What do others use for 4th grade reading? Do you mainly have your kiddos read some good chapter books? DD is in 3rd grade this year. We've been using the AAR program and so when AAR 4 came out, I did end up getting it. Until then I had her reading some chapter books I picked out (later let her choose her own). Well, she HATES using AAR. Every lesson we come to pretty much, she is able to read all the words and stories completely fine without me even teaching her anything. So I'm thinking it may not even be necessary for her? I'm trying to decide what to do next year for reading. I almost feel like I need a reading curriculum to make sure I'm teaching her what she needs to progress in reading.....or, do I just continue to pick chapter books for her? Have her read them to me? on her own? Would love some input and advice:)

Please share some of your favorite spelling curriclums! I've only used All About Spelling with DD and DS (now in 3rd and 2nd)....we also use and have been using AAR. I am considering looking for another program. The letter tiles are becomes a bit of a pain to be honest, especially as the words are getting longer. DD hates spelling with the tiles and so I've been using the white board with her. DS (who has ASD), gets distracted with the tiles lately. He acts silly with them wanting to spell the words upside down, make his own words/sentences with them, ect. So, please share some ideas with me!

Thanks! That's an idea as well....DS is currently using WWE and DD is using CAP W&R

I ordered EIW to try out (for dd 3rd and ds 2nd) and it arrived today. I didn't realize that the first half of the book was grammar and second half composition. I guess I was thinking it was mainly composition with some grammar interwoven. My question is, so then are we basically only doing grammar for the first half of the year and then don't start any actual writing to the second half?

I ordered mine in September and got it for 50% off. I was looking for recommendations for something to use for history (asked on the boards here), and someone recommended the VP self paced courses. We are not on lessons 21 and my kids LOVE it!! History used to be his least favorite subject, and now it's his favorite. They look forward to it every day! I love it too because not only am I learning along side my kids, but, history actually gets done! :)

bumping up:)

I am in need of some science curriculum suggestions for a 2nd and 3rd grader. Last year we used Nancy Larson Science 1 and the year before we just used Magic School Bus series along with library books. I had planned on using NL 2 this year, but never ordered it. We've had several other expenses come up, so I'm not sure I want to spend the money on it this year.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to stick with Easy Grammar or not.....was thinking of using R&S English instead of EG and then Spelling Workout for spelliner (instead of AAS that we're currently using)

I had a thread posted asking for suggestions curriculum suggestions for a very independent 3rd grader. DD basically doesn't like when I have to sit and teach her something forever, she wants to have her work for her to just go do. Many suggested Rod and Staff English, and I believe Spelling Workout was suggested. We currently use AAS, which dd is not a fan of. Anyways, when using Rod and Staff English and Spelling Workout, do you purchase the teacher's editions for both of these? We used BJU English last year and just this year (we just started school 2 weeks ago) I decided to try Easy Grammar and then CAP W&R (which obviously is teacher intensive, but I feel she needs that with writing right now).

Thanks everyone!! We're currently using BJU for math....I think I'll print off some samples of MM for dd to try. Spelling was another one I really needed to figure out. We're using AAS right now from the beginning she hated using the tiles, so we always used just the white board/paper. She's on level 3 now though,so that isn't really any issue anymore. DS on the other hand LOVES AAS because he LOVES the tiles (hates when he has to actually write). We used BJU English for grammar last year, and we were trying out Easy Grammar this year. Not sure if that will work out or not for us. Looks like a lot of people recommend R&S for spelling....any other suggestions to look into for spelling?

DD turned 8 a few months ago and we just started 3rd grade. She is the kind of girl who wants to have all her work set out for her, so she can grab it and just work on it independently. She HATES when I have to sit down and "teach" her, but that seems that there's not real way around that....I need to "teach" her stuff? So, tell me what curriculum you would use for each subject area for a child like my daughter:) Thanks!

Placing my order with Rainbow Resource order for the rest of our items we need.....Thinking of trying Atelier Art. The last two years we did Home Art Studio (this past year we didn't really do most of it unfortunately). Anyone give me input on Atelier Art? How is it set up? Do you recommend it? pros, cons, ect?

Thanks for the input:).....decisions, decisions lol....I think this is the last one I need to make too:) :)

We did NL Science 1 last year and I had planned on doing 2 this year. I'm thinking of holding off on NL and giving Science in the Beginning a try. There is a HUGE price difference and I was planning on purchasing Beautiful Feet for history this year, so that was going to be my "big splurge." Anyone using SITB and having thoughts to add? Oh, and dd will be 3rd grad and ds 2nd....ds is a science LOVER!!

