I am also very interested! My kids love crafts, and I have a hard time pulling it all together. Please let me know as well!

Thanks everyone! :)

...do you do a lesson from each book every day? That is how were are currently using them, one lesson from each every day M-F. Someone at our co-op, who uses FLL and WWE also, mentioned she thought they were to be used alternating days. I know neither is "wrong" or "right" way, but I was wondering how others who use both schedule them. :)

I will tell you what my 2nd grader does, but we are in the "less is more" approach. He does Apples and Pears spelling daily, only a bit of writing there, and FLL2 and WWE2 both daily. He keeps a journal and I will sometimes give him a prompt, but mostly he chooses the topic and writes a few sentences each day in it. Yesterday he wrote about Halloween, today he drew a comic w/ conversation bubbles. As long as he is writing something each day at this age, I feel it is enough. I would rather foster a love to write about something he enjoys, than force him to do daily copywork which he loathes.

Lori, thank you so much for all your insight, I really appreciate it! It gives me a lot to look at and digest. :) Is MM easy to understand for non math minded teachers and students? I have been looking at that as well, and the price is right, but I wasn't sure how well scripted the teachers manuals were. I NEED scripted for math. ;) Thank you PenetcostalMom! Does anyone have any info on Right Start Math as well? I think that might work well, and I almost purchased it prior to ever buying MUS, but the parent intensive nature scared me. I am now spending so much time on math, I may as well make the most of our time with it. Any info is appreciated! :)

We are currently using MUS Beta for EDS and Primer for YDS. I really like MUS, I've never been "math minded" and have learned SO much. As much as I like it, it's not working for my DS's, each for a different reason. We also recently moved to a state that requires testing (not turned in, but can be requested) and I am concerned that my DS's will not do well on the testing w/ MUS's different scope and sequence. First up is EDS who is very much like me. I struggled w/ math (until Algebra, which I loved), particularly with memorizing math facts. He cannot remember what 2+2 is without counting it out on his fingers. He is 8, technically in 2nd grade. We did MUS Alpha and he trudged through it, it was a battle everyday. We are on lesson 5 in Beta, he can do it, but it takes a long time to complete w/ a lot of help/assistance from me. One worksheet, after teaching review, usually takes us 40 minutes each day. I have been looking at Horizons or Saxon for him. I want something that will follow a bit more of PS math for testing, and I think the variety of not just learning math facts will be a confidence boost and welcomed change for him. Problem is both are a bit pricey, especially after I JUST bought Beta last month. I have checked all my usually review places, but would love to know if anyone has a DC similar to mine and what math works for them? Would you recommend one over the other, why? Or something all together different? Second is YDS. He is my math whiz. I started him with Singapore, but I couldn't understand it, let alone teach it. So, I moved him to MUS Primer and he enjoys Dreambox too, just for fun. Primer is not doing him any justice. I would love to challenge him a bit, but still build confidence. He doesn't like worksheets with a lot of problems on them, and colorful is a good bonus. I like MM for him, but again, if I am not sure of it, I worry about teaching it. Plus it doesn't look too colorful. Any suggestions for a "mathy" kindy kiddo? Again I lean toward Horizons(he would probably start the 1A book), but really just want to pick the "right" one for each kid and stick w/ it. Help! Thanks! :)

Thanks, I did *just* see it and sent in my request for Y3U1 since I purchased Y2 used. Thanks! :)

Thank you so much for all your responses! I think studying the ancients and bypassing the bible weeks in year one is a great answer to what I am hoping to accomplish, thanks! I could also easily add in SOTW, I was unaware that was an alternate book. EDS and I really enjoy the SL read alouds, so I think I will see what I can get from the library along w/ our TOG books. I better get cracking if we plan to start next week! :) We are already doing MUS Beta (EDS) and Primer (YDS), and will continue on w/ those, along w/ Dancing Bears for YDS. Any other suggestions are welcomed as well! :)

Hi all, I have been a long time lurker, but finally decided I needed to ask some questions. :) We started our first year, year round homeschooling mid Feb when we pulled EDS out of 1st grade ps. I was very drawn to SL, and chose core A and LA2. I figured my almost K aged DS would join in when he was ready. Here we are, almost ready to move onto our new "year" and I am really struggling w/ what to do. I dropped SL LA2 early on. I hated it, EDS hated it, it wasn't working for us. I found FLL and WWE and we started them about 2 months ago and things are going great! I also added in Apples and Pears b/c EDS is not a natural speller and, wow, what a difference. So I am set w/ LA. :) I *want* to use SL again, but I ended up throwing out almost all the spine in Core A. It was too overtly religious. We are spiritual, leaning towards christianity (does that term exist???), and it was too religious for us, plus the missionary book was too intense for my sensitive son. I want my kids to learn about Jesus, but not as a main history lesson every week, kwim? We have been using a unit of MBtP and while EDS likes it, I don't feel it is enough for him, just "fun" busy work and really no history. I picked up a used copy of TOG year 2 recently. I read through the first unit and I really like it. I feel confident it would be an excellent choice for my book loving EDS, and hands on enough to capture the interest of my hands on YDS. I ordered some of the spine books, and having flipped through them I feel they are not too religious. My problem w/ TOG comes down to year one. It seems all church doctrine and very highly religious. Oh, and I don't mind the planning, I have already started working on TOG lesson plans and since my kids are still in LG we will mainly read the books, talk about them and do some of the hands on activities, plus throw in SL read alouds. I also think in the long run TOG looks more rigorous, and ultimately what I am looking to accomplish with my children in the upper grades will be better reached with TOG. Anyone out there use TOG but a bit more secular? What to you do come year one? I don't mind some religion, but I do not want that to be the bulk of our history lesson. I thought about using the SOTW books for year one? Alternatively, does SL Core B become a bit more history focused or is it still very mission/religion focused? The books on the website look to be a little more history focused, but some I am not familiar with so I wasn't sure. Thanks for any input, I really appreciate it! Allison EDS-8 YDS-5 DD-2