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After thinking and praying about it for a LONG time, I ordered RTR for my DD this week. I can't wait to get the guide and start looking at the books/notebooking pages. We were really ready for our summer break but now I'm getting the itch to think about next year. DD will be in 7th grade and we are planning to do extensions as well as the science that sends us through God's Design-Our weather and water. We had read the Tiner book in another curriculum two years ago. (And were inspired to travel to Yellowstone as a result--be careful of that one! )

Any tips on what to do to get ready? Are there lists of supplies we will need for projects included in the guide?

And finally, what do people do with their 5th day? I have a few ideas in mind, but would like to hear from others. She is new to HOD but I did use LHFHG for my DS for half of kindergarten last year--loved it.

How exciting! RTR is such a great time period to study. My ds Wyatt and I really enjoyed the Art Study we got to do together with "Looking at Pictures" and the art gallery in the back of RTR's notebooking pages. Wyatt really enjoyed "The Mystery of History," "Gabriel and the Hour Book," and the Shakespeare Study. From science, his favorites were Tiner's book, Galileo, and Newton. He just came in and told me ALL of Storytime was his 'favorite!' BUT, if he had to choose, "Sir Walter Raleigh," "Mystery of the Silver Coins," "Forbidden Gates," and "Illustrated Book of Knights" were his best of the best. My personal favorite was the "Boyhood and Beyond" study we got to do together. Bob Schultz is an excellent writer!!!

A few things that helped me get ready for RTR...

I read through the "Introduction" and jotted notes in the margin of the teacher's guide about the supply choices I made.

I stocked my general art supplies... such as...
Lots of copy paper (we like white cardstock), some colored construction paper (large and small), scissors, a ruler, various sizes of index cards, some washable paint and a few paintbrushes, clear tape, masking tape, markers, glitter, liquid glue, glue stick, crayons, colored pencils (if possible), play dough or modeling clay, some yarn, paper punch, pencils, a black Sharpie, stapler - your basic art stuff. We used a 3 ring binder with clear plastic sleeves as a neat portfolio of the year. We also used cotton balls and/or Q-tips from time to time. Things like tin foil, plastic wrap, paper towels, a coffee filter, coffee or tea grounds, etc. from the kitchen are used from time to time too.

I used these times for RTR to make my schedule...
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I labeled all my RTR books with white address labels on the spines, made a heart symbol for Heart of Dakota, and jotted the pkg they belonged to... i.e. RTR Storytime, RTR History, RTR Science, DITHOR 6/7, etc. I had 2 clear square plastic totes. One labeled "Books to Use Now" and the other labeled "Books to Use Later/ Books We've Already Used." I looked at the first month of plans in RTR and just pulled the books needed for the first month in the "Books to Use Now" and the rest I put in the other tote.

I made my schedule and reflected on it after the first week, tweaking it a little to be this...


HTH! I think you are going to have an awesome year with RTR!
In Christ,
Julie

Julie, thanks so much. This was just what I needed! I got my materials from HOD and am so impressed with the student notebooking pages!! She is really going to love them.

I've been doing just what you suggested--thumbing through the intro and jotting down supplies we will need, but you are adding in other things I know will be helpful to have on hand.

Thanks for sharing your favorites, too!!

Leah

Thanks, Leah! Glad to be of any help! Those notebooking pages are beautiful, aren't they? Have fun looking through your RTR stuff and picturing your neat year to come!

In Christ,
Julie

I'm starting to prep for this guide too, and am wondering if there are any set up posts with pictures... or a list of the Map Trek pages needed and their order... (I need to double check... Map Trek is used in this guide, right?)

Last year I got everything I needed printed off and put together in binders and such. It was so helpful (especially since my oldest was doing the Composer study, which is probably the most time intensive prep I've done to date).

I'd like to do the same this year for MTMM, Res to Ref, Preparing, and Beyond...