Hunter Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Have you found any hidden gems hidden within the cheesy workbook series? My favorites are: Evan Moor Daily Science Spectrum Writing and Spectrum Language Arts I'm looking around at what is available for Spanish, art and music, particularly those that are available as eBooks. I know others here are looking at any and all resources in these subjects, right now, too. What are your favorite cheap workbooks? What makes them special? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The complete book of US history and complete book of World history. Not really workbooks, but shelved with other ones by the same company. We've also used the Spanish one, Presidents/States one, and Maps and Geography one at various times. I'm not sure if they're available as e-books, though-they're dirt cheap at Costco, so that's where I get them. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilBearsMama Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I don't know if it counts as "cheesy" but CtGE and Pathway Reader workbooks are a hit here. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The Complete Book of Maps and Geography, grades 3-6. It just has a lot of everything for map skills, terms, US geography, for a bargain price. I also like the Evan Moor Daily Paragraph Editing books. I don't use one every year or even very often. I pick one a couple of grades ahead of grade level and bring it out for practice periodically. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahW Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I picked up a lightly used Scholastic's 2nd grade 100 Math Activities at a thrift store for 50 cents and it's been a big hit. Do math problems for the reward of learning a new silly riddle or factoid? Yes, please. Despite the name it does introduce concepts consecutively. Though measurement and fractions are in their own section in the back. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Spectrum Science. Great. Use it for both kids as a supplement. Spelling works by halverson. My son loved this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twain Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The best (non-cheesy) workbooks we use: Beginning Geography grades K-2 (Evan Moor), then The Complete Book of Maps and Geography, grades 3-6 (I use this for grades 1-4.) then Discovering the World of Geography series (We have only used the grade 4-5 workbook so far, but I think it is excellent.) Dorling Kindersley "Math Made Easy" (for the younger grades) Challenging Word Problems (Singapore Math) Mind Benders R&S Spelling Daily Reading Comprehension (Evan-Moor) (Not a workbook, but like it:) Studies Weekly (Science, Social Studies) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indian summer Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I'm not sure what you mean by cheesy workbooks, but some that pleasantly surprised me are Evan Moor daily geography (much of the EM 'Daily' books seem pretty good) Language Smarts and we love, love, love, Muschla's Exploring Grammar/Mastering Grammar from the Practice Makes Perfect series. The vocab ones are good too! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Thanks ladies! "Cheesy" was just a good title, to kind of…let some people know that some resources they are entirely overlooking, might be useful to them. There are people who have never even opened any of these workbooks, assuming they are trash of the worst kind, and of no redeeming value whatsoever. I didn't mean to offend anyone that uses these books! I was trying to catch the notice of people who did NOT use them, as well as people that do. I maybe could have come up with a better title. I was trying to contrast what some people ASSUME they are, with the real gems that some of us KNOW are there. Some of these titles are new to me. Thanks ladies! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Sadly, most of "The Complete Book of …" series are only in hardcopy. http://www.carsondellosa.com/cd2/SearchCatalog.aspx?k=%22complete+book+of%22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessieC Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Scholastic Word Ladders is one of my faves. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I found a My Big Book of Kindergarten at Wal Mart- School Zone maybe? It was the perfect supplement to Singapore Math Essential K. In fact I think it did a better job in a lot of places. I also found this old public school work text at a Salvation Army called Mathematics in Action. I picked it up for my 1st grader to explore on his own. It came with punch out paper math manipulatives etc. It's really good. It is sort of pushing Miquon and MM out of the front place as our spine. He asks to do it. Evan Moor Skills Sharpeners were kind of fun, although I don't think I'd buy any more. I really like Evan Moor Daily Language Review. I do like The Complete books as well. I'm not as big a fan of the Presidents/States one however and will likely not use that one again. