Thanks Crystal and Christina. I appreciate the comparison between these programs and the amount of writing involved. Allison

bump:)

I am trying to decide what to use for my K/1st dd. She is almost finished with MFW K. I am not sure she is quite ready for the writing required in MFW 1st. However, I don't want to wait because I want her to keep progressing with phonics. Are there ways to modify the writing in MFW 1st? I have also been looking at Sing Spell Read and Write Level 1. It looks like a fun program and seems like the writing can be modified. Would this work well with something like Five in a Row? I really would like to do something fun with my daughter. I want her to love learning. Looking back, I took some of the fun out of the early years for my boys by requiring too much "real" work and making it feel more like school. I don't want to make the same mistake again. Are there any other programs that are lots of fun for K/1st but don't have a lot of History or textbooks? Any thoughts? Thank you!:) Allison

Thank you Jennifer. That was very helpful!:) I am looking at grade 1, it sounds like it will be a very good fit. Allison

How long do lessons take each day? Do your dc enjoy the program? Thanks! Allison

I don't know how important it is, but my 10 year old doesn't hold his pencil properly either. He went to ps for Kindergarten as well. I have tried to break him of the strange grip for the last three years, but he can't write if he holds it properly, so I have given up. His handwriting is relatively neat but he is having a hard time with cursive. Maybe it's harder to write cursive if you don't use a proper grip.:confused: Allison

Thank you all!:) I was feeling that we were behind in this area, but it sounds like we are doing okay.:) Allison

My ds is in 4th grade. We have been working on cursive for a long time, but he still can't seem to do more than copy sentences. Is this normal? He says it is easier for him to print. Is learning to write cursive necessary? I know it helps with writing speed, but are there any other reasons? Does anyone let their dc choose whether to write in cursive or print after learning both? Allison

Thanks Donna. These do look nice.:) Allison

Jessica, I just went to the site and it is kind of confusing. If you just wanted the multiplication facts, then you would need the book for $19.95 and the cards for $6.95. If you wanted to do the division facts too, then you would also need the division cards for $8.95. We haven't used the division cards yet, although they did come with the kit I bought. They are basically the times tales story and you find the missing part. I don't know if these will be helpful or not, but I do plan on trying them. The kits are a good deal I guess, but I would have been fine with just the story book and flash cards. If your kids really like songs and computer games then the basic kit and the computer game would be good too. But then it gets pricey (close to $100 if I remember correctly). Does this help? Please feel free to ask more questions if I wasn't clear.:) Allison

Hi Jessica. I'm not sure if you would want to buy the whole program for just the 8's and 9's, but you do have a younger one who may need it in a few years, so it might be worth it.:001_smile: There are 5 stories for the 8's. But for the nines they just give a couple tricks for making memorization easier. All you would need are the flash cards and the story book. Hope this helps! Allison

Hi Wendi. I ordered the entire program with the computer game, workbook, flash cards, textbook, and music cd. The only things we have used are the textbook (story book) and flash cards. My kids didn't care for the music cd and we just haven't gotten around to trying the computer game. I may use it for review this year. Hope this helps!:) Allison

I posted early in July about my ds having a hard time memorizing the multiplication facts. There were several very helpful responses and someone suggested Times Tables the Fun Way. It has been amazing!:) We have been using it for the past few weeks and both my boys have all the facts (except the 9's) memorized! We will be working on the 9's over the next couple of weeks. I was hesitant to buy it because I couldn't imagine it would actually work, but it has.:) Anyway, thank you to whoever suggested I try it!:) Allison

Thanks for all the advice. I love SOTW and think my dc would get a lot out of it now that they are a little bit older...but I like the idea of doing CHOW to "wrap it all up". I think I'll go that route this year and begin again with SOTW and Kingfisher the following year. I'll have to check out Biblioplan as well. I feel so much better!:) Thanks again. Allison

I am at a complete loss as to what to use for History this year. :confused: I thought I had everything in place using a pre-planned unit study, but have changed my mind. I have three dc, 4th, 3rd, and K-5. To complicate things further we have strayed from the 4 year cycle. We covered a little of the Ancients in grade 1. A little of the Middle Ages in the first half of grade 2 and Early American History for the second half of the year. Grade 3 we did World Geography and more American History. Confusing , huh? Both my boys are dyslexic and Reading, Writing, and Math have been our priorities for the past few years. We have lightly coverd History and Science and changed topics when interests changed.:tongue_smilie: I really don't want to use a pre-planned program. I have tried several, and have liked several, but have always tweaked so much to make the material fit my kids. I am thinking of starting over with the Ancients using SOTW 1. But am wondering if it would be too "light". And then what do I use the next year since the oldest will be in the logic stage? Do I continue with SOTW 2 and add in the KF History Encyclopedia? And this year I have a K'er too, so I am trying to decide what to do with her as well. I am also thinking about CHOW. If you have read this far, I greatly appreciate it. My husband says curriculum talk is off limits for a while because I'm making him crazy with my indecisiveness!:tongue_smilie: Any suggestions?:) Allison

Thank you all! I appreciate your feedback.:) OhElizabeth, I like your suggestion of a daily checklist. We will try that this year.:) Allison

I am going back and forth about whether to use a pre-planned unit study program or design my own the WTM way. What made you decide to use one or the other? For those that follow a pre-planned program, do you ever feel "tied" to the program? For those that use the WTM as a guideline, do you do a lot of planning, or is it more of just doing the next thing? Thanks for any feedback! I'm hoping after reading other points of view it will help me make a decision.:) (This is going to be my fourth year homeschooling, you'd think I'd have it figured out by now.:tongue_smilie:) Allison

We have enjoyed Hymns for a Kids Heart. It's great for the younger crowd.:) Allison

Hi Christa. You also might want to check out Heart of Dakota and My Father's World. Both have great programs for the ages of your dc. I may be wrong, but with WP, the only program where you could combine the three of them easily would be Animal Worlds. The only problem I see with that would be what you would use the following year that would be age appropriate for all kids. With MFW, you could put your 3rd and 1st graders into Adventures, with different LA and Math, and your 4 year old can listen in or do their K program. With Heart of Dakota, you could place your 3rd grader into Bigger Hearts, and your 1st and 4 year old into Little Hearts. I understand not being able to make up your mind. :tongue_smilie: Good luck with your decision! You really can't go wrong with any of them- they are all good choices, just different.:001_smile: Allison

Jennefer, I bought the Venezia biographies at least a year ago and have not gotten around to them yet either.:) Hopefully this year. :tongue_smilie: I am planning on Fine Arts Fridays as well, and am trying to schedule them in, which is why I thought of them. On a another note- I just visited your blog, and I love the frog cake. Too cute! I'm going to have to try that for my frog lover.:) Allison

I think your plan looks great.:) As far as music/art appreciation, we enjoyed the Come Look With Me series. My kids also loved the classical kids cd's. You could add in a few Mike Venezia biographies (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers). I think you have plenty for 2nd grade and don't think you need to add Themes to Remember. Enjoy your year!:) Allison

We have used MFW Adventures and K (we tried ECC as well, but it wasn't a good fit for us at the time), and are currently using HOD Bigger Hearts and Little Hearts. They are both great programs and I don't think you can go wrong with either. I don't think you would have any trouble using 2 levels with the ages of your dc, but it might be simpler to just use one. MFW K is laid out differently than their other levels and it took me a few weeks to get used to it. I also had difficulty with handwriting being tied to the phonics study. We really enjoyed Adventures, although we did tire of the state sheets by the end of the year. We also supplemented with a lot of books. Overall I thought it was a great introduction to American history and my kids still remember a lot of what we learned:) So far we have also really enjoyed HOD. It has been a better fit for our family this year. Let me know if you have any specific questions.:) Allison

I'm going to try and get a copy of the Shurley TM and practice book. Sounds like it will be a really good fit with WT.:) I appreciate all your help! Thank you.:) Allison

Okay, I just checked WTM recs for 4th and it looks like I'm on track if I can find a grammar program I like.:) I will take a look at Shurley. I had heard it was a time consuming program which is why I hadn't looked at it previously. Thanks!:001_smile: Allison

Thank you OhElizabeth! :) I will be using WT 1. I bought it to use for 3rd, and found it was too difficult for him. We tried again in the Spring and it was a much better fit, although we only completed the first 2 stories. I really don't want to use R&S and that's why I was thinking of adding ILL. I'm not sure if the grammar in WT 1 will be "enough" for a 4th grader. What do you think? :confused: I am planning on copywork once a week (Bible verse), and dictation three times a week. If I am also using WT, what else do I need to add? I think you may be right about duplicating and that is the last thing I want! I am adding a K'er this year and am still trying to figure out how to schedule all three kids!:tongue_smilie: Allison