Keep in mind that Good and Beautiful levels are not equivalent to grade levels. Level 4 is a huge jump in terms of the amount of work. My daughter is an advanced reader and loves writing, but even still doing it for 5th grade we had to spread the lessons out over 2 days a lot of the time. The good thing is that there are only 7 levels. It gives you plenty of wiggle room to slow down when needed.

Memoria Press has a states and capitals workbook set. We're using Our 50 States by Notgrass - but that is more in depth with some history and facts on each state. I am looking at Writing & Rhetoric for my middle schooler, it seems very open & go - but the program takes the kids through many different types of writing through middle & high school. IEW has never really appealed to me, but I am sure it works well for some students.

Writing has been a tough subject for my 5th grader. He too is very logical and needs structure. I had similar hesitations on IEW, but we jumped in to test it out and he LOVES it! He took the program by the reigns and loves being able to get the guidance that the videos provide. If I did not do the videos, I think that the "dress ups" might also throw me off. But, just know, the way that the videos teach it, they are so seamless. I asked my son how he enjoyed it, and lets just say, he begged to keep going. This is from my reluctant writer, so I have to consider it an absolute win for us. Wish you the best with whatever you land on. Just had to share our love for IEW, even with going in scared haha!

My 5th graders did not like IEW at all. It was too structured and although the dress up words helped. Their writing didn’t sound like them.

HBL D is where we split up. The beginning of the year was cake and we all loved it etc but then the spine for the second half increased in difficulty exponentially and the readers content increased in difficulty and became dryer. It was like you could literally see Sonlight transitioning the child from lower level to upper over the course of the year. My older student embraced it joyfully my younger student who was in fourth grade began to get overwhelmed and not be able to keep up with the content. Also my next set down of children were totally lost second half so they split off as well. We did have a health issue and had to stop for a few months and when we came back closer to fifth grade the younger child was able to handle it better and we finished.

Have you considered the Progymnasmata for Composition? Memoria Press has an excellent program for writing. But they use All Things Fun and Fascinating by IEW first so the kids learn Outlining… but they only schedule 7 lessons for a whole school year… then they start the Progymnasmata with Fable, then Narrative and so on.

We chose to do IEW after using many other writing programs. We chose a theme unit and I am watching the teacher training videos. Andrew Pudewas videos were so helpful to explain the “why” behind his program. He gives so much helpful information about why he encourages dress ups etc. It’s been a game changer for my reluctant writer. Writeshop was too much prep/fluff for us.

We did Draw the USA as part of our Geography studies last year and watched videos off KZfaq from the US Embassy. It gave a quick (touristy) overview. So our travel bucket list grew a ton!

writing with skill, is intense! I am using it with my 5 grader, writing is her passion she spend most of her free time writing. Its a challenging program. Outing and reading level is quite high. outlining details about challenging literature and science.

IEW is fabulous! My kids wanted structure and their writing improved leaps and bounds. Like you, I held out for years for the same reasons you mentioned, and I wish I hadn’t. It has been absolutely amazing and we tried pretty much every other writing program out there. Another positive is SSS is completely hands off for me. They pop in the video and are independent. That frees me up for the other child if they need me during that time. We tried write shop and it was too much prep and too loosey goosey for me. I also have writing with skill, though never used it. It is pretty rigorous and reading heavy. Not all 5th graders will be able to use it independently. It seems geared more towards middle schoolers. I had planned to use it but then I realized how well IEW was working and just never made the switch.

IEW is amazing! It really helped my kids level up from elementary thinking to middle schooling thinking. I was also interested in EIW Essentials in Writing but never gave it a try. I also love phonetic zoo btw for spelling.

I have had some of the same thoughts of IEW. We haven’t used them either. We used Writeshop jr, but it was a lot of prep. It is very creative!

I'm also on the fence with IEW, and I feel the same way about your hesitation with using their suggested word list. From pre-K to highschool I went to a private school and the way they taught me to be a good writer is by focusing mainly on vocabulary. They never told me to use specific words or "fancy" words in my writing, it just all flowed from the beautiful vocabulary program and literature that I had all those years. I remember it was a seperate subject with its own notebook, just a few minutes a day. This not only makes you a great writer but a great speaker too, which is an important life skill to have! So my suggestion is to hone in on those important vocabulary skills, whether through beautifully written literature, or vocabulary specific curriculum, or maybe even using a Latin-roots based program that can build on vocabulary knowledge. Memoria Press has one, and I'm sure there's more. This is kind of the direction Im going in with my third grader for now!😊 By the way, we love Abekas language too! And we also dont love or use their writing program. I always think I'll switch eventually but we keep using it because it just seems to work! 😅

We have liked iew for the push for adding those extra words but I sometimes don't require as many as the book does because it starts to feel a little forced. For memorizing the states, there are fun songs. The good and beautiful has some great geography cards to practice states and capitals too ( part of the 4th grade and up curriculum). Thanks for sharing your thought process. I am getting ready to start thinking through our kids curriculum for next year too and I'm the same way on needing to think through what I need to investigate and what I know we will move on to.

