We are currently using SWR (K, 2nd 4 7 6th). We don't do everything, but we do the log, review the phonograms and rules and take weekly dictation tests etc..... My question is in regard to my K student. We are moving very slowly ( he is rather sharp and not slow) but I want to move him along into feeling like a confident reader. He is decoding words painfully but doing it and doing really well at phonics quiz. Does anyone have any great suggestions for a doing SWR with a beginning reader? I have been looking at All About Spelling also. Can you teach reading with AAS?

Pam, I have recently order TOG Year 2 for next year (two lower grammer, 1 upper grammer and 1 dialectic). We have Balancing the Sword and have only just begun to use this as a family. Is there a logical way to coordinate Balancing the Sword with TOG Year 2 or even the Explorers Bible Study? What do you recommend on integrating the study of Year 2 with a personal Bible study? Renee

THANKS AGAIN and AGAIN! I have not looked at Spelling Plus, but I will take that advice and check into it. I was planning on using Spelling Wisdom for dictation. Can you compare the two? Also, do I recall that you use IEW? I have been trying to decide between Classical Writing or IEW. I seem to be leaning more towards IEW for the majority of my kids and also waiting to see WWE for the younger ones. What are your thoughts on writing programs? JUST FYI: We will be doing Year 2 of TOG and I would love to be able to combine Writing Aids with a writing program that provides a little bit more hand holding as we write across the curriculum. Your insights are greatly appreciated. Renee

OhElizabeth Hive Mind Royal Larvae Thanks again for your response. Really, the private school only did SWR in Kindergarten and First grade. They switched to a different Spelling program in 2nd grade and then went back to SWR in 3rd. We left in 4th grade and they began using Spelling Power. They have improved with their Spelling, but have not been doing ENOUGH writing as you have suggested. This is top on my list for next year: WRITING! and I want to ensure a good spelling program from the older kids and phonics for the younger ones. I do not have access to see where they would test in SWR. We have a training seminar coming here to Fort Worth, TX in August. I am leaning towards SWR right now for all 4 children. It just seems to be the right fit for all the varied levels. Where do I go from here? Do really all I need is the core kit? Will the first thing I do is placement testing? etc..... Renee

I need a little bit of explaining, perhaps from some AAS users. I have a beginning reader (5 years old) who is just beginning to blend sounds together. I also have a 7 year old who is reading but not spelling. Likewise, I have two readers/spellers (not strong spellers) ages 9 and 11. We need a phonics/spelling program. My first question: Can All About Spelling be used to teach reading to a 5 year old? The older children learned to read using SWR at a private school and I am torn between selecting either AAS or SWR to accomodate all of the varied levels. I am also thinking maybe SWR with the little ones and AAS for the older ones. That sounds hard...... Any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Renee

Thank you for your insight on All About Spelling. For what I can tell, it looks much easier to implement than SWR. I think I will make a post to compare the two. Renee

Brittany, Are you familiar with SWR? Could you comment on why All About Spelling seems to get rave reviews and how it compare to SWR? Thanks, Renee

Mindy, It's me again. I read a post from you about History Scribe. I noticed that you use MUS and Singapore and IEW. How do you combine MUS and Singapore? What are your thoughts on IEW? Do you use it combined well with Writing AIds in TOG? We are doing TOG Yr. 2 next year. Thanks, Renee

Mindy, Thank you for your suggestion. I will take a look at these right now. Renee

Jessica, I am so drawn to all of your insight. What a blessing to have access through the internet to discuss and reflect. I can't thank you enough. I'm sure there are more questions to come..........:) We have been in a University Model Classical School (2 days a week), but we will exclusively homeschool next year. Thus, I too am trying to figure out what is enough and too much......................... My children are 5 boy, 6 girl, 9 boyand 11 girl. TOG looks wonderful. If you have any advice about Yr. 2 in general, I would love to hear it. THANKS and God Bless! Renee

Jessica, I am new to this forum. I have 4 children and we will be doing TOG YR 2 next year for the first time. I was reading the post about History Scribe and was wondering why you do not use it with TOG anymore? Blessings! Renee

SWB.: Thanks again. I think I am more clear now where they are in their abilities. Looking forward to using WWE with the littlekinz (5 & 6) for sure. Blessings! Renee

