We used Reading Detective by Critical Thinking Press and it helped me son quite a bit. After that we used a workbook series called More Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter. It was also extremely helpful. For reading speed/fluency, it really is about reading, reading, reading. I always had my children read out loud for at least ten minutes a day, then they went off to read at least another forty minutes.

Whatever you use, I'd choose something with intensive and systematic review. All About Spelling is expensive, but there are programs out there that do a similar job, for less money. I used Spell to Write and Read with the Wise Guide. It does require a parent....but takes about 15 to 20 minutes a day. There is a bit of a learning curve, but it's do-able. It covers K-12 for roughly $100 dollars. The Wise Guide tells you what needs to be done every week. It's a great program. I've used it with three kids with different learning styles, one of them had auditory processing disorder. Excellent program. This is a link to a page that helps you get up and running quickly. This site totally helped me implement SWR and truly has blessed my family. My LD child jumped three grade levels in one year, and was up to college level spelling by the time he graduated high school. My younger students finished the program in two to three years. I'm cycling back through SWR with my ten year old, but I suspect she will no longer need spelling after next year. (She's spelling at an 11th grade level now.) You can use Spalding, as the poster above suggested. It provides no hand holding, but you can make it work. I suggest reading through the manual like a novel. Create your own spelling notebook and then begin teaching. When you come across something you don't know, just tell your child that you don't know and you can learn together. I honestly do not know of a workbook that teaches spelling as thoroughly as a Spalding program. I've tried a lot of programs over the years, and the Spalding method is the only thing that helped all of my children consistently. I think the key is systematic and intensive review with a focus on rules and phonograms, rather than memorizing whole words or patterns. Some kids are natural spellers, others have large memory capacity. Not all students do though, and I think this is why Spalding works best.

Have you considered whether it might be the incremental review that is frustrating her? All of my kids ended up doing much better with other curriculum once we passed a certain point in Saxon. (Usually somewhere in 7/6) There were too many concepts all the time with little being completely mastered. It made them all nuts. Once we switched to a more mastery based approach, their enjoyment of math (and competency) returned. I am definitely not saying that this is what is happening here, but it's a thought to consider.

How about ABeka's Handbook for Reading? It's just a reader, but it reviews all phonograms, the rules and provides lots of words to read. If that's not what you're looking for, you might consider Explode the Code. Another idea is that Christian Liberty Press has an inexpensive phonics workbook series. It's called Adventures in Phonics. Each book is a full year, but they are so inexpensive that it wouldn't be too much of an investment. They are simple workbook pages with ample review on all phonograms. The TM is unnecessary. Very self explanatory. I hope this helps. Blessings, Yvonne Homeschooling since 1998 Mom to Matt (22), Drew (20), Sam (16) and Grace (10) http://www.notperfect-justordinary.blogspot.com http://www.yvonneferlita.blogspot.com

I remediated one of my sons with a program based on Spalding. (Spell to Write and Read and the Wise Guide) He did so amazingly well, that I used SWR with my two younger children as well. I used Phonics Pathways with the same son, and it did not help him at all. He needed the intensive and systematic review that the Spalding method provides. It covers all learning modalities and everything is reviewed on a regular basis. If you feel like you need to have some hand-holding in remediating your niece, then I might suggest All About Reading. I've got several friends who have had excellent results with it. Blessings, Yvonne Homeschooling since 1998 Mom to Matt (22), Drew (20), Sam (16) and Grace (10) http://www.notperfect-justordinary.blogspot.com http://www.yvonneferlita.blogspot.com

Yes. Barton was cost prohibitive for our family. (One of my sons has auditory processing disorder.) We went with Spell to Write and Read and the WISE Guide. It was the best decision I have ever made in our homeschool. Blessings, Yvonne Homeschooling since 1998 Mom to Matt (22), Drew (20), Sam (16) and Grace (10) http://www.notperfect-justordinary.blogspot.com http://www.yvonneferlita.blogspot.com

Your children are very young. They will develop very normally. In fact, in all likelihood, they will develop in a much healthier, non-peer dependent manner. It is a very positive sign that you are concerned about them, but don't let the concern become fear. I have been homeschooling since 1998. I have graduated two students from my home ed program. I have a sixteen year old and a 10 year old yet to graduate. All of my children are active participants in life. My young adults vote, they shop, they talk on the phone, they have friends. My younger students have lots of friends. My word, sometimes I wish they had fewer. I am constantly taking them one place or another for get togethers, parties, classes, field trips, lessons, park days, etc... There has been so much opportunity that I have had to limit it to keep it all in perspective. Family, Church and Academics are important too. : ) Your children are not behind. Don't let those who do daycare and public school make you think your kids are less than. They are not. They are normal. They are not being pushed to socialize in a manner that is beyond their ages. They are soooo little. Let them enjoy you! Let them explore friendships and be available to encourage them as they do. It will never be perfect. They will have bumps in the road, just like public schoolers do. What happens when they bullied at the park? What happens when they are unkind to friend? These are all issues that you will do a better job in socializing them because you are there and can see what is happening. In addition, you will teach them how to look folks in the eye, shake hands, etc...but it is going to be a few years before they master it depending on their personalities. It doesn't matter when they master it, as long as you are actively working with them. I encourage you to be aware, stretch them from point A to point B, whatever that is...in a timeframe that is appropriate for each child. I have both introverted and extroverted children. Each child needed a social education that helped them to love others, but also respected who they were as individuals. Social education is about building confidence in your children while teaching them to respect and love others through actions and words, while also maintaining healthy boundaries. Be encouraged! You can do this. Absolutely do not see your children as behind. They are not. They are homeschooled. That is a good thing...a better thing than what happens at school. Work with your children and don't give in to fear. Blessings, Yvonne Homeschooling since 1998 Mom to Matt(22), Drew (20), Sam (16) and Grace (10) http://www.notperfect-justordinary.blogspot.com http://www.yvonneferlita.blogspot.com

