I cannot compare to Rod and Staff since we have not used that one, but we like Soaring with Spelling and Vocab. It has just the right amount of exercises. We have tried a lot of spelling programs and a lot of the ones we have tried seemed too complicated. Soaring with Spelling is really easy to implement. I don't know how effective it will be in cementing the spelling words since we have only used it for a few months, but hoping this one will work!

I love RR's bargain books! I bought a few this year and they looked like new. I guess it is hit or miss as to what the condition will be.

I ended up giving up at level C, but I still like RS Math and the way it teaches. The level C year just takes a LONG time to get through and I guess I did not have the patience. I probably won't do a good job of talking you out of buying it, but here are a few reasons you might want to not buy it: -it is teacher intensive so you have to have the time to teach this curriculum and use the manipulatives, play the games, etc -the abacus is used as a manipulative and some kids might not click with that when explaining math (it does teach place value well however) -review problems might not be enough for some as someone mentioned on this thread earlier, it worked out fine for my dd who did not like an excessive amount of problems on the page but occasionally I would add in other worksheets if she needed more practice There were not that many negatives for me with RS Math and I would actually seriously consider using it again with future children, but I also have to consider the learning style of each child as well...Math Mammoth or something else may end up working better. Some of the positive of RS Math: -good for kinesthetic learners, lots of hands on math with manipulatives -good for solidifying mental math -presents math from many different angles not just rote memorization -includes geometry quite a bit which may appeal to visual spatial learners -simple to follow teacher manual -has high resale value so even though it is pricey it sells very quickly on used homeschooling boards -spiral bound so you can easily lay the book open -worksheets have minimal problems which is good for kids that are overwhelmed by excessive problems on the page

I remember the letter people too, yes I was in elementary school in the 70s as well! I don't have memories that go back as far as most of you. I think I have memories starting from around age 5 or so. Back then kindergarten was half a day and it was mostly just playing, no real formal school. I have always been a really good reader, enjoyed reading, and have no memory of when I actually learned to read. I would almost swear I was born reading...that is how much I like books. I do remember that when I went to first grade I started getting bored with school. They would give us a list of readers that we had to read throughout the year and I would sit there and read them in a week or less and then have nothing to do. They pretty much did not know what to do with me. Don't laugh, but I spent a lot of time making fingernails out of glue at my desk...so much for a great public school education! Anyway, I do not think they taught us phonics back then and when I decided to homeschool my dd during her 1st grade year I was thoroughly confused by how to teach phonics...it just made absolutely no sense to me, still does not make sense to this day. Luckily, she pretty much just started reading on her own so we were able to drop the phonics books early on and she is a really good reader despite the fact that she does not love books as much as me. I have another dd that I will have to teach reading/phonics to in the next 3-4 years and I have no idea what I will be in for this time around, but that at least gives me some time to figure out what I want to use. Mostly, though, we just like reading lots and lots and lots of books.

Years ago when my dd was in the early elementary years I seriously considered using TOG. Of course, back then the website was not as user friendly and the curriculum had not been redesigned for ease of use. After looking at it, I determined it was too much for my brain to handle, just too much information, too many books. I am the kind of person that needs things simple and to the point. If you give me choices, I will never make a decision. Anyway, looking back on it now, I am glad I did not use TOG in the early years, there were so many more fun paths that we took that we would have missed otherwise. We did a little of SOTW, K12, read a lot of books, went on field trips, but mostly we just played and did a lot of projects. With your oldest being 6 and the new little one on the way, I would just try to simplify. Use something like SOTW or just read books, but don't sweat it if you don't get around to history at that age. There are also a lot of short fun unit studies that might work for your age group. As far as learning history for your own education, I would suggest just gathering some books at the library or maybe a few history texts at a used bookstore. There are also a lot of good websites out there you could browse or just reading a good encyclopedia set would help. That said, it is isn't a race even for you to learn history, maybe just go with the flow and learn along with the kids as they go through the years. I have to say, since I now have more homeschooling experience (12+ years), it was hard to see where I was going back in the elementary years, but now I get why I needed to slow down and not do so much. Now that my dd is in the logic stage, she is eager to learn and can handle more reading and busywork. Even so, I still am not planning on using TOG, because I don't think it fits me as a teacher and my dd is not that big on reading historical fiction (something I would not have guessed back when she was younger). I suggest that if you really cannot decide on whether to use TOG or not at least try out the samples on their website. I tried a sample and only got as far as gathering library books before I realized that it was going to be too time intensive for me.

