Saxon and Singapore's Challenging Word Problems

When I saw the samples of GWG online, I didn't think it looked thorough enough either. However, I finally decided to order it because of the great reviews I read on this board. I'm so glad I did. I order Grades 1&2 and Grade 4 and have read them both. I'm very impressed with it! They look very thorough to me. Actually I've been wonder if I should have ordered 3rd grade instead of 4th for my oldest. We're gonna give it a try when we start back in August. I think she will do well with it, though. The student manual is well written with many examples. I have no experience with Shurley, but I thought I'd give you my initial impressions of GWG. Good luck with your decision!

I had no idea that some kids transitioned so early. Maybe we're just really behind. My dd will be in 3rd grade next year, and I'm planning on giving her another year with the 3-lined paper. Her writing just gets so sloppy when she has to write smaller. I have a big stack of it (500 pages) that I 3-hole punch and put in her notebooks. She does use graph paper for all of her problems in math. It really helps her keep everything lined up. Angela in PA

We've been using AAS for a couple of months. I started my dd directly in Level 2. The AAS website has a 'test' dictation. It says that if you dc can complete it easily, they will do fine in level 2. The 1st chapter of level 2 reviews the important rules from level 1. We're really enjoying this program! I have no experience with the other programs that you mentioned, so I can't help you compare them.

I got an email about my preorder for WWE with Amazon saying that they didn't know when they would get the books and be able to ship them. The email had the option of cancelling the order, or that they could keep trying until Aug. 7th, when they would automatically cancel the order. I'm still hoping!

A lot of people like Growing with Grammar.

I read a post on another thread this morning about WWE in which a Mom was going to use it with her 5th and 7th graders. I haven't received my copy yet, but my dd (4th grade) will probably be in 3rd grade level in WWE. So, she'll be doing 4th grade WWE when she's in 5th grade in most every other subject. I don't know if it'll be possible to 'catch up,' but I'm not really concerned about that. I want my dd to have a good foundation in writing.

:lurk5:

We're using it and love it! I just started a few weeks ago for my dd(7). She really needs to learn the rules of spelling! It's helping her so much. I can see her stop and think briefly when she's spelling a word that she's unsure of, instead of just guessing. I love how the tests are sentences to dictate instead of a list of words. This helps review past words. We also review from our box of cards before each lesson. My dd enjoys practicing spelling in different ways from day-to-day: with the tiles on the board, writing on a dry erase board, and then writing sentences on paper. It's something different each day. It's working so much better for her that the workbook program that we used previously.

I'm really appreciating all the advice! Where do I find info on Latin Prep?

This will be our 1st year studying Latin. My dc will be in 3rd/4th grade and 1st grade. I've already purchased PL, and I'm planning to teach them together with it. However, I'm wondering if this will really work. If I follow the program through with LC I, LC II, and Henle, this would put the 1st grader starting Henle in 4th grade. I like keeping things simplified and teaching only one thing, but not at the expense of my dc's frustration or boredom. Have any of you been in this situation? What was your experience? Should I hold off on the 1st grader and just let the 4th grader get started? I've read a little about the Song School Latin. Would that be a better choice for the 1st grader for now? Thanks for your input!

This is my 1st year following TWTM. My oldest will be Grammar-stage chemistry, and we're planning to use Adventures with Atoms and Molecules. I love the simplicity of it! It looks great for this age.

I agree with the All About Spelling recommendation! Actually, you can follow it any way you want to. It's not really a Monday - Friday program. It's more of a go-at-your-child's-pace program. I'm sure that those of us who use it all do it somewhat differently, but that's one of the great things about the program: you customize it for your child. We pretty much just do 20 minutes of spelling, beginning with review of some previous words, each day. I also wanted to mention that the 'test' for each lesson is a set of phrases and sentences to dictate to the child. I love this so much more than just a list of words!

Oops! That link I just posted was for the same ones that PlaidDad mentioned, The Little Latin Readers. Sorry, I should've checked it out first.

Here are some: http://www.chcweb.com/catalog/Exclusives/LatinReaders/catalog.html I haven't tried them, but I'm definitely considering it! They have workbooks to go with them, too. Look at the samples.

I was just asking my husband the other night if it was possible to record myself on the computer and burn it to a CD. I was thinking that CD would be better than a tape for helping my kids with their memory work because it's easier to skip around. Does anyone know how to do this?

Do some of you use these together? I got ETC because my ds loves workbooks. It makes him feel like he's 'doing school' like his big sisters. But, now I'm wondering if we should be doing OPG along with it. Thoughts? Thanks!

I wanted to give you a little 'Bump!' here, as I am trying to learn more about different Latin curriculums, and I wanted to ask, What is LFC? Thanks!

I have the K and 1st grade Saxon. The K level has large calenders on each page and a blank "number line" running along the side and top of the page for you to add a new number each day. The 1st grade has a calender and blank weather graph for each month, a 2-page spread of a large blank number line to fill out for the entire year, and a 1-100 counting chart on the back page.

I agree that you don't 'NEED' it, but I've loved having it because it has made math pretty much independent for her. I have a 1st grader and pre-k (and toddler), so I like having some things that she can do on her own. I still have to grade her work and go over anything that she misses with her. I love the CD!

Here's an Ancient History copybook. There's also one for the next level of history. http://www.lulu.com/browse/search.php?search_forum=-1&search_cat=2&show_results=topics&return_chars=200&search_keywords=&keys=&header_search=true&sitesearch=lulu.com&q=&fSearch=ancient+copybook&fSearchFamily=0

I've heard that some people have the bindings of their books cut off and perhaps spiral bound to make them easier to use. Where do you get this done and about how much did it cost? Thanks!

I'm still looking for a grammar program for my dd for next year. She will be in 4th grade. I just heard about Growing with Grammar and I'm looking for reviews from those who have used this program. Do you find it thorough and rigorous enough? Is it really independent for the child? That would be a real plus for me! Any other helpful info (positive or negative) on the program would be great! Thanks!

I'm trying to decide on a grammar program for my dd (3rd grade) for the upcoming year. I'm really interested in FLL. Does anyone know if anymore books are planned after FLL 4? It would be great to stick with one program in the future. Thanks!

My dd will be in 4th grade next year, and this will be our 1st year using a classical approach. We will be doing SOTW 1, but I don't know what to do for literature. The 1st grade recommendations that go with this would be too easy for her, but I'm not sure if the 5th grade recommendations will be too difficult. I guess I can try, but I'll need a back-up plan if it doesn't go well. Should I not worry so much about trying to match Ancient lit with Ancient history? If so, what would be some good recommendations for this grade? Thanks!