My 6 year old has completed AAR levels 1 and 2 and doing quite well with reading. I decided to give Jot it Down a try. It looked very interesting.. I also bought The Wand.. I was wondering if anyone used these two programs and could give me a sense of "the day" and "the week" I think I have a handle on The Wand..how the day should flow.. short lessons etc.. the guide looks like it can guide me.. The Jot It Down seems more vague... For example the Fairy Tale Project offers some broad guidelines.. but I'm not sure how the day should flow. Of course, we are also doing other things, math, science, handwriting etc... thanks

Question... The Software that one can buy.. is that the program?? We don't live near anyone that provides this.. would the software work as a stand alone or does one really need to go through special training.. or am I misunderstanding and the software is the training..?

We used Singapore for 2nd grade and it was challenging but after DD got the hang of it, did very well with it.. However I felt the same way and also the multiple books drove me a bit batty.. and the price.. well.. we switched to Saxon.. I put her in Intermediate 3.. (she is in 3rd grade) and she is doing GREAT with Saxon and really really likes it. I love the power up workbook and she is effortlessly getting her times tables this way... They also have an Intermediate 4 book.. I was told the Intermediate books are a nice transition to Saxon upper levels and I have to say, with Intermediate 3.. I agree.. She will move to Saxon 5/4 next year.

This is how I felt too... I've tried other programs.. RSO, RS4K to name two off the top of my head.. and they just didn't get done.. Yes.. I did add books to the readings for ES Grammar.. but DD enjoyed the reading and the activities and the notebooking too.. I felt like at least it got done..

Thank you. I thought it went SWIbA then B then C..so happy I asked!

So, it sounds like we could jump to the Robot theme unit without an issue for him.. and perhaps the Fairy Tale for the one finishing up All Things Fun..?

My concern with SICCA or B is it's "Christian Content" not that I mind religious texts.. however I tend to want secular ones...how Christian is it?? Is it more of just reading Biblical stories or does it get preachy? If I can jump to a theme unit.. that would be great.. and he loves Narnia.. so that might be worth a look (yes.. I know Narnia has a Christian theme.. but it's not preachy.. ;) )

No.. Not a fan of WWS

I am using IEW SWI A for my 6th grader, yes I realize it is for students in grades 3-5..however he had no previous formal writing instruction..It hasn't been easy..writing is one of the areas I am weakest at instructionally wise... and is one of his areas of weakness as well.. It has been a great course for both of us.. For 7th grade..... Question.. So next step is..?? SWI Continuation A? SWI B? or something else ??

Yes, we use Harcourt Health and Fitness.. I've used it for all levels 1-6... I dropped using the activity book.. I didn't like the worksheets. My kids now read the assigned chapter and we discuss it. eta: Yes, that is the activity books for each level..the file you linked to..

WWE never worked for us.. and I tried and tried and tried... IEW is working wonderfully and I was adamant I was NEVER, EVER going to use this program... I have not watched the TWSS...we have Student Writing Intensive for the oldest, grade 6.. and All Things Fun for grade 3....

I have a StartWrite CD rom that is about..4 years old... maybe.. It says on the box StartWrite 5.0 and is for Windows/Mac. I have been using it on my Mac for years.. no issues.. We upgraded the operating system and now when I popped the disk in and tried to launch.. it says it does not support Power PC apps anymore.. :glare: I go to the StartWrite website and see that the only version for Mac is 5.0.. which is what I am holding here in my hand.. Is there an update? a patch? Anyone else have this problem??

I gave up on them.. and found other programs.. sad too.. I just got fed up waiting..

Elemental Science.. for all levels. It took me 4 years to finally find a science program I actually like and will implement...

The idea behind them is wonderful.. but I found them to choppy and disjointed.. and for the price.. a disappointment that I had to rework the schedule to such a degree..

