So, has anyone changed their minds about

[mama25angels]

their curriculum choices for next year already? I've changed my mind several times, I just can't decide if i'm going to use SOTW (which I already have from our first rotation) or MOH (which I also already have) with my first grader or if I should have him do an American history year first. I'm also not certain about what math to use for him, I have Singapore 1A and B (don't have the workbooks yet), but was gifted all the levels of Mastering Mathematics and i'm leaning more toward that because I have all of it already. I just don't know what to do. So, who wants to make up my mind for me? :)

[Emmy]

I'm still planning. Or rather - I'm still procrastinating on planning.

 

I have been using SOTW the last 2 years and was thinking of moving to MFW for this fall. Problem is - I can't seem to find one program that works for everyone. I got the Adventures program because we have already done ancients and middle ages, but it is just way too light for my oldest. Honestly I half think it's too light for my 2nd grader. I'm really not sure what to do. I wanted to go to a program rather than continuing to schedule on my own.

 

So yeah - I guess I've changed my mind. I have zero motivation or enthusiasm for picking curriculum right now.

[mama25angels]

I'm still planning. Or rather - I'm still procrastinating on planning.

 

I have been using SOTW the last 2 years and was thinking of moving to MFW for this fall. Problem is - I can't seem to find one program that works for everyone. I got the Adventures program because we have already done ancients and middle ages, but it is just way too light for my oldest. Honestly I half think it's too light for my 2nd grader. I'm really not sure what to do. I wanted to go to a program rather than continuing to schedule on my own.

 

So yeah - I guess I've changed my mind. I have zero motivation or enthusiasm for picking curriculum right now.

 

 

I guess you and I are the only ones :lol:, i've been thinking alot about selling everything and just going with an all in one program. The problem with that is which program :D oh and i'm probably have a better handle on things if i'd quit looking at the FSOT board, good thing i'm too broke to buy anything right now.

[JenneinCA]

Yep.

 

I was going to use History Odyssey for my middle guy and then I realized that it would just feel like busy work to him. So now I am looking at "Five in a Row" units and combining him with my youngest. I am hoping that would be enough interaction to keep him happy.

 

My oldest still wants to do History Odyssey so I am still looking at it for one kid. So far her stuff hasn't changed, but it is only June.

[neesek]

If I had it to do over, I would do HOD Beyond with a 1st grader, and save ancients for later. I have been taking a closer look at HOD since I am going to use LHTH for my 3 yo. I have been very impressed with what I have seen, and will probably consider using the whole sequence with my youngest. Unfortunately, there is no HOD program yet that will meet my needs for the older 2. I am still going back and forth on what I will use for them in several subjects.

[Tree House Academy]

I did...at first. I had chosen a pieced together curric much like last year's. I even went so far as to BUY 99% of it. Then I changed my mind, sold it all, and went with CLE and HOD. LOL

[Storm Bay]

Yes. I've decided to buy LoF, for one thing. I'm sure there's more, but this is the biggest one I can think of at the moment in the K-8 category.

[mama25angels]

If I had it to do over, I would do HOD Beyond with a 1st grader, and save ancients for later. I have been taking a closer look at HOD since I am going to use LHTH for my 3 yo. I have been very impressed with what I have seen, and will probably consider using the whole sequence with my youngest. Unfortunately, there is no HOD program yet that will meet my needs for the older 2. I am still going back and forth on what I will use for them in several subjects.

 

 

I so wanted to do this, but with 2 highschoolers I had to concentrate most of the curriculum budget on them. I decided to do SOTW because I already had it, but now i'm not so sure about doing it. I'm sure he'd have a wonderful year, whatever I chose, I think I just keep second guessing it because it wasn't my first choice.

[mama25angels]

I did...at first. I had chosen a pieced together curric much like last year's. I even went so far as to BUY 99% of it. Then I changed my mind, sold it all, and went with CLE and HOD. LOL

 

 

:lol:

[Orthodox6]

"Changed my mind" -- not yet. "Waffling big time" -- YES !

