I always just used BA for a "fun" (not sure my dd always thought so ;) ) supplement. I'm not sure we really had time in our schedule, though, to do it justice that way.

I'm listening in because I've always loved RS so much that I just prioritize it. However, I should never have more than two students in it (excepting maybe one in the geometry book, plus 2 more in lower levels) at a time.

Ooh--another good one is Laurie Halse Anderson's historical fiction. Her contemporary YA novels are quite graphic and deal with difficult issues, but Fever 1793, Chains, and Forge are wonderful! I reviewed Forge here, if anyone's interested: http://www.hopeisthewordblog.com/2011/01/31/forge-by-laurie-halse-anderson/

Seconding Gooria Whelan and Joan Bauer. Also, what about L'Engle? When You Reach Me by Stead is a great one, too! What about Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place? My 10 yo dd is a voracious (& fast!) reader, but she's a little on the sensitive side when it comes to scary things. She likes mysteries but if they're even the least bit creepy, nightmares sometimes follow. I'm following this thread with great interest!

Thanks! I'll look at it again.

I agree Snowdrop--my elder dd needed more repetitions and "chunking." Those dictations are not simple!

In my opinion, FLL and WWE can be deceptively simple. I think these foundational skills are ones that are best taken slowly and thoroughly. Then again, you know your child better than anyone, so maybe it IS too easy for her. We're all learning as we go! :thumbup1:

Thank you all for your encouragement. Another part of our "problem" is that we have a busy out-of-the-house schedule this year, too, so I feel rather rushed with my big girls. I'm going to prioritize my 4 yo this week! I am determined!

Thanks, BlessedMom. Bummer. I'm looking for something strictly U.S. History right now.

I'm looking specifically at this set and the song: http://www.veritaspress.com/explorers-1815-cards-song-cd.html

What I'm *tentatively* planning to do now is the Veritas Press timeline/memory song for the first half of American history + the Joy Hakim books (and the Sonlight recommended Landmark book)+ the Sonlight fiction selections. I also hope to start writing across the curriculum.

That's a great idea, boscopup! I did this in math for a while, and I need to get back to it.

JoyfullyNoisy, what are memory palaces?

I'm still desperately trying to make Sonlight work here. Ugh.

:lurk5:

Here's my incredibly long blog post. If you make it to the end, though, there are some really neat pictures of a WWII ship we visited today. :hurray:

My dd is 5th and using grade 5 in R & S. It seems to be grade appropriate, but I really have nothing to which to compare it.

I'm using R & S 5 with my 5th grader alongside WWS 1 (which I will do half time or more probably save for next year). I so far have found nothing redundant between the two, though I have been letting my dd skip the writing assignments.

I just downloaded Clementine by Sara Pennypacker from Overdrive at my 10 yo dad's request. I think she's a little older than the target age range, but it's a fun story and the narrator/reader is fantastic.

My dd, a 10 yo 5th grader, is finishing up the third week of WWS 1 today. She has been through all four levels of WWE and FLL. We've also dabbled in MCT grammar up to the Town level. (She can do the 4-level analyses with little problem.). She is currently working through (& enjoying!) R & S 5. I've been reconsidering WWS 1for her writing this year, mostly after reading back through so many threads about postponing it. I'm also basing this on SWB's recommendations. I also have 8FilltheHeart's new writing program, Treasured Conversations, but have not had a chance to look at it. (This weekend!) Here are my questions: Is Killgallon enough for writing instruction? If I purchase Killgallon, should I go with the elementary or MS level? My question is will she know enough grammar concepts to get much out of it? (I read on other threads that Grammar for MS uses appositives, etc., amd my dd doesn't know those words. Lol I guess I've more or less decided to shelve WWS for now, and I'm just trying to decide where to go next. I need hand-holding, and I DON'T want to spend much on yet another program.

I shared some chapter books for young listeners on my blog; many of these have lots of illustrations. Here's the link: http://www.hopeisthewordblog.com/2011/06/30/read-aloud-thursday-chapter-books-for-the-youngest-listeners/

I started both my girls at age 5, and now my eldest is in level E. She is in 5th grade, and where we are in math seems developmentally appropriate for her ability--it's slightly challenging but doable. RS has been our primary curriculum all along, and I'm happy we started A in kindergarten of for no other reason than I don't see the advantage for my children of pushing any of the more difficult concepts back to younger ages.

Part of my issue is, of course, that I have two fairly needy learners in my big girls--5th grade and 3rd grade. Mostly, though, I really think this is an organizational problem.

I just purchased this curriculum and am eager for a chance to delve into it myself this weekend! Thank you for sharing your wisdom, 8!

I feel like I knew how to do this for so long, and now here comes another one throw into the mix! Whew! Right now it's actually prep that's my problem--I was planning to do a gentle letter of the week program with him, but that requires lots of time at the library to find the appropriate books, etc. He's such a chatty little fellow, too.