Anymore ideas? I'm looking into Veritas self paced, but I don't think we would like Tapestry or Biblioplan because we didn't like Sonlight. They both seem very similar to Sonlight. Looking for more independent reading for my kids with maybe some discussion time, but not teacher intense.

Where did you get the free download with questions from the book? Also, I have seen on youtube where several of the experiments are done. Do you think watching the experiments would serve the purpose and allow you to do each lesson, or do they need to be done personally?

I do think you can do IEW SWI A without TSS, but you may have to do a little extra work digging on their website for help if you get stuck. Or you can just watch the DVD with your child (that is all the same info as TSS). I am sure you have a great background in this area, but the way they teach writing is different than most (in my opinion). I would recommend IEW SWI A if you are not going to get TSS, because the theme based books do not give enough background on how to do the program (again in my opinion). Also, IEW SWI A is fairly advanced in my opinion (per the grades they recommend). I tried in one year when my girls were 2, 3, 4th and had to table it for one year till they were a little more mature. This year they are doing well with it as 3rd, 4th, 5th graders. My 3rd grader is quite advanced, but does still tend to need more help and hand holding than the other two. HTH. :)

Glad to hear you are liking the RSM level G. We are about done with RSM Level E and I am on the fence as to whether to go to level G or start a different curriculum. We did do RSM fraction book between Level D and Level E. It did help some to solidify those areas, but it still has some gaps in my opinion. You said next year you will do Pre-Algebra, what curriculum? Sorry I don't have any suggestions about what to pair Level G with. We do double math in my house. I teach them RSM and they do Teaching Textbooks on their own, as reinforcement. I was thinking about just doing TT starting after level E, but if you like G I might consider it. Thanks.

We have used both FIAR and B4FIAR. We used B4FIAR with my youngest when she was 3 and 4. I am using FIAR with her this year for Kinder. I used FIAR years ago when my older three were K, 1, and 2nd as well. We are big fans of FIAR and unit studies in general. If you have 2 youngers who can do school together B4FIAR might be a great option to do first. It is definitely a lower level than FIAR. There are some concepts in FIAR that are above my Kinder's level, but we just choose to skip that item and do one of the others instead.

The only concern I have about using Veritas Self Paced is that my 3 older girls will be on different histories. They will be 4th, 5th, 6th next year. Is that how it works? How long does it take them daily to complete the Veritas Self Paced history.

Talk to me about Science in the Beginning. Can you really use it with kids grades 1-6? Do you read to the text to your kids or do you older ones read it to themselves? How are the experiments... time consuming, worth while? Can you finish the book in one school year? Did you like it? We are moving away from Nancy Larson Science next year. I will have 1st, 4th, 5th ad 6th graders. Wondering if we can truly do this together? How long per day? 2 days a week or more? Thanks.

Realizing that we need to shift to a new History Curriulum next year for my 3 older girls. They will be 4th, 5th, and 6th next school year. I want to continue to do history together with them. I also have a younger one who will be 1st grade. Biblical worldview is important. I like if we can do history 2-3 times a week, but could swing every school day if it is less time. We are using Beautiful Feet and like it but I want them to be more independent in history next year. Any suggestions? It would be a great bonus if my younger could follow along at her level, but this year in Kinder she can't follow the Beautiful Feet intermediate level at all with us. We do like unit study approach very much. I am open to other options.

Does anyone have recommendations for a Bible curriculum or devotional that includes Scripture Memory for Kinder age? My older 3 have done school together for 3 years, but my youngest is now starting. I have been using Long Story Short Devotional (Old Testament), but now we are part way through Short Story Long (New Testament). I hate to jump her in at this point (although, yes she has sat in on some of it). I used Leading Little Ones to God when they were young, but I don't seem to have it anyone. For Scripture memory the older 3 use Sing the Word Cds. We are now onto the longer ones, which will be too difficult. Any ideas? It would just be for my 5 year old. I don't want to assume she can do the stuff my older 3 can do, but want to be sure we have a good foundation in Bible. I don't want super intense because we do family devotionals at night and Awanas. Thanks.

VP= veritas press?

Good info everyone. Thanks. I was thinking of after level E, doing Teaching Textbooks. My girls do both RSM and Teaching Textbooks at the same time. We are in level E for my older two and D for my 3rd one right now. I wonder if anyone else has gone to TT after RSM?

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Does anyone have a suggestion for upper elem grades reading only curriculum that assesses & strengthens comprehension. I'm looking for something that allows my daughter to read recommended chapter books & then answer questions. We do take quizzes after each book online at book adventure.com, but I'm looking for something more. I've been using book lists off both logos academy online & IEW reading Roadmaps. I've seen guides on logos academy too, has anyone used those? I often google free printable reading guides, but there isn't always an option. I've seen materials on teachers pay teachers.com, but is prefer a years worth curriculum for next year. She is close to age level on reading. I want the books to be fairly safe content (Christian list approved if possible). Doesn't have to be Christisn content, though. We already have grammar covered & spelling. I'm hoping for questions or even literature activities after each chapter. Any thoughts? It can't be too intense for this daughter. She's come a long way, but can't handle intense.