This is normal in my experience. I've graduated two boys from my homeschool program and I am about to graduate another. (He's in 10th grade this year.) Each son went through a stage where they were growing so rapidly that there wasn't a whole lot of intellectual capability. All three shot up about seven inches in one year, then three the next and it slowed from there. I saw a direct correlation of focus returning as growth slowed down. It was especially evident with writing skills. That said, I also had to set rules in order to help them grow through this period. I limited screen time, and required a lot of physical work. (Both chores and recreational) They were required to complete their school work, and while I maintained high expectation, I also had to temper my expectation with the reality of their circumstances. It is hard work growing up and dealing with the slurry of hormones. So I learned to practice a lot of grace. I did notice that my sons did better with block scheduling during this time. So instead of doing every subject every day, We would do a few subjects for a longer period of time. For two of my sons it also helped to move to a mastery based math curriculum. Too many concepts every day was not helpful. They did much better on standardized tests when we used a mastery based program. I'm actually going through this with my daughter now! One son was not able to do standardized testing during this time period. But again, once he moved through this period of transition, he tested very well...scoring college level in the 11th grade. I did find it helpful to have each son take an online course so they could experience being accountable to someone else. This showed them that my expectations weren't so bad after all. They each rose to the challenge and in every instance, their accountability to me improved. We used our local online school. I hope this helps. Yvonne Mom to Matt (22), Drew (20), Sam (16) and Grace (10) http://www.notperfect-justordinary.blogspot.com http://www.yvonneferlita.blogspot.com

My son just finished Windows Programming and Game Programming. You can use one set of books for both students. All their work is done on the computer. You don't write in the books. I hope this helps. : ) Yvonne Mom to Matt (22), Drew (20), Sam (16) and Grace (10) Homeschooling since 1997 http://www.yvonneferlita.blogspot.com http://www.notperfect-justordinary.blogspot.com

I am a mom to three young men 22, 20 and 16 and one beautiful girl, who is ten. I used to be the girl who wore the shredded shirts as a teenager. I had no respect for myself or others. I grew up when I was twenty nine. I understood that I had value and because I had value, no one else deserved to see my skin. No more enticing clothes. It wasn't necessary. My husband values me for who I am....not what I wear. My sons are continually challenged by the clothing choices of their school mates at college. Barely there shorts...bikini tops in the classroom. Crazy stuff. Some days they hate going to school, because they shift their eyes to look away, only to see another girl who came to school nearly naked. I've taught my daughter to dress comfortably and in a conservatively stylish manner. We do have standards. These standards protect my daughter from unwanted attention, and is respectful of the visual nature of men and also reflects the respect we have for ourselves. Off the top of my head, these are our standards: No bare midrifts, no bikinis. Sleeveless and tanks are okay, but we choose styles that are less form fitting. (We live in Florida) Skirts and shorts must be fingertip length or longer We avoid skin tight pants When you bend over, your chest and backside must remain covered - no gaps. When you sit indian-style, there should not be any gaps that reveal anything Leggings are worn with a tunic that covers the backside if we are at a church event, but if exercise is involved, we ease up. Exercise is exercise...we just encourage each other not to flaunt stuff around. LOL This is what we do. These are not rigid standards...more like a guideline. For instance, if we find a pretty blouse, but when my daughter bends over you can see down her shirt, she is at the age, where she can be aware and avoid bending over, or placing her hand over her top as she bends over to stop the gap. When she was little, I just didn't buy tops that had a gap. We have never had an issue with clothing because I began teaching her as a four year old about appropriate choices. She has been challenged by clothing advertisements from time to time, but when we talk it through, she comes to her own conclusions that the style would cause more harm than good in her life. We have enjoyed The Secret Keeper materials, and Nancy Leigh DeMoss has a helpful booklet about modesty designed for teenagers. I think it is called "The Look: Does God Really Care What I Wear?" Great resource. Blessings, Yvonne http://www.yvonneferlita.blogspot.com http://www.notperfect-justordinary.blogspot.com