We are a few lessons from finishing Explorers to 1815. If you did a deep dive into American History already, you will repeat a lot of material. There are 160 lessons (including a test every 5th lesson), and Raleigh settling Roanoke starts in lesson 26. We are on lesson 154, which is the War of 1812. So, a huge portion of the year is spent on American History. If I'd already done American History I, I would not repeat it with this course. If you got to Missouri Compromise in your American History I, just move on to 1815-Present Veritas course.

Wow, I was all set to say some stuff, but TX Pilgrim pretty much covered it! I'm not going to say I haven't had some doubts about the process (we've done 3 levels of ELTL) as I've observed our PS friends' kids writing far more intensively than does my child. But this year, as we've started working in CAP Fable (as a break from 3 straight years of ELTL), I've seen the development and knowledge my DD has gained from using ELTL. I'm pleased with the choice I made to use the curriculum. And, as I said in another thread, we haven't even read all of the assigned books. Where my daughter wasn't loving a piece of literature, we simply moved on and tried something different, while keeping with the written and narrative portions of ELTL. It didn't seem to make any difference in her grasp of the material. This might be worth considering for those who prefer more modern literature choices, yet like the general idea and philosophy behind ELTL.

We have done different things; we've schooled in the summer, and we've taken 4 months off due to my father's cancer and subsequent death last year. I noticed math skills slide pretty significantly, and we got back to school late last year, so DD hasn't finished her 3rd grade math books yet. We're planning "fun" science (Mystery Science), 2 pages of BA, and Prodigy/Dreambox at least 3-4 days per week to keep her skills up (and finish 3rd grade up). My DS will read me something each day, do his Prodigy/Dreambox, and work on his handwriting (he's behind on fine motor, and needs to keep plugging away at coloring/writing/etc).

We didn't read all the selections, mainly because my daughter kind of zoned out and wasn't engaged by all of the stories. (Loved Wizard of Oz on level 2, though!) If you want to sub out a book and just do the poetry, copywork, and exercises, it is still a robust curriculum. We've used 3 levels of ELTL and only read about 1/2 of the books.

We added Miquon, but only made it through Orange and Red. My daughter was "over" the rods by that point. I'm not sure why, as I loved them! She likes MM, and has used 3 levels now. We'll continue into MM4 next year with BA4.

We're no longer doing CC, but the year we did, I used Sola Gratia Mom's plans for my then-first grader. I found them to be useful and nice for that age. I'm not sure if she is still updating them, but it does appear that she still sells plans. http://www.solagratiamom.com/search/label/Teaching%20Plans

This year I bought: Mapping the World with Art Quark Chronicles Zoology Protozoa Cells Botany in 8 Lessons With my $5 discount for being a return buyer, all that for $20 isn't a bad deal. Last year I bought the other Ellen McHenry offerings (Elements, Brain), along with English Lessons Through Literature 3, which we used. We liked How Great Thou Art I, as well. I have never purchased a preset bundle, as I do think there is some fluff in there when I research all the components. However, I do think that if you're after stuff from Kathy Jo Devore, Ellen McHenry, or even getting your hands on a PictureSmart Bible course for less than retail is worth doing.

OP, your post kind of reads like you already made your choice! Singapore is an excellent math program; you will likely not regret using it. We've used MM for a while, and both my children do well with it. I chose it over Singapore simply because I'm a slave to efficiency, and MM is very efficient. We also started BA this year, but even that only gets done on the heels of the relevant MM chapter (in other words, not concurrently, so no text-juggling). Neither of my children have ever complained about the visual clutter that MM is so often accused of, and they're both visual learners. My kids skip every other problem, and seem to think they're getting away with something. If they have problems with the work, we just do the other half of the problems on the following day. We do use Process Skills books in the summer months. I think buying and trying a unit of MM is worthwhile if you're the sort of person who likes open-and-go, easy math instruction without a teacher's manual and you're on a budget/looking for an excellent value. The worktexts are incremental, and I don't find that they require much explanation at all. Sure, I explain stuff to my kiddos, but I'm just sort of restating what Maria has written in the text, and pointing out where there may be some misunderstanding. The lack of teacher manual hasn't hindered my children's understanding at all.

