I have recently pulled out my 2nd and 3rd graders from school and used the placement test for WWE. They are both VERY struggling writers, but I think it is from lack of instruction and not any organic problem, per se. I put them both in WWE 2, which is on target. The couple of weeks in WWE 2, the dictations are 1 sentence. Now, we are now reaching harder dictations (commas, 2 sentences), and they are struggling a little, and I have to break down the sentences and read them several times, but they are getting the hang of it. I also have a first grader who is using WWE 1. WWE 1 does not include dictations and if you use the copywork sentences as dictations, you are already in WWE 2 territory. If you have a Barnes and Noble near you, see if they have the WWE books...my store carries 1,2, and 3. Talk to the helpful people at Peace Hill Press, and go to the You Tube, Peace Hill Press site where there are example of SWB dictating to her son using WWE (those videos were EXTREMELY helpful to me...I now understand how to do dictation exercises). You will get it!!

Although I have been supplimenting for some time now. I have spent around $200-$250 per child for my three boys for the whole battery of subects. Much of what I have bought can be reused (I have 3 boys), and I make use of cheaper ebooks. I have found excellent used books at a local bookseller, and I make use of alibris and Amazon for online used books. Perhaps the tip that has saved me the most money is this: Before I purchase any curricula, I give myself at least a week to think about it (online shopping carts work great here), and I stick to a monthly budget. This technique alone prevented me from buying some serious large ticket items that I had gotten excited about for whatever reason (as I type, I have one languishing in a cart). When trying to decide which program would work for my boys, I would give them snippets of practice tests and have them look at web video to get an idea of what would work with them. I also combed these boards to find other similar typed children (hates math, won't sit still, etc.) to get a jumping off point so I wouldn't end up with $100's of dollars of wasted curriculum. As I said before, I am new, but so far, the children are doing very well with what I am using. A few examples: Math Mammoth: I tested Singapore, Saxon and a couple of others before landing here. Developer Maria Miller helped me place my children and I have the luxury of an ebook...I can print out whatever I need in the order I want it. $64 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. I have jumped around in the grades a bit for the children (money, time and calendar) freeing me from the restraints of one bound book and multiple suppliment books. I will not need to purchase this again for younger children. FLL and WWE: Again, tests and helpful people at Peace Hill Press helped me place my children. I bought some of my books at a local bookseller with a member card, saving in some cases >20%. Plus, teacher's books can be used with younger children. I looked at Shurley English, MCT (I LOVE this, but FLL and WWE is working...I avoided buying this using the online cart method.) REAL Science Odyssey: Looseleaf pages so each boy can have his own Science notebook. I am gathering materials myself and so far, they have been pretty cheap. I caught a publisher's sale for my religious books (50% off), online homeschool sales for Vocabulary and Spelling, bought new Usborne encyclopedias off the Internet for a fraction of the Usborne list price. Otherwise, I buy most books from Amazon and wait until I qualify for free shipping (also helps with my mandatory waiting period). I am in no position to give advice to anyone but I am honestly proud of my fiscal restraint and I wish you Good Shopping and may the Sale nymphs be with you this summer!!

The Ancients Encyclopedia is more in depth than the Internet linket Encyclopedia of World History but probably redundant. Usborne has a smaller set of books; one on the Greeks, one on the Romans, and one on the Egyptians (I think), and the Ancients Encyclopedia is all three of these books combined. I bought the Ancients Encyclo. because at the time, I could not get the World History Encyclopedia, but if you have the World History Encyclopedia, skip the one on the Ancients.

I pulled my boys ages 9 and 8 out of school this year as they were behind in every subject. I put the 8 yr old in FLL 3, and the 9 yo in FLL 4. The books are very similar; both FLL 3 and FLL 4 start out with very basic parts of speech. We are getting to the diagramming in FLL 4 and it is VERY gentle. My 4th grader is an average student and is doing just fine in FLL 4. Per Peace Hill Press, put the child in at grade level because each level has extensive review. I can tell you from looking at the books that the big difference between FLL 3 and 4 is in the diagramming towards the end of the book. I have both books and am happy to answer any questions about book content. As for WWE, I have both WWE 1 and 2 and I put my boys in WWE2. In just a few weeks, they have improved dramatically and I am hoping to move them to the much harder dictation of WWE 3 mid-year. Hope this helps...I spent a lot of time (and a couple of mistakes) placing the boys in the right books but it has paid off...they are doing so well!!

