I have done both MFW ECC and SL Core B. The bolded above is one problem I had with ECC. I used ECC with kids the same age as you mentioned, and the other problem we ran into with it is that some of the books were at their level and some were over their heads. So while the package was less expensive overall than SL, I ended up paying for a bunch of books we didn't actually use. The book basket books are great, a lot of them are SL books, however, I ended up having a lot of library fines having that many books checked out all the time. I wasn't good at managing that or choosing here and there which select books to check out. In the end, every year I used MFW I ended up piecing together a SL core to finish the year. Also, all the books in ECC, I read aloud to my children, so the reading time was basically identical to what is required in SL. If you want you can assign some of that reading to your children, which you can also do with SL, however, mine would not have been ready for that at those ages. I am using SL now. This is the first year that I decided to go with SL from the get-go. I had let some reviews dissuade me from going with SL each year because I was afraid it wasn't what was "best." This has been the ONLY year I have managed to stay on task and not switch to another curriculum mid-year. I am using Core D. I would say that one of the things I like is that the readers go with the history reading and read alouds, so everything is connected and the learning is layered. That is not true of Core B. I do have some concerns, mainly that there is no output from them, like worksheets, projects, crafts, etc. I think those things at least give me the feeling that there is definitely learning happening. There is a great website that has notebooking pages for Cores through E, so that is helpful in that area. Also, I do not use the LA, so I can't comment on that. Finally, the cost doesn't have to be prohibitive. I purchased my Core on a FB group for half price, and it was in such good condition I couldn't even tell it had been used.

My family just read Sign of the Beaver for school, and I agree with the above quote 100%. My children and I loved that book, and cried at the end together. I would recommend it.

YES! This is it! Thank you!

Thank you, that's not it. :(

Hi all! Several months ago I heard about a coding website for kids. It made coding into a game, and you advanced in levels as you completed coding tasks. I can't remember what this website was. Does anyone have an idea? Thank you!

We are doing 2 lessons per week. I have 1 reluctant writer (5th grade) and one who loves to write (3rd grade). I'm adding in CAP for my writer. We also plan to write across the curriculum.

We did a year of Song School Latin, and now we are transitioning to Latina Christiana. I planned to use Latin for Children, but my kids liked the LC video samples better. They are 5th and 3rd grade.

We came to Latin late, so we only started last year. My ds was a 4th grader at the time, and my dd, a 2nd grader. We started with SSL 1. This year we're doing SSL 2. They both love Latin and think it is so fun. They are often able to tell me words with a Latin derivative in our everyday life. I plan to move them on to LFC when they are done. I will still be happy with my son's Latin progression with this plan. Hope that helps!

Thank you for posting about this in more detail. After looking at it, this is what I am going to use. It's everything I didn't know I was looking for!

I also get mine from christianbook.com. I don't think it goes on sale, but CBD often runs free shipping promotions. I try to order then.

Sadly the above aren't going to work for me. However, the ones I am looking at are Galore Park Jr. Science, a random inexpensive Harcourt Science Textbook, or Abeka. Feedback on any of these would be greatly appreciated, and Mom28kds, I wanted to let you know what I am looking into.

Thank you all! Now I have some research to do! :)

Please help me! I have never had a science that works for us. My kids will be in 5th and 3rd grade next year, so I feel we need to get serious about science, especially for my 5th grader. I have tried Apologia, Elemental, MFW, Interest-led. None of these were working for us. This year, after a family crisis, I have realized the best curriculum for us are CLE, TT, Sonlight, and stuff that doesn't directly require a lot of planning or necessarily involvement from me. I CAN be involved and want to be and am usually, but sometimes that may be impossible, so I need the kids to be able to carry on regardless. Because of our lack of consistency in science, I want a textbook or workbook type curriculum with an overview of lots of different areas of science, so my kids can at least have a general broad understanding, even if it is not deep. I figure we'll get deep in high school. :001_huh: I am open to young earth and literal 7-day creation. I am not opposed to resources that include evolution either. I am ok with a Biblical slant, but I don't want it to be so about God that there aren't solid explanations of WHY things happen (not just because they are designed that way, amen (that being said, I believe in God's design)). Oh yeah, and the more affordable the better. Suggestions please?

