I would have dumped Saxon math sooner. I would have streamlined more (we are more LCC-ish now).

I wonder if volume 2 will be ready shortly after? That's the one I want!

Ds is in 4th grade. We have "dabbled" in science in the 4 areas (life, earth, physics, chemistry) but we have not done much by way of formal science...mostly living books, videos, etc. It wasn't really planned that way but we just could never seem to fit everything in and when it came time to cut something out for that day or week or month, science has always been the first to go (we lean toward the LCC end of hs philosophy). My plan now is to start formal science in 7th grade (probably with the apologia series) but I have lingering feelings of guilt for not doing much formal science to that point. Any sage advice? Have I done grave damage to his education? Will he be unable to handle Apologia General Science in 7th grade without any real prep before it? Should I rethink this and add something formal in for 5th and 6th grade?

That sounds fun!!

So, you are involved with the EG materials? In what way (if you don't mind me asking)? Can you tell me all the wonderful things about them? I am with karenciavo when she says she doesn't like things that are too cutesy. I am the same way. I want academic, systematic instruction that is age-appropriate. I also dream of a program that would do the English to Latin to Greek and back translation-type exercises after we have a strong grasp of both languages. I know it's weird but that sounds like fun to me (I am a language major in Spanish). :D

I would like to know, too. And when you say "classical" or the "Climbing Parnassus"-style education, are you refering to koine or attic?

OK, so Alphabeterion is optional and Elementary Greek would come before Homeschool Greek? Can you tell me what you did not like about Hey Andrew? Any thoughts on the Greek for Children series that is coming out soon? Can you tell me anythingmore about Machen or Mounce? Even though we are just starting, I like to have the sequence planned out so if one particular text leads into another really well I'd like to know about it. If I wanted to start slow (since we are pretty heavy into Latin) how would this look: 5th grade- GA 6th grade- EGI 7th grade- EGII 8th grade- EGIII 9th grade- HGI 10th grade- HGII 11th grade- Mounce or Machen 12th grade- Mounce or Machen Is that the proper sequence? Are there workbooks that go with Mounce and/or Machen?

We are finishing up LCII and plan to do Henle I next year for Latin. I am also thinking of adding in Greek at some point so I am looking for reviews of programs. I've looked at Alphabeterion (with copybook), Elementary Greek, Hey Andrew and Greek for Children (which isn't out yet). Anyone have more that I am not aware of? Any reviews, pros/cons of these programs?

That's pretty much how I feel about this testing. Why does a student HAVE to learn about the solar system in 3rd grade? Can't they learn about it in 2nd grade or 4th grade? Does it have to be 3rd grade? This test is going to ask a bunch of social studies questions that he may not know but if there were questions on Mesopotamia or Ancient Greece or the Reformation he would ace them, KWIM? I can't wait until it is over. :(

I am freaking out about state testing. We moved to NC this year where they require annual state testing (we use to live in Michigan where they require nothing). I do not have to report the results of the testing to anyone and my ds (9yo) will be taking the ITBS in a group setting with a local homeschool group. I already know he is not going to score well on math because we switched to MUS this year and started from the beginning to cover missed concepts. He has covered Alpha, Beta and Gamma and does well with it but has not had any division or fractions, both of which will be on the test. Logically, I know that this test doesn't really matter. We are only doing it because we have to and my son will catch up, probably by the end of next year, with math. I know all this. So why am I a nervous wreck? Am I afraid that this test will show me to be a teaching failure? Am I afraid to compare my ds with other students? Will this be an indictment of my teaching skills or will my son feel like a failure? Should I ditch our regular curriculum for the next 6 weeks and do nothing but test prep? The mere idea of him coming back with low test scores makes me want to throw up. Why am I freaking out over a test that doesn't really matter? Does anyone else go through this feeling with testing?

I love all of her stuff too, so I will definitely take a look at this! Thanks!

It's interesting you mentioned that because that is what I am thinking of doing. A friend let me borrow her IEW DVDs to watch and I liked them but I need something laid out for me. We start our 2nd rotation of history next year going back to the ancients so I thought the theme-based Ancient History lessons might work well. Do you have them already? If so, what are they like?

Ok, I don't know how to set up one of those fancy polls but I would love to know at what grade/age do you start a formal writing curriculum? My 9yo ds just has no interest whatsoever. We tried WS and CW and both were a flop. He will be in 5th grade next year and I am starting to feel massive pressure because he hasn't had much formal writing yet. I am thinking of trying IEW next year. He is an excellent reader, a mediocre speller, has great vocabulary and grammar skills. He just HATES to write. So I guess I'm wondering how far behind we are.

We use MUS.

I love Prima Latina as a gentle introduction and then right into LCI. The DVDs make it absolutely painless for the mom to teach.

I was exactly where you are at...Saxon 5/4...struggling...bought the DIVE CDs...not a big help. We switched to MUS and we LOVE it!

We are using it with much success!

ditto, ditto and more ditto..... Plus, it isn't all that outrageous that so many of us are teaching Latin to our kids. When I was in school Latin was a course offering and most kids took it at least for a little while. It's only in the last 20 years that it went "out-of-style". The old ways are still the good ways. The other day some boys in the neighborhood were talking about some gruesome videogame (that my ds is NOT allowed to play) and they were describing all the disgusting details. One said "Yeah, and this one guy gets decapitated!" My son's response? "That's from the Latin word caput which means head." They just stared blankly. I couldn't have been more proud. :D

My ds (9yo) had major problems with Saxon. He is also a VS learner and does well with manipulatives. We switched to MUS and it was the best thing we ever did!

I am leaning more LCC for 5th grade also so my plan is... DAILY Latin- LCII, Lingua Angelica Writing- IEW theme-based lessons (Ancients) Math- MUS Epsilon and Zeta Literature- read and discuss various books ONCE A WEEK Bible- Answers in Genesis History- FMOG and FMOR Science- Education Exploration Piano and guitar lessons

We LOVE Easy Grammar!! You would probably use the "Plus" level which is the last one. It has a red cover.

HOWDY!!!! That WILL be fun! These are my two favorite boards, FIAR for my little one and WTM for my older one. There are several from the other board on here I think.

AWESOME information! Thank you!

Now THAT is cool! Thanks!!!!

I am looking at using FMOG and FMOR next year and I was wondering if anyone could give me the pros and cons of these two different programs? How different are they? I know the MP version also has a study guide. Does Greenleaf? Are they the same?