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SeaStar
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| Posted: May 16 2009 at 2:16pm | IP Logged
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I always like to hear what everyone loved and what worked the best as the year draws to a close.
One of our favorites this year was Keyboard Capers. I bought the teachers guide and manipulative set from Rainbow Resources and am very pleased with it. The lessons are short and very hands on, with games, songs, coloring pages, etc. We started the year with Story of the Orchestra and kept going with Keyboard Capers.
Another one we absolutely LOVE: geography songs.
The kids love the songs and listen to the cd over and over. It's been popular all year.
Also, I have been very happy with Rightstart Math. It's very Montessori and easy to use. Towards living math, we also are using the Time Life I Love Math books- they are awesome! We just finished Sunken Treasure Math, which was perfect to kick off the summer.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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amyable
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| Posted: May 16 2009 at 2:50pm | IP Logged
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Oh I love threads like this!  Thanks for starting it, Melinda!
My two biggest winners were for my dyslexic daughter. After searching for years and years for something she doesn't cry over and that has *some* sticking power in her brain, we found Teaching Textbooks math and All About Spelling, an Orton-Gillingham based spelling program.
I'm kind of embarrassed to say I really liked Spectrum Writing workbooks. No, it's not IEW or the Writer's Jungle...we'll get to those (I keep telling myself!). But it was something I could throw at my kids during a stressful year and know they got a step-by-step introduction to the writing process and hints to make their writing better. And they were inexpensive and easily gotten at our local Barnes and Noble.
As always, we loved most of the readers/read-alouds from our Sonlight Core (4, this year).
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Martha
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| Posted: May 16 2009 at 4:32pm | IP Logged
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Life of Fred
Life of Fred
Life of Fred!!! 
Even if I decide to use an additional curriculum with it, I am seeing my sons enjoy math again and that is really worth somethign to me. I don't care how silly it is - they LIKE DOING MATH.
Seton English and Reading for my oldest.
Art with a Purpose ArtPacs are a huge hit with everyone.
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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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mom3aut1not
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| Posted: May 16 2009 at 6:38pm | IP Logged
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All About Spelling and the new Beehive Reader 1. I love them!
Other things that worked well
Catholic Mosaic
RightStart Math
Usborne Beginner books
Cub Scouts
Handwriting Without Tears
In Christ,
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Deborah
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anitamarie
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| Posted: May 16 2009 at 9:11pm | IP Logged
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All About Spelling. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! Both dd and I!
IEW Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons.
CHC Handwriting Level 2
Anita
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time4tea
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 5:56am | IP Logged
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Amy and Anita,
I ended up checking out All About Spelling for my oldest dd who is mildly dyslexic and i bought it for her! It looks like it will be extremely helpful to her. I also bought a Beehive Reader for my 6 year old.
Amy, I'm looking into the Spectrum writing books. Thank you for mentioning them!
My faves this year:
Primary Language Lessons - oldest dd and I really enjoyed this!
New American Cursive from Memoria Press - wonderful book for both my 3rd and K/1st grader!
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 6:47am | IP Logged
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All About Spelling has been a big hit here too!
We also used Shurley English for my 4th grader. I thought I would hate it, but dd loves it and that makes it easier for me too!
HWOT has always been a favorite with my boys.
Catholic Mosaic!
Apologia Science!
Also, I know it's not "Curriculum" but workboxes are getting us through the "end of the year, spring fever, I don't want to do this anymore blues"!
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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time4tea
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 6:50am | IP Logged
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Becky,
Can you tell me more about workboxes? We are in spring fever mode here, too!
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 7:00am | IP Logged
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Hi Tea,
They were discussed here not too long ago. I'll see if i can find the link. You can read about how we do it at my very humble blog here, but
Ami's blog has a beautiful explanation.
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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CandaceC
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 7:55am | IP Logged
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I was just about to post about WORKBOXES too!!
Search on this board and you'll see a good introduction thread. And, Ami's blog is great too!
