If you follow WTM method closely, please post here:

[Peek a Boo]

*I* do not ;)

However, I'm sure that there are P-L-E-N-T-Y of posters who would like to see WHO is actually following almost all of the rec's in the book. ..and how!

{{Not to mention SWB would be proud!}}

SO- If you follow WTM pretty closely, post here and share anything that has:

1. proved particularly helpful in implementing the rec's;

2. Proved challenging and how you overcame that challenge

3. proved to be surprisingly easy to apply to your homeschool.

4. anything else I'm forgetting... :cool:

As i mentioned, i don't follow WTM, but i have loved using SOTW w/ AG, we slowly started Greek this last year w/ inthebeginning.org and a few other resources, and copywork has been [relatively] painless. I'm apparently going for the easy stuff to implement first, lol. But i am no WTM expert.:eek:

Thanks!

[Colleen in NS]

SO- If you follow WTM pretty closely, post here and share anything that has:

1. proved particularly helpful in implementing the rec's;

2. Proved challenging and how you overcame that challenge

3. proved to be surprisingly easy to apply to your homeschool.

4. anything else I'm forgetting... :cool:

As i mentioned, i don't follow WTM, but i have loved using SOTW w/ AG, we slowly started Greek this last year w/ inthebeginning.org and a few other resources, and copywork has been [relatively] painless. I'm apparently going for the easy stuff to implement first, lol. But i am no WTM expert.:eek:

No expert here, either, but was just desperate for some hand-holding, and thus, the WTM recs for me. I really had no idea how to go about educating my kids before reading it (the second time, after being overwhelmed the first time). I LOVE the WTM for its thoroughness and great detail on how to do things.

We're in grammar stage still and here is what I have found so far:

- helpful: reading the details in each section of WTM. Being able to ask zillions of questions on these boards

- challenging: understanding how to implement the writing recs. Then I bought the Writing Without Fear CD, listened to it several times (including with friends), and things became clearer. Then these new boards came about, I saw that SWB was posting, and posted my own questions to her and got them answered (thank you, thank you, SWB!). It's very helpful to have the author herself answer questions about her recommendations.

- surprisingly easy: I never knew how easy it would be to study history, science, and literature. I never knew how many wonderful literature books were out there, and that history was INTERESTING, and that science is utterly fascinating. I now know what physics is. And physics is very cool.

Ds is beginning logic stage next year, and I'm excited to get on with that (scared, too - it's a whole new ball game for me, esp. writing). With where he is at now in his thinking, I can see how the logic stage recs in different areas will be very helpful in guiding his thinking.

I will say also that the religion/character chapters were quite helpful to me, too. I bought a couple of the books recommended in WTM for that, and really enjoyed them.

I also am enjoying learning about different artists and musicians, and love that my kids actually know who various ones are - I never knew when I was a kid!

I could go on and on, but I'll stop there. :)

[Susie in CA]

Hi,

We follow the WTM fairly closely. We use many of the recommendations and we definitivly follow the cycles (history and science) as well as the stages.

I found the book about 4 years ago. It was this book that guided me along, gave me a starting point as well as an end goal to keep in mind.

Overall, I would say that is very easy to follow. I don't do much more than research resources, buy them and use them. When I use them I simply do the next thing most of the time. On Sundays I make myself a shopping list of items I meet need to get for specific projects or experiments. That's it!

The only thing I find challenging is Science. However, I do not think this is a WTM problem. I think there really are not many good Science resources available for younger kids. Both my kids are still in the Grammar Stage.

Susie

[Colleen in NS]

One more helpful thing has been (and I guess it's not mentioned in WTM, but it expands on WTM science recs) the Science in the Classical Curriculum CD put out by SWB at PHP. Wow. This gave me a *vision* for science - not just "doing science to get it done." This CD is also very practical at explaining how to put the WTM recs into place and why.

[Jenn in Mo]

I love it. The emphasis on history has been wonderful. We enjoy every part of it and homeschool throughout the entire year to fit it all in. Even then, we sometimes linger past a year before moving on to the next. I love the excellent read-aloud recommendations.

