My oldest two, ds 10th and ds 9th, have used R & S English from book 5 through 10 and book 4 through 9. They have also done Wordsmith. They both have a strong foundation and write well. My dd, doing book 3, will do well with this approach. My two dds, who will be in 8th and 7 th next year, are a different story. Dd #1 has some dyslexic issues. She read late but reads and comprehends well now. Dd #2 just doesn't like R&S so far. She says she doesn't get it. I have done some of R&S 4 with them, a fun beginning grammar program, and now Winston Grammar. They are doing better with parts of speech now, but writing is hodge pudge too. I am using WWE 3 , almost done, with dd #2, and that has helped her. Dd #1 is doing some copy work, some LLATL, etc. For next year, I would really like to ramp it up for them in everything English. To save time, I would like to teach them together. They both need input from me. I would love to use R &S 5, but I wanted to ask you ladies for your good ideas. What would you recommend? Thanks so much! Lillian

Thank you, Marie, Did you do both of these at the same time? Lillian

Hi all, I am looking for another grammar program for my dyslexic dd, 13. We are going slowly through R&S 4, but she's guessing a lot and not retaining much. She is a good reader. I've thought about Winston Grammar or Easy Grammar, but I'm open to other ideas. She does better with a visual approach and not a lot of instruction. What are your thoughts? Thanks, Lillian

When is WWS 2 supposed to be available as a book to buy? As in, the student book and the instructor's book are both ready? Thank you!

My dd, just turned 13, has been coming along fine with Teaching Textbooks for 5th and 6th grade, with me going over the lesson with her and helping her with a few problems she needed help with. Our time together took about ten minutes. Now in the 7th grade book, things have been going well until we got to fractions. She hit a huge wall! I don't like how the book teaches fractions and she doesn't understand it. The next three chapters are fractions. Now I am pretty much doing most of her lesson for her, and I think we need to either make a change or use other materials for awhile. Her younger sister is doing the Math U See fractions book successfully, and it wouldn't be good for them to be together in math. I thought about Saxon 7/6. I just have no idea. I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks so much! Lillian

My dds 12 is dyslexic, going into 7th grade. She reads well now. She is doing well with All About Spelling. We have done some introductory grammar but not anything thorough yet. I would like to do more with her this year. I'm looking at Rod &Staff 4th or 5th, Easy Grammar, Growing with Grammar, or ? R&S is my favorite, but I want to do what works best for my dd. What are your thoughts? Thanks, Lillian

Thank you for your replies. They are very helpful. Blessings, Lillian

Hi Ladies, Thank you for your Algebra 2 answers. Now I am looking at high school writing. My son is now in 9th grade. He has done R&S English 5-9, Wordsmith, finishing up Wordsmith Craftsman, and has done Sonlight, with some of the writing assignments. He is a good natural writer, but I am finding that he is not making the transition to upper-level writing that I thought he'd have no trouble with. I am thinking about going to IEW next year to learn more about writing essays, taking notes, doing research, and writing term papers, etc. Do you have suggestions for which IEW courses to do, and in which order? Or is there a better way we could go with writing, with three years left of high school? Thanks so much! Lillian

Thank you for the answers and other thread link, Sue. I think we will go ahead and do Forster's Algebra 2 and then his PreCalculus book. He is very able in math and talking about engineering. Now on to figure out learning to write better essays and other longer papers. Whew! High school! Lillian

My ds is using Jacobs' Geometry this year, having finished Forster's Algebra 1 last year. Next year for 10th grade, he's ready for Algebra 2. I think I read on here about a new Forster's PreCalculus book. What is the recommendation? Do the Forster's Algebra 2/Trig book over two years, then ready for Calculus? Or do the first half or so of that book, then the new PreCalculus book before Calculus? I'm confused, and trying to plan his next school year. Thanks, Lillian

Thanks for your thoughts! Lillian

I know in the first edition of WTM, Abeka Grammar was their top pick and in the 2nd edition it was an acceptable alternative. We have used R&S and liked it, but in the upper levels it has even more Mennonite references. We are Christian and I am happy with a Christian program. Also R&S hasn't worked as well for my dds as it has for my dss. The explanations don't make as much sense to them. I thought maybe a worktext with everything on the same page and a more condensed explanation to study might work better for them next year. They will be in 3rd, 6th, and 7th grade. Have you used Abeka for grammar over the years and been pleased with the results? Have you used the writing in the upper levels as well? Thanks so much, Lillian

