jubilation Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 100 Easy Lessons- lasted all of two days with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieH Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Catholic Heritage Curricula's Devotional Stories for Little Folks. Urgh. Some of the stories were nice, but overall they were too "goody goody" and very boring. Dd1 did not like them, but I kept at it. I finally tossed them when we got to one story entitled "All That Glitters" that was basically about how anything fantasy related (you know, dragons and wizards and stuff) is evil and of teh debil. We are HUGE fantasy/sci-fi nerds in this house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 :iagree:my kids were thrilled when we dropped it. :iagree: I actually don't mind it, but it led to many many tears and a hatred of math for my kids to use MM. 100 Easy Lessons and Writing Strands were also duds for us. The Easy French and First Start French were both horrible failures here, too. Totally boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happycc Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Abeka K videos- Abeka textbooks- we do like the Abeka readers though in the other grades Sonlight TG's-should have just bought the books Math U See 100 EZ SRW Trickomatics Calvert 2.. OdysseyWare ETC but not the early beginning books Get Ready to Explode the Code. A lot of the workbooks bought at Walmart, Lucky's, Staples etc Living Learning Books-worksheets/crafts meant for preschoolers BJU science 5 Easy Grammar Happy Handwriting Muzzy Rosetta Stone Miquon Oak Meadow 1 or 2-can't remember what i got Excel math MPM math Kumon Math There are more just can't think of all of them...some of these did not work with my first set of kids but may work with the next set of kids.. Never know with kids..they are so so individual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi {AK} Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Private school K tuition! All we learned in DD's year in private school was that we needed to homeschool. Yes, this!!! 100EZ Lessons didn't work for us either. I can't count it, though, because it was given to me. Hmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicalCanadian Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Rod & Staff science was sooooooo boring! We have to second that one...We found that it wasn't a great fit for us. My son does not thrive on a lot of repetition so it didn't work well for us. We're new here and actually still looking for a great alternative in a HS Language Arts program, so I'm excited to continue reading through all of the posts and suggestions for a better fit! Happy Holidays, Julianne :O) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunD Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 By the way, why did I get a Saxon math catalog in the mail yesterday?? I did too! Who gave them my address? :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicalCanadian Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 We get them all the time, too. I wondered if somehow our mailing address was given to them by any conferences we attended... :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnaM Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Rod and Staff in general was BORING. I cried through it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunD Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 We get them all the time, too. I wondered if somehow our mailing address was given to them by any conferences we attended... :001_huh: It's something online, because I've never attended a conference or anything like that. Hmm ... Timberdoodle, Calvert, Rainbow Resource, CurrClick, HSBC, and Oak Meadow are the only ones I remember giving my address to whether asking for a catalog or ordering anything. Any in common? You or stripe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 It's something online, because I've never attended a conference or anything like that. Hmm ... Timberdoodle, Calvert, Rainbow Resource, CurrClick, HSBC, and Oak Meadow are the only ones I remember giving my address to whether asking for a catalog or ordering anything. Any in common? You or stripe? Rainbow Resources and CurrClick in common. No conferences for me, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SorrelZG Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Rainbow Resources and CurrClick in common. No conferences for me, either. Hmm .. same ones in common but no Saxon mail for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arghmatey Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Explode the Code--the busy work was excessive and silly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunD Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Hmm .. same ones in common but no Saxon mail for me. Mine just arrived about a week ago, so you might still get lucky. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myeightkiddies Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 It's something online, because I've never attended a conference or anything like that. Hmm ... Timberdoodle, Calvert, Rainbow Resource, CurrClick, HSBC, and Oak Meadow are the only ones I remember giving my address to whether asking for a catalog or ordering anything. Any in common? You or stripe? Do you subscribe to any homeschool magazines? Many, many years ago I subscribed to Homeschooling Today magazine. I really disliked junk mail so I altered my last name each time I subscribed or requested a catalog from a place (this was snail mail). So, if my last name was Smith, I'd have my last name be Msith. All these years later (20 plus) I still get junk mail using this altered last name, which was only used with that magazine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SorrelZG Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Mine just arrived about a week ago, so you might still get lucky. ;) :lol: I'll be letting you all know if one shows up. Truth be known though, it's been quite some time since I used either site. Wonder if that would make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Do you subscribe to any homeschool magazines?. I don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommee & Baba Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Apologia Elementary The Reading Lesson OPGTR Considering God's Creation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertmum Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Jolly Phonics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Calvert 2 qualifies as the worst, because it was so expensive! We love Calvert 4 and we also enjoyed Pre-K and K, but the 2nd grade program was like public school in a box. The readers were beautiful but that was about the extent of anything worth anything!! They were pretty fair with my refund, though. I give them credit for that! Luckily I sent it back quickly while most of the materials were still sale-able. Too bad I didn't send the math back along with