I have used elemental science for grammar for the past four years. I started for the same reason as you, that it followed our four year cycle of history. I like that it's open and go, fairly short, and covers all the subjects systematically. Younger students might get frustrated at the writing parts, so I started doing that orally through discussion. However, I'm planning to switch to something with a Christian world view, and won't be using this again. I'll be looking at Berean Builders.

Like others have said, those names are connected to particular curriculum and don't represent the full scope of what exists as classical education. I have really appreciated SWB as well as our Tapestry of Grace curriculum, which was made solely for homeschoolers. I actually still like the people you listed and what they produce, but I have found some of it to be more for a classroom like you've said.

I looked into MFW several years back, and now I can't remember the details of it. We ended up settling on Tapestry of Grace. I think the two programs are similar in ways. TOG is a classical approach and it's been so wonderful i our home. Just throwing that our there as an option.

I don't know about Killgallon, but we took the recommendation of WTM and also others on this forum and got Writing & Rhetoric from Classical Academic Press. I am very happy so far and we are 4 weeks in. It has been a smooth transition from the narration and dictation of WWE, but it also inludes more introduction to creative writing. We are loving it!

We got it as a gift, and we now have several of the additional games for it. The kids like it, but I don't particularly find it to be that educational. For me, I have told them they can play as a reward for finishing school, but then we realized the mirror attachment (which is needed for many of the games) doesn't fit when we have the protective cover on. And it's too difficult to remove the cover each time. So we haven't used it for along time now. Maybe I should sell it...

If it's just the "repeat after me" that's bothering him, is it because he already has it memorized? Or another idea is to get the FLL CD and let him listen to it, instead of repeating you. Just some thoughts.

Sure. My goal is for all of us to be able to speak with those around us. We live in Houston, and there are SO many Latin Americans here. My kids are young, and the two that I am focusing on with Spanish are age 8 and 6. At the moment I am not worries about any AP or IB tests. We (the kids and I) serve occasionally at a place where speaking the language would be very helpful! I have a native speaking friend who is willing to help tutor us once a week, but I'm just not sure what to request of her.

My main question is this: How can I use a tutor for my children and then also for myself? What should the structure look like? How often a how long is best? Details... Hello! My kids and I are working on learning Spanish. Mostly it's my older two learning, and they are 8 and 6. I have been doing a lot more studying than them, because I want to learn at a faster pace. So my kids and I are not at the same level. Last year we did Song School Spanish, and now we are using TalkBoxMom, and my DS8 is starting Duolingo. For myself, I am also using Memrise and listening to a good beginner podcast. So now I am at a point where I feel like we would all really benefit from the help of a tutor. I have a friend who is a native speaker and willing to come tutor us, but I don't know what that would look like. How would we structure our time together? Should I ask her to simply review what we are currently learning in TalkBoxMom? Should I ask her to just work with my kids, and I would just use an online source (I have heard of things like iTalki)? I appreciate any advice!

I just got back from the Fort Worth Great Homeschool Convention and I kept thinking how much I would have loved to see her there!

Oh thank you so much for the link from SWB! We are in FLL3 right now, and I get frustrated that he sometimes doesn't remember the dictation after reading it to him three times. Gosh, I need to lighten up on him! I was wondering about this, but her comments in FLL3 made me think he should absolutely be able to repeat everything after hearing it 3 times. Now I feel like he's even doing much better than I thought, and I already felt like he was doing very well with the program. Anyway, thanks for that! And also the tips on Latin, etc. Very helpful.

I think you can start out trying FLL3, and if you get stuck, just spend a few days covering whatever he's stuck on. But FLL3 goes over concepts from FLL1-2 as a review. So you won't miss anything.

I have been wondering about latin, too. This is good to hear, especially since we are trying to focus on Spanish right now, and I'm not overly eager to start Latin. I do want to cover Latin at some point though.

Sure. We have been using FLL 1-3, and it's a very good program and compliments WWE nicely. He will be doing FLL 4 next year, but I don't know what after that.

Thanks! So did you do W&R for a year and then go back to WWS? I'm just wondering when/if I would jump back to WWS. I loved WWE, so I assume I will like WWS. But sounds like W&R is also a good series, and I probably wouldn't do both... right?