 

DD wants to do a "4-year history cycle" for grades 5-8. This requires me to create one myself, which I do not have much time to do. We have plenty of good resources at home already, since she is our youngest. I just am so strapped for time !

 

We would not profit from the "packaged" programs with which I am familiar, because they are religious-based, with content which conflicts irreconcilably with our faith's approach to the Bible and to Church history. (So there go Years 1 and 2 !)

 

This is the only difficult curricular decision for us -- but it's a large one !

[Angel]

I would use SOTW for a 1st grader. I have used both SOTW and MOH with my younger dd as she tagged along. I think at that age she retained a little more from SOTW than MOH. Not that it matters, they are just hanging info on their little pegs for later. ;)

 

I would give the gifted math program a go. We were gifted Saxon last year. I would never in a million years have bought Saxon. Dh and I decided to give it a 4-6 week trial and if dd hated it, we'd switch programs (and she'd not be too far behind). Surprise of surprises, she loved Saxon. So I say give it a try and see if you dc likes it and it works. If not, switch then.

[mamato4girls]

I'm still planning. Or rather - I'm still procrastinating on planning.

 

I have been using SOTW the last 2 years and was thinking of moving to MFW for this fall. Problem is - I can't seem to find one program that works for everyone. I got the Adventures program because we have already done ancients and middle ages, but it is just way too light for my oldest. Honestly I half think it's too light for my 2nd grader. I'm really not sure what to do. I wanted to go to a program rather than continuing to schedule on my own.

 

So yeah - I guess I've changed my mind. I have zero motivation or enthusiasm for picking curriculum right now.

:iagree: I keep procrastinating, and also been to busy to plan or decide, need to get moving on it though. But yes, I change my plans in my head constantly.

[Tess in the Burbs]

I am having a freak out moment about language arts. but can't afford to make changes :-(

[mama25angels]

I am having a freak out moment about language arts. but can't afford to make changes :-(

 

 

what are you using?

[Another Lynn]

Honestly, I am torn between using my own plans and having everyone study Ancient History vs. using 2 or more HOD programs.

 

Either way I have more to spend. I'm leaning towards my own plans I'm just not sure if I'm covering skills and content effectively and efficiently and I'm also a little worried about accountability (will I second guess my own plans and ditch them after the first month?) And I'm also worried about just getting it all done - 5th grader, 2nd grader, 1st grader, 4yo and 1yo!

 

Anyone want to solve my problems for me?

 

Ah, well, thanks for letting me share them anyway!

[swimmermom3]

Are you kidding?:lol::lol::lol: Every time I see a post by Lori D., McConnellboys(?), or Sue in St. Pete, I go running for my planning notebook, my pencil, a big eraser, a bottle of white-out, a big cup of coffee, and aspirin.

 

Seriously, I'm usually comfortable with my curriculum choices and make my decision for the year quickly. Now that I have discovered TWTM forums, plans change regularly. The intelligent, thoughtful, eager-to-help parents here have challenged me to reconsider how we home school. For that, I'm grateful and if I could I would love to serve you all a round of coffee or tea or whatever else makes your morning:D

[Another Lynn]

Are you kidding?:lol::lol::lol: Every time I see a post by Lori D., McConnellboys(?), or Sue in St. Pete, I go running for my planning notebook, my pencil, a big eraser, a bottle of white-out, a big cup of coffee, and aspirin.

 

 

 

:lol::lol::lol: (I have several of their posts bookmarked too :D)

[mama25angels]

Honestly, I am torn between using my own plans and having everyone study Ancient History vs. using 2 or more HOD programs.

 

Either way I have more to spend. I'm leaning towards my own plans I'm just not sure if I'm covering skills and content effectively and efficiently and I'm also a little worried about accountability (will I second guess my own plans and ditch them after the first month?) And I'm also worried about just getting it all done - 5th grader, 2nd grader, 1st grader, 4yo and 1yo!