it. Calvert math is fun but now my dd is way behind! I'm moving her to Horizons this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovthesurf Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 AAS, levels 1 and 2 - Based on what the website says, I bought levels one and two. They were a complete waste of time because my son already knew all those rules. The only thing that was new to him was the concept of open and closed syllables, but I could have explained that. I do like the sequential nature of it, and I'm ordering the next couple of levels because I think somewhere in 3 or 4 we'll get to the right level, but I wish I'd realized that levels 1 and 2 were as basic as they are! I think that is our problem with AAS. DD hates it but I think it is because it is way too easy for her. We have flown through 1 and 2 but I thinkig will challange her more when we get into 3 or 4.... Fingers crossed because I like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie in VA Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 The absolute worst, without a doubt, JAG. Dd hated it so much that she made up a song about it. :lol: Please link the YouTube of this! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) Rod and Staff's geography book for younger children was sooooo outdated! Edited January 27, 2012 by mcconnellboys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I like Rosetta Stone, if they have added a writing component now (as I've heard they have), then it would be more complete. But it is way, waaaaaay too expensive in my opinion - for what it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 For a natural writer, like my older son was, I think Writing Strands can be fine. *I* didn't like the tone, but he was fine with it. Then along came my younger son, who has great difficulty writing. WS did not work AT ALL for him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 That's the reason I never used those Apologia books, LOL! I just could not imagine doing nothing but water mammals, or birds, or any single group of animals for even half a year! I felt that even my animal loving son would come to just hate animals.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Oh, dear! Glad you sent them (A & O Lifepaks) back. Everyone I've ever talked to who has used them tells me they are rife with error. Our local parent-teacher store used to try to push them on new homeschoolers, telling them that they were the "only approved curriculum" for our county (not true at all). I feel so sorry to think of all the poor newbies who got sucked into using them.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Rod and Staff seventh grade grammar made both my son and I sigh and cry! I had NEVER stopped using a program once starting it before - not in 12 years of hsing. I chucked it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I did use Math U See Gamma and Delta as drill work in multiplication and division for my son, but I would never have used it as a sole program. I thought it abysmally boring.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abacus2 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 My first, and by far the worst, homeschooling purchase was Before Five in a Row. I was never able to use it at all. I couldn't find the books at my library and lessons involved elaborate parent creations from scratch with no template that would be used in a lesson for maybe a tenth of the time taken for prep. We've had other moderate busts, but nothing else this bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madeleine1997 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Math u See Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffnus Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 ETC - complete busywork for us. Calculadder - dd couldn't handle the pressure of the timer. Saving it to try with dd6. Now, I'll have to duck but......WWE. I feel like we wasted two very valuable years. I knew going into it that I didn't understand it but I'd just trust the process. Well, for my visual dd, it was a complete bust. At 8.5, she didn't understand how to put a paragraph together nor could she put her thoughts down in any way that resembled coherency. And, of course, she's now really interested in writing. Thankfully, after just 3 weeks with PAL Writing, she's improved amazingly. Wish I'd had that 2 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 ETC - complete busywork for us. Calculadder - dd couldn't handle the pressure of the timer. Saving it to try with dd6. Now, I'll have to duck but......WWE. I feel like we wasted two very valuable years. I knew going into it that I didn't understand it but I'd just trust the process. Well, for my visual dd, it was a complete bust. At 8.5, she didn't understand how to put a paragraph together nor could she put her thoughts down in any way that resembled coherency. And, of course, she's now really interested in writing. Thankfully, after just 3 weeks with PAL Writing, she's improved amazingly. Wish I'd had that 2 years ago. What is PAL? I am currently using EFTTC and feel it a bit relaxed for my oldest boy. Good for my younger kids though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartingOver Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Spelling Workout Writing Strands Calvert ( did 1 - 3 hated them all, not sure why I continued that was a long time ago. ) LLATL Slow and Steady Get Me Ready SL LA ( K, the only one I purchased ! ) SL IG's for P 4/5 & K ( I tossed them both, I have B & C that we are using.) 100 EZ lessons ( used it many years ago, didn't care for it but there weren't a tons of choices back then. ) Hooked on Phonics ( what a waste, probably wins hands down ) Every Single Science ( I have ever purchased over many years has been a waste, we are enjoying Elemental Science for now, but we are still in the grammar stage ! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffnus Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 What is PAL? I am currently using EFTTC and feel it a bit relaxed for my oldest boy. Good for my younger kids though Institute for Excellence - PAL Writing. It's their newest entry point to their writing program. It's designed to be started in K and is divided into 3 levels (all in one manual). K starts with letters, handwriting and narration. Level 2 continues narration, adds copywork and beginning grammar and sentence structure. Level 3 jumps into an introductory version of their writing process. My dd5 started at the beginning but I've set it aside because I don't care for the handwriting instruction. She's doing narration until we get through all her letters in another handwriting program. She'll then move into Level 2. My dd8 started in Level 2 and zipped through during the fall with a few revisions b/c of her age (it's designed for K-2). She started Level 3 this month and it's great. She is very creative and has a million thoughts going through her head and one time. It's a bit of a challenge to sort through all