I agree, especially with the last point. :tongue_smilie:

The nice thing OP is that you can find these books used for a fraction of the price, so you won't be losing too much money if you buy one and then decide that you don't like it. I found mine on Amazon for a few dollars. I will say that my DD was always happy to work on Best Selling Chapters and didn't complain at all (except for not liking 2 of the stories that were used, but that just had to do with her personal reading preferences). I was the one who had issues with the book (and only after the first few chapters, when it just started to feel too repetitive or something to me). :tongue_smilie:

We recently finished using Best Selling Chapters for my 5th grader, and I have mixed feelings. Overall, I think it was a positive experience, and I MAY use one of the other books later in our year, but if so, I'll do more tweaking. My daughter loves creative writing, so she really enjoyed the exercises. However, I think there was just too much every chapter, and even though the chapters would try to bring it all together for a final writing experience at the end of every chapter, it just never quite met what I thought was appropriate. If we do choose to do another book later, we will be doing less of the assignments along the way (although we'll talk about them) and I will focus more on a final writing assignment that I will tweak from the author's expectations. I don't know....I wish I knew how to express what I didn't like about it better, but I guess I'm not even sure myself what exactly it was. On the other hand, I think that it was still worthwhile and my 10 year old did have some growth based on things we went over using the program (and as I said, she loved the creative writing aspect). I am glad that we tried at least one book. If I move to another book in the year it will be either Poems or Nonfiction. Good luck with your decision.

My DD is in 5th this year, so I haven't figured everything out for next year yet. We're secular homeschoolers, so your choices might be different if you want a religious slant. Here are some of my plans for next year: Language Arts: continue with Growing with Grammar and possibly Winning with Writing (we're just starting level 5 right now, so I'm not sure if I'm going to like it yet). I'm thinking of doing Lightning Literature 7 next year, but not sure yet. Math: I personally don't think LOF Fractions is a complete full year program. We use Math Mammoth, so we will continue with MM 6. Science: This year I'm using Elemental Science Biology for the Grammar stage and think it's a decent program. However, even if they have an Earth Logic stage next year ready, I don't think I'll use it due to the neutral stance the author takes on certain subjects. We will probably be turning to a Textbook for Science next year.....either CPO, Holt, or Science Explorer, but not sure which. I'm not a big fan of RS4K personally, but I know that many others like it. Atelier Art is pretty good but expensive. I like having the videos available to do the teaching. History: Pandia Press' History Odyssey seems like a pretty solid program and I am considering starting Ancients Level 2 next year. I am also considering using K12's History (is it Odyssey as well? I can't remember right now) as I've heard that the books are very engaging. I personally wouldn't do HO Level 1 - I had the Ancients and decided that it was easier to just do SOTW with the activity guide. However, HO level 2 seems worthwhile to me. So there are my thoughts for what they're worth. I think maybe you packed quite a bit into your initial post and people weren't really sure what you were asking? I know all of the choices can be overwhelming, but maybe focus on one subject at a time and try to find what works, then move on to the next subject. Good luck to you!

The Op asked what we would like in a program. I personally want a complete program that I don't have to supplement with evolution materials. I want it to be included already in my science materials, but I would like something that is not a textbook. I am fine if someone else wants something different...I am offering my opinion of what "I" want. ""Real science would be based on current accepted scientific theories. An old earth and evolution are integral to studying geology or biology. Darwin was a HUGE step forward in our understanding of biological development over time. To leave him out would be a glaring omission. A science program that deliberately expunges any reference to current theory in an attempt to be PC would be utterly useless to me. Either be secular and include mainstream scientific information or be religious and present information through that lens."" Agree. (I don't know how to insert a quote when editing).

:iagree: I am also more interested in Logic Stage as I think there is plenty to choose from for younger kids.

You might want to look at McRuffy SE Phonics for K. It's colorful, has games, etc... http://www.mcruffy.com/Kindergarten-Phonics.htm

I'm doing Life with my 1st grader, and we could definitely move more quickly if we wanted, so I don't think there would be a problem with it. I haven't done Earth and Space yet, but I'm guessing you could probably fit them both in. We do science 1-2 days/week, so I think if you did 4 days it would work (but you might even be able to do less days depending on how long per day).

