhaps that is when we discuss things conceptually, but I have not found CLE to be lacking at all. We add in LOF because it is fun :) and I like to approach math and grammar from multiple angles.

The only advice I'd give you is don't try to plan too far in advance. :) I'll give you a bump, though, so, hopefully, others with experience in the materials you mention can give you more helpful advice.

Thank you for your input! That is very helpful. The addition you mention above is one I missed in my thumbing through. I do think that is a very valuable addition. I also like the fact that the book is more integrated into the whole program. Being that you have to purchase both books and both books are more than the original books already, it is quite an expense to go with the new over the old. The old has worked well for us, but your points are very persuasive. If I had it to do over again, it would be very hard for me to make the decision. :) (Just for reference: the two advanced words are in the old version. The old version introduces the same stems and gives examples of words using them but does not give the extra five vocab words.)

Chrysalis Academy, you mentioned in a thread on the logic board that the enhanced version in particular helped prepare for reading expository nonfiction pieces with more difficult vocabulary. I'd be interested in hearing more about your thoughts on that and why that is so. Thanks!

I wish I could. I generally have trouble remembering yesterday...I am quite fuzzy on the specifics. :) From what I remember, there was more four-level analysis. We use the full MCT program as a supplement, so, although that was a neat addition, I didn't think it swayed me since we get enough of that throughout the rest of the program. The information at the site lists "extra activities, historical essays on Ancient Rome, and numerous original photographs" as the main difference in the editions. My daughter has good retention with the program as is, so extra activities weren't needed. We had just completed MP's Intro to Classical Studies which uses Famous Men of Rome, so I felt we had recently studied Ancient Rome. Photos are nice, but, again, not enough for me to feel the need to switch. We were already working through level one at the time, so the fact that I would be essentially re-purchasing the same (in essence) program also factored in to my decision, of course. Hopefully the samples at rfwp.com give more help than I'm sure I have been. :)

I see that now. I looked at the enhanced CE 1 at convention last year and decided against going that route as I couldn't see enough difference to constitute the change for us personally. I like the convenience of the older versions--being able to use just the tg--and I'm glad that option is still there. It does appear that if you use the "Classical" version you would need (or at least you are strongly encouraged) to purchase both the student and teacher editions. We study Latin also and get our Roman history elsewhere, so the basic vocabulary edition suits our needs.