Somehow I totally missed that there was a SSL2!!

My son will be in the 5th grade (technically...although he ranges from 3rd to 5th depending on subject). I had him do Song School Latin this year with his sister who will be in 2nd next year. Where do we go from here?

I second First Language Lessons for grammar. My son who will be 10 next month (and also a reluctant reader) has done very well with this program since it is primarily oral. My son didn't like Writing with Ease but I saw the benefits so I made him stick with it until this year. We will be trying Institute for Excellence in Writing. We have also done some Write Shop Jr, which he did like. We have been using Math U See with great success, but I think Teaching Textbooks is also a great fit for reluctant readers since it is read to them on the computer. My son also LOVES history and we use Mystery Of History but it has a strong Christian perspective so may not be what you are looking for. If not Story of the World is very similar but is not (from what I have seen) faith based. For science this year we are trying R.E.A.L Odyssey. Its a lot of hands on experiments that I think my kids (10, 7 & 5) will love! For reading we are going to try Total Language Plus, since it uses real books instead of readers which my son found boring (I think this is primarily because he reads below grade level so the reader he could read well were in fact quite boring :glare: ). It too is from a Christian perspective, although the books they read aren't necessarily Christian but just full of good character building. It may work well for you too! Spelling...All About Spelling has been a big hit with both my kids. It really works will all types of learners and is easily adaptable to your particular child. (We use All About Reading for our younger two). And finally for Latin we use Song School Latin, which is fun and they beg for :)

WWS? I am unfamiliar with this one. Thanks for the feedback!!

Having said that, it is expensive and I don't think we will be continuing on with it after this year. :(

We have used preK and level 1. I am bad at implementing it, but when we do I see its benefits. We are fans of AAS too. They work well together. My kids are all struggling readers/spellers, but excel with math. AAR and AAS make language/reading/spelling more concrete for them.

I didn't need much convincing and you all have pushed me over the edge! If we have to make cuts elsewhere, I am going to make this happen! I am hoping to get the teacher training used or borrow if I can. Now I just need to figure out what level to get for my son. He will be 10 next month, and according to the charter in the 5th grade. However, he reads about a 3rd grade level. He is working hard to improve but it just doesn't come easy for him. Probably SWI A?? Or if I get the training then the Ancient themed pack? I am a huge believer in good writing. I plan on using Total Lang. Plus for him next year, but really felt the need to beef up the writing. We currently are doing Writeshop Jr. D. Its not bad, but just not quite right for us.

Ok great! I was wondering if we could started without the teacher training. I would love to have my son do the theme pack on the ancients to coincide with MOH 1, but I read that you should do SWI A first. Thoughts?

I am a little spoiled by having state funding to support my curriculum habit ;) But starting in the fall we are taking the leap and flying solo! While I am thrilled to finally be out from under the state's thumb, I am a little nervous about financing our little school! I have to be really choosy on where/how I spend my money. Having said all that...do you think IEW is worth the money? I would be starting it with my 10 year old who is "technically" going into 5th grade. He is a reluctant reader/speller/writer...but has a very vivid imagination and is full of stories! I would then use it with my two girls later on down the road.

New here...can someone tell me what BFSU is? I am looking for a new science. We have been doing Answers in Genesis. While I like, my kids tend to zone out. I am looking into REAL kids and Christian Kids Explore for next year (biology to go with MOH 1).

Thanks for the help! After reading all your suggestions and talking it over with my hubby (who is typically very hands off with curriculum choices...he knows I research things to death!) we decided to finish American history over the summer, digging deeper than we have been. And then starting back with MOH vol 1 in the fall. Sometimes I just need to "talk" (or in this case type) it out! So glad I found this forum!

Ok great! Thank you! My son also struggles in writing so I was worried that the writing in TLP wouldn't be enough. I have heard it is more writing prompts than instruction in writing. What do you use to supplement the grammar? I was thinking Easy Grammar or Daily Grams. My son does well in grammar. We have completed all the levels in FLL, but I don't want him to lose anything. His other real weakness is spelling. I am going back and forth on supplementing it. I was considering R&S spelling. We currently use AAS, which I love but he feels is too much. He doesn't want to mess with letter tiles and all that anymore. I have heard that IEW is great, especially for boys. I will check it out!!

Thank you for the suggestions! Our overview of American was very light so another year wouldn't hurt! I was lookinh at MFW last night. I like what I see. Is there a way to purchase just the history portion? I will check out Notgrass too. I have used there stuff before I liked it. I never even thought of cycling back to the beginning of creation either! I guess I was very focused on completing the cycle for my son. But he loved the ancients and could go more in depth this time. Hmmm...lots of food for thought! Thx for the ideas!

Thanks so much! Going to check all those out now!

Hi! We have been homeschooling since 2008, but always with a charter school. Next fall we are finally going independent. I am excited! Ready to revamp the way we do school and view education in general. I do like a lot of the curric we are using. However, I have never really worried about finances because our charter school paid for it all. I would love some advice/suggestions on what could be changed out for something comparative but less expensive! Here is what we have been doing: 4th grader:: FLL 4 (Need something new for next year...thinking Easy Grammar?) WriteShop D (Love it, but thinking we need something less expensive) AAS 4 (I love it, kids get tired of using the letter tiles. Need something less expensive. Curious about Rod & Staff spelling). Reading provided by the school. (I hate it so suggestions welcomed. He is a reluctant/late reader. Considering Total Lang. Plus or CLE readers.) Song School Latin (Lively Latin next year?) Math U See Gamma (love it and plan to keep it) History (We are MOH lovers, but did my own American unit study this year while waiting for MOH 4. If MOH4 doesn't come out by fall I need a replacement!) AiG science (I love it, but am horrible about implementing the projects. Need something that a non-science mom can use and make fun for kids). 1st grader: FLL 1 (plan to continue FLL with both my younger ones) Writeshop Jr. A (Wondering if its even needed this at this point?) AAS 1 (Cheaper...Rod & Staff spelling?? I like rules based spelling) AAR 1 (We got to a point when we were just using the readers not really doing the lessons) Song School Latin Math U See - Alpha History & Science Same as 4th grader Pre -K Math U See PreK AAR PreK Reading Eggs Starfall (Yes just keeping her out of my hair, but she loves it and is learning :) Thanks for any help, suggestions, advice, likes/dislikes etc...all thoughts welcomed!! (and totally off topic, but how do I add a "signature" to this thing??)

I love Mystery of History. We are (not so patiently waiting for Vol. 4 to be released. This year I decided to put my own American history study together. I discovered that I am not the best at putting together or implementing my own studies ;) I really need something to use next fall to replace MOH vol 4 if it is not out yet (which I am reading conflicting reports on...). Suggestions?

I am wondering if anyone uses TLP? And if you do, what (if any) supplementing do you use? We are switching things up next year. I really like what I see with this curriculum, but I worry about writing and spelling not being enough...and maybe grammar too. HA! The next thing I know I will supplement it all and then we will be doing way too much!! Thoughts??