of those thoughts and get them on paper. PAL is actually helping her to develop a framework to organize thoughts. I was initially concerned but this was a great step towards helping her write. We'll probably move into their full program in the fall...if she continues to enjoy this. I do wish I'd had this in the 1st grade for her - rather than the 3rd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperDad Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 (Reluctantly) paying for after-school "School Success Skills" class, as recommend by our oldest dc's public school counselor. Once we pulled dc out of ps, we realized... it wasn't dc. It wasn't that dc didn't have "school success skills". It was ps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea3829 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Nothing so far has been BAD. But I was disappointed by the HOP that I purchased. I felt like it didn't even come remotely close to teaching enough PHONEMIC AWARENESS. We are still currently using it, however, along with AAS1. Also, it's not that I don't love the concept, but I really felt like FIAR was a complete waste of money. Love the idea, love the concept, but I would not spend the money for the book again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieWith3 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Nothing terrible, but I had downloaded the pdf versions of Knowledge Quest's blackline maps for The Ancients (2001) and The Middle Ages (2001) and liked them very much, but when I got around to getting the third volume, New World (2010), I was disappointed. These were no longer blackline maps- they were at best blueline maps. I usually print out the maps that are already labeled, and these are filled in with green and blue for land and water, so I would either have to use up a bunch of printer ink, or get a greyscale map that is too dark and not very good for coloring and further labeling. I did contact the company to find out if there was a more old fashioned, simpler version available, but I'm afraid I'm out of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Also, it's not that I don't love the concept, but I really felt like FIAR was a complete waste of money. Love the idea, love the concept, but I would not spend the money for the book again. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Oh yes how could I forget Considering God's Creation. I can't believed that was billed as CM science. It was nothing but black and white cut and paste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 I was so daunted by the size of this thread that I almost didn't read it . . . but I am so glad I did! Y'all have given me the courage to go ahead and *drop* already the two things that aren't working for us: Writing Strands and Spelling Workout. Thank You!! (and DD thanks you too :D) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nart Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 My first, and by far the worst, homeschooling purchase was Before Five in a Row. I was never able to use it at all. I couldn't find the books at my library and lessons involved elaborate parent creations from scratch with no template that would be used in a lesson for maybe a tenth of the time taken for prep. We've had other moderate busts, but nothing else this bad. :iagree: I was so disappointed. I feel that it is a scam that you have to buy the parent's guide then if you actually want templates and printouts you can go to the FIAR website and spend more money on their lapbooking material. WHAT!!!?? I thought it was all included. Why not include everything in the parent's guide? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Teach your child to read in 100EZ lessons :iagree:100 times over... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeaconsGarden Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Hated: Saxon Math (1, 2, 3) Language Lessons for the Very Young 2, 3 FLL Writing Strands Love: 100EZ Lessons = I've taught 4 to read with it. We don't read through the stories 3 times, just once. We don't do the writing. We do the instruction on one day and the reading on the next (after the first few easy lessons are over). This has worked great. By about lesson 60 they are ready to give it up and read on their own. I tried another program this year, but went back to it after seeing what a great job it did. We supplement with BOB Books and easy readers. The stories do get kind of long, so I sometimes alternate reading the sentences with the child to take the pressure off. AAS - yes, it's easy, but the beauty of knowing how to spell something by the rules opens a whole new world. Almost any word they encounter can be deciphered. I love this program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 (edited) Catholic Heritage Curricula's Devotional Stories for Little Folks. Urgh. Some of the stories were nice, but overall they were too "goody goody" and very boring. Dd1 did not like them, but I kept at it. I finally tossed them when we got to one story entitled "All That Glitters" that was basically about how anything fantasy related (you know, dragons and wizards and stuff) is evil and of teh debil. We are HUGE fantasy/sci-fi nerds in this house. I'm not the only one then :tongue_smilie: Yes, boring, preachy, no literary quality. Twaddle. Besides that, My Jesus and I (ds and I would fall asleep - only lasted through a few lessons in K.) Spectrum Phonics (I felt like ds didn't retain anything and it was busywork) BFIAR (should have listened to my hsing friend, but I was not confident enough - waste of money) Calculadders (ds freezes in timed drills) I haven't given up on Miquon! I really like the idea, but ds is learning much better with MM. Will try Miquon with dd in the Fall. Edited January 30, 2012 by sagira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 The Phonics Museum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy_of_4 Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Spelling Workout and HOP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 How in 30 pages have I not answered this? Ring of Fire Science. I could rant but I won't. Also, Matin Latin. I'm not sure it is awful but it sure isn't intuitive. Even if you have studied languages before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 FIAR Little Stories for Little Folks (dd hates this. Cries when I try to bring it out) Right Start A. We struggled through this until just recently. I should've just started with SM1a. It's not that it didn't work it's just it was tedious and dd is workbook-y Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommy5 Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 (edited) Explode the Code--the busy work was excessive and silly. I agree ... We also didn't like MUS Primer. 100EZ lessons was ok for a while but DS got really upset about it after a while... Edited January 30, 2012 by mommy5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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