We like (and use) CTC Math. But only over the summer. As a full program, here are the cons I can come up with: 1. No set sequence/lesson order 2. No review (what you see is what you get, and you only get it once) 3. No worked solutions to questions 4. Not US- so some language differences I love it as a review supplement over the summer. As a full program, I find it to be "weak". However, for the cost, you can't beat it, and there are lots of weak programs out there. I would rank it right under teaching textbooks, because they work the problems. For info sake, we are using AOPS Pre-A through WTMA next year, and do RightStart with the littles.

Okay, so my oldest is on Modern Times, and is using Veritas Press (with Homeschool in the Woods lapbooks). My younger son is too young for all of that, and I need SOMETHING for him. I don't want to do a different time period, so it either needs to be a one-year American history, modern times to his level, or a geography program. Any suggestions? I am at a loss. (I have looked at Confessions of a Homeschooler- not interested (too scattered). Also, I have Beautiful Feet Books Geography through Literature, and that isn't going to work for us either (the work doesn't really fit the literature, too contrived). Help???? :D

I've been writing blog reviews for Oak Meadow for a couple years now, and I just put up our review of the fifth-grade program. If you're looking for solid, secular science, I just LOVE this years book. Oak Meadow is a great fit for us most of the time (the only thing I wish there was more of is checklists, but I am a type A kind of gal!) - so if you're looking for K-8 curriculum, I hope you come check out our review, and enter to win! I have a full year up for grabs!

I am SO excited they are doing the refer a friend sale again this year- the self paced classes are 100 dollars off right now. Bug did Explorers last year, and I just picked up the next one for him. It was a life saver last year when I was short on time (and, um, patience!) Veritas Press Self-Paced Sale (yes, that's my sale link)

The postal museum is interesting, and is right by Union Station.

Denise Eide of Logic of English would be fab as well! I am loving the other names being tossed around too! :) How exciting!

I am SO excited to have stumbled on this today when I was looking for websites to add to my free homeschool list. I know a while back there were some threads looking for current event websites for this- this one looks like it collects kid friendly articles each day and compiles them on a password protected kid-friendly site. You have to register to use it, but I did, and it all seems legit! It's here: Smithsonian TweenTribune

Could you maybe just add an hour a day of free exploration? You may have to prompt a little at first- put together a basket with outdoor tools- nature journals, binoculars, magnifying glass, fleild guides. Do the same with crafts, and maybe science kits. And then tell them to pick something. Help as needed until they can do it on their own. To get an hour a day to do this, maybe you can cut back on what you are doing. Do 15 minutes less of each subject (and set a timer to make sure you stop if you aren't doing that already) so you have the hour at the end of the day.

8 Year old- RC Monster Truck 6 Year old- Nurf with a target 3 Year old- tie, Pound Puppy and Melissa and Doug cutting fruit and veggie set New Baby- spiked mama milk :P

Nope. They are examples of "why" sentences (as in who, what, where, where and why) in the context of writing basic paragraphs (so, any sentence type will do- think elementary level, target grade is about 3rd from what I can gather). I'm trying to wrap my head around why these would be the examples given, rather than something like "Mom lined the shoes up by the door because it made her entry look tidy" or "Joe mixed vodka and tomato juice to make a bloody Mary."

Thanks everyone! I ask because they were given as examples as sentences to write in a writing curriculum (I changed the nouns in the samples) . . . and y'all confirmed what I had thought- these are just not right. I appreciate the help!

Thanks! I really don't *think* they are grammatically incorrect, but they are awkward as heck and I think the clauses need reversed. But is it fair to say they are "wrong" like this? I'm not sure it is! Anyone else want to weigh in?

What is wrong with these sentences? Anything? Nothing? "By lining all the shoes up by the door, the mom was able to keep her home looking neat" "Through hard work, the A+ became a reality" "By mixing vodka and tomato juice, bloody marys are made" Thanks!

Thanks! I'll check these out :D

Is there an easy to use, inexpensive curriculum or workbook out there for elementary kids? Normally, we just live life, and I call that enough, but we moved to a state with high reporting standards and I think it would be easier on me to just have SOMETHING to show them. I'd love links if you have them!

We are staying the course for D after C. It's working, and it's a nice bridge between foundations and essentials. I like that it covers basic mechanics and really builds on skills. In our home, we go through essentials twice too- the first time we don't do the grammar, the second time, we do the advanced lists and the grammar.

I will just ditto above- all of that is true. I used it before Foundations was a thing to teach a then 6 year old to read- it is adaptable to MANY grade levels. I have tutored kids 1-5th grades with it successfully. I consider LOE to be the best homeschooling investment I've made, and I love that now that I own the PDF workbook, I will NEVER have to buy anything else to teach the rest of my kids.

Middlebury Interactive Languages has a one semester german program

I was thinking more that knowing my husband, his response to something like "thanks for being in the military, because I really don't want to be" would be more of a "Yeah, thank goodness, I wouldn't want someone with that attitude in the military either" - I read it more as a "better you than me" comment than a (more acceptable) "we do it so you don't have to" (which doesn't feel offensive because it's coming from the person serving) I think I just read it different than you :)

My husband is proud of his service, and a thanks is ALWAYS well received. It may be slightly uncomfortable at times (you know, followed by a bit of a shrug of the shoulders....) and my best guess as to why that is would be that he's proud of what he does, he feels like he's doing the job just as well as the next guy, and doesn't think he's anything special. I agree with Alte Veste that many of the examples in that post come across as pitying, which would feel more offensive than anything else. Especially the thank them that you don't have to be one. Ick. Do what you do, and don't let people make you feel bad about it. Heck, we (as a military family) still thank veterans for their service. It's a good thing to do.

AAS moves very, very slowly compared to LOE in my experience. When I compared what phonograms were taught at which level, it was clear Essentials covered so much more in the one book than AAS did- the math made it work out to be less expensive to go with LOE instead of AAS. I've used both- for younger kids, LOE Foundations is much more fun and multisensory than AAS, plenty of active games and a more complete feel. For older kids, I didn't like using the AAS tiles, and essentials didn't need them. For an older child, who reads well, and needs a phonics crash course, I'd go with essentials and move at whatever pace worked best for her, instead of trying to fit in multiple levels of AAS.

I don't see why you couldn't :) I use the whole program, but we bring out the games all the time outside of lessons. I would say it compares to Right Start Math games. I don't think you'd get the "full" benefit without also doing dictation along with the phonics practice, but some kids don't need all of that, and pick it up more naturally. One thing I would recommend adding (if you got the game book, uncovering, and two decks of cards) is the phonogram app, or the cd from the website so you can make sure you are pronouncing all of them correctly (and extra drill between games).... that way you won't have to refer back to the book constantly to help you master the multi-sound phonograms.

Nancy Larson Science Saxon Math Right Start Math Logic of English (Foundations and Essentials) New Fix-It Grammar

Its very much traditional math- if you like singapore, you probably won't like it.

Logic of English foundations is really well done- It's my favorite from the list because it's the most kid friendly of the O-G programs. Lots of games, active learning, lessons that feel like play.... but very complete. :)