Here's my thoughts. I am using Abeka k and 1 this year and I do like it. I used it as a student, and liked it, years ago for 5th-algebra 2. However, I have a respected teacher friend who has taught lower elementary in a Christian school for more than 10 years and has used both. She likes BJU and says Abeka has holes. Abeka is coming out with new editions that they say "enhance their spiral" just ahead of my oldest so maybe the holes are being fixed. I just am thinking...

You could check out Berean Builders by Dr While. It has stuff in it that even I learned and an experiment each lesson. Rainbow Resource carries it and has samples.

Suppose you had to choose Bob Jones or Abeka for K-6 math. Which would you choose and why?

I am using AAS and have looked at Abeka. I would say AAS a lot slower than Abeka and uses fewer "phonics rules" focusing instead on each phonogram. It is similar but somewhat different. You can always color code the phonograms as you write the words each week for visual help also they have word banks to read for helping with "looks right". Abeka goes away from phonics based spelling after 2nd grade. AAs has 6 or 7 levels (I'm not that far yet were on level 2). AAS has a 1year guarantee and great customer service you can call or email some questions and brows the websites of each program. I finally learned to spell better in college after I took an how to teach Orton Gillingham class and learned the phonograms....

I liked oliver twist or David Copperfield to introduce Dickins. The main characters are lovable and there isn't too much side plot...

He doesn't mind writing and likes trying to use the cursive we began this year and will continue next year. His reading is really taking off. Has anyone else jumped into Abeka grammar/writing from a different phonics program. When did you do it? How did it go?

Sounds good to me:) I have less in my bin...I like your ideas. Oh, I have some drawing pencils and erasers too.

The older one will be about 1/2 way through AAS 2 and done with AAR 3 before we start again in the fall.

It replaces both 2nd grade workbooks. I asked Abeka about it and it appears that the 1st half emphasizes phonics and the 2nd half emphasizes grammar. I would love to hear from others who have Abeka language experience or who have used a different phonics program and then gone into Abeka language.

I am using AAR and AAS with my children. I currently have kids finishing up k4 (will be part way through AAR 2 in fall)and 1st(will be part way through AAR 3 in fall). I would like to use Abeka for grammar/language. When would you all start it? What do I do about the revised 2nd grade called phonics and language since I am using a different phonics? Any thoughts?

English lessons through literature may have some of what you like. I don't really know though.

I like Little Visits with God also!

Abeka is spiral too. Saxon is sort of also.

Memoria press uses rod and staff in elementary and then transition to others for Prealgebra and above. You might check their recommendations and form on the topic.

Here are a few ideas... Beautiful feet history of the horse or California? What about doing your state or a year of just US history? Pick your favorite era and do it again with a different spine? Something like Sonlights eastern hemisphere? Study missionaries and the countries and cultures where they are?

We started science in the beginning early this year and dropped it as it seemed above my 6 and 4 year olds. We just picked it back up again and particularly the 6 year old seems interested. We just are finishing light and he would really like to do plants or animals. Do you think we could do one of those chapters next? I am not sure he will love CH 2. I think the topic of the 1st chapter (light)was some of the trouble earlier this year...

I like berean builders science. Rainbow resource sells a kit too. Its interesting, has an easy experiment each lesson and is for all k-6.

I'm the other poster.... I am using k5 and 1st. It is spiral so there are a variety of topics each day. Some days I have to teach a truly new concept most days it is an extension of an old concept or mostly review. Each lesson in 1st is the front and back of 1 page with other class activities and drill in the teacher manual. The front of each page is independent work the other side is intended to be done with the teacher but this isn't always necessary. It takes us about 20 min total to do math and I do drill another time. We do some of the extra activities in the teacher book. I personally used Abeka from about 5th through Algebra 2 I did it totally independently and asked my Dad for help if I got stuck. So I'd say depending on the child it may be truly independent at some point.... I'm not there with my 1st grader though;)

In k-3 there is extra in the curriculum manual that is ment to be taught. You can do just what your child needs in 5-15 min especially it you drill facts another way. The page could be independent. I think it could be pretty much totally independent dependent on the child around 4 or 5 grade.

AAR explains the rules. It has no workbook and I have not used the readers that much. Imha all you really need are the teachers books the student activity books and a set of phonogram cards. The full student pack is handy as is the letter tile app or tiles but you don't need them. AAS also explains all the rules but from a spelling angle and slower.

R and staff is a lot of fact practice. You could go faster or slower if you want. Memoria press has a lot of information on it as they use it. It may go slow but it would get facts down and leave you time for RS games or living math minquin...I would not try to do more than 2 math programs.

Abeka grammar is comprehensive. For just grammar you can only buy the student work text and perhaps the teacher text for answers and skip the writing units. You don't need the lesson plans. This brings the lesson numbers down. I always found it straightforward and easy to do pretty independently. Grammar really starts in 3rd though 2nd is alright. You can also not do every book and get what you need to. Eta. They have lots of diagramming too. It builds gradually. FWIW I used it as a student and was very prepared for a 200 level English majors grammar class. The writing is not so great so using something else is great skip abeka writing.

Have you looked for it used? Try homeschool classifieds or eBay or home educators resource. If there is some writing you can always hand copy those pages.

Simply Charlotte mason has some on their site...look at K-3 family and extra. I like their book choices. https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/middle-ages-renaissance-reformation-epistles/ https://simplycharlottemason.com/product-links-tips-info/middle-ages-renaissance-reformation-epistles-links-and-tips/

I am wondering what to do next year so first I'll tell you where we are. My son has gone through AAR 2. Also he knows many more phonograms than that as I have taught them as they have cone up in reading. He knows the following phonics concepts: r controlled, silent E, all blends, many digraphs/ diphthongs (ee, ie, ay, ai, ue, aw, au, oy, oi, eigh, and several more), soft c and g when followed by e,i,y, 3 syllable division rules, been introduced to -le words, knows about base words and endings. He can read a book like make way for ducklings or Flip in several sessions with minimal help. Some of the digraphs he has to be reminded to look for. For example in the word soil, he misreads it, I say what does oi say? Then he corrects and goes on. His syllable division is almost always automatic. I don't really wish to do AAR 3 and 4. I know Abeka phonics are good. Could I do Abeka letters and sounds 1 or 2 to cement and finish up phonics? Which would be better? He will be 7. Or should I just plow through AAR 3 and 4?