My mother has just called to tell me she wants to purchase Rosetta Stone for us this year as a school year gift!! I am so excited but now I am trying to decide.... Can anyone tell me the difference or compare the "regular" Rosetta Stone German 1 to the Homeschool version? Also, will this last longer than one year or do they move into level 2 in their second year? Does anyone know how difficult it gets in level 1? My kids have done PowerGlide the past 2 years- although I really only found that useful through the 2nd level. I'd hate to spend that much money and then find they already know the stuff in level 1.. I appreciate any insight and/or help. Thank you. Heidi

Hello all! I am going to be starting CC this fall (yeah!!), and my dd will be doing Foundations and Essentials. She is in 5th grade. Last year we did: CLE reading Gr. 4 Rod and Staff for Grammar gr. 4 Writing included in that and extra creative writing We also did some WWE lessons, esp. dictation at the beginning of the year but then stopped. My question is, will I need to supplement reading/grammar during the week or is the reading and grammar sufficient in CC? I guess I'm more concerned about reading. Is there any reading "program" or list or anything? Thanks, heidi

Sounds like Writing With Ease.... Have you looked into it? It doesn't have the rewriting that you mentioned, but it has the others. Good luck!

I would use a regular phonics based program like Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons for reading instruction. Make sure that you continue to speak in English and your wife in German. My first language was German (we moved there when I was 1) and my mother is German. I use to be totally bilingual, but then we moved to America and I refused to speak English. My mother stopped speakig in German to me to try to get me to speak English. I now struggle with German. I am no longer fluent. My godmother has grandchildren who can switch languages in mid-sentence depending on who they are talking to. They are not at all confused and know both languages equally well. It's wonderful. Good luck!

I totally think that memorizing is a normal part of learning to read. I taught K and 1st grade in ps and it was just a part of the process. I did have a child who did fine with the whole guided reading method, and two boys who needed strict phonics. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons. I wouldn't freak out if/when they memorize, but I would make sure to teach phonics as well.

Soaking them?? I"ve never heard of that and it sounds gross to me. I've done them quite a bit and use those wooden kabob pokey things to get them apart. My kids (7, 8, and 10) were all able to do this fine. If I had to do it over again in my house I would do it outside on the deck and not on my kitchen table. Just cause. I've also always used the AIMS science lesson (http://store.aimsedu.org/aims_store/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=2843 It's oly $3. for the download of the lesson and is GREAT. one of my favorite science activities.

I wanted my kids to learn this too, but I didn't want to have to add another thing to their work. So, I found an app called Stack the States (there is also Stack the Countries). They played this game and LOVE it. They can recognize each state by it's outline, have learned facts about them, flags, etc. I gave them each a blank outline map of the US and all of them filled it in completely. I was soo happy. They learned it and I didn't have to add more "work" to their day!

I switched this year to CLE math which is a LOT like Saxon. It's a spiral math program, which I really like. I did look at the Saxon math TM and really think I would have gone with that if I hadn't seen CLE. Have you gotten to look at the different ones that you like?

I use to print out large (half sheet or full sheet) letters and laminate them. Aa on a page, etc. Then they used clay to form the letters write on top of the laminated sheet. If you had a boy you could make it look like a road and drive their car over the letters. Cut and paste letters from magazines, stamps, etc. onto a large sheet of paper with the letter of the day kind of thing. Letter of the day is a great idea too.

Well, I think you have to understand and agree with what the program is based on. It is my understanding that it is written from a perspective that you learn how to write in the grammar stage by copying great writing. Thus the copywork. I think if you have a natural born writer, this might be boring, my dd never liked it much but she loves to do creative writing. My boys on the other hand are not natural writers and so the copywork and dictation are perfect for them. It's stressful for them to have to think of a topic and sentences AND the mechanics of writing. Focusing on the mechanics now, and then when they have that down, brining in the creative part I think will me much better for them. I think forcing the issue at that age just leads to kids who don't like to write and have a bad taste in their mouth for it.

My kids love Volume 1, not sure if the difference b/w that and the 2nd (which they liked but not as much) was just that ancient history is more exciting or they've just gotten used to it. We will be doing the 3rd book this coming year.

My son likes non fiction too. He loves the Usborne Famous Lives books. http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=14&category=4585

That is stupid. I don't think they can do that either. I mean, if you're not sharing what they made/did how can they keep you from doing what you want and then sharing it? There are all kinds of resources about how people used items. I suppose if I wanted to write about it on a blog, I might change curriculums. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck.

We used them for Ancient History and LOVED them. I am thinking of getting the pioneer and early American ones this year. I mostly used them as extra activities with SOTW when the activity in the book was not interesting to me or took too much prep.