I love fitting the chemistry in with what they would be learning during that historical period. We are currently on year 3 and using Christian kids learn Chemistry. Last year we made up our own unit studies for the first half and then used Apologia's Astronomy for the 2nd half. It was a squeeze, but we got it all in!

The part I've found the most difficult is the 3-ring binder solution. But I read somewhere that it was something recommended by a publisher to include, not necessarily something they would truly recommend. Perhaps I misread that, but that allowed me to relax and stop worrying about it. We keep a history notebook because it's fun. We keep individual notebooks for the boys to store their favorite stuff in past that. We've also made some things into little books. At the end of each year, I box everything up into a rubbermaid and can't wait to pull it all out again when we get to the logic stage so they can see their old stuff.

Incredibly easy was the narrations. I'd never heard of that before and was so glad to realize it basically just meant talking about what we'd read, which is something we already did. I was a slacker and didn't write down what they told back to me most days, but we got it done and had fun doing it.

[mcconnellboys]

I *think* I have always followed WTM pretty closely. I've liked most all of the recs - a lot! In fact, I sometimes think I'm one of about 7 who does use the WTM science recs, LOL....

I was drawn into WTM because it seemed to be pretty much what I was already trying to accomplish on my own. I've found all the recs easy to implement, but I love planning and using living books.

Regena

[Rhondabee]

My 4th grader does almost everything WTM except for Science. Though, I don't spend an hour on Art or Music each week (we do include Art & Music just not that much!).

My 7th grader is pretty much the same BUT - we have found it much harder to be consistent with the History rec's because he didn't have history in 1st - 4th. I have, until just recently, either pushed for an outline *or* a report. Starting this week, he will be responsible for both (we just did cover reports in R&S 7, and that has really helped clarify the process for both of us). Surprisingly, he has really enjoyed the literature this year - though I did substitute a slightly abridged version of Robinson Crusoe.

Actually, I find ***EVERYTHING*** is ***MUCH*** harder for my 7th grader because he doesn't have that firm foundation that my younger one has. I can tell my 4th-gr's logic-stage will be much, much easier on him *and* me. So, I guess my biggest recommendation is to start early. It's so much easier to build in baby-steps.

Also, getting ANYTHING by SWB on CD or tape just really puts a friendly face on everything in the book. It will also give you that broad, birds-eye view you need to not panic when people start posting about doing things in earlier grades that WTM saves for later.

[Rhondabee]

Yeah - we are slackers in notebook thing, too. The History Notebook is the only one we keep consistently.

[Trivium Academy]

At first I thought that we have moved away from WTM but the more I thought about it, we haven't. Using different curriculum than suggested is nothing, a lot of the ideology is the same.

Copywork/Narrations/Dictation: We value these highly even though it is not our only approach, they are the basis of our LA, history and science for reading comprehension.

History/Science cycles: I value these most of all, I've been tempted to deviate but this is how we want to homeschool. High school may steer us off WTM's course depending on the circumstances.

History- Yes, we're using TOG now but we haven't changed the focus of what we're doing just because I have awesome teacher helps now.

The core of our homeschool ideology is still deeply connected to WTM, there's been a few things thrown in and mixed around but overall WTM is still our benchmark.

There's more but I have to go...

[Zelda]

...more closely than not. I stay true to the message of the book and follow a lot of the curriculum recommendations. I find the science recommendations invaluable.

I am starting to read Charlotte Mason's series as well. I don't feel this one quite as much but I think there's a lot of value in it.

[Friederike in Persia]

Since I got the WTM we've been implementing most of its thinking/recommendations.
At first I thought we'd have to wait for ages, until I could get more of the books recommended (living in Tajikistan makes it somewhat complicated getting American books), but since the dds are still in the grammar stage we were able to incooperate a lot of the suggestions right away.
The girls loved history beforehand, but since we've upped the amount we're doing and are working through SOTW they adore it!
Dictation was the one that surprised me. I hated having to do it at school and it would never have occured to me to "do it" to them. Turns out they like it and prefer it over doing grammar (not really a choice they have, but it's a way to speed up their grammar "we'll do dictation next!" - how weird!).

