Add me to the list of the 8 year old freak out stage. I'm having the same, where do we go after the 3R's panic as I'm researching next year's curriculum. Thus far, I've taught 3R's and just strewed/interest led/unschooled the rest. Feeling like "official" third grade is time to buckle down and work, but trying to figure out exactly what that looks like is proving daunting! Really appreciating the thoughtful replies here!

Are they discontinuing Standards products, or the US Editions? I was assuming the US Editions were the ones changing to Common Core, which would include the US CWP. If Standards is being discontinued as a product line, UGH!

Following, as I'm beginning planning as well. I'm also looking for recommendations on activity/craft kits that are pretty open and go, if anyone has any their kids loved!

Any reason to buy the teacher's manual to go with this? Does it list out/schedule the supplemental readings? Looks like you can add on the TM, cd, cards, and a lit pack-- what's worth it?

Following

Any recommendations for books to go along with the ASK kits? Has anyone planned those out, or is the background information included already in each kit?

MMASC, I didn't realize there were additional things on the CDs (Bible books, Presidents). And you're totally right that the history songs and science stuff would sway which fit is best, depending on what you wanted to use. Right now we just use the CC timeline song and cards.

Well, the timeline cards were pricey, so I wasn't under $75 total. The timeline cards are good quality, and I like the pictures to help the kids connect to them, but the info on the back is not targeted to elementary, more a middle/high school, encyclopedia, dry style. DS likes laying them out in order as he sings the song, and I was too lazy to source pics and make my own. I would love to find the timeline cards with a "main point" or bullet point or history memory sentence on the back targeted to elementary and matched to the timeline song! Not sure if you're aware, I wasn't, but the CC history memory sentences don't match to timeline cards specifically. I thought they would and was surprised when they didn't. I guess at CC the timeline is one subject and history is separate? I'm debating between the CC apps and sentences, or the BUild Your Library main points (based on SOTW, which we use for history) as the memory work. If the CC history sentences aren't going to match the timeline cards anyway, then at least the BYL ones would match SOTW.

We are doing the history timeline from CC at home, and ordered the audio mp3 of just that for $10 from cc site. I got the timeline cards too, and am debating on the history sentences memory work next, but didn't want to buy the guide just for those. I'm going to look into the app.

Us too, please! :)

The older version of Hideaways, now out of print, coordinated with SOTW. I've looked for a used copy with no luck, and emailed WP to request to purchase it, and they refused, so we've just stuck with SOTW.

Great plans, thank you for sharing them!

Thanks for sharing! Where did you find the Magic Treehouse Thanksgiving lap book?

DS loves to read. When he was between picture books and chapter books, he read a lot of those small-ish chapter books (the ones that they finish so fast they're painful to buy!) I think that helped his confidence and eased the transition to books like Charlotte's Web, etc. He also read lots of Geronimo Stilton type books-- a shorter chapter book that is colorful and has lots of pictures sprinkled thru it. For free reading though, I think as long as they're reading, let them choose whatever they like, the goal is to enjoy reading, not to read "hard" books (even if you know they're not "hard" for her ;) ). If you think she needs to work on stamina and retention, work on that during your read aloud and structured reading time. Maybe doing a short summary (1-2 sentences or bullet points) or reading journal of each day's chapter and reviewing it before reading the next day's chapter would help? Heck, I don't even like to read one chapter a day as an adult. I prefer to devour a book and will read like a madwoman once I've cracked open a good one! Your DD may be the same way, and may like the picture books because of that.

I bought The Mouse & The Motorcycle unit, to try it out, and haven't used it yet. We have never done BW before, so I'm interested in the feedback too!

We are attempting to use MBTP this year. I love the book choices and the idea that it is hands on and open and go. After using it for 8 weeks, I don't love the implementation. Lots of the hands on projects are just more writing assignments in the LA units, and I find the sequence of grammar and writing scattered/not flowing well. For us, the writing output is more/above grade level expectations, and most other things (comprehension, etc.) is below. The writing level and reading level are not well matched, IMHO. Writing is my son's weakest area, but he can write complete sentences in correct form, and pull together a coherent paragraph with help. His writing level being different than his reading level (strong), may be coloring our experience with the program. Many of the hands on projects are more in the line of crafts than lab style projects, which doesn't appeal to my DS. For example, he doesn't want to make a snowman out of a water bottle because there was a snowstorm in Sarah Plain & Tall, and I'm not forcing it, since that craft adds nothing to the educational value of the lesson. I absolutely love the premise, and we have enjoyed all the book choices. At the very least, it was a very expensive book list for me! I purchased all of 7-9 and 8-10, so trying to salvage what I can of it, but dread dragging it out. I might just use the assigned books, since I have them all already, pull a few worksheets and comprehension questions from the LA, and do something different for writing. That's my honest, candid feedback. YMMV.

We are having the same issue with it was working fine, now needing to uninstall, reinstall, reset everything, etc. My kids do not love it, but they don't hate it either. It's usually the last "extras" box of the week, they leave it til last.

