My dd's been using BJU 3rd grade hardrive this year. She just informed me that she only likes the english and math, and that the reading and spelling are boring and too easy. She also said she wants me to teach her. I of course love everything about BJU distance learning and consider it a huge blessing because I just have no confidence in my ability to teach, and really struggled with anxiety and depression when I tried. So I don't know what to do, I really wish they offered individual courses at a better price so we could just use the math and english. I've already got science, history, and bible covered for next year apart from BJU. I own Spelling Power and already have SL readers lined up. Her handwritings great so I would just need copywork for practice. I have experience with Easy Grammar, and IEW SWI, but that still leaves math, and I know there's no way I could teach BJU which I would hate to give up for math. So anyone have any ideas? I think she's been needing a change for awhile now, and I've just been in denial about it. What would you do???

Our 8th grader will be using BJU 8th grade hardrive for everything except History. For history I'll attempt getting us through US history in one year, using two VP history cards a week with Hakim for our main spine, and lot's of SL readers and read-alouds.

Well, I started reading Out of Sync Child about a year ago and it just didn't click. The children it described seemed more extreme than mine. My ds definitely has issues, but are mild compared to what Out of Sync described.

Thanks for posting, your ds sounds alot like my 5 yr.old. I just started reading The Spirited Child on my kindle after reading this thread and I finally feel like I'm getting some clarification. It's still confusing though because I'm not sure if he's just spirited or actually has a medical condition that will require OT. I'm going to keep reading and talk to his doctor I guess. Hope you find the answers you need.

IMHO, I really don't think you need MFW1. Your 5yr. old is going to love the science/bible lessons in K, which I think are best used with a 5yr. old anyway, because of all the deep connections. MFW is quite hands-on, there will be all kinds of projects daily in Adventures and I know in K. You said you wanted to simplify, I used two MFW programs one year and it wasn't so simple, but definitely doable. I think using the K with your 5 and 4 yr.old together would be a great bonding experience for them. Then they can use the first together next year. I'd always keep two that close in age together for history, science, and bible.

I used MFW K with my 5 yr. old dd. my first year homeschooling. I was told by a friend who had used it at church that I would need another math program along with it, we used Saxon K which dd loved! We were already using Phonics Pathways before starting so the phonics was a lot of review. Then, my dd. began to groan everytime she saw the PP book, so I pannicked and spent hundreds of dollars on Abeke's K phonics program, which she did great with. For some reason I just didn't trust that the phonics in MFW was adequate, and needed the assurance, and security that Abeka provided me. I still used the science/bible lessons which are set apart in the teacher manual. The science/bible lessons are what make the program so wonderful and are alone worth every penny I spent.

I used ECC w/ a 4th grader my first year trying to homeschool. We really loved it, and I plan on doing it again the year after next. The science was light and we ended up adding Apologia with no trouble at all. You can easily skip the Geography workbook if your not into worksheets. I think for a christian wanting a geography/culture focus ECC is the way to go.

I used it with a 12 yr.old relunctant reader, so it just was not a good fit, and no we really did not enjoy it. Some of the read-alouds and readers were boring with difficult vocabulary, the notes were essential for us. It also moved way too fast for us and was just to much history reading for us. I got really burned out with historical fiction for awhile. But that was us. I learned I did not want every read-aloud I did to be historical, and I didn't want something telling me what to read and when.

We're using the new 2 this year. The books are great, kids love the discover and do dvd along with the experiments. They don't exactly ask to do science though, but at least it's getting done since SL makes it so easy.

You could combine them all using Veritas Press which would give you the same perspective as TOG.

Well, I've tried Core 6 w/ a 12 yr. old 6th grader and most of the books were pretty difficult for both of us, the notes were essential. I've also tried P4/5 with a 4 yr. old and the long stories w/ no pictures could not hold his attention, so we've put it aside for awhile and we'll stick to picture books for now. I'm using Core 2 now for my 3rd grader and it's perfect. So for my family I'd feel safer using a lower core than grade level. All families are diffferent and have equipped there kids to be able to handle different levels at different times.

