Am I set for Preparing?

[momofjka]

I've looked through several threads and I "think" I have what I need, but I'd appreciate it if someone whose done PHFHG could verify that I am set:

I have 1 very large binder with the following tabs:
Independent History
History Written Narrations
Science Notebooking
(Day 3) Science 5 Questions
Science Experiments

I also use 3 spiral bound notebooks, one for vocabulary, one for copywork, and one for dictation. (On a side note, we used the spiral bound notebooks last year in Bigger instead of index cards or composition books for these subjects, it really worked for us, but I wanted to make sure there wasn't some special reason to use the other).
Am I set? I hope so, because my kiddos are READY and begging me to start, lol! This morning my son told me he got up early so he'd be ready. I am THRILLED that they are so looking forward to our year!

[gmhaynes]

I'm starting Preparing this month and that sounds a lot like what I have. So I think you are all set! Once you get started, I'm sure you will figure it out pretty quickly if you aren't!

[beverett]

We just finished Preparing and we all LOVED it!! You guys are in for an awesome year! It looks like you have most everything... the only 2 things I can remember that I do not see on your list are a Common Place Book and a place to store the poetry writing.

For the common place book I just took them to the Christian bookstore in town and let them pick a journal. They each picked very different choices . Then we just stored our poetry writing in a folder with page protectors. You could easily add another section to your large binder though?

[momofjka]

Beverett,

Do we have to use a Common Place book or is a spiral notebook acceptable? Also, when I put down I had a notebook for copywork, that is actually our notebook for Poetry (my son copied the poems last year for his copywork). Does that sound right or does Preparing have copywork that is separate from the Poetry?

Thanks for the help, I'm excited...I've heard great things about Preparing!

[mom23]

I would think a spiral notebook would work okay for a Common Place book-just supposed to be something set aside for only that purpose. The only thing I could see with a spiral notebook is that you may have a problem with pages tearing out and getting lost, but depending on your child , you might be fine. My daughter would be fine with spiral, my son not so much.

For copywork, they do copy other things. We're just a few units in, so I can't speak for the whole guide, but my daughter copies out of the Draw and Write Through History book regularly. There are writing activities with the poetry-not necessarily copy work, but beginning creative writing. You might want a seperate place for poetry writing and copywork.

[beverett]

I agree with mom23... You do not "have" to have a common place book, a spiral would be fine. It is just for the purpose of keeping Bible verses, famous quotes, and other sayings that are worth keeping and looking back upon later. This is where you would do your "copy work" for this year (she does not have them copy the poetry). Instead the poetry is used as a basis for learning creative writing/poetry writing (my kiddos loved this, it was really great) . The poetry notebook you mentioned would work well for the poetry writing!

[momofjka]

Thanks again ladies! Looks like I really am set, yeah! And mom23, I wanted to say that you replied on another post about scheduling and it was VERY helpful. Between you and Julie (and wisdom from God!), I was able to put together a mixture of the ideas and come up with a schedule that will work for us. I really liked the "block time" idea and that made it easier to plug everything in. So, now I can really look forward to starting fresh our new school year with a schedule, supplies, and lots of enthusiasm!

[my3sons]

Thanks again ladies! Looks like I really am set, yeah! And mom23, I wanted to say that you replied on another post about scheduling and it was VERY helpful. Between you and Julie (and wisdom from God!), I was able to put together a mixture of the ideas and come up with a schedule that will work for us. I really liked the "block time" idea and that made it easier to plug everything in. So, now I can really look forward to starting fresh our new school year with a schedule, supplies, and lots of enthusiasm!

Oh good! I'm so glad to be of some help! This was just so nice to read. Have a great start to PHFHG!

In Christ,
Julie