Last year we did Just So Stories and Kidswrite Basic. Great classes. My son's favorite I think was Just So Stories. After finishing he said he wanted to take it again which left me pleasantly surprised. I thought this year we would use Writing Apprentice and supplement with Brave Writer here and there. I told him about W.A. and he thought it sounded like fun but after receiving the book and looking over the the format he was lukewarm. For this year, he unexpectedly ended up lining up his classes for the first semester (blew me away): Summer Movie Discussion Club, Write for Fun 1, Nature Journaling (missed out last yr), Homer Price Arrow Club in October, and Writing the Short Story. After Christmas I think he wants to take Journaling Jumpstart because I wouldn't let him squeeze it in with Writing the Short Story. It is just so relieving that he has found a program in the writing arena that he likes. BW saved the day.

For our 7th grade son (13 in Dec): Math: I bought Math Mammoth and T.T. 7 with the intention of using T.T 7 as a back up. But last minute wimped out. He does well with the mini-bites of information in each lesson and the built in review. So now I have Math Mammoth for back up. Science: Science in the Scientific Revolution; He caught me looking into it, noticed it covered coding and that was it. History: Revolution, a unit study from shpublishing, and Foundation For Freedom US Constitution, plus additional books; these lined up with his interests topically so hopefully they fit his style. But if not I have All American History V1 as a back up. Language Arts: Phonetic Zoo, Patriotic Penmanship, & Vocab Cartoons (on a loop); BraveWriter Online Classes for the 1st semester (he lined it up much to my surprise-Movie Discussion Course, Just for Fun 1, Nature Study, Homer Price Arrow Club; Short Story); Teaching the Classics (might formally use it next semester but this semester, I plan informal socratic talks with picture books) Foreign Language/Critical Thinking: Rosetta Stone French, Math Balance, SmartyPants (on a loop) Bible: Money Matter for Kids book and Money Matter for Teen Wkbk Read Aloud: Bruchko (not the full title and it's the sequel); my son liked the first one so much he hounded me until I bought the sequel Art: Mark Kistler Virtual Classroom, Get Mapmaking Music: envisioning piano lessons at some point; in the meantime he'll practice what he already knows; also hope to use coloring the classics-at the very least I'll have him listen to the music. Delight Directed Learning: DuinoJr Kit (at this time I don't recommend it, the program for it is tempermental at best so far, if we are able to get help figuring out the problem, I might have something more positive to say about it), 50 Science Experiments, Kid Coder Web Design Beginners & Advanced, Whittling, Trebuchet Kit, Professor Teaches (bit of trouble getting files to load to computer and not all of them will work, limited amount of help offered by the company; I'd have avoided it if I had known because what good is a program that won't load on your computer. I have windows 8), telescope with a notesketches book and Signs & Seasons Txt only. Gym: archery, possibly a martial art and/or gym membership when he turns 13 in a few months. we'll see how much driving help I have-not trying to make myself crazy with business. I have our year broken into terms with more of a year round homeschooling flavor and enough extra days to take time off as we need it (for sanity) or for fun. So this is our first term plan which ends with a week break the second to last week of Sept. Next term some of the stuff will rotate out to try to keep things fresh. I've also shortened how much time we'll spend on each area. We start at 8am and are done by lunch at 12. Art and Music are in the afternoon along with his interests (delight directed learning).

Fantastic thanks!

Thank you. You are right. Today, I was on veritas press's website (i think), and their description says either with or stand alone.

What does Sentence Island have dc do to develop writing a strong sentence? I've looked but can't get a clear idea in my head.

Merry Gardens and Tiramisu, thank you for responding; I am so very grateful. Tiramisu, I am looking forward to reading the book you suggested. To anyone who comes along: I'll continue to periodically check back in case of more replies.

I desire an understanding of auditory processing disorder and there seems to be a wealth of knowledge here. Some information given to me by my mom about myself: When I was a child my mom was told by the psychologist that I would never be "normal" and that I would never play with other kids. My first year in elementary school, I was in sped classes for all subjects. I noticed my computation grade on the report card was unsatisfactory but the conceptual understanding was satisfactory. I went to a private school for kids with learning disabilities for 3 years. I remember really small classes-no more than 8 students. One time while watching tv, my eyes shifted to the left. I apparently was unaware of it happening. I couldn't stand background noise. I would constantly give inappropriate responses to questions or comments in conversations. So these are some of the symptoms, are there others? Most especially, what's the cause; and, how does it get fixed?

I don't know if this really matters or not but technically ds is going into 6 grade.

I am a bit confused by some reviews I have read elsewhere about Imitation in Writing. Can someone please tell me if it's stand alone or if it has to be used with TWSS (IEW)? We've just finished R&S 4-no outlining taught. He enjoys writing when there is something he wants to research/talk about. His mechanical skills need some attention. I am wondering if it's necessary for ds11 to start with W&R Bk1?

Thanks! Checking it out.

Since it doesn't provide a clear picture, I guess the list won't generate as much as I thought. We are going into our 3rd year of homeschool. I have no personal experience with anything listed below. I would like for whatever I choose to develop ds' thinking skills and writing skills. Last year we used Rod and Staff 4 mostly orally which made me realize that ds needs to use grammar within a more structured writing approach to fully understand it. I don't want to start him back more than 1 grade level for morale reasons. I also wasn't sure how well any of it fits the list or if there could be better fits since the ones I know about are just a drop in the bucket. Initially, for Lang. Arts I was contemplating: Teaching the Classics, Building Spelling Skills 6, TWSS/SWI-B with Fix-It Grammar, Research in Increments and The Word Artist. After more research I've also been contemplating CS-Homer with the recommended grammar, Poetry for Beginners, Wordsmith Apprentice. Not really sure what to use or what combinations. For History I've been contemplating MFW Creation to the Greeks (incorporating THOWELL's idea if ds wants to delve deeper) using art, music, sci according to interest. I'm interested in covering Ancient History and really like that they incorporate the Bible/Biblical Worldview. In conjunction with MFW or THOWELL's idea, I've wondered about using Classical Historian: Take a Stand-Ancient TG which is about learning the socratic method to think critically about history and support the stand taken. Maybe that would be too much, IDK. We plan to use a separate sci curric (NOEO CHEM 3). Math I was planning on Horizons 5 with manipulatives kit and Life of Fred for necessary breathers.

Sounds like something ds would probably really like to do. I plan on keeping this in mind. Thanks for the idea.

Thanks for the idea.

I was just trying to be creative with the topic in asking for people to state their opinions with the understanding from a quick definition search that opine is a verb meaning to hold or state an opinion while opinion is a noun. I thought it was good :thumbup1: but i guess not so much :thumbdown:. Oh, well. :tongue_smilie: :lol:

Based on the following list of learning preferences/styles, what curriculum or method (cm, classical, etc) would you suggest for average ds12(in Dec). Please indicate which preference/style you feel your suggestion relates to. able to/allowed to move about freely project learning learning games rules and predictability memorization and repetition given time to prepare for any discussions gentle help to develop creativity and deeper thinking skills lessons logically organized long term projects problem solving brain storming real books a variety of types of resources creative writing new and creative curriculum presentation to be personally valued and recognized in situations repetition for detail and self discipline help Many thanks