I don't know about the other levels, but in Level 1 lesson 16 goes over c and K. The rule is : C says /s/ before e,i, or y. Hope that helps. There is the rule of trying c first before k , but I think in your instance the above rule follows. That would work with the first word but the last two words don't fit that rule. So I would use those color tiles and go over those again.

I totally agree. My youngest daughter was born with a missing thumb on her right hand and a hypoplastic thumb on her left ( its missing tendons). Writing is not impossible for her, and she's 5 mind you. Though I will say that writing with pencil and paper is not her favorite thing to do ,but she CAN do it. Writing is a little bit more laborious for her, but we get it done and the older she gets the better she'll get at it. I would do lots of the things that one poster listed here to develop her fine motor skills. Use something like Writing Without Tears ( we are using this as well) and get some dry erase markers and a dry erase board. My daughter is more apt to write this way than using a pencil. Having hypermobile joints isn't going to stop her from learning how to write at all. Children can adapt very well. If you saw my daughter right now you'd never know she was missing a right thumb and her left one was missing tendons. She manipulates her hands very, very well and we just adapt and adjust when needed. If its any consolation I've meet people with missing thumbs and other fingers and they honestly write very well. Even better than my oldest who has thumbs on each hand. LOL I'll share a video with you. I met this young lady at a conference and she was so inspirational. Sadly she passed away a few years ago , but her message has been left to the world. That no matter how your hands are you can do things just like everyone else. .. also mind you she had no OT. This was before services like that were available to everyone. She just did it on her own. I also know some children with hypermobile joints and it hasn't stopped them from writing. P.S My 5yr old has had NO OT for her hands. I'll have to take a video of her hands too. Any preschool curriculum will do. Just adapt it. YOu can have her answer orally or use a dry erase marker and board. Good luck...

I like Saxon. I also like BJU, Horizons, CLE. I could go on and on. The reason I mention those is that I have four daughters with four very different learning styles. My oldest used Saxon last year in private school for 7th grade and it just about killed her. She is very mathy and needs to focus on one thing at a time. Though she still needs to have some practice. So I switched her to Horizon's Pre-Algebra and she's getting what she needs and she likes it more. I did start out with her with BJU math when I first started homeschooling and she enjoyed it until we reached the 6th grade math and I had been in limbo up until this point with her. Now that we've tried Horizon's she happier because she's focusing on one problem at a time , with some practice scattered in there. My 2nd daughter I used Saxon with her for K, 1, then we had a vacation from it for a while and it was the worst thing I ever did with her. Definitely one of those redo moments. We used Calvert and K12 cyberschools and the math in those programs was conceputal and it literally almost made her head explode. She wasn't interested in 20 different ways to find the answer to 2+2. She was happy with 2+2=4 and that was it. In that time she learned to hate and detest math. Then she went to private school that uses Saxon and she's doing better ever since. Well , up until now. She's been slowing declining but its because of a change in teachers, and I think it has a LOT to do with that and not Saxon. My third daughter is doing well with Saxon as well. My 4th daughter is proving to be an in between. She is like her older sister but she likes Christian Light Math. So far I've had experience with Saxon K, 1, 2, 5/4, 6/5 and 7/6 and some of Algebra 1/2 (tried it with my oldest at the beginning of the year and she wanted to burn it) It never took us an hour to do math. Saxon K is very hands on and great for kids who are not writing yet but want to learn math , now. Its great for kids in PreK or if you haven't started a math program for K. I do agree that the other levels are drill and kill. Its almost the end of the year and my daughter hasn't learned her multiplication yet. The upper levels are very independent. I'd go over the lesson , and then send my girls on their way. Do I love Saxon, eh. I like it enough if it works for my children. I do love CLE for spiral better though. If your wanting an incremental spiral program Christian Light is just easier to use all the way around. The lessons are short. The lessons tell you what you need to do, but doesn't tell you exactly what you have to say word for word. It does guide you though. Christian Light is less expensive than Saxon. But if you want a secular program Saxon is good. But always a word of caution, if what you are using is working for your child, please don't change it. Curriculum hopping in math is NOT a good thing. This I have learned. I wished I knew more about Horizons way back and I think I would have had my oldest use it much sooner. But now I know. The incremental spiral approach makes more sense to me, but if it doesn't work for my child, then we need to find what works. I don't switch though if my child is doing well with it and I've got a an issue.

