I am looking for a grammar program for 4th and 6th grade. We have done Easy Grammar for a couple of years and would like to use something else. I was wondering about Shurley, Voyages (I think there is a new one this year), Winston, or something else? I would appreciate your help!

I am looking for a typing program for middle school. If you use one, does it keep track of the child's progress? My boys were using one last year but I think they were mostly playing games. Thanks!

So for boys in 4th and 6th grade, what should I order? I am unclear exactly what some of these are and how they fit together. Foundations Guide? VP Cards? Audio CD's? Memory Work Resource Cd? Memory Cards? Something else? Also, these are all from the Foundations level but that is where we start, right?

Tonia, This looks so helpful. Do you use it on the weekend too? If not, how do you use the numbered days?

I have some questions for those of you who are using memorization. In some other threads, I read about systems of index cards or binders used for review. The only memorization we have done is IEW Poetry and catechism questions. We have had mixed results, most likely due to the lack of a system. If you could tell me how this looks in your home I would really appreciate it. This sounds like exactly what we need. Thanks!!

This is our second week with HST+. I put it off b/c I have a mac but I am running it in parallels and so far, so good. This is a great program and I think it will do everything I want and more. They have Yahoo groups where you can download lesson plans for many classes, this has been a huge help to me. I download lesson plans for classes and tweak them as necessary. This has helped me learn to do my own. There is a learning curve but I just post on their forum and they answer really quickly with detailed help and different options. I have not heard of Katie's classes but I will be looking into them!

We have been just awful with art and music. It is the first thing we dump, every year. This year I am planning to make it a priority. For art, I am considering Meet the Masters, which I have never seen. I am also interested in Mark Kistler's online classes. Both of these are on the homeschool buyer's coop for 50-60% off. For music, I just purchased the Music Masters Cd's. I am interested in the book The Story of the Orchestra. We take piano lessons. My boys are 9 and 12. I would probably add books about the artist/composer if/as necessary. Please tell me what you think. Not sure about the time these things will take. Any idea from those of you who actually do art/music? I really want to come up with a plan that is realistic and enjoyable.

I am enjoying your suggestions! I think I am going to try this and see how it goes. The boys love history, the problem will be fitting in the other subjects.

I have been considering this for two of my boys, 9 and 12. We are all natural spellers and they just learned to read and spell early and easily. We have done spelling almost every year but with workbooks, not a program like this. So, none of us has retained the rules. I emailed her last week and she said since they were older we could consider level 2. I looked at level 1 and I could not have told you that c says s if it is followed by e, i, or y. I probably could pronounce it correctly but I don't know why b/c none of us know these rules. I think I should try a program like this even though the boys are older. I see some people don't recommend it b/c of it being babyish. Is there something similar we could use? Do you all think it would be worth it to learn this at the boys' ages?

Does anyone use Classical Conversations at home without belonging to a CC group? Can you get the materials for home use and are they the same? I am so interested in this but really don't want to have to make the drive there every week. If you are doing this, can you tell me how it is working for you?

I think it would be a great place to showcase the children's pictures and schoolwork. I would get some of those really narrow shelves that are made to stand picture frames on, I think they are called gallery shelves. Then get some inexpensive frames, or even better I would get different old frames from yardsales or a thrift store and spray them all the same color, black or heirloom white. Then you could change them out whenever the kids make new masterpieces! Have fun, your room is beautiful! The red is so cheery for a boy's schoolroom.

Jennifer, I am glad to hear this is going well for you. My boys are 9 and 12 and they are what I guess you would call natural spellers. We are all good spellers but could not tell you "the rules". I am wondering if we should just try Spelling Wisdom or if we should use something that would go over the why things are spelled the way they are.

Has anyone used Spelling Wisdom? I just saw this and it seems interesting . . .

I just looked at HST and I am finally convinced. I have been holding out b/c I have a Mac but I am going to have to run it in parallels or something. This looks like just what I need, love that you can print out the weekly assignment sheet for each child. Thanks for your suggestion!!

Wow, you are really organized. I am going to have to think how this might work for us. So, for older kiddos, would you give them the card with the Latin instructions on it and they would check it off if done?

I am using the filing system and workboxes. I have a question about how to keep track of assignments for subjects where there is more than a worksheet. For instance, in our Latin program, Day 1: 1. Watch DVD Lesson. 2. Read Pronunciation rules on p4. 3. Begin memorizing vocab and grammar forms. Now that I am looking at our materials, most of our subjects are more than just a worksheet to put in the weekly file and then the workbox. Can you tell me how you handle this?:confused: By the time I get ready for school, I will only need about 4 weekly folders b/c that is all there will be left in the year!

We have the US History based IEW. We started this last year and although it is a great program, there was a lot of wailing (and not just me)! This morning I am wondering if we should use Intermediate Language Lessons for my ~4th grader and Lingua Mater: Language Lessons from Literature for my ~6th grader. I haven't seen them but I have heard great things about both. If you know about these, what would I have to add to them for language arts to be complete? I don't want to have a year where I dread both of them groaning when I open the book everyday (like last year), but I do want them to have a thorough education. Will they get enough information or do we need a grammar program like Shurley or Winston or something else? I am having so much trouble choosing curricula this year. I guess it is because they are getting older and I feel pressure about making choices for middle school that I haven't felt before. Thanks!

Does anyone study US History and World History separately? Last year we started US history but there was so much the boys were interested in, we didn't get nearly as far as I thought we would. Now I am considering continuing where we left off (maybe slowly and less time per week) and starting world history as a second class. Has anyone done this? It seems like it might be a little overwhelming . . .

I have always used paper for lesson planning and would like to try something else. I have a mac and I know some programs can be run with parallels, etc., but I would like to be able to access it on my ipad, too, so I need something that is mac compatible. What would you recommend? Thanks!

I am planning to use IEW with my 4th and 6th grader. What should I use with it? Spelling, Vocabulary and Grammar, specifically.

I am having a difficult time choosing a science program for my sixth grader. I am wondering if anyone could share how they implement the WTM science curriculum using the Usborne book. I am interested in doing this but I am a little worried bc we have always followed a curriculum like Apologia before. I think I would like to try it though, just not sure how. I am also considering The Rainbow but there is so little info available about it. There are some others that look interesting: Real Science for Kids, Nancy Larson, NOEO, Supercharged Science and CPO Science. I looked into Real Science Odyssey and Elemental Science and I think they may be too young. Thanks for any help.

Thanks! I need more excuses to stay on the computer! :lol: I just looked at SL 6 and it looks interesting. I wish these companies would offer more information though. I could spend a lot less time on the computer if I could get a better look at them and see if they would work for my boys.

That makes sense to me, I might try this.

I miss the TT program keeping the gradebook, that isn't available in the higher grades, he is in Algebra 1. I usually have one of the boys do math while I work with another on piano but maybe I will take your lead and queue up the lesson first! I'm not sure why that didn't occur to me, although one of the things I like about TT is it is one thing they don't need me for the whole time. I guess I was hoping for them to be more independent (and responsible) and watch that lesson. Oh well, baby steps. I think the daily check off chart is something we need to implement. Is this something I would made up or is it from one of the online scheduling programs?

I haven't used any BJU at all so I will check this out too. Thanks!