If the standards HIG is so much better, what am I trading off if I switch from US edition to standards edition (I am assuming I need to use the standard edn text and wkbk if I am using the standards HIG)? We've always used the US edition (for enrichment bc right now the kids are in public school). Sell me on the standards edition for next year's plunge into HSing. Brownie

My dad would like to do a project with the boys this fall. The boys are 8, 6, and 4. He is a fairly talented wood worker. We figure he can do the actual cutting, drilling, etc... while the boys watch and learn the tools and then they can do some sanding, hammering, gluing, etc... Not being a woodworker myself I could use some help coming up with possible ideas that wouldn't be too complicated and allow my boys to do part of the work. So far I've come up with bookends or a Jacob's ladder as possible ideas. Any others? Thanks, Brownie

Just wanted to say hi from one ChemE to another! We are starting our HSing adventure in the fall and will be using Singapore 3 and Singapore 2. We're used 1 and 2 previously for enrichment and have not needed the HIG, but I hear there are review sheets and game ideas. I want to make sure I'm covering the material adequately since there really is very little material in the books and wkbks. Brownie

thanks! very helpful link. To summarize, PP has less extra stuff in it and a few people think it has more literary analysis. Since I will be piecing together my own vocabulary, grammar and spelling, so far my original choice of PP is sounding like the right one. I also noticed that PP has more book choices. Brownie

I have 2 advanced readers...they will be doing 2nd and 3rd/4th grade next year and I am looking for a lit study they can do together. I realize TLP has lots of vocab and spelling...I really don't care if the lit study includes those things. Can anyone compare the quality of the 2 from a reading comprehension standpoint? It's hard to tell from sample pages...they both look interesting. I liked that the sample pages for TLP I looked at covered literary elements like foreshadowing and similes but maybe Progeny Press does a good job with this too? Thanks, Brownie

great website! thank you for guiding me there. Brownie

I am just starting out HSing in the fall with a 3rd grader and a 1st/2nd grader. I think narration would be wonderful for them in light of their strengths and weaknesses, but what is the best resource for explaining to ME how to implement this? Thanks! Brownie

My boys who will be 7 and 9 love to draw, but never people or animals. They draw candy factories, golf courses, contraptions and traps. If I'm going teach drawing it has to be oriented more in this direction. I was thinking something architecture oriented might be out there but as I can't draw, it needs to be kid oriented. Any thoughts? Brownie

Thanks for all the great ideas! These are some wonderful leads that will keep me busy for awhile! I'm not set on collapsible...just smooth, sturdy and big enough for 3 kids and mom to spread out. Our dining room is rather long...I should easily be able to accomodate a 6 foot table. Brownie

I did pre-chem last fall with my 8 and 6 year old boys and it was great fun. It was a little much for my 6 year old but my 8 year old loves science and it was perfect. I have a background in chemistry and I've read that it is one of the more 'hardcore science' curriculums. If you want to do real science and not just have fun playing with science it's an excellent choice. Brownie

A rather basic question but I could use some direction. We are going to HS starting in the fall and our dining room will be our school room, as it essentially goes unused right now. We have no real furniture in it, nor do I want to spend the money or have the boys carve up wood with their writing and color it with their markers. I am hoping to find a large plastic table. I thought I had found a nice 6ft collapsible table at home depot for just $50 until my 8 year old pointed out that it is slightly bumpy and will cause their handwriting to be 'textured'. Does anyone have thoughts of where to look for another table? My older 2 will be working together alot and we need somewhere we can spread out but be together. Brownie

Where did you find how to send away to each state for brochures? That sounds like a fun project. Brownie

I heard a talk by a counselor for the gifted say that using the word 'focus' makes the blood rush right out of their head! Instead you could 'check in with him' every few minutes and ask him to self-assess his energy level and level of focus. See if you can get him to self-monitor better. Brownie

We are also looking at AAS. How is AAS teacher intensive? What is specifically required of the teacher? Thanks, Brownie

Yes I have the ABC's and all their tricks. It's great. I was thinking about just using that, but I would prefer something a little more structured if what I want is out there. Spelling is one subject that could require little work from me. All About Spelling does look like an option! Looks like it really teaches the rules in a clear way. I'll need to get a look at this and at Spelling Power. Thanks! Brownie

I am trying to choose a spelling curriculum for my 1st year of HSing. My boys are going to be in 3rd and 1st grade but are very advanced readers and fairly advanced spellers. Ideally I would like a curriculum that focusses on rules/reasons for spelling. Preferrably we would be able to pick a curriculum 1 year ahead and then have the boys only do the work for the words they don't know in each chapter so we can spend less time on spelling lessons. I was looking at Building Spelling Skills and Spelling Power based on Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks. However, both these seem to claim they are based on common words...Can anyone tell me...do they explain spelling rules? Are the words logically grouped? Would 'Building Spelling Skills' allow for just skipping work on words already known or are the lessons too integrated? Thanks - Brownie

My favorite books for working with DS at home: Character Building Activities by Mannix Teaching your child the language of social success Good friends are hard to find

Can I ask what makes WP not classical? I've read the WTM but I'm new to this and have only seen WP online. Thanks! I will look at some of the other options mentioned -I've never heard of most of them. The help is appreciated. Brownie

I plan to start HSing in the fall. Officially I will have 3rd and 1st grade boys. However both read at 3rd-5th grade level for fun and are avid readers. We will continue to read outside the curriculum. I will be piece-mealing and/or doing lots of hands on for math, science and history so I need the simplicity of a LA curriculum that tells me and them exactly what to do each day for LA. I will likely accelerate my first grader to 2nd grade because fine motor is at best slightly above grade level and he's had no grammar instruction. I will likely start my 3rd grader in third grade. I've looked at LLATL and Winter Promise online. Some say LLATL isn't comprehensive? and Winter Promise looks like the literature choices are possibly more advanced or at least real literature for my advanced readers, but I'm not sure it covers composition. Is there another curriculum you would recommend? Thanks, Brownie