I've been going through this debate myself recently. I have used HWT in the past, but I just don't want to stick with that. We are using McRuffy, which has handwriting sheets. In comparing McRuffy with other handwriting styles, I've found that it's very similar to D'Nealian. So, I'm going to go with that. I've found a few D'Nealian workbooks and this site to make my own worksheets (this site doesn't call it D'Nealian, but it's also very similar to McRuffy/D'Nealian): http://www.worksheetworks.com/english/writing/handwriting/handwriting-cursive-copy.html Here's a handwriting comparison chart (I like that it included McRuffy at the bottom...most don't include McRuffy): http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=314397&sp=1016&event=1016RNF%7C1073374%7C1016 And another one (mouse over "show alphabet sample" for samples to pop up): http://familyphonics.com/handwriting/table.htm If you want to go with Z-B, here are a few links that might be helpful: Free Z-B worksheet generator: http://zaner-bloser.com/educator/products/handwriting/index.aspx?id=4298 Another one (Z-B & D'N): http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/handwriting_practice_worksheet_maker.html A Z-B self-instruction manual (so you can learn how to teach the letter formations). Rainbow and CBD say it's no longer available...you might have to search Amazon or eBay: http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Zaner-Bloser+Self-Instruction+in+Handwriting/006849/1281245190-996827

Sounds like fun. Can we come?? All I can think of at the moment is that if you can have a campfire or small bonfire you could roast marshmallows and make smores. Those are always a big hit. Now there are these giant marshmallows you can get (they are like 2"x2"). Those would be kind of cool to have.

I've been considering trying Daily Language Review. It goes along with Language Fundamentals, which also looks really good. I got How To Teach Art at a garage sale. We have some of the History Pocket books. They do seem to have a lot of good books. ETA: I forgot that Beginning Geography is on my wish list.

We have Hooked on Spanish and Hooked on Chinese...both with the 3 levels. I think that's a good deal and hope you got it (I got ours on ebay). Depending on the age of you dd, it's a very nice way to introduce a foreign language.

100 EZ Lessons must have won the prize. Funny because this is what I used to teach my first child to read about 14 years ago....she's now 18 and has always been such a super reader. It really did work. But....I didn't use it with my other 2....didn't seem to work for them.

We've tried a lot of klunkers through the years. Here's just a sampling: Fast Track Action Reading ~ oh my goodness......worst thing in the history of learning to read!! They teach almost all of the letters with the "uh" sound at the end (tuh, zuh, etc). I'll still never forget when the lady on the cassette tape read off some letter sounds and then said, "these letters don't really have the uh sound at the end, but you can't hear me if I don't say them that way, right?" So to sound out "cat" she would say, ""Cuh........ah........tuh. Cuh....ah.....tuh. Cuh..ah..tuh. Cat!!! That's right!" :ack2: Phonetic Zoo ~ hated it. Writing Strands ~ day one: write "the pencil in on the table". Day two: write "the yellow pencil is on the table". Day three: write "the yellow pencil is on the big table." :tongue_smilie: Professor B Math ~ too strict about not moving on until the child could instantly say the answer....my kid never could. Right Brain Phonics ~ I still don't understand this at all. :confused: Queens Language Lessons for Little Ones ~ some lessons literally took 10 seconds (plus I *hate* it when a publisher says the book is X amount of pages long but the backside of every page is blank yet still numbered. Pet peeve!). :glare: Times Tables the Fun Way ~ changes what the numbers represent from story to story which leads to confusion. Times Tales ~ stories are too confusing. ETC Online ~ too many frustrating glitches......by the time we could get it working right the subscription ran out.

I'm just jumping in here......that price would have been for either the pdf that you download and print yourself, or for the cd (pdf on cd) that you print yourself. But, I don't think that deal is going on right now. Sounds like you already bought the worktext printed out. You might as well see if you can do it without the answer keys. It shouldn't be too hard....more time consuming for you than anything though.

Thank you for replying Stephanie. This gives me something to ponder. I really would like the answer books for them all....it's just that it almost doubles the price for each one. Hmmm......something to think about today. I am trying to make this decision today, so I can mail a check tomorrow for an order (tomorrow is my one day I have a car this week to get to the p.o.). If anyone else has something to add that would be appreciated. I would also love to hear from anyone using the Jr books and what they think.

I am very interested in getting some of the Galore Park books. I'm considering these: So You Really Want To Learn Junior Science So You Really Want To Learn Science So You Really Want To Learn Junior English So You Really Want To Learn English So You Really Want To Learn Junior History My question is....do I need the answer books? I'm thinking that the Science and History would be easy enough for me to find the answers in the reading. But, for English....well, I'm not that great at it....and I don't think the answers would be in the reading. I'd like to hear from anyone using any of these books if you feel the answer books are necessary? Are the answer books just the answers, or do they contain more/other info? I'm kind of surprised that the answer books are so much smaller, yet almost the same price as the student books. Of course, I would really like to get each answer book.....but that will make the total cost much higher.

