I've read a few reviews of LOE foundations and still on the fence. If you've recently been using this foundation and haven't posted a review or comment, I would love to hear your feedback. I would especially like to learn the pros/con versus AAR (we have pre-k and considering level 1) and HWT handwriting. We already own AAS 1-5 (and recently got HWT) so I'm hesitant to make a switch to LOE. Thanks!

The FLL cd comes in handy for FLL1-2, with chants for helping verbs and prepositions. It mostly contains the stories and poems of FLL1-2 -- good for the FLL memory work. However, it doesn't contain definitions of parts of speech. I'm not familiar with the other cd you mentioned, but I would assume it has more definitions and more applicable across curriculums.

Yes. Logic of english! Got my abbreviations confused! Edited my post! Thanks!

I noticed Logic of English has a spelling app available now. Has anyone used it and could possibly compare to the AAS phonograms. Would it be helpful or confusing? We are also ready to possibly consider HOE for a variety...but are we too late? We are halfway through level 5 of AAS.

I thought these looked good as a light overview of seasonal activities, open and go. Has anyone used and liked these? Any alternatives? Can you order for one child? Which level for a kinder and 4th grader? Can you order the large poster sizes versions? Thanks!

Bump!

Any ideas what level to start at?

" The truth, though, is that it was probably much more than grocery shopping. In our community, you aren't a part of things if you aren't available during the day. It's easy to discount that, but it's hard to not have other moms for friendship and support. I did have to take that into consideration when I chose to homeschool.":iagree:

We are using a Scholastic PDF book I got during the dollar days that is surprisingly good -- Cursive Writing made easy and fun by Kama Einhorn. We have substituted some more traditional loopy letters (capital E and C so far) at my daughter's request. It has some fun activities and poems my DD enjoys. It lacks detailed instruction on pencil hold, something I keep meaning to look up as my DD is a lefty.

My DD is in 3rd. We're wrapping up MCT island and I'd like to add a grammar workbook to go alongside MCT town. I'd like something independent, clear and concise. Perhaps I should skip to 4th grade level? Would I be missing anything? The only other grammar exposure besides MCT has been FLL1 and 2. I may consider also doing sections of FLL3 just b/c my DD did well with it (although I found it too auditory and lacking in visual instruction). Thanks!!!

We are almost finished with MCT island level, and I really need to make some purchasing decisions ASAP! My DD liked the program and is doing well with the four level analysis. But I see so many gaps with this program, and wish it was a little more structured. The stories are cute, but as tangents, I feel they can impede retention. We have also finished FLL1-2, and WWE 1-2. My DD is 8 (3rd grade). I'm looking for something challenging (like BA and SM) but not over-kill or unstructured. My DH and I are from math/science backgrounds, so grammar, writing and vocab are major weaknesses for us. DD needs more grammar practice, more writing practice to stay at level of public school/core knowledge, mechanics, vocab, and lit analysis/literary devices (my DD really liked some of the BW Arrows we recently did, but I need more structure and content) Some options.... Continue To MCT Town FLL3 (found it dry, don't want to do diagramming, but liked the mechanics practice, writing a letter, abbreviations, art narrations....little things like that;) WWE3 (DD loves this) Teaching the classics, IEW, or Wordsmith Apprentice? Killgallon and Hake are to advanced yet right? I don't like the looks of a strict workbook style like WWW and GWG and Wordly Wise. I have Bravewriter and considering purchasing Deconstructing Penguins, but I know it will take me some time to read it....I need something more immediate and open and go. Like the Singapore Math HIG!!!!!

I also liked MoH and BL better than GI and SI! Although the latter are the core elements of the program. Honestly, I have mixed feelings about MCT b/c of the lack of lessons, review, open and go drill. I might have been more likely to drop had it not been for the poetry or vocab!

:bigear::bigear::bigear: On a side note, what has made the last exercise in AAS more exciting for my DD is to see if she can make a sentence with all or most of the five spelling words. My DD and i then compare our sentences...some end up being rather silly.

