My DS 11 really liked Holes as well. Here are some others that he enjoyed: - Al Capone does my Shirts (and the sequels) - The Unwanteds - Greek Gods (Riordan) - Wings of Fire series

Hi, I'm a year or so behind you but wondering where to go after CLE 6. I have Lial's BCM but I think i am going to continue with CLE for 7 and 8 and then move into Lial's Algebra. I really like CLE and my kids thrive with it (well, they don't cry anymore which is my definition of thriving :lol: )

I liked AAS but I too found it too long (took too much of my time). I also find the word "chunking" sort of strategy in A&P's seems to work better for my kids than the rules. I actually love the rules and want them to know them too, but it wasn't translating to better spelling and A&P's is. I just do A&P's with my oldest two (9&11) and I have them do one page a day together at the table with me dictating. It takes only a few minutes and they actually like it. It is how we start each day.

Hi, I was in the same boat as you. I have three boys and all of them struggle with spelling. My oldest has an official diagnosis of a Specified Learning Disability in Written Expression (specifically spelling) and in Reading (dyslexia). We used AAS for three years before we switched to A&P's. I much prefer A&P's. We started right at the beginning in book A and we do half of a lesson a day and it takes us 5-10 minutes a day. We could probably do a whole lesson but with my ds's struggles I don't want to move too quickly. He is feeling quite confident in this program and so I don't want to mess that up. I also switched my youngest ds who is a struggling reader over to Dancing Bears (from AAR) and it has been much better aswell. I just found AAR moved way too quickly for him. I still love some of AAR's games but I use them along side DB's and it works great. Apples and Pear's isn't that expensive so I would give it a try. Good Luck.

My ds in gr. 5 would spell that sentence in a very similar way. I had my ds tested at a NP a year ago and he tested in the 1st pecentile for spelling - yikes! He is very 2E with scores off the charts in other areas. I have used AAS for years with him but he is still struggling. He is making progress but it is slow. I have recently bought Apples and Pears and plan to start it next week with him as well. Good Luck!

I'm in Canada and my dyslexic son was given access to CNIB audio books. I don't think they have text books, but they have a lot of excellent fiction and non-fiction books that my son enjoys. It is a bit of a process to get set up, but it has really helped him a lot. Contact your local CNIB and ask about it. I was surprosed when I realized they will assist anyone with a print disability, not just those with vision loss.

I am watching this thread too. My oldest is in 5th right now doing CLE 5. We have worked through both MM and CLE from the beginning. We will follow CLE into 6th and love the spiral for my ds. I am really stuck where to go after that. We have Lials BCM and beginning and intermediate Algebra but I haven't thought about Geometry at all. Watching with interest!

I love the gift card idea and had not thought of that at all! Thanks.

Thanks. I appreciate your feedback and I should probably know better becaue i have cirriculum sitting on my shelf gather dust that I have never used. It is so hard to wait because I am worried about the future and just want to have everything in place. I am also worried the money will just get used for other things!

It has been a stressful year for us as I had to go from working part time to full time plus homeschooling (homeschool in the morning, work afternoon and evenings). We are all exhausted from the schedule and have decided that I will quit work and just focus on homeschooling. Money will be extremely tight for us and so I would like to buy most of what I need now. I know things may change but could you help me think about what I should buy. I have all the stuff I need for k-5. I just need to get what I need for 6-8. What math should we get after CLE 6? What language arts? My oldest is using SWI-a - would the continuation course be enough after that until high School? I think I am ok for science and geography but would love some recs for history, and anything else I am missing. Any extras that would be nice to have in advance? Thanks

I am in the same boat so will be interested in what others have to say. I think I will try Hake (Saxon) but may also look at Analytical Grammar.

This has been a year of transition for us with me heading back to work most afternoons. It has taken a lot of patience for all of us. So, we simplified and here is our list: Hits: -SWI - Math Mammoth and Math Reflex -Daily Science - Liberty Kids :) Misses: -AAS was good but too hard to implement under tight time frames -WWE -SYRWTL French

My son finds the crowded pages of MM to be overwhelming. He also forgets the material from one section to another and I thought the spiral approach might be a good fit. I like MM a lot but I just don't know if it is a good fit for him. I also like that CLE has more levels (covering pre A).

Hi, my oldest struggles with math and has been using MM for the last two years. He just finished MM4 and I am thinking of switching to CLE. Any advice? Should we try CLE 5 or back up. How do they line up? Thanks for any help you can provide.

Thanks so much. I agree, I really didn't realize how much the apraxia affected more than just the way he sounds. It is just so hard for him to say what he wants to say. We have a great SLP too that we will be going back to soon. Our ds has been away from her for a year now while he was in the Autism therapy so I look forward to reconnecting with her and getting more feedback. I looked up the Ronit Bird books and have ordered one. I am also going to do the Barton screening this weekend with him. I'll keep you posted :)

I have been following this and just wanted to say I understand. This stuff is so hard to work through. I wish you and your family all the best as you work through processing all of this.