[Rhonda in WA]

I love all the help info. We use SOTW, do science per WTM, we even do the reading according to her list. It has been a wonderful tool for me. I really had no idea what to do with dd till I found this book. We do the notebooks just like she says. The writing may not get done everyday but we try. The only thing we changed-I added SWR and use SWO as a workbook!

[Kristiana]

But we're only in first grade so I don't have a *lot* of experience with it. We're using most of the recommendations and we absolutely love SOTW and the first grade science. Those have been our favorites.

I know some people have been completely overwhelmed by TWTM on first reading, but I'm finding it fairly easy to implement so far. It makes me wonder what I'm missing.;) I will say that fitting everything in, and we do include music and art, is possible but I've had to schedule myself a little more than I thought I would so we can get to everything in a given week. But I think a schedule is good, for me anyway.

The hardest thing, for my child anyway, is written narrations. It sounds so easy, and he can rattle off so many details of a history lesson to Daddy or Grandma, but if I'm sitting there with pencil to write it down, he gives me a sentence. Or less, after much prodding. I finally told myself it was ok to just do oral narrations with him for now and make sure I have him do the SOTW review questions. I was stressing over this for awhile.

I am really glad that I found it before my oldest got to first grade though. I think I will really appreciate him having a good foundation and like someone said, I don't have to worry about what we're missing out on right now because I know the whole plan and I can see where we're headed. It was so clear to me when I first read TWTM.

[Mad Jenny Flint]

We have followed WTM closely since my older child was in K. Now, I have a 7th grader and a 3rd grader and have often joked that I planned their births to coincide with the WTM schedule so we could all conveniently do history and science together. (Not really).

Anyway, we really like having all the suggestions on how to implement. I know that Susan and Jessie had to cover all the bases in the book for their publisher, and I am glad that they did, but I really feel like it gives a target to aim for rather than a list of requirements. There is no way I could school my kids the way they suggest if I had more than two children. It is very teacher intensive, unless you hire out classes. But, I like it that way because it keeps us in the lifestyle we prefer- connected as a family.

We have done SOTW this cycle, supplementing with History of US for my older child. When he was in grammar stage we used Hillyer's Child's History of the World, and it was more free-form. SOTW hadn't been published yet. :)

We are using the Smithsonian Microchem set for science, as suggested, and folding my younger child in. We do writeups for science about every other week, rather than every week. This allows us to get more experiments in and to enjoy and observe what we are doing better without the fear of writing everything up.

We use copywork and narrations some, but not extensively because I am not good at remembering it. It tends to come pretty naturally to my kids, too, so I don't worry about it a whole lot.

We do keep the notebooks- one for each stage per child. THEY ARE FAT. About twice a year I gather all of their important papers and file them inside the notebooks.

I never feel like I am doing enough- that is the perfectionist in me. However, when I go to file all of their work, I see how very much we have indeed accomplished- then I feel better for a while.

I am nervous about how we'll make high school work, sometimes, as we follow the WTM pattern. It is actually a pretty laid-back way of doing things, for all its prescriptions... but I imagine it will feel very like a continuation of what we already do.

I am very thankful for WTM because, even though I have read several other homeschooling cookbooks and recommendations, It really speaks to me on a deep level and feels like what I would do if left on my own. Except I don't have to come up with it on my own. Did I say I am thankful?

[Strawberry Queen]

I've been following the WTM rec' s fairly closely. My 2 dd's are just at the begining though(2 andK). I have to say that I love the vision of the book. The main problem I have is implementing science at the moment. It's the thorn in my side:) However, I have ordered the book I need so I'm hoping to get over that.

One of the things I like about it is that it spurs me on to have high expectations of my girls. When you start slowly with a plan, it's possible to meet your goals one step at a time. I would never have introduced all of the parts of speech in 1st and 2nd w/o FLL. I would have scoffed at the idea, but I have seen the value in all of that memory work.She can roll of that list of helping verbs in 10 seconds, and she enjoys it!

I like the rec's about writing and am going to order the Writing w/o fear cd now that my sister moved to the states.I'll probably order the science one too. It seems like I need the extra push:)

I'm starting to run on so I'll just leave it at that.

