Hadn't tried to sell on here for awhile and the new classified ad system is awful....not one single sale! I used to be able to create a listing with a thread and everything sold within a couple of weeks. Anyone else have this issue? They need to change it back! LOL, like I don't think that will happen, just venting I guess. My friend said she sold everything on the homeschool classifieds in a few days, so I guess that's what I will have to do...any helpful suggestions out there? I have a lot of really nice bigger ticket items, like Teaching Textbooks, Apologia, IEW

We are using the grammar that is part of classical conversations. While I was impressed with it initially, it is not really working for us. I looked at the Analytical Grammar website and this intrigues me! This program seems to answer the question I am asking in CC Essentials. Why so much? When does it end? LOL Thank you for the feedback, I will look into each suggestion. Blessings!

I have used First Language Lessons with my children with much success. However, what is suggested once they complete FLL? My DD is in 5th grade and using IEW writing and doing very well with it, but the grammar I am using I am not happy with at all.

You are not alone! I do it every year LOL. The kids love it...makes things seem 'fresh' again. I can't help it either :lol:

I am saddened that any comments that attempted to discuss the specific concerns of this curriculum were scrubbed from the site, effectively removing any opportunity for dialog. Only cheerleading is allowed. I would think anyone wanting to take an intellectually honest look at the book would be willing to hear the perspectives of others. Who is really being the intolerant then?

Does anyone use the lesson plans that My Father's World writes for Singapore math? I sure would like some feedback. I like Singapore but feel I need more guidance. Thoughts?

2 girls...thanks for the feedback. I was really thinking about switching to R&S because I had heard good things and someone mentioned the kids loved the way they did drills. I really hate to switch already in the year but sometimes things look really good in the package and feel quite different when they come into use! And R&S is pretty affordable. Hopefully I will be able to sell the Horizons books!!!

I really thought we would like Horizons Math, but the kids find it boring and repetitive, and some of the drills seem frustrating and meaningless (to me). Maybe its because so much of the beginning of the year is review. Does anyone have an opinion about R&S Math? How does it compare? I am really looking for something more classical and I feel like Horizons (with all the workbook pages at such a young level) is more traditional and not very classical (which would focus more on lots of math facts and memorization) but rather is trying to get more complex operations and other skills that may be unneccessary in the grammar stage. Thoughts, anyone? Any feedback is appreciated!

This is where classical approach can serve you well. When you teach a subject (like math) teach the younger lesson first while the older listens (for review), then the older. Same with Grammar. I read first language lesson to youngest and oldest listens. Then older child gets their lesson and younger listens while he colors or plays with wikki stix or clay or something tactile. I start each day with handwriting because you can do that simultaneously with little trouble, then math, then grammar. My older daughter does reading practice and the younger has to listen and follow along. Science and History are the easiest because I read or play SOTW and the older does a copywork page and the younger makes a picture of what we learned. There are one or two things I cannot do with older child while younger is there (too distracting) so younger has some quiet time in his room while we finish up the day. Have you read The Well Trained Mind? Lots of helps in there. Hope that helps!

Rocket Phonics...and we were so excited thinking it would rescue us from a rocky start with phonics! Good in theory but in the end it was kinda confusing to teach. Ended up scrapping all the gimmicky phonics and went with Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading. Duh! That's what happens: first time teaching reading and no confidence...now I can do it with no curriculum at all...

We had the TM for K and 1, and I did get very good ideas from the lessons, but once I got their technique, I didn't use them anymore and so we did not get the TM for 2nd, but for starting cursive in 3rd...perhaps. I think the teaching ideas and techniques they give for helping the child remember letter formation is very helpful. You can teach without them, but why not benefit from the tried and true experience of someone who has gone before us? 8-)

I've been told that curriculum hopping is hard on the student, even that its better to stay with an average program than keep switching. Unfortunately my oldest has been my homeschool guinea pig and I sure hope I can stay more focused like yourself! (in the future) 8-0

We used MFW K and we didn't even use their handwriting sheets, we used HWT so I don't think it will make a bit of difference. They will love MFW 8-)

We like starfall too 8-)

I've definitely heard that particles become airborne (like water vapor) when you flush so your sister is right, BUT being a germaphobe often results in children with immune systems who can't handle fight off basic exposure to everyday bacterium. My doctor has one child who was born in India where the sanitation was questionable and one who was born here. The one born here is always sick and the older one is never sick. Interesting!

I agree, it depends on the group. But the thing is, it is natural behavior for the kids to scramble for the prizes. As parents, its our job to teach them to control themselves. That 'natural' behavior is their sin nature, which does not think of others first, as most faiths teach us. THAT is a can of worms in our culture, where materialism and 'me first' seem to be the theme of the day! I recently read "children act foolish, and sometimes that is annoying." LOL that is the truth!

I've read that R&S is a little advanced. My dd starts 2nd grade this fall. I have R&S 2 and we are using FLL now, but what is your opinion about whether the levels are true to grade/age? Seems like I know a number of ppl who are one year back on level number... thoughts??

We really have done well with Phonics Pathways. I started my oldest on something else that was more complicated and it did not help...we swithed and the light came on...PP is more organized and straightforward. I am supplementing with Explode the Code becuase I like how it teaches one rule at a time and they seem to be retaining it well. My dd was a late reader and my ds is early...PP got them on course. Its affordable too. We also purchased Reading Pathways to supplement, but its not really needed. We made a Dewey the Bookwork bookmark at the beginning to keep track of where each is in the book...and they love that!

Hehehe, if you don't want anyone else to read it, can you (gasp) burn it instead? LOL

Aw c'mon, Mom...Little Women? Can't they read Johnny Tremain, Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, the Hardy Boys, The Call of the Wild, or any of the great historical fiction books about Vikings, famous Inventors, Explorers like Lewis & Clark, books about Sea Captians, etc? Little Women spends so much dialog on girls stuff....yuck! LOL

None of this surprises me...so much of the homeschool curricula is just repackaged public classroom materials. You really have to do your homework. I am not a fan of Saxon with its drill and kill approach, so its no matter to me, but for the people who love Saxon, this is a concern. The truth is, almost all of them push complex operations before they really need it or should even be doing it. Remember that a classical education is focused on mainly memory in the early years. This is why Ray's Arithmetic is back in favor again...just the basics. How much can you dumb down grammar school math? In the first few years all they really need is addition and subtractions facts, (basic number operations) then multiplication and division facts as they are ready. Pushing kids to develop complex math skills at too early an age can change the wiring of their brain and it can burn them out on math too. No worries!!

I am ready!!!! Of course we have to record it (so the kiddies don't watch), so it will take me forever to see all the hours on tonight!! Gimme some answers!!

Good job!

I thought the Red and Blue Fairy books had a lot of stories that were scary or had topics that were too serious for little kids. But E.D. Hirsch has excellent reading lists in his books (listed by age/grade level) and William Kilpatrick has wonderful reading lists in his books (Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong, Books that Build Character)

We just got through reading "Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong" and it really inspired me because he really exposes the kind of morality being taught in government schools and it emboldened me to keep on track. He also lists books by grade that teach vitues by way of the old fashioned "moral to the story" format. Loved it!