SUCCESS WITH CONNECT THE THOUGHTS™

This page contains some of the many successes our customers have had with the Connect The Thoughts™ program. If you would like to share your success with us, please click here .

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All posts are placed in one or a few categories, and sometimes also in sub-categories. The number after each category shows how many posts it contains.

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60242

Your Student's Literature Skills Can Only Be Improved

    

Animation


Connect the Thoughts Animation I - Gummy Cat Project is an awesome course! It provides rich experiences for students in many ways.

As a home educating parent, I was concerned that I would not be able to provide my daughter with instruction in fields of the arts that I am not familiar with, or comfortable with. As I have no training in animation, I would never have expected that I would be able to provide her with instruction in animation and the art of creating a storyboard. Connect the Thoughts has changed that. As my daughter has developed a love for drawing animated cartoon characters, I can now provide her with professional instruction in our own home.

Connect the Thoughts Animation courses do not teach drawing skills, but provide professional instruction in creating a storyboard. The student is expected to use their own drawing skills and programs. In my opinion, this is of benefit as the students are free to draw their characters without the fear of their art work being judged to a specific level. Their drawing skills can develop and improve as they learn to analyze a script or literature, and create a storyboard using professional techniques. There are many excellent drawing programs out there and the key to learning to draw is practice, practice, practice! They are free to learn their animation skills, and draw their characters at their own drawing skill levels.

Your student's literature skills can only be improved by the Gummy Cat Animation course. To produce a storyboard, it is necessary to analyze the script (or literature) to determine the physical characteristics of the characters and background settings. To do this, the student must be able to read and understand the script very well, as well as look for hidden details that might not be explicitly stated in the text. As a professional makeup artist, I was trained to determine the physiognomy of the characters based on analysis of the script or literature. This required the ability to read between the lines and truly understand what was being read. The study of this can only enhance your student's literature skills.

My daughter is really looking forward to working on Gummy Cat this summer. You can't put a value on that type of enthusiasm!

We are planning to use the more advanced levels of the CTT Animation courses and would highly recommend them to anyone!

D.G.

 
  


60070

Your Courses Have Had a Great Impact

    

H. is about done with Greece (Upper School History III ). One neat thing was (when she was studying) about geometry and the golden mean. She is studying geometry this year for math and was really able to understand how the Greeks approached this and what they contributed. Certainly made math more meaningful!

Your courses have had a great impact on us and we've learned so much from them. I am so appreciative for all you've done for us.

A.B., Parent

 
  


60250

We Have Finally Found the Perfect Curriculum

    

How To Do CTT Courses Course


After many trial and error processes, we have finally found the perfect curriculum for our homeschool family. Having children with varying levels of learning disabilities, this program enables everyone to work at their own speed, and really grasp what they are learning.

I could write the same review over and over for each of the courses we have used to date, and my response would be the same for each and every one of them. Connect the Thoughts has not only been an answer to my scheduling nightmare, but has taught my children to be responsible for their own work, their own actions and their own education. They finally WANT to learn!!

How often do your children whine when you are done working on Ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia? Mine did...and I have on more than one occasion found my 12 yr old (ADHD/Dysphasia) reading her HISTORY book before bed...what mother could ask for a better attitude than that?

Thank you so much for such a blessing.

S.G.

 
  


60234

We are Already Seeing Signs of Success!

    

Manners Course


My 13yo almost 14yo son has done only 2 lessons in this curriculum and we are already seeing signs of success! I can hardly wait to see the difference in him by the time the course is over.

K.B.

 
  


60252

This Information is Written at the Right Level

    

Lower School - How To Do Research


As a HomeSchooling parent, I think it is critical that my girls know how to get information for themselves. They need to learn 'How to learn' and that is amply covered in this course.

"Research" breaks down into manageable chunks of learning, the information that the children need to be able to make astute enquiries of their own.

This information is written at the right level for the age group and was understood by my girls, even though it was perfectly suited to stretch them and make them think.

Both Upper School and Lower School How to do Research offer the students an understanding of the resources that can be used to "Research" (get more information) and indeed goes further by offering ways and means of utilizing those resources!

