mindygz Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 Sometimes the greatest curriculum choices that would be perfect in an ideal world just don't pan out. What are some "bare necessities" programs that you have used and would recommend? Include grade levels if relevant. Looking forward to reading responses on this. :o) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 I think Math Mammoth would qualify. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 LLATL Blue and Red kits for learning reading and early language arts. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 CLE Math, LA, and Reading have filled that need for us. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 CLE Math, LA, and Reading have filled that need for us. Agreed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pehp Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 For us: R&S Math (I also use Miquon) R&S spelling Explode the Code (in book form, picking and choosing) OPGTR (also picking and choosing) I use nothing 'as written' except R&S math, and mostly ETC. I am a confident on -the-fly tweaker. These aren't amazing but they seem to get the job done and I am fine with them! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momling Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Galore Park 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Evan-Moor Daily Science. It is NOT cheesy if you read the TM and supplement with library books and videos. Do a search and you will be surprised who here likes it. http://www.evan-moor.com/p/2687/daily-science-grade-1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Getting Started with Latin for beginning Latin. R&S Spelling, and R&S for math. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyful Journeys Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 How ironic, I just wrote this phrase in another thread. Reading Lessons Through Literature :001_smile: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Easy Grammar Plus. Not the most rigorous but open and go, largely independent, and gets done. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 R&S math Jumpstart worksheets (has math,grammar, brainteasers and handwriting reviews for daily) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Explode the Code KISS GrammarDonnayoung.org handwriting Spectrum Math Writing Strands Progressive Phonics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie in VA Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Getting Started with Latin for beginning Latin. This. Also, Getting Started with Spanish. Hey, I wonder if his French book is ready yet? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hooked on Phonics Math U See Veritas Press Self Paced History Pentime Handwriting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hake Grammar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyc78 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 MathUSee, VP Self-Paced History, AAR and AAS (not independent but quick, open-and-go and it works) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourisenough Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 ETC, Math Mammoth, WWE, SOTW 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparrowsNest Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 VP Self paced history CLE reading and LA Horizons Math These get done no matter what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I won't use it if it's not easy to get done regularly. Elementary: Math Minutes Math in Focus Adventures in America (grades 1-3) (supplemented with Who Was ... and What Was ... books and historical fiction Complete Book of United States History (grades 4-5) SOTW audiobooks Usborne Science Activities books (K-2) Science textbooks for 2+ (read a lesson, look up some things on the internet, watch Brainpop or Bill Nye as desired, add a kit) Treasures LA (takes some work to print & organize the worksheets, and then couldn't be simpler to implement) Evan-Moor's Building Spelling Skills Middle School Math Minutes Holt Middle School Math (again, takes some work to print & organize worksheets, quizzes, tests, and cumulative reviews, but then super easy to implement) K12 Human Odyssey vol. 1-2 Holt Science & Technology MS series (earth, life, physical) (print ahead of time) Moving Beyond the Page literature/LA 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALB Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Spelling Workout R&S science for 2nd grade Explode the Code Handwriting Without Tears 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 CLE Math Veritas Press Self-Paced Fix-It Grammar (new version - 15 minutes a day) Khan Academy Evan Moore Geography Audio books on Kindle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickjul Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 MCP Plaid Phonics Evan Moor's Daily Language Review, Daily Math Practice, and Spell & Write Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2bee Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 My No Muss-No Fuss Reading Program of choice for any child capable of blending and willing to learn to read is, hands down The Reading Lesson. I have the eBook version and have used it with several kids and it has never failed me. I seriously love this book. It teaches the letter and digraph sounds as you need them, not all at once so you can begin whenever you and your kid want to. Each lesson could be spread out over a week or more if needed or zipped through at the childs own pace. We use TRL for reading instruction and practice (it includes words, sentences and stories) and now that I know it exists, I like to use ElizabethAs' Sight Words by Sound during those first 5 lessons and do blending drills to build fluency with short vowel VC, CVC, CCVC and CVCC "sight words" words, while working through the first 5 chapters of TRL. Once a child has completed the first 5 lessons of TRL, we begin reading from a PS literature anthology for 1st graders. I have Houghton Mifflins Reading 1st grade series but any program that teaches short vowel phonics + random sight words will work. When we come to a sight word, I model sounding out the word, have the child repeat it and we keep going, I don't expect them to read the words and I show them that those words can be broken down by sight. The point of the anthology is that YOU don't have to worry about getting appropriately leveled books. The books are already chosen and sequenced for you. So after the child is fluent with 2-4 letter short-vowel words, we just continue through TRL + Anthology doing the next thing in each book. I am sure to always teach/model any sight words phonetically as I go. When we come to true sight words, I say "Oh, this word can't be sounded out, it says 'one'." TRL will step you through all the basic phonics and the anthology gives you "real books" to practice on. When you are done working through TRL + Anthology with your student, the kid will be able to read but you may want to continue with more advanced phonics instruction (Ultimate Phonics word lists is free, and ready to use.) OR your child may be off and reading. Most of my students have been off and reading after TRL + Anthology, but with some I've had to use advanced phonics materials. For mathematics: Math Mammoth for grades K-6 or 1st-7th is a solid, open and go option. You may want to add in a cumulative review of skills as you go, or you may not need to. Spanish is still a work in progress, but we learn words, grammar via phrases and practice with some readers and games and it seems to be working. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SorrelZG Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Writing With Ease workbooks Math Mammoth Also, if you leave off the history, Lively Latin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Similar to explode the code is recipe for reading workbooks if you use their spine. They are just supplemental though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Xtramath Rod and Staff spelling Selected MP lit guides Rod and Staff grammar level 5 and up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 CLP Adventures in Phonics (can use a grade level behind; it's very rigorous) Bob Jones Writing and Grammar Horizons Math PenTime Handwriting I have never found a Git ER Done History, or Science - but Story of the World comes very close becauee I enjoy it so much that I am willing to read it aloud daily. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hkpiano Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 My No Muss-No Fuss Reading Program of choice for any child capable of blending and willing to learn to read is, hands down The Reading Lesson. I have the eBook version and have used it with several kids and it has never failed me. I seriously love this book. It teaches the letter and digraph sounds as you need them, not all at once so you can begin whenever you and your kid want to. Each lesson could be spread out over a week or more if needed or zipped through at the childs own pace. We use TRL for reading instruction and practice (it includes words, sentences and stories) and now that I know it exists, I like to use ElizabethAs' Sight Words by Sound during those first 5 lessons and do blending drills to build fluency with short vowel VC, CVC, CCVC and CVCC "sight words" words, while working through the first 5 chapters of TRL. We love The Reading Lesson too, and are pairing it with Bob Books and Explode the Code for a simple, open and go approach. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceful Isle Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 In a perfect world, I would use Sonlight, read a loud to my kids everyday, sit outside with sweet tea as my kids run around the grass and pick flowers, and I would always be skinny with no bags under my eyes ;) In the real world, we trudge through school. I've chosen MUS for math because it is independent and EIW for the same reason. SOTW is awesome. All the other subjects just are done with a "get it done" attitude. It could be that there is only 6 weeks left of school. September will come soon, and so will my positive attitude. lol 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Dancing Bears and Apples & Pears My Companion for Treadwell and Essentials in Spelling are taking the place of DB and A&P for my 3rd dc and those get 'er done, open and go, without the questionable content. CLE math works very well for systematic review and practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeriJ Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 CLE math R&S Spelling Pentime handwriting SOTW audios with Write From History (even though we've never used it! :) It's always my plan B if plan A doesn't work) Simply Charlotte Mason map drill for geography (with Sheppard's software as well) Science in the Beginning R&S English has fit the bill for us only because I like grammar, so we get it done. SCM Picture Portfolios and SCM style for extra CM type subjects (poetry, literature, Shakespeare etc.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondchen Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 OPGTR Pentime Handwriting WWE workbooks SOTW 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Help me to understand the question with examples of non-"get 'er done" -- I have the feeling that everything we use is done in a "do the next thing" and a "get er done" way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto4inSoCal Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Phonetic Zoo MM HWOT Typing Instructor for Kids Xtramath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyc78 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Help me to understand the question with examples of non-"get 'er done" -- I have the feeling that everything we use is done in a "do the next thing" and a "get er done" way. For us, 'non-get er done' stuff are readalouds (we do them a lot but its the first thing to go when time is tight and mom is stressed), Sonlight (not sure why but we never got it done the way I intended), Timeline figures in the Timeline book, lap booking, arts and crafts. We don't have a lot of non-get-er-done stuff because I figured out pretty early what wouldn't get done and quit buying it :). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 CLE math Galore Park (pretty much anything, we've used English, science and maths) WWE Phonetic Zoo Theory Time (music theory) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 For us: Math Mammoth First Language Lessons Writing With Ease CAP Writing and Rhetoric Sequential Spelling on DVD Explode the Code workbooks Song School Latin using the DVDs xtramath Heavy use of audiobooks I have yet to really find a "get 'er done" science or history program that works for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 OK, so my favorite open-and-go, do the next thing, minimal planning resources: Teaching Textbooks - could not be easier to implement. Megawords - most lessons are self-explanatory, some lists (think: chapter) require me to introduce and teach the concept and then DD's off. I occasionally have to dictate word lists, but it's no big deal Math Mammoth - lessons are all laid out for the student. And... surprisingly.... Hands of a Child lapbooks for my 11 yo. Really. We're currently doing the Lewis & Clark lapbook. I print out the study guide, tell her which section to read, give her the foldable template and instructions, and she does the rest on her own. We don't lapbook, per se, but she glues her foldables into her history notebook (a blank sketchpad). I'm very, very pleasantly surprised with how well it's working for DD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnMomof7 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 What we use IS gettin done. CLE: Math, LA, Bible, Reading Rod and Staff: Spelling in 4th and up As a bonus word roots are also covered by these choices in 7th and 8th ACE: Has been social studies and science the past few years, hoping to branch out a bit next year. We shall see if it gets done though! Xtramath is pretty awesome too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnMomof7 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Also getting done are our Sunday school scripture verses, and Postal Bible Study lessons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebra Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Teaching Textbooks and Essentials in Writing. They both are easy to implement, teach what needs to be taught, and will get done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kateingr Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 CLE language arts Explode the Code Kumon activity books for cutting, pasting, coloring skills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivingHope Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 McGuffey Readers Wheeler's Elementary Speller Write from History Treasured Conversations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strawberryjam Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Explode the Code workbooks would be at the top of my list. Also All About Reading for a struggling reader, though in the middle levels I think some of the lessons are drawn out more then necessary (we started with it later though, if we were using it on grade level maybe it would be different). I would add R.E.A.L. Science as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4maybabies Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Apples and Pears Treasured Conversations Spelling Power MUS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Tharp Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 R&S Spelling Calvert Spelling WWE R&S Math, Grades 2-3, 4th, not so much. Currently switching to CLE R&S English VocabJourney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockhopper Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 I'm kinda scared to post this, but... Notgrass' America the Beautiful For everything I do like about it (independence, color pictures, mapping and timeline work that actually gets done), there's plenty I don't (skim-through history, awkward turns to force a Biblical message at the end of each lesson). However, all year long, history has gotten done here. With an activity book to practice workbook/reading comp/info retention skills, and for paperwork to stuff into the state-required portfolio. And did I mention that timeline and mapping GET DONE? :-) When we've had time, we've had some great bunny trails. When we haven't, at least it GOT DONE! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnMomof7 Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Oh man. We are trying the new Notgrass Adam to Us in the hopes that it will get done!! Hearing you on the mapping and timeline work!!!! I'm glad to had ATB got done at your house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolleenCarie Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Help me to understand the question with examples of non-"get 'er done" -- I have the feeling that everything we use is done in a "do the next thing" and a "get er done" way. Things I end up dropping: Crafty things Things with lots of flipping back and forth or requiring multiple books or materials Teacher-driven or teacher-intensive in the upper elementary and later years Not portable Technology-based (My kids figure out how to cheat the program or they/we become frustrated with it. Monarch was frustrating, XTra math was easy to cheat, MUS has the DVDs) My get 'er done: CLE Math (used/ using grades 2-5) Phonics Pathways (did the whole book w my first) MFW 1st phonics and Bible only (blue book and Bible reader) (this is what I did with my third; with the older two I muddled through and never finished the curriculum bc I tried to do all of the activities, science, verses, and student sheets and became overwhelmed) Life of Fred for my oldest (from the intermediate series through pre-algebra so far) My fifth grader is independently studying Apologia Swimmimg and HOD Preparing (history, Bible, and poetry only) this year and she's learning quite a bit. She and I are going through Our Mother Tongue by Nancy Wilson together and it is painless. My 7th grader is having success with his LA (LL7, all-in-one grammar, EFTRU cards) and Apologia General this year Christian Liberty Nature Readers (grades 1-5 have been used completely by a couple of mine) Last year I set out to read around the Little House series and it got done and we enjoyed it. This year I haven't read aloud as much literature bc I didn't set up a goal or list. I think we may go through Narnia next year. I like doing a good series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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