 

Anyone want to solve my problems for me?

 

Ah, well, thanks for letting me share them anyway!

 

 

wow, that is a toughie. Is there anyway you could use one HOD core and maybe add in the Intermediate level books? I know it's hard because you have a rather wide age group and of course they will all have different learning styles if they're anything like mine.

[coffeegal]

their curriculum choices for next year already?

 

:smilielol5: I've discovered there's nothing like being put on bedrest with nothing to do but think, for convincing you to change your plans for the year. My English, Latin, history, and science plans have all been completely reworked. :svengo:

[Mom0012]

There is one subject every year that I can never make my mind up about. This year it is grammar for my son.

 

I was all set to use a variety of Evan Moor books, then I thought I should do something more rigorous like R&S grammar, then I thought maybe CLE, then I bought GWG, started looking at Shurley and FLL, and now I'm back at R&S.

 

Fortunately for me, I asked my son the other day and he wants to do R&S. He does R&S math and he likes it, so he wants to try their grammar. Hopefully it will work for us!

 

Lisa

[3lilreds in NC]

"Changed my mind" -- not yet. "Waffling big time" -- YES !

 

This is me too! We're using Living Books Curriculum again, which we loved this past year, and I'm not at all concerned about that. I'm in a bit of a dither about math, as always, and cannot make up my mind about language arts. I'm debating Simply Language Arts from Shoelace Books, or Queen's Language Lessons for the Elementary Child. I looked at Queen's over the weekend while I was at a CM conference, and didn't like that it's supposed to be consumable, but they don't give handwriting lines for the copywork. So, do I get one book and have both girls use it and make separate pages for the copywork, or do I just forget it and use Simply Language Arts? I DON'T KNOW.:willy_nilly:

[AudreyTN]

I got the Adventures program because we have already done ancients and middle ages, but it is just way too light for my oldest. Honestly I half think it's too light for my 2nd grader. I'm really not sure what to do. I wanted to go to a program rather than continuing to schedule on my own.

 

I added readings from A Child's Story of America. That seemed to beef it out enough for us.

[Another Lynn]

wow, that is a toughie. Is there anyway you could use one HOD core and maybe add in the Intermediate level books? I know it's hard because you have a rather wide age group and of course they will all have different learning styles if they're anything like mine.

 

 

Thank you for commiserating! My current plan is to use Miller/Guerber's Story of the Ancient World as a spine for everyone and then add a lot of extra reading for my 5th grader (the Guerber Greek and Roman books, plus other readings) and use WTM guidelines for his writing assignments. I'm also considering God's Design for Life Sciences (probably only 1 or 2 books, not all 3) since the revised version has the text divided into different levels. They will also go to CC (though I do not agree with all the memory work, we have a great group of friends there and love giving presentations, etc.).

 

HOD's ancient year looks great, but I think my oldest is ready for more meaty readings re to Egypt, Greece and Rome. (He's been listening to Diana Waring during his breakfast every day for years by his own choice). And there would be much that wouldn't work with my youngers.... but HOD's plan is very tempting!

 

So.... I'm still contemplating!

[Another Lynn]

I so wanted to do this, but with 2 highschoolers I had to concentrate most of the curriculum budget on them. I decided to do SOTW because I already had it, but now i'm not so sure about doing it. I'm sure he'd have a wonderful year, whatever I chose, I think I just keep second guessing it because it wasn't my first choice.

 

Des, I understand about SOTW not being first choice. My other problem is that I'm more excited about what my oldest gets to do "next" than what to use with my younger ones. I try to find something to do with her (1st grader) that will get *me* excited - so far I haven't been terribly successful:tongue_smilie: - isn't that terrible.

 

Since you mentioned HOD, I will say that "Beyond" (with my 2nd ds) has been pretty enjoyable.