J.D. in Australia

 
  


60233

This Curriculum Will Keep My Child's Interest

    

Lower School History


This curriculum is a unique and needed addition to what is available to homeschoolers. From the very beginning, the student is encourage to take responsibility for her own education, to think through and connect the ideas and experiences of mankind to their own lives, and to be creative. If you are looking for a curriculum that tells your child what to think...this is NOT for you. If you want to teach your child to think for herself, to weigh the facts and opinions of various sources and come to her own conclusions (and be able to tell you why she thinks this is true), then this IS for you. This curriculum respects a child's thoughts, their experiences and their opinions while presenting her with deeper and more diverse information at each level.

My 10yo WANTS to study. She chooses to learn and loves to share what she has put together from all that she's read. This is why I homeschool...so she can think and be creative instead of memorize facts and a set of politically correct answers.

With all the additional electives available, and with more coming all the time, I know this curriculum will keep my child's interest as well as guide her toward adulthood prepared to enter any university or intellectual conversation she might encounter.

D.M.

 
  


60210

This Curriculum has Changed My Daughter and I Love It!

    

My 9yo is doing the lower school but she has been doing Japanese for the last 3 years now (we have only been doing CTT for a few months) and just adds it in during the day. She is also doing Word Roots and Saxon Math. We were doing other things for the other subjects but we dropped them in favor of the whole CTT program--all my daughter's choice and we would never go back. She is an awful speller also or I should say she was and she is also an avid reader BUT this freedom of her taking control of her own education through CTT has somehow sparked better spelling, better writing and she does more research into various things that interest her-ON HER OWN. I do not have to come up with anything and in fact we are selling our SOTW among other things because that was stuff I chose.

This is a kid who hates to draw yet immediately chose the Animation I class as her elective and is having a ball. I think if you plan on doing it talk to your kids and see how they want to proceed, have them do the 'How To' course to see if it is something that fits their needs. The 4 hours that it talks about for us has not materialized-but it has in some ways-the actual work from CTT is done and finished in about an hour because she is doing it rapidly as she enjoys thinking and writing--then I get a quiet house for a few more hours as she explores subjects on her own or reads or creates because OF CTT. So here is what she is doing now just as an example:

  • CTT Prehistory
  • CTT Science Basics
  • CTT Animation I
  • CTT Creative Writing
  • Saxon Math
  • Word Roots
  • Japanese Reading/Writing/Speaking
  • CyberEd online science
Geography (her choice she wanted to keep this but I let her proceed on her own) and just general lots o reading books She also has 2 outside things a Science class during the school year and Fencing that keeps her busy.

I hope I am making sense...I just woke up...but really let your daughter take a look at it and if she enjoys it do not be surprised to see her rebelling against some of the other materials instead of using them in conjunction with.

I have found parts of my daughter I did not know existed-a good speller, creative, a love of writing thoughts, dedicated, committed and a kid who is able to argue her opinion and then back it up. I kid you not this curriculum has changed my dd and I love it! She no longer whines and tells me she can not figure things out she tells me about all the things she figured out on her own!

Tabbi

 
  


60253

This Course Goes Way Beyond Any Other Research Course I've Seen

    

Upper School - How To Do Research


This course goes way beyond any other research course I've seen. Like most research courses it introduces the various parts of the library and how to use them. But it goes on to teach about all the other places you can get information (internet, museums, professionals, etc.) Then it teaches how to decide which sources will be most useful and what to do when there is too much or too little information available.

This course would have really helped me during my college days.

J.K.

 
  


60239

They are Encouraged to Think for Themselves

    

Information - Right or Wrong


The CTT Basic Course - Information, Right or Wrong is a great course. I loved that the kids were learning to discern between Right and Wrong, fact or opinion. They are encouraged to think for themselves. My kids watched news stories during the election coverage and picked what was truth and what was opinion. It was great for them and for me, their mom, too.

S.W.

