I had their first edition and realized that there are quite a few changes in the current edition. I'm just wondering what people think about all the new materials they've been releasing (Wise & Bauer). Thanks!

We have been loosly following it.

We use SOTW and the activity guides. We also are using First Language Lessons and Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading. I am anxious for Second Language Lessons to come out... we like it that much.

Do you have specific questions? I do find their materials to be very user friendly, and they work well for us.

Yes, we use it. I only have the first edition, though.

Yes! I do have a question. What do you think about the Reading guide? Is it the blue book that goes lesson by lesson? Seems kind of similar to 100 Easy Lessons, but doesn't it also teach parts of speech, etc?

[QUOTE=3boysnagrl] I am anxious for Second Language Lessons to come out... we like it that much.
[QUOTE]

Me too! I can't wait for it to come out. I'm hoping I'll be able to use it for Blake.

i tried TWTM approach for a year, and then my brain exploded ;pot:

i tried TWTM approach for a year, and then my brain exploded ;pot:
Why? I was thinking of using this, I just bought the book!
Is it a lot of work?
Thanks,
Amy

i tried TWTM approach for a year, and then my brain exploded


:lol: My brain is exploding just trying to figure it all out!!! I had already dumped the new edition of WTM in my cart at Amazon and added the language book and then ..... I decided to check out the History of the World books. And the reviews were mostly terrible. One of the complaints had to do with inaccurate Bible stories. What the? Why are Bible stories in the History of the World? And a lot of the reviewers said it had a definite Christian slant. What's up with that? Anyone who's totally secular had a prob with it?

:One of the complaints had to do with inaccurate Bible stories. What the? Why are Bible stories in the History of the World? And a lot of the reviewers said it had a definite Christian slant. What's up with that? Anyone who's totally secular had a prob with it?
I don't understand why Bible stories would be included, unless they're discussing Mesopotamia or something like that, like they do in a humanities class.
Amy

i tried TWTM approach for a year, and then my brain exploded ;pot:

again...you have such an eloquent way of words, my friend :smirk:

One of the complaints had to do with inaccurate Bible stories. What the? Why are Bible stories in the History of the World? And a lot of the reviewers said it had a definite Christian slant. What's up with that? Anyone who's totally secular had a prob with it?

I don't know about History of the World. But SOTW includes some Bible stories, as part of history. I don't think it has a Christian slant.. I would not be satisified with using it alone. But then, I'm Christian, and I know that makes it different.

We LOVE SOTW and we just started using it but it is a hit in the ENTIRE household. In fact, I want to read The Well-Educated Mind and catch up on Literature that I should have read but never did.

What is First Language Laessons? What age?

OK... let me see if I can help out here a little... lol

Story of the World has some Bible stories in it - when dealing with Mesopotamia. There is a chapter about The Jewish People - as it pertains to history. That is where there is a Bible story about Joseph.

There are also stories about Mohammed and about India, The Far East, Africa, etc. I wouldn't say it has a Christian slant... it really has stories about many different religions from ancient times. I would say there is a world view - not just one particular angle.


Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading:
This is only similar to 100 EZ lessons in that it is scripted. It uses a lot of the same techniques as Phonic Pathways uses... but it tells you how to say them. We have really liked it - and I am able to use it for helping my older ones when they show they are having some trouble remembering phonics rules.

First Language Lessons:
This is a grammar type book. This is where the child is taught parts of speech, memorizes poems, etc. We spend less than 1/2 hour on this, and I really believe it has been a wonderful addition to our homeschool. This is also scripted.

Why? I was thinking of using this, I just bought the book!
Is it a lot of work?
Thanks,
Amy
My introdution to homeschooling was an interview with WTM authors on NPR years ago. I was so impressed I bought the book then even though I did not begin homeschooling until Stephania was 7 -- 5 years later.

I use mostly the WTM recommendations and approach and it works very well for us. But we both like structure and a systematic approach. Really, I use mostly packaged curriculum and find it very easy.

