Thanks for all the ideas! Many of these I had not heard about before!

I have read that many use something else as a base and use BA as a supplement. I want to do the opposite. DS in 4th grade has done very well with BA 4. Loves every minute. Rarely misses a problem and wants to continue with BA for 5th grade. BUT....I know he would benefit from some spiral review along the way. I know I can find worksheets online to review past concepts, but I wonder if there is something already packaged that would be easier. Not something to complete in its entirety but something to pick hit or miss problems to review that may cover concepts in a similar sequence as BA. Anyone done something similar?

Well, I purchased WWS 3, but then I threw LTOW into the mix!?!?!?!? I want to do them all. My son needs pieces from each program. I am leaning towards LTOW this year with WWS3 mixed in - just some units, not all. WWS has some lit. analysis in it. Then, maybe save WtW for 10th grade (if we homeschool that year). Too many excellent options out there!! Oh, and I also made the choice even harder by considering Excellence in Lit. Intro instead of WtW. I am just going around in circles. :lol:

I strongly second Easy Grammar's high school series. The concepts spiral to not be forgotten and are typically quite practical in nature. Short, sweet, and to the point.

I am considering using Windows to the World 1st semester of freshman year and EiL Introduction to Literature in 2nd semester (knowing we wouldn't finish that one in 9th). DS needs step by step lit analysis instruction before EiL. Would I be able to pick and choose titles/units to complete in EiL, or is it set up so that you must go in order for understanding? Am I overlooking a better option?

I am strongly considering LToW for my 9th grader next year, but have considered Writing with Skill level 3 also. For those who have used either program, can you tell me on average how long your student spent with either program per day/how many days per week? I realize LToW can stretch to two years, but I would like to complete it within one year. My son is an average writer - has been in private school k-7, homeschooling our first year this year. He is familiar with essay structure but struggles with his own ideas, hence the draw to LToW. I like the varied styles, lit. analysis, compare/contrast, etc. covered in WWS 3, however. His 9th grade year could be his last homeschooling, so I want to pack the best punch this year just in case it's my last chance. I am considering picking pieces from WWS to supplement LToW but am not sure. I recognize I don't know enough about each program to make a great decision yet either. What, if anything, have you felt was "missing" from LToW or WWS to prepare for higher level writing?

Oh, yes, I would imagine they wouldn't blend at all. I should have said that I only plan to use Jill's syllabus IF I use WttW. If I use WWS, I would plan my own literature list separate from WWS.

Can someone provide feedback to compare the lit. analysis instruction in these two sources? I will have a freshman next year and planned to use WttW with Jill Pike's syllabus until this afternoon. Today I pulled out Writing with Skill level 1 and remembered how much I love it and wished I had completed the whole book with my son this year. Alas, we didn't, but I put a plan together to cover as much as we can of WWS 1 in the last 6 weeks of our school year. Level 1 is really a tad below his ability until it introduces lit. analysis which is a weakness. (Granted, the weakness is knowing WHAT to write about more than the writing skills themselves.) So, I am now unsure whether to use WWS level 2 or 3 next year or WttW. I know WtttW is only lit. analysis; would I be insane to try to do WWS (all weeks EXCEPT the lit. analysis weeks) AND WttW?