I read on the Art Reed site what editions of Saxon Math were good to get... It says that for Math 76: Either the hardback 3rd Ed or the new soft cover 4th Ed. (The Math content of both editions is the same) Math 87: Either the hardback 2nd Ed or the new soft cover 3rd Ed. (The Math content of both editions is the same) Because I just prefer hardcover books.. I went out and bought the hardcover for 76 3rd ed.. 87 hardcover 2nd edition and 65 hardcover 2nd edition.. I already have the answer keys for the HOMESCHOOL versions of Saxon math for these levels.. but they don't match up.. the start out matching up.. but around lesson 20 or so.. they no longer do.. For example.. Lesson 42 in the 65 homeschool softcover is Short Division.. but in the hardcover it is Comparing Fractions by Drawing Pictures.. The same seems to go for the hardcovers vs softcover 76 even though it said they were the same... I think it looks like it covers all the same material.. just not in the same order..? So.. has anyone aligned the softcover homeschool answer key to the hardcover editions.. OR where do I get the hardcover edition answer keys (and if you happen to know where i can find their specific ISBNs.. because amazon isn't being helpful..)

does anyone know which edition of 8/7 says this?

I felt the same way about HO level 1.. and I've used all 3.. never made it through a whole year with any of them.... But I felt they were LESS disjointed than STOW.. hmm...

I would love to know as well.. We are considering it for science 11-13

What age is the Ancients program geared to? We are currently working through the SWI A with my oldest, 11.. and we watch the dvds together.. Story Structure outlining is hard! We are stuck on that now.. and taking some extra time to try and nail it down... But we are doing ancients next year and I wonder if I could switch him to Ancients IEW...?

I need some ideas.. broad general topics or specific goals for creating a Home Economics program for my 7th grader next year. (boy) There really isn't much out there, pre packaged..what I have seen is either religious in nature and/or seems very geared toward girls and traditional roles....so I thought I'd ask you all for some ideas.. All I remember about Home Ec was sewing, cooking and some basic nutrition... I was thinking of having 4 broad ideas.. 1. Cooking Skills/Nutrition 2. Household Management/Organization 3. Sewing (from basic to advanced..depending on his interest) 4. Consumerism (how to be a wise consumer, budget etc) Other ideas, topics I am missing? Ideas for activities within these areas? IF there is a secular resource out there and you know it..please pass it along thanks

How do you feel HO level 1 compares to level 2.. I guess we could give it another try.. it looks more student directed..

Ok I'd like some input on my initial plans for 7th grade.. Let me preface it by I have a reluctant learner..who is dysgraphic.. please keep in mind that we prefer secular materials..just focusing on the basics right now.. Math: Saxon 8/7 Grammar: Growing With Grammar 7. We have been using Growing With Grammar for the past few years.. I am thinking of continuing with it... Spelling: Sequential Spelling English/Reading: I was considering Moving Beyond the Page 11-13..Is it rigorous enough? I was thinking of choosing some of the units and alternating between them and Lightening Literature 7... ? Writing: Continuing with IEW Science: I cannot decide between Elemental Science Chemistry Intermediate or Moving Beyond the Page science units.... We have used Elemental Science for Grammar and Logic in Biology and Earth Science...we prefer to do science over the summer... History: Moving Beyond the Page or A History Odyssey level 2 course... or a combination approach? I am hesitant to try History Odyssey.. again.. because we didn't really like it for Level 1 courses... I am also not certain where to be in our rotation.. technically we should start Ancients over again (having started them in 2nd grade the first time).. and we are finishing up Late Modern this year using Guest Hollow's curriculum... Second Language.. I've no idea... he said he won't.. I said it wasn't a choice..but I don't know where to even start... I never feel like I do "enough" of every subject..even though he does well on the standardized test at the end of the year... I keep wondering what they are doing in public school and if I am doing things on par..silly.. I know....but now that he will be in Jr High.. I'm really anxious about not screwing this up....

thanks All :)

then, we shall be prudent :) I cannot wait to move... I told DH we had to hurry up.. I'm tired of writing quarterlies.. lol