Well, I recommend my electronic dictionary! The kids are much more likely to look up words as they are reading (it's fun) and the history feature means we can review words. The thesaurus is fun too, and they are eager to use it in writing class. When I'm reading aloud, it is so much more convenient than lugging out the huge dictionary, looking up the word, writing it down for review, etc. It has been one of my best purchases. I have the Sharp PE 550 which is a little pricey, but has been worth it for easy of use and scope. Penny

My dc (11) says: Very Favorites are: Bound for Oregon Witch of Blackbird Pond Calico Bush The Sign of the Beaver Extremely Good are: Johnny Tremain (maybe this should be bumped up a catagory) The Reb and the Redcoats (Maybe some of these are SL books???) She enjoyed all of the If You Lived....series. There are probably others that we can't remember right now. However, I would not read In Search of Honor (scheduled as a read aloud) or let my kids read it (way too gory). Also, I had problems with Bold Journey with Lewis and Clark. It has at least one very graphically described scalping scene, and after cutting that scene (literally) out of the book, I still didn't think it proper for my 5th grader. I found that even with BiblioPlan, I still had to pre-read. There were many really good books, and have fun!

Well, I use both. BiblioPlan has a great book list and it is cheap. However, I pre-read every book and make a list of vocab words and comprehension questions, and it just got to be too much without help. So this year I bought the SL IG and it is helping so much. Now I can pre-read without constantly stopping to jot down page numbers and vocab words, along with comprehesion questions. Of course, if you were willing to skip all that, then just go with BiblioPlan. The books are fantastic, listed for all grade levels, and there are many more of them. One thing I do is get the lower grammar books just for fun for my 11 yr old dc, then assign the 5th-8th grade book. However, even with BiblioPlan I do recommend pre-reading. A few books I found too gory for my kids to read (In Search of Honor comes to mind). They were very good books, but not for a sheltered 5th grader. So, this week I am doing a SL read aloud, and my kids are scheduled for a BP reader! Oh, the other issue is that we do SOTW, and BP has books for world history, whereas SL just American. If I had to choose just one, probably BP due to the grade level lists. Penny

I just starting working with my 11 yr old on taking notes. We are using the Cornell format in that we use the cue column with important details beside each cue. http://lsc.sas.cornell.edu/LSC_Resources/cornellsystem.pdf This week ds began taking notes from SOTW and from a historical story book. I modeled taking notes from each and then set him loose to do it by himself. What I noticed is that this is more of an advanced skill that I had previously thought. For the story book I had to encourage him to not write down too much detail. Then, when he took notes on SOTW (which is very condensed), his notes were much too sparse! So, I am going to continue modeling note taking for quite a while, asking each time as we go through the books, "What do you think we should write?" and simply keep up the discussion. This is not going to happen overnight. Also, I would hesitate to begin this with a 2nd grader. Blessings, Penny

Well, I can't give you a detailed answer yet since I received these recently and haven't compared topic to topic yet. My initial reaction is that they are of the same complexity as far as the student problems, and cover the same topics. The Lial's seems to have clearer explanations. Jan in TX assures me that they do cover the same topics and are written to the same high standards. I am also surprised that R&S covers most if not all of the topics in these books, but does so in a much easier to understand format. However, once again, I am still going to go through all the topics more thoroughly and compare. I can keep you posted if you wish. Penny

This sounds like you are not sure of your beliefs, or why you have them. (For many years I really didn't know what I believed or why. Having children forced me to dig deep and answer the big questions for myself. The most important way I influence my children is not by giving them a great education, but by giving them a valid world view.) I would encourage you to dig very deeply into what you believe, and why your beliefs make sense, are logical, and are not just feelings. Your child will question deeply the meaning of life and other world view questions, and you should be able to help guide them on their way. You should also be able to respond to other beliefs and why you do NOT believe the same way. All beliefs cannot be true. They simply exclude each other. Just some thoughts and I hope they are not offensive! I mean only the best.

Super Saver Shipping takes FOREVER...

