Thank you, this is what i'm looking for. Do you have any specific books that were good along this line? I'm wondering particularly for my oldest, in case he needs more, or my youngest, for parts that may be over her head so she has something to work on. I believe we do have the book they recommend for youngers already, if not, i'll be getting it. I have heard the Sonlight book lists go well with MFW. Should I look there? I'd like to stock up while i'm at conference. :)

I've tentatively decided to do MFW ECC next year with all three of my kids, with the 7-8th add-on pack. So this isn't another thread debating whether or not I should use it. I am going to a homeschool conference in May, where I will finally get to see the materials and talk to a rep in person, I cannot wait. :) My question: Are there other materials that work really well with this year that I should look at, from other vendors? I will have a dd in 2nd, a ds in 5th and a ds in 8th. Since I'm going to be at conference and have a chance to shop the vendor hall, I want to make the most out of my time there. Plus, if you guys have recommendations, I can see these in person and decide whether or not to buy. So, does anyone who has used ECC have any recommendations of books/materials/anything that work really well with this that I should get?

We're coming to the end of our first year, I feel like the 'old lady' of this thread.. LOL My kids are in 7th, 4th and 1st. Mostly, I feel like a dismal failure in terms of schooling. I am trying to cut myself some slack. It was really hard getting the ball rolling in terms of figuring out what my kids already know, gaps from school, curriculum and styles that work. It was a tough year for us. I scrapped more books and plans than I care to share. Right now, I'm just so dang happy that we FINALLY found math curriculums that work! We found a couple other things here and there, but it's been a struggle. SO much to learn, this late in the game. But. I remember the anxiety that my kids had, the pressure while they were in school, how they use to have such short fuses with each other when they came home from school. How I used to worry and wonder how I'd help them cope with whatever issue they came home from school with. How I used to miss them while they were gone all day and feel like I handed my kids over to someone else to raise and teach and nurture. So, i'm not going to consider myself a success because we accomplished anything worth a dang in a book. Rather, that I have known the anxiety of school, and have seen it melt away in my kids, myself. They have come a long way in their relationships with each other, and they have blossomed in their character. Their faith in God has grown. We have more time to talk, spend together, goof around. My 13 year old is unabashed in his love of legos, whereas his schooled counterparts are largely about dating and image. I am optimistic for next year, because I have found a curriculum that I think will work beautifully combining them all. So i'm good with just hanging in there until I can get that, and it's time to start. I'm so, so, SO proud of all of you on this thread. The joy that you all have with accomplishing the first year is fantastic, and I'm rejoicing to see all of the positive reports. I just want to throw my experience out there for others who might be struggling too, with encouragement to look at the big picture. Hang in there!! :)

We love it too. It's our first year and finally switching to CLE made a big difference for my kids. Can someone tell me when they are going to have 9th and up revised to Sunrise Editions?

L'Bri. :)

I haven't used them, and while CLE is working great for us for math and LA, I don't want to sit at the table all day with workbooks. Next year i'm strongly looking at MFW so I can make it easier by combining my kids, and I can sub in CLE for the math and language requirements.

My kids did Saxon at school before we pulled them out. Trying to do it at home didn't work as well, for us. I know many like it, but the daily grind of it got to be too much. If they are doing well, and you want a program like Saxon, but slightly different format, CLE is working well for us. You can print samples from the site to compare, as well as placement tests. My 1st grade dd went from tears during math (Saxon) to now asking if we can do it through the summer with CLE.

Do a search for "bratsack" at the etsy site. SUPER cute bags that I came across the other day. I am thinking of ordering one for my dd for her birthday coming up. Since they are on the go a lot, it'd come in handy, and you can stuff it with goodies if you like.

It's been a long time, but I also loved my Moby Wrap. When I first saw them, I though there was no way I was ever going to figure out one of those. But after getting DD tied to the front of me, and how stretchy soft the fabric was, I loved it. Small learning curve, but if I can figure it out, most anyone could. Super comfy. I also had an adjustable sling that worked great. It was a wahm though, who is now out of business.

Great info here...we're looking at starting MFW ECC this fall. A friend lent me some of the books that are in that package, and I like them a lot. I hope to see them at conference in May and really look their stuff over.

We started the year in R&S, and it's solid, there's no doubt about it. But we switched to CLE for the format, and my son is doing much better. I need to add in more composition, but we still getting used to homeschooling, so i've slowed way down and am working on adding one thing in at a time that works.

I haven't been at this long, and I don't know what i'd label myself other than a completely-enamored-with-Jesus Christian, but if you like: Then I suggest you check out John MacArthur. His commentary is excellent, my ESV study bible is a J. MacArthur one. I like Piper, but JM's writing style flows better for me and I love his stuff. "He Still Moves Stones" by Max Lucado fascinated me, and anything by CJ Mahaney, particularly his book titled "Humility". On-line sermons by Allistair Begg are great too. He's got an Irish accent that makes listening to him all the more intriguing. LOL

Just curious, are there deals on MFW at the curriculum fair, or is it just a savings on shipping? I've never done MFW before, but am looking at it for next year, ECC then my oldest will be in high school, so I watch these kinds of threads. :D

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25877 This was my post here going on three years ago. We ended up putting our kids in a private school using Saxon, because homeschooling was so intimidating for me. Finally, we are homeschooling this year for the first time. I regret not sticking it out. I'm not saying you should or shouldn't homeschool as opposed to afterschool, that's a decision that I feel is personal to each family, it was just my experience. Be glad that you are aware of the issue and can take steps to remedy it. Many never realize it.