 
  


60251

The Boys Learned Some Things They Didn't Already Know

    

Computer Basics


The CTT Computer Literacy Course is another of the basic courses you should consider when starting out with this excellent curriculum. The course assumes you have a PC with Windows XP and Microsoft Word, so if you're using a Mac or a different word processing application, you might want to look for something else or edit the course to fit your situation (we have both a Mac and a PC).

The teenage boys I am homeschooling already had a lot of experience using computers, although most of that experience was related to game playing, video-editing on the Mac, email and instant messaging. I debated whether to use this course, thinking it might be too elementary for the boys, but again, I'm glad that I decided to use it. The boys learned some things they didn't already know about using Windows XP and MS Word and about basic computer operation, care and maintenance.

If your children do not have much computer experience, this course will definitely help to get them started. Recommended!

Grateful Homeschool Mom in El Paso, Texas
K.B.

 
  


60240

The Boys Have Suddenly Become Interested

    

Information - Right or Wrong


The "CTT Information Right or Wrong" Course is another of the basic courses you should use when starting out with the Connect the Thoughts curriculum. This course teaches the students to evaluate the information they read, hear, or see on television, and to separate facts from opinions.

I am using this curriculum to homeschool 2 teenage boys. In the public schools, they were not accustomed to being asked to evaluate information, just to memorize it. I have enjoyed seeing them really THINK about their answers to the exercises in this course, and even better, to begin to realize that they are free to express their own thoughts and opinions, without fearing criticism or ridicule. The exercises in this course have been great conversation starters for family discussions and the boys have suddenly become interested in watching the evening news and discussing current events.

I highly recommend this course.

Grateful Homeschool Mom in El Paso, Texas
K.B.

 
  


60235

One of the First Courses You Should Consider Using

    

Manners Course


The "CTT Manners Course" is one of the first courses you should consider using when starting this excellent curriculum. It allows the students to think about what it means to be part of a family, a group, and a community and how important it is to contribute to the success of any group to which they belong. I debated using this course with the 2 teenagers I'm homeschooling, thinking they might be too old for the lessons in this course, but I'm glad I decided to use it.

My 14 year old son wrote the following in response to Exercise 6 in the Manners course: "I am homeschooled by my Mother - Mommy, I luv you :) - and it is a grade A education. Its much better than my previous school.... I am hoping to finish school early and go to college. This schooling is great! I'm actually learning and in a comfortable way...(There is a lengthy comparision here of a sewer and the public school I withdrew him from)... If I were to ever write how awesome or perfect this is I would probably fill up this entire notebook, which I need for my school work, so I better not."

It is truly amazing to see these boys go from reluctant learners to thinking about going to college in just 4 weeks!

I highly recommend this course and this curriculum!

Grateful Homeschool Mom in El Paso, Texas
K.B.

 
  


60050

My Older Daughter Jessica

    

Last February my older daughter Jessica brought home a letter and a flyer about the "Connect The Thoughts" program soon to be introduced into her school's program. I read the info and was confident that the school was doing something good and wondered if she was going to take part of this. Later on I would see her very active and bright doing some new assignments at home: "things she had to do for school", she said, and then proceed with it, with interest. She has been writing a lot lately and been accurate in many more things that come up in her conversations. And last week when I asked her how is this program? She replied: "It's very easy and to the point, sometimes even too obvious for me anyways but in a good way" "It's a lot better than what I was studying before because it has a lot more useful information and meaning" "It makes sense".

This is great!

M.S.M., A Florida Father

 
  


60232

My 9 Year Old Daughter is Absolutely Loving This Course

    

Lower School Science


My 9 year old daughter is absolutely loving this course (LS Science II - Earth Sciences). She loves the hands on lessons and is having a blast while learning so much. She is so excited with it right now that it's all she wants to work on these days. Thanks for an engaging and fun course.

S.W.

 
  


60080

Makes the Subject of History into a Living Study

    

Connect The Thoughts has increased my children's interest in their studies and has become my one of their favorite subjects. It's rather amazing to hear a 12 year old discuss the Popul Vu as if knowledge of it were a matter of course. Or to hear my children discussing amongst themselves the philosophy of non-violent resistance after studying Gandhi, with great understanding of it.

