We've been using 'First Form' from Memoria Press - excellent! Very user-friendly, and with the workbook, the information is being retained very well. They just have their trial version out right now, but the final version is due out soon.

How does one go about introducing Shakespeare? Do you just whack them with the written play or DVD of the play and discuss it? What resources have you used that have been of help? And what plays are the best to begin with? Thankyou,

Thanks, Ann ( and all who have replied) - we've spent the day looking at the various options, and honestly, they LOVED Headsprout! The other ones we tried (Starfall, Reading Eggs, etc.) just didn't 'hit the spot' like Headsprout. (most expensive option, wouldn't yah know it :rolleyes: ) We tried out the free lessons, and they want more! Now, just have to convince hubby that I simply have far too much to cope with, and at least Headsprout would be a lot cheaper than a tutor ........ ;)

Thankyou - what is homeschool buyer's co-op?

Given that I need to spend quite a bit of time these days with my older ones, I'm a little concerned about the younger ones - we do read, do various workbooks, etc., but I'm feeling all three need a little more instruction in phonics, but how to find the time? So, I was thinking about 'Headsprout' - looks excellent, but the cost is a little ouch! And, with three users, I have to purchase the programme for each child (there is a discount for child 2 and 3, but still, it's all an extra expense). Has anyone used Headsprout? Or, is there something similar out there - either online or on CD, that provides a systematic method of teaching phonics, that the little ones could do mostly unsupervised? We have several CDs that are phonetic games and such, but I'm looking more for a phonics programme - step by step, lesson by lesson. Any ideas?

It really sounds like LLATL may suit you. Some say it's not as 'advanced' as other courses, but many use it, and love it. At least it includes 'real' books as well, meaning Literature, something that is often overlooked, is covered as well.

Actually.. (still following on from a previous post).. My dd has done TT Algebra 1, and did fine, but is struggling with the Geometry text. Maybe we should do Alegebra 2 instead, and then to Geometry AFTER Algebra 2 - would that work? Do most people do Geometry before, or after, Algebra 2? She doesn't seem ready to grasp the concepts of Geometry.

I'm very disappointed to hear this. IEW has been an absolute God-send, not only for my oldest daughter who was unable to string a sentence together, but also for my son who loved to write, but needed more ideas as to how to make his writing more interesting. If you're stuggling with the 'whys' of IEW, I'd highly recommend purchasing the 'Teaching Writing, Structure and Style Overview' DVD, a new publication from IEW. In it, Andrew explains 'why' so much time is spent on not only the structure, but the style as well. It is so the stylistic techniques reach a point where they become easy to the child. Later, they can then chose to use these in each paragraph, or not - but they have the skills then to be able to whenever it is appropriate. He likens it to learning your scales and appegios when learning a musical instrument - it's not so you can get up on stage and perform these, but so more difficult pieces can be played and learned with greater ease. Yes, a the early and middle stages of using IEW the child's writing can come over as being very structured, but as they grow, become used to the styles, etc., their writing takes off, and they become much, much better writers because of knowing all the tricks and the stylistic techniques.

My oldest daughter, now 17, has always struggled with academics. She has slight autism, and dyslexia, but, there are no specialists where we live (rural South Australia), so we've pretty much had to battle is out on our own. And, we're getting there. Thanks to IEW, she can write an essay! Other subjects are coming along, too. She's been using TT Geometry, and Apologia Biology. It's OK, but, she's finding it a lot of work - a couple of hours per day on these two subjects, and, she's drained from it. I was thinking maybe switiching to Life of Fred - ease the load a bit, but still, of course, cover science and Maths. What about Science, though? Does anyone else find Apologia a bit too heavy? And if so, are there other alternatives? I want to make learning more enjoyable for her, rather than this constant struggle - it's been the 'story of her life', really, but, does it have to be such a struggle? Anyway, any ideas would be appreciated - thankyou.

My oldest daughter, now 17, has always struggled with academics. She has slight autism, and dyslexia, but, there are no specialists where we live (rural South Australia), so we've pretty much had to battle is out on our own. And, we're getting there. Thanks to IEW, she can write an essay! Other subjects are coming along, too. She's been using TT Geometry, and Apologia Biology. It's OK, but, she's finding it a lot of work - a couple of hours per day on these two subjects, and, she's drained from it. I was thinking maybe switiching to Life of Fred - ease the load a bit, but still, of course, cover science and Maths. What about Science, though? Does anyone else find Apologia a bit too heavy? And if so, are there other alternatives? I want to make learning more enjoyable for her, rather than this constant struggle - it's been the 'story of her life', really, but, does it have to be such a struggle? Anyway, any ideas would be appreciated - thankyou.

So the question is 'Could' Life of Fred be used as a full Math programme, or would you consider it to be only a supplement? I'm asking mainly on behalf of my daughter, who struggles with all academics, slightly autistic and is dyslexic. She's currently working through TT Geometry, but it is reaching a point where it is becoming quite frustrating for her. We can probably battle on, but I'm wondering if Life of Fred may not be better for her. But, can we use it as a complete Math programme?

