Thanks guys! So what's the difference between narrations and dictations SWB style vs CM style? Sounds like SWB starts written narrations sooner....anything else?

I've read the WTM and have been using it and several things from peacehillpress.com. But when I read threads on here about CM it looks like they are very similar to classical education. Can someone tell me what the big differences are? Or are they pretty much the same?

Sylvan does a very thorough test for $100. You pick two subjects to be tested. The results are SOOO specific. I know exactly where gaps and trouble areas are with my kiddos so I can fill the gaps. Just don't get sucked into spending the millions they want you to on tutoring. :)

Good to know. I haven't bought CW yet but I need to do some type of creative writing. Did you try something else that you liked better? Anyone else have experience with CW?

How long is WWS supposed to take? One year? Two? Also, does anyone have that creative writing book on peacehillpress? Is it meant to be used as a full writing program or a supplement? Is it too much to use the two together, or would they be repeating the same concepts? I'm just trying to figure out how to throw some creative writing into WWS. I am NOT a creative writer but my kiddos are expressing some interest. We haven't started WWS yet either so maybe I could just do the creative writing book if its comprehensive enough. What do you guys think?

Awesome!! You guys are so great! K...I'm chilling. And I'm feeling way better that I'm not the only one with frustrations like these. Living in a neighborhood can be tricky. For the millionth time I find myself wishing we lived on some Podunk farm somewhere in the middle of nowhere. :). No...I really do love where I live and I have some great neighbors but man it can be tricky. Part of the reason I am so frustrated about this one is I am seeing character flaws in myself. I'm trying to pull away from the comparing and judging our success off of others and this one family is making it tricky. Her kids really are pretty dang sharp, and she doesn't mind sharing about all their grand and great accomplishments. I'm still new to homeschooling so I have some insecurities about if I'm doing a good enough job. She is even newer to homeschooling than I am. So, one of the reasons it's frustrating me is I'm trying to adjust to homeschooling, trying to chill about teaching all the same things my kid's peers are learning and really just trying to focus on enjoying being with my kids more and helping them to see how exciting and fun learning can be. But with them always talking about it and comparing, it's hard not to freak out and feel like I should be doing more. One Saxon lesson a day is plenty though! Shes got her kids doing 2 and sometimes 3 depending on how long it takes them. And my kids are ahead anyway. They aren't WAY ahead but having them WAY ahead isn't my goal. My kids are young. The oldest is 11. Anyway, I think this is a good learning experience for my kiddos AND myself. :) That being said, it's my oldest that is bothered by this the most. She is worried about where she is at academically because she has no one else to compare herself to. But we've chatted a lot about how it doesn't matter where she is at in comparison to others as long as she and I are both feeling like she is moving forward. Thankfully my kiddos are quick learners and they've always excelled at school, homeschooling is giving us some unexpected opportunities to work on character. It's awesome. Learning to have self confidence without the need to actually see others doing worse than you is a trait that comes more naturally to some than others. It might be the age she is at that makes it tricky as well.

So, I am totally considering switching my math curriculum for my 5 kids for one reason and one reason alone. My neighbor is using the same program. This wouldn't normally be a problem but her kids are constantly comparing where they are at with my kids and always wanting to be better, faster, further. It's so annoying!! In fact, her oldest daughter told my oldest that the reason she (the daughter) chose to homeschool was so that our family wouldn't be smarter than theirs. What?!?!? It bugged me so bad I actually told the mom that her daughter said that cause I figured I'd want to know if my kid was saying stuff like that. She didnt seem bothered in the least and just said that, ya....that really mattered a lot to her daughter. Hmmmmm. Well, to each his own, but one of the things I love about homeschooling is the fact that I can teach the child at their own level without any pressure. I noticed with my oldest in particular that she had been in PS for long enough that she was learning to love being best in the class instead of loving the fact that she was learning. I really want my kiddos to learn to THINK! Not just learn what is needed to get a good report card. I don't want her kids always asking what lessons we are on or what book etc. and I don't really want to hear where they are either. Now I know competition is not always a bad thing and sometimes it can do a lot of good for someone, but I'm really trying to take the comparing out of my life and just focus on what's best for my kids. I don't want my kids basing their successes by the failures of others. I also don't want them to feel subpar when they certainly aren't. That being said, we are using Saxon math and its been going great. So is it totally lame to jump to something new? If it were you....would you switch? I mean, math is math. All curriculums aren't equal but I could probably find something we liked, right? Ugh....do I just need to take a chill pill and stay with what's working?

I had my two oldest (5th and 6th) do the Sylvan learning Center assessments. Apparently we need help in vocab and reading comprehension. Both were well above grade level for accuracy and fluency. I follow WTM pretty closely. I figured they were getting reading comprehension in the WWE books and they do pretty good at those but my younger daughter does a little better than my older at it. I was planning on starting both of them in WWS this year. We have our classic lit books and reading lists that they follow. We discuss and do read alouds and story of the world narrations etc. I don't have anything specific for vocab. We have been doing SWO for spelling but the kids don't love that. I've thought of switching to phonics zoo. But vocab....I've got nothing. What do you guys do? I've noticed that with my oldest she doesn't seem to figure out what hard words mean by looking at the rest of the sentence. I think she just kind of skips over them and hurries on so she can keep the story going. Is this a logic problem? Would more mind bender type stuff help? She LOVES to read and does a ton of it all through the night if I don't stop her. So, do I not even need to worry about it if that's the case? Is it a maturity thing that will catch up with her naturally? Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. :) Vocab and reading comp....what do you do?

We did rod and staff.

I think I'm going to have my 5th and 6th grader type some of their work this year. Does anyone have suggestions for a good, FUN program? They are girls if that makes a difference to your recommendation. I'd like to not spend an arm and a leg but I am willing to pay some for a good program. Suggestions anyone?

I don't get why the girls are involved in the planning at all. If he asks her, then he gets to plan and decide what happens. She should be thrilled she got asked! Is that normal nowadays? Do the girls help plan it too? Weird. I liked that he planned and I was just happy with whatever it was. Prom was a big deal for me. I loved it and looked forward to it for a long time. It's like that for a lot of girls. But it's not about the money. I admit I get irritated with the guys that don't go to prom citing that money is the reason. It seems like there are so many girls that would be so completely thrilled to be asked and simply get to go....but hearing about girls like this makes me understand a little better I guess.

Wow mama sheep! Just wow! Well done. :)

We do believe we have the fullness of the gospel and authority from God to perform baptisms and give the gift of the Holy Ghost etc. We also believe everyone can have these same things. That's why we have such a huge missionary force. :) We want to give these wonderful blessings to all of God's children because we feel the joy it brings and we want to share the good news! We think everyone should have the opportunity to hear about the gospel so that they can then choose to accept it or not. I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's not meant to come across as arrogance. Often times its excitement about having these blessing that is misinterpreted as "holier than thou" I think.

Well, I really wish we lived on a farm so my kids could really learn how to work. Of course, you can learn to work and not live on a farm, but it just seems like such a great way to teach them to work. Kids these days are so pampered. Most kids aren't expected to do much real work. I really hope my girls can find a hard working man to marry one day who isn't a lazy, video game playing couch potatoe. I think in general, parents don't expect enough so kids don't learn how to work...

I've had the same questions. My first grader just finished Saxon 1. TT3 looks like a good fit for her. For now my plan is to stick with TT until she is ready for Saxon 5/4 and then switch back to Saxon. I'm curious at what point in TT she would be ready to go back to Saxon 5/4. I not much help with MM. We don't have any experience with it. But I'm all ears. :)