I have looked a bit at MEP 7, but I think I would like to take a more traditional path through high school math (we are not sure yet whether we'll be homeschooling high school or not) and I think it would be easier to make that switch for pre algebra as opposed to later. If AOPS pre algebra works well, I would like to try their algebra next, and so on, for as long as it keeps working (most likely using tutors when he gets further along, because math is not my strength).

Yes, we did the placement test and he only didn't pass because he had just not been exposed to certain topics yet because of the different order of topics that MEP has compared to CLE. But he's done great with every new topic presented so far in CLE with very little explanation needed from me. We've worked through some problems on Alcumus and ds really enjoyed those and wants to do more. That's why I think AOPS would probably be a great fit for him.

My oldest DS (12, 6th grade), through no fault of his own, is not working where he could be in math. He had done MEP since his first grade year until this past December when he stopped at the end of Year 5a. He was doing fine with it, but it just became too hard for me to teach (the lesson plans are a bit confusing for me sometimes and I've got several grade levels to teach) and I also felt he was missing certain topics (US specific stuff, especially) and he wasn't as strong with his math facts as I would have liked. So I switched him in Jan. to CLE grade 5 and he's been breezing through that (just finished 505 and waiting for the next books to come in the mail). It's got WAY too much review for him, but I find that's it easier for me to just cross out what I know he's solid on than it is to find an alternate source of review elsewhere. But we are missing the more out of the box type of problems from MEP and, though CLE has been great for review and filling in gaps, it's not a challenge to him at all. I've been looking at AOPS pre algebra and thinking that might be a good fit for him for next year (possibly even starting now). I do wonder, though, if he's had enough exposure to the topics that will be covered. Or does AOPS pre algebra effectively re-teach all arithmetic topics, just at a deeper level? I also think he would still benefit from the review from CLE, so I'm wondering if I should have him finish grade 5 this spring (crossing out the review he doesn't need) while also starting AOPS. Then maybe have him also do parts of CLE grade 6 as a straightforward intro to the remaining topics he hasn't yet covered, and as a continuous review to make sure he's solid on arithmetic, along with AOPS, aiming to finish both by the end of his 7th grade year. And then he could start Algebra I in 8th. I suppose we could just rush through to the end of CLE 6 to make sure we cover all those topics before we start AOPS, but I do worry that he would lose the benefit of the continuous review that I think helps him, even if we do cross some out. Any thoughts would be appreciated. :)

No, he's not doing well with W&R's (lack of) outlining instruction. The last lesson we did had him doing a 3 level outline on a short story (The Brahmin, the Tiger, and the Jackal) and he really struggled with coming up with the outline points. Partly because he hates putting pencil to paper to begin with, and partly because there was no explicit instruction or enough shorter outline requirements leading up to this assignment. I am actually doing Treasured Conversations with my 4th grader, but we are still in the first (grammar) section and haven't gotten to outlining yet. I think my DS would balk if I put him in the same program as his younger sister, even if it is at a different point in the program. I'm thinking that WWS might actually be a good fit for him. He really likes things that are laid out very straightforwardly. It would be a challenge, I think, but in a good way.

I am currently using W&R Narrative II level with my 6th grader (along with R&S 6th grade English). I realize that Narrative II is designed for slightly below 6th grade level, but my ds is a reluctant (yet capable) writer, so it's been a good fit. Except for the outlining. In both CAP and R&S, they are expecting 2 and 3 level outlines right off the bat and I noticed that SWB's WWS starts out practicing level one outlines for a while before moving on. And yet the content of WWS seems to be more advanced as far as reading level and the amount they are expected to write each lesson goes. Or am I underestimating my 6th grader? I'm just thinking that he may need more work on outlining, but he likes everything else about CAP so I am hesitant to switch completely to WWS, which may be overkill for him. Is there a resource that just covers outlining separately that we can supplement with? How important is outlining, anyway? I don't recall learning it very extensively. Are there other good tools that would teach the organizational structure of writing that we should try instead?

We use Rod & Staff pretty much all orally (minus the diagramming, which we do on a whiteboard, and the composition assignments). It's very straight forward, easy to get done, and my 6th grader is retaining a lot.

My dd is going into 4th grade next year and is slightly dyslexic (no formal eval, just suspected). She has made good strides with her reading this year, but I would say she is reading at about a 3rd grade level. Her spelling, however, is really behind. We have slowly been doing AAS (she's about 1/4 of the way through level 2) but it's just not working for us. It's too fiddly and I hadn't really been making it a priority, as I wanted to increase her reading fluency before we concentrated too much on spelling. So this year, I want to switch to Apples & Pears spelling for her, but I also want her to finish up a phonics program. She has gone through All About Reading levels 1-3 (she's almost finished with level three) and Explode the Code levels 1-6. She will be doing Oak Meadow 4 this year, so I thought doing AAR 4 as well might be too much for her. She doesn't love the readers from AAR as much as I hoped she would and the literary stuff they cover I think would be covered well enough in OM. I thought about just doing getting the TM and activity book for AAR4 and just do the non-reader lessons to let her finish out the phonics learning (she does love the activities!). But then I think that is awfully expensive and wasteful if we're only using half the program. So then I thought she could just finish up the last two ETC books because she really does like those and I think she learned just as much form them as she did from AAR. But I wasn't sure if they covered the same stuff as AAR4... syllabication, de-coding larger words, etc. I don't want to overload her.... I know the amount of work in A&P and OM will be challenging enough for her. But I also don't want to leave her with an incomplete phonics education and have her struggling when she gets to higher levels of reading. Help?

