for my 6 yo ds (turned 6 in Dec). We'll use yr 1. I loved many of these read aloud choices with my first ds and feel like that's what we've been missing this school year. I'm planning to do a "trial" term the last 10 -12 weeks of this school year. (I also have a 9yo ds, 4yo dd, and 2 yo ds and one on the way... so I'm not sure if I can handle all the read alouds for everyone.... so we're going to have a "trial period" first). Other curriculum: MUS - finish alpha and go to Beta SWR FLL HWOT WWE - (haven't ordered this yet, but I'm thinking about workbook 1 for him) nature study/history/literature/art/music - will all be through AO (hopefully) He also plays chess competitively.... Now, don't tell Laura in China, but I still have to figure out P.E. :)

Yikes - I'm curious who that was? Then again maybe I don't want to know, LOL.

For 3rd grade and K We've had more of a "miss" year than a "hit" year here, mostly because of my inability to adjust to Classical Conversations. Hits(Nothing new here): MUS ETC (K-er) Chronicles of Narnia (3rd grader) Misses: Classical Conversations - it leaves us with a 4 day week which just doesn't work for us. It is too much memory work with too high a cost (time-wise) - we are missing all the great read alouds we used to have time for. Love/Hate: SWR - it is what we need, but has been difficult to implement on a 4 day schedule (because of CC) I think it will get better :) SOTW vol.3 - my kids love it, but I miss the continuity of story we had when our spines were only CHOW and Island Story. I'm leaning towards migrating back towards Ambleside after CC is over and letting dss listen to SOTW on CDs (finishing vol3 and moving on to vol 4 in the fall). Great thread!

I have MOTH and will probably try it again some time, but I'm a bit of a rebel against schedules and such. Are you talking about MOTH or their chore pack? I have never bought the chore pack book (only the original scheduling book), but a friend of mine has it. The chore pack has (I think) a plastic pouch on a string the kids can where around their neck that holds the chore cards. So I don't know if that method appeals to you over a chart, but I guess it's more mobile and less likely to get set down and forgotten. Let us know what works for you. Your experience and insights are always helpful!

I know this will vary a bit by area, city size, etc... but we're having a babysitter come Friday night (my Mom usually babysits) and I'm not sure what the going hourly rate is. We have 4 children, ages ranging from 9 to 2. Thanks for any input!

I did not participate in CC for Cycle 1, so take my comments with a grain of salt. I think that Cycle 1 might more accurately be called "Ancients and Civilizations" because it does jump around to different civilizations in (what seemed to me) no particular order. When I was using the materials at home (alone) I considered writing my own Cycle 1 history sentences in chronological order, focused more on the Israelites, but eventually abandoned it. Ultimately I did not use Cycle 1 with my kids at home. We have participated in a CC group this year - for Cycle 2 - and the history sentences make much more sense. They are more chronological too. I haven't seen the chant on youtube, but the timeline for CC is the VP history cards (rearranged a bit for proper chronological order). Learning the cards might serve your purpose better (than using the sentences), however the sentences may be easier to learn because of the songs. Hope that helps some.

I'm feeling better for now. Every couple of weeks I think of a new option, get excited about it, and then a couple weeks later I think of something new to solve all my problems. I feel for you with so many variables - and because it will take so long for them to all "play out." My latest idea is to go back to AO. We didn't use it this year and I've been feeling like something was missing the whole time! We loved it last year and year before. I was scared of it because I'm adding a 1st grader and a K-er this fall, but I've created my own version of a 3.5 yr. for my to-be-4th grader hoping he will be able to do a lot of his readings on his own. So I'll combine for a few things, but otherwise keep them in their own years and read aloud a lot to the 1st grader (with k-er hanging around) and read aloud just a little to the 4th grader. (I have to tweak a bit because we are on a 4 yr history cycle and AO is on a 6 yr.) Their term schedules (or my tweaked versions) are so helpful. Maybe you could do something like that and then just "do the next thing" as it fits your schedule and your life. Anyway, that may sound like too many different things going on (I might think that too around October, LOL). Just thought I would share, fwiw. Good luck!

I was just wondering if anyone has used this book? recommend it? And if so, do you know if there's much difference between the editions? (What edition did you have?) Thanks!

