Next year for Language Arts my dd will be using Megawords, Growing with Grammar, A Reason for Handwriting and TOG writing aids. She will also be doing one assignment from Prompt, Plan, Write each week- because she LOVES it. She'll be reading the books from TOG's literature list (looking ahead I think she'll be reading about 1/2 UG and 1/2 LG throughout the year). Using TOG's lit she'll have one worksheet a week to complete about her literature reading. I think that worksheet will be enough to show that she is learning from what she is reading. The TOG worksheets also cover many of the literary terms such as setting, character, etc that the BJU worksheets cover. I'm just thinking that TOG will be enough alone--but I'm not 100% sure about that decision yet. I don't want to overwhelm her with work. I am thinking about doing 1/2 of BJU reading 4 spread out over the whole year since she loves it and since I do like the program (since she's techinically 2 grade levels ahead in the program anyway!) I'm trying to make the decision now about whether or not it is important or just extra work on top of TOG. This year she reads about 20 minutes of history or science each day, plus her BJU reading assignment (which takes 20 minutes or less to read and do one side of the worksheet), plus her free reading in the afternoon. Next year with TOG I think she'll be reading at least 45 minutes to an hour a day of assigned "school" reading. I keep thinking that adding BJU will just be too much and that I'd rather her spend that time reading good books from her own choices. But, the ex-public school teacher in me wants the neat and tidy BJU worksheets to show comprehension and to teach all those literary terms...

My oldest is using BJU 3 reading this year. We are using the reading textbooks and the worktext, but skipping the "skillsbook". She reads a section and does the front of the worksheet everyday; which is the reading comprehension portion. I only have her do the back of the worksheet when it covers information we aren't covering elsewhere (she loves the map reading skills sheets and I like the vocabulary and dictionary ones); it seems most of the backpages are advanced phonics which she is getting in ETC. She has loved the program and cannot wait to read her section of the story each day and do the workbook. I do feel that it covered several things this year that we were not covering with her just reading various reading lists (we've also done sonlight's lists and books from TWTM). I like that I know she is understanding when she can answer the questions correctly. I like that it has taught her to look for the main idea, to pay attention to setting and plot, and that she has learned some of the "literary terms." I have loved the program this year. Looking back I don't think it was necessary, but it was reassuring for me to know she was getting the reading comprehension stuff I wasn't sure if I was covering well enough and she loved the program too. I don't use WWE or FLL, so I can't help you with if it will be too much or if it will overlap. We are moving to TOG 2 next year (used SOTW 1 alone this year) and I am considering not using BJU reading next year. I'm worried it will give her too much busy work and too much independent reading. However, dd is asking to do BJU again since she loved it so much.

Most of our math and language arts are just a "do the next thing" kind of curriculum. At the beginning of the year I figure out how much I'd like for the child to complete by the end of our year. I then count the number of pages and divide by the number of school days in the year. Then I write on the front of the workbook or binder-- Do _____ pages a day, _____ days a week. Science, History and Fine Arts I plan out for the entire year ahead of time. They each have their own schedule page in my master planner, that way if life happens and we end up on week 5 in History, but week 7 in Art I don't have to completely rework a years worth of lesson plans. Often we straggle to the end of our year finishing one subject a few weeks in front of another. Summer often begins for us with a few weeks worth of a subject (or two) to complete. We like it this way! At the beginning of each week I go over the plan and make sure I have all the copies and supplies we need ready. I often reevaluate our plan at our Christmas and Easter break. If we are ahead or behind I'll modify the amount we need to get done in a week...or I'll decide then to get more (or less) work done before the end of the year, let the child just finish the subject early/keep working during summer break or change the amount of work they are required to do each day to make the subject fit the amount of time we have left. This year at Christmas break we were so far ahead in Science that I ordered a unit study to do this spring after we finish what I'd planned for the year before we even get to Spring break. One dd was ahead in Math, so I've planned a supplemental curriculum for after she finishes this one since I don't think she'll be ready to go on to the next grade yet. The other dd was behind in Math, but I think having a few weeks left of her math curriculum into summer break will be a good thing.

