I also use the small binders and half page protectors -- preserves them in like-new condition, and they are easy to use.

I know LOE is fairly new, but I see there isn't a level after Essentials. This makes me wonder if one could use the lists in SWR in a LOE way after completing Essentials. Thoughts?

Okay, so I may have my terminology wrong -- I thought SWR and AAS were O-G programs. But, that's part of my question -- are these geared toward non-dyslexic, average kids too? Also, it seems like users of these programs say they are THE BEST, so why doesn't everyone use them? Why don't more curricula providers recommend them, instead of recommending programs like R &S, Spelling Workout, or Spelling Power? Thanks!!

My youngest dd is about to start 3rd grade, and, for some reason, with everything else, I haven't gotten around to deciding her spelling! She's reading well and doesn't seem to struggle with spelling -- probably just an average 8 yo in spelling. Would you recommend using an O-G spelling program? Is there a non-O-G program that you think is just as effective? I've tried various programs over the years with my older dc -- workbooks, lists, etc., and I haven't found one that I just love! I've never tried an O-G program, and I like the idea that it would teach spelling more thoroughly, rather than mostly memorizing words. If you like O-G, which do you like? How difficult would it be for me to learn it and how long would it take for me to get up-to-speed? How long would the lessons take with only one child, 3rd grade? Are there hand-made manipulatives to make, cut, laminate, etc.? I've just learned about Logic of English (today!). Would this one be the quickest to grasp and start? Would it be good for an 8 yo (good reader, average speller)? Would the app replace anything in hard copy that we would purchase? How much prep time (initially and daily/weekly)? And, how long would the lessons be with one 3rd grader? Do you think that an O-G spelling program is really worth the time, with everything else that is needing covered in a homeschooling day? I would appreciate your help! :)

I'm finally getting to this project and am using the Book Crawler app! 150 books scanned so far -- I need to speed up, but I think it'll be great in the end!

Good points! Thanks, guys! I have 3, and the latest is the National Geographic Student Atlas, 2009.

I'm sorting through my books and wondering about the atlases. For example, I have The Reader's Digest Children's Atlas of the World is copyright 1998.

Does there happen to be a resource that sorts SAT practice problems by course -- Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II? If not, how do you begin practicing before a student has had all three?

Good to know. I will take a look at it again -- three days a week would be ideal! Thanks, everyone, for your comments! I'm going to take a look at The Sentence Family and others too. I appreciate it!

Thanks for all the help, guys! I know I will refer to this thread again and again! Today I received the book 8 First Choices and it looks very helpful! Thanks!

I love this thread! Thank you all for sharing your thoughts! I need to start at the top to read through all of them again! The reason I asked is because I think my dd would prefer a Christian environment -- not because I'm afraid she'll lose her faith. (She is much more grounded than I was when I went to college, even though I grew up in church too.) I was imagining an experience like OhElizabeth's where she would be able to connect well with so many around her having similar values. We hear stories about how our closest Christian university isn't very Christian (students' lifestyles and professors' beliefs), but they market themselves as Christian, which is sad. I think the administration wants it to be or wishes it was or something -- hopefully it's not just to be attractive to Christian parents! Someone mentioned academics. I've been more skeptical about academics in Christian high schools than colleges, but I know that some are stronger than others. I went to a Christian school for 3rd - 6th grades, and, while I was fine, some of those kids had to be held back when they went back to public school -- sad! Academics are a big reason we haven't chosen to put our kids in Christian high school. You guys made me feel more open about secular options, so that's good. However, as others have said, it still comes down to praying and asking for God to lead dd and us. I just received 8 First Choices (recommended here - thanks!), and it looks like it will be very helpful! Thanks again for all the comments!

Can I revive this thread? :) I'm still undecided about language arts for 3rd grade, along with Writing Tales I and would love to continue to discuss it! One issue is that I have her signed up for a day of co-op. This includes WT, but mostly enrichment and fun classes. So, I don't really want a language arts program that has to be done 5 days a week in order to finish during the school year. This is why I'm considering not continuing with CLE, even though I really like that program. In the past (with other dc), I've used R & S and FLL3. I don't remember if those required 5 days a week. Do they? The thing I didn't like about FLL3 was that the diagramming lines were included in the workbook, and so the child didn't have to think about how to construct them (just plug in words with no thought). There's a chance we'd do CC Essentials in 4th grade.... I don't know. So, I don't want to choose something that would make that difficult for her. I'm not familiar with SL's LA, but I did just acquire an IG for LA3 -- it came with the reader set that I bought used. Should I just consider that? It would be much lighter, huh?

I've read some reviews of a couple of Christian colleges. One was Baylor, and the reviews from students made it clear that it wasn't really a Christian environment (which confirms what I've heard too). On the other hand, the reviews of ORU were different. The negative reviews were complaints about things like not being able to find parties, other students' not understanding that student's choice to be sexually active, etc. I know that there are always going to be a range of values in the students, and some colleges market themselves (and maybe wish to be by the leadership) as Christian to entice parents. I'm wishing for a Christian college because those years are so important! If you know of colleges that claim to be Christian that are really secular, please list them!

I appreciate your suggestions, links, and book lists! Thanks for your help!

I went to a secular university, and I know that not all Christian universities are Christian in practice. Is Christian vs. secular a consideration for you and your kids? What are your thoughts on the importance?

I chose the local university because I didn't have help and it offered me a full scholarship and the honor's program. I guess dh chose it because of a band scholarship. So, we do not have experience with researching, visiting, and choosing colleges! What advice can you give us for helping our dd begin in this process? She'll be a junior in the fall and is spending lots of time with SAT prep this summer.

