:iagree:That is exactly what happens to me Melanie!! Thanks for putting it into words. I'm really excited about this system and having a better handle on things.

:bigear:

I have not used MOH either. However, I know several people who use MFW and love it! They tell me the retention is awesome and that Countries and Cultures also give the children a heart for the people of that country. One friend described it this way - 'If you take God out of some curricula their flow doesn't really change, but if you try to take God out of MFW it falls apart.' HTH

I've been trying to decide the best way to help retention for vocab. myself. Here's what I've been experimenting with - Vocab. cartoons is good for us, I just need to make sure they can recognize the word when they see it - flash cards or something. Pathways stories and workbooks seem to be working since they are in context. I'm just worried about making sure that they learn the vocab. needed for their grade level and therefore end of the year testing. My fifth grader just did the Spectrum test prep for vocab. and missed 7 out of 35. Is there a special list or program we should be making sure we cover?

She did a great job stating facts about Andrew Jackson, but if the purpose of the paper was to tell why she likes him the best, she would need to refocus her thoughts. Have her talk to you about why she likes him. Does she like how he related to the people he was involved with? Is it his military skills that impress her? Ask her for examples to support what she likes about him. Then help her restructure the paper. If you want her to do an outline first that would be great. After choosing three or four reasons she likes him, help her find only the facts that support her reasons and go from there. HTH Judy

Wow! Great school room! Thanks for sharing pics; it's so fun to see how others organize and get ideas.

I'm not familiar with all of the programs, but I've heard that Phonics Pathways is one of the most thorough ones out there. HTH

The fact that you know yourself and can choose what will help you be the best mama to your children speaks volumes about you. Smack that guilt away, use those textbooks, and enjoy those babies!!:001_smile:

We are trying year round school, too. My son told me last Sept. that he forgot too much over the summer and didn't think we should take so much time off. :001_huh: We will officially start the new year the 3rd week in Aug. after he and his sister get back from camp. I'm thinking 6 weeks on one week off... I am starting a Treasure Chest incentive so the first day of school will be the first time they get to pick something. We will also take their pictures and do some other fun activity I have decided on yet.:001_smile: It's fun reading about all the different schedules and back to school ideas! Y'all are awesome!!

We tried Edu track a few years ago, but got frustrated and quit. Is HST easier to use? I'd love to hear what you all think about either program. Thanks!

I haven't heard anything yet. We are very excited!

I tried at first, but it is alot of notebooks for five kids. We are using a notebook with dividers, too. For History each child will have a notebook for each volume of SOTW. I hope to help my olders put together a LA resource notebook this year. For example, the Writing section would have an official (teaching model) example of every type of writing they have done so far for reference: types of letters, narration, paragraph, outlining...

Google Joanne Calderwood! She has lots of info. on her website about Abeka and self-teaching.

:bigear:

Thanks!:001_smile:

A unit study is a great idea! Detox from PS, snuggle and have some fun. Rolling around is definitely a behavior problem vs. school. Once your schedule is ready for the school year consistency will help alot. You'll do great!!:) Judy

Wow! Lots of great ideas, love this thread!! This is what I've started, please tell me what ya think... My five children each have their own assigned color for cups, plates, towels, ect.. so I bought them each a crate in their color and 36 file folders in their crate. We are going to divide our work into six week periods so for example, my son's color is green, I will have five green folders and the sixth week will be red so I can visually know it's time to evaluate where he is at. Might use the Tanglewood pacing check sheet. I know it sounds like alot to have a crate for each child, but my plan is to put everything in their weekly hanging folder - Artist study picture, literature book to read that week, dvd for Science, ect... On the weekend I will decide what work to keep for their permanent notebook and then will transfer the new weekly work behind dividers in their everyday notebook and any other items (dvd's, math book, jump rope, ...) into their workboxes. Thanks in advance for for any advice!:) Does this sound like a good plan?

Sounds fun! If you want a border around it so the walls won't get marked up - try bulletin board borders found at Teacher stores. They can be put up with tape or sticky tak so there are no nail holes like would be needed with wood border. HTH

She is your friend and wants what is best for you. If you can't use it and she said to do what you like with it - sell it! Enjoy the replacement curriculum with your child/children, and let her know how things are going.:001_smile:

We painted our paneling and it really brightened up the room. I'm so glad you have a room where you can organize everything. How fun!:001_smile: God Bless, Judy

For Spelling keep doing AAS, it will provide the phonics they are missing and the syllable rules to help them break a word into parts in order to spell it correctly. Reading can be improved by getting books on tape along with the actual book. While the child listens to the story have him follow along in the book, that way he hears the word being read while looking at it. This will also help with word recognition when he reads on his own. Use picture books in order to teach character, setting, plot, theme, etc.. It's easier to narrow down each element with a simple, familiar story and then progress to more difficult stories. Also, there are many reading comprehension workbooks available at Teacher stores that can help. IEW is a great writing program that teaches many tools (-ly words, strong verbs, who/which clause...) to help improve writing. The best part is the child doesn't have to come up with the story on his own. The story is provided for the child, the child then breaks it down into a key word outline, and re-writes the story using some of the learned tools to improve it. Otherwise, Writing Stands is a less parent intensive program that breaks down the writing lesson into smaller parts. HTH a little. You've got alot going on!! God Bless!!:001_smile: Judy

:bigear:

You all are so inspiring! :001_smile: I've heard about creating notebooks by grading period for each child. So if you like to teach 6 weeks and then take off a week, the week off can be spent preparing for the next six weeks while the children engage in interest led learning or just play. I like the idea of have everything laid out for the whole year since I too tend to never feel finished with year because life does get in the way. I've just bought workboxes; I think I''ll use them to store their books by subject. Sorting the work for the year into 36 folders or into notebooks sounds great. I'm thinking I'll put the pages for the week into a notebook divided by days and then go through it at the end of the week and decide what to keep in the master notebook and what to disgard, like some of you suggested. Does that sound doable? I tend to make things more complicated than they need to be and then give up a few weeks into it. I don't want to be like that anymore. I would love to finally be confident and prepared! Thanks for listening! Y'all are awesome!!:grouphug:

I'm so happy for you! :001_smile:

I would love one too, please!!:001_smile: