Oh yes, Explode the Code is great if you still need phonics work! I started my ds on Level 1 of WWE (2nd grade). It's a good fit for him. Some 2nd graders could probably start at Level 2, but my ds still wasn't terribly proficient in handwriting so I didn't want to push it. You can see some samples at the Peace Hill Press website to see the length of the sentences for copywork. Also, dictation starts in Level 2 I believe.

I keep going back and forth on this. I'm using Writing Tales 2 with my 5th grader and, while I do like it, I feel like we are missing out on a lot of instruction by not doing copywork/dictation. I haven't been really good at adding that in on my own in the past, and WT only includes a very small amount of copywork. I'm using WWE Level 1 with my 2nd grader and really like it. I think my dd would probably need at least Level 3, but of course the workbook is not out yet (and I like it all done for me! :D). I'm thinking of going with Level 2 and increasing the length of the passages to challenge her more. Has anyone done this? All I have to go on is the sample on the PHP website, but she could definitely take longer passages from dictation.

Sounds like you have a really good lineup so far! :) I wouldn't add in Writing Strands yet at 2nd grade. If you want to add in a writing program, I recommend Writing with Ease (also by Susan Wise Bauer). If you add this, you would eliminate some of the copywork/dictation from FLL. Welcome to the board! Edited to add: I just saw your comment about narration. WWE is been a HUGE help for my 8yo ds in that department.

We've used Sonlight Cores PreK, K, 1 and 2. Count me as one of those who has a love/hate relationship with SL, LOL. I love that it is so laid out for me, but having the reading all scheduled also can be a source of stress if you can't keep up or don't like a particular book. We started Core 3 this year (with a 5th & 2nd grader) and by week 7 or so, NO ONE had liked a single book. :tongue_smilie: Very frustrating. I ended up purchasing the Truthquest AHYS I guide (which uses a LOT of SL titles, by the way), and I'm using that as my history "spine." This is working much better for my 2nd grader as I can get picture book titles at the library that go along with whatever we're studying. These are keeping his attention much better than the SL books. I think *in general* that Sonlight is best used a core or two below your child's actual grade level. Core 1 was WAY too much for my dd when she was 6. I felt like I was pushing her through books that she wasn't ready for. We took a long break from it, and Core 2 was a good fit for her last year as a 4th grader. One more thought if you really want to try Sonlight--buy the IG used and get the books from the library. Of course, this only works if you have a good library system but this has worked very well for us. I go through the catalog each year and make note of what we can't get through the library. You also want to check and see how many copies the library has of the books--I have discovered that if they only have one or two copies, chances are it will be unavailable when I need it! :) Then I buy the rest used or from Amazon. This has saved us a LOT of money. We couldn't afford to buy a whole core so this is really only way we could "do" Sonlight. Hope all this rambling helps somewhat. :)

I *love* Writing With Ease for the early grades. I'm using Writing Tales 2 with my 5th grader and like it too, but not as well as the WWE I'm using with 8yo.

Same here. :) We are currently reading aloud Trumpet of the Swan after reading the snippets in WWE 1. Both kids are loving it!

Here's what we are loving this year: - Writing with Ease Level 1 (wish there was a workbook for my 5th grader!) - Truthquest History - Teaching Textbooks 5 - Explode the Code - BJU Math for 2nd grade Fun thread!

These are great, ladies--thanks! :)

OK, maybe I dreamed it, but I could swear that someone here recently posted a link to a really cool online Advent calendar where you could click on the dates each day for fun Advent recipes/activities. I've searched the forums every way I can think of but can't find it. Does this ring a bell with anyone? :confused1:

I want a grain mill. And a Zoji bread machine. And I wouldn't mind having an inexpensive MP3 player to listen to homeschool convention workshops on. Don't expect to get any of them though. :)

Hi again Donna! Yes, I'm using WWE 1 with my 7yo (now 8yo!). I really, really like it. I originally wanted to use WWE with my 10 yo too, but couldn't see myself pulling it together without the workbook. That's when I started looking into Writing Tales. I did have the manual but ended up selling it. Everything you need is in the workbook. HTH!

