Following! I'm torn between these two as well. Can I jump in and ask a question real quick? If I chose FLL/WWE foe my seven year old (second grade) where do I start? First book or second book? We'll be coming from Abeka language (first grade) if that helps any.

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^ Very helpful! We are currently using Abeka math and while I don't necessarily have a problem with it, I am very tempted to go with something else for second grade when we finish fist up at the end of the year. I just sold my second grade abeka stuff so it would be silly to buy the math workbook and teacher guide all over again. Not to mention the fact that it's not necessarily cheap! Sometimes my son complains about it and we were thisclose to going with RS but I have a five (almost six) year old and a 20 month old. I just can't do that many parent intensive math activities. We use random math manips and I'm toying with the idea of adding an abacus and c-rods in there somewhere. Abeka math seems to be working as long as I add a little extra fun in there from time to time. He still uses his fingers a LOT and isn't as quick with his math facts but that's mostly my fault. I've been looking into CLE for second grade so thanks for your input, too!

We use pretty much the same manipulatives. I've been meaning to order some c-rods! I'll have to look into the box thing you are talking about. I think the c-rods could really help with seeing how things are grouped into tens and then have the ones. We use legos for that most of the time but sometimes he gets too focused on the legos and wants to play with them in a different way than he needs to be doing for school! Legos are his obsession. How do you do math facts with c-rods? We really need to work on learning those.

We currently use Abeka math, first grade. We like it alright, it's nice and solid. The worksheets are nice and colorful. It's spiral so we don't get too bored/burnt out working on a new concept, we know it's going to come around again. Ideally I would love something a little more hands on instead of me having to find tons of ideas on Pinterest. I was going to switch to RightStart but man, that one requires a lot of me right there with him. If I only had one child that would be my first choice. But I've got a five (almost 6) year old and a 20 month old. So I'm not sure RS would be ideal for us. I'm looking at CLE, and I think I might like the looks of it. The child I would use this for seems to be a visual learner with tactile learning coming in at a close second. He likes the games part of things because it feels less school-like but at the same time he only likes certain kinds of games, nothing where he has to act anything out, be silly, say or do silly/unnatural things or say little quotes/rhymes/jingles. Do you think CLE might work for us?

The first set of words on the left are mine. The rest are his. It's def nit bad, but it's wobbly.

I've been looking at pencil grips, there are so many to pick from! Any specific suggestions? I've tried turning his paper and taping it to the table but he then turns his body so that he's aligned straight with the paper again!

The hook in this picture isn't as bad as it is at other times. But it's not severe. I agree, it's mostly a grip and non-slanted paper issue. I can't get him to change anything. At all. Only thing I haven't tried is the triangle pencils and pencil grips. When I try to get him to correct it he gets highly upset and then he wants to quit/has a meltdown. I really think that once we get a proper grip his handwriting will greatly improve!!

This is my seven year old. He curls his wrist in/down like that every single time. No matter how many times or ways I show him. Which (I think) makes his handwriting messier.

You all have been SO VERY helpful. I'd love to sit here and reply to each and every one of you but I have GOT to get in bed, but I WILL be back to reply individually! I can't even begin to describe just how much I love this group here. I know I can come here and get the encouragement I need. I've been tempted to do a form of unschooling but I'm so afraid that if we do he won't learn much with the way we go about the days. I know some kids thrive on that but I just don't know that it will work with our family. Honestly, I tend to get lazy and my kids love legos and electronics too much to focus on anything else. I don't mind the legos at all, actually trying to find ways to incorporate those into our studies.

I agree! Which is why it's heavily modified until I can make my mind up on what to replace it with. I'm thinking we'll finish it up, since we have it and he's learning & retaining well. We're on lesson 100 in math and 93 in phonics. I think there are 170? But we tend to skip the tests for both and skip many of the strictly review days unless he needs it. It's def not taught in Abeka fashion!! Today we spelled our words with alphabet stones/gems, we did phonics on the white board and orally, writing was journaling about the weekend and with math we used Legos and a real clock. All hands on. The worksheet was on his clipboard but we did 90% of it orally. He enjoys that.

The best I can tell he's a hands on kind of guy. But he doesn't like jingles or songs of any kind or anything where he has to get up and 'perform.' He's a bit of a perfectionist. I can't tell if he hates to try/apply himself or if he struggles. He's a quick learner when he's on a roll. We've scaled Abeka WAAAAY down and do most of it orally or I find hands on games/activities to do things differently. I use their guides and workbooks as a tool to guide us. The seat work that they have is never part of our work unless I feel he needs extra written practice.