I've only listened once so far, but here are some thoughts for application for myself: ~ I really do need to take time to consider and plan the days (beyond the master plan I make during the summer). ~ I tend to want to check off work (especially math and language arts), and I should focus on being in the moment, not rushing. ~ He said that having a teacher that loves the material is a must -- kids are disadvantaged otherwise. I need to dig in and show excitement! ~ I know this but don't always like it for myself -- repetition is teaching with the grain in the grammar stage. My little one really does enjoy it! ~ Regularly come back to what is important! You remember people, how they made you feel, and what you were made to master. ~ Education is cultivation and formation. ~ Surroundings should be beautiful. This has me looking around our school room and thinking I shouldn't skip it or leave it to last as I work on decorating this house! (This house that should be decorated by now, after 4 years, but I've been busy, right?? ;D ) We spend so much time here, and I should work here next. ~ He said that when you're tired, you teach or discipline the way you were taught...interesting. ~ Grammar school is very important for cultivating and protecting curiosity! And, curiosity should be protected for junior high and high school too. ~ I really like: Wonder -> Worship -> Wisdom! ~ Interesting that history and literature were included with poetry, dance, and singing! ~ Loved the student virtues. Working on cultivating those in my now 9th grader. He said beyond teaching content, cultivate these virtues. Hold up before students truth, goodness, and beauty. Education at it's roots is loving what is lovely. ~ Takes effort not to rush. Purposely contemplate what is not immediately useful and practical. ~ Only the person who does not know how to be at leisure (receiving what is true, good, and beautiful) can be bored. Something I struggle with -- balancing the hoops for college entrance with not rushing, not piling on many subjects, having time to contemplate.... Any thoughts?

That was great! Thank you! Where did you find it online?

Thanks! I was at Big Lots today and added to my glass container collection! They had Pyrex, Anchor, and another one (Snapware, I think) in many sizes with lids at good prices.

I've been storing leftovers in Pyrex containers for a few years now, but I do still have a few plastic containers around. Most of these are just taking up room in my cabinet and need to go, but others I'm using and probably shouldn't be (?). For example, I have some nice square plastic ones with airtight lids and recycle code 7 that I use for flour. These I bought a year or so ago from Wal-Mart, Better Homes and Garden brand. What about old Tupperware (most is from 1990, but some could be from a few years later), such as their vegetable storage containers with the vents? There are no codes on the bottom. Editing to add: what about ziplock bags? :-/ Where does one draw the line?

Thanks for your advice! There's kind of a placement test bubble between Saxon 3 and 5/4, and it seems she tests into both! The Saxon 3 test says that the student goes into 3 if they get 9-11 (out of 11) correct on the test (but she could also get all correct on any of the tests below that), and the 5/4 test says to go with 5/4 if she gets 15 or less correct out of 20. I'm not actually trying to push her ahead -- just place her correctly. When I looked at 5/4 at Mardel, I noticed that the first 25-30 lessons would be review (and I stopped looking after that), which is what made me think 5/4 might be the right starting point. However, I bet she'd much rather continue with CLE's workbook format than begin writing out all the problems (if she were given a choice)! I'm still not sure what to do, but I appreciate your sharing your experiences! Is it normal for CLE to be ahead, even a year ahead, of Saxon?

Bill, is there a curriculum that combines built-in review with more conceptual teaching? Not all of my kids can handle a mastery approach for long-term retention, so CLE has worked well for them. Also, what would you have done with a child who could not make the conceptual leaps in Singapore math? We tried to make it work for a couple of years before switching this one to CLE, where he thrived. (We used SM PM 1-6 with a sibling.)

1.) My youngest dd is finishing 2nd grade and CLE Math 2. We have no problems with it -- like the workbook format, the clear-cut daily lessons, speed drills, etc. Still, I'm wondering about switching to Saxon for 3rd grade -- partly because I don't want to deal with skipping a year or so to do Algebra 1 in 8th grade. (I switched my ds from CLE after 6th grade into a different pre-algebra program, and it didn't go very well.) Plus, I've heard a lot of praise for Saxon from different sources lately. Please feel free to comment on any of that! In all these years, I've never used Saxon! 2.) Also, for those who use Saxon, do you use it a year ahead, like Veritas Press -- such as 5/4 for 3rd grade? I looked through the 5/4 book at Mardel, and my dd had already covered the material in the first 25% or so. I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to move straight from CLE3 to Saxon 5/4, assuming her Saxon placement text agrees with that assessment. Are there reasons it wouldn't be a good idea to go to 5/4 in 3rd grade?

Thanks for all your thoughts and comments! I appreciate your help! Also, a side note: Proverbs has at least one example of learning from the lives of others. There's a fine line between observing/learning and judging, and we should all be careful with that, but it's wise to learn from others' lives, whether their actions were wise or unwise. Thanks again! I appreciate it!

I'm very surprised to hear this! We've been using TPS classes for 3 years now and are registered for many more classes for next year. We've have had very good experiences and highly recommend TPS! So far at TPS, my kids have taken: Math: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 English: Writer's Workshop, English 1, English 2, Classical Track American Literature and Composition, Classical Track Ancient Literature and Composition Science: General Science, Physical Science, Biology, and Chemistry History: Ancient History for junior high, Classical Track American History, and Classical Track Ancient History, Philosophy, & Culture. Foreign Language: Junior high Spanish 1 & 2, High School Spanish 1 & 2, Koine Greek 1 & 2 Other: Propositional Logic and Apologetics, Study Skills, Photography, Bible Survey, Starting Points Regarding TPS English, I think it's very strong! Their writing instruction is especially good, and I'm very happy with what I see in my kids' writing skills. I'd definitely recommend TPS English! We haven't taken British Lit yet, but I have one enrolled in it for the fall.