Chiming in late here, but I just want to say that I am *loving* Writing Tales 2 for my 5th grader! She hasn't done much formal writing before this year (other than some copywork/dictation in LLATL) and she's doing really well with it. She learned to type last year with Typing Instructor for Kids and I let her do her rewrites on the computer. This has helped tremendously since she gets tired quickly with a lot of handwriting. It covers all the basics of LA just like LLATL, but she is enjoying it so much more. Hope your son takes off with it too!

Loving TT5 here! :thumbup:

I agree with Heather. WWE is great for this age. I am using Level One with my 2nd grade boy, and he is doing *so* well with it. We are several weeks into it now and I can see huge improvements in his narrating/copywork skills.

Another vote for Writing Tales. I'm using Level Two with my 5th grader and she's really doing well with it.

I agree with pp. Core 3 is much more advanced. I used Adventures three years ago with a 2nd grader and a PreK'er. We enjoyed it (esp. the Pioneers & Patriots book) but had to add in readalouds (which is pretty easy to do with the booklists you are given). We started this year using SL Core 3 (5th grade and 2nd grade). I had to modify it down for the 2nd grader. In fact, we have switched to using TQ as our spine and adding in the Core 3 books we like around that to accommodate my ds. Also, Adventures has some hands-on stuff and SL has none. That doesn't bother us, but YMMV. :)

Ugh! Just realized my first line doesn't make sense. We weren't bogged down by the amount of reading, just the content--books were above my 7yo's head and I wanted to combine my two in history. Just in case anyone was wondering. ;)

Same here. My 2nd grader is doing WWE Level 1 right now, and I don't plan to add in grammar until 3rd grade or later. It's working out great!

Too much! :eek: We were getting bogged down in the SL Core 3 readings, so I bought TruthQuest history to supplement. Then I decided I liked TQ better, so we are dropping SL for that. I also ditched MUS Gamma for my dd since it was causing daily tears. She's currently doing TT5 instead, and so far so good. I also bought the Nine-Note Recorder method to use this year, but haven't touched it yet--I do still plan to get into it . . . eventually. :001_smile:

I also love the workbooks. :thumbup: I can't begin to imagine coming up with all of it on my own--and I don't even have a baby/toddler! We don't try to read all the books (that would be waaay too much), but occasionally ds will want to know "the end of the story" so we will get the book from the library and read more.

Yes, you can skip the manual if you have the workbook. Everything is laid out for you in the workbook. The manual just explains the philosophy behind it and gives lesson plans for all four levels, etc. You could definitely use Level 2 with an 8yo, especially if the child has been doing other writing. I'm using Level 1 with my almost 8yo and it's working well. It is all copywork and narration, and I believe leads into dictation in level 2. The idea behind it (which is laid out for you in the manual) is that the child needs to obtain the writing skills before having to come up with their own material. HTH! We are really enjoying WWE.

I am using Easy Grammar this year for my 5th grader and really like it. Not too much writing, but covers the basics. I am not using Daily Grams. I have heard that some use Easy Grammar/Daily Grams in alternating years to avoid overloading the child with grammar. I find that there is plenty of review is EG by itself. Edited to say: I just reread your original post. I think it covers usage/punctuation quite well.

Well, we tried FLL 1/2 not once but TWICE and couldn't get through it either time. The chanting/memorization drove me crazy! My dd didn't like it either. I'm using WWE workbook 1 with my 7yo ds now, and I *love* it. Short, simple, and to the point. We are several weeks into it now and I can see so much improvement in his copywork/narrations skills. HTH!

My son in 2nd grade will turn 8 in two weeks. He would *so* not be ready for 3rd grade work!

Sorry, I get what you are saying now. :001_smile: When we used LLATL Orange, I didn't add anything to it except spelling. I probably didn't really need to do that, because my dd is a pretty good speller. *I* personally think it's a good program; my dd just really disliked it for some reason. HTH! Edited to add: It sometimes seems that the grammar in LLATL is "random"--however, we are using Easy Grammar this year and I find that my dd remembers a lot that she learned while using LLATL.