I feel that they can now look at something like today's news and see how history is essentially repeating itself in many ways. This will serve them well in the future the ability to study and understand the varying viewpoints on this subject increases a child's awareness of and communication with their environment as the material is readily absorbed and easily applied to the world at large.

The entire purpose of an education should be application to the everyday world. I feel that this program really forwards this concept and makes the subject of history into a living study since it incorporates all the other elements - Art, Science and Religion - necessary to really understand History and to connect it to life by having the data on the timeline of events on the past but taught in such a way as to truly become part of a child's education.

M.G., mother

 
  


60246

Just What the Doctor Ordered

    

Creative Writing


Connect the Thoughts Creative Writing I is an awesome curriculum! It is "just what the doctor ordered" for the student who has a fear of writing or is a reluctant writer. My daughter had a tremendous fear of writing after bad experiences while still in school. She no longer has a great fear of putting pen to paper and we have only covered half of Level I. I plan to continue using Connect the Thoughts curricula and would recommend it to anyone.

D.G.

 
  


60249

It Teaches What is Expected from the Student

    

How To Do CTT Courses Course


The How to do CTT Courses is the first course you should use when starting this excellent curriculum. It teaches what is expected from the student in all the Connect The Thoughts courses and familiarizes with them with the philosophy and procedures for completing the courses.

I am homeschooling my 14 yr-old son & his 16 yr-old friend using Connect The Thoughts courses, while working full time as a Technical Writer out of my home office. The boys have finished the How to do CTT Courses Course , Information Right or Wrong , and the Computer Literacy course, They are now working on the Manners Course and Upper School How to do Research Course, and will start the Upper School Science I , Upper School Pre-History , Creative Writing III , and Animation I course in November.

In just a few weeks they have both gone from writing one or two word answers to the Connect The Thoughts exercises (I'm only doing this because you're making me do it...) to writing whole pages in response to the exercise questions.

I highly recommend this course and this curriculum!

Grateful Homeschool Mom in El Paso, Texas
K.B.

 
  


60248

It Prepares the Student

    

How To Do CTT Courses Course


I have to say that I really liked what the author was doing in this course... instructing on how actually DO the CTT courses. I wish more curriculum did this. Maybe then we wouldn't have so many unfinished ones. It prepares the student for using the courses in this curriculum.

S.W.

 
  


60254

It has Made My Children Begin To See the World in a New Light

    

Lower School Semester I


This is a wonderful curriculum. It has made my children begin to see the world in a new light. My dds ages 8 and 6 often ask to do their history on day when we are supposed to be off. The ages of the curriculum are older, but I would recommend this curriculum to anyone with an easily bored child or for that fact a child that is eager to learn.

N.W.

 
  


60236

Information, Right or Wrong Teaches Students how to Evaluate Information

    

Information - Right or Wrong


In today's society our children receive so many "mixed" messages that they are often left confused about which side to believe. Information, Right or Wrong teaches students how to evaluate information based on past experience and their personal belief system to determine which information is worthy of further investigation and what should simply be ignored.

J.K.

 
  


60245

I've Been Truly Amazed

    

Creative Writing


I have 2 children, a boy 14 and a girl 9. We used CTT Creative Writing 1 recently and they both enjoyed it. My 9 yo especially loved it and her writing has improved tremendously. She is actually writing for a change and with a smile on her face! She loves it. My 14 year old's writing has really grown through this course. I've been truly amazed.

Thank you for a great course!

This review [below] was written by my 9 year old daughter about the Creative Writing I course by Connect the Thoughts....

"My review of the CTT Creative Writing 1 course is ... I loved it. It is my favorite subject. I will say that I used to beg not to write but now I beg to do it! I think that the CTT Creative Writing I is a great Creative Writing Course. This course has made me start to write a book and the best part is no one can tell me I am wrong. Plus it has helped me with my spelling a lot because I don't want people to see what I've written and it all be spelled wrong."