Latin in the New Millinnium If I were to do it over again, I'd seriously consider this program. Too bad we're already too far along! It seems to have the best of a reading program and a grammar program. It is beautiful. Penny

I'd say it skips around alot! One week SOTW may have 4 chapters scheduled, and for other weeks, none! I couldn't deal with this, so I just did SOTW and looked around on my bookshelf for books that fit in. (Or, looked around in BP and ordered from the library books that fit in.) Some of the books were wonderful. Many were very good. However, some I would suggest pre-reading. For instance, In Search of Honor was WAY too gory to read to my family, although it was suggested as a family read a loud. The Lewis and Clark book Bold Journey also had some gory material in it and I generally did not like the way the author made up negative personalities for people in the expedition. It seems unethical to make members of the expedition somewhat infamous in my children's mind when their was no real historical indication they had that personality. Hope this helps. I did get BP for this year also, so I guess I'm a satisfied customer. However, I do use it simply as a supplementary reading list. (I also got the Sonlight readers/read a louds although we are doing SOTW with activity guide.) Blessings, Penny

I'm sort of in the same situation as I have ds going into 6th next year and we are switching from R&S. Here is what I have done: I bought a copy of the Chalk Dust pre-algebra text on amazon for $8 including shipping. Just looking at this text is better than taking a pre-test. I know what my ds is capable of. Once I see what is expected, then I can plan how to get there. After posting on the HS board, Jan in TX gave me a great pm about math. After reading her advice, I bought a copy of Lial's Basic College math on amazon for $8 (also including shipping). Now I can compare the two. With this info, I have looked at R&S and am planning our schedule accordingly. If you want the ISBN numbers for these texts to search on amazon, let me know. Also, on a post sometime back, all the ISBN numbers for the Chalk Dust texts were given, and info on how to get the video's (which are not exclusive to Chalk Dust) for a fraction of the cost. Folks were getting their algebra curriculum for around $80 with the videos instead of $300. If you search around, you will find that post (about 3 weeks old??) Sorry for the typo's - no time to proof! Blessings, Penny

Now why did you post this????? Now I'm looking at yet another great curriculum! I thought I had it all figured out. I'm currently using Latin Prep 2 mixed with Cambridge. This looks like the best of both (and even better!) in one book.

Right Start Level A doesn't even begin with number symbols, but with tally marks and dot cards and finger cards, and of course, the abacus to show what numbers really are. Your post implies that you realize number symbols are meaningless unless paired with the objects being counted. Right Start seems to be the ONLY program which addresses this subject in depth when teaching children. The RS games are wonderful, and do teach facts with number cards. However, this is only after work has been done to teach understanding of our base 10 system. Also, the games are not the whole program. Working with the abacus and following the lessons is essential. Now, I had to stop using RS at a higher level because of the way the program teaches multiple stategies to solve problems. My dc is not math minded and could only handle one way of solving a problem. That said, RS at the lower levels was wonderful for us. Also, since your dc will be going into 1st, you'll probably be interested in Level B. But Level A is the level where the number system is taken slowly and thoroughly introduced. I'm not sure of your question, but I hope this helps. Penny

Have you tried Times Tales?? These are just silly stories made up to get the child to memorize the upper times tales. They have worked on 3 out of 3 of my children, resulting in memorizing the upper times tables in about 1.5 days. Penny

