Oh, we love CLE, and came to it from MUS with a brief layover in MM. The spiral review is awesome for us. It is very traditional, starts from no previous knowledge, and includes a strong emphasis on fact work and basic numeracy (oral counting, skip counting, etc.). What we do is JUST use CLE 100 for new grade 1 students. BUT we still use MUS place value concepts and naming conventions, and a few blocks now and then. We dot use the books or DVDs at all, I just teach it that way myself, from memory. My current first grader is half way through. It is a 'fast' program. It gears up very quickly, so we often slow it down a bit in the first few books. She needs me for the first part of the lesson, flash cards, speed drill, and oral counting. She does the spiral review on her own and only needs me if she gets stuck. It's the most teacher intensive level of CLE's math because first graders aren't reading well enough to have the text written to them. HTH! We switched everyone over when my oldest was a rising 4th grader and my 2nd was a rising 2nd grader (she started with the 100s at that point). 3rd DD started from the beginning and we plan to use it wih everyone. CLE Math = Love.

How many of the memory songs are included in the apps?

Thanks, Lori :). I hope I don't come off as anti-American! We definitely can handle, and appreciate positive texts as far as patriotism goes, but we can't really go for superiority oriented patriotism if that makes sense? Thanks for chiming in on Notgrass worldview, that helps a lot. I have a lot of time before making a decision, so will definitely read those extensive samples. Erin, we use a lot of CLE for skills, and I've definitely seen those texts. We aren't Mennonites, but their Canadian history texts have never seemed too appealing to me. Admittedly *I* like colorful texts and so do my children. That's why that new 8th grade one looks appealing!

I learned that having twins might not be so bad after all. I now have the sentence diagramming skills of a rising 5th grader. I also learned that I MUST keep on top of my children's daily independent work.

It bothers me. And the Apologia elementary books do as well! I let oldest DD listen to the audios for MOH. She loves them. Works better that way for everyone!

I haven't seen R&S 6, but I do recommend you use CLE's placement test before jumping into their LA. We are using the 600s now, and it is quite detailed.

Indeed.

We are Canadians. I want to teach US history to my children. I'm willing to give it almost equal time with Canadian history in middle school and high school. I have two years I can spend on it - one middle school, one high school. We are also Christians. That being said, who can recommend courses for us? They should not be overly patriotic, nor should they claim that Americans are God's chosen people. Clearly, that wouldn't work for us ;). They must be independent. I like the look of Notgrass, but I don't know much about where they teach from. CLE's new 8th grade US history is also a strong contender as it would be fairly neutral due to Anabaptist beliefs on citizenship. Any thoughts or recommendations for me?

Congrats! K only takes us 30 minutes daily plus read alouds - I try not to worry about school for 6 weeks after a new baby arrives :).

Oh. New to us this year is Scribd Unlimited. It has audiobooks. And ebooks. We love it.

Well, we are actually only half way through our year due to pregnancy complications and recovery. Doesn't count if our regular get 'rr done stuff just keeps getting done? I hope so :). I hope to try a few new things soon though.

Kiddie Latin flopped here. Too much other stuff to learn before 6th grade! Of course...we haven't picked it back up, but DD would like to. I have done som of First Form Latin and liked it, particularly if you have some English grammar wind in your sails.

Oooh. More poll choices! I deleted My old vote for other and put down CLE instead :).

Cross off CLE's spelling and penmanship. I do it all the time! Still need to check it though. Sorry.

I voted other. We prefer CLE. Traditional, solid, independent.

My oldest DD prefers live interaction.

Latin in the Christian Trivium incorporates the Vulgate in translation exercises.

Another vote for CLE. If she enjoys worksheets and independent work, it could be perfect for her. It's written directly to the student.

Have you considered switching to CLE alone as your main program? It is truly excellent. Two math programs would be too much of a burden for us, I can only imagine that it IS a lot of work daily. My children also need a spiral or I spend too much time reteaching. That's why we love CLE. You could do a placement test and see where he would place as his main program?

Welcome :). Something I learned in my first years of homeschooli is that skills always trump content. When in doubt about priorities and what needs to be done, skills first, content a distant second :). Math and LA, then everything else. Go ahead and be OK with the fact that history didn't get 'done' that's totally fine. And normal. ;) If you'd like to check out some independent options for math, CLE is very good and has a lot of built in fact work.

I have Christian scifi and fantasy recommendations, as well, if you'd like them. I'd be interested in hearing yours, Elizabeth B. Tad Williams: I googled so I could remember the series names ;). I looked at Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn for a long time before reading it. It is a LONG series, but I came to be quite attached to the characters. And, yes, there are many battles and long descriptive passages. It is very classic fantasy, IMO. His Otherland series is quite different. Has a lot of characters, I didn't get really emotionally attached. However, it's such an intriguing story and setting. I found it quite compelling. I did read the Pretties series this past year. It was OK, but nothing as deep as some reviewers made it out to be.

Dear me, have you read Guy Gavriel Kay? He is fantastic. Tends towards dense political machinations in fantasyish settings, if you enjoy that. The Fionavar books are less political, more fantasy, and were a great love of mine in my early adult years.

To throw a thought out there, Currclick has an online class interface that might've useful for weekly gatherings of such a club.

Did you like WWE? If so, I'd just keep on with that and the Hake that you mentioned. Is she a natural speller? If not, I'd add that. Really, I wouldn't put it off any longer. And then you're done! If you add too much there's always the chance that not much of it will get done (well...that's how it works for me, anyway).

We do like CLE LA. If you were interested, it would be important to have your DS take the LA placement test. He might place in 4th from the sounds of it. That is a fairly easy starting point. 6th is not, it's pretty rigorous. CLE LA includes spelling but does NOT teach spelling rules in 4th and up if that is something you're looking for (we use Rod and Staff for those grades). It does cover grammar VERY well, along with punctuation, usage, homophones, using reference material (4th includes dictionary work and encyclopedias, I believe), all those LA topics that I forget to teach, and also includes basic expository writing. That might be a plus for your son. It is VERY step by step with clear instructions written directly to the student, and there aren't a large number of writing assignments (could be a pro or a con depending on your goals). If you place appropriately, it is very easy to get done consistently. Let me know if you have any questions :).