This is the answer I got back from Alpha Omega.. "It should work out fine since we haven't made any major revisions to Horizons math since the initial releases. We do fix the answers for a problem or two each year so just be on the lookout for a few things that don't match up. The print date is on the back of the book just above the bar code. That would tell you if it is a "classic" or a recent printing"

This is my guess, and I'm searching for the answer right now. But I think what you have is it. A/O is still working on their different levels of Horizons and I haven't seen any new editions come out yet. I know the Algebra 1 is coming out this fall. I haven't used Horizons til now, my 14yr old is using their Pre Algebra and she really likes it. But as long as I've been following Alpha Omega products. I haven't seen them revise a Horizon product yet.

If you have an independent child , like I do, Actually I have two of them. Then curriculums like Ace, Alpha Omega, Christian Light would be better to use ( if your willing to use Christian curriculums.) If not use what you have and see what happens. If he retains what he's doing then I'd let him go for it. I mean its every homeschooling momma's dream to have a child learn to work independently. I do know K12 once they hit about 5th grade starts to become more independent and the further up they go the more independent it is. Calvert is the same way for about 5th to 8 th grade as well. The teacher manual is written more to them than the teacher.

Ugh, really? Just last night my oldest was drooling through the pages of the Apologia catalog last night mapping out her science studies. I definitely don't want her short changed with science. What does everyone suggest in replacement of the Apologia science for upper level science?? I have no idea. They claim their advanced science prepares them for the CLEP and AP. Is that true? We did like the Elementary series very much. I will say we don't have the Anatomy and physiology one though, I am thinking of getting that one this year. The Notebooks have made it more enjoyable too. Some people don't like to focus on one subject at a time. My girls seem to as well as I do.

I haven't gone through the whole program yet either. But in the first level on page 71 it states this: " When your student misspells a word outside of spelling lessons, such as when he is doing his own personal writing or completing assignments for another class, hold him responsible for spelling the word correctly if it includes concepts already covered in spelling class. If the word, or a word with a similar pattern, has been taught , ask the student to segment the word. As he segments the word aloud he should write down the phonogramfor each sound. Here is another technique: have student segment the word aloud and draw one blank line for each sound he hears in the word. Then he should go back and fill in the blanks with the letters. If the word is west, for example, he would draw four blank lines, then fill them in with the letters W,E,S,T. If a student asks how to spell a word that he has not yet learned, tell him the spelling. Do not encourage "invented spelling" because it only reinforces incorrect spelling that will later have to be relearned. " With all that said I would take those words that he's misspelling and write them down on paper and go over them again. Have him practice writing more sentences with those words too. Another thing that has worked really well was having my daughters practice the words making word pyramids on paper. Say for example the word is :Bump they start with the B at the top then BU then BUM then BUMP Sometimes my daughters will draw pictures and put the word inside it. For example last week my 8yr old drew wagons and she put her words for ow and ou in them on a piece of paper. Sometimes children just need that little extra umph to help solidify those words so they remember how to spell them. Don't be afraid to try some different things too to help out. But seeing them transfer that knowledge I haven't seen in my daughters until they are a little bit older.

:iagree: If its the math facts he hates I wouldn't switch math programs. I would probably try out some online math fact games and continue on, but without maybe doing flashcard drills etc. You really don't need to supplement CLE math at all. That would be just to much if you do. I know there are some here that do but to me its overkill with math , or they just have a child that Loves math and still wants more. I know I've gone through similar issues with my oldest. But she truly did not like CLE math at all. She's my I need color to learn kid. I switched her to Horizon's Pre Algebra and she's happy now but she's still getting that same review. Now had she liked CLE math but just didn't like a certain part of it I would have told her to bad. LOL Math facts are important to learn whether your son realizes it or not. That was my downfall with my oldest daughter. She knows how to do the math , but she's slow in figuring them out or is always off by one number. So don't waiver on the math facts. Just find something different to do with them and keep on with the program you have. Math isn't always fun all of the time, and curriculum hoping in math isn't a good thing either ( this I have learned).

