I started out all of my kids with Spelling Workout. I had one son (now 11) who was not successful at all with the program so years later I changed to sequential Spelling. I asked him at the end of last year if he learned anything from it. He said, "yeah, I learned I can't spell." So, back to the drawing board. We have taken a break from "spelling" curriculums for a bit. He reads very well, but still has trouble spelling even the word "when." Even though he writes it often, he still spells it "wene." His vocabulary is huge and uses words even my 13 year old son won't add into his work. I thought I would go back to the basics and bought "Phonics Tutor" but havn't had a chance to use it with him yet. I read some information about visual spatial learners and it seems that spelling problems go along with that. Check it out. Even though he is 11, I still write some of what he needs (history and science journalling etc....) Or I just encourage him to write it out and ask me to spell when he gets stuck, or sound it out. He doesn't like to write it down wrong, so it can get very frustrating for him. Typing is another helpful thing. Also, try text to speach on the computer if it isn't a spelling test, but just a paper or essay.

I just started using this curriculum. Not sure of what I will think in the end, but I have mixed feelings so far. Way too much information to teach a basic lesson. You can totally tell this is written for schools. I chose this because it looked colorful and my daughter struggles with math and I thought it might help her want to do math. Plus it is a Singapore approach, which I wanted to try. It was easier to decipher which book to buy verses other Singapore curriculum. We have used Saxon up to this point. I bought 4a and we are on week 2. She has embraced it a little more because it is a change from what she was doing before. The first chapter was review, but this week we are covering addition, subraction, multiplication, and division. The division is new to her. Then checking our answers with estimation. Another new concept She likes that there are no "math fact" sheets like in Saxon, but what she doesn't know is that we will be doing that as an added piece. I'll have to repost later when we have used more of the book. I don't like the price. A whole year is twice as much if not more than other programs. And from what I understand it only goes up to fifth grade. We'll see.

We listened to the Cat of B... read on CD and the kids loved it. I bought it for Christmas last year. Check your local library, I just checked the VP history list and found about 6 books available to check out.

How wonderful to read other stories about homeschool charters. We joined a few months ago and I agree with the mom that said your experience depends on your ES. I'm in Oregon and ours is called ACA. I prayed and prayed about joining and God answered my prayers. I have three kids that are school aged and they absolutely love it when our ES comes over. I was completely surprised by that. The kids actually love to show her what they are working on during the week. She comes to my house because it is easier and the kids love it because they can show her what they are working on. She is a wonderful Christian mom of four and she has homeschooled, used public school and used an unconventional program for one of her kids. She is the perfect fit for our family. I can't use alloted money for faithbased curriculum, but she doesn't care if we use it. She just writes "teacher generated" material when it is necesary. I am pretty sure that we will do this again next year. My sister, on the other hand, has an ES who is too busy to be of much help. My sister has a son with special needs and is not getting the help that she could really use. She is advocating on his behalf without much support from the ES. I love the fact that I can use the money for the more expensive curriculum that I wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. When I prayed I asked God how I was supposed to provide my kids with the things He wanted them to have/learn (curriculum,sports, music, etc...) to be able to turn them into the people He wanted them to be. The answer came when I got a call from the charter school. I wasn't sure if we should jump in, but took a leap of faith and God blessed it.

Thank you for your responses. No, I had no idea there was a new LL4 coming out soon. I am so excited. I think I will definatley do that. My older son who is in the Rod and Staff 5 just hates all the writing. I wonder if this is workbook style like the third level. My third grader will do much better with the workbook style. I'm going to check it out right now!

My third grader is using the third level of Language Lessons and I want to know what others have done for fourth grade language arts. I have been using Rod and Staff for my older son, but not sure if I should have my young soon to be fourth grader do the third grade R&S book or the 4 grade one. I am not sure he could handle all the writing in either book. Any other suggestions would be helpful. Thanks, Heather in Oregon