I am starting a literature program for my 4th grader, we have just read literature up until this point and I feel like I need a little more structure this year. Has anyone used DITHOR and/or Lightning Literature to compare the two? Pros/cons?

I want to find a Spanish curriculum that can be used by a non-Spanish speaker and continues through high school.

We switched from Singapore Math, which is mastery based to Saxon Pre Algebra this year and have been pleased. My littles do CLE now but I plan to transition all of them to Saxon when they enter 7th grade. It's spiral without a lit of flash, it's getting the concepts down and executing them. It's a solid program, in my opinion. We tried AoPS and it just wasn't for us.

What is ELTL?

YES! Me too.

Same here.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Precisely how I feel. My oldest is entering 7th and I am completely at a loss. Yes, I have the curricula, the ideas, the books but the confidence of when to back down and when to push and when to pull and when to... I have to rely upon God because honestly, I might lose my mind otherwise. We are transitioning just as much as they are. This is new and uncharted waters for me, pray without ceasing sisters.

Here's what we do in 1st: WWE1 (10-15 mins) FLL1 (10 mins) Phonics Pathways with Reading Pathways, BOB books, and the All About Spelling readers (20-30 mins) Then, I read aloud to her. HTH

I also, heartily second this suggestion.

I stopped WWE4 with my oldest and went to Killgallon Sentence Composing and it was perfect for us. We then started back with Writing With Skill and it was perfect.

Are there any prerequisites for this program?

Precisely! It fit the bill for us perfectly this year. Again, precisely. :) I recommend it.

The last three years we have not taken summer off but this year, I am tired, I want a break. We are going to take all of summer. I am going to use that time to plan for the fall, make copies, get spines cut and spiral bound, etc. the kids will continue with mathematics reviews, writing everyday and reading everyday, because to me reading and writing aren't "school" those are things you should be doing anyways. So, add in the pool almost daily, library summer programs, and vacationing at the beach and visiting grandparents and our summer is quite full already. We are really looking forward to the break.

My son loves Tin-Tin, Calvin and Hobbes, Foxtrot, Garfield, Peanuts, Mutts. His favorites, Mutts, Foxtrot, and Tin-Tin by far, hope that helps.

My DD7 will be entering 2nd grade and has finished the Phonics Pathways book and Phonograms from WRTR and reads fluently and has even finished some series. I just started her in R&S's Spelling by Sound and Structure, it's great. She's a natural speller anyways and has a thorough phonics background so we just go over any new spelling rules and talk about the sounds. It's quite simple. Just something else you maybe hadn't thought of yet.

OP, while our circumstances may be different I feel as if I learned similar things. I have to take care of myself, my relationship with God has to be paramount to be rejuvenated and renewed to serve others all day long, every day. I learned that exercise makes me happier and feel more prepared to do the things I have been called to do. I learned that sometimes it's not the curriculum I choose it's just choosing to DO it. To show up everyday ready to learn right along with them instead of analyzing every possible curriculum available to me but teaching but I know and knowing we will get there. Slow and steady, there is no magical formula. I learned that true success for me is to see my children walk in the truth and walk with the Lord. I don't define success by how much money they will make, what college they will attend, what career path they choose, my hope is that they follow God with their whole hearts. That's what I learned and it's so easy to get side tracked with all the new curriculum catalogs coming out and reading these forums and seeing what works for others instead of focusing my gaze back to the real people within my life and what I really need to be doing. Serving, loving, educating my own and letting the rest fall away.

We are adding a few things this year. Piano: $1500/annually +cost of materials Soccer: $400/annually (this includes a soccer camp - 5 hours for 5 days) Choir: Free through our local church and it's an amazing choir Pool: $250 for summer pass So, $2,150/annually. We might be adding horseback riding and/or art classes this year as well.

Little House Series Five Children and It The Cricket in Times Square and Mary Poppins and A Little Princess My son and I loved reading The Hobbit and The Sign of the Beaver aloud together. My daughters literally listen to all of the Beverly Cleary Ramona books on audible and then re-listen to them all over again. They can quote them. I haven't ever read them aloud but that love them.

Perhaps the way in which my post was worded gave the wrong impression. I don't care if anyone wants to do curriculum and/or do a full curriculum for any grade or age. I was just curious if perhaps I am only one of the few who somewhat delay 'K' and leave it mainly up to the child. I should also be clear that she has done an alphabet book and we talk about the sounds but otherwise nothing else very formal. Sorry if it came across snarky. That was not the intent. I understand there are all different sorts of ways that work better for different people and different children and I did not mean to imply that my way of doing things is better or worse than any other way but rather to get feedback from others who might also delay formal Kindergarten as well. HTH. ETA: I also am curious as to what an unschooling Kindergarten looks like.

I have been surprised by how many people ask us what curriculum we are going to use for my rising "Kindergartener". I don't. We read, we talk, we play, if she wants to do some of her workbook stuff, she can. I don't really "force" any curricula and/or teaching onto a five year old. But it got me thinking? Am I the only one? We are new to the area and don't know many people here so I wondered....what say you? Do you "do" Kindergarten? ETA: My older daughter didn't really "do" Kindergarten, my son went to a traditional PS in Kindergarten but she is reading at a 3/4 grade level and is set to finish 1st grade this year. Just my experience thus far. My state requires that I teach K, so technically I will have to show proof that we did but she's tag along enough that we'll be fine. In Finland school begins at 7. I think they're on to something. :) ETA 2: Perhaps the way in which my post was worded gave the wrong impression. I don't care if anyone wants to do curriculum and/or do a full curriculum for any grade or age. I was just curious if perhaps I am only one of the few who somewhat delay 'K' and leave it mainly up to the child. I should also be clear that she has done an alphabet book and we talk about the sounds but otherwise nothing else very formal. Sorry if it came across snarky. That was not the intent. I understand there are all different sorts of ways that work better for different people and different children and I did not mean to imply that my way of doing things is better or worse than any other way but rather to get feedback from others who might also delay formal Kindergarten as well. HTH.

We love Singapore here, but when my daughter hit a wall this year, R&S was a great choice to turn to, traditional, solid, gets done, and she really enjoys it. We go back and forth for her, I know they are very different math programs but they work for her. :)

The site is working for me. It makes me thankful I ordered all of them when I did though. :)

I have tried WRTR, Spelling by Sound and Structure, Spelling Power, Sequential Spelling and AAS for my poor speller. I finally broke down and ordered Apples and Pears and it is the only thing that has helped with spelling. He can now spell things outside of spelling as well. I think the break down in morphemes helps a lot. He is learning to break down words and rewrites them through the whole course of a "level". He has even been encouraged by his own spelling, to me, that's worth it. I didn't want him to start thinking he just isn't smart because he isn't the best speller. It's an excellent program and it works. We plan to continue it to completion. HTH.

My baby is a Kindergartener this fall; when did that happen? This is what we have lined up for this year. Phonics Pathways Rod and Staff Math 1 Rod and Staff Kindergarten workbooks (she loves "doing" school with these). Science and History with the older two, she'll be playing outside, jumping on the trampoline, and hearing great books as well. :) I try to keep it fairly simple in Kindergarten.

Listening in....