Oh my goodness! Thank you for posting this - I did not see it the first time around. I'm very hopeful it will be out this summer! Thanks!

I know this has been discussed on the old board (and probably here too). I'll have a 4th, 1st and K next year (not to mention 3 yo and newborn). My oldest will *die* if we don't stick to plan and cover modern history next year. (He loves Napoleon, Civil War, WWI, WWII - well all wars, LOL - typical boy stuff). I was thinking of using Truthquest guides (American History for young students part of II and all of III) with everyone and let my oldest ds read or listen to SOTW vol4 (cds) on his own. Anyone else do this? Plan to do this? Or have other ideas of how to cover the era with younger ones tagging along? Also - anyone use the Truthquest guides I'm talking about? - do you recommend them? Thanks!

I'm chuckling at the idea that I would respond to a science thread, LOL - it's my worst subject, so I really have no business, LOL. Since you said you wanted hands on stuff, I just wanted to add that if you end up doing your own thing you might like the Janice Van Cleave books. They are full of "experiments" you can do. As far as writing goes. I have no answers there either. Like previous poster I'm anxious for SWB's new book, Writing With Ease.

I followed it somewhat for 1st and 2nd grade. Then I began to speed us up so we could get history on a 4-yr cycle. I consider myself a failure at nature study, and I decided to put Shakespeare off for later. That said, we have LOVED everything we have read from AO (except Parables From Nature). We've loved: Island Story, CHOW, Herriot's Treasury for Children, Burgess Bird Book, Burgess Animal Book, the D'Aulaire books, the Holling books (well, I have struggled with reading Minn aloud, but other than that we've loved them), The Little Duke, Betsy Understood, Pyle's Robin Hood, others I'm forgetting. We've only done a few chapters, but I really like Science Lab in a SuperMarket. I will say that the two years I followed their suggested schedules it was great. We were doing tons of great read alouds, but their schedule made it very manageable. We haven't followed their schedule and I find we have gotten further and further away from AO. (Also, we started SOTW this year for the first time. My ds likes it, but I miss the focus on Britain we had before and the continuing story line there.) I still consult AO for reading suggestions. And I plan to go back to their music and art next year if not before. I think trying their weekly schedules for awhile is a great idea. It might surprise you how much you get done!

Emmy, I have appreciated your thread very much. My oldest is 3rd grade and I feel like I'm still figuring out my approach to LA. When he was K, I thought I knew exactly how I would teach him to read. It did not go smoothly, so I adjusted and we got over the hump. Then I thought I knew how I would do spelling. It did not yield success. So I adjusted. etc. etc. I will say his reading has finally really "taken off" (can't pull the book out of his hands, LOL!), so now I'm trying to sort out my ideas about writing. I can't wait for to see The Complete Writer/Writing With Ease. I think it's really what I need! (BTW, I had Latin in high school and have no fear of it, but I keep putting it off each year anyway. Opposite of some folks, I've decided I want him to have a strong foundation in grammar and THEN apply that to the Latin. At this point I'm thinking we will probably start it in 5th.) I think you're off to a stronger start than I was. I didn't read the WTM until after I started and I originally had biases against some of it for awhile. The further I go, the more I value it (not that I follow it very accurately :) ) I totally agree with you about LA being a lot to juggle! Isn't it fun?!

I guess I would ask what ages are your dc? I hesitate to reply because I don't think our experience is typical, but I wanted to give you a different point of view - and it might even help you know that you WILL like it. I tried it when my ds was first grade (vol. 1, for ancients of course). I chose it because a Biblical perspective was important to me. It did not take me long to realize that much of it was over a first grader. We kept the time line about half the year; I made review cards for about 2 lessons (LOL); and we rarely did anything in writing. While I think you could fold youngers into it, I don't recommend it if your oldest ones are young. While I understand the appeal of the conversational tone, I quickly longed for something more "literary" to read aloud to my ds. I ended up using many of Ambleside Online's suggestions for history and literature and continued our study of the Israelites with Greenleaf's Guide to the Old TEstament. We also both enjoyed listening to Diana Waring's "What in the World's Going On Here" CDs. (My ds begged to listen to them everytime we went somewhere - or at night as he went to sleep - though with her enthusiasm I don't know how he fell asleep, LOL). We learned a great deal about integrating Bible and secular history from the CDs. I'm not trying to knock MOH, just wanted to give you another point of view. It's a solid program - just wasn't what we wanted.

