I'm no expert, but I would think that it would be best to memorize all types. Once you get into higher level maths I think it's an advantage to have rapid recall of basic facts. Just my .02:) Gina

Thanks, Dawn. I actually did that a while back. I got a couple helpful responses...but different logic programs were suggested and it feels a bit overwhelming...

I only have experience w/WwtB. I really like it. It seems to cover what I want to teach, and it's not cumbersome. Sometimes we can do multiple lessons in one day. It also allows time to do written narrations in other subjects. Just my .02:) Gina BTW, I'm using it w/my 7th grader.

Thanks, ladies, for the help w/the logic programs! Anybody have insight on using Lost Tools w/these programs? Would I be re-duplicating my efforts much by using Lost Tools and all the logic programs? Thanks for any input:) Blessings, Gina

Oh, that's a big help. Thanks! I already own the Bluethorn books (currently going through FD), but is CAP better? I guess I was under the impression that the Bluethorn books were sort of intro books, and CAP deeper.....

Can I get some input on the below scheduling for my current 7th grader? I'm wanting to develop logic and thinking skills and translate that to writing/speaking, but don't want to duplicate my efforts. I think some of the argument programs are similar to Lost Tools of Writing, but I haven't gotten a hold of any of the programs to compare side-by-side. Is some of this redundant? Thanks for any input....I really appreciate it! Blessings, Gina Writing: 7th Write with the Best II 8th: Lost Tools of Writing I 9th: Lost Tools of Writing II 10th: Literary Lessons from The Lord of the Rings 11th: Epi Kardia Essay Styles for High School/Epi Kardia Research Paper for High Schoolers 12th: Epi Kardia: The Art of Public Speaking Course Logic: 7th: Fallacy Detective 8th: Thinking Toolbox 9th: The Art of Argument, 10th: The Argument Builder

I came close to buying a kit for General Science, but couldn't bring myself to pay that much for the simple supplies...plus I'd still need to come up w/quite a few on my own!! So, I went throught the list and bought most everything dd would need for the whole year and put the supplies in a big tub. Whenever an experiment comes up, she knows to go to the tub, and will ask me for the household stuff we always have around. It's worked well...we're finally getting experiments done:) HTH some! Gina

Currently loving Write with the Best: http://www.edudps.com/wwtb.html. I like that many lessons are fairly short (sometimes we'll combine 2-3 in one day, other days one lesson is full enough).This allows time to also write written narrations in other subjects. WwtB uses classic literature and seem thorough in covering what I want to cover, pretty painlessly. My7th grader is using it. I liked Writing Tales for around 3rd-5th. :)Gina

We really like Write with the Best: http://www.edudps.com/wwtb.html. It doesn't take a lot of time, is based on classic literature, and seems to cover what's important. It was a breath of fresh air after our last program!!! Hope you find a good fit:) Blessings, Gina

I'm not familar w/Bob Jones math, so may not be much help:) We've used Math-U-See from the beginning and it's been great. Kids and I watch the new concept lesson on dvd, I help w/first page a bit and then they're pretty much independent. But we're only at Pre-Algebra right now. If I get in over my head they have online courses, too. Hope you find a good fit! Blessings, Gina

www.creatingamasterpiece.com is what I'd like to use. Here'a a review: http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/creating-a-masterpiece-feedback. :)Gina

We also do our together subjects right after lunch. I planned to do it right after breakfast this year, but I'm usually not ready. And my 7th grader is often getting up early on her own and it's just too difficult to break for together time...I don't want one to have to fill in time waiting for the other. They both end up wanting to finish what they're working on and it's never completed at the same time:) Gina

Oh, if interested in samples here's a link to the Early Modern Guide:http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/early-modern/. I think their handbooks are a steal for $11:)

Have you looked at http://www.simplycharlottemason.com? The handbooks are great. I love that it's planned out by DAY not by week. Sonlight's schedule was too rigid for me...felt messed up if we had a fieldtrip, sick day, etc. With SCM you just 'do the next day.' And it's light enough that you can add other favorites, which I like since we combine w/Truthquest's biblical commentary and some books and movies rec. by then. Esp. for 1st grade, I think it's plenty:) Blessings, G

