So many wonderful suggestions! Thank you all so so much! I appreciate it! Thank you for bringing this to my attention kolamum... I did not know this even existed! But yes, these symptoms sound exactly like my daughter and I will look into getting her tested just in case! I think we are going to go ahead and order CLE Reading and work through it with her, as well as have her read aloud a novel that is right on or a bit below her level. We already use CLE English and enjoy it, and she is actually doing very good with it. We use Wordly Wise and she has done pretty good with it. We are only on lesson 6 though, but most of the time she gets through those passages without too much trouble. I am still trying to discern if it is just a learning style issue as well... Lots to think about. AGAIN.. THANK YOU for all of your replies. Each and everyone of you have given me great advice and lots to think about. I just love this forum:)

Thanks... great advice... I need to let go a bit and just let her choose the books she wants to read for now. I admit that I can be a bit of a box checker. Maybe I am the problem! LOL We are not going to throw in the the towel.... but boy was I swinging that towel round and round just about ready to release it :lol: :lol:

THANK YOU for the wonderful replies.... We are going to take a break from the Sonlight readers, and I am going to look at the Reading detective workbooks. I also think that it may have been that the book is just not engaging her as well. After my little meltdown, my daughter and I had a nice chat. She said that she actually enjoys reading some, but the historical fiction books just are not up her alley. She also said that it is easier for her to understand things if she reads them herself versus me reading aloud. She really wants to go to a more traditional method of homeschooling. She likes textbooks and workbooks, and has asked to please try the BJU DVD program. My 16yo just walked in from school, (she attends a private christian school) and noticed that we obviously had "one of those days" and sat down to chat with me about it. She really thinks I should let my 11yo try the BJU. My 16yo is an avid reader, but hated when I made her read all the historical fiction when she homeschooled.... LOL She LOVES and thrives on textbooks, which is why she begged to go to school when she was in the 8th grade. I guess some kids are just that way.... My 11yo was very happy when I put the Paul Revere book on the shelf.

I am so ready to throw in the towel on this homeschooling adventure. First, I cannot seem to find a program that my children like or can comprehend. We tried HOD last year. We did CTC with my 10yo and she could not understand the spine for history that was being used. I then decided to read it to her, and she still was having comprehension problems. She also had issues comprehending the novels she was suppose to read. So, I thought, hmmmm maybe she needs a refresher course in phonics. We went through a phonics brush up, and I had her read some multi-syllable words and she was able to read everything just fine. So I guess it is just comprehension issues. We are doing Sonlight core d with advanced readers this year, and she can barely answer any questions about the books right. Everyone speaks against canned reading curriculums, but I am wondering if this will solve our problem. I don't know what to do to help her understand what she is reading. She does not have any learning disabilities, and maybe she just isn't into literature and reading like most homeschoolers. I just feel like I am failing her big time. I am considering just putting her in the BJU DVD program as well. It is so frustrating to have her go read and she come back and cannot answer any questions right. She is reading Mr. Revere and I right now and is having a very hard time with it. She honestly has never enjoyed reading much... she will get into a book every once in a while but she just isn't a reader. Should I not have her read so many novels that sonlight comes with? Should I just do BJU Reading or CLE reading and call it a day? I could really use some encouragement or direction. BTW... She is re-reading the chapters in Paul Revere and I as we speak with tears... she doesn't like the book, she doesn't like historical fiction.. she hates reading... UGH!!

I have used both CLE and Rod and Staff. We are currently using CLE, and will finish the year with it. I plan to go back to R&S next year. CLE is a great program, but Rod and Staff explains things so much better that CLE! R&S also spends more time on a concept and I think it helps them retain it. The spelling exercises in CLE, in my opinion, are not that great at all. I like R&S Spelling much better. The ONLY downfall to R&S Spelling is the words are not challenging, but the exercises in the book are.

