Thanks everyone for posting! So helpful to see what others are doing. Here are my plans for next year’s 4th grader- LA - rod and staff 4, Sonlight D readers for lit, spelling workout e, had planned on continuing with IEW- but may change math- RIght start E science - RSO physics and apologia astronomy? History- sotw3/American history focus, read alouds from sonlight D Bible - VPSP Gospels Languages - Latina Christiana 1, Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek level 3 Morning Time - rotating through - grapevine Bible, poetry memorization, renaissance artists, mindbenders, fairy tales, kings/queens of England, and whatever else we want to do Extras - violin private lessons, swimming, cooking and geography at co-op

I hope so, too!! I have one that has had challenges and it is so hard. I had to hold her back one year and that has helped. So maybe if 4th grade next year isn't the best fit - 3rd grade again?

As of right now...(updated) Bible - VPSP Joshua-Kings Math - Finished Saxon 1-3, switching to something....Considering RS D, SM 3, or BA - picked Right Start D! LA - SWO D, R&S 3, IEW ATFF/Journaling, ZB 4, Sonlight Readers (grade 4/5), Reason for Handwriting C History - SOTW 2, Sonlight C, CC timeline Science - ES Chem Foreign Lang - Hey Andrew! Greek Level 1 and continuing from this year: Prima Latina and Song School Spanish Hope to add in - a CM enrichment time inc: Scripture memory, poetry, art, and character training Violin, Baseball, Basketball, co-op 2x a month

We used HWT 1 and switched to ZB 2C for cursive. It has gone really well and my son loves the book and writing in cursive. I think you and your daughter will like it!

I'm asking myself the same question right now for my rising 2nd grader! We used Sonlight B and C years ago and those cores spread out CHOW over two years adding in extras. It seemed like a good fit at the time. The kids and I enjoyed it. We've really enjoyed the pace of BF Early American this year and would like to continue with something like this (reading great books, narrating, and notebooking). I am wondering whether I can use CHOW as a spine and just add in extra books like you were saying - I just don't want to do the planning. ;)

You could easily just get the books and go through them yourselves. In Beyond, there is some shuffling between the books to keep it chronological - but I don't think it is that hard to figure out - it's mostly the Pioneers and Patriots book that is split up over the year. Also, there are Bible passages sprinkled throughout the year, too. Alternatively - we're just using parts of Bigger and Beyond this year (for two different kids), so I think you could easily use the HOD guides as for history alone. Using HOD's guide would give you a schedule. There would also be art, activities, and geography to go along with the lessons if you wanted to add something to your reading/narration (it's the box right below the history reading box - alternates history activity, art, science activity, and geography - all related to the reading, takes maybe 10-15 mins.) Since your daughter also likes to read, you could use the emerging reader list and other read aloud lists in the back of the book. If you go with Beyond, I think a 5 year old would probably enjoy the books and could do whatever activities you choose with his sister. You could start without the guide and see how it goes - getting the guide mid-year if you want more structure. Or you could start with the guide, letting it give you some structure/extra ideas, then ditch it as you feel more comfortable with the books. I would choose whatever makes you feel more comfortable and what will make it easier for history to happen. :) With regard to your daughter's reading - you didn't mention what her reading level is, but as I mentioned above there is a emerging reader list in HOD and read aloud book choices she could read. If you want books that go along with history, I would take a look at the Sonlight catalog - core D/E for a list of readers that would be more advanced and go along with that time period. Hope that helps!

Sorry, mistake! See my post below. :)

One more vote for IEW - the only thing that worked for one of mine that got stuck on the figuring out what to write part. The key word outlines of source texts was a huge help!

Congratulations! Great job! I have several of the same novels lined up for 9th grade lit next year, too. :)

My 18 yo son picked Wheaton College (IL). Major: English with a writing concentration. (But also interested in philosophy, gender studies, possibly pre-med.) Reasons for choosing this major: Loves to write Reason for choosing this school: It was between Wheaton and William and Mary. Ultimately, it came down to how much he liked Wheaton when he visited, and its smaller size. It seems like he'll have great opportunities to form relationships both with other students and professors there. Both are great schools; it was a very tough choice for him.

We were down to the wire, too! Just made his decision today. Yay!!!