That's really helpful, thank you Moon! :)

Technically, I would be using BYL for my oldest, OM for my dd and MP for my ds2, all with some substitutions/additions. I guess boxed is the wrong word, but I usually see on here people either doing different levels of the same main curriculum provider (with or without substitutions or additions), or combining their children in content subjects. Thank you for sharing your experience, Krissi.

I guess I mean full, pre-planned grade levels of each program instead of combining content subjects, like we have been doing.

OK, so I'm having to come to terms with the fact that my kids all seem to be very different learners. So far, we've been doing an eclectic mix of WTM/CM stuff for all of them, but I'm trying to be more focused on their individual needs next year. My oldest (6th grade) learns best with curriculum that spells out exactly what's expected of him and allows him to just "git 'er done". I am planning on having him do Rod & Staff English and Spelling, W&R Narrative II & Chreia, MEP math, Holt Science & Technology Earth & Space, Getting started with Latin, Logic Liftoff series, and most of Build Your Library grade 5. My dd (4th grade) is a creative, hands-on learner with slight dyslexia. For her, I was thinking of doing Oak Meadow 4th grade, MEP math, and either Apples & Pears or AAS. I also have Treasured Conversations to help with getting her writing up to grade level this year. I'll likely have to modify many of the writing lessons in OM. She'll also most likely listen in on the grade 5 BYL read alouds. DS2 (Ker) loves workbooks and crafty stuff, so for him I've been looking at Memoria Press's Kindergarten program. I may use AAR, AAS, ETC & MEP/Miquon instead of their Phonics & Math, but I love the look of everything else. And then I have DS3 who will be turning 4 in Sept. For him, I was thinking of getting the R&S preschool books and then doing AAR pre-level with him later in the year. He'll likely do lots of the crafty projects along with DS2, as well. I love the way all of this looks "on paper", but I'm wondering how practical it is to do three different programs from three different curriculum providers? Much of my oldest's stuff in fairly independent, and I like that OM 4 is written to the student to encourage independence, so that might make it a bit easier for me to implement. Obviously, I'll have to spend lots of one on one time getting DS2 reading this year. But am I biting off more than I can chew? Or is this just the nature of homeschooling multiple children with very different learning styles? Thoughts?

I'm interested in the answer to this, as well. I've always loved the look of BF, but I can't handle the providential stuff.

Thank you for your response! You don't find yourself using the lesson resource CD much, then? I wonder if I could get by with just used copies of the student and teacher books. I don't mind paying the money for the full package, if that will make things easiest, but if I can save money by buying used, then I would rather just do that. Is the CD mostly tests and quizzes, or are there lab sheets and stuff that aren't found in the book?

I was looking at these programs on Rainbow Resource and was wondering if anyone knows the difference between the two homeschool packages offered. One comes with a physical teacher's manual and the other with a "parent guide" CD-ROM. The teacher manual package is more expensive, but I much prefer having a physical book to teach from as opposed to a CD-ROM. But the RR person I chatted with said that the CD-ROM was formatted better for homeschool parents. I don't need a schedule, or "lesson plans" per se, as long as I have answers and extra info in front of me to help DS with any issues that come up. If the physical teacher manual will do that, then I would prefer just to get that. Anyone here have the CD and can tell me anything I might be missing by not having it? Thanks!

I'm trying to decide what science to use with my two oldest next year (I also have a 1st grader and preschooler listening in). We are using BYL grade 5 for other content subjects and they recommend Elemental Science Level 2 Biology, but I really think that will be too difficult for my 4th grader (and possibly even my 6th grader, honestly). We have not been very consistent with science up to now, but I would really like to make it a focus this year. I really don't like the idea of spending a whole year on one science topic, so I would prefer to pursue multiple topics. I really love the look of Ellen McHenry's programs, so I was thinking of taking a more unit study type of approach to science this year. I was thinking of maybe doing The Elements & Botany, then maybe a microscope unit. I also like the look of BYL's Darwin/Evolution unit study. A human body study would be good. And maybe some life science stuff like classification, genetics, etc. I'm just worried that it will feel too disjointed. Plus I'm not super science oriented myself, so I don't want to leave any major gaps in their knowledge. I would appreciate any thoughts.

