What I have figured out is that we'd continue with SOTW mapwork where it applies, since I have SOTW AG for SOTW2 and I don't have MapAids for ReD Yr 2.

I was thinking we'd read history core (SOTW), a supplement and the literature selection. I'm also incorporating art within history. We want to keep doing copywork and narrations.

Is there any advice or previous experience on what areas to use for lower/upper grammar. We're sort of in the middle in between lower and upper. By the end of the year I hope to have dd7 writing her own narrations and she's reading on a 3rd-4th grade level currently.

I don't want to worksheet her to death and we don't have Writing Aids or Evaluations, I only bought Yr 2 ReD without extras.

I'm hoping to start using TOG instead of just SOTW in January or right after Christmas b/c the kids are getting the Playmobil castle which will be perfect for Year 2, Unit 6!

Thank you,
Jessica

With a 7yo I would stick with LG. We also read the SOTW in the appropriate weeks of TOG and the boys enjoy doing some of the coloring sheets while I am reading. Paula's archives has a list that tells you what chapters correspond with the TOG weeks, just to save you a step or two. My 4th grader is just now ready for the UG stuff; the great thing about TOG is you can go back and forth between the levels depending on what your child needs to do that week. You have PLENTY OF TIME to do more as they get older!

I don't know how you are doing with speed, but we do a TOG week for every 2 real weeks. That way we can really focus on getting the basics down and then enjoy history and it isn't such a push to get everything done.

Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I have a few questions.

What we've been doing for history for SOTW is:

1. Copywork of quote, generally from a person we're studying or about an event.

2. Picture narration- she draws a picture to show what she heard from the reading and we've worked together to produce a written narration at least 2 sentences long. I only require 1 of these a week.

3. Mapwork from SOTW

4. Coloring page usually done on a different day from the picture narration but I'm starting to feel this is busywork b/c I'd rather our art portion include creating something rather than just coloring.

5. One art project a week stemming from our history studies. We usually try to replicate something and I have Artistic Pursuits to help me in this.

6. We currently read-aloud one historical fiction book at bedtime in conjunction with our regular history studies.

Since we're a small family the unit celebrations are sort of hard, esp. the ones with a feast or involve a skit. I want to substitute the celebrations for some sort of presentation.

I guess I'm just wondering if I should try to work in the worksheets at this point for literature- if we can get the book in time from the library through inter-library loan. I'm making a serious investment in books for next year so we won't be so dependent. Sigh.

It might just be starting jitters, lol. We're revamping right now and I'm so excited to start with TOG.

Thank you
Jessica

Jessica,
I have a 7yodd (she'll be 8 in January). I wondered at the beginning of the year if she would do better in LG because of her age, but she has been reading UG literature consistently this fall, with absolutely no problems. I must mention, though, that she is absolutely a voracious reader. I do some of the lit worksheets, but certainly not all of them. She would be bored with LG literature. Don't get me wrong, the LG lit selections that I do get, she enjoys hearing me read them to her younger brother (although she usually reads them herself before I ever get to read them aloud to him!), but I don't think she would be nearly as happy if I had her only in LG literature.

I had no problem doing this because since I'm calling her a 2nd grader, she'll be doing D work as a 6th grader and R work as a 10th grader when we go through Y1 again.

As far as history goes, I read aloud most of the core history. The Bible (which is abundant in Year 1) she reads herself out of either the Story Bible we have, or out of her NIV if the Spirit so moves her.

I have Evaluations, but I don't use them for my LG/UG children. I use IEW instead of Writing Aids. (Already had and liked it.)

We have a large family but so far we've not done any Unit Celebrations. Right now, it's just too much! We are also doing very few hands-on projects, with the exception of cookie dough maps. I wish we could, but I'm struggling to keep my head above water most of the time. I know at this age she would love them if we could work them in.

Don't know if all this rambling helped you or not...

Michelle