I didn't mention this in my earlier review, because I forgot, but my daughter is right that her spelling has improved tremendously after taking this course and others by CTT. I can't explain it but it really has. She even shows an interest in spelling now and before she just didn't care. I think the fact that the "teacher" is not supposed to really critique their work gives the children freedom to express themselves. I do mention when a word is misspelled or that a comma might be needed and so on but I try to limit that because I want them to write and to enjoy writing. She definitely does NOW.

My 14 yo son wrote the following review of the Creative Writing I Course by CTT...

"I took the Creative Writing 1 course in Connect The Thoughts and I'll admit at first I thought it was just another stupid course my mom found on the internet, and through the first few lessons I did it in a sarcastic way with minimal effort. I did come to enjoy writing more and more as I went through the course. I am a 14 year old freshmen who loves to read and write, and the course was really too easy for me, but it was good for me to get to practice my writing on different scenarios that the course had.

"As I progressed through the course I began to write entire pages and more when only 50 words were required. I'm now on Creative Writing 3 and am enjoying my writing even more still. I would recommend the writing course to anyone who loves to read and write as much as I do."

S.W.

 
  


60241

I'm Finally Seeing Her Start 'Owning' Her Education

    

Information - Right or Wrong


Doing Connect the Thoughts courses have been a Godsend for my daughter - I'm finally seeing her start "owning" her education, and she's enjoying working through the courses and knowing that what SHE thinks about what she's learning is IMPORTANT, not just what someone else thinks she needs to learn. Steve (the author) is a great support for the curriculum and genuinely cares about each students' success with the program he has written.

I would HIGHLY recommend this program, especially for those with teens who are feeling like homeschooling is just another excuse for Mom to boss them around... this gives them complete ownership of their own education, even referring to the responsibility of getting educated as their "job". Once the student feels that ownership, they are encouraged to dive DEEP into their studies, without Mom nagging. It's great! CTT has saved our homeschool - and our mother/daughter relationship!

Thanks Steve!!!

S.R.

 
  


60243

I Only Wish I Had Started Her Sooner

    

Creative Writing


I am grateful for this product. After much trial and error we have found a program that actually encourages her to write. I knew she had it in her, but I did not know how to bring it out. Right away, this course has coaxed her thoughts onto paper in small reasonable bits which are now naturally growing. She can do this! She now says she would like to be a writer! I have found myself entertained and impressed with her writing now. Before, I could not get her to write much of anything and her self-confidence was very low in this area.

I am delighted that we have found this resource. I only wish I had started her sooner and not wasted my time and money on less effective programs that underestimate the individual's contribution to their own learning environment. If you are considering a different course from Connect the Thoughts or 1st Step, you will not be disappointed. I have bought at least a dozen. I have read through them and I am really impressed. He gives the student ownership and pride in their learning. The author is available online via his Yahoo group and he really does answer questions and the other homeschool parents are there to discuss them too. You will not be stuck alone, not knowing what to do.

I highly recommend his courses.

T.S.

 
  


60231

I had been Indoctrinated with the Thought That Learning Had to be Painful

    

Upper School Science


For years I had been trying to find a science curriculum that would "fit" our family. I was at my wits end when I stumbled upon Connect the Thoughts. My daughter recently finished the Upper Science I - Science Basics. The material is written directly to the student in an easy to understand way. The writing style is so pleasing, that initially I was afraid that my daughter would not be learning enough. However, when I looked at the tests provided with the course, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much material was covered. Somehow I guess I had been indoctrinated with the thought that learning had to be painful. We look forward to continuing with the rest of the Upper School Science Series. I'm so happy that I don't have to put the time and effort into making our own science program.

Thank you Steven!

D.W.

 
  


60238

I am Thrilled to be seeing Progress with My Own Girls

    

Information - Right or Wrong


CTT Information - Right or Wrong is a course that teaches the students to think for themselves and to evaluate the information as to fact or opinion. This course is complete and constructive - the children are taught to manage and indeed run their own education and to be a proactive participant in their journey. I am thrilled to be seeing progress with my own girls as they begin to take charge of their work. I would unhesitantly recommend this course!

J.D.

 
  


60200

I am Just Really Grateful...

