I am very interested in both of these programs. Would it be possible to do both or would that be too much? I know that MFW includes science, but I really like the look of Noeo. If I choose to definately do Noeo Science, would you all think it is okay to still do MFW Adventures and above or would you all suggest finding a history only curriculum to do along with Noeo. Thanks! Bethany

When you all plan a unit study for a science topic, how do you do it? How long are they usually? How many days a week? How many books do you read on the topic? Do you add activities/experiments/crafts and, if so, how many? Any other advice would be helpful! I am burning myself out planning and then when we actually do the unit study, my daughter doesn't seem interested at all. I thought unit studies would be more fun and interesting, but now I'm starting to wonder. Thanks, Bethany

Ruthie and Donna, Thank you both so much for responding. I am trying to pick out what I want to use next year and am nervous about making a mistake! I'm still debating everything -- MFW Adventures vs. Truthquest vs. FIAR and LLATL vs. picking and choosing each LA subject individually! I'm driving myself crazy!!! :001_unsure: Bethany

Would doing LLATL Red go well with MFW Adventures or would they not be a good combination? I am also interested in the continuing the sequence (ex. LLATL Yellow with MFW ECC, etc.). Thanks, Bethany

Shannon, Thank you for telling me about your experiences with MFW. It sounds like a lot of fun! I noticed in your signature that you are also doing FIAR. We have been doing FIAR off and on. Are you combining MFW and FIAR? If so, how are you doing it? Does FIAR add too much to each day? How long does a day of MFW (including LA and math, but not including FIAR) take? Bethany

Has anyone used both of these programs? Did you prefer one over the other? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each? I will have a 2nd grader and a Kindergartner next year. I know my youngest is too young for both of these programs, but I am thinking of combining them in the future and would like my youngest to be able to listen in and do the activities if she wants. I would like a program that requires minimal planning, yet is fun and engaging, too. It seems that both of these programs might provide that, but I don't know which to choose. I would like to teach American history first and I know that both of these programs is structured that way. I would love to do hands-on activities, but if they are not easy and pre-planned they just don't get done here! I've searched the board to find a comparison between these two programs, but I haven't found one. I would love to hear your experiences and/or links to previous threads that would be helpful! Thanks, Bethany

Creekster519 and Kel, Thank you both for answering my questions! Kel, I'm just not sure about AAS. I'm afraid that it is so similar to AAR that my daughter will become bored with doing both programs. I'm trying to decide if she would do better with a workbook spelling program or one like AAR. I just don't know yet. I also like that all LA components are incorporated into McRuffy. It just seems easier that way and might make the day flow better instead of jumping from one thing to another (phonics, spelling, grammar, writing, etc.). I just don't know. Also, I was reading our state standards of what first graders are learning and I got panicky thinking that we are not covering a lot of that stuff! I know I shouldn't compare, but it's hard not to! Bethany

My daughter (1st grade) is finishing AAR1 and is getting ready to begin AAR2. I really like All About Reading and would like to continue with it. I have been looking for something to use with her for next year for spelling, grammar, and writing when she'll be in second grade. I like the look of McRuffy's Phonics and Reading program. For those that have used the 2nd grade level of McRuffy's program, would it be completely redundant to use it along with AAR? If so, is it possible to separate the phonics portion and only use the other aspects of their language arts program? Also, if we didn't use McRuffy's 1st grade program, would it be okay to begin at 2nd grade or would my daughter have missed too much (we haven't done anything with grammar and spelling yet)? ETA: Okay, I just looked at the forums at All About Learning and AAR3 won't be out until the end of 2013. We will definately need something after AAR2 before then. It looks like we might only use McRuffy (2nd grade) without AAR. Would that be a good transition after AAR2? I have AAS Level 1, but I'm not sure I want to use it. Thanks, Bethany

Thanks Angela and Avonlea! That helps a lot! Bethany

What is the difference between the home plan and the homeschool plan? Thanks, Bethany

Has anyone used Level K?

