If we've not done any dictation work before do you think we'd be okay starting off with WWE2 for second grade? Or should we start with WWE1? Does WWE1 teach you and the child how to ease into dictation? If we do end up starting out with WWE2 do you have any tips on how to work on dictation now before we start up with WWE2?

^ ditto!!

R&S uses the spelling/phonics rules, correct? I love how the words in Abeka's spelling used the rules learned from previous lessons. Looked at Spelling Workout but I'm not liking it. Looks to much like memory work spelling vs learning to spell phonetically.

I didn't think about that. I'll go take a look and see what I can see from the samples and description! Thanks for the heads up!!

I think I've narrowed it down to Rod and Staff and First Language Lessons/Writing With Ease. I thought I might like ELTL but I'm just not sure. We aren't super classical and I'm unsure if my children would enjoy the books and what not. Anyhow, we are coming off of Abeka first grade so I think I would be able to easily transition right into the second grade levels for both of these. If you've used either or both of these, could you weigh in and share your thoughts? My boys (and I and the two year old!) like lessons that are short & sweet and only having to add extra this and that and games when we want/need to. So, what say you?

Thanks! I had taken a look at R&S so I'm glad to hear you say that! ETA: I just looked at the list of spelling words for grade two, looks like he could move up to grade 3.

I think we are going to start phasing out of Abeka. We love it and it's worked great so far but I just feel there is too much review and too many extra things to have with it for each lesson. Of course we skip a few things and usually our spelling/phonics lessons are about 15 minutes long so it's really not that big of a deal. But I thought we might looking into something a little different. I'm thinking we might go with First Language Lessons and Writing With Ease for the others. At first I was going to go with All About Spelling since I thought my boys would want/need something hands on like that but as it turns out they like lessons that are short and sweet. I like their thinking!! So, what would you all suggest looking into? Spelling seems to come fairly easy to the seven year old and hasn't had much difficulty with the Abeka first grade lists this far, and he's on spelling list 21 this week.

That's what I was thinking. And he's an advanced reader so we might be good. But I can see where the first grade phonics has really helped him with sounding things out and spelling!

Surely someone (hopefully more than one!!) here has switched things up after using Abeka for all of first grade. We're about to finish up with our first grade curriculum. It's actually working so there's no NEED for the change except that I'm looking for something more classical (but not too classical) and engaging that might help to make learning more exciting. I'm just looking to see what you switched to. Math, phonics/grammar/language arts, writing and anything else!

I'm watching your videos right now ams I'm really liking them!! I haven't looked around your site much yet but can your lessons be used alone and the only phonics instruction a child receives? This seems like maybe a better option than the darn blends that we're working on with Abeka K5 in learning to read. Another question, we've been playing your phonics concentration game for a while and love it. Do you have any other games or do you know of any you can recommend? Games or activities.

Following! I'm needing to know this as well. Can I throw in a piggyback question? My 7 year old is reading at about a 3rd or 4th grade reading level. We're doing Abeka spelling (for now, switching soon) but will soon be going with AAS. Can anyone recommend a good phonics curriculum/program?

Steal away!! I'm curious too. Trying to nail it all down for when we make the full switch out of Abeka. About hallway there but I can't figure out what to do with phonics. I know AAS isn't phonics but I don't have any idea on what to use for phonics to go along with it that doesn't sound like overkill alongside AAS.

I forgot all about your website! Thanks for the reminder ;-) Anyone else have any suggestions? What could we use after Abeka first grade phonics?

My 7 year old (in a mix of first and second grade curriculum) is an amazing reader. Rarely needs help sounding new words out. I'm getting ready to order All About Spelling (levels 1 & 2) and as soon as it gets here we'll be starting that. We're a little over halfway through Abeka first grade phonics & language 1 and their spelling. Question is, with doing AAS and FLL can I drop phonics now? He's been reading above grade level since the first semester of kindergarten.

I've got a chance to buy the MUS manipulatives (locally) so I was just wondering if CLE used the c-rods at all. Or if they'd be helpful to have even if the curriculum doesn't exactly call for them. Is be using second grade CLE.

Following as we will be switching from Abeka to CLE at the end of this semester. Going from first to second as well.

I'm not too good at finding my own resources. I mean, if I really sat down and did some research I'm sure I could find something. But let's face it, with three kids the last thing I want to do all night is research even more than I already do. I'm not sure we will do a TON of things, but at least one activity a chapter (or week, however it's laid out) would be nice. Something to give my kids a strong interest in history so it's not 'just another assignment' and to help break up all the short and sweet lessons. Something to bring my kids together with as well. I school them at different times of the day. It just works better for us that way, mostly for me. And we are dealing with issues of getting along so this might help us/them learn to work together. Thanks to all who replied!! The AG (in pdf form) has been added to my cart.

I'm getting ready to order SOTW 1 and can't decide if we should splurge for the activity guide or not. Tell me what you like and/or dislike about it. Thinking I might get the download of the book for my iPad to save on some cash (though I could always resell the actual book...) and have one less thing to keep up with. Cant decide between the download or the actual activity guide book. Pros and cons of either?

THANK YOU! How I didn't see that I have no idea :-) I'm buying levels 1 & 2 at the same time so I'm trying to save a little extra money. I'm not sure how quickly (or slowly) we will get through level 1 so I wanted to have level 2 handy. He will be coming from Abeka phonics/spelling first grade. So some he will already know and some he won't.

I'm not loving the price difference between the basic and deluxe. All I really want the deluxe for is the card holder. I don't care about the bag or the stickers. We can totally do without those. So, is there any way I can get just the card box or have any of you used something else that worked just as good?

I'm thinking I might just do skip level one and start with FLL 2. Will he be missing out on anything in FLL 1 if we skip it? He's ready for grammar.

So for WWE level 2 all I would need is the workbook? I'm getting ready to order in the next day or two and I want to make sure I get what I need. I'd hate to order both the teacher guide and the workbook if both aren't necessary.

I called and talked to someone at Peace Hill Press and he recommended that I go with FLL 1 and WWE 2 for my seven year old who is in between first and second grade. Just curious if anyone else used two different levels.

For levels 1 and 2 of FLL, there's no student workbook, right?

I think we're going to make the switch from Abeka math to CLE Math. I think! I know I've seen people post about taking the free 'diagnostic' (placement?) test they offer but when I go to their website it's $2.00 for the test and then another $2.00 for the teachers manual that it says I need. Is this the placement test everyone is talking about? Maybe it's no longer offered for free? Or maybe I'm looking for it in the wrong spot?