You rock! Now I can see what everyone is talking about :D

me too

I know CLE LTR and AAR are totally different programs. I was just wondering if anyone has used both and what your thoughts were. We are just starting with CLE LTR....only bought the first lightunit. AAR just seems like it might be more doable for us right now. I was thinking I could just sit on the floor and do it with our almost 5 and 3 year old. LTR just seems more one on in a book to me. And well,,,AAR just looks fun. lol

I need the student packet too right? Is that where the flashcards are?

Oh, how funny. :) I will check Saxon out. Thanks everyone :)

I love how in Growing with Grammar it indicates in the review where a concept was taught. It is a HUGE help to me in quickly helping the kids work through topics. Is there any math program that is set up this way?

We just ordered the 2nd edition of MFW K which I am really excited about. But, I keep thinking about using AAR as well. Do you think doing them together would be way too much?

I totally get it. I think the hard thing for me is working out a schedule that isn't ideal for me. In my head I want the day to go one way but our reality is quite different. I know it is silly but I feel like I am breaking the "rules" if we aren't doing school in the morning.

We have pretty much ironed out all of our curriculum issues. The last big thing is our schedule. I have been trying to have the older kids work on their independent work in the morning. Then we do our group work when the little ones are napping. At this point in our life....this schedule does not work. I feel like I am spread too thin accross the board in the morning. So I was thinking of trying to open up our mornings for crafts, reading, chores, outside time. Then we would do the bulk of our school from 12-4 or so. The little ones nap from about 12-2.....on a good day. lol My dh is in from work at around 2pm everyday. So this would mean there is a parent with the schoolage kids and one for the little guys. Just wondering if anyone else has tried this and what were your thoughts?

Ok, when I click...I can click on copywork or illustration. They both look the same on the screen though so I am not sure if they are different or not.

I just wasn't sure if each kid would need their own file with the cards?

There are 2 different links under the Hero Tales. One of them says copywork and the other ullustrations. They both look the same but I wonder if they print differently?

For which one? I can help you troubleshoot. :

Thank you for sharing this. It's amazing what some moms can come up with. I can not make a pdf or spreadsheet to save my life. lol

Rivers and lakes :)

I know there are a few threads going about AAS but I need to add another. :tongue_smilie: I have always used a spelling program with our older kids. I don't think the rules have really "stuck" though. My older 3 are natural spellers but I still want them to know the rules. I was thinking of starting AAS with my older 4 (7th, 5th, 3rd and 1st). I will start them all on level 1. I know some will move more quickly through than others. However my curriculum money tree is rather after being so over picked this year.:tongue_smilie: How con I do this with all of them without spending too much money? Thank you for any help.

That is what I was thinking about. We have the complete book of animals and the kids love it.

We have the World Geography grades 3-8 book but we are not loving it. Any other recs on something we could use in it's place?

You are exactly right. The light clicked for me last night. It's ok if I have to add in extras here and there. I always felt like if I paid for the program I needed to use each part. While I will probably use all parts I am going to add in some bible, science and geography that I think looks really neat. You are right though, finding a curriculum that works is an incredible blessing. :)

Thanks, Monica :) I actually decided to stick with MFW for now. I am now changing my name to Mrs. Waffle. lol I am just going to allow myself the freedom to add things in where needed. I am actually really excited to get back at it Monday so that is a good sign. :)

This is AMAZING!!!!!

You are right about the unit studies. I was thinking along the lines of lapbooks. Just a little extra to add in to keep things fresh. For example, one of our kids is obesessed with Macaws. I think it would be fun for the family to all learn about something that is important to someone else. It could even spark something in them they didn't know was there. I think the thing that scares me the most is not having a grid to follow each week. I love the MFW grid that we have followed for so long.

We have been hs'ing for 6 years and I have always used some sort of "boxed" curriculum. This fall I had planned to piece my own things together. Not like some of you amazing moms do from scratch. Just using this for science and that for geography and what not. Then after a few weeks I chickened out. I went back to a boxed. curr. These never end up getting done as we never really like what's pulled together for us. Is anyone else totally terrified of pulling their own resources together? How can I get ove r this? I really think I know our family well enough to know what will work. I am just so afraid to make that leap. I am so afraid I am going to leave something out or totally mess something up. Here is what I am thinking about doing. We have kids who are in grades 8, 6, 4, 2, K for this coming fall. Also a 3 and 1 year old. Math-MUS/MM or CLE depends on the kiddo History- SOTW 1 with AG/MOH 1 with a few of their extras Science- Apologia 2 days a week and Elemental Science 2 days Foreign Language- GSWS Bible-BSGFAA LA- GWG, WWW and SWS---not totally sure on this Handwriting--Getty Dubay Vocab-EFTRU--flashcards only Geography-finish using Expedition Earth and begin Road Trip USA Art/Music--pulled from our history/science/monthly themes/unit studies Phonics- CLE LTR for those who need it Reading--focus on the classics as well as using AO recs Kindergarten--not totally sure but leaning towards FIAR Typing-Typing Tutor Various Lapbooks--each family member takes turns picking a lapbook...This way we have lots of variety as everybody likes different things So do you think this looks ok? Any major things missing? I really want to try this but I am such a chicken. I know it might not seem like a huge deal but knowing all 7 are counting on me makes me worry that I can't do it.

This sounds really interesting. I know I feel like I lose their focus as we switch from subject to subject. I am really going to think on this. Thanks for sharing. :)

So it is doable. Now I just need to try to wrap my head around book prices. Looks really interesting though.