I'll have to admit. I remember when AAS came out and I looked at it, and looked at it, and looked at it, but never bought it due to the price. Recently I won the Deluxe package and 1st level and I can say without a doubt I wished I had caved in and bought it a long time ago. I am extremely happy with the program and plan to use it with my other daughters in their various stages. My oldest , 14, is a terrible speller. So she is going to need it. My 8yr old when she comes home from school, loves it and needs it , though she spells she doesn't know why she does what she does, and my 12 yr old joins in even though she's a really good speller. I've had it for about a month and we're finishing up lesson 12 with my 5 yr old. I see us getting to lesson 14 rather quickly this week. My 5yr old was asking to do it today and we never got to it because it was a busy day for me. But I do plan on letting her finish up her lesson tomorrow. I'm thinking I'm going to need to get Level 2 for her really soon here. I'm thinking for this coming year we'll be going through at least level 2 and level 3 as she's picking it up really quickly. And like everyone has said. Its non consumable. You can use it for all your other children that come along , or resell it at a good price because it seems to hold its resale value. What you'll need is: At least the basic kit, the teacher manual and student packet. And I do like their box. I know that some people buy their own index boxes , but the cards slide and slip all over the place. The cards are held great in their AAS Review box. Granted the price is a bit steep for a spelling program. Its totally worth it in my opinion and we'll be sticking with it through the whole series.

It just depends on the family using it. I have used bits and pieces from Abeka and have liked them I do like their Grammar though it didn't work well for my daughters. It was them and not the book. Their reading is excellent. I have used their K and some of their other reading books and my girls have enjoyed them. Even I went to an Abeka school at one time ( I went to many because we moved a lot growing up) and remember the same stories and I loved the Abeka readers growing up as a kid. I tried the math with my 2nd daughter and she was doing fine with it , but then she went to private school this year so we stopped using it. She'll be coming home and I may consider using it with her again. I live in an area where there are a LOT of Abeka homeschoolers. I know a mom who uses it with all of her kids plus using their DVD courses too. Abeka isn't a bad curriculum. Some people may prefer to put their own stuff together, may find it dry, or whatever. But that doesn't mean you may find it to be a dry curriculum. You have to try it yourself to find out whether it will work for you and your family. If you like what you see then give it a try.

Yeah, I wouldn't skip level 1 either. You may go through it quickly and you may find you might skip a few levels but it does quickly get into spelling rules, even ones that I didn't know ( like when you use ck and k), or when to double letters like L , F and S, when to use S and ES , Compound Words , and teaching them about Open and Closed Syllables. They also need to learn the multiple phonogram sounds. For instance the letter C has two sounds , K and S, Y has (Y, short I, long I, long E), Ch has the (ch sound, K sound and the SH sound) and other letters and diagraphs too. So if they know all the sounds each letter of the alphabet makes, and the rules I mentioned you may just be okay to go ahead and start with level 2. The words may look easy to spell, but they also have to learn the rules, and like Merry at Home mentioned you still need to get the Level 1 materials too,. I think the only negative I've found with the program is the price.

I'm not sure. We tried the LA many years ago when we first started homeschooling. It just never made any sense to me. I really tried to like it but found I just couldn't. I hope maybe these new changes are better. I just don't know if I'd go back to it. I think you can find a better LA program for less that actually makes sense. I must of bought it in the doesn't make sense, very disjointed, and confusing period.

Yeah, see I made my purchase on Friday, got the free shipping, but then on Saturday got the email about the 20% shipping. I wished I would have waited. Sigh.

You can skip the 01 book of each level but you do NOT want to skip the last book of each level. The 01 books are review of the previous year level. So from 02-10 is all of that year's math. Hope that makes sense.

I don't know much about LFC , I did compare the two and though LFC seems fun it just wasn't as interesting on video as the Prima Latina was. PL is great if you are Catholic and want to teach your child(ren) the prayers in Latin or attend a Latin Rite church. I also like the sound of Ecclesiastical Latin versus Classical. LIke someone else mentioned they are both soild programs. It just depends on what you are looking for. I found the LC series much better in comparision when it came to the DVD. Content wise the LFC books are a little more visually appealing but they are both incremental programs. I would go to their websites and check out the the videos ( I strongly encourage using them if you have no Latin background) and see which one you prefer.

