[Classical Conversations... Perspective]

I think the beauty of CC is in having community. The program (scope/ sequence) is secondary. Let it go.

 

I needed this permission. Thank you  :hurray:

[Classical Conversations... Perspective]

This is my 18th year homeschooling and my 4th year in CC. :)

 

I would just put it aside. If you do use any of it, I would choose the skip counting songs and, maybe the English stuff.

 

The last several weeks, our Foundations/Essentials director has been sharing how something we are learning that day in Foundations will connect later to something in Challenge. I have found that can be really encouraging - showing parents that there is actually a method to the madness and that the memory work is not just in isolation.

 

Do you have the cd's? You could just play those in the car sometimes. Then they are still getting some exposure without using it as any sort of curriculum;

 

I all have three cycle of memory work cds. I think I'm going to keep the Foundations guide and the CDs. But I let go of the EEL guide. I may hold on to the timeline cards. I think those may be of some value later also :) I'm thinking of using SOWT as our main history curriculum and picking through the CC memory work that coincides with our work. 

[Classical Conversations... Perspective]

Thank you SO much for the feedback. All were very wonderful and have given exactly what I needed: a little perspective. It's really tough when you're in a homeschooling perpetuating tunnel especially when you can't remember how you got there! Everything this year has gone by so fast. I'm going to keep what I love the most and allow myself to let go of what I know we won't get to or won't use. The memory work in CC really is gold and I can see how I can incorporate it into our studies at home. If not, I will let it go as well and just be thankful.

 

Thanks everyone!!

[Classical Conversations... Perspective]

I've read through a ton of posts on Classical Conversations, all of which have been good and bad reviews. However, I'm not looking for a review as much as I'm looking for someone to help with a little perspective. 

 

We've had experience with CC for the past three years. Every year I'm torn between sticking with the program or completely flushing it. This year, we're sitting out because of an out of state move. We also have a great classical academy at our church that is cheaper and similar in nature but not the exact same material. 

 

I want to keep all my material for CC but honestly, I'm having a hard time fitting it all into the schedule plus what we're getting at the academy and the everyday priorities e.g. reading, math, spelling, english.....

 

I almost have a guilty feeling for not using it but stop myself from pulling the plug completely. Anyone in the same position or have been in the same position?

 

Should I let it all go or determine to find a spot for it in our day?

 

 

[Rod and staff to Saxon When??]

Okay great! Thank you for the response :)

[Rod and staff to Saxon When??]

I've been looking through all the threads on R&S vs. Saxon and since it came up in a discussion this morning with my husband, I'm wondering when it's best to test out of R&S and into Saxon? I've read that some people do grades 1-3 with R&S and start Saxon at grade 4. And some say to stick with R&S through the 8th grade and then start Saxon in 9th. My oldest will be in the fourth grade next year so I'm trying to decide what's best??

 

Any thoughts?

[English curriculum suggestions?]

Thank you! I'll look into it. We do reading on our own but we're pretty much minus the phonics stuff right now. I get confused too since so much of phonics and english will overlap at this age.

[English curriculum suggestions?]

I'm homeschooling a second grade girl and third grade boy. At the moment we're doing

 

R&S Math (Mathematical Reasoning supplement)

Apples and Pears

Apologia Science

Beautiful Feet (history, geography mostly for fun)

 

Does anyone have some suggestions for an English curriculum to go with what we're already doing? Do they need English right now? I was thinking about starting our Latin program and I've read that they'll learn lots English grammar through that also.

 

Any thoughts???

[LA Sugesstions? Switch from R&S]

Thank you for the advice! What I have liked about R&S is that it incorporates all the rules of grammar as well as spelling. I would like the kids to get both aspects in if at all possible. My 9yo isn't up to par on reading as much as my 7yo and my 5 yo is only learning so far.

[Best Kindle/Android Apps for K-3 (free/inexpensive)]

There are a couple that are simply called "third grade learning games." I believe it's the the third grade app that is free. The K, first and second grade apps are $1.99 I downloaded the third grade app first and it was great so I bought the other three as well.

[LA Sugesstions? Switch from R&S]

Hey fellow homeschoolers! I have a 9yo son, and two girls 6 & 7 that I homeschool at the moment. We've been steady with R&S phonics for about a year now. It's not working for us anymore and I'm looking for something to switch to but I haven't decided what yet. I've looked at SWR as well as AAS. Are there any others you can suggest I look at? I'd like something that incorporated the rules of grammar and spelling together.

 

Thanks in advance1

[SWR vs. R&S]

I'm thinking about switching my son (9), daughter (7), and other daughter (6) over to SWR from R&S phonics. 

 

I'm finding R&S to be confusing without much reinforcement for my kids. It's just day-to-day lessons without much review. My kids need the review. Especially when it comes to sounds/spelling rules. 

 

I've heard that SWR is really teacher intensive which doesn't both me too much as I want my children to be strong in the grammar/math/english areas. But my questions are:

 

Can I teach all three children together?

 

Are there any consumables that I will need to purchase?

 

Is there review/reinforcement of spelling/grammar rules?

 

Is the learning curve for the teacher steep because of the way the curriculum is taught or because phonics in general can be confusing?

 

Is my 9 year old too old to start? He's reading slowly and I'm wondering if SWR will help him with his reading skills or hinder him?

 

Thanks for any helpful information!!