I have posted some ideas on my blog as well!
Workbox ideas
Other things we're loving:
Memoria Press New American Cursive
Simply Charlotte Mason - book lists, yearly scheduling
HSS (an old favorite)
workboxes (oh, did I already mention those?) 
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
His Mercy Is New
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time4tea
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 8:08am | IP Logged
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Thanks, Becky and Candace 
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 9:15am | IP Logged
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I should have said Candace is the one to talk to about workboxes! She inspired me!
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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CandaceC
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 9:47am | IP Logged
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Well, Becky...I was just inspired by another list of moms...so we're in it together! Mostly I don't have lots of good ideas myself (lol) but I do enjoy sharing good ideas I've found with others and on my blog.
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
His Mercy Is New
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Maria B.
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 9:58am | IP Logged
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I'm interested in hearing more regarding "All About Spelling." Why did you like it so much?
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Maria in VA
Proud Mom to 10 Great kids!
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 10:24am | IP Logged
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My ds took off and loved Winston Grammar. A total surprise to me.
CAT Chat CD's-both kids 6 and 11 years loved them and they learned a lot.
We returned to Sonlight for history. Except for some struggles in Landmark, which I was bracing for, we have loved it!!
Those were our greatest hits for the year.
Anne
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sewcrazy
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 10:26am | IP Logged
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This year we switched to units studies with lapbboks for my dd, and finally she is getting enthused about learning! I use homeschool share and Hands of a child as my primary resources. She has had no workbooks this year except for math, and is loving it.
My 14 year old is loving TRISMS. He has some LD issues, and this program has been a perfect fit. The lessons are easy to tailor to his level and he has enjoyed making consistant progress with a curriculum
Also he doesn't "hate" Teaching TextBooks math, which from him is high praise for a math program.
While not programs, I have come to love this sites this year for the occasional "instant" need: CurrClick, Edhelper, Enchanted learning and Teacher File Box.
Sorry, new computer not letting me run scripted windows to add links. 
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LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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teachingmyown
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Hits:
Teaching Textbooks 5- this was a lifesaver!
Miquon Math- how did I miss this all these years! This is a wonderful program and my dds love it!
Singapore Math- still a hit with my very math-loving dd7
Explode the Code- always a hit with my workbook loving crowd
Neutral:
First Language Lessons- I really like this, but we did end up falling behind because they needed me for every lesson.
Stories with a View- dd9 enjoyed this
flops:
Language Lessons for the Elementary Child- we really didn't like the flow of this, it seemed choppy and unorganized.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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guitarnan
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Teaching Textbooks Math 7 and Algebra II. How I wish I'd discovered TT many years ago!
Rediscovering Tolkien's gift of language by reading The Hobbit and the LOTR trilogy aloud.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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anitamarie
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 1:38pm | IP Logged
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Maria B. wrote:
| I'm interested in hearing more regarding "All About Spelling." Why did you like it so much? |
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All About Spelling is based on the Orton-Gillingham Phonograms. It teaches the phonograms and spelling rules for them. It uses a variety of teaching/learning techniques and uses a lot of review. The Key Cards teach rules like ck is used only after a short vowel sound. Some, probably most, people just intuit stuff like that. Not so for my dd.
AAS was just what my dd needed. She had been really struggling with spelling. She was late in learning her letter sounds (phonograms) and struggled to learn how to read. Through using this program, she has really come up to speed quickly in spelling, and she loves it.
We decided to get it when I noticed her misspelling words she had previously gotten correct on spelling tests.
cvbmom knows a lot more (feel free to correct me) I believe she is an Associate for the program.
Hope this helps.
Anita
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JuliaT
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Well, what really worked here wasn't curriculum but it was the changes that we made to our learning time. Workboxes changed our learning time in positive ways. Also, we ditched curriculum for history and science and did homemade unit studies in its place. These were very successful. They simplified our learning time, So much so that we will continue to do this for next year.
Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3 (9,8,6)
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Yearly product review
