I have no experience with Elemental Science, but CEP would be good for someone who has books at home- really just as simple as an encyclopedia set- and/ or can do regular library trips. Internet research would work fine, too. You need to be comfortable with the open-ended feel of using task cards and with the adjustment period ( it can take awhile to get used to the approach ) For us, they provide wonderful balance as we use almost all workbooks otherwise.

I use them and truly love them. Let me know if you have other questions.

I LOVE Creek Edge Press task cards!

Me, too!

I am replying for two reasons. The first is that I will be buying writing strands to read through. I can post back on this thread after I do so. I am also in search of one program to use through all years, but realize there is no 'perfect fit'. Secondly, Lisa, where in AK are you? My husband is interviewing for a position in Dillingham. We fly there this month for a site visit.

I really understand this. I've learned I do the same. It tends to show up for me in my household management strategies. I love vintage texts. I have my google play books full of vintage. We actually use them, too! I think your plan sounds reasonable. I agree with Hunter that vintage texts are best evaluated individually. The nice thing is that becomes possible since they are free !

Would I want a seperate reading program with HO level 2? Prior to finding HO I was going to design my own course again, and was planning to use CLE or Seton reading. I don't want to add unnecessary work, though.

We use MEP and MUS. It took us awhile to settle on that combination. MUS is like drill for us. The kids can do it independently.

That was very helpful. Thank you so much.

I am considering this for next year. I would like to add Sonlight's readers/read Alouds. Would that be too much? I appreciate how straightforward the program appears.

Did you get the lesson plans? They would be very helpful in coordinating all those resources. I think they are fairly inexpensive. We have the whole K curriculum. I don't think I could coordinate it without LP's.

I'm sure you'll get lots of feedback about this, but my input would be to keep in mind that all kids are different with this. Some read at five, some at nine. It is easier said than done, but don't worry. keep moving forward, but at her pace. If you don't see any progress within the next year, consider having her evaluated at some point. One of my children progressed very slowly. He just could not do what I expected. But, we kept working, sometimes with two or three weeks break if it seemed we were spinning wheels. He is doing great now. It seemed like one day it all 'clicked'. Hang in there!

dd was interested in greek and roman mythology and roman history, so below is what I organized for her. One of my goals for her is improved spelling and attention to work, so her plans are heavy in things to that end. I don't plan projects, but collect items in a basket that go with the topics, and the kids can use them as they like. I just have. 'Choose from basket' on their schedule. Things like puzzles, history pockets, etc go in the baskets. Famous Men of Rome with MP guide, some written, some discussed Bullfinch's Age of Fable narrated. She chooses a sentence a day for copy work. Read Alouds- Hostage Lands, City Readers- sparrow alone, Galen and Gateway to Medicine Moving Beyond the Page Greek Mythology unit Grammar notebook that I made up. Modern Speller dictation with WRTR ( WRTR is new to us)..... And math and Latin : )

Ellie- thank you very much!

Would I be able to move an older emerging reader through Spalding at a rate faster than a phonics program designed for younger children? In very simplified steps, how does one implement Spalding? I read the fourth edition several years ago, but I was confused about how to actually do it! Thanks!

Thank you so much : )

Anyone?

Yes, but then I switched back to worksheets for skill subjects. It's just easier for me and my dc feel it is more clear.

It may sound kinda crazy, but I have my struggling speller copy her list over and over. Two weeks is the 'magic' length for her. She copies, then spells out loud. We also analyze each word during the first day or two sort of like WRTR.

Would it be overkill to do CLE LA with Meaningful Composition for a fourth grader?

Ds: History is Our Island Story with narrating/ mapping/timeline Literature Fifty Famous Stories Retold- note booked, Little Duke, Stories from Shakespeare. Copy work and dictation from Little Angel Readers. Grammar I also made up. Composition- re telling and illustrating Bennet's Virtues book, creative writing from ILL, report about Shakespeare at end of year. We always do better with things I make up : )

We are using complete K and 4 this year. We love K and would not change a thing. I spent yesterday and today 'integrating' 4. I won't use a whe package above 3 again, but that is just because we do better with courses I create. We are doing First Form over two years. I just do not feel their Latin is developmentally on target.

Thank you thank you thank you!! Off to write out a loose plan : )

We began a new year in January as well, and this is what my grade 5 child is doing: Math- MEP Spelling- lists from Natural Speller Grammar- made up my own- she's making a notebook and doing recitations Phonics- Seton 4 Latin- First Form over two years Handwriting- pentime Bible- memoria press "Units" ( not sure what else to call them)- eight weeks each. Roman history with Bullfinch, Middle East geography with SL core f books, insects with parables from nature. Used MP materials as base.

Thank you- for all of that. I would appreciate links to the social groups. Most of our social world gas been RC, so... Ugh. I understand about giving awY those RC resources, but I was editing them so heavily anyway...thanks for the welcome : )