Thanks ladies! Donna, he actually a good writer if the instructions are clear, I don't think he will have any trouble with that portion, thanks so much for your input. I like the idea of "meetings" if I scheduled a trip to Starbucks or burgers from time to time that would certainly sweeten the deal for him. :) Stephanie which audio books did you get? I am starting to ponder ditching what we are doing now and starting this. Between the Bible, which he will really like and the audio books, it might be more enjoyable that the Notgrass Gov. he is presently doing. If I through a discussion trip in at meets Starbuck this might be enough to turn this into an enjoyable experience, rather than the one we are having now.......he so board, he has already this before. :o

Thanks Sylvia, that is a great idea, audio books. I never thought about going that route. Any thoughs on the Notgrass or the Rogert Watson li. guide?

I am considering this from my DS, who writes well, but does not like to read. I think he would do well with the Bible and history portions, but the lit. selections of The Iliad and The Odyssey frighten me a bit, such long weighty text for a boy who does not like reading........would love to hear your experiences with MFW AHL in general, what you liked, if you did not like it why?

Thanks for you input Carrie!

While I have not used TOG, I have used both Sonlight and MFW. One of the big draws for me was learning from them at our local conference if I stick with MFW for the whole shi-bang my student will have read through the Bible 3 times. I don't know of any other curricual that boasts this. Additionally, I like the notebooking, the book selections just seem more age appropite, and the book basket is great for picking books that have high appeal for your kids. Overall, of all the curricula I have used over the years MFW is my clear favorite.

Golfcartmama, thanks for getting back to me, it sounds like you have a good system in place. Probably readning, ETC and photograms are just not enough or enough of the right methods for her. ASS seems to have worked for so many others in the areas where I see her having the most sturggle, I hope it is a good fit for her. I am heading to our local HS store today and they stock ASS so I am planning on leaving with it. :) Love you call name BTW, my two big kids play cometitive golf and we are hoping the third takes a shine to the sport. :)

Thanks, I will check out the links, read your blog about the BTW, great info!

Do the kids enjoy the story lines? Probably I will go ahead and get them it is bound to reinforce what we are doing.

Again ladies thanks so very much! Tina, I will "get shopping." :) Level 1 and the Basic Kit is what I am leaning towads, does anyone have any experienc with their readers? I am wondering if this is worth the extara $$?

Thanks for your input Linda, probably I sould get our my Visa card and just order it. The only negative thing I have read about it is the parent involvement, and I can manage that. If this bumps her into being a more independant reader that will save me time. :)

Thank you sooo much for your replies ladies! Erica, It is not that she has not been drilled on the phonograms, it is that when reading she does not neccessarily make the application. I am wondering if I combined it will spelling if this might improve? Perhaps buying the ASS and still doing the ETC would be the way to go. Golfcartmama, you sure seem passionate about the AAS over ETC, care to elaborate? Tina I use FLL, ETC, maybe I just need to add the third element of AAS or go with AAS and FLL?

Thanks ladies! Part of what puzzles me about the ASS is that it is slated as a spelling program. Based on what little I know about PR and SRW it certainly appears there is an overlap of many concepts with AAS. I am guessing one certainly would not do use AAS in conjunction with either of those. I am looking at this as I have not had the best of luck teaching reading with the phonograms, and thinking this twist might be the way to go.

I have been reading some old threads on ASS and frequently there is a suggestion to drop ETC if you decide to pick up ASS. Has anyone done this and can tell me how it worked for you? What is the logic behind this choice? I have always looked at ETC as a phonics system rather than spelling instruction. Thanks!

Merry I really appreciate your insight, it certainly makes me feel better about my situation, and I will check out the link you posted in the AM. I really like the fact that DD can decode big words based on context, but I also want her to have the ability via phonics to use that tool as well. I suppose I am just starting to feel frustrated based on the effort I have put it trying to get her to read "early". My older two both test well beyond grade level with reading and comprehension, so I imagine it will come. DS just woke up one day and read the paper after a good deal of time working on reading, DD came along a bit slower, but now I can hardly get her out of a book if she is enjoying it. AAS might be worth giving a go to get away from the mundane of what we do everyday, the change might be good for both of us. What I am currently doing certainly is not moving us forward as quickly as I would like. It sound like the investment of time and $$ might be worth it. Again thank you so much I really appreciate you insight!!

PS, again I really appreciate the time and thought you have put into your answer to help me. I am really at a loss as to where to go with her.

Heather thank you so much for your detailed responce, some of it rings true. She knows the basic phonograms, but does not always put them together when reading, she does try and sound words out when she does not recall them, but does not consistantly recall that two ee's say e, that sort of thing, then there are times when she does. She is very good at figuring out large words based on context rather than actually decoding it. If I read her a long paragraph she can read it back almost perfectly even if it is somewhat complex. This gave me the idea that perhaps she was a sight reader, but I am certainly no expert. LiPS I am not sure what this is? I don't see any typical signs that would indicate she has dyslexia, although I honestly don't know too much about it. Occasionally she will confuse b's and d's and once and awhile h's and f's. The biggest thing I pulled out of your experience is being able to go though the phonograms flash card style and then not connecting them to what she is reading. Perhaps the AAS would be a fresh approach to the problem and push her over the edge from not so good to great? My kids were all late readers, and excelled with math, she so far has been no exception. I have put more time and effort into trying to make her and early reader and it has not come to fruition as I had hoped. I suppose it could simply be she just isn't there yet, or a larger probloem may be afoot. Her eys sight was fine at her last exam so unless something has changed recently I can rule that out.

What about Notgrass American History? I have not used it yet, but am planning to when the kids finish up a state history class. I have only breezed over the materials, and I really like what I see thus far. My son just started their Goventment, so far so good. :) You also might consider MFW Books. I am using thier Adventures with my 2nd grader and loving it. I used Sonlight for years, and am liking MFW so much more that I will probably continue it with my youngest.

Thanks for your answer Heather! You have helped me in the past. :) I did phonograms with my DD for years and I can't say she really ever took to them, she frequently did not relate them to what she saw on the page. Based on all the phonogram drills, ETC and such you'd think she would be reading beautifully, but she is not. Thus I am coming to the conclusion that she must be more of a sight reader, perhaps I am wrong about this? With AAS appearing to have such a heavy phonetic component I was not sure if it would be a good match. On the other had the way the phonograms are presented with the spelling, the auditory component, and the tiles might be jus what she needs. I am in a quandry with her, and I don't want to buy more curricula that does not work. Do your kids enjoy the program? Anything you don't like about it? How beneficial are the tiles?

Thanks for the suggestions. At what age is Phonetic Zoo geared to begin? It seems like an older kid to me, but perhaps I am under estimating.

Just looking for some more info about this program.....can't find much. I have daughter who is more of auditory learner and a sight reader, I am wondering if this program would be a good fit for her or not. It certainly looks like a fantastic method. Would like to hear why folks liked it or hated it. :)

Anyone know if there are other lectures to accompany the Apologia?

Thanks Michelle! I will check those out, it sounds like a great addition to the Apologia. :)

My son just started it, so far so good. I really like the source book which has them reading the acutal documents. I have the American History as well, it looks great, but not planning on starting that until next year.

Julie did you tie the labs to any curriculam? How easy were the supplies to get? I will see if I can find BJU samples, thanks!

Thanks Holly I will google it right now, I have never herd of it.