 

Also, I tried MOH when my oldest was first grade and was searching for something else by October.

 

Sorry, I am no help!

[Kfamily]

Yes, I bought Basic College Math instead of CD Prealgebra for dd (12) and I decided not to buy CW Primers for my younger dd (6) (although I do still like them a lot) and will use Language Lessons (a free google book) instead. I just switched out the language last night. I really think my dd will do better if I make something to fit her more correctly. She could handle the material in the Primers but I think the lines are not going to work for her. I will use Startwrite and make larger lines that allow her to practice her handwriting with Language Lessons.

 

I think I'm finished with decision-making. Now, on to planning and preparing!:001_smile:

[mama25angels]

Thank you for commiserating! My current plan is to use Miller/Guerber's Story of the Ancient World as a spine for everyone and then add a lot of extra reading for my 5th grader (the Guerber Greek and Roman books, plus other readings) and use WTM guidelines for his writing assignments. I'm also considering God's Design for Life Sciences (probably only 1 or 2 books, not all 3) since the revised version has the text divided into different levels. They will also go to CC (though I do not agree with all the memory work, we have a great group of friends there and love giving presentations, etc.).

 

HOD's ancient year looks great, but I think my oldest is ready for more meaty readings re to Egypt, Greece and Rome. (He's been listening to Diana Waring during his breakfast every day for years by his own choice). And there would be much that wouldn't work with my youngers.... but HOD's plan is very tempting!

 

 

 

So.... I'm still contemplating!

 

 

Yeah, HOD is very tempting!!

[mama25angels]

Des, I understand about SOTW not being first choice. My other problem is that I'm more excited about what my oldest gets to do "next" than what to use with my younger ones. I try to find something to do with her (1st grader) that will get *me* excited - so far I haven't been terribly successful:tongue_smilie: - isn't that terrible.

 

Since you mentioned HOD, I will say that "Beyond" (with my 2nd ds) has been pretty enjoyable.

 

Also, I tried MOH when my oldest was first grade and was searching for something else by October.

 

Sorry, I am no help!

 

 

see that's my problem, trying to find something to get me excited about teaching him. I'm using MOH for my 8th grader simply because I need something to help him to independence. I will of course give him some of the recommended literature books in the appendix and do some discussion with him, but I don't plan to add alot to it for him because my plan is to really work on his writing and get him past puberty :lol:

[FO4UR]

I've changed things up for spelling/phonics/reading recently. We hit the proverbial wall with SWR for the last time...I think my ds6 is seriously dyslexic:confused:.....and we are now using Blend Phonics/Word Mastery and Webster's Syllabary/Orton phonograms.

 

I am continually waffling in some area - as soon as we get into a confortable groove with phonics.....I'll obsess over another subject:tongue_smilie::lol:

[mama25angels]

How do you like Blend Phonics? I'm using it with my 6yo. ds as well, I can honestly say that it was the one thing that kept me from going postal about phonics. We're not finished with it yet, and i'm going to add in the Webster's Syllabary soon.

[AngieW in Texas]

I still have things I'm not sure about.

 

11th grade

I'm pretty solid on my oldest. She's taking Intro to Psychology at the cc this summer and will take Japanese I and Drawing I at the cc in the fall. She'll continue with Japanese II at the cc in the spring, but I'm not sure what her other course will be. I'd like for her to take English Composition, because I'd love to not have to do that subject with her anymore. She may choose to take Art History instead. Over this summer, she is going to complete Financial Peace University and Oak Meadow Photography. In the fall we'll do Precalculus at home with Chalkdust, SL Core 300, Kinetic Books Physics, and finish Windows to the World.