I also hesitated with IEW but after looking at it for 3 years and not trying it, I finally caved and got it for my oldest son. I wish I’d done it sooner, he thrives with the structure and checklists! I think I’ll have my second son use it next year as well, he’ll be in 5th grade then.

Thanks Angie! Writing and Rhetoric 😊

IEW is excellent-it provides a framework upon which creative writing can be built in the future. It teaches writing in a way that I’ve never seen before, and it builds so well. I think where people go wrong is thinking g they need to use IEW every year. I’d recommend using it once and then use something more “fun” or creative the next year.

Highly recommend Essentials in Writing with Mr. Stephen's. :)

My young 6th grader is doing IEW SSS 1A. He started it midyear in 5th grade. He is an advanced reader and likes to write for fun. The videos are very long, so it was hard to keep up the pace. Now he takes 2 weeks for each lesson, so I let him break the videos up into 2-3 days, them he had the rest of the time to finish rough draft and final copies of his writing. We may do a theme-based book next year, just to avoid the long videos. I think he would still do well. (He should finish this curriculum by May, so a total of 3 semesters.)

Check out write by number, and writing revolution( there are options with lesson plans too) layers of learning writing.

For your third grader I would recommend looking into BJU. I love the idea of abeka language arts as well but found BJU did not have as many hangups in general.

Writing and Rhetoric has been a godsend this year for my reluctant writer, 4th grade. He also is not a strong speller and needs structure when it comes to writing, and it’s worked perfectly for him this year. I definitely plan on continuing it into fifth grade.

I'm going to throw in Write By Number as a writing suggestion. I have two in depth videos on it. My daughter will be in 5th next year, and likes logical structure, with a little freedom, and it's been a great fit. We will continue with it next year

I highly recommend Writing and Rhetoric! It’s been so good for my boys. We’ve tried IEW so many times. I’ve spent so much money on it 😅. We’ve never finished a level.

My son is very logical too and he doesn’t like writing at all. We’ve tried a couple and IEW has worked very well for him.he doesn’t like to write about what he “feels” about a picture, or something he did in the summer, or a letter to a friend, (those kinds of writing) he wants straight to the point teaching what he needs and move on. Iew does that for him. I do spread it (one lesson in two weeks) not because he “needs” more time but because he doesn’t complain as much and I get a better result. His complaint is that the videos are long and he prefers to get straight to the point, so that’s why I spread it, instead of 2 videos of 30-45 mins average- we do 3 sessions and cut it to 20 mins each. Then a couple days for the writing part. Another program we really like is writing and rhetoric (we’ll probably go back to, I just really wanted a year of IEW). W&R has reading, narration, a bit of grammar, literary terms, and the writing portion. I really liked it. It also has the audio for the reading part. Open and go. Which is a plus for us. I don’t like doing prep work if I don’t have to. I’ve heard about the writing revolution but haven’t used it but in my understanding is learning to write but using other subjects that the student is currently learning and writing from that. More of a connected learning than separating every subject. I hope you find what works best for your kids and you.

IEW sounds like a good fit for your son. My boys liked it and the teacher. Their only frustration is how long the videos are. You can also look at EIW. It seems structured like IEW but not as structured.

We are also a Sonlight family (currently in HBL D for 4th and 5th grades). I hesitated with IEW for the same reasons, but it actually helped my logical reluctant writer and my creative writer. However, the videos were way too much for us. I’d recommend a theme unit and the training video (if you can get it free or used). Then you can just do the skills at your own pace, use what you’d like, etc. There are more creative units like poetry and writing from pictures. It’s also not a forever choice. For us, we took the skills from it and are using it with our previous LA this year. In a few years we may do another theme unit to refresh without getting bogged down or formulaic. Having taught research skills to high schoolers, I notice they really struggle with working from a source text and IEW really helps with that skill. For states and capitals we are using the geography songs from HBL C and the Charlotte Mason map method. It’s been great and doesn’t add a ton of time.

So, for states and capitals, my kids pretty much taught themselves. I have a foam map with flags with capitals on it (Amazon) and they loved putting the map together and the capitals in the correct spot. I also have flash cards that they enjoyed. We don’t have tv during the week so my kids have to find something to do and it happened to be states and capitals.

I haven't found a writing curriculum that I love but we started Write By Number and it is interesting/worth looking into. I use the lessons stand alone and then sometimes have him do the same assignments in his content area. It's a little too formulaic for us to use it alone, but that just us!

I have a son who seems to learn LA similar to your son. I looked into Write by Number and the Writing Revolution. I hope this helps! I started using Write by Number. I like that it is logically ordered, but somehow there is also a freedom in it too!