Shiver Me Letters is a favorite here

Everyone: Tapestry of Grace year 2 Discovery Streaming Elementary Spanish Artistic Pursuits 2 Either God's Design Science (heaven and earth series) or a co-op class every other week with RS4K chemistry and/or physics on the off weeks. 2nd/3rd grader BJU math 3 Growing W/ Grammar 3 Megawords 1 A Reason for Handwriting C 1st grader ETC books 3 and 4 Growing with Grammar 1 (Starting mid-year) Handwriting w/o tears BJU math 1 All About Spelling (last half of book 1 and start book 2) PreK Handwriting w/o tears ETC A, B, and C Singapore Earlybird A

I have the basic plan. For us, the Elementary Spanish program justifies the cost completely! My kids watch the program twice a week and are learning so much. They also really enjoy watching science videos as well. I haven't used it much for history, just because we currently spend enough time each week on history. There is a lot availiable for that subject too!

Just make sure you are following your states homeschooling laws. For me that means I have to have a copy of our intent letter, the pink acknowledgement form, a record of attendance, a immunization record (or exemption form), and yearly testing scores for children ages 7 and up. I have a 3in binder that is my homebase for homeschooling. The very front of the planner has a velcro pocket where I keep all my legal requirements--if someone knocked on my door I could hand them the folder (without letting them inside my house!!) to show that I am in legal compliance. I do plan to keep the testing scores in a hanging file folder in our filing cabinet. After we test for the first time this year I may just keep all the legally required paperwork in that folder instead of in my planner.

It is part of the Basic package.

We put AAS 2 back on the shelf about halfway through. Not only did it seem way too easy (and thus a poor choice of my individual teaching time). I was also thinking about cost going through levels that quickly as well as how teacher intensive it was. I really appreciate your input on this and will think about pulling it back out for her. I do want her to have a solid grasp of spelling and phonics and am realizing that workbooks or leaving her to natural ability may not be the answer. Miriam is moving so quickly through everything--I really need a few more things she can do almost independently so that I can spend some instruction time with the next 2 children. But, I guess next year I can expect her to need more silent reading time for TOG, so maybe she can do that while I'm teaching the younger two instead of workbook LA. My 5 (almost 6) year old is showing dyslexic tendencies and AAS is for sure a curriculum that works for her and that she needs. I don't mind the teacher intensiveness in that situation at all. Plus we do ETC and read aloud together everyday. Well, really everything she does I have to be right there to help her since she's not yet reading well. DS is begging to start school and will need at least 30 minutes of individual time next year to do some beginning math and phonics instruction. Ahhh...so many good choices out there and so little time in the day!

Thank you Heather! Miriam does a Reason for Handwriting sporatically; she enjoys it. But, of the time she has other copywork from core subjects and I call "handwriting" good for the day. Glad to know that TOG can/will cover vocab too. I haven't gotten mine in the mail yet! I'm sure whatever science we go with with also have vocab words for us. --I'm currently leaning toward God's Design for next year. So, spelling--maybe? We did AAS through the beginning of this year, but it was really just busy work. She always got the words right the first time!

I'm trying to get my curriculum choices in a row before doing our taxes this year. I'm planning to use TOG year 2 (including Writing Aids and Mapwork) with my then 8 year old. She will have completed ETC books 1-8, BJU reading 3rd grade, and Rod & Staff Grammar 2nd. I have decided on Growing with Grammar for next year, but past that I'm stumped. What about ETC; do I need to replace it with something? Is TOG's literature and writing plus Growing with Grammar enough LA? Should I add in something like Wordly Wise, Spelling Workout, and/or MegaWords?? TIA!

Our library doesn't carry the "You wouldn't want to be" series so I'd like to buy some of the best ones to use alongside SOTW 1 next year. I think there are at least 9 in the series that are during the Ancient time period. Which were your favorites?

Ours is up, though there wasn't much to tell! I'm excited about going to the homeschool convention tomorrow to choose next years curriculum!

NC- no required number of days or hours: "Operate on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year."

