And a money back offer if you decide not to use it by October. I might be in love/trouble. :/ I wonder how independent it could be. Sample is beautiful!

For just diagramming, CLE sells a great workbook full of diagramming worksheets. It introduces the new diagramming part briefly, then gives practice. I am using it myself :).

Do video for Math and LA subjects - do a combined read aloud type program for all the others?

The pamphlet is all you need :). It is all scheduled out there, day by day, telling you when to introduce new cards, when to move them etc.

Focus on math and LA. I'd use CLE since you have four children schooling. It is traditional, rigorous, and pretty easier to get done in a larger family. You easily have enough to buy math and LA for everyone with a bit leftover. I might even spend the rest in CLE Bible 500 for both of the older two - it's such a great course (includes geography). Do you have appropriate age level Bible storybooks you could assign the youngers to read? Just read books for social studies and science.

Have you looked into CLE? All in one LA (spelling and grammar included), largely independent. Rigorous, not uncommon to place a few levels back, so the placement test is strongly recommended.

I'll second the CLE recommendation. It is a strong, comprehensive, traditional LA program.

Our children use largely independent curriculum. We like: CLE: LA, Reading, Bible, Math Rod and Staff: Spelling in 4th and up ACE: Social Studies, Science

ACE? Definitely easy to get done :).

Oh, it also isn't for you if you prefer a textbook as opposed to consumable worktexts.

CLE LA may not be for you if: You want integrated literature You want to teach writing/penmanship/spelling/usage and miscellaneous LA skills (dictionary, homophones, etc.) as a separate subject You prefer teacher intensive programs You object to Christian-based example sentences You don't want a rigorous program You don't want to teach diagramming You prefer chunk based mastery presentation as opposed to incremental teaching with spiral review I've never used FLL, this is our third year using CLE over multiple grade levels. We've used 1st through 6th, except for 3rd.

Our math journey took us through MUS to MM and eventually to CLE, where we are staying. The layout and ongoing review process of CLE have worked best for us.

We love Luke's book too :). Our babies were born at 36+2 (taken early because they shared a placenta - monodi), 6 lbs. and 5 lbs. 13 oz. 2.5 days NICU 1 mostly for blood sugar issues, but 6 hours of breathing help for our little guy, home together at 5 days :). We are very happy with our outcome! LOTS of eating, resting, taking it easy :).

Always prioritize skill subjects. Especially in the lower grades. Invest in math and LA before going all out on expensive, lit based subjects. Especially before third grade :). I've been through a ton of curriculum. Especially in the first three years with my oldest, a little with my 2nd, but now we've found our groove. All those expensive programs I justified to myself and DH...never were reused. :/. I just gave a lot of things away, honestly. My lit based program books are all still here, though. We love books ;), just not programs heavy on read alouds (not realistic for us). We are reusing now that we've found where we fit as a family, but it is mostly readers, answer keys and teacher manuals :). It does help a bit, but the programs we are using now aren't super-expensive in the first place, either :).

We use CLE. It isn't super CM, but it is VERY comprehensive. And independent.

Congrats!! We had a rougher than normal pregnancy with the twins and lost a few months there, we are definitely going through the summer to catch up :). Babies are 2 moths now. We've been using CLE since I was pregnant with my fifth, it has really helped us get things done! :)

Christian Light Education has a great product called Diagramming Extra Practice, it has helped me immensely! First Form Latin is an excellent starting place for adult beginners.

We are considering doing General Science next year. Has anyone used any of the multimedia supplements? Like the DVDs? If I get the DVDs would the audio book or multimedia supplement be redundant? I'm not sure where/if there is content crossover, and can't really find reviews on the DVDs!

My 8-yo is a dreamer. We use CLE. It isn't easy, is it ever with these kids? I still like it, though!

Just keep going. Keep using what works for you on the level your child needs. Call the next grade the next grade. My 3rd grader uses materials for grade two and three, my sixth grader uses materials from fourth through sixth. Give them what they need, call the grade whatever you want to :). First grader sent ever be independent workers, they are still learning the basics necessary to reach independence.

"Also, I'm not sure that CLE covers as much as R&S's English series does, things such as oral communication, poetry, and using reference materials." It does, although there may be more poetry in the reading course than in the LA. There is a detailed scope as sequence available as a free PDF at their website that details the main contents of every single LU in every grade if you are unsure about what will be covered. My oldest has now done 4, 5, and is in 6 and has done all of these things. Even my DD using 2nd is working on the first.

I have a DD like this. She has some SPD stuff going on, and really spaces out doing our together times. She does better with self teaching materials like CLE. Sadly, CLE first grade is teacher intensive, as are most first grade materials. Would she like a video teacher like A Beka?

Consider CLE. It's spiral and traditional. Where MUS failed for us due to lack of spiral review, CLE works very well. That said, we supplement math fact work from time to time with Math Rider.

Everything changed for us with baby 5. I realized (and I think you're getting to this place) that my mom intensive programs just weren't getting done very often. Too many kids to teach all those individual lessons to. I was getting maybe half of what needed to get done, done. Are you thinking of having more babies? That might seem like a very personal question, but when I was pregnant with baby 5, I realized we needed to move toward independent work. I'm very glad we did because baby 6 was actually twins. I get very little done when I'm pregnant and napping or have newborns, my children bed to keep going with facilitation - not full blown teaching - from me. So, I recommend skills first. Never, ever do history, read alouds, or science at the expense of basic math and language skills. Social studies and science me not be formally assigned until children are reading fluently on their own, then they can do it on their own. Totally optional until grade 3 and up at our house. This was a hard lesson for me, I love lit based EVERYTHING in theory, but can't fit it all in. Then, let your oldest go! Find some independent programs that will work for you. Focused one on one teaching time needs to happen while teaching reading and basic math - your littles - the oldest just needs daily check ins, troubleshooting, and tutoring over the tough spots. We do Scribd for a lot of audio books, and I read Bible stories daily. My readers all read/listen voraciously on their own as well as tackling research for fun, self teach all sorts of domestic skills etc. in the time they have left.

1st and 2nd are still largely phonetic, so if you haven't done CLE for your phonics from the start, it is probably better to jump in at 3rd :). We use it and easily sub out spelling for Rod and Staff. The writing has been enough for us, and it does a great job of covering all those niggling LA pieces without needin an entirely separate book! Homophones, study skills, usage, punctuation, dictionary usage, lots of good stuff :).