My kids have liked Jeanne Bendick's books.

Congrats! My daughter is getting ready to do her first ocean swim. I won't even be there to see it, but she is excited.

I am in the process of doing this. It is SO hard for me. I have been asking myself...if I died, would I want people to see this book on my shelf (for the ones I have read)--not meaning am I ashamed of it, just does it reflect who I am and what I believe. For those I haven't read yet, I have been asking myself if I would buy the book now if I saw it secondhand (that has been my problem in the past--buying things just b/c they were on sale or were at the thrift store). Anyway, it is slow go, but I am getting rid of a fair amount. Good luck!

I'm on the east coast and haven't received mine yet either. I know I asked to receive one in print.

Wow! That seems so high! We pay $50/month for one 30 minute lesson per week!

Congrats! You will love the cable free life!!!

Try Nature's Miracle.

I agree with the recommendation to do the Singapore placement test and go with that level but make sure to get Intensive Practice and Challenging Word Problems or he will quickly grow bored.

Tapestry of Grace integrates American and World History, but I wouldn't recommend it until your kids are older.

I'm surprised to hear that a state school wouldn't accept Latin. I know military academies do not, but I thought most other universities are fine with Latin.

I purchased a little booklet from Christian Light at a conference one year--very cheap. It is strictly on Sentence Diagramming. I haven't used it yet, so I can't share personal experiences with it, but it is definitely inexpensive for a quick introduction or review.

Singapore Primary Math continues to be a winner at our house. NEM is not as high ranking. Apologia's high school courses are so good that even a Chemistry-phobic mom can "guide" her daughter successfully through Chemistry. We love TOG for History but not so much for writing. IEW has worked for us there this year. Easy Grammar is not a favorite with one but the other likes it. SWR is getting tedious. That's all I can think of right now!!

Did either of you use it as a reading program for your kids or just as a spelling program. I am hoping to use it as the primary phonics program for my dd this year with Explode the Code as a supplement.

It's more that it isn't working for me. I am tired of it--find it tedious and all over the place in terms of teacher instructions. I think he would get more out of a program that I can implement more easily.

My son (rising 2nd grader) has used SWR for two years. I am planning to use AAS for his younger sister and am thinking of switching him over as well. They seem similar enough that it would be an easy transition, but I am wondering what level would be best for him. Any advice from others who have done this?

Planner Pads are great. http://www.plannerpad.com

I would recommend having her work through 1B over the summer using just the textbook and workbook. If she does fine, go ahead and move her into 2A and 2B for next year. Be sure to get the CWP and IP books b/c the program is only a skeleton of what it can be without those texts. I would pass on the Home Instructor Guide and make your own schedules using the textbook, workbook, IP and CWP books. You can order everything from Rainbow Resource or directly from Singapore.

Okay. Now I know why I didn't know what hig's were--I have never used them! Guess they are definitely unnecessary at our house! :) I have used Singapore for four years now and have never needed them. I always make an assignment list for each level incorporating the CWP and IP pages that correspond with each chapter of the text and workbook. The lists are reusable as my kids progress to a level that a sibling has already done. This has worked well for us. We use the Reviews as "tests." IP also has mid-year and end-of-year assessments.

We use Singapore but I am unclear on what you are asking. Can you clarify?

I agree with the suggestion to print out the three week sample and give it a try. I have been using TOG for three years now and definitely need to see things in print.

Have you looked at IEW's Window to the World?

You can also try Fusion for Mac. I have heard it has less kinks than Parallels and with the educator rate, it is cheaper.

We have used it for three years and my daughter loves it. We use Wordly Wise, too, and she always likes to do WW first so she can save "the best for last."

I remember reading that Year 4 focuses on the Scientific advancements of the modern age--space exploration, etc.

I think you can go either way with a sixth grader. My sixth grade daughter will be doing a "transition year" with some dialectic resources and some upper grammar, but you could also justify doing strictly one or another with that level.