IEW was too structured for us, but EIW has been great and my 5th grader is really enjoying it…he hates grammar but loves writing…it’s student lead and he’s loving it!

It may be too much, but I am using Campfire curriculum for my US state studies. They only have New England state so far though. Their style really suits my kid.

We really love Math with Confidence!

We seem a lot alike and my son has similarities to your older two. I’m strongly looking at Writing with Skill for next year. We have used Writing and Rhetoric this year, which may work for you. It has worked okay, but we have a few problems with it. I finally broke down and tried IEW, but I just don’t see why everyone loves that program so much. For your daughter, I recommend trying to stick with TGTB but don’t make it completely independent. We are using pieces of level 4 this year.

Have you ever looked at Shurley English? I used this curriculum as a student starting 4-5th grade, the Christian school version. The grammar and writing is excellent, extremely structured and spiral. Today I credit a lot of my ability to write well to the program.

I have yet to find a writing program that I really love so I'm interested in what recommendations you receive. We have always done family science until grade 8 when that child goes off on thier own. I've already started planning and buying for next year.

We started Write by Number with my 3rd and 6th grader. It's been great because it is guided but not so structured that it seems tedious.

I have been homeschooling for 16 years and my favorite math for 1st grade is Christian Light Education Math.

We are doing IEW and it’s great but I’ve been looking at redefining school to either supplement or to use along with it.

I hated writing in grade school because I wanted that structure and hated when things were left open to me. I’m more logical and I went on to become an engineer. Every time I look into IEW it just really jives with me and I wish I could have learned writing that way in school. I’m planning to use it when my oldest is ready because I want strong writers and I think it may be easiest for me as the teacher to go with a super structured program. I may eat my words later 😂 but I’m really hopeful for it to be a good program. And I will add, I’m planning to invest in and do the teacher’s course before starting. I will also add… check out the IEW podcast. Andrew has many episodes going through all the levels of the program plus many other topics. I think you can learn a lot about the program that way.

Abeka has a great resale value. So if you make the plunge into investing in the resource you can make money back on selling them once you’re done with them. 😊

We tried IEW when our son was grade 5- it worked well but the long long lessons and repetition of similar assignments were hard for our kiddo. We finished 1/2 the program. In hindsight I shouldbhave slowed it down and doubled the recommended length of time spent on each lesson. This child is quite creative and told me he felt like he couldn't write what he wanted to, woreying about ticking all the boxes on the list.

Ok just going to put this out there because I think we have very similar needs and taste in curriculum 😉 Sounds like you’re between Abeka and Saxon Math for your twins, BUT if you were considering other programs, I am absolutely loving Math with Confidence. It is simple, short lessons, low teacher prep, independent work section, and lots of fun games. I started my third grader on it at the end of last year and just switched my K and pre-K kiddos a few weeks ago. Just thought I would mention it!

For state capitals we are using a song I found on KZfaq (there are so many, so I chose one that didn't bug me), and then I have been wanting to get the gorgeous flashcards from Where'd You Learn That?Homeschool! I totally know what you meant about be hesitant to buy suplies for kids that are at the end of the family. Does eBay often have those Abeka things? I love getting 2nd hand if I can find it!

I am also between Writing with Skill and IEW. I agree with you on Bauers writing method, her WWE levels 1-4 were great. Afterwards I tried WriteShop and it was way too hands on in a way that was just unnecessary. At this point I am leaning more towards IEW because the video lessons will be a great help. Though it will be an expensive jump 😅 since I do plan on getting the teacher videos to get the most out of the program. At some point I may try Writing with Skill in the upper grades since it does sound like an intense program.

We just started winning with writing by JacKris Publishing with my 3rd grader. It could be something to check out!

We have used IEW for two years and the growth my boys had in writing was amazing. I thought I would take this year off from IEW so they could do more relaxed and imaginative writing but now half way through the year we are going back to IEW.

If you could listen to Andrew Pudewa's teacher training, it would really help you to get an idea if the program would be a good fit for you and your family. He is a phenomenal teacher and explains so much. The training is a few hours so it is a time commitment, but I found it to definitely be worth it.

We did IEW A1 for my son this year 5th grade. It finally is what we have been looking for. I we tried tgtb, Michael Clay Thompson, and all the separate writing programs. He loves the videos and the're funny. The structure is there, but there is endless room to creativity, and they encourage kids to change the stories. The dress up words are a significant part but not in the grading. My son and I do this together as part of the editing, and I made it a game. Inspector gadget is looking for the place to add an ly. There is room for less structure. And it is really spiral,they have the time to grow with the concepts. We are also going much slower. Two weeks per week of curriculum. His language arts has dramatically improved. I can't recommend it enough 😊

I love Kathy Troxel's album "States and Capitols Songs."One second gen homeschool friend and I were talking about how we still think of those songs to remember! I plan to use the album with my kids, too. It's on Spotify!