[jail warden]

I feel like for the most part I follow it fairly closely. I do most of the subjects, just choose curriculums I like a little better. I now make my own path more, but I never would have had the confidence to do that if I hadn't read the book. I just planned to go with a boxed curriculum until a friend(thanks Jean in IN:)), hooked me. When people ask me what I do, I tell them I follow WTM and I always recommend(sp?) the book to others.

[Audrey]

1. proved particularly helpful in implementing the rec's;

Knowing when to ease up and back off. My ds hasn't always been ready for certain subjects/skill sets at the time specified in WTM. I had to let go of some of my own hangups, so as not to give him any.

2. Proved challenging and how you overcame that challenge

See answer to #1

3. proved to be surprisingly easy to apply to your homeschool.

Narrations and copywork. Ds is not a kid who likes to handwrite. Suprisingly, he has never balked at copywork and does great narration orally and by typing it.

4. anything else I'm forgetting... :cool:

We have not yet introduced Latin (ds is grade 3 now). I just got Minimus and was going to start it next term, but ds has already got his hands on it. :)

[ArwenA]

We follow WTM more closely than I thought at first!
We do lots and LOTS of copy and memory work, not so much dictation. I may add that in.
I LOVE the history and science cycles, we follow those and I'm sure we always will. Yes, right now we are studying Canadian history but SOTW4 is also on our book list.
We do lots of reading, TONS of it.
We have a strong emphasis on art and music appreciation doing an 30 minutes of each on alternating days, making 1.5 hours of art and 1 hour of music.
I am excited about starting logic with my eldest next year, I think it is very important.

I really love WTM it is GREAT!!!!!

[Catherine]

We do.
Helpful: giving them a chance. Some recommendations, like outlining the KHE, sounded, frankly, too difficult or boring. I found my first could not do it, even in seventh grade, and hated it. The second, I decided to try at least, and in fifth grade, he does it without difficulty. Same for dictation. When my 4th grader could not really do any writing assignment, he asked for just dictation for 6 months, and we did it. It *really* helped his writing.
Proved challenging: Just finding the time. I now homeschool only 2 of my 3. Not because we wanted to follow the method more fully (he wanted to go back and we found a reasonable opportunity) but I agree with the poster who pointed out that following TWTM closely is not very doable when teaching more than one child (particularly boys, may I add?)

Also, my current first grader needed some different for math, so I started Rightstart with him this year. It is a good curriculum, meshes will with singapore which I use as a supplement, and really promotes understanding (mastery you have to pursue yourself as needed).
Proved surprisingly easy: the science recommendations. Last year I used RS4K, for my 4th grader. I took an entire year to do this 10 week curriculum with him! This year we are using TWTM method, doing the experiments, at least some of them, and truly is is no more work. I help this situation by keeping a lot of science books around, having my fifth grader choose the topics ahead of time so that I can prepare the needed materials. First grader uses the Kingfisher books, and tags along for experiments and field trips.

I also tweak the literature lists, and make us of study guides when I can, as I haven't found a way to read everything yet.

[Narrow Gate Academy]

Helpful: slowly working up to the recs. I would have found the program completely overwhelming in 1st grade otherwise. We started a few things in K, added a bit in 1st, and then again in 2nd.

Challenging: balancing the time I spent doing school with the older ones without feeling like my youngest was being left out. Implementing a MOTH schedule helped us tremendously not only to include the youngest but also to make sure we aren't trying to do too much school with the older ones.

Easy: Following the language arts guidelines proved to be much easier for me than I expected. I confess to being a bit skeptical about doing the copywork and narration at first, but it has worked great so far (even for this math/science mom).

Other: We don't necessarily stick exactly to a recommended curriculum. We have done our own history programs but stayed within the 4 year cycle and incorporated the narrations. We also make adjustments here and there to make things work better for our family like using CW as our writing program. I still find it helpful to go back and read through sections of WTM 3 or 4 times a year to help us gauge where we are doing well and where we can make some improvements.

We are loving it, and the kids are learning tons. I'm not sure I could homeschool if I hadn't had the framework of WTM to work off.