I just read through the reviews for How to Read Literature Like a Professor, and it is on my wish list. Then I read through the reviews of How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids and this wont be. http://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Literature-Like-Professor/dp/0062200852/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QWFRQHYQ9J1P0Z47MVK Reviews contain many red flags, and recommend avoiding some content for younger children and jumping straight to the adult version for children old enough to handle the adult content of the kids version. Has anyone tried the kids' version and found it appropriate or useful?

My grandfather was born at the end of the 1800s. I loved listening to him speak. Beautiful, rich language heavily peppered with Kipling and many poetry quotes I did not know. I miss that rich dialogue/monologue. Later meeting (on the page) the great grey-green, greasy banks of the of the Limpopo River, all set about with fever-trees, O my best beloved, was like coming home. I didn't meet this as a child, don't like it as an adult, yet both my girls read and enjoyed it. I missed this thread each previous life, thanks for the resurrection.

We also place missing out on school socialisation as a reason FOR home education. Though maybe not on official forms. Having said that this dd happily joins in with one of the local schools for sports days etc.

I was pushed into assessment in both cases for my girls. In neither case was it by our Home Education department. It took me several years of dead-horse-flogging with the eldest to realise some things were not going to happen. Then school dragged the same horse out for her for a further couple of years before I was able to provide documentation for what I had been saying. They required assessment documentation to try to provide an appropriate curriculum for my extemely 2e girl. She proved even more extreme than my prediction and returned to Home Education. The similar younger was done by their father (and back-fired wonderfully). In both cases it was a useful document that allows us to choose or dismiss curricular and continue to work to abilities. It also armed us and will be required later for tertiary education. By the way, the school system recommended but was unable to provide assessment, particularly for 2e kids, because they can generally muddle along.

In our State we also have an annual Education Dept home visit and need to supply a few pages setting out how we have covered the 7 key learning areas, appropriate learning environment and the ubiquitous 'socialisation opportunities'. Our Education Dept now supplies a dedicated and educated department who support families who can get it together and redirect those who, even with extra time and encouragement are unable. These hoops to jump through do cause concern the first few times, but soon become a useful annual review. As a teacher it is a good oportunity to discuss our curriculum choices with interested others who want to both to find new resourses to share with other parents and offer suggestions if I wish. Because we have been prepared to fully support this system, we have recieved support back from them when in Court fighting other parent for right to continue to Home Educate. The other party subpoened a file filled with many years of very detailed annual reviews and a record of on-going tailored education. My children have a right to be educated. I like that I have the right to provide that, provided that I do.

External testing could raise problems for children that are being home educated because they learn differently. (Home Ed for religious reasons is not such a strong wave here in Australia.) Many families came to Home Education initially reluctantly because their children were slipping through the gaps. I'm not saying they shouldn't be allowed to, just that it may be harder to demonstrate that they are doing so. My kid/s do external testing bi-annually though this is not a general requirement. Thankfully we now have some evaluations that explain to 'others' (the father) why their results are all over the board.

Yep, me again, last one before we start the school day here. I just found a great introduction to Loeb... A Loeb Classical Library Reader http://www.amazon.com/A-Loeb-Classical-Library-Reader/dp/067499616X This is a 240 page paperback for around $10. I don't think this will give enough of any writer to get into the swing and learn the flavour, phrases and rythym of any of the authors but looks like a great introduction to include on the shelves AND USE. ETA: The shouting was for my benefit. Sorry.

If you can get a hold of a copy of any Loeb Classic, they have the original language on one page and a good translation on the facing page, so you can use it as a 'reader' to walk yourself through your own translation attempts. Or you can just read the translation, or you can just read the original, (with assistance of translation where required). They are well set out, smallish and fantastic. Also expensive and numerous. I had great plans of going this route until eventually learning that the brains of my kids and I are not wired to hold letter patterns. (Which explained a lot). If you can talk your library into it, there is now an on-line, subcription, digital version available of the Loebs. http://www.hup.harvard.edu/features/loeb/digital.html Hope this helps. I am enjoying this branch of 'the great conversation'. Ta

Check life span too. A first pet with a shorter life span is something I quite like. Then they are either ready for another, can look at longer lived companions too or have decided they are done. Pet rats average out around two years (21.5 months), enjoy being handled, don't need live food and don't smell. Mice do smell. ETA: posting at the same time..life span!

If you are OK with ereader versions then this is available... Books from the Great Books of the Western World ® Collection for $29.00 http://samizdat.stores.yahoo.net/great.html or, Books of the Western Canon: 798 Great Books by 204 Essential Authors for $29.00. http://samizdat.stores.yahoo.net/westerncanon.html His site offers regular freebies if you join his mailing list. Then you can sample what he offers. Definately not the same as the beautiful shelves of volumes, but much easier to take to bed, bus, train etc.

