We love Spelling Power. It only takes about 15 minutes a day!

Thank you so much everybody for your help! I have looked into Elemental Science and I am going to give it a try. Why is it always harder to teach the oldest? My dd6 gets all the good stuff already planned out since I have the knowledge of How To already. Poor dd9, she's my guinea pig.

We just use the MEAD Primary Journal -stage 3 K-2nd grade. It is bound and has a space on top for the drawings and lines on the bottom where I write down their narrations. I have bought them at Target or Walmart for less than $2 and they contain 1oo sheets/200 pages.

:iagree: Although, I did use the entire A Beka Phonics Program with 2 dds.

I've just finished looking into the Elemental Science and it sounds great. Bed sounds great right now. My-brain-is-fried.

:confused: I'm going through the TWM and can't figure out how to do the science method. Maybe I'm tired of looking at the book already. I didn't do the 4 year cycle with dd9, but would like to start it in this next Logic rotation with her and also with dd6. All I got was that it was going to cost some money to get all the experiment equipment. I think my brain shut down after that. As it is, we have my nephew's wedding coming up in mid-August, our 6month vehicle premium due beg. of Sept. (honey and I are Horrid drivers, thus our premiums are sky high!), plus I have to buy my dd9s books for 5th grade, plus my SIL hit us for a much needed loan. I get how to do the history because we'll use the UILE as a spine. Is there a spine for 5th gr. Biology? The WTM explains the week division for Biology, but it doesn't for 5th gr. Is it the same? Aaaarrrggghhh!

:iagree: I tried writing down the steps for you, but they were way too long. It sounded so complicated even though it really isn't. Watching the DVD really helped me. By the way, we do it 4X a week.

We haven't used CLE, but did use A Beka through 3rd grade for dd8. I love their lesson plan books because they explain the lesson so simply and thoroughly. Plus, the TE's are cheap to buy used. I did buy (used) some of the flashcards which are not necessary, but my dds really do enjoy them. Hope this helps!

My dd8 used it in 3rd and loved it! Even dd6 would settle in to listen. She is now doing LC1 and still LOVES it! DD6 still loves to listen in when we're drilling with the flashcards.

My kindred spirit. ;)

I found this book at my library and loved it because it lists the book by ages and gives a description of each book. Title1001 children's books you must read before you grow up / general editor, Julia Eccleshare ; preface by Quentin Blake. Hope this helps!

Thank you Melinda :001_smile:. The site was most helpful!

Somebody told me of a way to find out a book's reading level by doing something or other----I forgot. Does anybody know how to determine the reading level of a book?

I am curious about this also. I have been looking into other programs, but undecided where to go. Hmmm.:glare:

My dd8 (now) did FLL1 in about 3 months during summer of finishing 2nd grade to going into 3rd grade. We switched to classical then, so she had catch up to do. We would do about 2 lesson everyday and she would do the dictation exercises and copywork on them along with any extra activities they gave. She really enjoyed it and didn't complain about having to do several lessons at once. :D