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Our "hidden gem" workbooks over the years: - maze workbooks, dot-to-dot books, even stained glass coloring books (Kinder-2nd) were great for developing early pencil holding and for fine motor skills - Complete A Sketch and Creating Line Designs series (K+) -- okay we didn't actually DO these, BUT I sure wish I had discovered them years ago! - The Big Yellow Drawing Book (pre-K +) a simplified Mark Kistler-style of art teaching workbook for beginning drawing techniques -- super for students who don't have a lot of hand control yet - 1-2-3 Draw books by Levin (K+) These, along with the Big Yellow Drawing Book, really connected for DS#2 when he was about 5 and wanting to learn to draw. - Mary Pecci's Word Study (gr. 2-5) plurals, possessives, prefixes/roots/endings, contractions, alphabetizing, etc. - Gifted & Talented workbook series (gr. 1-3) for more unusual and interesting critical thinking puzzles - Complete Book of ... series we esp. liked: Math (gr. 1-2), Maps & Geography (gr. 3-6), and US History (gr. 2-6) - Carson-Dellosa Discovering the World of Geography (gr. 6-8) -- meaty/thinking geography workbooks 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 We're currently LOVING the Bible Doodle Book. It's surprisingly comprehensive, and when paired with a Bible to read each story, it has become our full Bible program for right now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 various maze and dot-to-dot books especially by carson-dellosa. For the K-2 crowd I like the dot-to-dots that use the alphabet, and for counting starting with the ones that go 1-10 and build from there. My ds15 has an extreme dot to dot one that has numbers up to 900+ per picture. Good focus on hand eye coordination and fine motor control (especially in early grades as a prewriting skill) R&S preschool workbooks are great. We use them right up through 2nd, especially with the new ones always being put out. We have books A-K now I believe) My kids like the ones called complete canadian curriculum and it is based on grade level. Sometimes I pick those up and just put them out for fun and they work through them without concern and pick up little bits of social, science, math and language arts along the way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I'm looking around at what is available for Spanish, art and music... Mark Kistler's Draw Squad, of course. ;) (and you do draw right in the book, like a workbook) No experience with this, but it looks interesting: The Art Student's Workbook (gr. 6+) I think you, Hunter, would esp. appreciate the gentle, healing approach of The Artist's Way Workbook. :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMary2 Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I am a workbook queen, in the sense that I buy them buy the dozen at used book sales etc. I pay anywhere from .50 - $4.00 for them and sometimes only use one or two pages out of them. I then re-sell them. I don't know what it is about "dittos" but I like them. Probably because I enjoyed them in elementary school. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Thank you all! I hope others besides me are benefitting from these lists. I see some nice things. Unfortunately the ones that are most catching my eye seem to only be in hardcopy. I need to do some research to make sure of that. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivingHope Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Thank you all! I hope others besides me are benefitting from these lists. I see some nice things. Unfortunately the ones that are most catching my eye seem to only be in hardcopy. I need to do some research to make sure of that. Thanks! Building Spelling Skills by Christian Liberty Press is one workbook series I like that is available inexpensively in PDF format: http://www.currclick.com/browse.php?keywords=Building+Spelling+Skills+Christian+Liberty+Press&x=27&y=10&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=&sdate_from=&sdate_to=&stime_from=&stime_to= 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I like Writing Skills: http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=7&category=1653 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Bumping this. My kids love workbooks and I would love to find a good, challenging la one for younger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I am going to take a look at the Spectrum one that OP recommends. In general, like Spectrum books. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I also like Daily Editing and Daily Language Review by Evan Moor. If you are a member of tfb, they're free. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Thank you all! I hope others besides me are benefitting from these lists. I see some nice things. Unfortunately the ones that are most catching my eye seem to only be in hardcopy. I need to do some research to make sure of that. Thanks! I can't find spectrum writing in ebook or pdf for grades 3,4,5. Do you have a link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockhopper Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I love the Listen, Read and Learn with Classic Stories workbooks. Unfortunately my browser won't let me paste a link right now, but they're available from Amazon. There are books for K -3rd grade. Each book has several (5-6) "classic" stories (think The Magic Fish, or Jack and the Beanstalk) with lots of colorful illustrations. After each story is a series of activities. They're really varied, covering some phonics, spelling, word meanings, alphabetizing, reading comp/story sequencing, etc. The younger books especially have some cut and paste type activities, too. Each story also has an "About" section for the parent, as well as a very nicely done Bibliography with detailed descriptions of other books you might want to use as follow-ups. And finally, each comes with a CD narration. When I used them with my early reader, I'd read the story to her, then the next day have her listen and follow along, and finally read it aloud on her own. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Victoria~ Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 It's not available as an ebook, but we have almost finished Beginning Geography k-2 (EM) and have used it for our K geography everyday. It has really been great! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scbusf Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 It's not available as an ebook, but we have almost finished Beginning Geography k-2 (EM) and have used it for our K geography everyday. It has really been great! Yes! We have LOVED Beginning Geography. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 I can't find spectrum writing in ebook or pdf for grades 3,4,5. Do you have a link? I found them at Carson Dellosa, Currclick, and Google Books. If you start at the middle grades, you might want to see if you can borrow the earlier grades from the library to just browse. You can definitely DO the later grades without having done the earlier grades, but as a TEACHER, it helps to see what came before. And the language arts is meant to be completed with the writing. The writing CAN be completed without the LA, but the thin areas in the writing are fleshed out in the LA, and vice versa. And there are "writing handbooks" in the appendixes, and the best parts of those handbooks are spread out between both books. The handbooks mostly cover what is in the OTHER book, rather than providing a concise summery of what is in the book it is in. Spectrum is written to be completed, unlike many textbook series that have major overlaps and are meant for the teacher to pick and choose. Spectrum is spiral, so the same topics come up, but there is a gradual and systematic adding of complexity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Maps Charts Graphs, the entire series Comprehension Plus Language Smarts The Adventures of Genius Boy and Grammar Girl Horizons Pre-Algebra 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nansk Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I like Writing Skills: http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=7&category=1653 I'd buy these in a heartbeat if they were available as e-books. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 My son who is obsessed by American states and Presidents found 2 workbooks in the dollar bin of Target about presidents and the states. He loves it and pulls it out often to check facts. They seem to be seasonal in the Targets around here. Kumon Time workbook helped drill clocks and time. Miquon workbooks, though not cheesy at all, were well loved and affordable for us. Two other workbooks we love are: Evan Moore Daily geography, Maps Charts Graphs series from MCP. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliegmom Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Building Spelling Skills by Christian Liberty Press is one workbook series I like that is available inexpensively in PDF format: http://www.currclick.com/browse.php?keywords=Building+Spelling+Skills+Christian+Liberty+Press&x=27&y=10&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=&sdate_from=&sdate_to=&stime_from=&stime_to= We love Building Spelling Skills by CLP. I didn't realize it was available in PDF format. Still the workbooks are only $6.95 through Rainbow Resource. A very affordable and excellent spelling workbook. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicai Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Sadly, most of "The Complete Book of …" series are only in hardcopy. http://www.carsondellosa.com/cd2/SearchCatalog.aspx?k=%22complete+book+of%22 Hunter, we have a couple of the Complete Books and they are paperback. I've gotten them at Amazon and Rainbow Resource. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Maps-Geography-Grades/dp/0769685595 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnmusic Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 The Adventures of Genius Boy and Grammar Girl This is out of stock at Amazon, and going for $32 on Rainbow Resource, but I just found it available for free download on Teachers Pay Teachers (after logging-in): http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Adventures-of-Genius-Boy-and-Grammar-Girl-63533 Thanks for mentioning this, looks like a fun way to learn grammar! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliegmom Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Hunter, we have a couple of the Complete Books and they are paperback. I've gotten them at Amazon and Rainbow Resource. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Maps-Geography-Grades/dp/0769685595 We have it shelved to use next year, but I did find a soft bound copy of The Complete Book of Animals from Amazon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I think Hunter is saying "hardcopy" as in "not an ebook/pdf" (as opposed to hardcover vs. softcover). As far as I've seen, *all* of the Complete Book of... books are actual paperback covers.... :p 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I like Writing Skills: http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=7&category=1653 I just bought these! I am desperate for writing help. I don't think they come across as cheesy though. ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald Stoker Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Lots of workbooks here: https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/Student/books (Laura recommended some of the writing workbooks once, as I recall.) We've used a few; they're cheap and cheerful. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 This is out of stock at Amazon, and going for $32 on Rainbow Resource, but I just found it available for free download on Teachers Pay Teachers (after logging-in): http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Adventures-of-Genius-Boy-and-Grammar-Girl-63533 Thanks for mentioning this, looks like a fun way to learn grammar! It looks like this is chapters 1-5 only (of 31), which is the same thing available from the website at http://grammarnation.com/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivey Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 A couple of our favorites that I haven't seen mentioned: Red Hot Root Words Alphabet Soup: Language Arts Enrichment Activities 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnmusic Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 It looks like this is chapters 1-5 only (of 31), which is the same thing available from the website at http://grammarnation.com/ Darn, looked too good to be true! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas_mom Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 (Not a workbook, but like it:) Studies Weekly (Science, Social Studies) We have the Grade 5 Science and Social Studies and I really like them. The Teacher's Guide has the workbook of questions and fill in the blanks for reading comprehension. I was surprised how throrough they for American History. I think you can use these as a spine and then add additional books for reading for historical periods. They have craft ideas, like make a compass for the Explorers Age. I am just using them as a supplement. The Science ones also have workbooks in the Teacher's Guide and one or two experiments to try for each issue. The science has great visuals to explain the concepts. I am impressed with these. http://studiesweekly.com/ AND THEY ARE CHEAP. It's a GREAT price and it is pack full of info! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twain Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 We have the Grade 5 Science and Social Studies and I really like them. The Teacher's Guide has the workbook of questions and fill in the blanks for reading comprehension. I was surprised how throrough they for American History. I think you can use these as a spine and then add additional books for reading for historical periods. They have craft ideas, like make a compass for the Explorers Age. I am just using them as a supplement. The Science ones also have workbooks in the Teacher's Guide and one or two experiments to try for each issue. The science has great visuals to explain the concepts. I am impressed with these. http://studiesweekly.com/ AND THEY ARE CHEAP. It's a GREAT price and it is pack full of info! I really like them, too. One thing I noticed is that the newspapers are different for different states. Next year, I am planning to use the 5th grade Social Studies for New Hampshire because I like it better than what the Studies Weekly for my state covers. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Wow...another thing I wasn't aware of (why am I surprised :001_unsure: )....Studies Weekly looks great! Thank you for mentioning it. I definitely want to get some of these for next school year. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I really like them, too. One thing I noticed is that the newspapers are different for different states. Next year, I am planning to use the 5th grade Social Studies for New Hampshire because I like it better than what the Studies Weekly for my state covers. I was noticing that too. Like for Wisconsin...for 5th grade (which I'd be getting for next year too) they have USA Studies Weekly Ancient America to the Present, USA Studies Weekly Ancient America to Reconstruction (would I get them both? They both look good), Science, Character, Health, and Heritage (not sure what this is or how it compares to the USA ones yet). But, if I look in 4th grade they have only one social studies option and it's called Wisconsin Studies Weekly (which is usually the grade they do a state study in schools). That looks really good too and I don't want to miss out on that...so I'll have to order that one too :001_smile: . 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gil Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Algebra Readiness Made Easy by Scholastic. They are simplistic and repetitive but they work extremely well for both of my 6yo olds who are going on 6th grader math. We did grades 1-4 last year with MM 1a-4b and Keys to...Fractions, Decimals, Percents. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas_mom Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Next year, I am planning to use the 5th grade Social Studies for New Hampshire because I like it better than what the Studies Weekly for my state covers. I will have to check that out. I live in Maryland but I just assumed it was the same except maybe adding the specific State's American History! Thanks for mentioning it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 My son has learned an enormous amount from the Murderous Maths books. I am rather flabbergasted, actually. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I'd buy these in a heartbeat if they were available as e-books. Evan Moor's paragraph book is somewhat similar to book A. http://www.evan-moor.com/p/360/paragraph-writing-grades-2-4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serenade Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 We have the Grade 5 Science and Social Studies and I really like them. The Teacher's Guide has the workbook of questions and fill in the blanks for reading comprehension. I was surprised how throrough they for American History. I think you can use these as a spine and then add additional books for reading for historical periods. They have craft ideas, like make a compass for the Explorers Age. I am just using them as a supplement. The Science ones also have workbooks in the Teacher's Guide and one or two experiments to try for each issue. The science has great visuals to explain the concepts. I am impressed with these. http://studiesweekly.com/ AND THEY ARE CHEAP. It's a GREAT price and it is pack full of info! Do you order them and they're delivered weekly? I'm wondering if I'm missing something... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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