Hello, not Hunter and I'll enjoy reading her response too, but we have these and I've used them..a bit. I worked through maybe two years of their reading programme, which by the way, samples all content. It does not cover all of each volume. I find the volumes unwieldy to read and if you want to use them accademically it is difficult as the volumes I have (1950's) do not give required paragraph numbers for the Greek and Roman works. Some of the translations are 'clunky' and uninviting too, ie St Augustine's Confessions. This was a few years ago and I'm writing from memory, sorry. I love having all those truly Great Works available in a single block and do intend to climb back in at some stage. However for the reasons given I'd prefer to give my kids Penguin editions of the works. Penguins have good introductions and notations and I won't allow marking up of the Great Books Set and marking up is required for real reading of these works (imho). Mind you, the child loves books but is also happy to read on an e-reader, so I guess this is the way she'll access most of these. We have them all included on the 4 cd-roms from samizdat. http://www.samizdat.com/quencheditions/ Hope this helps.

Each time I hear it mentioned a little voice goes "Marcia, Macia, Marcia!" Of course they wouldn't name one 'Jan' would they?

Sorry, I can't play with you then.

Ummm, (standing behind a big sheild here), Texasmama, I think this Menopausal fun phase of your own might just hang around long enough to enjoy with your next two also. I'm at least 4 years in and no plateau in sight. Who's screaming irrationally(monologing strongly) about the unfairness of it all now? :leaving:

Please remember there are Aussies on this board. Over here, rooting is vernacular for TeA drinking of a generally casual nature. Now reread the sentence above with this knowledge. :lol:

Yep tea split on your books will make you cry. Tea split on your bOOks will make you scream.

For slate pencils, try asking for "welding chalk" at a hardware store. Same thing.

Hello, I finished Rule number Two: Lessons Learned in a Combat Hospital, http://www.amazon.com/Rule-Number-Two-Lessons-Hospital/dp/0316067903 I stuck with it but found the writting very stilted, as though the author was taking enormous care to portray the forces, her anomymous comrades and herself in a positive light. I found the phrase "bad guys" used in every single reference to the enemy was unneccesary. I read a few war stories last year and thought it would be interesting to read something from Iraq. I did not find this one very engaging. It almost came across as PR exercise for the Navy's mental health service instead. I recenly read the second of Graeme Simsion's books, The Rosie Effect, http://www.amazon.com/Rosie-Effect-Novel-Graeme-Simsion/dp/1476767319/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423057343&sr=1-1&keywords=the+rosie+effect+graeme+simsionand this one I did enjoy (and his first). The main character reminded me very fondly of my eldest, so I was able to relate and enjoy his struggling to cope with other people and appreciate the great effort he was making trying to go against his nature for those he loves. I've not been reading as much as I've been spending hours (and hours!) cataloguing on librarything. This has meant that I'm finding even more I want to read/reread. It's late. I'm a bit brain dead. Goodnight.

Kelly this is not about him. Put him on hold and make that call. Screw your courage to the sticking place.

I started your post thinking, oh well, another thing for 'you all' over there, but you mean us too Susan! Thank you, thank you. One plus of it being middle of night is that I should have a better chance of getting OK internet speed. :thumbup:

TeA?? I seem to remember I quite liked a good brew. To quote the Eagles, "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969." Single here, and before that was marrige to one who prefered his Milo alone. The teapot is a tad dusty. You get that.

:grouphug: Maybe he is upset because he can't 'fix' it. Maybe he doesn't know what to say. Maybe he is also depressed. Or maybe he is just not going to be much help because that's who he is. ( I was going to say that less politely) Look after yourself. Well done acknowleging you want some help, now phone that GP.

Reading a post on first page on this thread made me realise I must be a troll too! Dang, I wish I'd realised that sooner! I'll be under my bridge if you are looking for me...trip, trap, trip, trap......

Another way to look at it is that that is exactly what you SHOULD be doing. Start the the very best unfussed strong model (of a great education/hat) not scrappy good-enoughs and only once you've got that sitting well, add your own carefully picked extras that are important to you and wear it proudly. (And then make sure you don't smile in the photo you post us.)

Hello, our system in Australia is very different, but Year (8 and) 9 here, for most subjects, is a light introduction of things that will be covered in depth in the later years. I'm pretty sure it is a year (or two) for the kids to get through the hormonal distress/empty brain surges of that ages. Particularly the girls. Trying to teach a classful at that age would be..challenging. If she is ready for the next year's work I would say go for it. I don't see any point in 'learning' what they already know. I expect some with more useful local knowledge will be able to chime in.