I'm wanting to teach my upper elementary children more about literary devices. Any resource suggestions?

My personal recommendation would be to use AAR (since you mentioned that and we've used it and love it) and handwriting only in k. Once level 1 of AAR has been complete and you'd feel your child can read this books fluently, I'd add in AAS or another spelling program in along with continuing reading and handwriting. Once their handwriting and spelling progresses, I'd then add in more formal writing and grammar.

If it's not getting done, even though you do like it, it may be time to move on. Mfw is definitely not an individual work program. We switched this year too since it wasn't a good fit anymore. I have begun MOH which we can either do together with me reading aloud and projects take their or separately. I bought the CDs and my kids love to listen to them and can do history on their own that way too. From the sounds of it you may want a more boxed curriculum, but it's not working best for your family. I'd start asking your child what their interests are, have them look through curriculum with you and perhaps piece together a better fit for your family.

are you wanting something extra to do with them or wanting to have an actual core spine? P4/5 which I absolutely LOVE has some really great literature, fun things to read together, but there isn't necessarily a lot of meat to history and such. There are some good science books though which we have enjoyed. The other books do allow for rabbit trails, seeing life of a child from previous generations, some just fun to read books. Core a gets a bit more into history and cultures, but the books are longer, some a bit more serious content thwt not all kids are ready for at that age. Also I felt the lesson plans were simply telling you what pages to read from each book. If you are ok with a bit of planning, I'd go with FIAR. There are a ton of free printables that go along with the lessons. And if there are books from p4:5 or core a you like, buy those to just read separately. I haven't done hod, but did look at it for my 5 yo next year, but I personally know I don't have the time to fully implement it with him being the 3rd, so we are doing FIAR instead (this year I'm reading the p4/5 books to him and my older ones again), since I know my older ones will gain something from it too by doing some of the upper level activities they didn't do the first time around. Have you also looked at what your older ones are studying and see if there's a way you can pull the younger sister into it with something that correlates? My older ones are doing zoology for science, so I've chosen the FIAR books that have animals in them and planned to do them as we study those animals so it all goes together...I'm a little crazy like that though. but I figure it all goes together so they can all work together somehow. But my older two will be 9 and 7, so not too far off in age

Mfw was one I wanted to love. We enjoyed K and adventures, but when we tried creation to Greeks, it was painful for us. I found the same for at least two other fiends of mine. Some of the choice of books were not the best IMO. While attempting to have the entire family group in the cycle, there were too many levels of books. For example, stream of civilization is meant for a higher level, but included in the base which you'd begin with 4/5th graders. You as the parent are to read it and the summarize it. That wasn't working for us. My kids wants something more along the lines of SOTW or MOH (we ended u parading it for MOH which mine enjoy). I also found for myself that I don't work with a boxed curriculum. I didn't like getting "behind" with certain portions of mfw and then rushing through to complete it all. We've enjoyed piecing together our curriculum, covering the same materials, putting in our interests and moving at our pace.

Would these two work together? I'd want to use the ssl as something additional to PL to make it more fun for my kids, not necessarily to reinforce what they are learning in PL.

I downloaded them when they were free and looked over them and they looked like a nice gentle approach to math. I was actually going to start using them with my 4 yo but then realized they were somehow deleted or lost. I can't find them anywhere. I am disappointed since they appeared to be put together well.

Thanks! I always forget about pp. probably because it didn't help with my oldest when we tried, but I'll take a look at it again.

Thanks for all the advice! It has helped. I will look into the mp program. It seems that may be where he is now. He can rhyme, identify the beginning sounds, count syllables, so I'm thinking he just needs that extra time to focus on blending and take time.

Thank So! I'll read through it. It's just so expensive I'm not sure if it's worth the cost or to just do another free letter of the week thing until he's ready!

If you look at the notebooking previews it will show there what the overall topic is. You'd need to read the chapters for the specifics but it at least gives an idea of the overall topic.

My 4.5 knows his letters and their sounds. I tried to begin level 1 with him since whe wanted to learn to read, but he was having difficulty with blends, so I put it away. Would pre-reading be beneficial for him or just hold off starting to read? Eta- he can rhyme, count syllables, identify beginning sounds already. It's just hard the blending that's tricky for him.

