My oldest 2 daughters are doing great at math computation but need a little more work on word problems. Does anyone have a suggestion, probably a workbook, to use as a supplement for math word problems? I am thinking we will do this over the summer. I don't really want a curriculum per say, just a supplement. Any ideas? They will in 2nd and 3rd grade next year, plus I will also have a 1st grader. Thanks.

I'm not 100% sure, but when I bought Dancing Bears Fasttrack it came with the cards. I wonder if in other countries than UK, they just automatically come with the necessary pieces. I didn't have to order the cards seperate, they just came in the mail (although they came seperate). The book is printed in the US but it is the UK version. Also, you can use one book with multiple students. I would suggest you use a different color ink or colored pencil to check the boxes, etc....

I'm looking into IEW for my oldest 2 daughters for next school year. I've tried looking at their website, but I'm still lost. There are 4 package options for this age group? Where do you start a 3rd grader? Both my older 2 will be functioning on a grade 3-4 next year, so I really want a good writing program. They both read well now & are finished with phonics. I have heard IEW is excellent. Tell me how you use this program in your homeschool & when you started. Thanks so much.

I've thought about this question a lot over this last year.... What we disliked: The volume of history spine book reading (maybe it wasn't as much as I remember, but it felt like it!) Lack of hands on activites (which I am not likely to go searching for, but my girls do love) The volume of history/geography and heavy content for a K, and 1st grader What we liked: Read alouds and readers (great literature) Easy to follow teacher schedule, open and go Scripture memory music CD I think generally, my girls were bored with the history/geography portion. They were very young, and I think now I recognize it was the wrong focus for us our first year homeschooling. I needed to be focued on the 3 R's.

Can you share what the program is and the link? Thanks.

Anyone else out there have several children close together in age? My oldest 3 daughers are ages 5, 6, and 7. Next school year they will be grades 1st, 2nd, and 3rd by age, but none of them actually fall into their expected grade. My oldest is a slightly struggling learner in almost all areas, but stays close to grade level. My 2nd daughter is gifted in LA (several grade above), and ahead in math as well. My 3rd daughter is suppose to be PreK this year bc her birthday is Sept, but I started her in Kinder and she is doing almost all 1st grade curiculum. So, based on their abilities next year they will be close to 2nd, 3rd and 4th in grades (approximately and not in age order). So, I'm really wanting to try to do history/geography, bible and science together. Also, my oldest two daughers have been able to do math together this year and PLL (Primary Language Lessons). They have seperate reading, phonics, and spelling though. We will likely stick with RSM next year and Nancy Larson Science. Any suggestions on Christian Core curriculums that might work? I tried Sonlight last school year and won't be using it again at this point. I am open to suggestions. I want open and go, so Tapestry of Grace really doesn't appeal to me. I have thought about My Father's World Adventures, Winter Promise American Story 1, and Biblioplan. Is there another one I should consider? Of these which works well with mutliple children close together in age. Is the bible component strong in any of these? Do you LOVE one of these for your family with multiple children in a row. Also, I'm struggling with LA curriculum. This year I have pieced it all together, but not sure I want to do that forever. I think my oldest 2 will be ready for a more formal grammar starting next fall. Looked at KISS grammar this morning, but I'm not very familiar with it. I also looked at Winter Promise LA packages. We did Shurley English last year, but they were just too young in my opinion to really get much out of it. Thinking my 2nd daugher needs a formal writing program because her giftedness it that area. Considering IEW but not at all familiar with how it works. Do you have to buy the videos for the parent to learn how to teach it? Are they expensive? Ok thanks.

Ok, I just searched the KISS website. I am kinda lost. So, since my girls are younger I would start at level one 2nd grade and 3rd grade (my oldest 2 will be 2nd and 3rd grade next year, althought my 2nd grader is gifted)? Then after we complete that level, we would do level two grades 3rd and 4th? Is most of the program online or printable?

What age/grade does this program start? I notice you are doing it with your 10 year old and not 7 year old. When is a good age to start it? Thanks.

I'm on the fence regarding RSM. We have used it this year for all 3 of my school aged daughters. My oldest 2 are doing RSM level C together, because one is ahead an one is slightly behind. My 3rd daughter is doing RSM B, even though she is Kinder. I looked at level A, but it seemed like a waste of time because it was too basic even for my 3rd DD who started Kinder young. I do really like the games, abacus and manipulatives. We used Horizons math last school year, and it didn't work at all for my oldest DD who does struggle mildly with learning. I choose RSM becuase it was a different way to teach math, and it worked well with children who math doesn't easily click. I love the mental math component of RSM (adding 2 digit numbers and subracting 2 digit numbers in your head, etc....). I see all 3 of my daughters now being able to do this with relative ease. I think the way that place value is taught is fantastic in comparison to other math programs. My oldest daughter hasn't quickly picked up every concept, so we have had to slow down and play games at times to reinforce the concepts. I love that there are games to reinforce almost everything. BUT it is teacher intensive, not in prep work but in time spent per day. I don't do much prep work before hand, except copying worksheets and pulling out manipuatives for the next day. You could as stated earlier just have your child write in the workbook or buy extra copies of worksheets. My husband is an engineer by degree and he helped me chose this program. He says it is the way he thinks, and that if you understand math it is easy. I agree that the method RSM uses is excellent, but very different than I learned in school. It has taken me a little while to get comfortable with the program this year, but after a short learning curve I was able to easily follow the lesson plans and teach. I do spend more time teaching math this year than last year. I am thinking this will pay off in the long term for all my daughters. One thing I did learn... You don't have to finish 1 lesson per day. Sometimes the lessons may take 2 days or more. That is ok, and after I spent some time contemplating this I realize it doesn't matter if we finish level C in 1 school year. I did speak with RSM via phone this year a few times. They said it is common to take 1-2 year to finish level C. I was so glad to hear that. I have decided to spend a set amount of time on math per day, and then we move on. After typing this out, I guess I'm not as on the fence as I thought originally. I will most likely be sticking with RSM next year again. I am extremely impressed with how well it has taught my 3rd daughter, who started math on this program, to think. She actually can do the methods better than my 2 older daughers who started on other math programs in prior years. Anyway, good luck.

