so glad i could help... it IS really expensive... did you see the calvert group? best wishes, amy

my impressions.... well, i have a love/hate relationship with calvert. we want to get our school work done and do other things... we have 5 kids (ages 11-14 months) and we hope for at least one or 2 more. i would spend so much time planning that we wouldn't actually get to the "doing" if i picked/choosed. so i like it being all planned out. is it the right fit in each subject for each child? no. but, it passes the muster for me and i don't feel like i am leaving anything out, kwim? they are getting a ton more than they would if they were in school still, btdt! it is ALOT of work ... so i would consider it a rigourous (sp) curriculum. i am interested to see if the ATS is worth the extra $$. still half as much as any catholic school in our area. does this help? my main complaint is we spend a lot of time doing school this year. we are going to change it next year to shorter days/every 40 lessons a week off, and less summer break. i have one that is too detailed and makes everything more than it really needs to be. bless her heart. and i have a foot dragger, that spends a lot of time looking out the window... and a 1st grader who is learning to read and needs me next to her. then there is the 4 year old and 1 year old...ok, enough of a book. i just don't feel the need at this season in my life to reinvent the wheel, kwim? and i mean no disrespect the the "other side" here. amy:)

hi, i have used calvert for 4 years with 3 kids (and 2 more to go!) but not the VA. however, there is a yahoo group for calvert that will have opinions both ways... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Calvert/ hope this helps a bit... we are using the ats this year for the first time (6th) good luck-- amy

to the person who has a copy of the CIVICS in america book for calvert... what is the isbn #. i am looking to get a copy of this book, and i want to get that one. thanks... could you email me? thanks again, amy aweinheimer@aim.com

hi - we use it and have a love/hate with it. however, i will stay with it...i have 5 kids, aged 11 to 1, and we are in our 3rd year with it. i did find, starting in 4th grade, the writing is a bit weak, and i am getting a book to help me to supplement that. there is a lot of writing but not enough instruction, just here, write a compostion on "this topic" umm, you can't beat the structure, and lesson plans. price is high, but a fraction of catholic here (around $4000) and private school ($16,000). with a bunch of kids, it is great for planning, testing etc. but hard to use and teach multiple levels. thankfully, my oldest is pretty independent with her work. the 3rd boy, not so much!:) the first grader, once she is a better reader, will also be very independent. and then 2 little ones, making messes, and keepin' it real! good luck ,amy

that is my main issue. ugh!!!!!!!!!! i feel like i don't give the 5th grader enough of my time. thankfully she is very independent and able to stay on task... unlike the 3rd grade boy and the 1st grade girl learning to read! your oldest is 9? if he is doing calvert 3rd, the phonics, history, mythology is fairly independent. my best thought is things go smoothest for us, if mommy is up/ready to start school at 8am. yes, 8am! we go to about 12:30 and stop. next year, the manual in 6th is written to the student. and hopefully the 1st grader will be a better reader, as i will have a pre-k who may start wanting to learn to read at that point! and so on. best of luck, amy

i skip the enrichments usually, we have 5 children and 3 are in school right now (5th 3rd, and first). for the most part, i try and follow the manual, esp. the phonics portions. sometimes when we are behind, we skip the science experiments. i have a love/hate with calvert. but all in all, i stick with it. just bought 6th for next year. amy

Well, i am a calvert user (right now 3rd and 5th and starting 1st in january), and i would not get the K. i have heard it is way too $$ for what you get, and if she knows most of it, i wouldn't bother. I have done 1st before, and it is challenging, but by summer, think of how much more she will be reading. I have a 6 year old (sept. bday) and she is starting the 1st grade after the holidays. she is reading the Bob books, and finishing the hop for kindy now. there is a yahoo calvert users group where you might get a better feel, but my gut says, $500+ is too much for what your daughter sounds like she can do. unless you can buy kindy used elsewhere for cheap. i have 5 kids home and totally understand the boxed curriculum idea. I would love to do it differently, but i need to get it done, kwim? i love and hate calvert... love the manual, everything is done for me, hate other parts, price included. but overall, it is working for me this is year 3 for us. i hope this helps some! amy

i too like the claymation movies, and i also have sesitive kids as well. up was not great for them and barnyard was awful as was happy feet *very scary birds, lol and seal attacks. but they will watch national geographic stuff. my 8 year old son loves american girl movies (not christmas but i thought i would through that in!) good luck, amy

hi, i know it is not popular here either, but we LIKE IT! i am on year 3 with calvert, not the most exciting, but it gets the job done. with 5 kids, i have no compelling need to "reinvent the wheel" -- no offense! i know it is not perfectly tailored to each of my kids, but i get exhausted just thinking about pulling it together myself. my DH's fear is that i would spend so much time researching, that the actual doing would not happen! so, the cost is worth it to me! also, if you had your child in catholic or private school - the price of calvert is a drop in the bucket! good luck, amy

hi, i have a calvert 3rd grade math manual and tests to sell if that would help you? thanks, amy aweinheimer@aim.com

i think a grade ahead is good, or in our case it was 2 grades ahead to get a couple wrong. i like it for the same reasons you mentioned (online, low parent interaction) - also there is a creative writing option with each lesson you can add. good luck- amy

we have it and use it as well... they like it. i think it's too easy, but that is just mom talking. we have an extra 5th grade to sell if you are interested, email me at aweinheimer@aim.com good luck, amy

hi, i hope you see this... i saw you are using calvert... so am I! i need the calvert test series. they won't let me buy it on calvert's website because i bought the curric. on vegsouce. i spent the whole sch-bang last year on 3rd and 1st. do you have it? i would love to buy either the original test series or a photocopied set. please email me at aweinheimer@aim.com we have #5 on the way and for now, calvert is working great, as long as I don't overthink it! thanks again,amy