OKbud, thank you! That link to CAP's progymnasmata explained was very helpful. I really identify with this line of thought where a student should be shown/taught something done well before being expected to produce something themselves. I also like the idea that CAP seems to be a little more hand-holding. So now I'm wondering... 1. Is 3rd grade a good time to start CAP W&R Fable, or is it too soon? My DS will have completed WWE 1-3, and I am not sure he really needs WWE4 so.... is this the next logical thing for him? 2. Would you recommend continuing with the CAP series? Or should I have him hop back to WWS in a couple years?

DS8 (2nd grade) is currently finishing up WWE3 this year, and I'm starting to plan for next year. I know he's a bit ahead in writing curriculum, so I'm not in a rush to push him to something too advanced. In The Well-Trained Mind, it suggests continuing with narration and dictation, and I see it recommends a one-year curriculum called Introduction of Composition by Memoria Press. Then I also see a lot of people (including TWTM) recommending CAP's Writing & Rhetoric Book 1 on Fables. For anyone who is willing to share their thoughts... I assume I should pick one or the other out of these choices, and not both? And which one is best? Should I plan to do Intro to Composition for next year (3rd grade) and then CAP in 4th grade? Would I then stick with the CAP books from then on? What did other's do after WWE3, especially with a younger child? I'm not a writer and would prefer something that holds my hand, which is why I love the scripted format of WWE. I'm hoping to find a similar hand-holding approach going forward.

If you live in Belgium, send me a private message. I recently moved from there and I have a homeschooling friend who is still there and looking for other homeschool buddies! She has a boy about age 9. Might be nice for you two to get together!

Thank you so much for checking anyway! I'm sure this cost is just WAY too high. Especially since it's only one semester. It's supposed to be a "continuing education" course which is not for credit hours. I feel cheated out of my money honestly. But it's already been paid, so I will just take the course and make the best of it. I have been doing DuoLingo and also a Podcast called Coffee Break Spanish. Those two mixed together have been great so far. But I'm wanting more accountability and deadlines to move things along, as well as conversations. Yes, I would love to hear what is working for you!

So I have just signed up for an online Spanish class through my local community college. I want to get more serious about my own goals to learn Spanish (for me!). However, I have been hit with fees for the class that I didn't expect, and now I feel like it's just too expensive. I'm looking for a different online Spanish course that's still good but not so expensive. Or are my expectations for cost unreasonable? Cost for my online class via the community college: course fee - $268 Distance learning fee (a fee for being online) - $60 Fee for a third party website that is used for all course material and quizes - $110 TOTAL $438.

I mean having a sheet of paper with the multiplication problems written out and having him fill it out (maybe timed) over and over and over. I guess I just always called that times tables or multiplication tables. Basically drilling it for memorization. I see RS is starting to do that a bit via games. And it's working.... but I really want it to be solid. I just didn't want to jump the gun if RS is going to do plenty of it's own memory work via drills or games.

My son is going through Right Start D now, and they're building his multiplication facts. I wonder if others who have gone through the right start program would recommend adding in some multiplication tables for extra practice? I have held off because I wanted him to understand the concept before just memorizing the tables. But I think it might be time to start memorizing now...

If you use Bible Study Guide for All Ages, can you tell me how many days/week you use it? How much time you spend on it? Also, do you recommend the Beginner Timeline and the Children's Song CD? I am thinking of getting the intermediate for my 2nd grader, and the beginner for my Kindergartner, and I would like to go over it at the same time with them both.

We used Elemental Science Biology this past year for my son's 1st grade year. We started the year out working through science together, but he soon started reading everything on his own and filling out the written assignments on his own. I would simply write out the week's reading pages in advance, and he would pull the books out and read the sections and do the work. I would help with the simple, weekly experiments. It was perfect for us. I should add that my son is an advanced reader and very motivated to get his work done. The curriculum is thorough and my son learned a lot about animals, plants, and the human body. We are moving on to Earth Science and Astronomy this coming year. Hope that helps! Sarah

Oooo good ones! Wonderful list! Thank you! I am going to personalize an make my own list. Oh a buss and train schedule. Good one!

I'm actually not coming "back" to Texas. I'm a newbie. But I am ready to embrace saying "y'all" at least!