Grateful for Grace, I sent you a PM about your opinions on curriculum. Thanks. :)

We used Horizons Math before my 2nd grade daughter started TT3. We also use Right Start Math, because we like the mental math and the emphasis on concepts. My 2nd grade daughter is average, at best, in math and does well with TT3 in 2nd grade.

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Thanks for bumping this thread. We are headed to this lesson in a week or 2. YIKES! I'm reading it now.

I have only used the Advanced Kinder LA, but we really like it. I have used other LA programs, and I am loving this program for my 3rd DD. I picked it because she was already reading 3/4 letter words starting Kinder, and it started exactly where she was for the Advanced Kinder. I will probably be using the LA 3 next year for my older 2 and the Stories to Short Chapters for this same daughter.

Hi homeschoolers, I looking into using either My Father's World Adventures in US History or Winter Promise American Story 1 for next year. Have you used either program or both? What are the pros and cons of each program? I used Sonlight Ancient Civilizations last school year, and it didn't really work for us, mostly because it was so intense at Kinder, 1st and didn't allow me time to focus on LA and Math. I know these programs can be similar to Sonlight, so I'm wanting other input on each. Next year, I will have 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade daughters (plus my youngest -3 years). I do like the Winter Promise language arts program I used this year for my Kinder this year. It was the advanced K LA, and worked nicely for her. So, I'm wondering what you liked, what you hated, what worked in each of these programs. Would a 1st grader work in Adventures (website says 2nd)? She will be a young 1st grader, but she reads decent already and is definitely advanced. How much time does the MFW or WP take in your daily schedule- not including LA or math? Do you like the WP bible currirulum for American Story 1, it doesn't look very integrated into the program? What LA option do you use with MFW? We already did PLL 1st 1/2 this year for LA. Are both programs hands on to some extent? Ok thanks so much.

Do you need a teacher's edition for the Zane Bloser? Or can you just buy the student edition? Is there a digital version available?

Does the Joy of Handwriting also introduce Uppercase Cursive letters? I can't tell from the sample online. Also, is there focus on strokes? Thanks.

Need some ideas of open and go cursive handwriting programs/workbooks? I am using A Reason for Handwriting, and I don't really like it for cursive. I am wanting more emphasis on strokes for my 2nd grade age daughter. Any thoughts? I also think she would do better with larger letters for examples and to trace right now. Thanks.

I have the Complete Writer Writing With Ease book by Susan Bauer. I just realized that several weeks it says, just follow this pattern and look up your own sentences, dictation, etc... Do the WWE workbooks have planned out copywork, narration, etc.. for EVERY week? Or does it say the same thing.... Now find your own sentences, copywork, narration? Also, do you think WWE is redundant with PLL? We are already doing PPL and it is going well. I was hoping to supplement with WWE for my oldest just to help with writing. She has trouble getting words onto paper, but PLL is helping some with that. Thanks.

I was wondering if there is a good phonics/reading curriculum to help my daughter who is K level (actually 5 next week), progress her reading. She is reading 3 and 4 letter words with short vowels well. She also reads some long vowels but still doesn't quite have it. I bought Winter's Promise Advance K Language Arts program, but is seems to be progressing WAY to slow at the moment. Maybe I'm just not patient enough? She wants to read, and even though I work with her the stuff is below her ability level. Any ideas? We also own Hooked On Phonics K-2. My oldest daughter is using Dancing Bears Fasttrack to help because she has stuggled with phonics (she is 2nd). But I really like the program. I was wondering is Dancing Bears Level A would be the right place to start? I see there is a level below that called Bear Necessities, though. I like that this program is open and go, and I don't need much to prep. Other suggestions are welcome though, too. Thanks.

I have bought World map place mats and US Presidents placemats at Walmart, but I can't find USA map place mats. Have you seen these anywhere? If so where? Looking for reasonably priced ones. I can order online, but with shipping it is really not a good deal. Thanks.

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What curriculums have you used in a co op Spanish class? Did you kids like it? Looking for beginner, elementary age Spanish. We are thinking kids ages K-3 or K-5. Thanks so much for you help.

Hi everyone, I am a member of a local homeschooling group. I am looking at starting a Co op Spanish class. I need HELP though. I have no idea how this works. I offered to organize, and I have found a native speaker to teach. I also have a location to meet. Please give me all the info you can about how it works. 1. How much do most groups charge for a class? 2. How often do you meet? Specifically for a Spanish class? 3. What age range do you think is appopriate? K-3, K-5 for beginner Spanish. 4. Do you pay the teacher? If so, how much? 5. Is their homework? I hope not! 6. Any suggestions on curriculum you have seen used in co op elementary Spanish. 7. Do you give grades? I am hoping not. Do you give a certificate at the end? Any other information on how this whole process works would be so appreciated. Thanks.