Is Grammar of Poetry secular?

That does look nice. Do you intend to use the DVDs? I wonder if I could get by without them. Now, that looks cute!

Oh, dear. Um....a little of all of the above? Honestly, I have never cared for poetry myself, and I definitely don't understand it. So I need something with a lot of hand-holding.

My 12 yo has had little exposure to poetry thus far. What would be a good course/program to introduce her to it?

Are there placement tests for MEP?

Dd just finished Teaching Textbooks 4 but due to budget issues, I can't afford to get her TT5 right now. Can anyone suggest a free math program (and help with placement if possible) that I could use in the interim until I can get her TT5?

Thank you. I looked at the Dictation Resource Book, and while I love the idea of it, it seems to use mostly Bible quotes for dictation, and we are secular homeschoolers. This makes me hesitant to use Spelling Plus, so I think I will go with HTTS, although I've heard it's a bit difficult to figure out how to use. I hope I can manage it!

My 12yo needs spelling help. I would like to find a book that I can use with her and also with my younger kids (currently 7 and 5), maybe moving at a quicker pace for the 12yo. I want something simple, just a book of lessons that gives the spelling rule and then a word list. Is there anything like that?

What would you recommend for a secular science program for the middle grades that a student can do independently?

Following.

Have you used this? Do you find it easy to teach? Does it include enough practice/review?

Can someone help me out with CLE? Is this what I'm looking for: http://www.clp.org/store/by_subject/4 ?? Are the TMs necessary, or just the student book?

Secular. Dc is working through MM4 now. Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely check into them.

We're currently using Math Mammoth, but dc gets overwhelmed and bogged down by all the different ways it teaches things. It's almost as if it makes things too complicated rather than simplifying them. So now I'm looking for a math program that is very simple and straightforward, and inexpensive would nice too. Any suggestions?

Thanks for the suggestions! I think I'll start with some of those free worksheets I can print out and then go from there.

I'm looking for something to help my 11yo with reading comprehension. It can't be babyish in the least or it will offend her. Any suggestions?

What subjects, how many days per week, how much time per subject, etc? I feel like I need to revamp our schedule because some things just aren't getting done as often as they should.

I use AAS with my older child. I wonder if I used The Wand and then also just started my 6yo in level 1 of AAS he would start reading soon enough? I just wonder if AAS would take too long to get to all the vowel combinations and such.

Thank you. I had emailed Julie herself and asked her, and she responded that The Wand *is* a phonics program, and it is designed to take a child from nonreader to reader, with no need to add anything else. The few reviews I have found online don't really support that; they all seem to think it's not enough. Hence my question. :) Now, I don't suppose you have any recommendations for a phonics program you think would complement The Wand nicely, do you??

Thank you, Farrar. I think I should give it a go with my 6-1/2-year-old. Do you think The Wand is enough to actually teach a child to read? Or does it need supplementation?

I signed in, left a comment, but now I can't get the giveaway box to show back up so I can get additional entries. Am I doing something wrong?

I have this too but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Hoping to fit it in to the schedule soon.

Thanks everyone. I think we may try CAP W&R. It looks like it will give enough incremental instruction for us. Right now, even the mere mention of the word "writing" sends my dd into a panic. I don't mind the parables being used as models (we treat them the same as we treat other myths), but I do get annoyed when the Christian content crosses the line and becomes preachy.

Rose, do you think this program would work for an 11yo who dislikes and hasn't done much writing?

Thanks. I'll take a deeper look at the samples for level 2. I don't mind if some of the fables and parables used are Christian. We just treat them the same as we do myths from any other culture/religion.