and likes the results? I really agree with the philosophies behind CW, and want to produce writers who can express their ideas thoughtfully, not just from a formula. I've been using CW for 2 years with my ds - Aesop B, and Homer A. He's in 6th grade. I'm starting to worry though, that he has had no real instruction in essays, research, or reports. Am i just programmed from too many years of poor public education? Has anyone out there used CW for several years, and their student has really yielded good results? How about with reluctant writers?

My ds was an awful speller, and this program has helped him a lot. He's been doing it for 3 years, and his spelling has improved so much.

I've tried doing my own thing, but Sonlight has it so well organized, and hands down picks the best books. They have made my ds love reading. We're on our fifth year of it.

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Both my ds used it and they really enjoyed it. The illustrations are drawn by children, and they have lots of silly sentences to test comprehension, funny pictures to choose the correct word, etc. This was the one workbook they probably have liked doing. I think they learned their phonics pretty well from this, although we used Abeka's "A Handbook for Reading" (an old copy I got for free) and that really added a lot to their phonics awareness.

This is really a helpful discussion for me. My ds 10 and 8 have a lisp, and trouble pronouncing ch also. Ds 10 has had many speech troubles, and we have corrected most simply by me correcting him over and over (and over and over!). We're having trouble with these sounds, but I don't want to involve him in ps system either. I'm going to check out these books. Thanks!

Sequential Spelling has been great for us. I have an awful speller, and a natural speller, and it works well for both. It's very pick up and go, no prep time required. The lists are based on patterns in spelling, for example, all, tall, stall, install, installment. There are no lists to memorize, but the student takes a test every day, and patterns are repeated throughout the week, and revisited. This really helps my bad speller to have to think about the words and learn them, not just memorize a list for a week, spit it out, and then forget it the next week he has to write something (which is what happened before). My two cents, hope it helps!

It has worked wonders for us. We do it 4 days per week also. The whole concept of not just memorizing a list of words, spitting them out, and moving on and forgetting them has turned my oldest ds into a much better speller. He is a great memorizer, but in his writing, his spelling was awful! With SS, he has to actually think the words through, every day, and then he learns the patterns through the week, and as they are revisited. He is so much better at spelling now, it's amazing. As some above have said, it's very easy - pick up and go, and takes 15-20 minutes max.

My oldest ds has used Wordly Wise for 3 years. I don't think I can honestly say he learned a whole lot from it. Yes, he learned definitions and did the excercises, but once we moved on to a new set of words he forgot them. We are ditching it next year. I have found both my ds learn vocabulary best from reading - either readers or read -alounds. As we read, when we come across an unfamiliar word we dicuss its meaning. I find they retain info better this way because they learned it within context and because their curiosity initiated their desire to learn. Next year we are using Latin for Children to help with vocab as well as continuing to expand vocabulary through reading. Hope that helps!

Thanks Lori, for those posts. They've given me some food for thought. It seems like more people are dissatisfied with MUS starting with algebra. I don't think I'm ready to switch programs completely yet, but I'm glad to think about the direction we're headed. I'm thinking more that maybe we'll stick with MUS up to Algebra, and maybe supplement a little with the Challenging Word Problems or something. Summer, thanks for your input. May I ask what math curriculum you use?

Thanks Sue and HTH for being so clear on what MUS weaknesses are. I have considered supplementing either with the Challenging Word Problems or doing both Singapore and MUS this year. At least I've got a few years before I have to worry about high school. Thanks for your advice.

That's probably good advice! Both of my ds are natural math learners and would probably do great in any curriculum we're tried. There's just so many options out there, sometimes you wonder if you've chosen the best. I've always been curious about Singapore, but there's probably a lot of wisdom in "if it's not broke, don't fix it". Thanks!

I've been reading some posts that MUS is not considered rigorous enough. Do you find this to be true? I have used Alpha through Gamma and have been reasonably satisfied, but wondering if there should be more. I've thought about supplementing or switching to Singapore. Any thoughts? What areas do you find MUS to be weak? Do you supplement? Thanks!

and have liked it. My ds are 8 and 10 who love science, and we did level two chemistry. There are two Usborne books that are the spines. They have wonderful pictures, and we've always made sure to check out the internet links. Some have been too over the head (read: too much info and not enough games for ds8), but there are lots of good sites. The experiments have been enjoyable, and most have worked, and we haven't had to purchase any additional supplies. We haven't made use of the notebooking aspect, but it would add a lot to the program. Also, having a weekly schedule is nice to keep on track. I do agree that some assignments are kind of short, although on the days you only read a couple pages, if you went through all the internet links a lesson would take at least 30 minutes, and the program is scheduled 4 days a week. There is nothing in the way of quizzes/testing, but since I read aloud the books and they narrate back to me what they've learned, at their age it hasn't been a problem for us. Hope this helps - there's just too many selections out there! Hope you find one that suits your family.

My oldest ds (10) was an awful speller. We switched to SS last school year and the difference is amazing. He is very logic/pattern oriented and it has helped him tremendously. I also like that he's not just memorizing a list of words, spitting them out, and moving on and forgetting them - which is just what he used to do. The various patterns are revisited and the idea of a "test" everyday has been so helpful. My ds 8 who is a natural speller also thrives on it. Neither are dyslexic, but I can't say enough good about this program. I've seen his spelling improvement reflected in his writing too. It's a great program - give it a try!