Natalia

The Well-Trained Mind was just too much for us. We do use First Language Lessons. My dd claims to hate it but she has learned quite a bit from the book. We don't force memorizing so we read those parts but don't have to memorize them.

Why? I was thinking of using this, I just bought the book!
Is it a lot of work?
Thanks,
Amy

we still use some of the ideas they suggest, but when we tried to follow their exact layout - it was too much for us. máire was in tears and my brain was soup. i had to take 3 months off of homeschooling or put máire in school (and the latter wasnt going to happen). i was seriously burned out. wow i look back and thatwas 5 years ago. wow.

I love the approach of wtm, and we are in a limbo right now trying to figure out what to do (still...year and a half later <sigh>) so, of course, WTM doesn't flow well in an unschooling setting, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE SOTW...and I agree with the PPs, it's not a Christian slant, but it does have 'christian' characters, as well as other religions/philosophies of the world, so not sure why people would get thier panties in a wad ROFL.

Having said (rambled?) all that...I think we are going to try going back to it...never as structured as it lays out for sure, but as an overall guide.

Also, First Lang. Lessons...love it too!

Oh goodness, I don't know anyone that could really do everything they lay out there. They even say that it's just a guide and not to feel like you should do everything they are.

and for seventh grade they suggest that the student memorize the entire Declaration of Independence!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They also suggest memorizing the Preamble, but that one is easy, thanks to Schhol House Rock, lol.

I flipped through and they suggest knowing English kings from King James (1601?) to Charles the 1st I believe. Also, knowing about England's civil wars and their dates, not to mention Argentina's independence from Spain, etc. I am amazed at the info. I didn't even know any of the stuff they suggest for the younger grades. I feel grossly undereducated. LOL
Amy

I feel grossly undereducated. LOL
Amy

that is exactly why I started using it. I don't want my children to suffer the same poor education that I did.

that is exactly why I started using it. I don't want my children to suffer the same poor education that I did.

When I read it, I was like, "Argentina won their independence from Spain?" When you think about it, it's "of course they did, they are their own country" but the problem is that I never even thought to teach my child that, I never even thought to research it...embarrassing really. My world is so small.

Also,in regards to memorizing English kings; my professors in COLLEGE told me they had to do that. Amazing.

I can totally see how someone could get burn out on it. I've read 30 minutes in the book, just leafing through and I am overwhelmed. Where to begin?

Greta thread!
Amy

Where to begin? Begin slow! lol

We've been doing basics, which for us is History (SOTW), LA and Math. And in a month or so we will be doing science every day instead of history (1/2 year of each 5 days a week).

We are using Sonlight for LA reading books, because we aren't getting to the library often enuogh. I really wish someone would put together a pkg of books that are age appropriate to use with SOTW. I would SO buy it. Reading the history and science content makes so much sense to me. And we are using FLL for grammar and OPGTR for phonics.

I am ABSOLUTELY loving their recommendation for writing instruction. Institute for Excellence in Writing. We're also using their spelling program and we love both of them.

It is very overwhelming at first! But we're just taking parts that work well for us, and taking the rest to heart. I really really wish that someone would come up with a kit of books to go along with Story of the World.

The authors have a WTM website and they say that the editors made them put in the "recommended schedules." They say no one does it all -- including them. In fact, at their web site you can read a sample day of Susan's and alleviate much of your anxiety ;-). She does not even come close to meeting the recommended schedule.

I love their science and history approach -- and feel like I am finally getting the education I missed in private elementary and high school and after 2 college degrees. Honestly, it is embarassing how little I know. I guess it is never too late to learn.

Natalia

Natalia, I knew I read it somewhere. The website does have a lot of great information.

that is exactly why I started using it. I don't want my children to suffer the same poor education that I did.


Count me in too! DH and I are loving learning as well through SOTW.