The Mysterious Benedict Society books The Penderwicks books Lip gloss, nail polish, peace sign clothes like pp mentioned, black boots, itunes gift card, pretty/funky bracelets/necklaces, journal, book light for reading, don't know what they're called, but they're like leg warmers for the arms

Here's a very recent thread. HTH http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=307571

Current 5th grader: Math: MM 5 Science: ES Biology for the Logic Stage History: American History of my own (includes tons of historical fiction which she loves) Spanish: Rosetta Stone Logic: Logic Liftoff currently Literature: Combo. of a number of things - just completed Best Selling Chapters, will be doing some K12 5th grade literature, and she has requested to do some Inside Stories after finding the books on the shelf. She also reads whatever she wants constantly Writing: we write across curricula; we are also looking at possibly doing WWW but not sure on that yet Grammar: GWG Other: Atelier Art when we have the time, piano, dance, etc...

My 5th grader is doing Elemental Science Biology for the Logic Stage this year, and I'm pretty happy with it overall. I was going to try to provide a link, but I can't seem to access the site right now. The Logic Stage material is quite different from the grammar stage material by them, so make sure you look at the correct samples if you google it and take a look. GL.

My 5th grader does GWG pretty much independently. She is retaining the information and doing well.

Real Science Odyssey by Pandia Press - fun, secular, and she could probably combine the two kids Pandia Press also has History Odyssey, but personally I prefer SOTW and can do it in a secular fashion.

I've bought and sold a number of things there and haven't had a problem so far. I've gotten some really good deals too.

Houghton Mifflin has textbook readers for each grade (1st has 5 books, 2nd and 3rd have 2 books each, etc..), and you can buy practice books to go along with them. This would be very similar to what they're doing in school and you can find them pretty cheap on ebay or Amazon (used). Here is an example of 3rd grade books (the main textbooks are Rewards and Horizons for 3rd): http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Rewards-Level-3-1-Houghton/dp/0618619380/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320275289&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Houghton-Mifflin-Reading-Practice-Book/dp/061838474X/ref=pd_sim_b_2 (Calvert uses the Houghton Mifflin textbooks and then makes their Reading Work Pages from some of the pages in the Practice Books) I also second Math Mammoth as it is cheap, secular, and a great program. For younger kids Explode the Code books are cheap and decent.

My daughter really enjoyed this last year as well.

Science: RSO Life History: Elemental American History, Maps Globes and Graphs Math: MM 1 L.A.: FLL 1, a variety of things for reading/phonics depending on the day, may try WWE 1 and/or WWW (have both) Other: piano lessons, art projects, dance I'm also considering adding in AAS 1. I have it but just haven't had the energy to add it in yet.

Personally I don't think it's a good fit for 4th graders as I think it's just not enough. It's very simple and nowhere near thorough enough for 4th graders IMO. I'm doing American History with my 5th grader and putting my own thing together (with another parent and her child). I couldn't find anything that did all of the things I wanted in a set program, but maybe there's something out there that I just haven't seen yet.

This is a fairly new program and I haven't used it at this time, but we do use Growing with Grammar by them. Winning with Writing http://www.growingwithgrammar.com/1wwwProduct_Page.html You could also try something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Fabulous-Sentences-Paragraphs-Norris/dp/1557996016/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319990216&sr=8-1 or these books: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Writing-Expo-Paragraphs-Paragraph/dp/0838826733/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319990260&sr=8-1 Good luck.

:iagree::iagree:

I haven't used this but plan to in the future. It looks like a great program and gets good reviews. HTH http://www.ellenjmchenrydownloads.com/Geography-Maps_c16.htm

I have a current 5th grader. Science: Elemental Science Biology for the Logic Stage Math: MM 5A and B (may supplement with Key to series a little) History: My own American History - making it up as we go along - includes historical fiction which she loves (planning about 25 books for the year) Language Arts: Finishing up "Best Selling Chapters" and will be doing some K12 literature 5 next to check it out; GWG 5; writing across the curriculum Logic: Nous, Logic Liftoff Language: Spanish - Rosetta Stone Art: Atelier when we find the time For the most part, I'm pretty happy with what we have. My DD has really enjoyed "Best Selling Chapters" as she loves creative writing, and I think it was worthwhile, but I need a break from it now. We may use either Best Nonfiction or Best Poems later in the year, but we'll see. I'm still processing my feelings/thoughts on the books and seeing if there's a way that I can utilize them that's a better fit for us.

Hi, I just checked, and my DD has finished through p. 68. I took the number of pages total in the two books and divided it by the number of weeks I wanted to do this year. This is just a general guideline for me though. If she gets stuck we'll slow down, and if she wanted to do more we would (but that hasn't been the case so far). Good luck!

http://www.elementalhistory.com/