    

...The 9-year-old is taking it slowly-she has read most all the books you put on the recommended list already. There are so many books to keep her happy though) and I suppose I could start her on the upper school but I think I am going to wait till she tells me she is ready.  The reason she is taking it slow is because she is adding in a lot of extra reading and online courses (CyberEd) and research into her passion-which is Science--all of this on her own.  She is even starting a 7-9th Grade Chemistry course in the Fall. I have had a lot of comments from other parents about how different the 9-year-old is and it all started around when she began Connect The Thoughts courses--I really feel that it has allowed her to be more comfortable in her own skin since she feels like she is taking control of her education.

We are waiting on the keyboard to get here from my inlaws house to start--just a small one because we can not afford the large one you recommended but my little daughter is ready to partake of the music theory class--as that other child said it is her passion and pretty much all she wants to do. We found a child's acoustic guitar through Freecycle and she is teaching herself how to play. Mom Bragging here--She is also working on a CD recording with her teacher's community klezmer band which involves a lot of rehearsals and recording time--they played for 4 hours straight last session, thought her arm was going to fall off. She also was in her first solo contest at the local folk festival and got 4th behind some 12-year-olds (she is 7)--so you can see music is her passion too!

Honestly I do believe all this is the culmination of really getting into Connect The Thoughts courses and just allowing my kids to find their passion, sure we have a little bit of maturity and unschooling going on here but just allowing our kids to take control of their education and let us know what they want to do is a HUGE step! Not to sound too corny but this whole state of mind with Connect The Thoughts has allowed all of our family to be more comfortable in our learning and who we are....the 9-year-old has even started her own website.

All of our kids are amazing, each and every one, they each have their talents, I am just really grateful that we found this Connect The Thoughts to see what our kids can do when they are allowed to think outside the box and more inside themselves!

M.T. and G.

 
  


60247

Hurray for CTT's Religious Tolerance Upper School Course

    

World Problems - Religious Intolerance


Just wanted to put in a hurray for CTT's Religious Tolerance Upper School course. My son is really enjoying the material and the process of thinking about and discussing tolerance and religious differences. He's a reluctant writer, and some of the assignments have really challenged him (thanks!). He's produced some decent work that really illustrates deepening of thought. It's been a great complement to his religious ed program at our Unitarian Universalist Church this year but could be used without any previous background in world religions, since some exploration in this area is included in the study.

The last section on the United Nations' declaration regarding religion and tolerance has stretched his thoughts, critical thinking, and vocabulary. It's been by far the most difficult writing of this course, and I'm delighted to see him thinking and working so hard. I'm looking forward to exploring more in the Connect the Thoughts "World Problems" series.

S.M.

 
  


60100

His Father and I are Amazed at the Change

    

My son, who is now 15 years old, has never had much of an intention to be a student or learn. I witnessed this many, many times throughout his life and education. One factor was, he disliked Math, and constantly fought being in a "classroom".

By the time he was 12, he announced to me that he was "done with school and ready to work". I knew that he didn't have many of his basics in enough to go out and work. he struggled through 2 1/2 more years of school with very little success.

One other situation was his complete inability to write or express himself. He'd take a simple test and it would take literally hours. The same thing would occur with writing a short, simple letter -- hours later he'd say he was done. When this occurred at his previous school, the personnel would be stunned by his pace. He'd be given timed periods in which to complete the test -- to no avail. We tried remedies, but nothing changed this. This was agonizing because I knew he was bright and capable, and could be "brilliant" if he had intention.

Then, he began Creative Writing Study Guide #1 , as part of his home schooling. I decided to have him do that intensively and just continue until he was actually writing. After about five hours on the study guide, he "broke through". Suddenly he was writing, and writing them with ease!

His father and I are amazed at the change. His esteem is out through the top. Now my son wants to be educated, and started working longer hours of study on his own. He is also doing Connect the Thoughts Pre-History, and has beaten every target given him.

I can't believe the change and resurgence. He is now truly "on the road" to a better life and future.

M.Y.H., mother

 
  


60237

Everyone Should Do This One!