You are so, so not alone. I pulled my kids out of school for reasons other than academics because, like yours, they were "excelling". It was after they were home and I started the testing that I realized that they were lacking in some major areas. It's our first year, and my oldest ds is in 7th. As what the others said, you're testing in CLE, a program that builds year after year. Mine also tested about where yours are. My 4th grader is doing CLE 400 series, so he's on target, but my 7th grader is doing the 400 series right along with him. I won't be continuing my 7th grader in it though. He's FLYING through it. As he's older, he's more proficient, picks things up quickly, so i'm not going to spend either of our time going back to 4th grade and doing five years of this. It's just not time or cost effective. I'm currently looking at Analytical Grammar to do for a year or two, and then concentrate fully on literature and writing. But as i'm still in research mode for that, I can't say it would be a good idea or not. If you go with homeschooling: Honestly, start with one subject at a time. It's really difficult to plan out all subjects at this level, not knowing where they're at in their learning. I tried it, and have thrown a LOT of money away doing it. Figure out where they're at with math. Get them going strong with a program that fits them, then move to LA. In the meantime, read, read, read; both you and them. Read about homeschooling, different methods. Find your style. Have them read good literature. Cook with them, learn how to be together. Fellowship with other homeschoolers so you have support and can relax. You'll get there, even through the hard stuff, homeschooling is amazing. :) If you keep them in school, plug into the afterschooling board here. I completely agree with whoever recommended to find out what program they are doing in school and work to enhance it. Please keep in mind that a lot of subjects for homeschooling are meant to be fairly independent at 7th grade level, so evaluate the merit of doing both hs and ps. It's not too late, i'm doing it. :) We're surviving. The character changes in my kids alone since bringing them home has been worth gold.

This was the draw for me. This is my first year hs'ing, and it just made my life easier. And the kids like it and are learning. :) I think that would depend on how much help your child needs in this area. The spelling goes all the way through the light unit, there are 18 words per section, three sections, so the kids are getting 54 words per light unit. It's handy that in the back of the light unit are three bookmarks for the kids to cut out and use throughout the lesson, or to take with them and practice. ETA: As far as the comparison between R&S and CLE, we started out with R&S. I liked a lot of aspects about it, but the format didn't work as well as CLE for us. I found us doing lots of it orally, which had it's merits, but I like that in CLE they have to write it out. Either way, you're getting a good program, but if you're questioning that often, it's worth the few bucks to buy one light unit and give it a whirl. :)

Oh gosh no. LOL I currently love it, but I did a lot of research into CLE before I bought it. There are many families who prefer Saxon, or some other curriculum, so I read a good share from those who don't care for it. The point is to find what works, and I think anytime someone finds what works for their family, we all should celebrate with them! :)

Yeah, like Faithe said, there isn't any in the 400 series LU's, you have to get their book, that I have no experience with yet. I'm hoping someone will chime in about how good "On Teaching Writing" is??

I vote CLE, but either way, do the placement test. :)

I have no experience with them, but as much as I'm loving what we've done through CLE so far in regards to Math, LA and reading, I wouldn't do the other subjects with them. It'd be workbook overkill in my house. I'm looking at MFW for next year, with CLE. :)

The comprehension workbooks. It teaches kids to analyze what they've read. And the readers are just good, wholesome stories that the kids like. I wouldn't replace real books with CLE. We use both.

Found this while looking at another thread. Thought i'd update. While LOTS of people love saxon, I find that we just don't. It moved very slowly, was very wordy and scripted, and my daughter was going nuts with the tedium of it. She wants to just get to her work and do it. It was also going so slowly that it felt like she wasn't progressing. Halfway through Saxon 1 and she wasn't any further than where she left off from Saxon K in school. It was like she actually regressed. Starting in LU 106 was challenging for her. We're taking it slow, she's picking it up now, but I REALLY regret not doing this from the beginning. Now, watching my son with Saxon Algebra 1/2 and him stalling out the same way, I can't see us ever returning to Saxon. It just doesn't fit here. For every unhappy review of it, you'll find a glowing one though. Sometimes you just have to try them.

Ok, back as far as the writing portion, for whomever asked. I just started the 400 LA this year, so we never did the 300. The original post caught me because my ds isn't getting much writing instruction this year at all in LA. After going over his materials again, it says in the beginning of the LU that creative writing exercises are not taught in the LA lightunits, that you have to puchase "On Teaching Writing" for that. So even though the 300 level DOES include writing, when you hit the 400 level you have to buy the extra book, which really is pretty inexpensive. I just hadn't bought it until I saw whether or not I would even like the CLE LA program. I would love to have someone who has used "On Teaching Writing" chime in if it's good or not? Since I like the other things, I might have to just get it. Looks like i'm in for the 700 Reading too. :) ETA: Mom28kids: yes, it covers spelling. :)

Was it a light unit that guided him through writing, or did you use the "On Teaching Writing" for that? ETA: Another question: I started my youngers on their Reading program, which I too love, but was hesitant to start my 7th grader because I wasn't sure if jumping in that "late in the game" would be good. Would you think that a 7th grader w/no prior CLE reading experience could handle the 700 series?

:bigear: We're doing Saxon algebra 1/2 but my son is having burn-out and i'm thinking of a change for next year.