Great Question! I started my 3rd grader on IEW Bible Heroes. He did ok on the first few assignments, but it was like pulling teeth, so we put it away. My 11yo was in public school for 3rd grade and yes, they did expect 5 paragraph persuasive, compare and contrast, ect... Here is the thing though... After she completed it and it was graded she brought it home. I read through the papers and they were filled with run on sentences, comma splices ect... But she still made A's. I personally think expecting a 3rd grade child to write papers is too much. WHY do they need to write those types of papers at 8-9y??? I am now of the opinion that formal writing can wait until 11, 12 or even 13 depending on the child. My 3rd grader is doing CLE English and does lots of copywork and I do think that is plenty. I have Treasured Conversations and plan to go through that with him in 4th or 5th grade. My 11yo is doing IEW American History based writing and is doing great with it. She did say that it is getting boring and is too easy. I may sign her up for a WWS online class next year. I truly think it all depends on the child. Some are ready and some are not. Go with your gut! You know best and try not to keep up with the public school. Schools do not know what they are doing! LOL

I have discovered that my kiddo's LOVE doing lapbooks/binder builders. We are using Sonlight's readers and read aloud, but don't care for the history portion much. I am considering doing A Journey through Learning unit studies for the 17th and 18th century and then adding in picture books or use the internet for more research for history. Just curious if anyone has done this. Jennifer

Shari... did you end up going with illuminations? I just found it myself, and I am drooling over the literature guides and everything it has. I would tweak a few things, but honestly for the most part, I can see me using the rest as is. I was doing a search, which is why your post has been resurrected:)

I will be teaching Fix it ! book one to a group of 3rd-6th graders in a co-op setting twice a week. I would love some advice on how to make it more "fun"!! I know there are some very creative folks on this board:)

THANK YOU for all the responses! The Co-op is from 9:30-3:30... The curriculum is chosen for me, but we were using a few of the subjects already. My biggest issue is the grouping of 3rd-6th graders together... I just don't see how this will be a good thing with grammar and writing. My 8yo and 11yo are at totally different levels completely. I would not teach them together at home for these subjects! My 11yo has been through Rod and Staff English 2-5! My 8yo has been through Rod and Staff English 2. They did say that the grammar may be easy for the older kids, but it is important to build a solid foundation! I can see their point, but my 11yo already has a solid foundation:) I was planning on putting my daughter in a Private School for High School at least for a few classes, and I just don't think she will be ready academically if we do the co-op. Our local Christian school is extremely welcoming to homeschoolers and allow us to take part time classes, and they get to participate in all activities, such as dances and parties.... it is very nice:) After reading my response here, I think my decision is clear. I guess I feel like I may be missing out on something that could be very good. But the thought of being out of my house twice a week haunts me! I like not being tied to a "school schedule" and I like taking off a week when I want to. Plus there are times that we need to stall in an area or move ahead in an area. The science they are using is not my favorite, nor my children's favorite. UGH!!

**cross post from general board:)** I have an opportunity to join a new co-op forming this fall. It will be 2 days a week and is an academic co-op. The subjects that will be covered are Grammar, Writing, History, Science and Geography for grades 3-6th. Grades 3-6th will be taught together which brings me to my first concern. I just feel like that is a pretty big age span and am trying to figure out how writing and grammar will be taught and be understandable for the 3rd graders and challenging enough for the 6th graders. The younger kiddo's will do the same as above, but take out Grammar and Writing and add phonics games. They do not intend to teach the child to read, just have fun phonics games. Math, spelling, and whatever else you want to teach will be done on the days you are home. My first thought is how wonderful the social aspect of the co-op will be, but then again, I have only met one of the ladies in the co-op and none of our children have met. Also, as I mentioned above, I am very concerned about teaching the same concept for grades 3-6th grade. hmmm Oh, and each mom teaches and co-teaches a class and stay at the co-op the whole time. What would you do? This decision is really, really hard. Part of me wants to give it a try... but then I feel like a bit of my freedom is taken away. I mean there are some weeks that we just have to wave the white flag and take a week off. The accountability will be great, but what if my child doesn't get a concept and needs more time, or what if my child is doing really well with a concept and needs to move faster? Has anyone ever done a concept like this?? I would love to hear how you liked it. There are 9 families involved, so it is a small group. HELP!

