I don't know if this will help, but I got the literary workbooks to Ben and Me and Sign of the Beaver as a way for my ds who is advanced, to help me guide him to dig a little deeper. We have really liked them. Yes, they are just general curriculum, but I haven't seen anything objectionable, but I don't think I would ever choose the full curriculum, because we are wanting our academics to be from a biblical perspective. HTH

We are doing MFW Adventures this year and we really like it. MFW covers bible (non-denominational), history, science, music and art in the deluxe package. I don't know what time period you want to start in history, but MFW strongly recommends that you start with ECC Exploring Countries and Cultures, before you go into the other levels. ECC is for grades 3-6 and 2nd graders who have an older sibling in the program . So, sounds like to me this would be a good fit, age wise. ECC takes you around the world to explore diverse countries while learning geography and being challenged by true stories of missionaries. It incorporates the classical timeline, with Charlotte Mason shorter lessons. Fridays usually will be core subjects with nature walks. The TM is pick-up-and-go. In the back of the TM will give you a reading list for book basket for each week. Book basket is a great way to tailor books more to the level of your dc. If you thought that your oldest needed to be beefed up you could choose books from your library that would be more on the reading/comprehension level, and likewise for the 2nd graders. As for core subjects, you will be able to stick with what you are already doing, or you could go with their recommendations. In other years, like in science for grades 7 and up you add in Apologia science, so it's more on their grade level and then in Years 4 Exploration-1850 and Year 5 1850-Present, you can choose the lower elementary(2nd and 3rd grade) books for supplements. The only planning I have to do is go to the library for books once a week, and look at the supply list for the project. The supplies are usually schools/kitchen supplies I already have on hand, or something I can pick up at WalMart on grocery day. I've never had a hard time finding what I needed. HTH

I LOVE chocolate tea. (that didn't sound right!) anyway...here is a link, if anyone is interested. http://www.harney.com/chocolatetea.html and that's hArney.com not H#rney.com :lol:

Ingredients: 1/2 cup instant tea powder 2 cups orange-flavored drink mix (e.g. Tang) 3 ounces lemonade-flavor drink powder 3/4 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, mix together powdered drink mixes, sugar, and spices. Place in jars. Instructions to include with gift: 1. Place 2 to 3 rounded teaspoonfuls in a cup. 2. Add boiling water and serve.

I used Saxon 1 last year for about 4 months and then switched to Horizons 1 for a few weeks, and then picked Saxon back up. Horizons TM only gives you the concept that is to be covered with each lesson and gives some manipulatives ideas that can be used (but not included). Saxon's TM is scripted, so it gave me the confidence that I was actually teaching, using correct "math wording". It takes me thru teaching concepts, "building" as we go. It gives me the ability to teach my child math. With Horizons I was not doing that. All I was doing is talking my dc thru the worksheets, I'm not a math teacher, so I wouldn't know how to present a concept, use correct wording, or use manipulatives in the correct fashion. The best example I can give is that Saxon uses "some, some more stories, with manipulatives, learning doubles, 1+1=2, 2+2=4...and so on... with that then, the child knows even numbers, and then doubles + 1 fact are easily introduced. It amazes me they how they can take one concept and build SEVERAL other concepts on that one initial one. I definitely would not know how to present this... HTH BTW, I haven't done CLE

BTW, We used a place called Brain Works, it's like Sylvan Learning Centers, but more personable. They gave me the choice on which test to administer. They just happened to have the CAT handy on site, and I didn't have to wait for them to order the other tests ( Iowa, Stanford,etc). I took the CAT test in ps. My ds took the Stanford when he was in ps before being hs'ed.

DS did the Math, English(grammar), Spelling, and Reading portion of the test.

My son took the California Achievement Test this past year,and did really well. That came up in a conversation I had recently with a ps school teacher. She snarled up her nose and said that the CAT was too easy... What do you think of this?

