AAR has been worth it here, but I do agree with trying a less pricey option first. For my dd, we tried OPGTR, Phonics Pathways, and 100EZ, two of which we owned, and one we checked out from the library. None of these worked for her. She was bored to tears, and the words just would not stick. I had thought she may be dyslexic (she's not.). AAR has not only gotten her to read well, but also to LOVE reading. She loves the multi-sensory approach. She is my crafty kid, and this program really speaks her language but also appeals to my teaching style (I don't have to do the crafts.). I am now using level 2 for her, although she can read beyond that level, it is still great phonics instruction, and I am using Pre-level to teach ESL to my Ethiopia-born son. Hope this helps.

We are using PLL, which includes copywork, narration, picture study, poetry memorization (which we don't do), some practical writing instruction, like letter writing, and dictation that is at a level that more appropriate for my son than WWE. We also use R&S Spelling and Pathways Readers with workbooks, I omit the phonics part of PR wkbks.

My kiddos were in K and 2nd last school year. Hits All About Reading 1-My dd loved all of the hands-on craftiness. I loved that my dd learned to read, and now loves to read. Reading had been such a struggle for her before AAR1. R&S Spelling 2 PLL-I'm surprised how much I love this one. Math Mammoth Reading lots of good books, especially SL books Apologia Flying Creatures-I was ready to give up on this one, as I had tried it a couple of times before. I decided to try one more time before selling it, and apparently now my kids are at the perfect age. Now we all love it, and plan to do Swimming Creatures next. Misses MFW ECC-I was underwhelmed by this curriculum, and I had really looked forward to it. We are continuing on with MFW, but do not plan to repeat this year as their cycle instructs. AAS-It was overkill for my natural speller, but I will try it again with my AAR loving dd. WWE wkbk-My ds was not ready for the depth of the literature selections, but we will continue on with the method of WWE. FLL-My ds wasn't retaining the info in this one. I loved the ease of use though.

It's just wrong.

I try to focus on the books that are giving my kids a view of what it might be like to live in the country being studied, such as Children Just LIke Me, Frederico: Child of Brazil, etc. There are often Gail Gibbons books that correspond with the habitat being studied, those seem to give just the right amount of information without being overwhelming for my children's ages. And then if there is a classic type novel recommended for the country being studied, such as Anne of Green Gables for Canada, I try and find that on audiobook at the library. For the ages of my children (7 & 6, we are not following MFW exact age recs), focusing on what the climate is like and what the people are like in the specific country seems to help them relate to the information. Hope that helps.

I would like to point out, that once you get into Adventures,many of the book basket books are books that are scheduled with SL. I have had a similar debate over MFW and SL. We have the books from cores P3/4-Core B, and we've used part of MFW K, all of 1st, all of Adventures, and are in the midst of ECC. My ds used MFW 1st for K because he was already a great reader. After 1st, the LA is not so integrated, it is in part (copywork, narration, dictation), but not so fully. Even in 1st, you can use your own choices for LA & Math if you want. I did. We add SL books as general read-alouds and bedtime stories, and I always prioritize SL books if they are also listed in the book basket. The choice is really personal, and only you know what is best for your family. I continually feel led to choose MFW, and next year, plan to integrate as many SL books as makes sense into our read aloud times to enrich our study, kind of like a buffet, a la TOG. Hope this helps.

I'm sorry for my delayed response. I wasn't following the thread. I am not sure yet, what SL books we will use. I haven't bought my CtG package yet, but I am planning to choose book basket books that are also included in SL packages. Most will probably be from core B (my kids are on the young side for MFW recommended age ranges) because I already own most of those books. I have serious SL/MFW tension, so I am going to try really hard to get the best out of both programs. Also, for the books that do not fit into the history cycle (read-alouds), I am going to read those to the kids as bed time stories. I am also waiting on the CtG TM to see if I want to add the SOTW AG. I really liked the AG activities and additional book selections, especially because they seem appropriate for my children's ages. I will have to see how much of CtG is appropriate for them or if I will need to lower it to their grade level.

thank you for mentioning this, I had not seen it yet. it does look great!

MFW CtG choosing book basket books that are also SL books and maybe adding SOTW Elemental Science Earth Science & Astronomy for Grammar (or just add Evan Moor Daily Science 3 to MFW Science) Math Mammoth 3 A&B Singapore Math Challenging Word Problems 2, LOF Cats & Dogs MCT Island level and Mud lit IEW TWSS and Easy Classical Writing with History for Ancients Rod & Staff Spelling 3 Getty-Dubay Italic C Easy Classical History Copybook GDI version Long Story Short and Gospel Storybook Bible Mark Kistler Online Drawing Lessons Artistic Pursuits K-3 book 2

oh! I would also like to add, that sometimes I overwhelmed myself with trying to read every book basket book to them (we have a GREAT library), and so that is something I'm having to learn to really pick and choose. The book basket selections are excellent, and are often the same ones (and more) found in SL and TOG lists as well.

