Ok, I just saw how young she is, so please take a deep breath before you take my last post too seriously! I'd say maybe slow down, give her a little more time, and if she has the same issues as time goes on, consider how she may learn better with a different approach. Blessings, Aimee Mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20, some homegrown, some born in Korea, all born in my heart Schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

This sounds SO much like my second grade ds7! I have had four kids who excelled in math easily, and one who gets it much more slowly, but gets it, and I kept expecting it would click with this guy. We started with CLE 1 last year, and we had just the experience you explained. By fall of this year we were still only midway through the program, because I was trying to give him time to "click," and yet his performance confused me. Like you said, one day he could do his math, other days it was like starting over, with no real progress. Finally I had him tested and found that he has lags in his nonverbal reasoning, which includes the types of skills needed for math. Because he has strong verbal and spatial reasoning, the Dr. recommended using materials that are visual, with lots of verbal instructions. Because he also has a short attention span, the lessons have to be short or we "lose" him. I decided to suck it up and pay the $$$ for Math U See, and while we are only on our first week, I am hopeful and SO excited to see it clicking already! It is visual, colorful and we build, write, say, all things that help him learn. You may not be at the point where you need this input and it may click for your child with what you're using, but I thought I'd throw this out there for what it's worth. Blessings, Aimee Mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20, some homegrown, some born in Korea, all born in my heart Schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

Isn't it the truth? Love so fierce I could never have imagined it. Pieces of my heart walking around! Thanks for sharing. And we have a goldendoodle too - love those doodles! Blessings, Aimee Mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20, some home grown and some from Korea, all born in my heart; 2 in college and schooling grades 2, 4, 4 an 7

First, a disclaimer: no caffeine has been consumed yet this morning and I apologize in advance for any typos or blather. I have used PLL and ILL for years here with four different students, and I love those little books. It has been hard for me to trust the gentle approach and I have supplemented and tried other things through the years. Finally, I've realized the programs are very thorough and have a lovely way of presenting writing and grammar tasks in a way that gets the job done. I feel there is a lot of writing included, and for us, an additional writing program has been unnecessary. I'm very pleased with the writing of the child who's finished ILL and moved on, and with the emerging writers coming up. My little guy is doing PLL and looks forward to his lessons. One thing I have found I want to supplement with is a product that teaches basic grammar terms my kids will be taught on standardized tests; there are many, but the Evan Moore Grammar and Punctuation workbooks are simple, straightforward and fit the bill for 3-5th grades. I believe I will look for something a bit more indepth to supplement with for 6th grade however, maybe JAG? I have another year to figure that out! Finally, thoughts from ds 13, who finished ILL last year. He loved that book in particular and begged me to find something similar for this year (no luck but he likes what I found). He told me, however, as he worked through Applications in Grammar this year, that he wished we'd started formal grammar a bit sooner. Blessings, Aimee Mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20, some home grown and some from Korea, all born in my heart; 2 in college and schooling grades 2, 4, 4 an 7

My Ds7.5 was tested recently by a neuropsych. While she didn't give him a specific diagnosis, she found that his nonverbal reasoning is poor, and that he has a significant attention span issue that would likely warrant an ADD diagnosis if he were in public school. She felt we are doing a great job of meeting his needs at home, BUT I am so flumoxed by math! Actually, he is flumoxed by math and therefore it is an issue for both of us. He has strong verbal and spatial reasoning skills, so these will be strengths we can use in teaching him, but I am not sure what curriculum would best utlize these areas in teaching math. We have been using CLE, and he is struggling through book 106 in second grade. He needs me with him every.single.minute to talk him through the problems - which wouldn't be an issue if we weren't discussing the same concepts over, and over, and over, with no recognition that this has been covered before. I am trying to make things more visual and do lots of word problems, which he loves, and to make math fun, with games, but really, at some point, he's going to have to get past adding single digits and into the meaty stuff. However, I don't think a little guy this age should have to spend 40 minutes on math...I really can only get about 15-20 good minutes out of this little guy per subject before he shuts down attention wise. Can anyone recommend something that might work with a child like this? Would Math U See work? What level? He is a sweet little boy and singing along to himself right now as he plods through problems that should have taken two minutes. I would really like to help him, as he will need these skills in life, and our multiplied frustration does no-one any good. Thanks so much for any suggestions. Blessings, Aimee Mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20, some homegrown, some born in Korea, all born in my heart. Schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

Favorites for the younger set at our house include: Countdown Dinosaur Math Tracks Goblet (sp?) Blokus Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-10; 2 in college, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

Thanks to all for your suggestions, I am so appreciating them! The links show some great resources. I'm interested in seeing more of Painless Jr Grammar, and I've put The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need on my wishlist at Amazon. I'm hoping maybe I can find a local schooler with a copy of R&S either 3rd or 4th grade I can take a peek at. GWG sounds wonderful but maybe not in the budget this year? KISS I keep looking at and haven't quite figured out yet. Maybe I need to take a longer time! Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20; 2 in college, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

I do agree, and that's why I can't ditch either PLL or ILL - the kids learn to write beautifully, and are exposed to lovely poetry and art. It does work - they just need to know what to call those parts of speech they're learning to use so nicely, LOL. My ds 13 is using Applications of Grammar this year and he says he wishes he had started to do more serious grammar before now. However, I was hesitant to overload him, it didn't fit with my philosophy of education, and he has scored PHS on SAT's for years. The Evan Moore books worked to that end, but I have been wondering if there's something "between" a R&S sort of intensity and the EM books. I don't want to do something at the expense of ILL, either. Thanks for the great input, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20; 2 in college, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

Would you start the kids on grade level? They have had basic grammar instruction but not indepth. I have considered R&S without the writing, but wondered if I should start at grade 3 rather than 4 - any opinion? Thanks! Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20; 2 in college, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

Thank you for the suggestions. Re: Gumdrops and Daily Language practice, I hadn't thought of using those because I was under the impression (perhaps mistaken?) that they were for practice of topics already introduced. I need to find something to teach the topics first. Do these resources include instruction, or are they just review? Thanks again, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20; 2 in college, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

I am reposting this under another heading, as the answer needn't be specific to ILL - I am just hoping for some input on a simple grammar supplement. Here is my original question: I am using Intermediate Language Lessons with my two ds10 (4th grade), and I like the approach very much - love the type of writing and thinking it produces. However, I feel the need to supplement with grammar instruction both for standardized testing and to lay the ground for future grammar instruction. I have used a variety of materials for ds12 who finished ILL last year, but never found one that was "just right." :confused: We have used Easy Grammar, Evan Moore Grammar and Punctuation (nice, but light) and Wordsmith Apprentice (writing with some grammar). I would much appreciate suggestions for a grammar program that is: - simple, straightforward in its approach. - doesn't include anything other than grammar - we have plenty of LA instruction in ILL and have our other bases covered in terms of spelling, vocab, etc. - inexpensive - I have used most of my budget for this year and need to squeeze this in. Thanks for any suggestions you can give! Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20; 2 in college, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

I have grammar questions in some form or another in the past, and here is another. I am using Intermediate Language Lessons with my two ds10 (4th grade), and I like the approach very much - love the type of writing and thinking it produces. However, I feel the need to supplement with grammar instruction both for standardized testing and to lay the ground for future grammar instruction. I have used a variety of materials for ds12 who finished ILL last year, but never found one that was "just right." :confused: We have used Easy Grammar, Evan Moore Grammar and Punctuation (nice, but light) and Wordsmith Apprentice (writing with some grammar). I would much appreciate suggestions for a grammar program that is: - simple, straightforward in its approach. - doesn't include anything other than grammar - we have plenty of LA instruction in ILL and have our other bases covered in terms of spelling, vocab, etc. - inexpensive - I have used most of my budget for this year and need to squeeze this in. Thanks for any suggestions you can give! Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20; 2 in college, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

My son was very sad to say goodbye to ILL after very much enjoying his three years of study with it. I spent a LONG time trying to find something we both found to be a suitable replacement, and while it is not vintage or even particularly similar, he is loving Lightning Literature 8. I chose to go a grade level ahead based on ds's voracious reading and his interest in meaty LA material. The lit selections and analysis satisfy the English major in me, and he is truly enjoying both the reading and assignments. He has turned out some surpisingly nice poems, has studied a few short stories and a novel, and is looking forward to starting a new book in the morning. He is using Applications of Grammar to satisfy the grammar side, and I do require him to do all the writing assignments in LL as it is our sole writing program. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-10, 2 in college, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

Thank you, I appreciate the advice. I have put off using this curriculum but I think it may be time to give it a go! It is good to know where to start! Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20, 2 in college! and schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

I have been considering MUS for my ds7, who is in 2nd grade. He most likely has ADHD and some days math is easy, other days, he explained to me, "it is like there is a light on in my brain. When I try to think about math, the light goes out. It is just dark." Poor little guy. We have been using CLE since last year but he is still only midway through the program, is having a great deal of trouble with place value, and while some days he is spot on, others it seems his little mind just can't figure math. Do you think MUS would help with this? What level would you choose for him? Thanks and blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20, 2 in college! and schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

I would let him read for fun, and not worry about him getting every word or the meaning of everything - he is young and that is appropriate. BUT, that said, I would do a separate reading program of your own making with him, perhaps something like Pathway Readers. I have had at least one ds who read like your son. While I was at first impressed with his reading, I realized that he had no clue what he'd read, and was skipping words and sentences and reading on as if it was fine, when in fact it made no sense. I would have him read to me daily from a Pathway reader book, and he read through the first two grade levels. I like the way they incrementally introduce different words and the child learns as they go, really, they are fabulous, inexpensive and I've used them with four ds. I would also continue phonics instruction with him (we like Explode the Code, including the Get Ready, Get Set books), to make sure he gets the background he needs to read really well. Just my 2 cents. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20 - two in college, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