We're LOE veterans, both Foundations and Essentials. I'm a big believer in the program, and have found it works well with my children. I would encourage buying the phonogram cards for games, and we use the spelling rule and grammar cards, but YMMV on those.

Yeah, I just watched a lesson the other night, and decided to use it this summer while we're taking a break from Veritas. I'll be sure to update the thread after we've gone through a few lessons. My 8yo is VERY visual and we've been pretty lax on science this year so far. I'm looking forward to having a bit more focus using these lessons.

The ELTL workbooks have great copy work in a variety of fonts, imho.

Bumping!

We are using it again, and supplementing with BOB Books, I See Sam, and Treadwell & Free readers. I agree with those who encourage extra reading to promote fluency. Feel free to slow down and work on a lesson for a week or two if it is challenging. What I've learned with my oldest is that the program is incredibly robust, and slowing the pace is sometimes needed. Sometimes even a week or two off with just practice.

Starting to think about next year, and here's what I have so far: Math: he'll finish MM2 in a few months, so I'm leaning toward introducing topics w/MM3 and then following that with the corresponding chapter in BA3 (in retrospect this approach would have alleviated some stress with DD this year) + Process Skills, Dreambox, XtraMath, and he's recently fallen in love with Prodigy, too. :crying: Spelling/Grammar/Reading/Writing: Logic of English Foundations C & D + "I See Sam" and Treadwell & Free Readers Literature: keeping it simple; we'll discuss our read-alouds (kids choose among a list I select, and it appears they are all-Harry-Potter-all-the-time until we finish the series) Science: Nature Center classes and interest-led documentaries and Youtube clips; he may tag-along with DD's more formal science (botany), but I'm not going to force it. Misc: Scripture read-aloud & discussion + my homebrew devotions, memory work, piano, swimming

Starting to think about next year, and here's what I have so far: Math: BA4 with selections from MM for extra practice + Dreambox, XtraMath, & Process Skills (and she's trying out Prodigy and loving it, so I guess maybe that, too.) Spelling/Grammar: Logic of English Essentials - we're trying out the 2nd edition with its advanced spelling lists, even though we used Essentials first edition this year. I really like the new layout and expanded content. Writing: Finish CAP Fable and either move on to Narrative or do some Treasured Conversations Literature: keeping it simple; we'll discuss our read-alouds (kids choose among a list I select, and it appears they are all-Harry-Potter-all-the-time until we finish the series) History: VP Self-Paced 1815-Modern Science: Quark Botany? We've never done formal science, leaning hard on Nature Center classes and interest-led reading and documentaries. I have BFSU. I would like to do BFSU, but Quark Botany probably is more my speed. Latin: Hahaha another year of thinking we'll start Latin. GSWL? Misc: Scripture read-aloud & discussion + my homebrew devotions, memory work, piano, swimming

We've done ELTL1-3, and we have now moved on to CAP. No problems with ELTL, just needed a change of pace for a while (and my DD wanted some modern literature choices for our read alouds). If I were in your shoes, I might try level 4, but I find the program is pretty rigorous. My DD found the copywork length transition from 2 to 3 a bit of a shock to the system. She got used to it pretty quickly. You might go ahead with 4 if your child is pretty confident with diagramming and writing. If you have any doubts, I would start in level 3. It is plenty rigorous, even a year behind, imho.

I think it's great! Then again, I haven't used Singapore, so my opinion might be terrible. We're MM users because I knew that juggling multiple books would overwhelm me (I get as much curriculum as possible in pdf form because book juggling is a real productivity/motivation killer for me -- I have no idea why). I chose MM because it was so easy to implement, and my kids have never mentioned anything about the whole visual clutter thing that can be a frequent MM criticism. MM has a lot of things going for it, not least of which the ease with which it is implemented. I think it's a perfect summer choice.

I have my daughter doing review with Math Mammoth, and she uses Prodigy Math and Dreambox. The MM review is indeed easier than what she's encountered in BA. For example, she's reviewing area problems in MM, after finishing area problems in Beast a month or two ago. The area problems in MM are quite a bit easier than she had in BA, but the concepts (A = l x w, P=sum of side lengths) themselves aren't really different. I don't know that I need the reviews to be as hard as they could be with Beast; if she's coming away with the concept intact (she demonstrates she can find area and perimeter, in this case), I am OK. Alternately, you can just pull your own review problems from completed chapters, as I've done for some BA topics (I'm looking at you, perfect squares chapter). My 8yo isn't blessed with a photographic memory, so I can throw a problem she solved 2 months ago at her and it will seem fresh challenge to her, even if it's vaguely familiar.

