I ended up buying JOH Cursive and my DD just finished it on the iPad with a stylus. Now she's doing cursive practice with her CLE LA 4.

We are using this too along with Book B of the CLP Bible on the day we introduce new questions :). Woops - I was wrong! We're using Big Truths for Little Kids!! Too many similar titles - sorry! :)

We found Christian Liberty Press this year and I love it, really. Finally catechizing the kids, which is something I've always wanted to do! We're using their book B with my 6 and 4-year-old (older and younger listen in too) and I'm teaching my oldest the questions as we go through (we bought an iTunes CD too for music). She's using book E, which is a chronological study through Genesis - Esther with timelines and maps! Something I've always wanted for her, but never could pull together myself. Little ones all listen to the Big Picture Bible in the mornings. DH is reading them through Matthew in the evenings (when he remembers)!

Hi and welcome! I agree with the excellent PP! Your first priority is always just reading :). I was very inconsistent with any LA above and beyond copywork, narration, and some spelling before 3rd grade, but my DD jumped into CLE LA 4 this year with NO troubles. It really is okay to start grammar later :).

We switched to CLE for LA/Math and so far so good. Picking up some PACEs in the new year for some other subjects that NEVER get done here like SS and Science.

Hey, no worries. Oldest DD is in 4th and she's working on 2nd CLE Math, it's OKAY! We lost a few years to mastery programs when she really, really needs spiral/review. I wouldn't switch though if you have good retention - that kills progress.

If you love SL just do it! And no, you don't have to do 4 cores, combine combine ;). We love curling up on the couch too.

We've had to teach spelling separately even though oldest DD is an awesome reader, but we still aim to do it phonetically :).

There is a LOT of reading in SL but it anchors historical points in context when approached through literature so there's pretty good retention, more natural than drilling memory, but still good nonetheless. For me SL is also easier to wrap my head around - I can actually figure out how the program works, whereas with VP I've...never really been able to figure out how it would actually look in practice! :)

Well, this is us too. MUS for 2 years, then tried MM, moving to CLE this year. So far so good. DD LOVES The timed drills (???) and she's always been one to freak out when timed. I don't know, but she's digging it. We actually went back to the beginning of 2nd and are moving forward from there. Lots of review, a few little gaps here and there, good for building her confidence.

Well, this might not be what you're looking for, but I found the A Beka readers provided the MOST phonetically leveled practice for us. They were wonderful.

Psalm 23 :). Also, we found the Westminster Catechism a bit tricky, but we found GCP's First Catechism for children is very simple and comes with great music on the Ask Me Who? CDS (available separately). Very catchy!

The Saturn one is totally new, I haven't had a peek at it yet :). Solar Walk can be $2.99 or $0.99 but it's still worth that price - seems to be free as a promo right now though! :)

So, what exactly do you need to buy for A Beka science? Just the text? They always have SO many books listed - answer keys, teacher's guides, blehblehbleh :).

Well, have you thought of just working on establishing reading confidently and doing copywork to teach indirectly about proper sentence structure/punctuation etc.? I think that would make a lot of sense based on their reading abilities right now - I don't personally think you need to do much for LA until reading is established WELL.

Solar Walk is free right now (or it was earlier today) - run run run! :) I've reviewed these science apps in detail - http://appsforhomeschooling.com/category/2bysubject/science/ Some definitely cover earth science.

If you do fork out for an iPad you'll save a bundle on software. The apps are SO cheap compared to a LeapPad thingy etc.

The best thing - it works extremely well. The worst thing - it is teacher intensive.

Did you get the science? We just went CLE for Math and LA for my oldest and she LIKES it. And I'm having a new baby soon. We NEVER get science done here. Need something independent.

We bought Carmen San Diego for our cross-country move this summer. It kept the kids going almost all the way across Canada. GREAT buy! We also got The Cat in the Hat. A bit more documentary style is Drive Thru History (not animated, but entertaining - funny guy) for older kids.

Well, I JUST stumbled across this today, and I'm thinking of getting the steps package for my DD to do it independently (as much as possible) - maybe in the new year. So I'm eavesdropping.

Has anyone used Truth in Science? It looks intriguing...

Yep, we still use MUS concepts for place value, and the manipulatives are nice too :).

Yeah. I've poked myself in the eye on that one too....just saying.

We don't normally do the SL LA except for the reading sequence so I can't chime in on activity sheets :). I'm thinking the advanced readers will be too hard for that level of reading experience. The Bob Books will be about the same as Fun Tales (we have both set 1 of BB and FT).