I have an opportunity to join a new co-op forming this fall. It will be 2 days a week and is an academic co-op. The subjects that will be covered are Grammar, Writing, History, Science and Geography for grades 3-6th. Grades 3-6th will be taught together which brings me to my first concern. I just feel like that is a pretty big age span and am trying to figure out how writing and grammar will be taught and be understandable for the 3rd graders and challenging enough for the 6th graders. The younger kiddo's will do the same as above, but take out Grammar and Writing and add phonics games. They do not intend to teach the child to read, just have fun phonics games. Math, spelling, and whatever else you want to teach will be done on the days you are home. My first thought is how wonderful the social aspect of the co-op will be, but then again, I have only met one of the ladies in the co-op and none of our children have met. Also, as I mentioned above, I am very concerned about teaching the same concept for grades 3-6th grade. hmmm Oh, and each mom teaches and co-teaches a class and stay at the co-op the whole time. What would you do? This decision is really, really hard. Part of me wants to give it a try... but then I feel like a bit of my freedom is taken away. I mean there are some weeks that we just have to wave the white flag and take a week off. The accountability will be great, but what if my child doesn't get a concept and needs more time, or what if my child is doing really well with a concept and needs to move faster? Has anyone ever done a concept like this?? I would love to hear how you liked it. There are 9 families involved, so it is a small group. HELP!

Storygirl... This was EXACTLY my concern! I felt like my kiddo's needed more than just reading novels. I truly feel like CLE will help with their comprehension and to slow down and understand what they are reading.

I am strongly considering CLE Reading for my 3rd and 5th grader. We are doing Sonlight core D together, but I am feeling like we are not learning literary elements, and I feel like they are not really paying attention when they are reading their novels. I have looked at the scope and sequence of CLE and it looks great. Of course I don't want to overdo it in the reading department, but I also don't want to overlook teaching my children important skills. Soooo do you use a Reading Curriculum through 8th grade, and if not, how do you make sure everything is being covered?

Thank you!! I think we will do what Yvonne does... I will require all worksheets to be done. If there is a concept that my dc are not getting then I will require more exercises. We have done most diagraming together, or on a white board. After each sentence, we usually went over it right then and did corrections if needed. My 10yo especially loves doing it orally... and we have a good time doing it, as there are some sentences in R&S that just make us laugh. :)

I have always used Saxon for my 6 kiddos. I also utilized the DIVE cd's as well. It has worked very well. However, Saxon was moving way too slow for my mathy 8yo, so I gave CLE a try and LOVE it! I will probably keep using CLE for another year or so and then move him over to Saxon. My kids have always been able to read, or listen to the DIVE CD on their own, so it has been largely independent. My older 3 have scored very well on their PSAT/SAT scores as well:) I love Saxon!

Just curious.... How many exercises do you assign for the child to do? I mean actually sit down and write out the answers? We did most of R&S 2 and 4 orally last year, but I am thinking it may be time to assign more "written" work. Advice? Opinions?

Would WWS be too much for a 6th grader? We have used WWE 2 and part of 3, then we moved on to IEW A dvd's. I am wanting to sign her up for WTM WWS 1 class. I have just heard that it can be challenging. Opinions:)

Does anyone have experience with these online classes? I am thinking about signing my kiddo's up, but would love some feedback! I will be working part time from home, and am hoping this will free me up a bit!

Glad to know I am not alone!! LOL I think the real problem here is that I feel like I must follow someone else's plans because mine would not be good enough! sigh.... I need to just get over my fear and read what I want to read and do what I want to do!