Thanks so much. It has taken me a while to wrap my head around the fact that he is his own little person on his own timetable. I use to think/hope that once his speech was better he would be on a typical timetable but I realize now we just need to go at whatever pace works for him.

Thanks for your post. No, I haven't done the Barton pre screening but I will. I worry that he will really struggle with reading. He still struggles with many aspects of language and speech. For example, he often mixes up related words (tells me he is done "watching" his cd instead of "listening", or tells me to "rewind" a movie when he means "fast forward". He refers to every pronoun in the masculine form (refers to both men and women as he, him, etc. ). He still struggles with a lot of speech sounds (can't say all the late sounds like l, r, and all blends). He knows most of his letter sounds but mixes up w and r because he says r as w. He often has to restart a sentence many times while he works out the mechanics for how to say what he wants to say. He has no interest in learning to read which concerns me too. He barely tolerates audio books but I have him routinely listening to one or two each morning now. He is still very much interested in early picture books so the CDs are only 5 minutes each which is about his max. I don't know what lips or eararobics is? I was hoping to use AAR with him because I have it but I wonder if we will end up needing Barton (really hoping not because of the price). I will definitely try the RB books. Is there a particular order I should get them in after the first one you recommended? Thank you so much for your thoughts on all of this. Oh, his hook is definitely Angry Birds!! If I could incorporate that into all of our work he would LOVE it!

Hi, my youngest ds has ASD, apraxia of speech, global delays etc. He is turning 6 soon and would have typically started k this year but we spent the year concentrating on his Autism therapy (we had someone come to our home everyday for 4 hours) so will be treating next year (we start in the fall) as his official K year. I need some help picking resources for this little guy. The things I used for his two older brothers may not suite him well. He still has some speech issues (articulation mostly) and I see them hampering his ability learning to read. So far I have planned to use AAR 1 and 2 with him (I already have these plus OPGTR) but am not sure what to do for math. I have Miquon Orange and MM 1 but I think it will quickly get too advanced for him. I have read about Ronit Bird books I might try. I'm really not sure. I know whatever curriculum I use it needs to go slow, and stay interesting. Thoughts ? Also, what about other reading resources? He actually has no interest in learning to read which worries me. I would appreciate any suggestions you have. Thanks!

I'm not sure but I have heard Lial's comes with excellent explanations. We aren't at Algebra yet (still in MM) but I picked up Lial's basic College Math as well and the PreA and A. You might want to check them out too. I think on a scale, they are considered more incremental and maybe less rigorous. Good luck.

My ds 10 got very similar results this year. He had an I.Q. that they wouldn't quantify because his visual and perceptual scores were 99% tile but his processing speed was a lot lower. My ds was also diagnosed with dyslexia (did poorly on the decoding of unfamiliar words and comprehension when reading to himself) and a disability of written expression due to how poorly he did in forming letters, grammar, and worst of all - spelling! They also did the Ados with my son who just barely made the cut off so they used the term "Aspergers" with us as well. He was also diagnosed with moderate to severe ADHD - combined I found it really helpful over all because it really taught me that my son can take in, and process, lots of information quickly if he is hearing it. It is much harder for him to process things by reading them. He also can not be overwhelmed with a lot of information at once or he shuts down. Small - very small- steps for everything. Writing is painful and I'm not sure how to get around that completely because he seems to hate typing and get frustrated with voice technology. We haven't done meds yet. We are trying to finish out the school year and take some time to decide. I just wanted to let you know you were not alone.

My ds 10 is dyslexic, dysgraphic, gifted, ADHD, and mildly on these spectrum. How he struggles with these gifts and challenges changes day to day. He struggles immensely with writing, spelling and still a little bit with reading. He talks constantly but struggles with starting his thoughts in a similar way to your dd. He has extreme trouble focusing and bounces around, or wanders around constantly. He is very rigid, adverse to changes, and has some sensory issues. He has an incredible memory and amazes me with his ability to understand very complex situations. He is very impulsive, loud, and can be see an bossy. He is also very sweet and loving.

Hi, I am following this thread. My youngest ds has Autism and is turning 6 soon. He is very intelligent but his self help skills are so behind (still can't dress himself at all, can't brush his teeth etc.). I worry all the time about this so will be interested in the advice you get here.

Hi, I have a ds with ASD who is pretty athletic. He doesn't do well with anything fine motor, but his gross mother skills are pretty good. He is highly focused/obsessive about things he likes and so basketball consumes him. He watches games on t.v., reads stats about players constantly, but also practices all the time in the driveway. He plays in a few city leagues and does really well with it. He is high functioning (would be labelled Aspergers with old labels), gifted, etc. but also struggles with dyslexia and dysgraphia. One complex little dude :) I definitely think ASD and some athletic ability can happen in the same kid.

I don't have any good answers for you but I will be watching the responses closely. My youngest ds is only 5 but has apraxia, low tone and significant speech issues (apraxia of speech). I know he is showing early signs of dyslexia as well. I hope you get some good insight.