Things I am loving right now: Key to math series Life of Fred Fractions Soaring with Spelling and Vocabulary Wordsmith Apprentice Love the idea of but have not figured out how to implement: English From the Roots Up Things that I have held onto and still love: Natural Speller (nice to have as a reference) Mastering Mathematics (sometimes go back to these for extra practice) SOTW Activity Guides All Through the Ages (for book lists) Maximum Math, Science Scope, and Guides to History Plus (for scope and sequence) My favorite homeschooling reference books: all of the ones by Cathy Duffy, Rebecca Rupp's Home Learning Year by Year and the big resource book, Beechick books, Every Child Can Succeed by Tobias, Upside Down Brilliance The Visual Spatial Learner (a rare one that I cannot part with), Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum.

I wish I could spend more on homeschooling materials (did in the beginning), but times are tough now and I am currently not working at all. I am only homeschooling one right now and try to keep my budget under $300 for everything. I don't include outside activities in that figure however. I try to spend as little as possible by buying used materials or buying curriculum that can be used for multiple years. I also will hold garage sales several times a year to make money for either curriculum or other things the kids need. I am slowly learning to be a little more aware of how much I spend on things and I definitely overspent in the beginning. It is nice when you can do that, but so not necessary to provide a good education.

If you do a search in the tag section, several threads on IEW come up including: IEW (Institute For Excellence in Writing) Question About IEW Student Writing Intensive Is IEW Worth It? Institute for Excellence in Writing Does IEW hamper a child’s own style of writing? I took the IEW TWSS seminar this week Confused about what IEW teaches Questions for those that use IEW – Especially AHBW Needing encouragement to actually use the IEW I bought OK, I finally did it! I bought IEW. Please reassure me. IEW? Here is a Yahoo Group for IEW that has tons of great info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IEWfamilies/ Reviews on the IEW curriculum: http://homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=108 http://www.thehomeschoollibrary.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12919 http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/grammar-composition/structure-and-style.htm http://thecurriculumchoice.com/2010/02/institute-for-excellence-in-writing-twss/

Here are some ideas to help with a spelling notebook: How to Teach Any Child to Spell Shows you how to make a spelling notebook. CQLA Spelling Notebook Normally goes along with the CQLA program, but could be used separately if you wanted to just have the student add words to the notebook as they encounter errors in their writing. How To Teach Spelling Goes through all the different spelling rules and can be used as a spelling program as well. Phonetic Zoo Spelling and The Brain This has a list of words that go with the Phonetic Zoo program arranged by spelling rule so you could just use the list without the audio CDs. Scholastic Dictionary of Spelling Spelling Essentials Very inexpensive book that covers the spelling rules. Spelling Flipper This is an interesting little gadget that organizes spelling rules. Natural Speller This is a great book to have that has spelling lists organized by sound and grade level along with grammar rules. ABC's and All Their Tricks Spelling Journal This is an interesting language arts journal that shows how to keep spelling lists and test kids only on the words they miss in their writing. Here are a few spelling resources online: Basic Cozy Spelling Course Spelling It Right Spelling City Spelling Time Spellcheck Tester Lookcover Don Potter Spelling Spellquizzer Spelling software

I don't know why, but I had the same experience when I tried to use Megawords. It just felt like too much busywork and there are so many books in the series that it just overwhelmed my brain. You may want to consider just dropping spelling since you have a natural speller on your hands. I had no choice but to continue with something because my dd really struggles with spelling. Right now we are using Soaring with Spelling and Vocabulary and it is working pretty well. You could just have her correct mistakes in her writing rather than doing a formal spelling program. Here are a few other programs you could consider if you want a more condensed spelling program: Spell of Words Apples Daily Spelling Drills Painless Spelling Spelling Wisdom Maybe you could also just focus on a word roots program instead of a spelling program.

Sleep...have an 11-month-old so never get enough. History and science are consistently on the backburner for us. We tend to read books here and there or watch science shows. Also hate doing experiments...yuck! We could be doing better with writing (have several formal writing programs), but my dd is not very weak in that area since she likes to write, so that usually gets put to the side. Also, been meaning to get around to English From the Roots Up, but every time we start it we get distracted by something else and then I forget about it. We definitely could be doing more for PE. We used to get out more and do homeschooling PE classes, gymnastics, etc, but lately there is nothing my dd is interested in and it is hard taking out a little one during random hours of the day. Thinking about getting a trampoline in the backyard for exercise! I have to say at the very least we are doing well keeping up with the basics like math, spelling, and other language arts and I am getting exercise for myself every day (which relieves a lot of stress). My top priorities for this year were math and spelling so I could get my dd caught up to where she needs to be for 8th/9th grade in the next year or so. Next year, probably we will focus more on PE, writing, doing research/study skills, and getting involved with more outside activities since the little one will be old enough to get involved more.