I'm sorry all the Dancing Bears levels sold and the Dianne Craft materials. I only have Apples and Pears Spelling level C & D. Feel free to ask more questions about the programs though.

Here is a picture of her using at our school table. She uses at her desk too.

I don't think it is babyish. Early on in Apples & Pears, we had to do 1/2 a lesson a day instead of a full lesson a day. The dictation part was difficult early on for my daughter. She got incredibly better over time.

My daughter has a hokki stool for school. She used a large ball with feet the prior two years. She likes the stool better. She said bc she can move more on it. I think it is better than the ball also. We have used a inflatable disc at the table some in the past. I notice she stays at the table or desk more on the hokki stool as opposed to the ball.

Each program had different strengths. Which one are you looking into? Dainne Craft items helped my daughter with visual tracking problems and helped provide a way to make information "stick" in her brain. She also had several reversals in letters before we started this program. We used both the Dianne Craft Brain Integration therapy book and Right Brained Phonics. I only used it for 1 year, our first year of homeschool with my oldest daughter. This program is a good starting place for dyslexia, visual issues, and other learning challenges. Dancing Bears is a Reading/Phonics program by Sound Foundations. It is from the UK. There are a few words in it that we spell different, but not enough to matter. We used this program our 2nd year homeschooling for the same child. It helped her tremendously to gain fluency and speed in reading. It uses a cursor to help with visual tracking as well. It takes NO teacher prep, it is open and go. It isn't time intensive at all. I think it was 5-15 mins a day. You can start at Fast Track AB or level A depending on your child's reading ability to start with. There is a placement test on their website. I used several levels of this program with my oldest daughter. This program is excellent for slow, delayed readers, learning challenges, visual issues, dyslexia and more. Apples and Pears is a Spelling program by Sound Foundations also. This program was a good option for my struggling learner because it didn't use ANY rules to teach spelling. My daughter just isn't able to memorize spelling rules. So this program uses chunking and repetition with dictation to teach spelling. It did help my daughter learn to spell better. It is also open and go with no teacher prep. A side not about the Sound Foundations programs, very good in teaching method for challenged learners.... BUT be aware that since it is a UK program often the topics on the reading, etc... are not what I would have expected. Things like pubs, beer, liquor, etc... Not the end of the world, but you should be aware in advance. I noticed this much more in the Dancing Bears (very little in Apples & Pears). What other questions do you have?

ETA: SOLD Dancing Bears all levels and Dianne Craft. Apples and Pears Level C & D still available. I'm not sure if this allowed but I know this is the forum that would be interested in these items. I listed them on the classifieds on this site. Apples & pears c & d. Dancing bears a, b, c & fast track ab SOLD Dianne Craft right brained phonics. SOLD Also I would be happy to discuss what I thought about each program for those looking into these for the future. I used them with my oldest who is a challenged learner. She had trouble with visual tracking, memorizing, reversals.

Dolphin, thanks for the reviews. We are going to try Phonetic Zoo A in the fall for my oldest 2 dds. The oldest one is a struggling speller, but a very auditory learner. I am hoping this will be the right fit for us. Which DORA test do you use? The reading one? Does anyone know of a free online assessment for spelling, to track progress? Like the DORA Let's Go Learn that Dolphin mentioned, but free?

Thanks for all the input. We will be adding a word to fix this sentence. Great insight and helpful info. Thanks.

Ok, I realize I should know this answer but I don't. I did google it but still didn't get the answer. My 7 year old daughter is doing IEW Bible Heroes and wrote this sentence. "The Israelite army, who were afraid of Goliath, were protecting their homes. I think it should be WAS instead of WERE, because I think army is singular (one army, right?). Is that correct? She is an excellent writing, so I want to tell her right. Thanks.

Hi, I have an older copy of IEW TWSS. Copyright 2001. I just realized recently I am missing pages 17-24 in the Seminar Workbook. It is the section titled Syllabus in Style. Would anyone be willing to help me with this, who has this edition or a newer one? I don't think it would be a copyright issue, because I own this product. I need a copy of these pages, bc there are lost and missing. I can pay you for the copies and postage via paypal. I did contact the company and they are no help. They want me to buy a whole new seminar workbook. Thanks.

Also, there is a online printable level assessment for Apples and Pears. http://www.soundfoundationsbooks.co.uk/ We are using this with my oldest for the 2nd year. She is towards the end of level B. She is 3rd grade, and she is a mildly struggling learner. She doesn't memorize things at all, so A&P was been great for her. I also went ahead and rolled my 3rd DD into this in Kinder last year. She is continuing using level A again this year for first grade.

Where do you find out about these? Is there a discount to go at that time?