Hi, I'm a big fan of IEW, and I heartily recommend checking out the Yahoo group. It's called IEW-Families, and you should be able to find a link to it at the Excellence in Writing website. I'm guessing the experts in that group would say that you probably should watch have some IEW experience before trying to teach straight from the American History lesson plans. I haven't actually used them, but I have used the Student Writing Intensive (Level A) and Student Intensive Continuation Course (A) -- both DVD programs in which Andrew Pudewa teaches students (and your kids) directly -- and I'll be starting the Ancient History-based lessons in August. I believe there is now an overview TWSS DVD available -- perhaps you could check that out rather than having to buy the entire TWSS. Good luck with your decisions, Tiffany

My 10yo daughter really struggled with math facts, so after years of trying various programs and drills (A Beka, Singapore, Saxon, Flashmaster, etc.), I finally decided to switch her to MUS. It worked wonderfully for her, and though she's still not a math wiz, she's finally up to or slightly ahead of her official grade level. My 11yo son (more of the math wiz type) switched to MUS a year later and is zooming along. One of the great things about MUS for me is the fact that my kids watch the DVDs with me, so I'm really not leaving out any significant portion of the program (like I so often did with A Beka since I never had time to do the entire lesson from the lesson plans). Just thought you should hear some positive feedback as you're making your decision. Tiffany

We do math 5 days a week. Even now, while my two big kids are on a major camping trip with their dad en route to Alaska, they're doing a page of math a day. I really think doing math is like practicing an instrument or learning a foreign language. Even just a little bit a day consistently makes a huge difference in maintaining ability. (Of course, I'm a violin teacher, so I would say that, wouldn't I?) Of course, you could definitely give some variety in what the kids have to do each day. Just my thoughts, Tiffany

I love the Handwriting Without Tears series. My third child is now beginning to use it, and it's excellent. At first, I was very hesitant to try it because the end result wasn't as visually appealing as D'Nealian or similar, but in the end, it's very teacher-friendly and child-friendly. I've tried other things (Zaner-Bloser, A Reason for Handwriting, etc.), but I always keep coming back to HWT. Good luck with your choices, Tiffany

I'm Tiffany, mom of 3 (ds 11, dd 10, dd 3). We've been homeschooling since my oldest began Kindergarten, so that's 6 years. I do remember the first time I checked out the WTM from a library in Florida (along with every other book they owned on homeschooling). I quickly set it aside because it was too overwhelming for me at the time. I now refer to it regularly. We are rather classical in our homeschooling orientation, but mix things up every once in a while. I'm a big fan of Excellence in Writing and Sonlight, but am enough of a curriculum junkie to check out anything at least once. I'm also a violin teacher (offering both Suzuki and traditional or a mix, depending on the child's age), as well as a compulsive organizer. Right now, I'm obsessing over setting up new planners for my oldest two, whom I want to teach to work more independently when we jump back into our regular school year in August. So glad to have found these forums ... Tiffany East Central Indiana