Last year we did Magic School Bus DVDs and books from the library. This year we did Nancy Larson Science....both of those got done since they were "open and go" so to speak:) I considered switching next year to Science in the Beginning, but I'm I don't know if I'm ready to leave NL quite yet;)

They are 15 months apart:) DD will be 8 in a little over a month then DS will turn 7 about 3 months later

I think I have grammar narrowed down to Rod and Staff and Easy Grammar (both of which we have never used). I have decided that I want to try and combine both dd and ds for grammar. They are one grade level apart and the more areas we can combine and do together, the better! Next year dd will be in 3rd grade and ds will be in 2nd. I am looking into either using R&S Grade 3 or Easy Grammar Grade 3. DD will start using CAP W&R (has used WWE 1 and 2) and I just started DS on WWE 1 this week. Ds picks up on things very fast and has a GREAT memory, but his fine motor skills are just delayed (reason I held off on WWE until now). As of now if I went with R&S, I plan on using only the grammar and skipping the writing. So, looking to see if anyone has combined children who are one grade level apart for either R&S or EG? Since I can't seem to decide between the two, I'm thinking maybe if one were easier than the other to combine, then that may help me decide.

We use AAS here. DD is 7 (almost 8) and in 2nd grade and DS is 6 and is 1st grade. DS has always been somewhat of a natural speller where as DD needed some more work. I have seen lots of great improvement in her spelling recently, so we're sticking with AAS for now.

Thanks everyone! I purchased books 1 and 2 (Fables) to use with dd next school year and I'm excited to try it out with her! Love hearing all the positive responses:)

Thanks! That was very helpful:) I know exactly you mean in regards to BJU. I often feel the same way. Many of the questions seem very basic for dd and don't really have to make her think. Perhaps that's why she likes it lol....it's "easy" for her. There were some chapters and lessons I also remember skipping. For example, the one on taking phone messages. We did the lessons on using phone books, but I kind of felt like it was busy work for us. I didn't know if after 2nd grade if things got better as far as the questions go, but sounds like perhaps not. Out of curiosity, do you use two separate levels of Rod and Staff for your children (since they're a grade level apart as mine are)? Also, I forgot to ask in the original post about how long the Rod and Staff lessons take each day? If they're not terribly time consuming, then I guess it's not a big deal to use two separate grade levels and no use in even considering combining at some point:)

I know there are several who have started using CAP W&R. I wanted to check in and see how it was going for everyone!

Thanks for your input! Is the writing in Rod and Staff strong to use alone? Or do most supplement with another writing program? We will be new to using CAP W&R, so I have NO clue how that will go for us lol. I see in your siggy your two kids are a grade level apart (as are my kiddos). Do you do Rod and Staff together (same grade level), or two separate levels for them?

Yet another grammar thread for me lol. Looking for input on these three programs to use for grammar, as after much time researching this is what I seem to have narrowed it down to. DD (2nd grade) used WWE2 along with BJU English 2 this year. For next year I purchased CAP W&R to use for writing and I've been so torn on what to do for grammar. I'm also torn on what to do for DS for next year (2nd grade next year). We did not use a writing or grammar curriculum for him this year. He is very bright and catches on very fast, but has some fine motor delays so I decided to hold off a year on doing any writing with him. So, below are my questions about the three programs: It seems that a lot of people on this board really like Rod and Staff. Looking for responses that help confirm that for me, or to help show me that maybe that's not the case. From what I understand, Rod and Staff does grammar AND writing together? If I switch from BJU English, I was hoping to get a program that is ONLY grammar since we'll be using CAP W&R (as long as I don't change my mind on that ). If Rod and Staff seems to be the way to go, can I just skip the writing portion? I believe a negative I've heard for Rod and Staff is that it can be "dry." Any input on that? Easy Grammar is the other program I keep coming back to and is on my list. I like that it is grammar only, so will work well with using CAP W&R (or so I hope lol). My only concern with EG is that DD may not be fond of it. She loves BJU English, and I know the appearance of the worksheets is VERY different between the two. Things definitely may be more chaotic if dd isn't on board. With that said though, I also heard EG is pretty grab and go. DD wants to always grab her worksheets (BJU Math and English) and do them before I even teach the lesson. She gets so annoyed that I have to sit there first and teach her. She wants to be very independent in her work. Last is BJU English, which is what we used this year. I originally had planned on not really utilizing the writing portion, but we ended up using it. DD hates WWE, so this was her "fun" writing to do. Are there any BJU English fans here? As I've been researching and looking, it seems I don't really find any. I read several somewhat negative reviews of BJU English, so now I'm concerned with continuing with the program. I had thought about using BJU English 3 next year along with CAP W&R and either just using the grammar portion (since CAP will have more writing than WWE 2 we've been doing), or using the grammar and writing like we did this year. As far as DS goes, I have no clue what I'll be using as of now. I would prefer they use the same program as it's nice to have the items from dd to use for ds the following year. The BJU TM is so expensive new for example. Oh, another question....do some people combine their kids for grammar when they're only a grade level apart? If so, at what point can I do that? Or would that not be a wise choice?

Thanks!! I forgot about the "Sarah Plain and Tall series!" Now I'm wondering if I should order those.....or I'm also thinking of the "Little House on the Prairie" books...any input??

If you could use any writing and grammar curriculum for elementary age what would it be? DS will be 2nd and DD 3rd, but I would love to use a consistent curriculum with them (at least for a few years). I know there are many others who have been doing this much longer than I have, or experimented more, so if you were to do it all over, what would you choose to use for writing and grammar? Any info on what helped you come to that decision would be great too! Feel free to mention any programs that didn't work for you as well;)