Hi ladies! I use R&S for grammar and love it. We have been using spelling power and I am not a big fan. Honestly, for spelling I want a program that isn't super teacher intensive and my girls really like workbooks for spelling. They will be in 4th and 1st grades. The older obviously doesn't need phonics but I want at least the rules for the way things are spelled pointed out. My first grader hasn't had am official phonics program but is an excellent ready. If I had to guess, I would say a 3rd or 4th grade level. I was thinking I would do R&S for spelling since we like it for grammar, but I just looked at mcruffy and it looks great and probably more fun for my kids. Anyone care to compare these for me? I don't need a total language arts program. Just spelling. Thanks!!

I am going to use simply Charlotte mason cards for next year. I just got them in the mail and am thrilled with them!!!

Hi! I am wondering if any of you have used any curriculum or books to teach the old hymns to your children. I am hoping to set up a little area where we cover poetry, hymns, composers and artists and focus on one of each of these for about a month (probably Monday - poetry, Tuesday, hymns, etc.....). Then switch to a different one of each. I have things set for all but the hymns. I have heard that Hymns for a Kids Heart (Joni Eareckson Tada) is good, but they are pretty hard to find cheaply. I have also heard of the Mr. Pipes series, but I am not sure those actually teach entire hymns and also don't have cd's with it. Any good ideas? Thanks!

Hi ladies, I am really struggling to figure out my writing plans for next year. I will have a 4th grader. My 1st grader will just do WWE1. I have bounced around many ideas, but right now, I'm trying to figure out a way to use Writing and Rhetoric and also some of Brave Writer together. I like the idea of the Arrow - just choosing my own selections. I also think my kids would enjoy the projects in Partnership Writing. We are planning to do R&S grammar. How can I use both of these without being totally overwhelmed? Thanks!!

Thanks. Any other thoughts, especially comparisons of wiring and rhetoric to EIW?

Hi! Well - I feel like I just made this awful mistake :) I was getting pretty set on what we are doing next year for Language Arts. For writing, we were planning to start EIW - level 1 and 4. But I keep hearing everyone talking about Writing and Rhetoric from CAP, so I took a look. I am really intrigued. It looks pretty great. But here's the thing - my DD really doesn't care much for WWE. We have done WWE 1 and 2 and have half heartedly done it this year. So, my questions are these: I'm assuming EIW and Writing and Rhetoric likely don't have many things in common. Can anyone compare and contrast them for me? Also - is Writing and Rhetoric a lot like WWE? (I would just use this for my rising 4th grader - probably stick with EIW for 1st grader) Thanks!!

Hi! I have a kindergartner who is a great reader. She is reading aloud even better than my 3rd grader and if I had to guess, is reading at least at a 3rd or 4th grade level. She has done a few ETC workbooks, a MCP book, and other than that, just lots of reading. I heard a lecture though that SWB did and she was highly encouraging a complete, thorough phonics program. What would you suggest I use to at least review or fill in holes next year? I have to confess, I dropped the phonics ball when I saw she could read basically anything I put in front if her. Another thing to add, I have a child who will be 4 in September. She's starting to read now. I would love to just add her in somehow. Thanks!!

Has anyone used Winter Promise human anatomy and forensic science? I am considering this mainly for my 4th grader, but a 1st grader would listen in. My other option is doing apologia's anatomy book. Thanks!!

The book All Through the Ages by Christine Miller has a fabulous list of books for every period of history. I got it from rainbow resource center. I plan to use it for the 2nd half of American history next year, but I know it will be an invaluable resource for all of the years going forward. Oh and most of what is listed are books you can find at the library.

This is great! Thanks for all of these ideas!

Thanks! Has anyone used the history of us series?

Hi ladies! I have posted a few things on here recently and continue to rethink what I am going to do next year for history. We are going to cover the second half of American history. I kind of want a break from "curriculum." So I want to go at our own pace and linger with the books we are reading. I am looking for a spine to use to take us through this and then I can just add in other books. I don't want to start SOTW yet because we may use them for the years after next. Any suggestions? I will have a 4th and 1st grader. Thanks

Ok I will check that out!