I've not done TOG, but here is a great FREE lapbook for SOTW 1 http://runofthemillfamily.blogspot.com/2010/04/story-of-world-lapbook-for-volume-one.html I can't wait to use it next year with my 1st grader.

I'm still confused about the difference in DE vs Print! With DE you have access to updates correct? What kind of things are updated? If I buy the print version used, and then a book goes out of print will I have access to the replacement book, worksheets, and teacher's discussion notes?

Last year I started in July for the same reasons; the kids were begging. I haven't regretted it at all. We were able to take breaks during the year as needed, or to slow down and really dig into a subject I might have rushed us through in order to get it all done by May. We have already finished our main curriculum and will be done with math, spelling and grammar in the next 2 weeks. I plan on taking a short break until Mid June and then starting again. That way we can take off for vacations in August and September and also time in the winter when my sister comes from across country to visit for a month.

I also heard bad things about ETC 4. I figured the cost was minimal, so I bought it and decided to see how dd did with it. I considered alternating weeks with ETC 4 and ETC 5 if it seemed difficult for her to help get through the material. Turned out to be a lot of worry for nothing; dd sailed through 4 just as she had the other 3 books.

My dh will listen if I need to "talk it out" about a certain curriculum or homeschooling issue however he doesn't give me any opinion. He trusts my judgement on all things school related and delegates the decision making, as well as the teaching to me. He does come with me to the homeschooling book fair about every other year so that he can keep the nursing baby nearby but occupied while I browse-- now that's love!

Hits: Growing with Grammar All About Spelling Mark Kistler's online drawing program OPGTR ETC- hit for older daughter who learned to write letters before she learned to read, miss for younger daughter who still struggles with writing though she reads quite well. On the fence: WriteShop Primary A- DD loved it, but the format was bad for us. I ended up doing a lot of reworking, dropping the "fluff" and concentrating on the actual writing assignment more. I was very happy with the end result of each assignment, but won't be buying the next level. Winterpromise Animal's and Their Worlds- way too much tweaking needed, though the children loved the end result. Still considering going back to WP for American History in a few years though. RightStart- great program, A was perfect for my daughter last year, but B hasn't been as great. Seems to take big leaps from concept to concept quite often. Some of the work with larger numbers seems quite tedious and sometimes confuses even me. Will be switching math programs next year, but plan on using Rightstart A alongside with my rising Ker. Misses: Explorer's Bible Study (Beginnings I: Precious In His Sight) - This was very scripted. I disliked reading aloud the simplified Bible stories- would rather read a picture story Bible OR open a real Bible and read directly from it. Concept sounded good for our family, but it just didn't work. Trying to peice together my own spanish

Thank you! Very helpful! I will be buying the 3rd edition for sure, which doesn't have the spring into action/stretch your mind supplements. DD seems to pick up math very easily/quickly so I shouldn't need to buy the Student Review book. I am definitely going to get the TM, mostly because dd can pick up a math worksheet and answer the problems pretty independently. However when asked how or why she did what she did she can't answer. I want to be very careful to use the manual and make sure she's learning the how and why too. I was very similiar to her and floated through math until geometry and alegbra and then ended up very behind since I didn't understand basic math.

I'm making the switch to BJU math next year (using level 2). What do I need to buy? I know I'll need the teachers guide and the student worktext. Do I need the student review and tests also? TIA

We're up early too! Field trip to the science musuem tomorrow!!!

We're up. Had a really rough start of the week, but finished up on top!

My 4 year old does/did the same thing! I bought the HWT workbooks and the little chalkboard. She thinks the chalkboard is a wonderful toy, but I only allow her to use it when I am at the school table with her so that I can correct her quickly when she starts to put the chalk at the bottom of the board. I also only have her do the workbook when I am standing close enough to remind her where to start. So far I'm having to remind her less and less to start at the top. I've gone so far as to discourage her from writing unless I am close by to watch. She's been doing lots of drawing, playdough, cutting, pasting and painting when I am not available to be nearby instead of using workbooks/writing. I hope by the time we finish the HWT K book she'll have the correct formation more ingrained!