I also thought it seemed too complicated at first and put it off, but kept hearing raves so gave it a try. I printed the directions out and sat w/my box and dividers in front of me. It's much simpler than it sounds at first glance:) I adapted a bit, since we don't do memory work every day. We use different colored cards, too, which is nice. White for Bible, since that's the majority. Blue for poetry, yellow for any history facts I think our important, etc. It really takes very little time once you get going! Hth some:) Gina

This doesn't specifically answer your qu., but I think this article by John Holtzman (formerly of Sonlight) is a great resource: http://www.sonlight.com/young_or_old_earth.html. My husband is a a near PhD in biblical studies and we teach that we can't know the age of the earth and that's fine. Our friend is a retired PhD physics professor (evangelical Christian) and he believes the research is inconclusive (would say old earth if pinned down because that's where most of the research has been, but if more was done for young earth could be that, too). Neither contradict the bible, I believe. Just my .02:) Gina

Only you can tell if it's truly not working, but I have to say that MUS is about the only curriculum I HAVEN'T switched in my 7 yrs. of homeschooling:) I love how to-the-point it is and having the dvd instruction. I'd probably give it more time, but if it just doesn't work for your family don't feel bad about switching. LOF is a good supplement to MUS. I've only done some at the fractions/decimals/percents level...hopefully others will chime in about the younger levels. But I don't think it's necessary to supplement at the young ages of your kids....I don't do anything but MUS at that age. Just my .02:) Gina

Thanks for the link!

Thanks! I did post there and am awaiting an answer, hopefully:)

Thanks for the reply! So would it be redundant to use Thinking Toolbox AND Art of Argument. I definitely want to use Art of Argument, but already own Fallacy Detective and Thinking Toolbox. My kids will be 7th and 4th next year and I'd planned to start w/FD in the Fall and TT the following year. But don't want to spend 2 years doing the same thing if Art of Argument would be better to start earlier. Does that make sense?! Thanks:) Gina

Is anybody pretty familiar with both Lost Tools of Writing and Classical Academic Press' Logic Programs? I'm planning dd's writing programs for 7th-12th and want to make sure I'm not duplicating my efforts. I just saw a post where somebody said CAP's Argument Builder was what was covered in LToW...and I had both planned! My current plan is something like: 8th LToW and Thinking Toolbox 9th Lang. Lessons from The Lord of the Rings and How to Read a Book 10th Epi Kardia Essay Program and CAP's The Art of Argument 11th Epi Kardia Research Paper/Public Speaking and CAP's Think Like an Economists 12th Lots of essays and had thought CAP's The Argument Builder We also plan to use Lightening Literature all these years. Too much? If so, what would you drop? I haven't seen any of these in person and it's tough to gauge:) Thanks for any input! Blessings, Gina

If you spend a little bit of time at the beg. of the year bagging supplies into little bags w/the lesson # on it, it's much cheaper and easier to implement. And if you have more than one child using it, you can easily add in enough supplies for each kid to be hands on and still probably save $$ because manythings you'll likely have around the house. Just my .02:) Gina

I haven't done then, buy my friend who is very particular/rigorous loves them. Her 7th grader takes 4 classes...I believe Omnibus, Latin, Logic, Literature (not sure about literature...but basically my friend just teaches math and science). HTH:) Gina

Last summer we set up structure w/freedom that was helpful. My kids are now 9 and 12. Each day that we didn't have out-of-the-house plans they were required to have a devotion and spend 30 min. ea. on: 1) Something physical 2) Reading 3) Something creative/musical They were supposed to do this before playing w/neighbor kids....who could take over the day if I let it happen:) Gina

We use Truthquest. Love the biblical commentary. To narrow the many book choices, we use the free curriculum guide from http://www.simplycharlottemason.com. They even have $11 guides if you want Bible/History/Geography planned out. It's not too heavy, so it's also easy to add in other books from your favorite curriculums:) I think Truthquest can very easily be added on to any curriculum...just pick one and pencil in where the TQ commentary fits! Blessings, Gina