This was a chapter where DD stumbled too. Definitely a teachers guide would have come in handy, or a better explanation in the Guide. It was easy to miss the concept b/c the explanation was written "backwards" for comical expression...but just made it too complex! I ended up using base then baseten 100 squares, 10 rods and units to demonstrate the concept (I.e. 15 x 15 = 10 x 20 +25 ) or (14x16=15x15-1).

Biologos has a curriculum for theistic evolutionists called Test of Faith: http://biologos.org/blog/science-christianity-and-homeschooling But I agree that there really shouldn't be a need for a separate theistic evolution curriculum. A science curriculum should just include evolution, and then a philosophy or religious study can further investigate the spiritual and biblical questions about creation. I think this particular curriculum, at brief glance, deals with the philosophical questions of science v. Faith. While I think it is a good step forward, I had some reservations about some of the language. I am agnostic-leaning most days, and at best, a Christian universalist with lots of doubts...and while I think evolution needs to be addressed and taught and appreciated, I do think it makes for a complicated faith at times. People like Ken Ham just make Christianity harder for people like myself who question at baseline.

" She does not like it! She thinks the story is silly and said she would prefer to just learn the information in a more straight forward way." :iagree: for myself! My Dd enjoyed the story, but I personally would have preferred a more concise story! That said, we'll likely continue MCT even though it seems exhausting to find the right program to complement/ fill in gaps.

:confused: and wondering if the app is sufficient?

The sentence family is wonderful--but I don't think it is the best choice for a primary grammar program. It tells story of the parts of speech personified as a family, and then asks your child to draw their pictures. A great fun supplement! It includes sentences to label, but no answer key, and no reinforcing. In contrast, from what I have seen from samples of Shurley and Winston, they are complete grammar programs. We did sentence family over the summer, and my 8 yr daughter loved it. But we also have done other grammar programs.

I purchased the AAS box at my local homeschooling store (so no shipping) after looking at several places for boxes...it is a tough size to find, and I didn't think to look for plastic boxes like PP. The box is "pretty", and currently holds all of my phonogram, sound, and key cards for level 1-4; the word cards for level 4, and all the cards for AAR pre-level. I cut the manila colored cardstock dividers that come with the AAS to fit...it looks fine, IMO. Now $5 for dividers does seem expensive. I haven't had any issues and dont see why they need to be laminated. Each level comes with a set of dividers anyways, so in the unlikely event a divider card was ruined, you'll have a new set with each subsequent level. That said, for the price of the program, the box and the laminated $5 dividers should be free!

Yes, there definitely is more memorization in AAS4. It is important to "mix" up the cards from different lessons during review, or complete writing the 10 sentences at the end (which pull words from previous lessons). I will say, for the cost, there is much more meat in previous Levels, particularly AAS2/3. But again, we are only halfway through AAS4.

The lessons in Aas2 and especially aas3 tend to be tedious and long. Lots of info packed into each lesson. I can understand why people would switch as these points. We were contemplating it too. We are halfway through AAS4 now....and these lessons are much better. The lessons aren't as dense...not as many rules to memorize, not as much teaching, and more pattern recognition. Tile work is minimal, and we've turned writing station into a challenge in which DD must write the least number of sentences with all the 5-6 writing station words...sometimes we compete against each other to see who can form just one sentence with the words. (AAS asks you to form a sentence for each writing station word).

:iagree: Maps, charts, graphs Vp primers Singapore workbooks and text (review sections) has many sections that are independant Singapore CWP Critical thinking mindbenders Discovery education streaming

:iagree:

Usborne Science and History Encyclopedias. Usborne First Encyclopedias. Usborne sticker books are well made.

Inspired by the Top Ten SOTW thread, I'm curious what are your recommendations for science books. We are using BFSU, rather reluctantly, b/c I couldn't find anything else I liked and I already had BFSU. We have the Usborne Science encyclopedia (which is kind of overwhelming), and several of the Usborne "First" Encyclopedias which are more appropriate.