 

9th grade

I was going to do the 2nd half of SL Core 100 with my middle dd, but I have decided to do Oak Meadow American History instead. We'll start with week 10, which will put us right about the same place we stopped in Core 100. I'm still not positive what we're doing for literature, but I am leaning most heavily towards Excellence in Literature English I. She is going to continue with US History-based Writing Lessons and do volume 2 this year. She'll also do the next level of Fix-it Grammar. I was going to have her do Winston Grammar Advanced, but now I'm leaning towards skipping it. She's also going to do Oak Meadow Biology, Oak Meadow Health (1 semester), Oak Meadow Photography (1 semester), and Jacobs Geometry.

 

6th grade

This is my dyslexic dd. She will continue with Singapore Math and should complete 5B and 6A for 6th grade. She'll also finish up Daily Math Practice 5 and start Daily Math Practice 6. I have her using both Winston Grammar Basic and Daily Grams 3&4. She will continue with Sequential Spelling 2, but I may try Abecedarian's spelling program also. She's going to use SL Core 4 for history, readers, readalouds, and writing. I would love to use IEW for her writing, but she can't deal with the structure, so I'm just going to give her the writing assignments and see what she can do. We're going to use Prentice Hall Science Explorer for science. I plan to get Abecedarian level D and see where that takes us.

[swimmermom3]

My youngest will be the only one home this fall. Changes to his original plan include switching from Easy Grammar to Analytical Grammar, taking science at the local middle school to Noeo Chemistry III (with BF History of Science tie-in) at home, and adding in Philosophy for Young Thinkers and a web publishing class on-line from the cc.

 

The writing plan has been revamped using The Writer's Jungle with Living Memory. (IEW Ancient History-Based Writing lessons as back-up, sigh)

 

History is in a constant state of flux. I'm squashing 4 years into 3 years. It's our favorite subject so I want it to be "perfect".

[mazakaal]

I'm still deciding IF I'll be homeschooling my oldest or not.

 

I'm pretty much set on choices for the youngest 2 dc, but still making final decisions for my 11yo.

 

So, no, you're not alone.

[sagira]

I'm still driving myself crazy with thoughts like this: MCP and Miquon on the same day? Calculadder drills every day? Too much math? Too little math if I don't?

 

I still have so much to do -- aargh!!

 

I think I'm pretty set on the items, but I think I have too many books on my list :tongue_smilie:

[nukeswife]

You're not alone.

 

I've changed things more than once.

I actually bought all Sonlight and then the more it sat on my shelf the more I didn't like it. I sold it all but a few of the read alouds and readers. I went back to History Odyssey and then thought I had it all figured out for LA and math and suddenly decided that MUS would make a good supplement. Lastly someone mentioned Analytical grammar last night in some threads and I went to the website to check it out and I had checked out Apples and Pears spelling last week because of all the mention of it. Now a bunch of my LA plans are changing.

 

I'm glad that I've started summer school today with them so now I can focus on that and stop planning for next year.

[rafiki]

.

[FO4UR]

How do you like Blend Phonics? I'm using it with my 6yo. ds as well, I can honestly say that it was the one thing that kept me from going postal about phonics. We're not finished with it yet, and i'm going to add in the Webster's Syllabary soon.

 

We've only just begun with Blend Phonics. I am using Word Mastery too. We spend time reading the Syllabary and reviewing the Orton phonograms and then spell (on the white board and independantly) words from Word Mastery/Blend Phonics. Just from planning though, I can see this will be better for ds6. I wish I had of started him off in this last year...live and learn....

[MrsMe]

I did. I even bought it and already sold it. It's not that it's bad, but the activities were very repetitious of last years. I didn't know that and couldn't get excitied about it. I like changes in ideas every year, but that doesn't mean it has to be curriculum, just ideas. So I'm on the hunt again.

[wendzu]

What are all of your abbreviations?

 

MFW

FSOT

LHTH

CLE

HOD

[Donna T.]

I got the Adventures program because we have already done ancients and middle ages, but it is just way too light for my oldest. Honestly I half think it's too light for my 2nd grader. I'm really not sure what to do. I wanted to go to a program rather than continuing to schedule on my own.