We are doing My Father's World Adventures this year. It is for 2nd and 3rd graders and 1st graders who are reading and writing well. You cover: U.S. history, patriotic symbols from a Christian perspective with fascinating stories, hands-on activities, which are very easy, and convenient as far as supplies for the projects, a timeline, and a student created history notebook. Also includes U.S. geography, Bible, science, art, and music. You can also choose the basic package which is minus the art and music. I like Adventures because it it just the right level for my dc and I get to choose my own Math, LA, and I am doing my own science as well. Here is the link if you are interested: http://www.mfwbooks.com/adventures_my_fathers_world.htm HTH

We've had a great year this year in 2nd grade. I am SO glad we did MFW Adventures! Saxon Math,FLL has continued to be the perfect fit, too!

A Reason For Handwriting Book A has scriptures that you copy onto paper that is themed and the child get to color it also. The Queen homeschool copybooks are good as well as Memoria Press Copybooks.

We used these last year. A couple of the books were in our Noeo Bio I curriculum for Early Grammar stage (grades 1-3). Hope that Helps :001_smile:

:iagree:I did the same thing!

If you have any specific questions you can PM me and I will get my WWE book and find the answer to your specific question, if you like.

I'm doing FLL3 and WWE2 this year. As I understand it, I would say you would need both. FLL4 will count as your grammar, even though there is some dictation/narration included in the program. It is recommended in WWE that you just skip the parts that call for dictation/narration and implement it with WWE. WWE has narration/copywork/and dictation for you if you use in the WWE workbook. WWE Strong Fundalmentals is like the teacher text, takes you thru the how's and why's of the writing program. Then it goes thru scope and sequence from 1-4 grades. After each grade there is a evaluation to go thru to place your child in what level 1-4. The actual WWE workbooks that are availiable right now are books 1 and 2. I think that 3 will be out early next year. At the PHP site it says that the workbooks, "Used along with the core text, Writing with Ease, the Workbooks provide every dictation assignment, comprehension question, and reading passage that you'll need for a full year of study." So this is why you can skip it in FLL4. This is how I interpret it. HTH

In the WWE Complete Writers text, there are evaluations that will help you place your dc in the level they are suppose to be in. That is what I used to place my ds. He just finished FLL 1/2 and is moving on to FLL 3 after Christmas and he placed in WWE 2 HTH :001_smile:

My DS has completed FLL 1/2 and is moving into FLL 3 after Christmas break. I gave him the evaluations in the the Complete Writer teacher text and he placed in WWE2. We started it 3 weeks ago.

Could anyone tell me the differences between the two? TIA!

Sorry posted in wrong area...

I don't know anything about Asperger's. Im sure you are going to get some good advice from some ladies here. I just wanted to give you a big :grouphug: and let you know I am lifting you and your family in prayer. Having a sad but relieved emotion is crazy isn't it? They will fall into place in the days to come. I would just translate any emotion into energy to learn and deal with this new road you are going to be traveling. It is a great compliment that you have worked with your ds and that he is on target academically! You're a good mama who really loves her children! Love In Christ, Katherine

YES! My son DS 14 used them last year and this year as well. They were very helpful:)

First, my DD who will turn 6 on Dec 20, which I consider a K'er started with Saxon 1 this year and has been just fine. Last year when I started Saxon 1 with my gifted DS just turned 7, we skipped the first half and I pre read the lessons and only did the lessons I felt like he needed. Especially the way Saxon builds concept upon concept concerning math facts. Everything circles around the double facts, then the next is double+1 facts and so on. I would DEFINATELY not skip any lessons that have learning those facts that way. It has really cemented math facts for my DS and he can go thru them in no time at all. Last year we started Saxon 1 the Monday after the 4th of July and we went thru it and finished after Thanksgiving. We went straight into Saxon 2 and didn't skip anything. We were about half way thru it and took a summer break. We got back to Saxon 2 the middle of July and we will be finished with it next week. I already have Saxon 3 and I have already looked thru it and have decided that the first 30-35 lessons are review. So we will skip those and hopefully finish in a timely manner so that we can take a summer break and start Saxon5/4 at the beginning of the next school year. Hope that Helps, YMMV, of course, but this is how we did it:tongue_smilie:

Here's some good articles to read by SWB http://www.welltrainedmind.com/charlottemason.php http://www.welltrainedmind.com/morecharlotte.php

My WW post is up!

Our tree has white lights and pearl button lights on it with candy cane themed ornaments. Then we have a "kid" tree that has colored lights and hallmark collectors ornaments with homemade ones that the DC have made over the years.