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secular workbooks for first and third


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i want to order a bunch of workbooks as a spine for my little ones. we've used spectrum math and liked it. i was going to just order a bunch of spectrum books, but there are others that i don't have experience with. 

 

the dk workbooks are not awesome. singapore is too pricey. i want something simple, fun, and good quality, but affordable. we will be doing other things as well. i just want something to hit the basics while i work with the other kids/on my own projects. 

 

any suggestions? 

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I wonder if you have a Lakeshore Learning store near you.  You will find a (secular) workbook for almost every subject there.  I could spend hours browsing and shopping there whenever we were visiting the city in our state that has that store.

 

They have an online store too, but I find that much harder to navigate, since they seem to only advertise things in bundles.

 

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/store_locations/storeLocations.jsp?f=m

 

 

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 Due to one child's chronic illness, and my inability to be all things to all people, we had a school year when we used a lot of Spectrum books for some subjects for a few of my kids (2nd - 6th graders).  No one suffered.  Test results at the end of the year came back fine. ;)

 

Spectrum reading and phonics/spelling/word study are well done; my kids also liked Spectrum Geography, which we used as a jumping off point for further reading as time permitted.  The Complete Book of Maps and Geography was also good for 3rd and up.  Spectrum LA was okay, my kids needed more explicit instruction and more review--using lots of copywork and analyzing it to review the grammar would probably help with that.

 

I didn't like Spectrum Science--it really seemed more like science related reading comprehension, and not so much science.  My nine year old was very bored.  We hit the library for interest led science and watched lots of NOVA and Nature instead. 

Edited by Zoo Keeper
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We like Steck Vaughn Spelling: Linking Words to Meaning and Steck Vaughn Language: Usage and Practice.

 

ETA: One son loves Kumon workbooks.

 

ETA2: I corrected the name of the Steck Vaughn Language workbook.

Edited by MyLife
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I wonder if you have a Lakeshore Learning store near you.  You will find a (secular) workbook for almost every subject there.  I could spend hours browsing and shopping there whenever we were visiting the city in our state that has that store.

 

They have an online store too, but I find that much harder to navigate, since they seem to only advertise things in bundles.

 

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/store_locations/storeLocations.jsp?f=m

 

there is a lakeshore near me. i popped in once, but it was a overwhelming. they have a ton of stuff and i had nothing specific in mind. i'll definitely stop by.

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Steck Vaughn social studies and critical thinking but NOT sv science.

 

Kumon geometry and measurement.

 

Hi!  Sorry for my off topic question.  Does SV have a good social studies textbook (elementary) and is it better than Harcourt?

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Hi! Sorry for my off topic question. Does SV have a good social studies textbook (elementary) and is it better than Harcourt?

They are work texts not text books.

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I saw that you have made your plans but wanted to throw an idea out there that you may or may not find helpful.

 

There's no way our family can afford workbooks for all four of our kids.  I buy one set of workbooks for each curriculum, remove the binding (box cutter!), three hole punch the entire workbook and then I place it into a 3-ring binder. 

 

I pull out a page, give it to the kid in a dry erase pocket, he completes it with a Vis-A-Vis wet erase marker, I correct it, clean off the pocket, write the kid's initial in the upper corner, and refile it back in the binder.  

 

All four of my kids have used the same workbook for each level of Singapore.  

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I saw that you have made your plans but wanted to throw an idea out there that you may or may not find helpful.

 

There's no way our family can afford workbooks for all four of our kids.  I buy one set of workbooks for each curriculum, remove the binding (box cutter!), three hole punch the entire workbook and then I place it into a 3-ring binder. 

 

I pull out a page, give it to the kid in a dry erase pocket, he completes it with a Vis-A-Vis wet erase marker, I correct it, clean off the pocket, write the kid's initial in the upper corner, and refile it back in the binder.  

 

All four of my kids have used the same workbook for each level of Singapore.  

i have done this, as well as having them answer in a notebook. 

 

this year, i think i will just let them write in the books. nothing i'm ordering is pricey and we have the funds to splurge. i'm taking advantage of it while it lasts. 

 

the only one i want to preserve is word roots. i think we will mostly do that one orally. 

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I want to know what you picked too...

 

And, in case you were undecided on anything, I'll add that I am very impressed with Evan-Moor's daily science, daily geography, and language fundamentals.  Plus, if you join their mailing list, they seem to have 50% off e-book flash sales every 1-4 months, and then you can make unlimited copies for however many kids you need.

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For some variety:

 

Art/Hand & Pencil Dexterity

- The Big Yellow Drawing Book (age 5+) -- Art

- Creating Line Designs (gr. K-2 = book 1) (gr. 1-5 = book 2)

- Complete a Sketch -- vision/dexterity/focus

- How Would That Look -- listening/visual thinking

 

Critical Thinking:

- Detective Club: Mysteries for Young Thinkers (gr. 2-4)

- Wake-Uppers (gr. 2-3) -- Critical Thinking

- Dr. Funster: Think-A-Minutes (gr. 2-3: level A-1level A-2) -- Critical Thinking

- Kumon workbooks (gr. K-3)

 

Science Supplement:

- DK: Space Ultimate Reusable Sticker Book (age 7+)

- DK: Deadly Animals Ultimate Reusable Sticker Book (age 7+)

 

General:

- Brainquest Summer workbooks  (gr. 1-->2)  (gr. 2-->3) (gr. 3-->4)

- Complete Book of... Grade 1, Grade 3, Time and Money

 

Geography:

- your state -- coloring book (from Gallopade) -- gr. K+ level

- Maps Charts and Graphs -- (gr. 1 = level A) (gr. 3 = level C)

 

Handwriting:

- Complete Book of Handwriting (gr. K-3) -- over 400 pages; both manuscript AND cursive

Edited by Lori D.
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For some variety:

 

Art/Hand & Pencil Dexterity

- The Big Yellow Drawing Book (age 5+) -- Art

- Creating Line Designs (gr. K-2 = book 1) (gr. 1-5 = book 2)

- Complete a Sketch -- vision/dexterity/focus

- How Would That Look -- listening/visual thinking

 

Critical Thinking:

- Detective Club: Mysteries for Young Thinkers (gr. 2-4)

- Wake-Uppers (gr. 2-3) -- Critical Thinking

- Dr. Funster: Think-A-Minutes (gr. 2-3: level A-1; level A-2) -- Critical Thinking

- Kumon workbooks (gr. K-3)

 

Science Supplement:

- DK: Space Ultimate Reusable Sticker Book (age 7+)

- DK: Deadly Animals Ultimate Reusable Sticker Book (age 7+)

 

General:

- Brainquest Summer workbooks (gr. 1-->2) (gr. 2-->3) (gr. 3-->4)

- Complete Book of... Grade 1, Grade 3, Time and Money

 

Geography:

- your state -- coloring book (from Gallopade) -- gr. K+ level

- Maps Charts and Graphs -- (gr. 1 = level A) (gr. 3 = level C)

 

Handwriting:

- Complete Book of Handwriting (gr. K-3) -- over 400 pages; both manuscript AND cursive

Gallopade looks very interesting! I'm writing this down on my "things to consider" list. It would be awesome to work in a state study when we hit the States in our history cycle. Thanks for sharing! (Sorry for hijacking)

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