If you get the tiles you could always store them on the cookie sheet so that they are all there and ready for you to use when you use them on the table. We don't have a magnetic white board we use a nice big drip pan.

Saxon is tough for a visual learner. My oldest is this way and the private school she went to last year used Saxon. She hated every moment of it and made me promise I would never let her use it again. I will admit she just couldn't wrap her head around Saxon because it was so dull and black and white. I even tried Christian Light math with her this year and she just did not like it. I have her using Horizon's PreAlgebra, and yes its spiral like the rest, but for some reason math makes sense when there is color now. Go figure??

You can order from Seton and do the testing yourself, OR other companies like Bob Jones, etc and find a qualified person to administer the testing. Its good if your the kind of person who wants to see what kind of progress your child(ren) are making. When is it not required? If your state doesn't require it. Each state is different. Some require you to test in certain grades and hand it into the school district , sometimes with a portfolio. Some states don't require you to do any testing at all. So be familiar with your state homeschool laws. I don't see anything wrong with testing, as long as its not the center of your universe. Meaning that you think its the end all to be all, especially in the younger grades. Some children do not test well and it doesn't always measure what your child really knows. I have two children who do not test well at all. But they are smart as a whip and can tell you anything you'd like to know. My husband is this way. I call him a walking encyclopedia, but you give him a test and he becomes a drooling vegetable. LOL It is helpful when they are in the middle to high school years to help them prepare for college testing so they know what to expect.

I've used Bob Jones in the past for certain subjects. I haven't seen Anti-Catholic stances but then I used the elementary subjects. You might find some in the high school science and history, especially when they talk about the Reformation but even then I haven't really heard anything about it, but then many Catholics don't use BJU. The company I have heard is anti Catholic though. Bob Jones was used for us before we became Catholic. But even when I wasn't I didn't come across anything anti Catholic in it. But then I only used their math , and did have a grade 4 curriculum, math, english, science, history etc and didn't come across anything anti Catholic then. If anything they focus on their faith more.

What level is she in? Did you have her take the diagnostic test before placing her in the math? It sounds like she wasn't put in the right level to begin with. With that said though it might be possible she doesn't like it. My oldest, no matter how much I love CLE math has hated every moment of it. I'm trialing her with Horizons Pre Algebra. Not hearing any complaints from her. But then she's my bells and whistle kid. She needs pictures and color to learn evidently. To me I would think math is math but to her its not that way. I was able to get my hands on the first 24 pages of the Horizons math from the company when I asked a question about it on their Facebook page. My daughter seems to like it more and it is spiral ( what she needs) like CLE. She's only completed the first lesson today so I'll have to see how she does with it and if she still likes it by the time she finishes it. But it could be a color issue. Some kids just HAVE to have it. I would suggest if she needs the spiral review that CLE provides then I would take a look at Horizons. Its not exactly like CLE but its close enough. But first you need to evaluate what is going on here. If she's getting 100% on every quiz and test I can say she is NOT at the level she needs to be in. If you did do the diagnostic test then what some people do is buy the teacher manuals and have their child take the alternate tests until they start getting below an 80% and then start from there.

:iagree: You can use AAS without the Tiles. They are optional. Some kids don't like them so it leaves room to do something else. You can use pencil and paper and still get the same effect. Some days my 5yr old doesn't want to use the tiles so I just let her write on our dry erase board or paper.

No, this does not exist. LOL At least not for the younger grades. There is Saxon Grammar but I think it starts 5th grade and up, and honestly I've seen samples and its not as good.

I could go on and on too. If he likes Reading Eggs he might like Time 4 Learning. My youngest likes Reading Eggs to and right now we are trialing Time 4 Learning for a month and she loves it too. We also like All About Spelling level 1. It teaches reading and spelling at the same time and is hands on.

Not sure, don't see why having another 1/2 of reading. Why not just do the half year and then let them read good books. The CLE Light Units are very challenging and honestly will keep them thinking. You could also do one grade level and then when you finish start into the others,or spread it out the whole year instead. But really I find the half year reading plus maybe some books from the Sonlight list to make a great reading program.