I see and understand where you are coming from. The books themselves are well written, keep children's attention and have science in them. I can't comment on whether there's in formation you'd find misleading since I'm neither a scientist nor secular, but at the same time, I haven't seen anything pointing against it. There is more fact based ideas describing photosynthesis, talking about moss, etc. I personally feel that quark doesn't get in depth enough for it to be brought up and perhaps that's how they are saying its neutral without speaking of evolution, intelligent design or creationism. They cover more of the broad ideas vs getting more specific...which is why I suppose I consider it more of a supplement vs a complete curriculum. If you wanted it to cover the entirety of the subject, then quark definitely isn't for you, especially as a higher level subject. It would probably be a fun read for an older child if you were learning the subject. I've planned out our zoology for next year using quark, but also pulling in other texts which teach the subjects at a deeper level. we have really enjoyed it and I will say at times I feel there is more story in there than actual science content- which is not bad for my younger children- but I'm going to guess it is definitely not a comprehensive science that you're looking for. I'm not sure if any of that helps at all. I'd definitely read the sample chapters online since they give a good view of what to expect. I think that would best help you see if it's a good fit or not. And I do want to add, I have enjoyed hearing your perspective on this...definitely not something I have personally thought in depth about before and something to think about. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts 😀

I'm curious if you've read the books or not? I only ask because I don't feel that the way they are written that it would be awkward to read additional information, adding in your own view. I am also coming from a elementary perspective, so that may be why I differ. I believe that the books themselves are not meant to be an entire curriculum, but you are to be adding in additional sources. Also not a biologist here, but just wondering more about your perspective.

I believe they just added an extra worksheet to each lesson. Everything else is the same from what I can see. I don't believe they've updated the DVDs, so you can use the older tm with the DVDs and a newer workbook without problem. That is unless they've changed more since last year when I last purchased a workbook.

I read somewhere that it is written in a neutral perspective. We are mostly through botany and there hasn't been anything from a Christian perspective. My kids have really been enjoy it! It's Been our favorite science out of all we've tried!

I was disappointed by this too when I was setting up zoology for next year. I purchased those notebooks get pages and then decided they weren't worth it. I was hoping for more than they offered and probably won't use them much.

I love reading quark with my kids. We are working through botany and the supplemental things are helpful to have but not necessary. It depends on how in depth you want to go. I only purchased the book not the note booking pages or wayfarers so I don't have her suggestions (I purchased the zoology and wasn't impressed with the supplemental suggestions there and ended up making my own things- I guess my kids aren't notebooking type and not for experiments either!) Typically we will read the chapter then do some type of application of what we learned. We planted a seed in a clear cd case watched it grow and then labeled the parts discussing what each did. For photosynthesis I found a free interactive notebook piece on it to put together afterwards and discussed. I feel like for elementary aged kids it does a good job of introducing topics and explaining them. Some parts you may want to supplement with more information or allow your child to explore more. I tend to grab books from the library on each subject and put them in or book basket. My kids will pick them up and read them here and there and then pick up more info. All my kids 4+ are loving it and learning a ton!

Thanks! I think we will grab them to read along with our history!

It's a text that mfw puts out. It's used throughout the program to be read to your child. It's usually about a page and a half about a particular person or subject. I forget if they were stories or just informational text. It's used throughout the program here and there.

I also have this one and I do really like it. I got it free when I bought my new camera a few months ago and it has been my go to since I have 4 kids and it's so easy to carry while pushing a stroller, dragging along a diaper bag, holding hands, etc. it's also really nice and compact for taking to sports, but still being able to carry everything (I can carry my canon 6d, external flash, and 1-2 extra lenses, battery pack, extra battery, cards and even my wallet and keys without a problem). It also washes off dirt and stuff easily which is why I've been taking it more and more over my leather one.

I got ones of these a few years ago. https://epiphanie.co Yikes! I think they went up significantly in price or I spent a lot more than I thought. They are great quality though. I've had mine I think 5-6 years now and it looks brand new. That is after taking it everywhere with me, on photo shoots, bring left on the ground.

I like seeing how you changed this to suit a homeschoolers better! I've always wanted one, but couldn't justify the cost...especially since I typically am a planner dropout by the end of the year and it doesn't get fully used. Very nice job!

Definitely get help either by having someone else do it if you're not sure of how to handle it properly or get the forms from the library.

My parents have moved away, so they know we are coming are typically are waiting at the door for us. If they weren't, I'd knock, it would probably be locked :) My ILs live close by, same house DH grew up in...we walk right in. I even have a garage door opener and key of my own for their house.