This was the point I was trying to make as well. I don't expect curriculum for free and I know there is work that goes into it, but at some point there is a price that is too darn much, at least for me anyway. I think it is perfectly reasonable to expect some resale potential in things I buy. I would not buy anything else, clothes, cars, etc if I could not sell them at all in the future to make at least some money (unless it was dirt cheap to begin with). I guess that is just the frugal nature in me. This past year, to save money on curriculum, I only bought with money that I made on selling curriculum and other items around the house. It just makes more sense for me. Maybe I will write my own curriculum, but it is challenging to do with an 11 month old in the house...something I might consider doing in the future though.

I do appreciate all the time companies put in to put the curriculum together, but they only have to do that once. Every time they sell their product they are making a profit and there is very little to any labor involved. Everyone is free to choose what they want to use for curriculum, but I find it insulting that companies are taking advantage of me, which is happening. I thought I made that wise choice you were talking about, instead it came back to bite me. I totally agree with you on WP...they burned me big time with all their changes and bad customer service. I agree with you on these. I think they are all priced according to what they offer. Everybody keeps talking about making choices and if I don't like the price to choose something else. That is easier said than done. When new curriculum companies pop up sometimes you cannot predict what the future will bring. If I buy X curriculum today it may sound like a good deal and I am making an economical choice, but what about when I want to sell it a year from now and it suddenly has no value. I have curriculum sitting around right now that all I could use it for is toilet paper.

I have been a business owner so I know what it takes to run a business...yes it is a lot of hard work. I am not asking companies to seriously discount their products to nothing and I am definitely not looking to buy a Lexus for the price of a Ford, heck I don't even want the Lexus. There are a lot of companies though that are selling Ford products for Lexus prices. Imagine going to a Ford dealership and paying for a Lexus, but then a year later you cannot sell the car at all because it is out of style and clearly you paid too much to begin with. Some of these companies are taking advantage of homeschoolers. There is clearly a price point that is advantageous to both the consumer and the business owner...more often than not this is missed by businesses and they do end up going out of business. I can solve the problem of making my choice with curriculum by choosing to buy elsewhere, it is as simple as that. If you are selling a Lexus at Lexus prices I can understand that and I can make my choice to buy or not (maybe even save my money up if I really want it), but if you are selling a Ford curriculum at Lexus prices I am not interested in wasting my hard earned money.

I don't mind companies coming out with new stuff, that is how they make money and keep the company going. I am talking about making minor changes to the curriculum and then charging an enormous amount for the "new improved" version. Most companies are charging way TOO MUCH for their curriculum anyway. How much does a simple schedule cost to produce anyway? I doubt it is anywhere near what they are charging. At least they could offer an e-version, something that can be downloaded, no paper wasted, where is the cost for them in that? It should be minimal and some companies are clearly doing this right. I never have understand the whole resale cutting into profits debate. Look at IEW for an example of this. They allow resale of their curriculum which holds a high amount of value and they are obviously still selling new curriculum as well. They are still in business as far as I can tell and coming out with new stuff plus they have that generous refund policy. Some of these companies need to learn how to run a business and be on the cutting edge. Some do that well, some don't. I am not expecting to make a ton of money on selling my curriculum, but something would be nice. I have some curriculum that will never sell! All I can do is throw it away. Anyway, all of this is making me rethink how I homeschool my next dd. The first time around I just bought too many things thinking I could resale if I did not like them, sometimes that works, but lately it is hard to sell even slightly used curriculum. Also, I find nothing wrong with curriculum that is 10 years old, some things are still good and this board proves that there are a lot of great older books/curriculum choices out there. I guess I am just a person that does not find the need to have every new fangled thing that comes out...hard to believe but I drove the same car for over 12 years and now I have a modest used car that I plan to drive until it won't go anymore. Sometimes old is okay, newer is not always better.

LOL! I have found some great things this year too that have a much more realistic price tag...like Key To math books. They are really affordable and they are great for the math topics my dd is working on right now. I just wish I could find more affordable things for history and science!