I have dropped our FIAR lessons b/c we love SOTW so much. I am know using FIAR as a guide to books to make sure we read!

We do get to the library and are reading the additional literature and history readings to go along with the chapters. We are doing hte projects and well, just taking our time. If we want to linger on a chapter we do and get into it up to our eyeballs!

On top of that we are doing Math (Wal-Mart workbooks) and Independant reading (at least 15min/day) and Read aloud (at least 15-min/day) and then I read aloud MTH. Lots of reading at our house!!!!! We are also doing some language workbooks but I am interested in FLL. I incorporate writing practice into our SOTW activities and the like. This last week has gone so much easier than the entire 1st semester! I am so please!

Oh yeah - we added science from a kit to that we are enjoying.

My computer crashed, so I've been missing all the conversation!

So.... Anabelle is 5 and WTM says the job of the kindergartener is to learn to read. Here's the rub -- she already reads. But it was basically ... spontaneous. Other than the fact the she did a lot of prereading activities, i.e. story-writing, readings lots of books together, etc. -- she just started reading on her own. So she gets VERY frustrated with traditional reading books where we have to repeat the sounds and so on.

I think she's probably ready to just skip the reading book and go on to the language lessons.

What do they recommend for math? Science?

Adam just started reading on his own in the last month. He is NOT willing to even entertain the idea of reading not 'real' books. lol

We have a bunch of **** and Jane books, along with some Beginning Reader books that are not 'let's repeat the sound'. They are real stories. I think I have all the Sonlight 1 readers (looked at their list and got them as I could). It's neat to see him read this way - because neither of my other boys did it this way. They are all so different.

I suggest if she is reading, then look for beginning reader books. I bought a bunch - because I have 4 kids and I knew they would all get used over and over and over. But the library should have a good selection.

Cute Adam story. We wrapped up a book for him to take to his K teacher for Christmas. Earlier this week, he asked if he could read it to the class. This is huge - he doesn't talk in school! His teacher sat with him while he read it to the class. She pulled me aside and asked me how I taught him how to read it. lol Ummmm... the only time he had seen it was when we were wrapping it up. He read the entire book to the class. She thought that we had worked on the book so that he could read it to the class. When I told her that he hadn't ever even heard the story, her mouth dropped. :)

Oh ,the book was a Barefoot Books book thatstarts out with "I spy with my little eye..." I can't remember the name of it, though.


As far as math suggestions, I believe she recommends whatever you like. SHe does have reviews of Miquon (?), Saxon... I can't remember what else. But she does state that Math is such a different kind of subject, you need to find something that works for both of you. Someone PLEASE correct me if I am mistaken.

Awwwww...... how CUTE!!!! Anabelle was reading Bob books and some of her brother's old books and then I found one of MY MOTHER'S old 1st grade readers. First grade was substantially "different" back in 1950 or so.... These are real stories with real plots (tigers that are going to eat little bunnies, but the elephant squirts the tiger in the end, etc.) So she loves to sit and read these. It's funny, because she sits and reads these, but still doesn't quite "get it" that's she's READING. She opened up her fortune cookie the other day and tried to hand it to me to read it to her. I said, "You read it" and she did!

I got together with my HS group yesterday and everyone recommended Singapore for math. One likes Calvert, but of course... Calvert doesn't separate out their curriculum. Since I have the most local support for Singapore, I guess we'll go with that.

I'm feeling so excited about all this!!!!

Hey -- another really great homeschooling Barefoot Book (they're ALL great) is Thesaurus Rex. Cute, funny, and LOADED with literacy.

I'll be the cynical one in saying that I ended up ditching SOTW. I like the format, but it was not enough regarding the amount of information given and it just left out too much information for me. I ended up buying Mystery of History, which is a better fit for us. MOH is undoubtly Christian in how it looks and teaches history. This week, we studied King Arthur; to go along with the lesson, dd had to research how a person would become a knight.

