I need some help deciding between Chalk Dust and a once a week class where the teacher will use Bob Jones, Pre-Calculus. I have heard great things about CD but a little nervous about advanced math only by DVD. Thx!

I "bought" the same items that this person did, along with $160 more! I am concerned because she is an active participant on this board, currently posting and I'm sure reading these posts. The issue here is that a crime has been committed, calculated fraud in a very trusting home school community. She has four known email addresses and several different user names. We're all trying to figure out the best next steps to take.

It seems a few of you have referenced online resources, like timelines, in other posts, any sites to go to? Thanks!!!

With the price of ink and time to copy, I find that it is more cost and time effective to just buy replacement consumables...although I do still copy from some. I do plan ahead in that I look for workbooks at used curriculum sales and online way ahead of time. I am ALWAYS trying to find ways to save money, but this is one area where is often doesn't pay to make the copies.:confused:

LG is pretty much in UG reading level but LOVES reading all of the picture and short fiction too. LG isn't necessary but I find it great to add these books in through the year as everyone picks them up multiple times throughout the week to read them. I spend MANY hours online looking for used books and so many go oop and are hard to find. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll try asking for shipping discounts and let you know if I'm successful. L Loving TOG but this time of year it feels so expensive!

I find this all very helpful for me too. How can I find the blogs mentioned before and the timelines online?

I have LG, UG & D level students this year, plan to continue w/ TOG so need to know the best books to purchase on my limited budget this year. I have had trouble getting books from our library in the past. Which ones are on a "must buy" list and worth having? :grouphug:

This Old Schoolhouse...subscribed for two years, didn't for one and now back with a new 2 year subscription. It has a lot of great info.

VBS seems to have turned into "summer day camp" in many places. It should be a free ministry in my opinion:iagree: In our community the local christian radio station keeps a list of all VBS programs throughout the summer, very helpful!

:DI looked at TOG for several years before I took the plunge, so happy now I did!

:iagree:Tapestry of Grace would be a great solution. The Rhetoric Level is excellent, esspecially in Yr. 1, which is the ancients, the Upper Grammar books are also some of our favorites. This is the most Bible intensive year in Tapestry though. Many of the books can be purchased used and found in the library. Best of luck in choosing your curriculum!

I have used Saxon sucessfully up to this point, thinking a change might be good as I have heard mixed reviews on Saxon Geometry. I am thinking about Chalk Dust and also wondering about Life of Fred?

I bought Vol.1 this year with great anticipation. I have used, and loved, all four years of Phonics Road. We made it about 2 months. I was disappointed and my son was always confused. I also had intended this to serve as our grammar component. If you are ready to be the Latin student along with your child it might be great. It also is a stronger grammar program than Latin, according to our new Latin instructor (which is not me).

LLATL - it was very brief and no depth, I was disappointed after all the good things I had heard about it. My kids loved it becasue it was quick and easy...

I'm in the same boat. The end of 8/7 is proving a challenge for me, I would love a resource for helping me workout the problems and teach them better. Any advice on what teaching tools are available, some seem expensive, are they worth it?

I keep reading concerns about yr 2, I have not looked through the year yet. Is it hard to alter the plan as it is laid out for you? Is yr. 2 best with what units, 1 - 3? Would love advice on how to plan.:grouphug:

Thank you so much everyone! This has been so helpful!

I've used all four levels of Phonics Road as well as The Bridge to the Latin Road. Of all of the Language Arts programs I have tried, this seems to be the most thorough. I use the DVDs for my students, this saves on prep and makes sure I don't forget to cover something with my student. It was a worthwhile investment as I used it with multiple students. This is not the case for the Latin Road. I tried it this year and had to stop after the first month. It is not at all the same lay out as the Phonics program.

Only for those who like Saxon please, it has been a great curriculum for us. We are in 8/7 now - 6th grade-, do we skip Algebra 1/2 and go straight to Algebra 1 for 7th?

Phonics is not so much learning to read as it is decoding words, essential to spelling, as I found out too late for my oldest. I have used several language arts, spelling, phonics and reading curricula...my recent favorite is the Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading. it is intimidating at first view and pricey compared to some. However, it is very thorough and a complete language arts program. It explains why words are spelled the way they are includes a literature component and overall I love the program. It is worth an in-depth look.

Horizon looks fun but I used Saxon with all of mine, different learning styles, and all do very well in Math and are beyond grade level (not my goal but a bonus). I would not consider K and just go to Level I, it is basic enough in the beginning and takes it up a notch in the end. Saxon provides a great base for learning all Math concepts in my opinion.

I have really enjoyed using the AIG God's Design series. There are many ways use can use the books. They are in sets that make up a whole year but you can just buy/use one in the set with no problem. There are plenty of resources listed, you can do as much or little as you want.

While i haven't used either of those books, I would highly recommend Simply...Stated by Katie Campbell and Sidney Douglass. It is basically a bibliography on books about or related to each state. I found this to be a valuable resource that greatly added to our study of the states, many of the books are on historical events or people of significance in that state, most are the perfect level for a 2nd grader.