How does one truly encourage a love of learning? My kids are simply overwhelmened, and bored! Endless Maths, Latin, Logic, History, Essays, Religion and Science - I'm trying to encourage discussion and enjoying learning, but it just ain't happening! Now, true - it is a challenge fitting it all in - 8 children, all of homeschool age, and so much to learn. And, they are being very difficult about chores and such, which seem to take ALL day - we 'should' have enough time for all the lessons with plenty of spare time, but with the dawling, it's a strain just to get through. And then, there's the home business, which takes up so much of both my time and hubby's time. DH and I went looking at camper trailers today - the kind of trailer that includes a massive fold-out tent - I'm so tempted to buy it, ditch the formal academics, and go a-camping! They need more 'life lessons', and less book work - but, am I brave enough? And what 'is' the most important? Will they really, really suffer in life if we don't complete every, single science book I had intended? Two of my daughters have learning problems - a Classical Ed has helped greatly, but I doubt they'll grow to be college professors (although, one never knows!) - it's almost like we've reached a point where all the academics, once very helpful, is know 'hindering' their development somehow. We do take a break every now and then - but all that happens is they end up in front of the Playstation, Wii or TV - brain-deadening activities! Hmm.. maybe that camping trip is the way to go.... just notebooking our trip, maybe? Could I be that brave? Sorry, rambling! Any suggestions? I LOVE reading and learning, and so does DH - we discuss things, debate, read - it's just not being passed on - well, not that we can see yet, anyway. Any book recommendations on this topic? Thankyou! :001_smile:

We added in the book '57 Saints' - it worked well as the book covers the Saints in chronological order (with dates provided), and is written in a similar, narrative style. By using the timeline, I could figure out when to read the story of each saint.

You certainly could with the 'Life' and 'Heaven and Earth' sets. The Chemistry and Physical World sets are really designed for older students, although, if you tweak it and cover only the basics, this would be fine. We love these books, and have just begun again back at the beginning - the absolutely favourite title in our family is the Animal Kingdom - they couldn't wait to do that one again! My 3rd grades really struggled with the Chemistry book - just over her head. Personally, with little ones, I think I'd now do the Life set, the Heaven and Earth, and then begin again, leaving the Chemistry and Physical World sets for when they are older. This then gives you six years of science, or more if you only cover 2 books per year instead of 3 in the early grades.

And yes, I DID play school as a child! My teddies and dolls have an excellent education!

Oh, yes - me too! There we are, the whole family out for 'grocery' shopping, and we walk through the door, and Mum disappears - now, you'd think they'd know by now, but after a half-hour search, they find me in the stationery isle, trying to convince myself we really 'do' need more erasers, pencils, markers - whatever! And then, there's pens ...... beautiful pens.......

After trying many, many different science programmes, God's Design from AIG remains my favourite. I've found it to be the perfect preparation for Apologia High School Science - many of the experiments are repeated in the Apologia books, meaning they already have information to 'latch onto' at the higher level. It also fits perfectly into the four-year rotation - life science, earth science, chemistry and physics. And now, they're even in full colour, with printable worksheets from a CD!

Thankyou, joyfulheart, for the suggestion of the games! I've been trying to find games like this - to make the thinking skills very 'practical'. Does anyone know of a book which may have more of this type of thing? Games that encourage thinking skills? Thanks!

I think this set is excellent. I'd suggest purchasing both, and then take a little time off, just for you, to work through the DVDs and the workbook on your own. I had absolutely, not one clue, as to how to go about teaching literacy analysis - I didn't even know what that meant! But this programme arms you with the tools you need to tackle any piece of literature. I'm curious, though - for those who have worked through this seminar and workbook - do you then work through the various examples with your children, or select different literature straight away? Have you also had your children watch the DVDs and work through the examples given?

Well, I'm one of those people that start something, and just have to finish it all at once -so, yep, today, we hopped off to the PO with the cards, and posted the lot! Don't know the post master was too impressed, but oh, well. Hopefully, they'll only take a week or so to reach you all.

Y'know, it's funny - this thread is bringing back memories! I decided to teach my oldest daughter to sew with the maching when she was six - we had an old, rickety sewing table, but, it did the job. I sat her down, taught her the various parts, got ready to just practice sewing along a line - we're all set, and ready to go - she puts her foot on the peddle and crash! The whole sewing table collapses, the machine goes flying, and my poor little Jessica gets the fright of her life! Mind you, she still sews! We ditched that sewing table, though, and bought a new one - our current one is a 'little' more solid.

It's funny, I'd never heard of this programme a week ago - and now it seems everyone is talking about it! Is this a complete math programme, or a supplement?

There is 'Catch the Sewing Bug' from Bunkhouse Sewing - that one is a lot of fun. My older girls used it on their own, but it is actually designed to be used with younger children. With my litte ones, I usually start them off doing long-stitch kits - hand sewing. Then, we move onto making little felt toys, again, hand sewing. We then start learning how to use the machine around the age of 11-12.

We moved from LC II to Henle - it was like a breath of fresh air! I didn't realise how much we had actually covered. While, yes, it starts back at the 'beginning', having completed Henle means that Latin lessons are... dare I say it.... quick and easy! My guys are scoring 95-100% on the quizzes each week - it's fantastic. We're also using the Memoria Press guides, so no planning of the lessons, either - just follow the guide.

OK - so, it's not really a 'poll'! There are so many spelling programs available, I'd be sure to leave some out - just post below the spelling program that is your favourite! :grouphug: