My oldest son needs some help with spelling, and I read rave reviews of the Apples & Pears program, so I thought it sounded like just what we needed. Considering his history with mild dyslexia, I went with the reading program as well. Really, what am I missing? I should have done a better job at looking over the program before I bought it, but I was sick and needed something quick. But now that I'm looking over it, I can't figure out why on earth anyone would think it is good or helpful in any possible way. The spelling is set up basically so that someone has to completely go through it with him, holding his hand pretty much. Where is the teaching? You pretty much just copy words and that's it? There is minimal, if any explanation of anything. And the reading program is just lists of words and sentences to read?? Really? :shock: My first impression is that it is VERY hallow and not at all suited for a homeschool situation. Am I wrong? I'm holding back the tears right now because this was very expensive for me, and I can't buy anything else right now.
{{HUGS}} I can feel your frustration. I haven't used Apples and Pears so I have no advise on that, but there are some free programs online that you might want to take a look at. One is http://www.readingkey.com/free/ It is an interesting program that my son liked because he enjoyed racing the clock to read the words on the list. There are also vocabulary activities that go along with the words. They help reinforce spelling the words. There is also k12reader.com which someone else on here suggested, that I've been using successfully with my 9-year-old. There are spelling lists and dictation sentences. The way I use the lists is that one day I give my son the definitions of the words and he has to write the correct word; another day he alphabetizes the list; some times we play games with the words. My son is also dyslexic, and spelling does not come easy for him. When we began k12reader I actually started him on week 30 of the second grade spelling program. We are now still going through the 3rd grade lists.
Okay...it's okay. Can you sell the program to recoop some of your money? Maybe that could be used toward a new program... There are lots of free programs for spelling and reading for young kids. We're using http://www.phonics4free.org/ my kids love it so much I also bought the book (<$5-including shipping) to go with it. Your son is young, it'll be okay to just read to him and work with him on your own or with a free program until you figure it out.
I took a look at Phonics 4 Free and it is very interesting. I think I am going to be able to use some of her ideas to help Babyboy, (our unofficial grandson who is hearing impaired) get his letters going in the right direction! Thanks for sharing that info JosieB.
Thanks ladies! I apologize for being so grumpy, I was having one of *those* days. I'll check out the links too, thank you for posting them! We just haven't had much success with the items I've been buying, even though it seems I've done lots of research. We just got a used copy of Saxon math and it is making me scratch my head as well. I LOVE homeschool, I just pretty much detest most of the books we end up with.
Sorry, Blizzard, but this prompts me to ask HOW are you doing all your research? How do you go about it? Do you look at samples of everything first? How can I help you with Saxon math?
Typically I look at online reviews and suggestions, then I'll look at samples and read on the website. Like I said, this time I was sick and in a hurry to find something. I had looked at a whole bunch of free spelling sites and hadn't found what I wanted. Apples & Pears sounded what I was looking for, but somehow the samples didn't click in my head the same was as when I opened it up and started using it. I'm very hands-on/visual, so buying online is generally a very bad idea, even with sample pages. I haven't decided if I'll use the A&P spelling or try to sell it. I go through the reading one with the boys every morning. It is hard to tell if it will help them any more than just regular reading, but we'll see. With Saxon, I bought it partially out of wanting to help a single, home school mom out, plus I've heard it was good. So, I technically over-paid for a used copy, and blew my budget in the process. I haven't really tried it yet as we are finishing up our CLE books. Just flipping through it quickly, the format just doesn't sit well with me, but mostly because he's used to the sectioned lesson format from CLE. I'm not sure if I'll use it or not. Hopefully by the time we finish what we have, I'll be able to just go back with CLE math.
Saxon math really isn't all that bad - it's my second choice, ever since I found CLE, for sure! The thing with it is, do every single problem, even if you have to take two days to do it. I've got 2 kids in Saxon right now, simply because they didn't exactly fit in any level of CLE. One did the 400s last year, then we did the Fractions, Algebra, and Geometry extra practice books. I had hoped we could put her in 700, but she still didn't get that high. OTOH, she did place into (old) Saxon 87, so we went with that. The other one came out of public school passing 7th grade going into 8th. I couldn't get low enough for her in CLE! Not and accomplish anything, anyway. But she placed into (old) Saxon 76, so we're going with that. Her brother, I debated over starting him in 400 or Math 54, and decided he'll get farther with 400. He's in 9th grade. All I can suggest about getting to see stuff hands-on is to go someplace like Mardel's and look at what they have (they don't carry CLE ...) or see if your library can get a copy, or make certain to get to the Book Fair at the homeschool convention whenever that is in your area. Unless you know someone who has it. >sigh< Wish I could be more helpful! I SO know what you're talking about. There are SO many things I'd like to really get my hands on, get to pore over it at length, and SEE whether it might work for us or not....
Does Saxon seem to help your kids grasp a concept before moving on to the next? That is the problem he is having with CLE. It introduces a new topic, gives a few exercises, and then moves on to other review problems. He needs the review, but we are constantly having to go back and re-learn topics that he never got in the first place. A lot of times it doesn't give enough practice at one time for him to even remember that he did it at all. I like the program, but it is frustrating to constantly have to go back to old books or have to re-explain something that he didn't get enough practice to learn. Thanks for the suggestions! We sort of live in the middle of nowhere when it comes to home school supplies. The bookstores are small and rarely have anything. Most of the conferences and such that sell home school books are either in Duluth or around Minneapolis. It is hard to rationalize the expense of driving there when I could spend that money on actually buying something. I think I'm going to have to plan a trip for next year because I really do need to go somewhere I can browse a lot of different materials. Guess and buy isn't working very well!
Oooh! I like that site so far. It is better than the stuff I was finding. The way they organize the vocabulary printables is nice. Now I need to get my printer fixed!!
Saxon. CLE. Hhmmm. I think CLE has more examples of one kind of review problem at one time than Saxon does. Saxon's is more mixed up: two of these, one of these, then three of those, then one of that, then a couple of something else, within the whole 25 or 30 "Practice" problems. CLE tends to have 6 or 8 of something, a whole set of facts, some word problems, then a column of one thing, then a fourth of a page of something else that are all the same type, in sections in the "We Remember" part. Kind of chunkier than Saxon. And then, CLE has the daily speed drills through the 5th grade. Saxon has some pages you have to copy off and remember to give. Maybe your child would do better with a more "mastery with review" kind than a spiral program? Rod & Staff is very good, and although it's in textbooks, they're very reasonably priced (and hold their resale value if you don't write in them). They don't have workbooks after second grade, but they are so reasonably priced that some people let their kids write in the books instead of copying on other paper to work. I'd start a grade back if yours has difficulty with math (like starting in 2nd if yours is in 3rd, or whatever). See samples of books and TMs at www.rodandstaffbooks.com. They have a scope & sequence at that site too so you can see which skills are taught where. If you think you might need a 4th grade, I have one for cheap.