I am so back and forth about this! I have been using AAR for my slightly dyslexic DD, who is heading into 4th grade. I'm thinking we will probably continue with AAR 4 with her next year (as well as adding Apples and Pears). Neither one of us LOVE the program, but it's working and she does like the activities. And it would complete the rest of her phonics learning. But, I also have two younger DSs (upcoming 1st grader and almost 4 yo) and I'm not sure AAR is the right choice for them. I'm doing the pre-level with DS5 right now, but I'm not really enjoying it... it's just really repetitive. He doesn't seem to mind too much, but I find myself dreading pulling it out everyday. He likes coloring, so I don't think he would mind the activity sheets in AAR1, but I'm wondering if the games and more kinesthetic activities of LOE foundations wouldn't be a better fit for him. Plus, I think the way they include speech helps would be good for him, as well. But it's a whole other expensive program, and I already own everything for AAR (which is not cheap!). I would likely use LOE for both my youngest boys, so I don't mind spending the money if it would be worth it, but I don't want to end up regretting it, either. Do I just have "grass is greener" syndrome? Has anyone else made the switch from AAR to LOE and not regretted it?

I have been researching Teacher File Box on here and came across this post. I just tried searching for that book number and the pages came right up (and I don't even have a subscription yet). While playing with the search function, I've noticed that you have to have the right range of grades selected and no searches already narrowed before things will come up. Hope that helps! I'm really looking forward to trying this resource next year.

I'm in NE OH, too. We have a few other homeschooling families that we are friends with, but I don't really like formal co-ops. We have participated in a homeschool gym class at a local rec center that is really good, but the time stopped working out for us and we haven't been in a while. Most other homeschool moms I talk to locally have never even heard of TWTM, though, so I never have high expectations for finding anyone like-minded. I like local groups mainly for socializing.

We live on the corner of a street with a short and simple tree name, and a street who's named after someone from our city's history that has to be spelled every time because it is so hard to pronounce. Guess which street our address is on? If I had the choice, I would have preferred the tree name.

I personally think that is a lot of work for second grade, but if you think your student can handle it and enjoy it, then go for it! I think, for the younger grades, it's perfectly fine to let the content subjects (like science and history) be interest led.

It is free and it's a wonderful math program! I would choose it even if I had to pay for it. But just know that it's very different than many other math programs so just plopping a sheet in front of a student who has not been taught the way things are done in MEP may be quite confusing.

I really like Spelling by Sound and Structure by Rod & Staff for my natural speller who learned to read without explicit phonics instruction.

How about MEP? It is spirally and teaches concepts fairly similarly to SM (from what I understand... we have not used SM). My kids love that there is only one page of problems per day and I love that the detailed lesson plans include all the teaching helps and lesson ideas in one spot. There is a bit of a learning curve for understanding how everything is laid out on the website and in the lessons, but it's worth the time it takes to understand it, IMO. Here is the website in case you don't know about it already: http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/primary/

Thank you both for your input! Right now, I am leaning towards doing LOE essentials with dd mostly for spelling and phonics reinforcement (instead of AAS) and also continuing with AAR (moving on to level 3) because dd really loves the cut and paste activities and the readers. Then I will start ds2 in LOE Foundations. I think the games and movement based instruction will be a better fit for him than the cut and paste crafty activities of AAR. I will probably do the AAR readers with him, though. I really love those. Now I just have to figure out how to pay for it all. LOL. I guess Essentials is cheaper than buying 7 levels of AAS, though, right? I would love to hear other thoughts!

Argh. I thought I had this all settled, but now I'm just not sure... I have an upcoming 5th grader who taught himself how to read at age four and is a natural speller. I mention him because I think having him first has skewed my expectations when it comes to teaching reading. But my DD has not caught on naturally and instead has needed explicit instruction for learning to read.... something I have not been consistent enough about providing up to this point. DD (upcoming 3rd grader) has been slowly & steadily working through All About Reading and is about 10 lessons from finishing up level 2. She enjoys AAR, but sometimes gets frustrated at the length of the stories in the readers, even though she can get through them with lots of encouragement. She is still not very fluent and she still mixes up sounds like b and d (though that has been getting less and less over the last few months). I like the program, but my frustration with it is that she still hasn't been introduced to all of the phonograms so she can't just pick up readers from the library that she is interested in because so many of them include rules she hasn't yet learned. Yet she gets bored reading the sames stories over and over in the AAR readers. So she hasn't really been getting enough fluency practice, honestly. She is also working through Explode the Code for extra reinforcement and has just finished book 3. She learned a few phonograms from that that she hadn't learned in AAR yet and did fine with the activities in the book. So I'm wondering if the extra slow introduction to the phonograms plus the high fluency expectation of AAR is not the right fit for her? Also, though she does well with copywork and doesn't seem to mind the physical act of writing, she is not at all confident in her spelling. I have AAS but I have been waiting to start until her reading was more developed, but I'm wondering if a program that teaches spelling alongside reading might be a better fit. I really need something open and go, so I've had my eye on Logic of English and Reading Lessons Through Literature... Lastly, I also have an upcoming young Ker who I want to get started with learning how to read. I think I started too late with dd thinking she would pick it up like her older brother and now I regret it. I don't want to make that mistake with ds2. I had been planning on AAR pre-level with him, but I'm not sure I want to continue with AAR, so I wonder if I should start with something that will hopefully work for the long run with him. It would be a struggle for us to pay for two levels of AAR right now, anyway, so I'm hoping whatever we move to will be cheaper. Anyone have any thoughts or advice?