I have a double door closet in my basement where we homeschool that I put all books we are not currently using. I have a small, old bookcase that sites beside my worktable that I keep all current year books, etc. in. My kids use workboxes so their daily materials are in boxes on their shoe rack. I then have a milk crate that I have file folders for each of my kids papers. At the end of a 6 week "session" I file completed work in a folder and put it in the closet. This was a GREAT organizational tool I picked up on a website- http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/2010/04/organizing-school-paperwork.html Good luck!

For me (I have ADD and I tend to get off task with laundry, dishes, etc.) I had to make a school room. So that was number 1. BUT this also helped my dd who had been in public school several years take it all a little more seriously I think. I have a table and a white board behind that I write notes, etc. on, a calendar activity board, the pledge on the back of the door, everyone has their own "desk", and school posters that I add to throughout the year. We have a schedule that is flexible but mostly consistent. We start at 9. Have the ground rules set up with expectations was a biggie for me. But then, I was a teacher and so maybe that's just what I do b/c that's what I'm use to. I think knowing yourself is a biggie too. Are you good at managing all kinds of things or do you need a pretty much open and go kind of curriculum? Do you LOVE a certain subject that you want to take more time on? I need my kids to be working out of a very scheduled curriculum for most subjects. I love science and so I enjoy hunting for really fun activities and doing a little more than some. Those would be my suggestions. Good luck!

I love 100 Easy Lessons for reading b/c it's short, consistent, and effective. I also love our workboxes. You could fill his with all different kinds of short activities and have lots of get up and move around breaks. File folder games, listen to books on tape or CD, play with math manipulatives, etc. and put in a worksheet or two.

That's too funny. I ALWAYS do that. Decide on something for very solid reasons and then I'm talking to someone or see a catalog, etc. and then I'm back to trying to decide. This is why my sister said she does not go to any curriculum fairs.

I LOVE How to Read in 100 Lessons. It worked GREAT for my boys. Especially my son with ADHD who needed consistency and rules above all.

Hello, I have a 4th grade DD, a 2nd DS, and a 1st DS. Right now we are doing FLL for the boys, WWE for the boys (and a modified approach for my DD), Sequential spelling with all, and my DD is doing R&S4. We currently read literature for our reading. DD is reading is currently reading Holes, DS 2nd is reading on grade and out of some A-Beka readers that I found as well, and my DS 1st is reading Amelia Bedelia and little bear, etc. My concern is that possibly they aren't getting the implied understanding and questioning that a "program" for reading would offer. I have a friend who does CLE and I am considering using their reading. I LOVE Sequential spelling and our grammar... so not looking to change that. Just have a more structured reading. Does what I am wanting seam to line up with CLE program? And where would I put my DS 1st? We did 100 lessons last year, and he is doing very well. Would the 1st grade reader be too easy? This is my 2nd full year of homeschooling and I keep freaking out that they aren't doing something that someone else is... Help! Heidi

I was overwhelmed trying to fit it all in last year as well (my first year homeschooling ALL of mine). Mid year I switched to workboxes as a system of organizing and getting through the day. My kids all love it and it allows them to get in so much more than if I didn't. Sue Patrick is the pioneer of the system. I also used Writing With Ease for her and it is a great tool for getting in the narration, copywork, dictation. We also do lapbooking which my kids all like better than notebooking. There are tons of these online free and I just add one booklet to a workbox related to History or science. She would have balked at the notebooking coming from public school, but we'll probably start that when she is tired of lapbooking. Good luck with it all!! Heidi PS- Seriously, you can always start with the basics and then add in extras as the year goes on. Take a look at workboxes.

Oh yeah.... I used to be a teacher. I had made all kinds of stuff. File folder games, etc. For all kinds of grades b/c I taught 1st, 2nd, and 5th. I kept everything in boxes for 5 moves across the country.... then, 2 years ago decided to sell it all b/c I hadn't used it. The next year I started homeschooling. I can't tell you how much money I threw away. because of that. ugh!! Good luck finding it cheap. Heidi

newbie here... what is HTTS? Heidi

I would think it's a little advanced for a 2 year old. Mine didn't have the attention span required for doing activities after reading of the book. There would probably be some activities you could do with the books, but it is a lot of money for what a 2 year old would get out of it unless they are a very advanced 2 year old. I love workboxes. You could use those with a 2 year old. Put letter of color activities in the boxes. I've seen some really cute ones with color themes like red for each day....you might google it... good luck with whatever you are doing! Heidi

I have a 3rd grader (my other two are younger) but will start spelling next year. We are having trouble with spelling. She HATES it. We were doing the Sequential spelling. I really am not too excited about it either.... having to write words every day that she already knows seams rather counterproductive... I was going to try Spelling Power, but now not sure. I would LOVE some of your thoughts on what you use and what you like about it. Thanks! Heidi