Does anyone else get tired of all the ever changing newly updated curriculum choices? What I am referring to is companies that keep putting out newer editions every few years and then you end up with an old version that cannot be resold. For example, there are a lot of really awesome curriculum options like Winter Promise, Sonlight, TOG, etc and I know a lot of us try to save money by trying to put together as much as we can by buying used copies. The only problem, if you buy a used copy it is usually 9 times out of 10 an older version which has practically no resale value and not to mention that a lot of times sellers don't indicate that there are missing pages, etc. If I buy the used copy to save money I end up stuck with it and cannot even give it away. The other option is to pay full price for a newer copy, but new for how long?! Only until the company decides to design a new and improved version, great if it offers something extraordinary, bad if you just purchased it a year or two ago and now are stuck with it. I am probably rambling, but I just want to be able to use great curriculum and resale it so I can go and buy something else for the next year, is that too much to ask?! Anyway, I think I am going to start buying from companies that offer curriculum that does not cost an arm and a leg and does not plan on changing the entire curriculum every five minutes. Anyone else tired of all of this too and what is everyone's curriculum pet peeve?

We use Soaring With Spelling as well...finally something we love. It is simple and to the point. The child does different activities with the words, copywork, fill in the blank, puzzles, definitions. I also like that it includes vocabulary so I don't have to worry about picking up another program for that. I wish it had been available years ago. It is also fairly inexpensive so easy to try and see if you like it or not. They have good samples on the website as well.

Don't worry...we are all insane on WTM!! Thanks again for all the info. That does give me more to think about. I don't know what the timeline is for Illuminations to come out with years 4-6. If years 4 and 5 would be out soon (within the next year to year and a half) to go with AAH then I might want to fit that in as well. Maybe do History Makers for a year then do AAH with Illuminations for a year or 2 and then come back to either TRISMS or Illuminations whichever I decide on for high school and use MOH at that time. Why cannot anyone make the perfect curriculum that I cannot tweak, ha, ha?!!

Thanks Kim that was a tremendous help. All the info on this thread has really helped me to see how to use TRISMS. I have no idea what I will end up using for American History because we have neglected that area a bit, but might consider All American History. There may even be something new out by then...so I guess I will worry about that when we get there. BTW Kim, do you find it confusing using the older version of History Makers. I would love to save money and get an older edition, but just was not sure if the newer version is easier for the teacher to understand or just more updated

I know, that MOH dilemma makes things even more confusing and they will not even have MOH 4 available for another 2-3 years or more...what's a mom to do?!! Sometimes I wish I could freeze time so my dd would not get older and into high school before they finished all this great curriculum that is coming out...drives me crazy.

Thanks for the info Kim...I just looked in our history books and we happen to have Kingfisher History Encyclopedia so that might be useful if we decide to go the 1 year route. I am going to go check out MOH at Mardel tonight (the only homeschooling store we have) and see if I want to use that and maybe spread out HM over a few years like you suggested. Do you know if anyone has made a schedule that shows how to line up MOH with TRISMS?

I like that you incorporated MOH into the curriculum...was not sure if that was doable or not. I would think it would be easier to incorporate starting from DAW rather than HM, since HM covers a lot of ground in one year...is that how you used it? What I meant by clear ending is that I have seen the samples online and I would be concerned that my dd might be tempted to spend too much time on one particular topic without finishing all the assignments. From your explanation, it is beginning to make a little more sense now. I like how you split up the work into two weeks...I can definitely see that working. It just makes sense to research the first week and produce the product (written work, etc) on the second week. I may consider going ahead and ordering History Makers and looking it over since it can be returned within 30 days. I am sure seeing it in person would help me make a better decision.

I was just referring to the fact that it does not schedule one particular history spine like Mystery of History, etc. I realize you can schedule your own spine and other resources. I am kind of concerned that if I am allowed too many choices for books I might end up never getting from one topic to the next...which has been a problem for me in the past. Do you find that it is easy to get caught up in all the research in TRISMS and spend several weeks on what should have been done in a week? I guess my two main concerns about any curriculum I choose at this point are: 1) can my dd do it mostly on her own and 2) does it have a clear ending so that we can finish it in a year. I do like that TRISMS has choices for literature where other curriculum (such as when I used Winter Promise in the past) lock you in to certain books that may or may not appeal to you.

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I have to say it is hard to make a choice because I really like the idea of Trisms with the research and everything, but not too fond of using IEW. Cheryl, you have given me something to think about...using something else for writing. I just hope the curriculum would not be a waste of money if I did not use the writing component. Illuminations sounds really good too and I like that it uses Writeshop (I think that is more doable for me), but it is hard to fork over money for curriculum that is not able to be resold and unfortunately I can only see samples online since they won't be at a convention where I can look at it in person. I almost wish I could combine Trisms and Illuminations (since Trisms does not really have a history spine), but that seems like it would be overkill and then nothing would get done or maybe it would be better to wait to do Trisms when my dd is in high school and do Illuminations in the meantime?