I've been listening to SWB's audio lectures and I don't hear her addressing Socratic discussions (logic stage anyway). Am I to assume that they aren't really that necessary? Some people say they're important, and I'm just reaseaching. I just reccently bought the Teaching the Classics DVDs & seminar book (I like it - it teaches me how to teach) to learn how to conduct them, but listening to SWB's audio lecture on history - she doesn't mention them at all. Soooooo, does anyone have any thoughts on Socratic discussions for the logic stage? Plus, SWB talks about "not beating a book to death" - I can see myself doing that, trying to be a "good socratic discussion leader." Yay or nay?

Questions regarding making a timeline as TWTM suggests: Do you have each child make their own timeline? (I'd imagine so) And do you just use long sheets of white paper and tape them together end-to-end? Thinking about starting this next fall.... Thanks.

Here's what I like about TWTM's method: skills of outlining, summarizing, timeline introduced & reinforced...but you have to decide on which books to use (buy or get from library), and make your own schedule. Here's what I like about TOG's method: socratic discussions (cheat sheets for me)...but seems like a lot of work - to decide about which books to use (buy or get from library) & then to schedule it on a weekly basis...or have your kids start to learn to schedule their own week, which is what TOG recommends. Here's what I like about Sonlight's method: you don't have to search for the books (or make decisions), you have them at your fingertips and the schedule is made for you...but could be disjointed, maybe not the best Socratic discussions. And who's to say they will ever learn the outlining skills, etc. Ahhhhhhhh! :banghead:

Wow, I love your enthusiasm! Thank you for the advice. Yes, it is scary and intimidating to "dive in."

How can I decide between the two? I've never done either. I'm planning for next school year, when I'll have a 7th grader & a 5th grader. For the past 5 years we've done Classical Conversations, and followed their 24 history sentences per year (and loosley followed SOTW volumes 1-3). I feel like I need to start fresh for next year. No more Classical Conversations after this year. (Love our group, love CC, just ready for a change, plan-wise.) I'm looking forward to an orderly study of history from now on. Should I dive into TWTM's history plan (gulp) OR should I invest in TOG? The way I see it, either way we will be using living books and going in a chronological order (planning on starting with ancients in fall). Is one superiour to the other? If I do TOG, will my kids be missing out on necessary & important skills of outlining, writing summaries, etc? TOG seems to be the easy route, but would it be the best? Thank you in advance for insight for those of you that have BTDT.

I'm just curious...as I look at my profile, I see that my Member Title is "Just Visiting." Does this change automatically after a certain amount of time, or is it something I can change in my settings?

"The KHE as spine for logic is working great." So, can I ask you this - if the spine for the grammar stage is SOTW, the spine for the logic stage is KHE?

I'm thinking about/planning for science next year. Currently we use Apologia (k-6th) science curriculum. I listened to SWB's audio lecture on science methods tonight, as well as read TWTM's chapter on logic stage science. It seems very daunting to me to pull it all together myself - to execute science according to TWTM. Does anyone actually do science the way TWTM recommends it? And how has it been going? I'm afraid to approach it like the book spells it out. I'm afraid that I will be discouraged, not be consistent and fail by giving up on it. I like the idea of using a curriculum for accountability. I'm planning for next year, a 7th grader and a 5th grader. And if you do not use TWTM's methods, what would you recommend for 7th & 5th - they have always done science together. Do I keep them together or should the 7th grader go the traditional textbook route? I hate making decisions.

We are currently working through the outlining skills (Remedia publications) books she suggests and I ordered WWE teacher's manual so we can start light with that and use it throughout the rest of this year, heading straight into WWS next fall, being 7th & 5th greaders. Thank you all for your encouraging advice.

Can you please tell me how you found that video? I've searched You Tube. I'm looking for one that explains WWE by SWB. Thank you!

Thank you for the replies - I do appreciate it!

I just recently discovered WWS and am thinking about starting it with my (soon to be) 5th & 7th graders next fall. I've always felt guilty for not following TWTM's recommendations...I do use some of her recommeneded curriculum choices, but have been going a different path the past 5 years (am in our last year of Classical Conversations). I really didn't even know WWE/WWS existed - I though the WTM's advice was too daunting for me to follow on my own. Now what I see is that WWE/WWS is step-by-step to learn the skills she describes in WTM. Here I am looking at planning next school year with a soon-to-be 5th grader & 7th grader. We need to catch up on skills such as outlining, narrating, etc. Would anyone advise starting WWS cold turkey with a 5th & 7th grader? Am I understanding this correctly - WWS is not a grammar program, not a composition program, but more of a(n intensive 1-on-1) supplement to be used alongside a grammar & writing program? Thanks for the advice.

Doesn anyone have any experience with Apologia's online courses? I'm specifically looking at General Science for a 7th grader.

We use First Form with the DVDs to do the teaching - we love it here.

Is anyone else in the same boat as me? My dd will finish up her third and last year of Classical Conversations's Essentials of English Grammar program this year. If so, what have you used for 7th grade grammar?

I'm researching science plans for my dd who will be a 7th grader next year. Can anyone chime in on Apologia's General Science or BJU's Life Science?

Does anyone out there follow the WTM's suggestions for history, and how is that working out (long term)? I'm homeschooling 2 children who will be in 7th and 5th grades next year. I'm trying to plan for next year's history. I'd like to do something radically different that what we're doing this year. (We're in our last year of Classical Conv. this year and we follow their history sentences, then go a little bit further in depth by reading the SOTW that corresponds to the history topic for the week. This drives me crazy and I can't wait to switch gears next year.) I would like to hear from people who actually follow SWB's history suggestions from the WTM and would like to hear if it's working well or not. I'm considering following that plan OR starting TOG for the first time next year (and then continuing for at least 3 more years after that). TOG appeals to me b/c the connections/plans are already made in the teacher's manual. WTM plan appeals to me b/c it's teaching the kids great skills (outlining, timeline, etc.) Advice welcome. Thank you.

Can someone recommend a grammar/writing program for a 5th & 7th grader? There are so many choices, my head is spinning from all the researching. We are in our final year of Classical Conversations Essentials class and ready for a fresh start for next year. In the past, we've done FLL, and 3 years of CC's Essentials. I'm considering these (have no experience with any of the, but have been reading reviews & printing off samples): Rod & Staff Voyages in English 2011 (+Writing Strands or IEW or Wordsmith) Michael Clay Thomas Learning Language Arts Through Literature Saxon Grammar Suggestions welcome. Thanks so much.

If anyone use the newer Voyages in English (I'm considering for grades 5 & 7 next year), can you please tell me your opinion on the writing component?