Sorry I wasn't clear. I was hoping for a 4 year plan to use so I can get through 2 complete cycles

Hi ladies, I need some help. I am switching over from sonlight to a more classical model. We have made it through 2 years of world history and the first year (half) of American history. So I am thinking of using veritas self paced online to finish up 1815-present next year. I have been looking at easy classical to use after that. I like that they use SOTW along with other resources. But it appears that they use a 5 year cycle for history and that seems to mess up my trajectory a bit. I could go through their 5 cycles for 5th-9th grade then figure out 3 years of high school. It seems like the more common 4 year plan would work better. 5th-8th and then repeat cycle for 9th-12th. I know things could change as we go along but I like to plan ahead and at least know I have a good plan out there. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to map all of this out? Thanks!!

Oh, and I forgot to add that they take art classes once a week and we will probably just read some books about various composers for music!

Hi! I think I'm about to be a full fledged classical homeschool fan! I've been slowly moving over, but have much more to learn! Can you look at what my current plans are for next year and tell me if you see any holes or obvious mistakes. Grammar and spelling - rod and staff Writing - EIW Literature - books I select with occasional comprehension guides by veritas or memoria press Math - horizons Science - apologia anatomy and lyrical life human body History - veritas self paced online with literature along with that Bible - god's great covenant Latin - undecided This is for my 4th grader. 1st grader will do much of the same but at her level. They will do history and science together Thanks! I appreciate any feedback you have!

Hi ladies, I think I am going to use veritas self paced online course next year for my 4th grader. 1815-present. I am trying to figure out how much I need to add to that in terms of read alouds, texts, etc.... I don't want to follow a schedule, just at our own pace and I would prefer to get books from the library, not a curriculum provider. Obviously we will buy any textbooks we may need. Thoughts?

Bump!

Sorry I ended up posting twice. This is the unfinished one

Hi ladies! I have been all over the place trying to decide what to do for history next year. We have used sonlight for 3 years. It's not out if the question to continue with it. We have done 2 years of world history and are about to complete our first year of American. I just keep feeling the urge to move towards something different. More classical. I would really like to finish American history, so I was thinking maybe do the self paced history online with veritas for one year, then switch over to SOTW for a 4 year cycle. I will have a 4th and 1st grader. Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions you have!

Hi ladies! I have been all over the place trying to decide what to do for history next year. We have used sonlight for 3 years. It's not out if the question to continue with it. We have done 2 years of world history and are about to complete our first year of American. I just keep feeling the urge to move towards something different. More classical. I would really like to finish American history, so I was thinking maybe do the self paced history online with veritas for one year, then switch over to SOTW for a 4 year cycle. I will have a 4th and 1st grader. Thanks for any yho

Thanks everyone. These are helpful ideas.

I suppose you could also try to persuade me to do story of the world or something similar and convince me adding on activities and extra books is doable. I just realized I don't use the bible or language arts sections of SL so it's pretty expensive for just the history component. Thanks!!

Hi ladies, This, I believe, is my first time posting on this board. I have been homeschooling for 3 years and using sonlight. We have been mostly happy with it. I definitely enjoy having the entire thing planned for me. Choosing everything a la carte with no assistance just isn't my strong suit. But I am noticing that my girls, ages 9, 6 and 3 really enjoy things like worksheets, maps, projects, etc.....that being said - science experiments make me want to cry. I'm not a crafty, experiments type mom or teacher. They love all the richness of the books but at some points, we just get tired of only reading. I use rod and staff for English, EIW for writing, and horizons for math. I guess my question is if you all know of a good solution for us where we have a literature rich curriculum but one that also adds in some activities too - even note booking or projects with history, etc.... I have considered MFW, but I fear it's too "light" and also too sanitized for us, if that makes sense. I'm very open to suggestions!! Thanks!!