As someone who has used and enjoy RS math games (albeit with questionable consistency), I think it is completely doable to just look up games online that can be played with a regular deck of cards. Most of the RS games my kids enjoy can be played with a normal deck of cards. If budget isn't a concern, the RS games + book are great.

We've used ELTL 1 and 2, and are now using 3. The writing is starting to ramp up now in 3, and yes, it is behind where our PS is at this point. If my DD went to PS, she'd be in for a big challenge. Anecdotally, I eat lunch weekly with a bunch of PS moms, and several complained just a few weeks ago about how classroom teachers at our local elementary only seem to have time for reading, writing, and math assignments, leaving little time for meaningful depth in science or social studies (this was their assessment, and I have no idea of how accurate it is from the school's perspective). The writing assignments, in my view, are extremely ambitious. Certainly well beyond what I was doing at that age. ANYWAY, I'm rambling on here; ELTL is *intentionally* gentle. Kathy Jo is upfront about this aspect of her curriculum. The program isn't an intense intro to writing, and that's because philosophically, that's just not where Kathy Jo lands. However, when you consider the complexity and depth of the literature selections, it seems to me every bit as rigorous as a more intensive early writing course. If you consider exposure to high quality, advanced literature a vital component of a rigorous writing education, ELTL is a good choice. I've added some Brave Writer to my DD's assignments, but mostly to increase the fun, creative aspects of writing and not because I find ELTL wanting. Based on SWB's recommendations, I'm pleased with my DD's progress. I dip in and out of FLL3 for some reinforcement as well, and don't find the assignments wildly divergent from ELTL3 in terms of quality and expectations. (FWIW, after we finish ELTL3, we're going to do Treasured Conversations, and from there, I'm not sure. Either we'll stick with ELTL or move on to CAP.)

It gets done! I like it a lot, because "outsourcing" (I use that term lightly) history works for our family in this season of life. My DD8 doesn't love it, but she typically will ask to do it before other subjects. It can take a lot of time; more time than I like for one subject, sometimes. The quizzes are sometimes maddeningly repetitive, but I don't think that's terrible for an 8-year-old. Her retention isn't fabulous, but that doesn't bother me too much at this stage. The expectations of Explorers to 1815 are likely just a bit above her level anyway. I let her take the tests open-notebook because of her age (I don't expect her to remember exact dates). Overall, I think this has been a worthwhile choice for our family, and I plan to use it again next year.

I sure hope so. My DS5 is reading and spelling fine, but seriously can barely trace letters and has no stamina whatsoever. :lol:

I would echo the suggestion to try implementing the How To Teach Your Children Shakespeare. It's an excellent book, and encourages memorizing 25 carefully selected passages from his work. My daughter (8) loves her passages, and we often talk about them and what they mean. Live performances are the best, of course. As for fluff, my reading was not policed at all as a kid. I read voraciously, and some serious trash (VC Andrews, anyone?). I grew up to be someone who, this week, read from both Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling's mystery pen name, and it is dark fluff) and Cicero. I think it is perfectly fine to assign classics (I do), but not reasonable to assume everyone will enjoy them, or want to read them exclusively. My daughter reads joke books for fun, and whatever, I don't really care, because she's also reading high quality children's literature.

I think adding writing to ELTL 3 would be overkill, personally, unless you were adding Brave Writer style projects or freewrites.

I can't comment on Sassafras, as I haven't used it. I can comment on my impressions of Quark, though. I got Quark Botany included in a Build Your Bundle set this year, and I looked it over for my 3rd grader. We're still transitioning into doing science full-time, so I haven't yet actually tested it with her (right now we're just notebooking with library books and Bill Nye on whatever looks interesting). Botany is well-written and engaging -- at least the first 50 pages or so that I read -- and I think it would be a good fit for the intermediate-late elementary grades. My 3rd grader is on the young side, and this would work better for her as a read-aloud, not an independent read. She is an average reader (never tested, but probably somewhere at grade level or just above). More precocious 3rd graders would likely do fine, I would think.