SWB, I just wanted to thank you so much for your insights and encouragement. I am still undecided at the moment, but you have given me greater confidence in which ever decision we make in regards to writing. Final question, would anything in WWE that will be published currently be of use to my 9 and 11 year olds? (Remember that I mentioned we had limited experience with narration and dictation). Blessings, Renee Earl

Thank you so much for your info ladies. I haven't looked at All About Spelling, so I think I will make that my next move. I do not have any experience with teaching SWR other than then flashcards that we did at home. My older two have not done swr for a couple of years now, since the private school we were in did not do phonics past 2nd grade (they currently are 5th and 3rd). Neither of these kids are strong spellers and the two younger children ages 5 and 6 are just beginning in their phonics/spelling. They have done Spelling Power and while they can do fine on the tests, I still see them struggle in applying the spelling in their writing. What would be the benefit of doing SWR over continuing a program like Spelling Power or even Spelling WOrkout? THanks again, Renee

Are there any users of SWR that could give a comparison to Barbara Beers program The Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading. I have 2 children beginning in phonics (ages 5 and 6) and 2 children who need to continue with a strong phonics program for Spelling (ages 9 and 11). They did SWR in a private school setting through 2nd grade and have done Spelling Power for a couple of years now. Any insight to the strengths and/or weaknesses of these two programs would be helpful. Renee

monk17 Thanks so much for the info. What do you do for Spelling after Level 4 of the Phonics Road? SWR seems to be a complete spelling program that you would continue to advance with. Thanks again. Renee

Could you comment on the differences/strengths/weaknesses of The Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading compared to Spell to Write and Read (SWR). One of my questions in regard to The Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading is "What do you do for Spelling once level 4 of The Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading is completed?" I too have 4th and 5th graders that are ready for the Latin Bridge and I am trying to decide on a Spelling Program for them as well as my two younger children ages 5 and 7 (both of whom need a strong Phonics program next year). I would love to hear any thoughts THANKS! Renee

Question for SWB. Hello Susan, I can't believe that I am brave enough to ask you a question. I have been reading through all the threads concerning writing and still I am left with some questions. Here is our info. I have four children that we will begin homeschooling next year after being in a private classical school ( you actually came and spoke to us here in Fort Worth several years back; which was WONDERFUL!) My questions are mainly in regard to the older 2 children and writing. (I think I understand how to use WWEand/or FFL with the 5 year oid and 7 year old). The older children are 9 and 10 (respectively 4th and 6th grade next year). Could you elaborate on the strengths/weakness of IEW and CW curriculums. I have felt very drawn to CW, but worry that we would be missing out on the things that IEW is strong in. Is there a logical way to combine these writing programs, like one would with Math programs, in order to benefit from the strengths of each of them? My number one priority next year is to get them confident, encouraged and equipped with their writing. They have done Shurly Grammar 9 year old through 3rd grade and 11 year old through 5th grade. YIKES! IT's not working and so I plan on using Rod and Staff, but would like to supplement the writing with CW. Perhaps IEW. Writing Strands didn't seem too appealing to us, but very straightforward. We have had limited writing experience with narration, and dictation. The 11 year old has done some keyword outlines/dress ups but does not readily apply these. What would be the overall benefit of doing CW? Why would I chose IEW over CW? THANKS SO MUCH! Your influence on my family's educational journey has been such a profound blessing. I thank the Lord for the educational opportunites that my children have had and we are so looking forward to being home together next year to fill in the gaps! Your guidance has been exactly what we have needed and desired. Renee

I too would love to Susan's comments/thoughts on Classical Writing. I am trying to understand the strengths/weaknesses of CW and IEW and Writing Strands all compared. Blessings Renee

Sarah, I really enjoyed reading your previous post. What level and ages are your children using CW? Should I begin with Aesop B? I have a 9 year old and an 11 year old. Both about the same in their writing abilities and confidence. Beginners! but willing. Blessings! Renee

We will be new to exclusively homeschooling next year. I will be using TOG with one LG, UG, and Dial. The area of writing is where I am most concerned. My older two (4th and 6th grade) are not strong in writing. We are a bit familiar with key word outlines but with limited IEW experience. Which program, considering the ages, would you recommend for us to use. Of course TOG has Writing Aids and I do think we will be able to use those assignments as extensions of another writing program when we chose to do so. ANY insight would be helpful. I have read and read and read and read and still can't seem to decide which of these programs would fill our need for strengthen our writing. Blessings! Renee