Thank you for all the replies! You have each given me a lot to think about. I really do like something all scheduled out for me, but I am wondering if that may very well be my problem. Meaning, I feel the need to do a curriculum as written or I feel guilty:) I am leaning toward Sonlight... But I DO like the ideas of taking the book lists of both Sonlight and HOD and doing my own thing. Hmmm SO MUCH to think about:)

I am literally spending all my time fretting about which program to go with next year.... so much anxiety on choosing!! UGH! We used HOD Beyond and CTC this year. It was ok... Beyond was way too easy for my 8yo and it we usually did a weeks worth of reading and work in a few days. He hated the science, and thought the experiments were silly. I guess I may have placed him in the wrong level. Also, after while I completely dropped the read alouds simply because they were not scheduled for me. My 10yo used CTC and we are still not done with it. She enjoys the notebooking pages because they are pretty, but some of the things you write in the notebook kind of seems worthless to me. She had a very tough time comprehending the History of the Ancient World, and I ended up having to read it to her. We would take turns reading a paragraph, and then I did my best to explain what the book was trying to say. The language is very archaic and she and I just don't care for it that much. The read alouds were ok... nothing too exciting. She did not care for the science at all... and she NEVER wanted to do the history projects because they seemed silly to her. We started the year doing DITHOR also... That was confusing, and I had absolutely no notes to see if my daughter was really getting what she was reading unless I pre read the book. We ended up dropping Dithor and reading altogether!! UGH Once again, since it was not scheduled for me we just did not do it. I feel like I have completely wasted this year away. We did not like the writing book much either. Sooooo I am wondering if Sonlight would work for us. For one, I could combine them both in Core D history AND science and just have the 8yo(almost 9) read the regular readers and have my 10yo(almost 11) read the advanced readers... Oh.. wanted to say that my 8yo is a very strong reader. He read tons of books this year because he wanted to. He went through the HOD readers 2 in just a few months. I feel like I would get everything done since it is scheduled out for me. THEN.... I go and look at the HOD RTR program and feel guilty and once again feel drawn to HOD.. The books look so good, but then I realize many of them are the old language type books. I truly love the fact that it really goes through and explains that time period, but will my 10yo even "get" it?? Then I think she will eventually get to that time period in Sonlight, but am wondering if it is explained in a good way? I then get confused as to what to do! I tend to get this warm mushy feeling when I think about all the wonderful biblical stuff in HOD, but then actually doing the program, it kind of seems forced... I am one of those who can read a secular book and bring in biblical principle while reading it. Does that make sense? I did briefly talk to my hubby about it, and he thinks I should just go with Sonlight. I don't know what is stopping me though... Will it turn into too much reading? Are the books way above my kids level? Will they really learn? So many thoughts going through my head. I will also have a kindergartener this fall, and I am thinking of doing Sonlight K with him. I have HOD Little Hearts and I already know he and I are not into the cutesy little rhymes ect.... I also think I have spent way too much time reading different board trying to decide which direction to go. In one thread I read how Sonlight ruined her kids and they were behind, and then in another I read how Sonlight was the greatest thing for their child and their child also received a $20,000 scholarship. LOL!! My hubby says it is not the program, but what the parent does with the program. Oh... and some say Sonlight is not biblical or may be too heavy.. I DO shelter my kids to a certain point, but I want them to be able to truly understand the world we live in. I am not sure I will get that with HOD... hmmmm Advice? Somebody want to just come slap me?? LOL

I will be using Sonlight Core D with my 9 and 11yo and am considering Sonlight Science D as well. I am trying to decide between Sonlight and Bob Jones.. HELP!

Is this website working for others? When I type it in, it takes me to Blue Pear Software website... weird... Spam??

Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking for my gymnast. She is sore most of the time, and I usually let her sleep in until 9.. sometimes later if she had a tough strength training week. She will miss several Fridays if she were in school due to traveling to a meet. In the past, we have got in very late on a Sunday evening when coming home from a meet. Being home gives her time to relax before practice and she is also able to eat better! She eats tons of grilled chicken and fruit, and the chicken tastes much better hot off the grill at home;)