Galore Park looks interesting. I am looking at their UK site. Where did you purchase this from and how much does it cost?? Also...is it just one book or several books (like text book, workbook, teachers guide, etc) for each level?

Thank you. Here's another one: http://creationwiki.org/pool/images/0/08/Tablepicforoccurence.jpg

I chose "other". I think Rainbow if terribly overpriced. I'm not sure about Apologia (as far as price). What we are using for this grade level is probably different than anyone else here. We are just going to be starting Basic Science Mysteries by Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum (PAC); it's recommended for 7th grade.

Which son? If it's the 20 month old then I wouldn't worry that he can't spell those words yet and he already must be a genius. If it's the 9.5 year old then that's a different story. :lol::w00t::lol: Ooooohhhh....ok. Sorry. I know you mean your older son. I couldn't help myself (I think I'm funny but I'm usually the only one....;) ). Hmmm.....yes, I would also have to ask what are you using now with him?? I know some popular spelling programs are All About Spelling and Sequential Spelling. My son is much older...he's 15, and still can't spell if his life depended on it. I think I'm going to try The Spell of Words.

How about Elemental Science? Here's a link: http://elementalscience.com/index.html

Well, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Sounds like this is normal to me. In time it will get better. I wouldn't stress about it 'cause I really don't think it will become a major stumbling block in the future (but this is just my take on it). I would just let her continue "playing" and I would also get her ReadyWriter. It's fun and practices all the motions needed for handwriting. There are many sheets of the same kind so she can do a bunch now and you can save some for when she's 5 too. There may be other things like this available that I am not aware of. http://www.christianbook.com/readywriter-1-classic-edition-edwin-myers/9781590570098/pd/57009X?item_code=WW&netp_id=339839&event=ESRCN&view=details#curr http://rainbowresource.com/product/ReadyWriter/005121/1286401385-56753

Hmmmm.....I'm not really sure what to recommend for the spelling and the grammar. But, I do think that you might want to look at Mastering Mathematics. It focuses on one concept at a time. Even though the program is for anyone, the author wrote it with special needs children in mind. http://www.masterypublications.com/Math.htm ETA: I did find one set for sale here (it's the first one, not the R&S ones): http://homeschoolclassifieds.com/show_search.asp?searchWords=mastering+mathematics I don't know if it is still available.

If you want hands-on and manipulative-based I would have to suggest McRuffy Color Math: http://mcruffy.com/1st-grade-math-lessons.htm I also like Miquon (but I use it as a supplement). I don't care for RightStart personally.

No, but this one does: http://familyphonics.com/handwriting/table.htm You may have to scroll over or click for them to each pop up.

It's at the CBD website. I didn't even know they had this....I stumbled upon it by accident. http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=314397&sp=1016&event=1016RNF%7C1073374%7C1016

Tell your son that is a GREAT smiley. I like it too....and I don't see it often enough. Tell him thanks for posting it! ;)

You can?! I just went back to check and sure enough. I had spent so much time going back and forth from that site and McRuffy's site. I typed in all the alphabet, upper and lower case, to compare to the McRuffy samples. It took me awhile, but it looks exactly the same. I guess I was so busy doing that that I didn't notice you can change the size. I like how you can make it go either tall or wide. Anyway....more to love about that site!

Kay, that was a great find. We love McRuffy (using their phonics, color math and science). I wanted to mention a site someone posted the other day. It appears to have the exact same Cursive font that McRuffy uses. Plus the site is free, so you can print off pages for copywork. http://www.worksheetworks.com/english/writing/handwriting.html

Here's a few of my thoughts:

I have both. Out of the two.....definitely McRuffy. I don't think you can go wrong with that choice. If you choose RS it's like a 50/50 shot. I got RS years ago when I saw these little kids demonstrating it at a homeschool conference. The way they could work the abacus was so cool. I have tried twice to use RS and it's just not for me. I do like the RS games and have kept those. I need something short, sweet & effective and that's McRuffy. McRuffy is fun and colorful and my dd can't get enough of it. Yesterday we were playing the Raceway game again and every time she would draw a card she'd say the number and immediately add, "I LOVE MATH!!" and then move her car around the board. I've sold almost all of my RS (still have Level B for sale) but kept the abacus, the game cards and the game book.

I haven't used The Reading Lesson. When I looked at samples, the one thing that kinda turned me off was the font for the a and g (this is just a personal thing with me). I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Reading Made Easy and so does my daughter. We got the activity books too (at CBD with my free shipping code), which are not necessary but definitely a nice addition. I don't feel it's complicated at all....it truly is very easy. Wish I had known about this book years ago teaching my other kids to read.