I love R&S Math too and will be using the 3rd grade set this fall also. :) Rod & Staff recently developed a worksheet set to supplement the 3rd grade math program. This is separate from the blackline masters. According to my Answer Key for the worksheets, the worksheets are intended to supplement the 3rd grade math and provide advanced practice to help students be better prepared for the 4th grade math. They are intended to be used in addition to the main math program and not as a substitute. They do require some teacher involvement and are not necessarily related to the material being taught in the main math book. There appears to be one worksheet per lesson starting at lesson 25. Do you have the Answer Key for the worksheets? That explains how the worksheets are intended to be used. As far as copying problems and answers on other paper, Rod & Staff holds onto the belief that children will retain information better when having to copy the problem and answer. It also makes things more affordable as textbooks will not need to be re-purchased every year. Of course, you can do it however you want. :) I, personally, will probably just let my ds just write directly in the book. :)

Maybe the Steck-Vaughn Core Skills Social Studies workbooks? I don't know if they're cc aligned, but they can't be too far off. http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=14&category=1329

So far we have planned: Rod & Staff for English, spelling, math, and reading. I *think* Rod & Staff for science too. Or maybe Abeka. Not sure about history/geography.... yeah, I'm pretty lost there. I Can Do All Things for art (he is seriously lacking in this area, lol) Outside music program for homeschoolers. Lots of good literature for free reading and read-alouds.

I'm looking for a science program for next year and I'm overwhelmed with all the choices out there! Next year I'll have a 3rd and 5th grader. I'd like something where I can combine my two boys. I'd like a good balance of hands-on activities and reading. Something affordable. Not too time consuming. I'm really looking for that "fun" element. I looked at Sonlight but it seems like it jumps around too much and it's way expensive!! Any suggestions?? Thanks!!

I didn't like the Bible Study box in Beyond and in Bigger. I also didn't like the science in Bigger.

Currently using Rod & Staff for my 2nd grader. I couldn't be more pleased! :)

The Artistic Expression box was my son's favorite part of Bigger! (He loves anything hands-on). It was always easy for me to implement and only required basic supplies. They are quick and easy and fun for kiddos. When I dropped Bigger, the art box was what I missed the most. :)

Well, I know it's possible, but I personally woulnd't want to do it. I had enough trouble just doing two guides (Bigger and Little Hearts). Sorry, I don't mean to be a downer, just my honest opinion. :)

I agree with the pp. My ds went from R&S English 2 to English 4 and never did English 3 at all. He is doing fine. HTH!

Oh my goodness, there is no comparison between Singapore and R&s as far as the TM goes. I used Singapore for a few years before R&S and R&S is sooo much clearer and easier to teach. I didn't even bother with SM with my younger ds, I just started him with R&S from the get go. :)

The art (Art With a Purpose) is not actually published by Rod & Staff. :) I've never used it, but I've seen positive comments about it and it's very affordable.

I use (and love) pretty much everything from Rod & Staff! We use their English, math, spelling, science, and history/geography. I'm also going to try their 5th grade reading program and penmanship next year. I use their science and history mostly as spines... we add a lot of library books and other hands-on stuff. I really like Rod & Staff.... so affordable and easy to teach. It's flexible and can be used independently. I like how it' s no-nonsense and very academically sound.

Yes, I think so. My ds went from R&S Englis 2 to 4 without having done English 3 at all!

Singapore and Rod & Staff. And I would do Singapore a year behind Rod & Staff.

Thanks!

After you have sold your item, how do you delete the ad? I'm not seeing anywhere how to do this. Thanks!

Your 6.5 y.o. would probably be fine with the 2nd grade spelling. I wouldn't worry about spelling just yet for your 5.5 y.o., but that's just me. Rod & Staff Spelling starts in grade 2, btw. Their 1st grade spelling is integrated with their 1st grade phonics/reading program.

I agree. The 2nd grade English is the only one you can use without the TM, IMO.

I used the U.S. Edition with my oldest ds for a few years and only used the HIG here and there. I found it pretty cumbersome and wordy. I basically just referred to it when I needed help with how to teach something, which wasn't very often. He has since switched to Rod & Staff math so I can't comment on the upper levels of Singapore. My youngest ds is starting the Standards Ed. this week (1B) and I think I will get the HIG's next year for 2A/2B. I would like to have the manipulative ideas all laid for me so I don't need to think of them myself. :) And the HIG for the Standards Ed. looks soooo much better than the U.S. Ed. HIG. Maybe I will use it more if it's easier to follow.

I agree.... to go from CLE LA 2 to R&S English 3 would be *totally* fine. In fact, a 3rd grader could start R&S English 3 with no prior grammar at all. :)

I didn't like DITHOR either. It overlapped quite a bit with the storytime box and the questions/activities were just too open-ended for me. It was often very hard to apply it to what my ds was reading. I just let him read without doing a formal reading curriculum.

Yes, the library, I forgot about that! :)

I'm thinking about getting this since we can't afford (and don't really have room for) a set of the books. What do you think of it? Is it kid friendly? Easy to use? And I see Britannica makes an encylopedia software as well....Can anyone comment on that one? Thanks!

Let me know if you have any other questions!

We're using the 4th grade book this year and I like the writing assignments very much. They are very practical...topics on how to write a solid paragraph, writing a story, book reports. I see our next writing lesson coming up is on writing a friendly letter. There's not much in the way of creative writing.