I am currently using AAS 2 with this dd. She is not yet a good speller, but AAS 2 is too easy for her. It would help me a lot if spelling was a more independent subject for her. If she does Spelling Workout next year for 7th grade, or this spring, what level should we begin with? Thanks, Lillian

How does The Creative Writer work together with Writing With Skill? I have ds starting WWS, and I really am impressed with it. I also appreciate the content of The Creative Writer and believe it would be valuable to use. However, we only have so much time to spend on writing. How would you fit in both? Thanks for your ideas! Lillian

Thanks everyone! Merry, I'm so glad you replied. I would do just what you are doing except I've got five students and two busy preschoolers now. I'm torn between doing something I can do with all five at the same time and having each child doing his or her own core independently except for my dd who would be in Core 2 (we have four going now). I know what you mean about not wanting to give up Sonlight. Over the years I've looked at many other programs out there and haven't found one I like as well. So, I'd love to see your lists, if you don't mind sharing them. Blessings, Lillian

If you have used Mystery of History for your dc's history, how have you done reading/ literature and writing? I have always used Sonlight with WTM, but I'd like to combine and streamline where I can with 7 dc, 5 in school. I'm interested in the programs that include MOH and especially if you've just come up with a list. We currently use WWE and WWS for four of our dc. Thanks, Lillian

My dd, 6th grade, has had a slow start due to dyslexia. She now reads well and writes beautifully, except for those troublesome details. We are going through the last few lessons of OPGTR, just to help with pronouncing harder words. Her vocabulary and comprehension are fine. I have had a hard time with Spelling since we worked hard on reading so long. Now she is doing AAS 2, having done 1 last year. It is now too easy, and I have a hard time getting to it. I am thinking about having her do Spelling Workout like her siblings and continue to practice spelling in context through WWE (dictation and copywork) and her other subjects. She hasn't done any of SW before, so I am not sure which level to order. I like the language skills taught and practiced in it. For grammar, she is successfully doing R&S 4. Thanks for your thoughts, Lillian

What do you think is the best Math sequence for a student who currently has his own business and may be interested in studying either business or something math or science-oriented? He is now in 8th and has done MUS through elementary, then Saxon 8/7 last year. We are wavering between those two for high school. I am not interested in looking at a bunch of other options (I've done that too much!), just deciding whether to continue with MUS Algebra, which he's started, or go back with Saxon. He is a just the facts kind of boy. He did well with MUS and then Saxon helped him also. He is good in math, but lacks some maturity that will help him be careful with longer, harder upper level math problems. We are working on that. Thanks, Lillian

So did you just count the Chapter Review as a test or pick out other problems? My ds just did the Chapter Review for Chapter 1 yesterday and is doing well. I guess I could count that as a test and go on to Chapter 2. What do you think? Thank you, Lillian

Hello, my 9th grade ds is using Jacob's Geometry. At the end of Chapter 1, he has a Chapter Review, then an Algebra Review, then on to chapter 2. I would like for him to take a Chapter 1 test, but I don't see one. Is there a test somewhere that I missed, or am I supposed to create one from problems he hasn't done yet, or? Thanks for your help, Lillian

This thread is very helpful. My oldest is starting 9th grade, and I am taking notes. Thanks for starting it and for all the information. Blessings, Lillian

We are entering the world of homeschooling for high school. Ds will be in 9th grade. I am looking for ideas of how to weigh or assign grades for his courses. He will be doing Sonlight Core 200 with Bible, History, and Literature, R&S English 9, Wordly Wise 9, and finishing Wordsmith Craftsman. So that's Bible, History, English, along with Geometry (Jacob's), Apologia Biology, Second Form Latin, and Intermediate Logic. Any suggestions on giving grades for any of these courses or websites to check would be greatly appreciated. I am busy getting ready, and this information will be a big help. Thanks! Lillian

Thank you Sue, for both your replies. My oldest ds used MUS through Pre Algebra, then Foerster's Algebra. I'm planning on Jacobs Geometry with him next. Second ds had a hard time with MUS P-A and wasn't ready for it, so he's done Saxon 8/7 to have some growing time. I'm looking at Jacobs Algebra for him or going back to MUS. I'm thinking that Foerster's would be too much, but I'm not sure. Thanks, Lillian

Hello, Have anybody's dc done Math U See all the way through high school and done well on the SAT, in college, etc.? They go through Calculus now. Thank you, Lillian

Hi Sue, I think I remember you like a combination of MUS and Singapore Challenging Word Problems for elementary. Do you do this through Pre-Algebra? What do you go to after that for Algebra on up? Thanks, Lillian