I have no idea how literacy rates could be lower now than they were in the 1800's? So many people never even went to school, minorities didn't for sure.

It's very cool. We have book 2, and the words are exactly the same. :) I already knew about the site though and had forgotten! The book has more practice exercises, and a reading comprehension passage that uses all the words, etc. for reinforcing and practicing the vocab. I'll definitely use the site for fun and supplementation, but I wouldn't use it instead of the book.

This is an interesting thread, and now I'm even more confused LOL. We have Spellwell A for DS 2nd grade...and he knows so many of the words, we skipped to week 3 and really he only missed two in the pretest. I hate to have him do all the pages for two words, kwim? So I don't know if we need another level, to skip spelling all together, or what.

We love Headsprout here, too. I love they way they teach phonics and reading...it's not done in conventional order, and I think it's a million times better and the best way to learn to read!!! DS stopped at episode 62 and took off on his own from there. DD1 is 4 3/4 and on episode 46...she can read so many things, and is doing so well. I love that when they make it to the end of the program, they are already on a mid-second grade reading level, and it has a very high success rate. DD gets so excited to print out her new readers at the end of most episodes!! It costs more but you certainly get what you pay for, and your child can't pretend to be able to read what is taught and finish the episode.

We're using WinterPromise this year, and while I'll be using FLL and some WWE, I'm also going to mix in some of WP's LA. We had some ETC workbooks last year, but DS wasn't great at handwriting at that point, so we never finished them. I'm considering doing ETC online with him this year, it covers 1-8, though he does read at a 4th grade level...still, I think the phonics instruction would help fine-tune and see if he is missing anything. He loves the computer so it may be better than a workbook in which he has to write everything. I've looked at Adventures in Phonics and seems ok, but I think we would not do every single assignment...I just see too much writing. I want to focus his handwriting on making it neater and the assignments from FLL/WWE, plus some of the writing he will do in his other subjects anyways. At any rate, long story 'short' LOL, I'm just not sure which way to go. I'm sure he'd breeze through all the ETC levels this year, since most of it should be easy for him. AP is nice because it is already scheduled out for me, but I don't know a whole lot about it. Any opnions? Also...what is the consensus on Spellwell? THANKS!!

You might want to go try the WP boards...they don't get as much traffic as here, but you might get an answer, lol!!! :) We're just starting with WP so I can't answer myself. :)

Mine are about the same age spread, and I've decided to AW this year, and then AS1 for both of them next year...I think it would be easier not to have to adjust the curriculum, IMO. This way, each curric. is age appropriate for both of my children doing it...the one year old will be on her own later I think, LOL. I'd rather put off history one more year and have it easier on both me and them. :)

I guess I wonder if it will bug me if things don't line up...lol. I can see both ways being advantageous. He did fine with the summaries in FLL1, actually. I think FLL introduced them really gently, and he needed very few prompts. We got behind, but I also started FLL late...we had tried something else to begin with. There are currently 2 WWE books, correct? And 3 & 4 come out in like January, I think? That would put us with a text a year until we hit 5th grade...and maybe something else will be available by then, or maybe not. But I think there are other good programs out there I could find if needed, kwim? Especially if WWE gives my kids the outstanding base it is supposed to give. Plus, I bet, knowing us...we won't finish it 'on time' anyway lol. We get caught up in too many other things! ;) Just thinking out loud here....love hearing everyone's thoughts and opinions. :)

I was revisiting this tonight and wondering...really? Because I was thinking that FLL does a lot of what WWE 1 is supposed to do, isn't it? Just on a lesser scale? I would think it would be better to have the lessons in WWE line up with the ones in FLL, but I could be wrong. I'm not particularly concerned about later levels...it wouldn't be a good reason, for me, to hold DS back, kwim? I wish I could SEE them both lol...I'm tempted to get them both, since we have a few lessons of FLL1 to finish up at the beginning of the year, and do the end of WWE1 with that, then start WWE2 with FLL2. I have more kids to use the books so it's all something I'd have to purchase eventually anyway, lol.

You know, I thought it was so weird they didn't explain somewhere how to put the two together, LOL! I do think they should have a spot on their website though where they make it just as clear, kwim? I don't usually download a catalog when I'm looking at someone's stuff online. :tongue_smilie:

DS did FLL first grade last year...if we had in WWE this year...should he get the level 1 or 2 workbook? His handwriting needs lots of work LOL....he's a typical boy in that aspect.

WP requests that you do not resell or even give away any of their exclusives, including the IG and a few of the workbooks they put out. It kind of stinks, but it's their way of trying to stay afloat (so people have to at least buy the IG from them even if they get the other stuff used). That said, you can often find used IG's around anyway.

I know independent work wouldn't be ideal, but atm it's not ideal that my little ones get pushed to the side while I try to get so much work done with DS, kwim? I was really thinking of History Odyssey next year, but I'm really nervous about actually getting it done. DD1 will turn 5 in the fall so she would enjoy more things with us, but DD2 just turned one this month, so it will be hard. I'm just trying to brainstorm ways to be more productive with our day, really, and I was thinking some educational computer programs could be a huge help. We're covering the 3r's lately but not getting the full enriching experience I always wanted at home. We just started with workboxes, which is helpful. DS needs to by busy all. the. time. LOL so some other direction that is also enriching would be super helpful. I don't plan to suddenly make him sit and do all his work alone. ;) I wanted to add that we live in Key West so the ocean is literally in our backyard....so being on a pc or worksheets to gather info would be fine, since we have the hands-on all around us!! :) Also, I've tried to stay away from th dreaded workbooks/worksheets, but perhaps we need to utilize some....suggestions?

In an effort to break up my time easier between schooling and my little ones, I need to make some changes....some computer learning is going to have to be it. We use RS math and FLL, both which require me, of course, but I will be sticking with them. What is available for other subjects, especially history? Maybe some science, too? (would be awesome if you had any online ocean life programs) Thanks!!!!!!! I'm sorry, I forgot to add I'd be looking at things for k-2 level. :)