From a purely academic point of view, I cannot see how Christianity has a place in the teaching of history. EXCEPT from a purely historical perspective, i.e. the beginnings of Christianity, etc. Christianity has its place in our history, but I don't believe it has a place in this family's academics.

Funny thing with me and my feelings of TWTM.

The first time I read about it, I thought it was insanely overdone. I mean....who would want to put their young kids through all that. Keep in mind we lean toward very relaxed and boarder on unschooling at times. So of course, I had my opinion. Though I think it's great that some kids can learn such a massive amount, it just doesn't seem appropriate for us.

So....uh....guess who now has SOTW and First Language Lessons? Me. In spite of myself and my feelings about the strict academics of TWTM, :hahaha: .I think these two series are wonderful. However...in keeping with our relaxed approach, we're not using them. I read the first few chapters in SOTW and ds loved them. I did, too. Then...I started focusing more on math and reading/writing and that's where we've stayed. Though, ds just asked if I can bring back SOTW readings. For him...they're not long enough. He can sit and be read to for literally hours at a time (complex adult material), so the short chapters aren't enough. We do have the activity book, so we'll try those out as soon as I get more organized with it. But I seem to be discovering I have a weakness in the area of setting up projects and completing them. :o As much as I love the thought of doing them...and love reading about doing them....I don't seem to actually do them.

As for science, ds is our little naturalist. DH and I both have degrees...advanced in dh's case in the medical field, so we naturally tend toward science and nature in this house. No need for a curriculum at this point. Ds knows more about animals/plants/dinosaurs than many adults. :smirk:

Now art is a major weak point here... and I hate that. I love art...and so does ds. He loves to go to museums (he's 6 yrs old) and learn about artists. We recently went through a book about Monet's life and he loved it. Where we're lacking is in ds actually *doing* art. He's never enjoyed coloring, but he likes crafty projects. I'd love any ideas. I'm floundering.

Amy...

Meet the Masters. :)

But I seem to be discovering I have a weakness in the area of setting up projects and completing them. As much as I love the thought of doing them...and love reading about doing them....I don't seem to actually do them.

This is a weakness of mine too, but I can hardly wait to get the book and get to the part where we mummify a chicken!

Amy...

Meet the Masters. :)

Hi Heather. I read about that program here a few months ago, I think. Allison (arasmama) asked about it.

Have you used it? What do you think?

Sorry to the OP for diverging, here.

I'm loving it -- Diverge all you want!! I'm learning LOTS!!!!

WTM comes from the perspective that public school has dumbed down our children for generations, and the authors are trying to combat that. Forget WTM, check out standards by age in other countries, and you'll be surprised at how piddly the American system is in comparison.

We're unschoolers, but that doesn't mean that we have low expectations. I expect Sam to know stuff like the history of the world, connections between historical events and science and literature and philosophy and art, important documents like the preamble and the declaration of independence. I don't want him to wait until college to learn those things. I'm not going to wait until he's high school aged to introduce him to the concept of the periodic table. Do I expect him to get it all at once? No. But do I expect to lay the groundwork so that the idea is there for when his mind is ready to grasp it? Yes. Kids are capable of learning things at a much earlier age than they are typically introduced in American public schools. For instance, with languages...why wait until high school to have kids learn a second language? In all other countries, they start in elementary school when the mind is a total sponge.

Off my soapbox, but I had to comment! ;)

Tara

Amy, try setting up a simple still life (a couple of pieces of fruit, or a couple of utensils, or whatever) and have everyone in the room sketch it however they want. As he learns more about different art styles, try doing a still life pretending to be a cubist or a pointillist. "Today...you are Charles Seurat! Now we shall make some dotty art!" He can wear a beret and speak in a French accent if he'd dig it. Then he can make connections between artists and actual creation of artwork.

Same thing for playdough. Today you are "Rodin!" "Brancusi!" "a deconstructionist!" Go crazy.

