Another Lynn Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 I'm thinking ahead to next year when we will be ready for Ancients with a 5th, 2nd, and 1st grader (not to mention a 4yo and a 1yo). My dh will likely be deployed to Iraq. I have been taking a look at TOG (thought that was what we would do at this point), but I cannot possibly make all the decisions necessary and gather resources, etc. for two levels when I will be a "single parent" of 5 for a year. I think this is the year I really need a schedule handed to me (no planning and re-planning, no second guessing, etc.). I'm not a fan of MOH's writing style, but I do already own vol.1 and Illuminations looks good. I'm also looking at MFW's CtG - but is Streams of Civilization totally dry or is it doable as a read aloud? I just glanced at Winter Promise (Quest for Ancients), but I don't think it's a good fit as it's geared towards older students. Would love opinions on MFW, or anything else that is already scheduled out. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 I vote for SOTW vol. 1 on CD!! :D We loved it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Have you looked at Sonlight? Maybe a Sonlight 6 (for the 5th grader) and 1 (for the 1st and 2nd graders) combo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsha Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 We are going to do Illuminations and add in SOTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori in MS Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 The main read aloud in CTG is the Bible. I didn't read SOC aloud to them. I read it myself and told them the pertinent info I thought they needed to know. (My oldest was 3rd grade at the time) For your 5th grader, you might assign him to read some of it himself and discuss it. I consider it most appropriate for 6th-8th grade, but I appreciated the background info for myself. I also had SOTW 1 on CD, so they listened to that informally. CTG was a great year for us. MFW is so open and go, not much planning involved. All you have to do is get library books and gather a few materials that are listed for each week. If you photocopy everything at the beginning of the year, it makes it even easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Has multilevel, uses spines and living books, has geography and timelines-scheduled three days a week-it schedules Story of the World AND Mystery of History, plus others-PERFECT for you! http://www.biblioplan.net/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inashoe Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 I vote for SOTW vol. 1 on CD!! :D We loved it! I second that. Then when you are overwhelmed, just stick in the CD - if that is all you have done for the day, great. If you have the time / energy then have the younger two tell you what they learnt (narration) and perhaps draw a picture and have the 5th grader write about what he/she learnt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 I vote for SOTW vol. 1 on CD!! :D We loved it! Yep. Throw in the Activity Guide with the coloring pages and map work, a trip to your library once a week to look for books on the topic you're covering, and you've got a very complete program. If you're 5th grader is a strong student add the Kingfisher or Usborne for some outlining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samba Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Just out of curiosity...what is Illuminations? I've never heard of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 Thanks all for the replies about SOC and other great ideas for next year. I'll take another look at Biblioplan... but right now I'm thinking either MFW or Illuminations with a different spine if I can pull that off without introducing chaos! (Maybe Guerber?) Any other ideas welcome! Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted January 7, 2009 Author Share Posted January 7, 2009 Just out of curiosity...what is Illuminations? I've never heard of it. Hey Samba, I just realized that none of us answered your question - Sorry!:blush: Illuminations is a new language arts program that goes with Mystery of History. You can see it at Bright Ideas Press's website. It looks like it's in Beta testing right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jejily Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 (edited) Hey Samba, I just realized that none of us answered your question - Sorry!:blush: Illuminations is a new language arts program that goes with Mystery of History. You can see it at Bright Ideas Press's website. It looks like it's in Beta testing right now. Actually, it is a complete schedule for History (using MOH1) and Geography, Science (using Christian Kids Explore Biology), and the full spectrum of Language Arts -- spelling (using Natural Speller), grammar (using Grammar Punk or Winston), writing (using Foundations of Writing and/or Write Shop), vocabulary (using English From the Roots Up), literature for all ages (they provide Family Study Guides for certain books, and offer lots of suggested additional reading). They also provide a suggested Bible reading schedule and copywork. I wish I'd know about it sooner, myself. Of course, my problem was that it wasn't available until the end of August, and our school year started the first week of August; plus, we had already covered the first quarter or so of MOH1 at the end of last year, so it was going to be a repeat of info for about 4 weeks. Even so, I have purchased the first four months of the Illuminations 1 beta program, and have used several bits of it. I can say it's quite comprehensive, and I would definitely recommend it to others. I'm waiting to see if there is going to be an Illuminations 2 beta program for next year, and if so, when it will be available. I might just alter my school year in order to use it. Their website is http://www.brightideaspress.com but it appears to be temporarily down... I'm sure it'll be back online very soon. You can also join the Illuminations Yahoo Group to learn more about the program: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Illuminations1/ Edited January 8, 2009 by jejily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Well if WP AC works out for us, then we'd probably continue on to WP QAW when we're done. I've gone back and forth on WP, even bought some stuff. My conclusion is you have to hit it (WP) JUST RIGHT to have it work best. There are times when things resonate as being just right or just what you needed, even if 6 months earlier or whatever they wouldn't have been. Also, I wouldn't throw out everything that already works for you and upheave your whole world right when your dh is leaving for a tour of duty, kwim? Stick with the stuff that is already working for you. What I would suggest you'd actually do is maintain your NORMAL schedule, but make sure that you're as efficient as possible. Then trim enough that you have time to do something special that connects you to people. See what you're losing when he's gone is adult contact. You're also losing that input for the kids. Maybe they need to have a daily time slot for each to journal/email him? It would be schoolwork and daddy time all rolled into one. You could keep a family newspaper (english!) and have one dc each week be the family photographer. So don't take on new things. Instead make time to do some things that will keep you sane during this. And once a week schedule some YOU time, sans kids. Maybe you could trade with another mom and watch everyone so the other could be free to get her hair done or exercise or something. Or pay someone if you need to. Or schedule a visit with the in-laws. Or get your kids into a weekly knitting time with an older person. But make sure you're doing things to keep you feel connected to adults and human, that's my two cents. With this new baby, what I'm realizing is that less is sometimes more. I'm purposefully taking our LA time down and increasing writing across the curriculum. In other words, you could decrease your LA some and make time for them to do that emailing of Daddy and do that family newspaper and still call it school and not be slacking, kwim? My dad was in the Navy btw, so he was gone almost all of my growing up years. We didn't do anything to keep up with him, so that's a real shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Jejily, thanks for explaining Illuminations much more thoroughly than I did! Oh E - Fantastic ideas! and much wisdom there too.... I'm pretty good with our path for LA and math. There are lots of possible ways to combine the dc for history, but my weakness is interacting with it after we've read it - so I'm thinking a "scheduled curricula" would help with a couple "crafts/projects" along the way and some interaction with age appropriate literature for my oldest - without me second guessing what I'm coming up with all the time. But THANK YOU for helping me take a step back and see the bigger picture - you gave me some great ideas.... I've also got to decide about co-op for next year.... my oldest has been in CC. I really don't like the memory work and I can't imagine helping 4 kids get presentations ready every week without dh, but that is where we have friends... There is a different co-op closer to us and we know a few folks there too... so we'll see... My Mom has even mentioned that I consider private school next year... certainly positives and negatives there as well. tanya - thanks for the famous men reference too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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