I think I'm going to get Level K for my young first grader. I'm hoping to keep my Pre-K'er and my first grader together throughout their elementary science years. Do you all think that I would need to order my 4-year-old her own set of student pages? Are the pages in there something that a child this age can do? (She doesn't like to draw yet, if that helps.) Thanks, Bethany

Thank you all for your responses! I really appreciate it! Bethany

Anyone??? :001_huh:

I am interested in the Level K program. I have a young 1st grader (she will be 6 next week) and a Pre-K'er (she will be 4 in October). My 1st grader is going through AAR Level 1. She is about half way through it and can read CVC words, some long vowel/silent E words, and is working on some consonant blends. She is not reading or writing fluently yet. My almost 4-year-old doesn't yet know many of the letters and/or sounds. I am not officially doing school with the younger one, but will let her join in if she wants. Since I would like to combine them for history and science (of course, not "officially" until the next year or two when my youngest really starts school) I am looking for a science program that will fit both of their levels. Do you all think Nancy Larson's Level K program would work right now? Then, Level 1 with a 2nd grader and a Kindergartner, etc? Do you think it would cover an age spread like this without either child getting frustrated because it's too easy or too hard? Thanks, Bethany

:iagree:I forgot about this! These are GREAT videos!!! We are getting each one as they are released! Bethany

We love The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm. Here is a link from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Big-Picture-Story-Bible-Book/dp/1433523914/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346025061&sr=1-1&keywords=big+picture+story+bible It presents the Bible as one continuous story from Genesis to Revelation. It's very interesting and has great pictures. My daughter loves it! We got it when she was 4 (she is now almost 6) and we have read through it several times. It's wonderful! Bethany

Thanks! I was looking at Christian Light's website and not Rod and Staff's! That was the problem... Do you think the ABC Series would be too hard for a new 4-year-old? Bethany

Is there any way to see sample pages of the Rod & Staff ABC Series books? I looked on their site and didn't see any sample pages? Thanks, Bethany

I have started AAR Pre-Level 1 with my soon-to-be 4-year-old. I used ETC A, B, and C with her older sister (that was right before AAR Pre-Level 1 came out). Anyway, she sees her older sister "doing school" and wants to do it, too. She is enjoying AAR, but wants to do more. I was looking through my older daughter's old ETC books and wondered about getting my younger one her own set and did those with her in addition to AAR (she likes workbooks!). Do you all think that would be confusing since the order of letters introduced would be different and AAR only introduces capitals first where ETC mixes them up? I'm trying to come up with some quiet activities that my little one can do at the table while I'm working with her older sister (she will be 6 soon), especially since she wants to be right by me and is begging to "do school" at the same time! I thought maybe the ETC books might be an idea, but I don't want to quit doing AAR Pre-Level 1 either! Thanks, Bethany

I think I'm going to do both with my first grader this year. We did FIAR for Kindergarten and my dd really enjoyed it. I've been wanting to try HOD so I think we'll do both! Bethany

Has anyone used Essentials in Writing for first grade? Is it too much for a first grader who is still learning how to read (she can sound out CVC words, knows some sight words, and can read long vowel words when reminded about the silent e)? What are your pros and cons for the first grade level? Thanks, Bethany

We used McRuffy K this year. We moved states about 6 weeks ago so we had to take a break from school. We didn't get completely finished with McRuffy and aren't going to. We are going to use AAR 2 in the fall. I ordered AAR 1 a few weeks ago and we are going to speed through that in order to be ready for Level 2 when it comes out. I liked McRuffy K, for the most part. It got kind of tedious, though, and required a lot of writing. We were spending too much time on phonics and I felt my daughter was getting burned out. Also, I really didn't like the heavy emphasis on spelling in McRuffy's First Grade program and thought it was time to change. We've been using AAR 1 for about a week now. I really like it so far. It has all been review for my daughter because of already going through most of McRuffy K, but I feel that it is still beneficial to her. She seems to enjoy it and it doesn't make our reading/phonics time each day drag on and on. I hope this helps! Bethany

Anyone???

Sorry! It's Math on the Level (http://www.mathonthelevel.com/). Bethany