[Suggested curriculum for an easy transition from R&S]

We have been using R&S for math and english (which has been great!) and phonics, which is CONFUSING! It's always telling me to refer to particular rule of grammar that I can't seem to find. I'm consistently having to go back and look to see what we missed when I move onto the next lesson. I'm finding it vague and not organized.

 

I'm looking for another suggested curriculum that would make a smooth transition from this one. Any thoughts??

[R&S Teaching Aides.]

For anyone here who uses R&S math curriculums, do you create all the teaching aids they talk about in the beginning of the book? We're using R&S 1 and 2 right now and I'm wondering if any of the teaching aides are super important?

 

We used the ducks briefly in the 1 with our older kids and they helpes a lot.

 

Any suggestions??

[Swaping Phonics & Spelling??]

I'm in the midst of organizing our school day for my K, 2nd and 3rd graders. We are doing:

 

R&S English

R&S Phonics

Apples & Pears for spelling

 

Can I swap phonics and spelling every other day? It just seems like a lot of "grammar" for one days worth of work altogether.

 

Suggestions?

[Charlotte Mason Curriculums]

I think, if anything I need to pick up some of the books. I don't really have much great literature for the kids that they can read through themselves right now. Mostly stuff I can read aloud to them and then I ask them questions about the story or have them tell me what happened in the story.

[Charlotte Mason Curriculums]

Yes, I had read that CM is considered a "classical" approach to education.

 

I'm realizing that a lot of items I already have fit pretty well with CM. I use R&S for grammar where the lessons are pretty short and sweet. SWB Writing with Ease for writing, Beautiful Feet for Geography (which I'm looking at their history program too because we love the geography!) I would say the only item we have that is "off" is R&S math. But I like them memorizing the facts at this age when it comes to math. So, I guess you could say we take a CM/Classical approach as well. 

 

 

[Charlotte Mason Curriculums]

The book is The Charlotte Mason Companion. I'm not reading Charlottes actual writings. I knew that CM was simply just an approach to education but I was curious as to what CM'ers use as far as curriculums go. Thanks for all the advice. I think I will check out some of them. 

[Charlotte Mason Curriculums]

Whats WTM?

[Charlotte Mason Curriculums]

So, a friend of mine randomly handed me a Charlotte Mason Book after telling her about some of the struggles I've had with my 8 yo son. We were big CC'ers and mostly did lots of rote memorization of facts and he HATED it. So now, we've kind of been at a stand-still as far as curriculums go. We've been sticking with our R&S stuff but nothing too in depth.

 

I never thought I would go the Charlotte Mason route. Not because I never liked it but because I just never felt *sold* on it I presume. Anyway, the book is knocking my socks off!!

 

Anyone else do more of a Charlotte Mason approach? What curriculums do you use? Or what aligns best with her approaches? 

 

Thanks in advance!!!

 

 

[To Do CC or Not to do CC???]

The good news is I'm going to keep my $1400 but I'm NOT going to sell any of my stuff. I think I'm just going to have to get create and move some things around for next year to fit in memory work. I like the idea of picking and choosing on my own.  

 

I also called our county and the kids are starting Clover Buds (the lower age 4h) in the Fall. I also some how found out about a recent co-op just starting this year in my community that is every other week and only $35 for the whole family, the whole year. Yay! Glad that's over :)

[To Do CC or Not to do CC???]

Is your stuff from a couple of years ago the new editions?  There is a new foundations guide and CC now has their own timeline cards and song.

 

It seems like it would be a good way for you to meet like-minded home school families and make friends in your new community.

 

You could talk to the director about partnering with another parent for tutoring.  The other parent can take over once the baby comes.  That could save you some money.

 

I could talk to her and see what she says. That's a good idea. We have all the updated material plus the old edition foundations guide. I think the community is a great idea, it's just I can pay $35/year for that. I need to know that this will benefit my family in the long run.

[To Do CC or Not to do CC???]

We just moved to TN and have a CC community in our area, which is great! I have so much CC stuff (the foundations guide, timeline cards, laminated flash cards, maps etc.) left over from when we did CC a couple of years ago and I tutored.

 

I'm at a fork in the road now. Do we do CC or not? Since I have so much stuff for it, it seems senseless to not do it even though I know there are a couple of items I would have to pick up for this year's cycle.

 

I'm worried about the money ($1400 plus the cost of the nursery for the little for one year!) I can't tutor this year because we have a baby due at the end of the year. Is it worth the cost in the long run?

 

We already have basic English, phonics, reading, math, writing, geography, and science planned out for next year. A latin program I would love to pick up and throwing CC in the mix seems like overkill.

 

Any thoughts? Encouragement? Ideas?

 

Thanks in advance :)

 

P.S. Kids are 8, 7, 5, 1, and one on the way.

[Recommended Spelling Programs]

I'll check it out. I've never heard of it. There are so many  :hat:

[Recommended Spelling Programs]

I am currently looking for a spelling program to go along with our R&S phonics, reading and English. The spelling was so awful when we tried it with R&S so we'll be using something different. I bought AAS and was impressed with the approach to teaching spelling but unimpressed with the cost and all the fluff that it involved. I can't keep up with it lol

 

I've looked at How To Teach Spelling and Phonetic Zoo, each running into less then mediocre reviews. 

 

Are there any others you would recommend to me? 

 

Next year I'll be working with my K, 2nd and 3rd grader. 

 

Thanks in advance!