Thank you all! This is so helpful, and I feel much calmer about it after hearing your experience. I think that I just got afraid that reading the fluffier things would make her not have the desire to read the harder things. Thank you for pointing out she is young, and that I can trust her instincts too.

My dd7, almost 8, is a very avid reader. She especially loves to devour different series at a rapid rate. I am so happy she loves to read, but recently, she turned down several books because they "looked too long." I want to encourage her to challenge herself because she may find that she enjoys these books, and also I would prefer she reads better quality books. I already read-aloud tons of good books from SL, TOG, and AO, so she is exposed to literature, I just don't know how to get her to read it on her own. Thanks!

We started Latin for the first time this year. I have a 2nd and a 4th grader, and they are doing Song School Latin. I know my 4th grader is "too old" by the grade recs for this program, but both kids are LOVING Latin, and always ask more. After SSL, we will either continue on with Latin for Children from Classical Academic Press or move on to Memoria Press.

I agree with many already listed here, but want to add, Anne of Green Gables, since I didn't see it mentioned already, and it is a favorite of our family.

I have used TOG now for one unit, and I love it. Previously, I used MFW for four years, because I was afraid I could not implement TOG, and I would waste money. This blog post, http://www.winecupchristianacademy.com/2011/06/planning-and-using-tapestry-of-grace.html, is what convinced me I could schedule TOG, and it is basically how I have modeled my scheduling. TOG has allowed me to do the part of homeschooling I love, which is read with my kids, books on their level, and learn together. With MFW, I was always having to work to make it fit the level of my child, with TOG, I already have MORE than enough right at my kids' level. I just have to choose what suits our family best. I don't like doing crafty stuff, so we don't do much of those suggested activities, or we do the least elaborate ones, every week my kids do a lit page and a map, I also give them writing assignments (included in the year guide), which, the way I do it, end up being glorified written narrations, and we just love it. And, I never had the FOG.

That is so helpful. Thank you very much!

We use AAR, AAS, A Reason for Handwriting, R&S English, WWE, and Writing Aids.

Y'all are awesome! Thank you so much!

My son draws constantly. He especially loves logos of all kinds. He even makes up imaginary companies so he can design logos for them. I have not been able to find any curriculum that will help him learn how to use Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop, and/or just learn to draw on the computer. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!

TOG w/Writing Aids (I am IN LOVE) AAR AAS R&S English, Spelling, and Math (for a couple of my kiddos) Math Mammoth LOF I also love CAP W&R, but I am not sure we'll be able to fit it in anymore :crying:

My fourth grader will be doing: Math-Math Mammoth 4 Rod & Staff Math 4 Grammar-Rod & Staff 4 Spelling-Rod & Staff finish up 4 Writing-CAP Fable & Narrative 1, Queen's Homeschool Copywork for Nature Lovers Handwriting-A Reason for Handwriting D History, Bible, Literature, Geography-TOG Year 1 Unit 4, Year 2 Units 1 & 2, some AO stuff Science-Noeo Biology II Elemental Biology, some AO stuff Art & Music-Harmony Arts Medieval & See the Light Art School Logic Countdown and Maps, Charts, and Graphs We may add in some Evan Moor wkbks and LOF too.

I will have two second graders. One is working at a different level than the other. DD7 Math-Math Mammoth 2 Grammar-Rod & Staff 2 Writing-WWE2 Spelling-All About Spelling 2 Reading-All About Reading 3 Handwriting-A Reason for Handwriting T History, Literature, Bible, Geography-TOG Yr. 1 Unit 4, Yr. 2 Unit 1 & 2 Science-Noeo Biology Art & Music-Harmony Art Medieval DS8 Math-starting in Math Mammoth 1 and getting as far as he gets Reading-All About Reading continue with Pre-Level and move on to Level 1 Handwriting-A Reason for Handwriting A and then on to T Writing-Copywork Spelling-All About Spelling 1 History, Literature, Bible, Geography-TOG Yr. 1 Unit 4, Year 2 Unit 1 & 2 Science-Noeo Biology Art & Music-Harmony Art Medieval We may also use a very Evan Moor wkbks, like Daily Word Problems, Geography, and Trait Writing, but I'm not sure.