Tara

Amy, try setting up a simple still life (a couple of pieces of fruit, or a couple of utensils, or whatever) and have everyone in the room sketch it however they want. As he learns more about different art styles, try doing a still life pretending to be a cubist or a pointillist. "Today...you are Charles Seurat! Now we shall make some dotty art!" He can wear a beret and speak in a French accent if he'd dig it. Then he can make connections between artists and actual creation of artwork.

Same thing for playdough. Today you are "Rodin!" "Brancusi!" "a deconstructionist!" Go crazy.

Tara

THis is what Meet the Masters does (but gives me the structure I need to know what to say and how to help the kids 'do' art). :) We love it... and I believe Allisonsaid that she is using it with her girls and enjoying it.

Amy, try setting up a simple still life (a couple of pieces of fruit, or a couple of utensils, or whatever) and have everyone in the room sketch it however they want. As he learns more about different art styles, try doing a still life pretending to be a cubist or a pointillist. "Today...you are Charles Seurat! Now we shall make some dotty art!" He can wear a beret and speak in a French accent if he'd dig it. Then he can make connections between artists and actual creation of artwork.

Same thing for playdough. Today you are "Rodin!" "Brancusi!" "a deconstructionist!" Go crazy.

Tara

Hi Tara~

Nice to see you over here. I like reading about what you do with Sam. I may pick your brain when/if you come out to WA for the expo. :rainbow:

Thanks for the ideas. I love Seurat. We've been to the Chicago Art Institue a few times and I just stand in amazement at his La Grande Jatte. IRL, it's so much bigger than I would have ever imagined. Puts me into a trance, it's so beautiful. Unfortunately, the last time we went there was when Spencer was 3, so he won't remember it.

Anyway...great ideas. :rainbow:

I agree with your thoughts about children being capable of *more* than is given them in Public School. Somehow, the TWTM delivery of sitting down *to school* at home all day...or even for several hours as would be required w/their schedule puts me into panic mode. I need to find a balance that merges with our more relaxed approach. I'm working on it. He needs intellectual challenge, but I don't want to burden him. It's an interesting challenge.

This is a great thread!

Amy

I agree with your thoughts about children being capable of *more* than is given them in Public School. Somehow, the TWTM delivery of sitting down *to school* at home all day...or even for several hours as would be required w/their schedule puts me into panic mode. I need to find a balance that merges with our more relaxed approach. I'm working on it. He needs intellectual challenge, but I don't want to burden him. It's an interesting challenge.

I challenge Sam all the time without following a structured approach.

It's more like, "hey, you're interested in castles and have been drawing them for the past month...why do you draw this part here? what's it for?" I draw him out and find out that he knows about concentric walls, staggered gates, etc., and lots of other things that castle builders designed for increased fortification. Then I ask him what else he knows about castles and why certain things are important, and he brings out all these books from his bookshelves and shows me, and then he starts asking me questions, which leads us into stuff like the history of kings and crusades (which had a lot to do with advances in castle design) and he ends up learning a lot of new stuff without me saying, "now we are going to learn about the crusades. chapter one."

Sometimes it doesn't work out so neatly. Sometimes he doesn't ask all of those leading questions. I just let it be and find another opportunity. But then every month or two I compare our progress with standards and see that he is outpacing them almost every time without me having to do seat work with him. As long as that continues, I'm going to keep with the unstructured approach. If I saw major gaps, I'd step in and try to lead him gently in the direction of learning what he was missing.

Sometimes things happen through osmosis. Put up a poster of the periodic table and see what questions your 4, 5, 6 year old starts to ask. It's pretty amazing.

Tara

ps: I hope I can come out to Seattle in March. I really want to. It would be great to meet you, too! :)

Sometimes things happen through osmosis. Put up a poster of the periodic table and see what questions your 4, 5, 6 year old starts to ask. It's pretty amazing.


So true, we're experiencing that now. Erik just told his dad--"I'm sad. I think I'll read chemistry."