I feel like when I saw this video it hit me like a ton of bricks that it is THAT time. I LOVE planning and picking out curriculum…but it just completely snuck up on me! 😮 totally random- btw your hair looks so pretty!!!

My kid wanted more structure too and is thriving with IEW. He loves being able to tick off his checklist and know what is expected of him. With the dress ups I had a similar reaction to you. But after listening to the reason for the way they do them that way is like practicing scales in music. It is a tool to get them comfortable with it and then they move on to using them in a more natural way in the future.

I am using saxon 2 right now. It’s so slow, and time consuming. My child is thriving but at times we have to skip lesson or compact lesson because of the slowness. my child gets annoyed with the review. If don’t need slow speed. You should do abeka.

I’ve seen a few videos on Write By Number. This looks very intriguing. If you review this writing curriculum, I would love to hear your opinion.

Btw there is more creative writing in the IEW program proceeds.

We have started with Writing and Rhetoric for my 10 year old and it has been great! My 13 year old did Writing with skill level 1 this year independently and it went well but for a 10 year old this would definitely not be independent! Side note, Language Arts is always the hardest subject for me to decide on, Every year! For your twins have you considered CLE math. It is similar to Saxon, my kids have all gone from CLE to Saxon. Cost is very low and it is more student led.

Hi from Nicaragua! We are about to start new school year here. We did TGTB grade 4th LA with my creative girl, she loves to read, but the readers are absolutely boring 😢 the writing is not that good and the spelling is not good also, I feel the need to supplement everything, she loves the colors, the variety of activities and short lessons, but in the Assessments, she is not retaining enough, we used Abeka K-3rd. I do not recommend you to use TGTB for 4th grade, is supposed to be independent, but is too all over the place 😢 What about adapting LOE for her? Maybe using colored pens and shinny gel pens 😂 There is a "Game book" too. I have Writeshop in my cart! 😂 We will see how it goes. I have a soon to be 5th grader can't believe it! Abeka has Phonic and "language" books separated for 1st grade, I would go just with the phonics part if you love it that much. Do you have LOE foundations? That would work too! For math, if you are planning to use saxon in the future for them, I would go with that. Blessings!

I really think IEW would be a good fit for your son. My son is always cracking up with the videos because the teacher is so funny. We split the video up into two days and we tend to spend two weeks on one unit. Question for you with all your Abeka knowledge. Ive been using Abeka grade 1 Language arts with my daughter this year who is technically 2nd grade. She's been doing really well with Abeka this year. I wanted to give her a bit more time with the phonics and special sounds and its been going great. Some of it is too easy and she is using the 2nd grade readers from Sonlight. My question is what I should do for next year. Should I move on to Language arts 2 Abeka... would skipping level 2 be too big of jump? or if I switch to a different LA curriculum for her would I need to be looking at second or third grade material?

I’m hung up on first grade math as well! I’m going through all of the options and I’m surprised that I’m really considering Abeka. My daughter loves color and it genuinely adds a lot to her experience and enjoyment. I don’t love the idea of spiral math (we’ve only ever done mastery), but all of the mastery curriculums I’ve looked into have allll of the games and manipulatives and I can’t keep up. Question: how do you like the teachers guide/manual for Abeka k5 math? Do you use it a lot to teach the concepts?

My 1st grader now knows all her states and capitals including locating and identifying states on a map due to the Stack the States 2 App.

With regard to buying new resources for your little kids, the question I would ask myself is “if they were my only kids would I buy the resources?” I think each child is different and a huge reason we homeschool is to customize their education. 😊

My 4th grader loves IEW what we did first is they offer 3 weeks for free we did that than she begged me to buy it I did and so far she is loving it however I dnt know if I do bc she still doesn’t hav the confidence to write on her own so I may find another to try with iew

Write by number!!!! You have to check it out!

Writing Strands from Master books.

Memoria press states and capitals

Abeka math k-2nd grade we liked. I think they go a little fast starting in third grade.

I’m also curious what you think you may use for high school science. You’re a couple years behind me in homeschooling but I’m also a sonlighter and an old earth creationist. I’m don’t think there’s a Christian curriculum that supports old earth so I’m looking into secular. I don’t know if you knew of anything or had started vaguely researching for the future. Thanks so much! Love your videos!

Have you looked into Michael Clay Thompson for your 5th grader?

Since the writing curricula are written to the student, could you share the samples with him and get his opinion?

I heard you say you are not using handwriting without tears but I didn't catch what you said you are going back to. What are you going back to?

why dont you ask your son which writing program he might like the best to use. if there are samples he can look them over and decide which he likes best

Bju ELA

What program do you use for drawing and sketching?