We used Adventures last year, and for the most part really enjoyed it. We did not get to much of the science. For whatever reason, that is the subject that falls through the cracks here. We also didn't get to all of the crafts. That is more because I am not a super crafty mom.We enjoyed the books and book basket, and my son LOVED the state sheets. I do feel like both of my children, even my dd, who was prek at the time, have retained a lot from our Adventures year. I hope you find what works for you!

Some other really great books about Africa, but may (probably) have subjects that are too mature for your children (your call, obviously) are: There is No Me Without You (Ethiopia) Long Way Gone:Memoir of a Boy Soldier (Sierra Leone) Running for My Life:One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games (Sudan/Kenya) Left to Tell (Rwanda) The Price of Stones: Building a School for My Village (Uganda) Hospital By the River (Ethiopia) Long Way Gone, Running for My Life, and especially Left to Tell have very explicit details about genocide and war. It was nearly traumatic for me to read. However, it might be useful information for you to have when teaching your kids. Our family is adopting from Ethiopia or Uganda, and I have long had a passion for Africa. So this is a topic near and dear to my heart.

I have considered making up my own literature-based study for Africa. Some of the books I have found that have not yet been mentioned are: the Akimbo series http://www.amazon.com/Akimbo-Lions-Alexander-McCall-Smith/dp/1582346879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348879926&sr=8-1&keywords=akimbo and Growing Up in Africa http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Africa-Genny-Nuckolls/dp/1599550474/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348880035&sr=1-1&keywords=growing+up+in+africa. I haven't read these, but they looked good, and I still plan to read them to my kids. Some great picture books that I have read are: Galimoto Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain Mama Panya's Pancakes Beatrice's Goat One Hen (highly recommend!) Wangari's Trees of Peace For You are a Kenyan Child Africa is Not a Country Masai and I Jambo Means Hello Moja Means One Planting the Trees of Kenya:The Story of Wangari Maathai Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the trees of Kenya Seeds of Change: Wagari's Gift to the World We All Went on Safari

We listened through the entire Little House series last year on audiobook while we studied American History. My ds was 6 at the time. He loved it, and still talks about it.

this is an excellent post on Simple Homeschool that might be helpful to you: "What about ME?:On taking care of yourself as a homeschool mom"

:bigear: I would love to hear more opinions on this. My ds did not do this and is quite a natural reader. My dd does this occasionally, but she is a very early reader.

thank you for this! I am staying up way too late reading the online copy, and I've already ordered my own hard copy. This sounds exactly like what I want to do. I love how the writing process the author describes fosters relationship.

not sure if I'm looking at the right app, but if so, mine shows it as free??

Have you looked at MFW ECC? http://www.mfwbooks.com/products/M50/40/10/0/1

Definitely the Little House series. I had not read them as a child, and this year my children and I have listened to almost the entire series on audiobook. We have all enjoyed it, but I more than them.

1st grade-ds6 Hits FLL1 WWE1 ETC3 MM1 MFW Adventures Misses CLE LA CLE Reading Building Spelling Skills (CLP) PreK-dd5 Hits MEP Reception ETC A BOB Books books from SL P cores Misses OPGTR Phonics Pathways

thank you, everyone for sharing your experiences! I am excited to try PAL, and know it's going to be best for dd. Thankfully, our local convention is next weekend, and I will get to look at it all in person, as well as speak to a company rep. I think that will help! :001_smile:

Up until last night, I had been planning to buy AAR 1 for my dd5 for kindy. Then, I started looking at PAL reading and writing. It looks perfect for dd. She is a VSL. Very creative. Very much a free-spirit. She has a lot of reluctance regarding reading. She thinks she can already read through the pictures. The things we have been using do not seem to stick or interest her (granted, I could be more consistent). I really think she would like the games and interaction involved in PAL. However, AAR1 looks easier for me to teach. I'm not trying to be lazy, but I guess the lessons just seem more efficient? I'm intimidated by PAL, and can't really figure out why. I guess I am just wanting to hear others' experiences using PAL. When I search "PAL" it says no results. I know that is not true, so the search function must be wacky right now. Any help would be very appreciated! TIA! p.s. This is my first thread! :D

I'm using Reception with my PreK'er now, and will use Miquon Orange/Red and MEP 1 for Kindy.

thank you for this! this is exactly where we are in our homeschooling, but I sometimes pressure myself that the kids need to be doing more, when really, it's the relationship that takes place when learning together that is most important to all of us! :001_smile: