Excelsior! Academy Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Is there one you purchased on a whim or to look through that ended up being the one? For us it was Life of Fred. My oldest dd that has been working through Saxon since public school, just wasn't getting it. She is now flying through Fred and is scheduled to complete Algebra in the spring. Right on track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clementine Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 For us it is 9th grade Lightning Literature. I wanted to like it, but was very skeptical after opening the box. I kept my reservations to myself & just let my dd dig in.....no complaints and she's doing well! So happy since it was going to be part of her tentative 4-year high school english plan. Whew! Although, after 10 years of this, I know that things may change....;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Classical Writing. I did a lot of research and quite a few people talked about how difficult it was to figure out (especially Homer, which is what we ordered). I was pretty nervous, but went ahead and purchased it anyway. While it did take a looooong time to read, reread and finally understand how to implement, we're really enjoying it now! Best of all, I'm seeing positive results through dd's writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 When my son expressed interest in learning Latin, I poked around the boards for suggestions and ran across several raves for The Lukeion Project. Not knowing one Latin class from another, I signed him up. It was a hugely successful choice; I couldn't be happier with the class or the teacher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 For me it was AAS and HOD. I bought AAS out of total desperation. It has been a perfect fit for our family. I wish I had found it sooner. I bought HOD because there was a lot of buzz here on the boards. I looked at it and wasn't too impressed. I kept looking at the catalog and just decided to try it. I have loved it ever since. This is such a fun thread! Thanks for starting it! BTW I have wanted to buy Life of Fred for a long time. I think I'm going to give it a try this summer. Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi @ Mt Hope Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 MCT and AAS. I adore both of them. LOF is on my to-purchase list. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Scholastics vocabulary books called, "150 words every _th grader should know." What a score! I had no guess that was going to be such a perfect fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Elementary Diagramming Workbook My kids beg to do grammar now because they think diagramming is fun. Who knew?! :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 For me, it was SWB's Advanced Language Lessons. I have never been fond of scripted materials and never really gave the FLL books a second look because of it. I decided to try ALL with the free sample this year and it has been a big hit with Sweet-pea and me although I still skip most of the scripted stuff. Now that it won't be finished, I think I may purchase FLL 4 and step back a year. I am now interested in trying Writing with Skill also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoGal Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 WWE :blush: Honestly, I thought my kids would never go for copywork, narration, etc. It sounded so boring to me! :leaving: I borrowed WWE from the library just to see what it is like and so far it has been great! I just ordered the workbook. Ds doesn't mind it at all and I can tell he is already paying more attention when I read to him. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 MCT Island level. It so wouldn't have been right for my older, but for younger, I reluctantly splurged. He approaches language (and school, for that matter) completely differently from both older DS and me (we both prefer a structured approach). Younger likes things more free-form, and he's advanced in LA. After much deliberation, I bought MCT Island and.....he loves it. And _I_ enjoy teaching him. He has retained an incredible amount, he knows SO MUCH about language now, it's quite amazing. So yea, I was wrong on that one :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 BJU Spanish I and History of the Ancient World. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Embassy Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Probably Alif Baa for a surprise love. It was something that I was going to have to adapt to fit us, but it has worked out beautifully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Miquon. I avoided it for ages (my kids just use C-rods as art toys, why would I buy a math program around them?). Then Bill convinced me, lol, and I ended up with the basics, but I still didn't use them. After a couple of months we hit a huge math wall with dd (regrouping with larger numbers). I went back and broader a bit, used manipulatives and tried some LoF as well, and it helped some (making ten is much more solid), but we still couldn't get past that point with decent fluency. Dd was begging to go past that part and learn multiplication. So I glanced through the Miquon multiplication Annotations and tried it. In two days she's grasped, understood, and now loves both multiplication and division. She can explain it to me, show me, flip the equations around, etc. Yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 100 ez lessons. I tried something else first for 2 years and finally in desperation bought and used it. For my child it worked. ymmv. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monarch Room Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 We love LOF! My 6y/o asks to do it often. It's such a fun read, and makes him feel like math is so much fun. We have that quirky sense of humor, so it's really appreciated it here. We worked through Apples, and are now on Butterflies. I'm bringing my 3rd grader home after Christmas break. I know he will love it as much as me and my younger. I'm happy to hear that MCT is also so loved. I am so excited to try it, and will be purchasing it soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyLittleWonders Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 For us, definitely All About Spelling. It has enabled my boys, especially my oldest, be successful in school. I'll have to reevaluate after the school year, but I think Oak Meadow may be joining the list. I had used K and 1st with ds#1 and was not impressed, so we did not continue. But, this year the older two are doing the 4th grade curriculum (literature, grammar supplement, social studies/history, science, and art), and I am enjoying it and they are doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 MCT I bought Island level a little over three years ago after it was recommended on the accelerated board. My daughter doesn't complain (which is saying a lot), but my son picked it up and loved it so much, he begged me to do it with him a year before I had planned to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 For us it was LOF as well. When my 14yo got home from high school last week and saw the 1st 4 books that I'd purchased to read aloud to youngest she asked if maybe we couldn't just all read them together in the evening :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate CA Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Is there one you purchased on a whim or to look through that ended up being the one? For us it was Life of Fred. My oldest dd that has been working through Saxon since public school, just wasn't getting it. She is now flying through Fred and is scheduled to complete Algebra in the spring. Right on track. FLL 3 and WWE 1 and 2. I was stunned how much I loved FLL 3 and how much we are actually learning. It isn't because I didn't think the book would be good; I thought it would be. However, it is just a really solid text, easy to use and understand, and the kids are actually learning grammar (and shhh, so am I! I love it! LOL WWE is also delightful. I never thought it could be so simple, but it is and the reading selections are just wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Jacobs Algebra. After slogging through 3 Algebra curriculums, this one is clicking, AND they enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ester Maria Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Art of Problem Solving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 For us it was Drawing with Children. I got it for a quarter at a thrift store, recognizing the title from Well Trained Mind. I read through it thinking it was going to be hard to implement. But we stuck it out and are on our 2nd year of it. Our art has improved so much, and we all love it and have learned so much. I always know when we have time to sit and do a project from it that it is going to be a great afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margo out of lurking Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 (edited) For us it is 9th grade Lightning Literature. I wanted to like it, but was very skeptical after opening the box. I kept my reservations to myself & just let my dd dig in.....no complaints and she's doing well! So happy since it was going to be part of her tentative 4-year high school english plan. Whew! Although, after 10 years of this, I know that things may change....;) Us too! Dd used it for 8th grade, then unwillingly switched to Notgrass for 9th. She asked to go back to LL for 10th. She liked it so well that I bought it for ds's 7th grade, and now he's using 8th grade. Dd is currently working through LL's world lit and still liking it. My only complaints are that the extra workbook pages are $$, and we find ourselves often disagreeing with LL's author's take on situations. My dd particularly has always enjoyed the reading selections with the exception of Treasure Island. But ds is reading it now and thinks it's fine. I like that LL requires nothing of me, and I appreciate that the book selections are quite varied and yet still appeal to my kids. (ETA: Fred was not a great fit for dd, but ds is enjoying it, just beginning Pre-Algebra w/Economics, and eager to finish that so he can begin Algebra. But that's not a "surprise.") Edited October 28, 2011 by Kristine out of lurking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaniceO Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 The Elements by Ellen McHenry. I wasn't too sure about it but my 6th grader LOVES it and is learning so much. We are supposed to do another free chemistry program after next week when we finish up The Elements, but I'm tempted to get one of the other McHenry programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whereneverever Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Sonlight. I've toyed with it for years- looking at the site and drooling. And imagining. We finally tried it and I love it MORE then I thought I would!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Math Mammoth and Explore the Code. My kid typically HATES any worksheets or workbooks, yet these two really work for him and he actually likes both programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 (edited) Math Mammoth. I bought one of the workbooks to try and sort of as a 'stop gap' while we ditched Saxon and considered other math currics, and just ended up staying with them. I wish I had been taught math with MM. FLL. I wasn't a big fan of FLL 1 (45 lessons on nouns :blink:) but in retrospect, I think it was too easy for my oldest when I was using it. It's a good fit now for my 6 yo and some of the things, like finding things on maps and writing addresses were things my oldest already sort of knew when we went through, but it's been a great introduction for my 6 yo. I've been really impressed with 3 this year--and I can now see that 1 and 2 did provide a really good foundation leading up to 3. Funny aside: I was at lunch with my kids and parents at Chipotle this afternoon, and there were a couple of girls sitting behind us. I think it was a college-age girl tutoring a high-school age girl in grammar . . . and they were diagramming sentences exactly like my 3rd grader is doing now. I'm sure the sentences were more complex, but still! It was little surreal to listen to her describe how to diagram like I had *just* been teaching earlier this week. :lol: WWE. I'm sold, hands down. I can both see that my kids are listening more carefully (as evidenced by the fact that my 6 yo will call out answers to my 8 yo's passages before he gets a chance to answer :glare::D) and I can see that their compositional skills are improving. And it's introduced me to some pretty cool children's lit that I've never encountered before. Edited October 28, 2011 by LemonPie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Oh, AAS is a new *wow* hit with us, too. I used it every couple of months for a while but couldn't get into it. We use it twice a week now and dd's spelling plus her understanding of WHY it's spelled/pronounced that way has shot through the roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 We love LOF! My 6y/o asks to do it often. It's such a fun read, and makes him feel like math is so much fun. We have that quirky sense of humor, so it's really appreciated it here. We worked through Apples, and are now on Butterflies. I'm bringing my 3rd grader home after Christmas break. I know he will love it as much as me and my younger. I'm happy to hear that MCT is also so loved. I am so excited to try it, and will be purchasing it soon! my little one adores LOF Apples too (and older enjoyed Fractions). I am trying to find a used copy of Butterflies ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Mine was a freebie. KISS Grammar is the perfect fit for my son. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alenee Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 LOF has been the best math program! Dd12 was behind until we switched to Fred and now she's actually a little bit ahead! Shurley Grammar has been an excellent fit from the beginning. I'm on the second kid with it and also teach it (second year) at our local co-op. It's easy to jump into and I appreciate the script when I stumble. IEW took a while to fit but now the two older girls are flying with it and doing very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felicity Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 For me it's WWS. I got burned out with WWE but wanted structured writing lessons for my oldest. I love how it's going and I love the lessons themselves. He's doing really well with it and isn't crying about writing like he has in the past. For that alone WWS is worth it's weight in gold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnTeaching Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 For both kids: Brave Writer! I thought, "OH NO not another writing program to try and figure out". But The Writer's Jungle and the online classes have been incredible. My dyslexic dd may not be a great speller, but boy can she WRITE! For ds14 - Art of Problem Solving. He enjoys math now. For dd13 (dyslexic)- Winter's Promise early American history, American Crossing, and soon to start the later American history, American Culture. This was out of desperation and it has turned out to be a perfect fit. Also, Teaching Textbook just works for her when nothing else clicked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Irasshai. Ds really want to study Japanese. I was highly skeptical, but he loves it and I can't believe how well he is doing. LoF was a great fit for him too, but dd really doesn't like it. The surprise love for her has been WWS. We came into homeschooling too late to have used any WWE or FLL, so I didn't know if I could make WWS fly or not. Dd really likes it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelly in IL Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Didn't really like it with ds1, because i let him do jt all alone. Huge mistake! Doing it with my 6th grader, we are totally loving it and he is getting so much from it. I didn't like BFSU which is why we ended back up at Rainbow. Not liking BFSU was the best use of $24!, because it put me back at Rajnbow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 not sure if I "love it" LOL but my biggest surprise has been WWE---I was skeptical but so far it's working.....slowly but surely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Okapi Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Is there one you purchased on a whim or to look through that ended up being the one? For us it was Life of Fred. My oldest dd that has been working through Saxon since public school, just wasn't getting it. She is now flying through Fred and is scheduled to complete Algebra in the spring. Right on track. I was so glad to see this. We have been doing Saxon, but recently picked up Life of Fred. We're hoping it will have the same effect. This is very encouraging. There is hope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelAR05 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 CLE Math and SOTW. My girls squeal when I say it is time for SOTW and mapwork! And I am sooo pleased with CLE Math. This has been a good year so far. I like everything I chose except for the science for my 3rd grader. I am hoping to start using the science from the Baltimore Curriculum Project. If I could just get it organized.:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Well, it wasn't on a whim. I looked it over for a few years but something held me back. Finding a math curriculum that's good for ds has always been a trouble spot. I thought I found it with Right Start. I though I found it with Life of Fred. It seems I finally found it with Teaching Textbooks. He actually said he likes it. I've never heard him use "like" and "math program" in the same sentence before TT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 For both kids: Brave Writer! I thought, "OH NO not another writing program to try and figure out". But The Writer's Jungle and the online classes have been incredible. My dyslexic dd may not be a great speller, but boy can she WRITE! Yay for Bravewriter! I was not sorry I spent the money on The Writer's Jungle. Ds hasn't done any of the classes due to the cost, but we've used The Arrow and Boomerang, and we try to follow the "Bravewriter Lifestyle". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 We loved Lightning Lit/7th and 8th grades. Teaching Textbooks high school math has been a LIFE SAVER for us. A fun multi-age science curriculum (probably not a core) was a blast -- The Scientist's Apprentice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 The Writing Road to Reading. We didn't use it for long, but for the time when I found it, it was the perfect fit. I don't think I would have been able to use it when I first started homeschooling, however. It would have been too overwhelming. I also rather like Galore Park's English curriculum. It's straightforward, secular (hard to find good quality secular stuff), and inexpensive, so I can tweak it without feeling like I'm wasting tons of money on an expensive program I'm only half using. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hearts4homeschooling Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Pianimals My kids were young when they started piano, 4 1/2 and a new 6. I started them so young since my neighbor was a piano teacher and a potential friend - which is important when you are new in town. Having them in piano has been great. Pianimals has been a perfect fit for them. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleWMN Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 CLE math! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Apologia Jump In writing program for my youngest. I actually bought it to try with oldest but she went to ps for middle school. I found my fourth grader with the book and she was writing in it!:001_huh: She hates writing but we've been doing this slow and she looks forward to it so it's a keeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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