For me, I have found it hard to accomplish what I wanted to for school this year having only 4 days at home instead of 5. I was excited about CC because I thought of it as accomplishing our science, music, and art without much effort from me. I also looked at the memory work as an "add on" to my other plans. In hindsight, I think I would have been better off to have structured out entire year around CC. I think someone who really bought into it and structured their entire homeschool around it would have success. I think adding it on to other goals will be frustrating. BTW, we did not participate in essenstials, but the little I know from people who have - they either loved it or hated it. To summarize, I think it's a great program, but just probably not what we are looking for. Clear as mud?

I do not offer this book suggestion as one who has conquered or mastered this problem at all. In fact I really need this with my own kids. There is a book called Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and .... in you and your kids. (Or something like that). It talks about "honor" being the "secret ingredient" to good relationships (particularly inside the family, but outside as well). It also has a study guide/family devotional for each chapter in the back of the book. Although we could use studying it again, I have found it a helpful tool in many sibling issues to ask both siblings involved if they have treated the other with honor. It seems to "cut to the chase" if you know what I mean :)

Thanks! Is SW Spelling Workout?

I was just wondering if anyone is using the SWR phonograms and rules (and markings?) with a different spelling or vocabulary program. If so, which one, do you like it, why, etc, etc. I'm sticking with SWR for awhile and I got the "My Wise Grammar" to help us with enrichments... but I just don't feel ds gets enough time "playing around" with the words (without me! - I want a workbook!). On the SWR Yahoo loop one of the trainers has made her blog available and she is spending 1 hour a day doing SWR with her kids - I just cannot do that. All thoughts and comments welcome! Thanks!

Congratulations! May I ask how much time you are spending teaching their lessons? I am spoiled right now because I'm relying on MUS DVDs to teach the lesson, so I was just curious. Thanks!

I'm not jumping the MUS ship just yet, but I am beginning to investigate other options for comparison. I started with MUS 4 yrs ago without investigating a lot of other math curriculum because it was recommended to me and I thought it looked gentle, logical, etc. Now, I'm wondering if I would prefer a more traditional scope and sequence. I do like how little input my two dss need from me with MUS (my up and coming dd will be another story - no matter which curriculum we use - numbers are not her strong suit!) So, finally my question... what math curriculum would you recommend that is a more traditional scope and sequence than MUS, does not overkill on number of problems, and if possible, requires little from Mom. I'm not sure if I prefer mastery, spiral or incremental - but probably mastery with some review? Thanks!

I have started using the Spectrum Test Practice workbook with my ds, 3rd grade, to prepare him for his first standardized test later this spring. I just looked at the math section and I'm thinking there is a lot that he has never seen before! We are on lesson 20 of MUS Gamma. So my questions are 1)if you've btdt with MUS did your dc score low on math sections of standardized tests in the early years? 2) if so, did you decide to supplement with additional curriculum? 3)please add any other thoughts/suggestions you have about this issue. Thanks!

I'm so glad you posted this. I just went to the website and I love the idea of a intergenerational study! It looks like there is also a Family Devotional Guide for much less (around $10). In the sample it said that while ideally the curriculum lesson would be taught at church and the devotional guide used to reinforce at home, the Devotional Guide is not dependent on the study of the curriculum. Sounds like a good option!

So, do you mind us asking what math curriculum you like for the same reasons? It's always good to know... I see AG in our future some day. Thanks!

I haven't used it, but thought I would "bump" your post up. Also, I think I have seen a review of it on StaceyTea's blog. I don't remember the blog, but if you look for her posts, you'll see a link in her signature. (I think!)

If you want something laid out for you so you're not always searching for copywork and dictation on your own.... have you looked at the sample of the new writing workbook that accompanies SWB's Writing Book, The Complete Writer? The samples on Peace Hill Press's website are for level 1. My understanding is that level 2 may be out this spring/summer as well? If most of your schooling is laid back, unstructured, adding this in might not be much of a burden. As far as spelling goes - try to evaluate whether you have "natural spellers" or not. ETC helped my ds's reading, but did not help his spelling. I ended up finding something else to use for spelling. You might not need to. Just some inexperienced thoughts :)