Hi, My second oldest just decided on his college choice today (just before the may 1st deadline!)...so I thought it would be fun to go through my youngest's first grade plan for next year. :) Thanks to all that have shared so far...here's my plan for next year... Bible tbd Saxon 2 with RS card games Lots of easy reader books AAS 1, Shurley Eng 1, HWT, narration/copy work with sci and history Elemental science life American history with older kids, curriculum tbd Read alouds Art/music appreciation, drawing memory work violin dance

Just heard from the last school we applied to. Here's the whole list of acceptances for my son...now, decision making time.... Wheaton College (IL) William and Mary Lehigh University (arts and sciences) Wooster (presidential scholarship) Christopher Newport (honors program) Hope College

Potter's School has a strong French program. :)

Faith, thank you so much for all your work maintaining this list! My son got acceptances from Wheaton College (IL) and the College of Wooster (Dean's Scholarship). We won't hear from anymore till March. :(

We used RS through level E then switched to Chalkdust. I tried to use the Geometry but we didn't make it very far. I decided to put my kids in the Basic Math program before PreAlg. It was a good review and got them used to the textbook method which is very different than RS. For a student your dc's age, I think doing a combination of Basic Math and the Geometry program would make for a great year. Then doing PreAlgebra the following year - or mid- year whenever you've finished Basic Math. Just my 2 cents. :)

We tried the HOD world geography course with my 8th and 10th graders this year. Made it only a quarter of the way before we got bogged down. Not the program's fault, I just think it wasn't a good fit for our family. There were too many little parts and different activities to do each day. I liked the content, boys enjoyed the books for the most part (didn't really like the geography readers so much). My 11yo dd used HOD CTC and it fit her personality better. She liked the hands-on activities and the multitude of activities. That really isn't my boys' style. If you have any specific questions about the program, I'd be glad to try and help. Just pm me. :)

My 8th grader did MWA with Runkle's this year. I like the combo. He does MWA 2 times a week and Runkle's the other days. We don't do any of the activities in MWA, just the readings and map drawings. For Runkle's, we only use the text book. I wish we were able to do the memory work in the supplemental Runkle activity book, but we haven't had time. We started the year using HOD's World Geography program, but it had too many moving parts, so mid-way, we switched to just MWA and Runkle's. It's been much easier.

I've used MFW Adv, Sonlight D and E, WP American story 1 and 2, and some of HOD bigger. (not all with the same kid! :)) I think if you are doing this with CC and with a math/science kid, I would use either MFW Adv or Winter Promise American Story 1. Both would probably be easier than you'd like/need, but you can add more to make it more challenging. Adding in extra books for readers, esp since your son is an advanced reader. My kids really enjoyed the Childhood of Famous American biography set. Sonlight has a great book list in cores D and E, and there is the book basket list at the back of the Adv TM, too. Some pluses for MFW Adv - A lot of MFW Adv is in the state study which would go well with CC - aren't the kids memorizing states and capitals? Also, it covers a little more of American history than WP AS 1 or Sonlight D which are both the first half of a two-year American history course. WP might be too big of a course - with lots of crafts/hands-on activities, MFW seems more stream-lined and easier to complete in a 4 day week. As an aside, I am also considering CC (specifically Challenge A) for the first time for next year. Best to you in your decision-making!

Looking for living books...have you considered before five In a row and five in a row? It is one of our favorites and you can do as much or little as you want. We also like sonlight preschool programs - great books.

We've been using the veritas press lit guide this year. It's not the full unit study of prairie primer. It has comprehension questions and some activities. My daughters have made some of the recipes. Probably not what you are looking for, but I wanted to throw it out there as a less-than-perfect option. :)

Lori D., What ages were your boys when you used EFTRU? I'm interested in it for my rising 6th and 8th graders.

That makes a lot of sense, Julie. Thanks! :)

For us, it really wasn't about the grade but the time involved for the class and that the material in semester 2 builds on semester 1. We decided (maybe incorrectly) to stop the class and continue to work at home, focusing on mastering the material for the exam. He worked hard to study for the exam, however the material covered on the NLE is not representative of the whole of Latin 2 material. For ex, subjunctives aren't covered at all. We tried to continue learning the rest of Latin 2 material at home after the NLE, but I am concerned it still isn't enough to move on to Latin 3. Hth to explain my situation. :)