He's 7. Finishing up the second half of Abeka first grade, parent taught. I know that with Abeka the lessons are usually long but he's a quick learner and we don't spend much time on all their reviews if I know he's got it. It's pretty open and go the way I have adapted it to fit his learning style until we finish up with it and move on to something else. Very rarely do I make him do the worksheets. He does one side of the math and we do the other side together. When it comes to the phonics ones it's only one sheet from language and one from letters and sounds...and those are usually done orally or with the white board. So it's not a bunch of seat work. He just hates school. Or any form of work!

I'm sure most of us can relate to this to some degree. It's definitely not fun in any way. For me or for my child. No matter what I do or how I teach I can't get him to like any part of school. Some days he does the work just fine and we have no issues. Other days it's like pulling teeth and we eventually just have to close the books until later in the day, sometimes doing schoolwork at night after the rest of the family has gone to bed. Then there are days like today where he just as an attitude. It's not necessarily a bad one, but he just has that sour look on his face and will not get interested in whatever it is we are doing. I try to make it fun for him and he gets mad, then refuses to participate. So then it turns into a 'just close your mouth and get your work done' kind of day. He asked for me to make it hands on. I did. He still had the attitude. Have him go outside and ride his bike or jump on the trampoline. NO WAY! When he's like this there is nothing I can do to get him back to what we call the 'green zone.' Nothing. The only way he gets over it is to be left alone to do whatever he wants to all day...and obviously that can't happen. Anyone else have a child like this? What did you do? How do you deal?!

Loving all these!! Thanks for playing along so far and keep them coming! I'm writing all these down. I just can't decide between a few and it's killing me. I'm just so torn!! Too many choices. I get set on one thing and then something makes me change my mind. I'm not good at making decisions so this is incredibly hard for me. I love that my husband trusts me with these decisions but sometimes this is when I wish he would weigh in!

I'm still trying to narrow down what we'll eventually use. I have few favorites picked out that I think I'm set on a few things but I can't stop looking around and window shopping! So what are tour favorites for (not listed in any certain order and will not be done all at the same time!); Writing Handwriting Phonics Reading Math Grammar Spelling Bible History Geography Science Art Music

That's exactly what we're doing! Those are all just things that will be added to the mix as we go. Lately we've just been doing the basics; math, reading, phonics and spelling, and some handwriting/copywork using our current curriculum. I've just modified it to work for us.

Do I/should I still carry on with the Abeka first grade phonics if his reading level is around 3rd-4th? I feel like the answer should be yes but I'm not certain ;-)

Such a great idea!!

I'm thinking we might try Handwritng Without Tears for the kinder by and second grade boy. Kinder boy is starting fresh and the second grader needs to work on neater writing. We have paused cursive for them time being until manuscript gets cleaned up some. Also working on proper pencil grip. Back to the question. What are your gavorite items to go along with HWOT?

Thank you so much! I might just get the teacher book and student workbook. What's the spelling journal like?

I was thisclose to committing to LOE, until I saw that. For some reason I hadn't looked at price. Or if I did, I didn't realize there were that many 'pieces' to it and the price of those! I surely can't swing that right now. Do you feel like you're missing out on anything by not having it all? I'm one of those people who feels like they have to buy it all in order to use it right. Side note...AAS says to start all kids at level 1. I'm sure, if we went that route, that would bore my seven year old to death since we've made it to lesson 90 (so far) with Abeka's phonics program.

AAS users...did you buy the basic or deluxe set? LOE users...what all did you buy? I just read a review and the mom bought ALL the goodies to go with it...to the tune of $243!

You've gotten some great advice so far! I don't have anything to add but I wanted to let you know that we keep things very simple around these parts! I have one (7 year old boy) with sensory issues who loathes school of any kind so whatever I do with him is usually pretty parent involved. The five year old boy is my adhd (undiagnosed) child who needs short and sweet lessons. They are both little sponges who retain much more than I thought they would. Most days we just do the three R's and call it a day! Science and history is just a documentary they pick out, a book they found at the library, digging into a question that one of them asked recently (what is an ant hill like? so we then dig up an ant hole and watch it for a few days while we do light research on it). In the next couple/few years we will add more and do a more formal history and science something or another!

What's this movable alphabet you speak of? ;-)