Hi Medieval Mom, Did you refer to the Classical Writing series here? (Primer, Aesop, Homer, etc?) Regards Nandini

Assuming your dc know the phonics rules, you can use Webster's speller as a spelling list and SpellingCity.com for practice and you wouldn't need any other spelling curriculum. Spelling rules are available on many web sites (look at ElizabethB's site or search on about.com.) With Webster's speller, you dont really need spelling rules. Webster has little numbers above the first word in each list (so 1 is for short sounds of vowels, 2 is for long sounds, etc.) What ElizabethB explained in an earlier thread was that she let her dd all read the words in each list and then spell some of them.

Hi all, I just borrowed WWE (The Complete Writer) Strong Fundamentals from the library and skimmed through it. I compared it with the workbook1 sample on scribd.com. I cant see the difference (ie. the exercises are the same.) Why then, would one need the workbook at all? Confused(!) ~ Nandini

I have downloaded Sheldon's PLL as well as the samples of Serl's PLL and compared the two. Also compared them to Mary Hyde's books (on which EFTTC is based). I think they are all quite similar and all seem equally good (to me), although free is always better. You could also create your own LA-grammar worksheets using pictures, stories and poems that you and your child read together. What you have to aim to cover is punctuation, capitalization, parts of speech, picture study, comprehension and composition. These books just make it easier by compiling good prose extracts, poems and pictures into one book.

Hi Elizabeth, Could you please share how RS teaches 4 digit subtraction? Is it done using the other side of the AL abacus and the place value cards? Another question I have is, does the Activities for the AL Abacus really cover everything that the RS math curriculum covers? Upto which grade does this hold true? I ask because I read that RS also includes some geometric manipulatives to teach basic math operations (geoboards, fractals, cut-out shapes etc). I may be able to get the Activities book next year from someone, and am trying to determine whether it really is enough for the primary grades or whether I should invest in the year-by-year RS materials. Thank you in advance. Nandini

Hi, I am confused how this is a curriculum that hs parents must pay for. Or rather, how are these paid curriculums different from OFE or AO? If the books are all public domain texts, and if the curriculum is basically just a book list (graded by year, maybe), what value does the curriculum designer/seller/owner add? Are there lesson plans or unit studies based on the books? Or are there teacher's guides included for each text? Please share your thoughts. Thank you in advance. Nandini