My ds 8 begged to be hs'ed since 1st grade because he was "bored" but now that I have pulled him out, he is still bored and complains when I ask him to do even the simplest of tasks. I too, am using SOTW which he complains about (he is very bright, but also very lazy). I found on a Peacehillpress youtube video, SWB going through a lapbook that a student did for SOTW 1. My son is very hands-on and crafty and when I showed him the video, he started coming up with all these ideas for his own lapbook. Yesterday he was going through the Egyptian gods and comparing them with the Greek and Roman gods; he was organizing his lapbook page so he "would not get confused in the future". I also ordered a Chem. curriculum that has 2-3 experiments for every lesson. He is VERY excited about that. I have started using MUS blocks with his MM lessons. In essence I have found that limiting workbooks is the key with him.

Nerf guns!!! Perfect!!! It just so happens that I have a gun or 4 lying around. Thank you for the suggestion! I appreciate the feedback. Through this post, I have discovered Rummy Roots, Balderash and several other games. I will file this information away for when the kids are older....

Vocabulary books are boring, especially to 3 grammar stage boys. Do any of you have vocabulary games that you play? I thought about making index cards, sticking the words to the wall, giving the boys the definitions and making them race to match them. That idea is still being molded, but I figure there is someone out there who has found something fun. Thank you!!

I agree with the "spine" theory. We have used SOTW as a jumping off point. We skip some sections and spend more time on others, but the CD's are gems. My boys listen to them over and over. Thanks to SWB's references in the Activity book, we have been able to find other books about the subject we are interested in and as a result, we may not pick up the SOTW book for weeks until we have exhausted whatever we are studying. When we are ready to move on, SOTW moves us along on the time line and we start again. I think if I were to use SOTW exclusively, my boys would mutiny (they HATE the coloring) but I love having a guide.

Thank you!! I am going to try what I have first...

I have an 8 yr old boy who I am pulling out of school. He is very bright in the LA arena but is immature and lacks fine motor skills. I was considering MCT because he is bright and his writing skills are so behind, but I am concerned MCT does not have as "complete" of a curriculum as FLL and WWE (I already own both). MCT is so incredibly expensive but I will buy it if there is a decent chance he will do well (he HATED school, was incredibly bored and begged me to pull him out...starting in 1st grade).

Thank you so much for the input! Saxon is used heavily in HS circles around here and I just wanted to look around first...especially since I own MUS and SM is inexpensive, and I hear Saxon lessons take 45+ minutes. My little boys do not have the attention span for that. I think we will keep MUS and buy a lower level SM Word Problem book to supplement. You have been so kind to respond.

I am pulling my 3 boys out of school this year, in fact we have already started "homeschooling" although in Math so far we are using summer bridge books. My 9 year old had TERRIBLE math computation scores on his Iowa tests (28-33). The 8 yo didn't do much better. The older is an average student, the younger is very bright in the LA arena but they have trouble applying the math (read: word problems). The 9 yo generally likes math but the eight yo HATES drill. My 6 yo is happy-go-lucky, and at this point, is along for the ride. I have a whole set of MUS manipulatives and both Primer and Alpha books. I have been eyeing SM (concepts, word problems) but obviously computation is a concern for me. I know that we may have some trial and error but some of you combat-hardened veterans may just have some insight I could use. Thank you!!!

The BIGGEST top loader I could find. It is water and energy efficient (read: it smells if you leave clothes in it) and it cleans the clothes as well as my old agitator. I've had it for almost 2 years and I still love it.

I have 4 kids and the youngest 3 boys are in a sweet Catholic school but the education the last couple of years has been subpar. The principal and I are revamping it but my 9 year old scored in the 20-30 percent on his IOWA test for his math, 40-50 for LA and after substituting in his class, I know how bad the education is and how far behind he is (average student). My 8 year old is very bright but scoring in the 20-30 for math and has been begging me to homeschool him. The 6 year old could care less, but I won't leave him in school if the other two are coming out. I have been supplimenting for months and now I slowly, have almost a whole year bought for each boy. I am very involved with the school and my children have close friends...WE have close friends there. I know what I have to do, what I already AM doing, but that first day that the kids go back to the class and an empty seat exists where my child would have been....I read about parents who take months off or skip subjects entirely, I am nervous I will make them fall farther behind. I have not told the school yet. As of today, I have one foot at home and one foot at school. The oldest one wants to go back for 5th grade (the NEXT school year). The 8 year old never wants to go back. I know someone has done this same thing and I would like to hear how the first few months went. Thank you in advance. I am a new poster but a long time follower of TWTM (2002). 1 girl (11 yo), and the 3 boys. Hats off to all of you. I admire you for taking the plunge and sticking with it.