    

Information - Right or Wrong


We used the Right or Wrong program and highly recommend it. We are presently using the Manners one and will begin the American Citizenship one soon. Everyone should do this one!

The courses teach the way I attempt to: using the children's thoughts and opinions rather than true/false, right/wrong, or "seeking anyone's approval, but their own." I love being able to ask questions directly of the author and his experience with using these programs himself really helps him understand our needs. These products are great!

K.B.

 
  


60000

Entire Family is Learning Along with My Daughter

    

My daughter has been studying the Connect The Thoughts curriculum for nearly 3 years. She is nearly done with the science courses and 2/3rds of the way through the history program. For me, this curriculum is a dream come true.

As a home schooling parent, it has become obvious to me that a good curriculum is the hub around which the successful home schooling program revolves. One can be a superb teacher and have an excellent relationship and great communication with a child, but with a weak curriculum, both parent and child soon become discouraged and frustrated. For the one and one-half years of home schooling we did prior to finding the Connect The Thoughts program, I was constantly searching for good books, materials and curricula. While there is a lot on the market, the majority of it, in my opinion, is poorly written, insufficiently researched or boring.

Connect The Thoughts is a home run. Not only has my daughter gained a basic college level understanding of the sciences including geology, oceanography, meteorology, biology, chemistry and physics and the entire time line of history, geography, government, religion, philosophy and art, but she can also think on her own, form her own conclusions and research any subject imaginable. She has become an independent student.

Additionally, the curriculum is so fascinating, our entire family is learning along with my daughter, including my 91 year-old mother-in-law, who lives with us and greatly enjoys the materials. She reads everything she can get her hands on. From Homer to Shakespeare and tidal waves to black holes, no stone is left unturned for Connect The Thoughts graduates who, I believe, will make a difference because they can understand problems and envision solutions. The Connect The Thoughts curriculum is making this world a better place.

My deepest appreciation to Steven Horwich for caring enough to research and author these amazing materials.

A.B., home schooling Mom

 
  


60140

A Profound Transformation in My Son

    

The "Connect The Thoughts" curriculum has produced a profound transformation in my son, from a typical semi-literate, bored teenager, to an articulate and truly literate student with whom one can carry on an intelligent conversation, but more importantly, one who can also express his own ideas and feelings in writing, in an eloquent and logical manner.

Of course, when one reviews the curriculum and sees the incredibly logical gradient approach to studying history (in an objective, unbiased way), you see how any student, at any grade level or age, could not help but become an ideal example of what it means to be an "educated person" in today's society. I'm sure that there are college graduates who would greatly benefit from this curriculum of study, as well as adults of all ages!

Actually, this curriculum only helps further the evolution of our species.

S.J.Y., father

 
  


60244

Start Writing Helped My 9 year-old Son Immensely

    

Creative Writing


Creative Writing I - Start Writing helped my 9 yo son immensely. He started the curriculum unable to organize his thoughts or put his thoughts on paper. By the time he completed Start Writing, he was able to write creative stories. More importantly, he now enjoys putting his thoughts into words, both oral and written.

A.B.

 
  


60255

Connect the Thoughts Gives Control of Learning to the Student

    

Upper School Semester I


This is a fantastic find and a great buy! Connect the Thoughts gives control of learning to the student in a clear, easy to follow format while encouraging independent thought. With a complete line up of History , Science and Creative Writing as the core, this curriculum bundle gives you everything you need (except your choice of math curriculum) to get your student started. The "How To" materials are a perfect way to ease a student into taking control of their own learning. And the unique, easy to do reading and spelling programs round out this terrific product.

My 10 year old began using these materials earlier in the year and I have seen huge steps forward in her thinking process. She no longer looks for the "correct" answer to fill in a blank. She takes the information she has read and thinks it through before writing her essays. THIS is why I homeschool. THIS is what I have hoped to achieve...independent thinking with the ability to prove her point, whether I agree with it or not. I'm not concerned that my child will follow the crowd after seeing the way this curriculum works. She will be the one asking the tough questions in the years ahead and finding solutions to those same questions.

If you want to give your child a chance to think for themselves and build a solid foundation of learning, this is a great choice for you. I highly recommend it!

D.M.

 
  


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Connect The Thoughts encourages both boys to take hold of their education and really make it their own

    

Upper School


My name is Marie and I'm homeschooling two boys, Sam (18) and Nick (14). This is our second year of homeschool and I'm very happy with the Connect The Thoughts curriculum. We've tried other types of online and correspondence school but have found that offline works best for us. Connect The Thoughts encourages both boys to take hold of their education and really make it their own. The last curriculum we tried was written in a very boring way and even though it ultimately would've been less work to get their diplomas with it, both Sam and Nick felt they liked Connect The Thoughts better. I'm happy that they care enough about what they're doing to pick the curriculum that's more of a challenge. That's a big step for them.

I started Nick with the Upper School curriculum and Saxon Algebra and Sam has jumped into the middle of Upper School while being dual enrolled at our local community college. Sam is into writing fiction and Nick wants to study ballistics. I'm a graphic designer working at home. I learn a little bit more every day and I'm excited to mark the changes in my kids' attitudes toward their education.

Marie M.

 
  


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-New- She's Proud of Her Writing.

    

Lower School


We started Connect The Thoughts several years ago when they offered the Spelling Course as the free Monday give-away. I was immediately impressed with the brilliance of the author, Steven Horwich, as he recommended exactly what we were already doing. When we needed some Creative Writing assistance it was easy to turn to Connect The Thoughts for aid.

My daughter, then 9, flat out refused to attempt any of the multiple creative writing aids we had purchased. All of the courses varied in price, cuteness, length, reviews, and recommendations. The only thing they had in common was my daughter's resistance to anything they offered. The Connect The Thoughts Creative Writing turned her around and did so quickly. She went from not wanting to put anything on paper to asking me how to write on the computer so she could save the book she planned to author. She became proud of her writing. During her first Connect The Thoughts year our daughter entered and placed Third in the Georgia Public TV’s Reading Rainbow contest. She hasn’t stopped writing, yet.

After reading the How to Do Connect The Thoughts Courses Course , my daughter decided she wanted to try a few of their offerings. We started with Manners, Science and History. She became excited about learning in a way that we had not seen before. Giving her control over how fast and how in-depth she studied changed everything for her. She started notebooks for her courses and would study a subject for hours spending time at our local library and at the home computer. She would have discussions with her friends about the things she was studying and seek their opinions. She would chat, daily, with her father and I about things she had learned.

We are a Connect The Thoughts family, now. We use Saxon for Math and Grammar and Connect The Thoughts for everything else. I converted my loyalties after hearing my daughter quote Connect The Thoughts during a play date. We had just finished the Information, Right or Wrong course. The course is one of the best and I believe it should be required for all students. It is a course that teaches students to think. I don’t know of any other course like it. The course suggests to the students that they get the proof of information given to them. My daughter was discussing something with a playmate and when they could not agree on the facts of the matter she asked, "Where is your proof?" I was so proud of her. She has since become comfortable enough to ask the same question of her father and me. I am still proud of her. The question tasks me on occasion because I am forced to think, rather than mime my answers.

The Upper School courses are as well done as the Lower School courses. Steven Horwich is more than fair in his pricing of the various courses. The courses include free web sites for required movies, suggested books that can be found in most libraries, experiments the students can do (almost on their own) and hints and instructions for the parents/teachers. My daughter has friends who are public schooled and home schooled. All her friends have made positive comments on her course notebooks. One of her public schooled friend asks every visit to see what is new in the science notebook. She says my daughter "gets to learn so much more" than she ever learns.

Our family will be staying with Connect The Thoughts through Upper School. I am sure our daughter will take the lessons, so beautifully presented, with her on her life’s course. "Where is the Proof?" is part of our daughter now and we know it will serve her well. Some people never learn to ask that question. Because of Steven Horwich our daughter learned to ask the question before she had a real need to ask it. Her father and I will be thanking Steven in our prayers for the rest of our lives.

Karen Ann O.