Thanks ladies for the advice! I haven't looked much at FLL and WWE, will look into those. Thanks for the Ellen McHenry recommendation, he is interested in Chem, so might try that for Spring, we're doing Anatomy right now with a group class. He does LOVE projects and hands on things, so I thought MBTP would be a good fit, but I'm finding it definitely has to be interest led for him when it comes to projects. Once he's interested, he'll read and make and watch and do for hours on a topic, but it's more of a strew books and suggest videos and ideas thing.

This is our 7th week, and I'm feeling frazzled and like we need to make curriculum changes. Math-- good to go, using SM and occasional supplements, trucking along and seems to work well for us both. It's everything else that's giving me grief! Started the year using MBTP 7-9, did Tornado and Sarah Plain and Tall lit units. Didn't do the corresponding SS/Science units, initially because we were easing into the school year, and then because the busy work and writing seemed like overkill. DS isn't interested in pretending to be Anna hosting a welcome party for Sarah, making a wildflower guide, or crafting a water bottle snowman. He is generally a happy and compliant learner, so I let him build wildflowers and snowmen in minecraft and out of legos instead after looking up a few wildflower pictures and facts online, and called it good. Now thinking about scrapping MBTP all together. I'm dreading dragging it out everyday, even though in theory, I love the idea of it. I like the topics and the books chosen, but not the implementation. The unit study style seems scattered and many of the projects are writing heavy (DS's weakness is writing.) My worksheet lover wants to get it done with minimal busy work. If we drop MBTP, what do we need to do? History, LA, and Science? Arts? I visited a Classical Conversations group, and feel like it might be the farthest thing from MBTP, but I really liked the structure and simplicity, especially for history. I like bullet points to learn, I like knowing this is what the "take away" is from each lesson/unit. Framework but freedom in how to get it done--- memorize the timeline and history sentences, read and explore to add context to those topics--- that approach appeals to me strongly, but open and go gets done around here, and DS actually LIKES worksheets. We are already using SOTW as a read aloud (no projects or anything), so CC might work along with that. Is it worthwhile to use CC just for the history and science frameworks at home? Can we cover Science using the CC science sentences and cards and just supplement as we have time/interest? Is that enough for this stage? What to do for LA? Spelling-- Flash Kids Spelling Skills workbook for grade 1 and grade 2, and it is easy for him to do independently and he almost always has a 100% on his spelling quiz each week, spends 5 min per day on this. Handwriting-- using HWOT, KWOT, and Draw Write Now in rotation. It is working, occasionally feels like busy work, but is independent, and DS doesn't fuss about doing it. Might add copywork of history and science sentences if doing CC at home for those. Grammar-- informal, using the CATegorical series, Super Grammar, and just pointing out parts of speech in our reading, etc. I'm okay with delaying formal grammar until later years, and not committed to diagramming sentences vs just writing and speaking well. I have Grammar Minutes and Daily Grammar if we need to do something here, but am not currently using those. Writing-- considering Essentials in Writing Level 2. Any experiences? Writing is a weakness for DS. I'm a strong technical writer, but lack creativity, and feel lost when it comes to teaching basic writing skills. I need hand holding and explicit instruction. Reading/Lit-- DS is a voracious reader, and reading, vocab, and comprehension are well above 2nd grade. I do gently guide/strew choices to include variety of non-fiction and fiction. Do we need a formal lit program or can we just read, read, read, and maybe throw in a scholastic or Evan Moor workbook on story elements (plot, setting, graphic organizers and book report type things occasionally)? Suggestions? Art and Music are informal, although we use Atelier as he's interested, co-op classes, the CKC cd's and field trips to have exposure to the arts as part of our lifestyle, even if not a focus of our curriculum. I'm okay with this level of arts, DS would probably like more. So, what to do? Stick it out with MBTP or scrap it and "build your own" curriculum? Sorry for the book, I think just typing it out helped me organize my thoughts.

I've not seen any deals on the education version, but last year Walmart offered a giftcard with purchase of the home version thru them. I think Lego website also offers bonus points days occasionally, and I think a small % off on Black Friday. Deals on Lego sets are hard to come by!

Bonus bucks?

Spending today prepping the office and decorating for a re-start tomorrow. We've been schooling lightly for 3 weeks, but hoping to up the ante to a full schedule and include younger ds in the mix, so making a "big deal" of it. Co op starts this week too, so busy week! I'll be happy with 3 full days and co op, that's my goal for this week.

No blog here. Did well--- Mac made math progress this week, and we did math everyday. Completed another spelling unit with 100 on test, and a fun review game with banana grams. I got some things prepped for the little one's abc letter of the week start after Labor Day. Ordered some fun books and treats for next week, and did some decluttering. Needs work--- Only got 3 days of LA in, neither of us are liking the current unit. Haven't added in science and history yet, planning to next week. Need to clean, organize and prep school room this weekend.

Baseboards are my procrastinating cleaning, if I have another task I'm dreading, then the baseboards absolutely must all be cleaned by hand first! I'd like to participate in an accountability group, but don't need the temptation to take on a blogging project that I'll never keep up with!

DS loves snap circuits. He's been thru the entire project guide that came with our set sc-300. I'd love to find a book or guide with more projects for him, and more explanation/hand holding for me. He's 7, and not ready to solder yet.