 

 

 

Emmy, in what ways do you think Adventures would be too light for your 2nd grader? We used Adventures in 2nd grade and my son really loved it. I used the library alot that year (MFW's book basket) and really did get burned out on that, but overall, I think it's a great program for 2nd or even 3rd grade. It really is intended for the oldest child in the family though.

[Donna T.]

I made a change. We decided on Heart of Dakota for next year and I planned to combine my sons into Bigger Hearts for His Glory. Then, after more consideration, we decided to separate the children into their own programs. But, we're still sticking with Heart of Dakota. My youngest son has already started his new HOD curriculum. He loves it! He asks to do it! He has even thanked me for getting it for him. I'm sure my oldest son will find his program to be as well a fit. So, we aren't making a big change, just choosing different programs from the same provider.

[MrsMe]

What are all of your abbreviations?

 

MFW

FSOT

LHTH

CLE

HOD

 

My Father's World

?

Little Hands to Heaven (HOD)

Christian Light Education

Heart of Dakota

[Lovedtodeath]

What are all of your abbreviations?

FSOT

 

 

For Sale or Trade

 

Honestly, I am torn between using my own plans and having everyone study Ancient History vs. using 2 or more HOD programs.

 

Either way I have more to spend. I'm leaning towards my own plans I'm just not sure if I'm covering skills and content effectively and efficiently and I'm also a little worried about accountability (will I second guess my own plans and ditch them after the first month?) And I'm also worried about just getting it all done - 5th grader, 2nd grader, 1st grader, 4yo and 1yo!

 

Anyone want to solve my problems for me?

Look at my samples?

 

 

 

 

Oh, you meant solve your problems. :tongue_smilie:But some customers get all excited about the notebook. One is using that to teach her son. He has to find out what the pictures are all about.

[BlsdMama]

After using Rod & Staff's Grammar for oldest dd from grades 1-6, and now having used First Language Lessons 1/2, 3, and 4, I can happily say I MUCH prefer First Language Lessons. We just need grades 5-12 now!

 

I do still like Rod & Staff's Arithmetic, but I have to honestly say, just the way Saxon's homeschool editions are laid out works better for me. I'm not sure I want to plug the $$ for K-2, so we're using just the Horizons workbooks because I know how to teach everything K-3 without a manual. But, for 4th grade on, we're just going with Saxon from here on out.

[emmsmama]

I was originally going to go with WTM 4 for dd for grammar next year, but am thinking of going with Growing with Grammar instead. I'm still not sure what we are going to do for Science. I have Noeo, Nebel's and RS4K on my shelf, but not sure which I will go with.

[Laura W.]

their curriculum choices for next year already? I've changed my mind several times, I just can't decide if i'm going to use SOTW (which I already have from our first rotation) or MOH (which I also already have) with my first grader or if I should have him do an American history year first. I'm also not certain about what math to use for him, I have Singapore 1A and B (don't have the workbooks yet), but was gifted all the levels of Mastering Mathematics and i'm leaning more toward that because I have all of it already. I just don't know what to do. So, who wants to make up my mind for me? :)

 

I would vote for using the math program you were given, and picking one of the two history programs you already have on hand (probably SOTW, saving MOH for later elementary years).

 

I've made a couple of last-minute curriculum changes - one because we were given something and the other so I could better use materials we already have on hand. I'd already bought my oldest her Bible curriculum, but we were gifted with another program, and she wants to use that. I'm thinking we'll just save the one I bought and use it another year.

 

Also, I recently reworked the science program for my youngers. I'd planned it out using things I already had on hand. However, some of the material was so rich that at the last minute I decided to slow down and dig into it more with them. I have some science encyclopedias and such on hand that will allow me to do that, so I'm using what I already own and it will now take 1 1/2 or 2 years to go through it all.

 

Blessings,

 

Laura