YES! That is it, thank you! It's printing out right now. You saved the day! Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20; 2 in college, homeschooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

Some months back, before I ordered Lightning Lit 8, I was somehow linked via this forum to a blog where someone had graciously posted the schedule they'd designed for Lightning Lit 8. I was impressed, bookmarked it and planned to use it. Then my computer crashed. So I am here, new computer, old one not back from the shop, no schedule. Does anyone remember seeing this, and could you perhaps redirect me to this blog? I tried a search but was unsuccessful. Thank you! Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-20; 2 in college, homeschooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

Prismacolors are nice, and as one who has done much drawing, I appreciate the beautiful, rich colors. But as one who has a number of children who break, lose or drop things, just going about their innocent business of being children, I would say you really would be fine with Crayola pencils with such little ones. I have a basket full of a mish-mash of colored pencils gleaned from multiple packs, and they are used with appreciation by all the boys and I don't worry when one drops. I have my extra-special box of woodless colored pencils that are MINE LOL, but they are allowed to use them, with permission and great care, for special projects; that is the only way they would last. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-19, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

I had a similar dilema years ago, when dd was studying American History, and the 3 ds I was schooling at the time were scheduled for SOTW2. I hated to interrupt the history cycle, but I just couldn't stay focused on two history time periods at once, at least to the degree I wanted to. I chose to spend a year enjoying Beautiful Feet early American history with them, which is a great bunch of books, including many D'Aulaire books, and sweet, easy activities to do. This might be an option for your dd this year, to give her a little grounding in American History before moving forward with world history. Just a thought. It could also be a nice year to read through something like A Child's History of the World, or spend a little time studying other countries informally, using resources like Children Just Like Me along with library materials. You can find great reading lists at Sonlight or Ambleside Online, to enrich her in that way, and give her copywork from those, if you like. Truly, when you consider that public schools (around here at least) are teaching community helpers at this age for social studies, whatever you choose will likely be fine and you can jump into SOTW next year. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-19, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

I have had a similar experience with two of my ds - they really need something visual to make it stick or keep them from completely zoning out. My solution has been to: - decrease the number of pictureless read alouds. - increase the amount of colorful, illustrated material that I use to supplement the read alouds or history spine. - be sure that the language being used in the RA is not too complex for the child - several of mine hear and understand anything, but two seem to have auditory processing issues, and we are slowly working up in to longer, more complicated materials, culling books from "younger" suggestions in various curriculums. - keep a book basket of related materials (colorful, appropriate reading level library books) and require the child to read a book of his choice from the basket, for 20 minutes per day, and tell me about it later. - slow down. Stay longer on one period of or place in history - do some hands-on projects like painting, baking, games, etc, that emphasize the points for the visual or hands-on learner. I found WinterPromise's suggestions to be fantastic for this sort of learner - I own their American Story 2, which I will be pulling out again this year for the aforementioned learners. I have considered doing SL4 this year, but am thinking I would have a similar experience to yours with your dd, with two of my ds - much as I have loved it for other kiddos. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids, ages 7-19, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

Has anyone ever scheduled SOTW4 alongside All American History II? I own the first and am planning to buy the second, and am wondering if I can coordinate the two for a backdrop of world history as we concentrate on American. I'd love to hear if someone has tried this already. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-19, schooling grades 2, 4, 4, and 7

These are great options, thank you. We used and loved BF's Early American lit guide years ago, and I will be incorporating bits of it for ds7. I'll check out the guide for older kids - but I was thinking it only covered early American history, and not more recent times - I will have to check. I'm looking forward to reading the thread later today (after swimming lessons and errands and...) as well , thank you! Time Travelers look great, by the way, but I am wondering how time-intensive all the prep is. Have you used this program? Does it include text for teaching, to take the place of a spine, or just supplemental information? Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids, ages 7-19, schooling grades 2, 4, 4 and 7

:bigear: Anyone? Please? :001_smile: Aimee

I am just so stumped, and I know there have been threads about this sort of thing, but someone please humor me and help me out here! I am trying to find a history spine to use with ds12 and two ds almost 10 this year, as we study the 4th year in the history cycle. I was planning to use a History of US, but I remembered finding lots of bias in these books when I used them with dd years ago, so I borrowed them from the library to pre-read before I order. The bias was there indeed, very strongly. I was particularly turned off by the section on McCarthy ("He was a liar," it opens, "Not your ordinary small-time fibber. No, Senator Joseph McCarthy was an enormous, outrageous, beyond-belief liar."), and by the statement that "some Americans disliked and feared communists because communists do not believe in God." (Heard of the Iron Curtain or the Cultural Revolution, anyone?) In any case, I don't want to start a heated text-book debate, but I would very much like suggestions on what might be a nice spine to use as an alternative to these books. Would All American History II be too advanced for 4th graders? Thank you, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-19, schooling grades 2, 4, 4, and 7