If you're looking for simple and to the point, CLE's 5th grade science is updated. It's textbook learning, but it does have some experiments and activities. The real magic is in the lightunit, which spirals back to previous concepts. Not for everyone, but if you're a "get er done" kind of person or in that phase of life, it could be perfect.

How about sending him knowing that if the bullying continues you could bring him home? I would never subject my kid to bullying and that would be the final straw if it was happening. But given the circumstances with you working (and him spending a lot of time in his room gaming), I think I would definitely give it a go and see if it works out. You can always change your mind at semester and bring him home without always wondering if it would've worked out.

I am trying to make a decision. Here are my choices: 1. Buy SSS Level A and do it with my 4th and 5th graders next year (followed by year 2) OR 2. Wait and start IEW SSS Level B when they get into middle school (already purchased). The dilemma is, I keep reading about how formal writing is not needed until middle school. So that would certainly save me some money and time. But then I’ll read a random post about the more years with IEW the better, so I’m conflicted. Your responses will probably decide this so thanks in advance for your help!

Hello, I recently found these literature guides online, and I was planning on using them. However, I just noticed that there are no answer keys to go with them. Does anyone know why or where I could find them? Thank you.

I never thought I'd consider either of these, but here I am. What I've done in the past just hasn't worked. I'm looking for something simple to implement, effective, and won't kill us. Oh, I also want to combine my 4th and 5th graders if possible. Thanks!

I don't know about 1A, but I have two kids doing 2A. We are on week 19 and have been doing it all year. We almost never finish from beginning to end in a week. They follow the lesson plan for 5 days normally, but it always takes us longer because we just have to take more time on the days 4/5 part. Plus, I don't like to feel rushed. Writing is not something that I want to be intense 5 days a week.

All I can say is that there were so many problems with it, I don't even know where to start. First, the reading for each day was WAY inappropriate for the grade level. I was doing 2nd or 3rd and the books they were supposed to read (or me read) were 20 or so pages with text written at an 8th grade level. I was like...what? I couldn't believe it. Next, the lesson plans were all over the place. One book this day, another book the next day...nothing at all was cohesive. Sometimes the reading on the lesson plan didn't even make sense. It would say "read pgs. 101-141" and 141 was the second page in a new chapter or something-so random stopping point. But the absolute worst thing was that the reading had NOTHING TO DO with the theme of the week! The theme could be slavery in America and the reading was about Lewis and Clarke! I was completely dumbfounded. Not to mention I called customer service a lot to express my concerns, and while the girl was nice enough, all I ever heard was "I'm really sorry" over and over again. The whole experience was bizarre. We do MP now, and I can breathe because it all makes sense and goes together beautifully.

For a larger family, definitely the BJU streaming videos! They are a Godsend to me and I will never, ever go back!

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but BJU's distance learning videos are amazing. I would be lost without them with 6 kids. They teach and explain things visually, SO much better than I ever did (and I tried). Just a thought!

Not lately, but just the mention of Wp makes me shudder. Never in my life have I used a curriculum that was so disorganized, non-age appropriate and all over the place. I was totally taken in by their beautiful website and their colorful, beautiful descriptions and materials. But then using it in real-life was a whole other story.

Thanks! So what’s the advantage of buying the print version? Or, is it the same thing? I like that there is more info given and a picture online, but I can see the convenience of having the book too. What else should I consider before buying (or just being satisfied with the website?)

That is helpful. What exactly is inside the book? I see the TOC from the sample, but I can’t figure out what the book is FOR. Do you just check off the books after they’re read? Or is there more to it than just a list of titles?

Can I just say that you are beyond awesome? Thank you so so much!!!

Can you tell me more? How is it meant to be used?

Nm

I know there are quite a few resources out there, but at the moment I just can't remember them! I'm looking for somewhere that can give me titles so that I can put together 20-30 books for grades 3, 4, 5. Of course, I want only the best quality literature-think full, rich, beautiful, virtuous and the absolute best writing. You know, the ones that shouldn't be missed. Where can I look to develop these lists? Thank you.

Just wanted to say I’m in the same boat. My 7th grade son will probably finish SFL this year. He doesn’t want to continue Latin, and I’ve heard that TFL is a beast. Do I want to take that on AND spend the $, especially when he’s headed to public high school? Idk. But on the other hand, what a blessing or could be to get one more year of Latin in-and might it be super beneficial all around? I just don’t know.

I’m strongly considering just scrapping all of our moving parts, and just devouring nonfiction books for science and history AND reading quality fiction as our reading “program”. Up until 6th grade that is. What do you think about that idea? Will I be ruining my kids for good? Any tips on how to make it work?

I've heard that about BFSU, which has scared me off. That is the beautiful thing about CLE-the format of the lightunits and the simplicity. Of course, it depends on where you are in your homeschooling journey. I'm at the place that I need simplicity 🙂

From what I see online, the 5th grade CLE science *does* have "demonstrations" or activities that go along with the bookwork. It feels like I can handle that and you can even buy a little $20 kit from somewhere in case you don't want to gather your own supplies. I'm just trying to figure out why this wouldn't work and why more people aren't interested in it. Maybe most people combine their kids...or maybe it's just too "booky" or schoollike. Idk. I've already invested way too much in science and this looks like a fairly frugal investment. So, it wouldn't kill me if it didn't work out. But if it did, then I have 4 kids that could use it.

Good question...why? I don't know. Maybe no kid younger than about 6th grade remembers science, Idk. But what I did with my older kids is gone in the wind somewhere because although I spent hundreds on Nancy Larson Science, BJU with all of the experiments (that about killed me), they still remembered nothing. However, the year I got pregnant (and was so sick), I just dumped a bunch of non-fiction books in their laps and had them read every day. One always chose science, one always chose history. No coincidence that the one who chose science scored very well on that year's assessment, and the one who chose history scored very well on social studies. So...that's why I'm not doing anymore science until 5th/6th. I know that experiments, while fun, don't lead to lasting retention.

Yep- those are scheduled in the MP curriculum. We did the Tiner Medicine book last year (super interesting) and my 7th grader is doing Biology this year as part of the Trees study. I won't do that same path for my next group of kids. I want to go general in grades 5/6 and then heavier in 7/8 (probably with online classes) because they are headed to public HS. Live and learn I guess.

Hear me out. I’m totally over the fluffy experimental science programs out there. I did a few with my older kids with ZERO retention. Therefore, I’m not doing any formal science until 5th grade from now on. I want something streamlined and to the point. I looked at CLE’s website and see that their 5th grade science is the Sunrise Edition and uses a textbook. It looks almost like what I want-a spine with those nice little light units. Of course there’s this little part of me that thinks I’m nuts for even considering it. Can someone talk me in or out of it?

What would a week look like with MS? We get the free weekly videos so I’m quite familiar with Doug’s style. But it seems a little light...unless they’ve changed something lately. What is a lesson besides the one day video?

Of course, I'd love to be able to combine them. This year we're doing MP's Astronomy, and while I like it...I do not want to do their Insects program next year. I need something where we gather around the table and experience a variety of teaching methods. Most importantly, it needs to have sticking power (MP is great at this) and we want to have a little fun. The rest of our curriculum is pretty serious and I want science to be a little lighter, but definitely not fluff either. It's not my style. Ideally, it would be minimal prep for me, NOT a ton of "fluffy" projects (not a fan), and real books/videos. I wonder if I just need a spine of some sort with a little more. I've already ruled out Memoria Press, Apologia, Nancy Larson and Singapore. I've looked at TGATB so that's an option, but the supply list completely overwhelms me. What else is there for this age? (ideally, about 4th)