My son's used BJU distance learning for seventh grade this year. His favorite subject is the Life Science with Mrs. Vick. He does it mostly independantly, I only grade his work. I think your dd. would love it as well, and it's all updated for the 3rd edition.

Check out Galloping the Globe from Geography Matters, I just discovered it includes science, bible, and missions just like ECC. Literature could be supplemented from SL 5.

That was hands down the best episode and I think the best play in Survivor history. Me and my husband have never gotten so excited before watching Survivor. It was so much fun!!!

Thanks so much. My dc will be using BJU distance learning again, but I really wanted my oldest to use Hakim as a spine for his american history next year instead of BJU, and wasn't so sure about the spines in Cores 3 and 4 for my younger dd. Now I think I have a new plan, as we are reformed christians and really want to study american history providentially. I think we're going to go with VP, using two cards a week so we can get through Hakim in a year, as well as other spines VP uses, that I already own. So glad to finally have this figured out. Good grief. What a day for me agonizing over all this. I sure hope my dc will appreciate all this some day.

I've been trying to figure out how to combine my 4th grade dd. and 8th grade ds. for one yr. of american history next year. How does reading aloud Hakim as our spine to both (w/ SL notes) sound? I would then have ds. read the rest of core 100 on his own as intended, and fit in books to read aloud to both from 3+4. Could this work? I'm just wondering if dd. would get enough out of Hakim, or if it would be to difficult for her?

I bought the new SL Science 2 to use this year. We've done a little of it as it has fit in w/ our BJU. They have kits that contain everything you need to do the projects after you watch them on the discover and do dvds. I guess my kids have enjoyed it, but we could have done without it, and I regret the money I spent on it.

Yes, simplify. I've finally come to the conclusion that for my family it's just not necessary to spend so much time and money on history and science in the elementary years. It's all going to get covered later.

I can so relate. I fell in love with the idea of CM and classical. I've tried MFW,TOG,SL,VP,and BF for history. And an eclectic mix for everything else. I about had a nervous breakdown and had to send them to CS for a year. Their back home learning on their computers for the most part, and we're all alot happier. Just wanted you to know your not alone. I hope you figure out what's best your family, and are able to let go of what was a fantasy for my family.

Would it be so bad to use BJU DVD's for my K5 son's phonics and math instruction next year? It would only be around an hour each day with me, and that would be his only t.v. time. I also plan on using some of the science and bible units from MFWK, and have SL pre-k for our read-alouds. I also have HWT I'd probably continue with. Oh, and Betty Luken's through the bible with felts, which he loves. It would just be nice to let someone else teach him to read, because I really struggle with patience, and this seems like a great alternative, even though I know less rewarding. Just wondering what the hive thinks?

There's a BJU latin roots vocabulary book thats taught with literature the second semester. You have to purchase it seperately. Spelling lists are included with the grammar. Do you have Bible covered? I didn't see that on your list. A solid biblical worldview is taught throughout every subject especially science and world studies so that may be enough for you. I hope your as pleased as we have been. We'll be using it again next year along with Sonlight. Our perfect combination.

I had the same problem with my fourth. It was very strange and so horrible!!! I gained a lot of weight, eating peanut butter bread and drinking lot's of whole milk. I also suspected twins, since they do run in my family, but no, only one big bouncing baby boy. I'm so so sorry your going through this. I think it only lasted through the first trimester.

I used MFW K a few yrs. ago. I ended up ditching the phonics and math for Abeka and Saxon. If your not feeling peace about the phonics I would act on that. The best part of MFW K is the science and bible, but I can't imagine doing so many hands-on projects when schooling 6 kids. You'll need to just pick and choose what ever works for your family, or just ditch it all together, because it really is just gravy. If you can pull it off though, it really is worth the extra work. I have fond memories of every unit I did with my dd., and still feel like it was worth every penny just for the science/bible aspect.

Sounds like stuff has settled in his chest, causing infection and fever. He should really be taking Mucinex to loosen it up, and will need an antibiotic to get rid of any infection.

I think trying to combine those ages will be tricky with Sonlight, if you plan on using future cores. You should definitely post over at the Sonlight choosing forum, where seasoned sonlighters will be able to help you figure this out.