I'm in the same boat! We finished R&S 5 a week ago, and my plan is as follows: Do R&S 7 (just began this). My plan is to skip R&S 6 so that we may do pre-algebra in 7th. I do not think most kids should do pre-algebra in 6th grade. The concepts are abstract, and unless your child has a highly developed brain for her age, it could lead to melt down. I have on hand Larson's pre-algebra, and R&S 7 will prepare dc for that. (But after completing R&S 5, my dc are not ready for it. Your dc may be more math minded and be more mature, only you can decided.) I have also ordered Lial's pre-algebra, and am going to evaluate the two. After settling on Pre-algebra for 7th, dc will take algebra in 8th. (Note that the pre-algebra is somewhat like the algebra I took in 8th grade way back when!) I may have dc go through R&S 8 depending on when we finish up and how I feel about it. (I will order R&S 8 and see how it fits in.) I really like the concrete way R&S presents math and the practice it gives. I want my dc to be OVER ready for algebra to try to prevent shutdown. If we do R&S 8 then we'll keep going over the summers to keep them on track for geometry, alg 2, trig, and calc in HS. So, this is my plan. Search the HS board for more info. I have posted there and others about this same problem. Jann in TX gave me great info on the Lial's series and how to proceed. I will probably end up using those. One thing for sure is that I do not personally care for Saxon. Hope this helps. Penny Also, I got the Larson's book (the one Chalkdust uses) on Amazon for $8 with shipping. The Lials book was about the same price. It's cheap to buy these texts and evaluate!

Michelle, Thanks so much! Jan did pm me and she is EXTREMELY helpful. This post from you is also helpful. I printed off both and am about to search amazon for some cheap copies. Thank you for being one of those great moms willing to share your experiences! Penny

OK, I'm new at this, having only 6th graders next year. I looked on Amazon and saw that Lial's has pre-algebra, introductory algebra, and intermediate algebra. When did you use introductory algebra? Why not pre-algebra? And what exactly is intermediate algebra? Is this considered just plain algebra by everyone else? I would like to get through this without burning my oldest too much by benefitting from your experience!!! Thanks! Penny

Michelle, What curricula did you use?

Thanks Penny, Ruth, Ria, and Spock. I guess I just needed some re-assurance. I feel somewhat lost going into the middle school years and preparing for HS - College. It's sad but I won't have the experience to do this until I've already done it! I really worry about R&S being enough, but I love the concrete way it approaches math for this age group. Right now the plan is to begin Chalk Dust pre-algebra in 7th. I'd love to hear objections/or ideas about this. Blessings. Penny

Thanks Spock. What you say makes sense. Why am I so worried? I am going into the world of the unknown. I'm not quite sure R&S will prepare my kids well enough. I've looked at Saxon 7/6 and it is very different, much more abstract. I feels like I'm making my children behind the others by keeping them in R&S. Still, I don't see why such abstract concepts need to be pushed down to 6th grade! And some are doing Saxon 8/7 in 6th grade! It just seems too much. My gut tells me to wait for a little more brain development before bringing out the more advanced math.

I have dc going into 6th. I had planned to complete R&S 8 then go directly into algebra. But now I'm panicing. A friend of mine really insists that to do well on the SAT they need to be getting into Saxon. I REALLY do not like Saxon. Questions: Should I skip a grade in R&S? We are beginning R&S 6 now; should I just go directly to R&S 7? Or should I teach R&S 6 and 7 in the same year (there is so much review!) Then go to a pre-algebra in 7th? Should I go from R&S 6 to a pre-algebra in 7th? (I'm looking at Chalk Dust). How do I prepare these kids to do well on the SAT?? Many many thanks and blessings for you as you help me through this panic. Penny

Thank you. I've read your posts about CLE but what holds me back is that I want literature from the great authors. Who are the authors in CLE lit? What I don't want is nice literature from unknown authors (like R&S publishes). I DO prefer Christian, and the books that R&S publishes are nice, but not great. How about CLE? Thanks again, Penny

Thanks Wendy. Seriously, pm me as to how much you want for it. I need something text bookish so that it gets done around here! I'm getting majorly frustrated with these guys not doing anything unless Mommy holds their little hand!

Can anyone give more info on this? It looks great but pricey. I have a 6th grader and am interested in Pearl.

Connie, I'm also lurking here and I have the same question about printing. Let us know! Blessings, Penny

Be careful! My 9 year old did sew over her finger. It was terrible. She had been sewing for a while, and I had very carefully explained to her how her finger could get under the needle, and why she needed to go slowly and carefully and keep her hands out of the way. In fact, I continually emphasized the point! However, some kids must learn for themselves. She STILL sews too fast! Penny