Which curriculum for Elemenatary grades has the best day by day...

[Mommyfaithe]

open and go plans?? Because I am now working full time from home, I was really thinking that I need a full open and go manual that my older children can use to help teach my younger boys. I would like to be able to teach them most subjects together (except phonics as my older is reading and younger is not yet.) I would be using this next year for grades 2 & K (5 & 7 year old boys.)

I would like something that lays out page #'s, literature selections, some hands on crafts and a good materials list.

I have always put together my own program, but I am finding this more and more difficult as I get more involved with dh's business. I would rather spend my time teaching my kiddoes than writing plans...ifkwim... I also think my older kids would benefit from some time teaching their younger brothers. i think it would be bonding for them all.

So, any ideas??

Thanks,
Faithe

[siloam]

Faithe,

Probably Winter Promise, My Father's World and Sonlight. Maybe Heart of Dakota as well.

I have used Sonlight and Winter Promise, so if you have questions on those let me know.

Heather

[training5]

Calvert...K12...Oak Meadow....ABeka...BJU...Lifepacs/AlphaOmega...

[Amy+2]

Heart of Dakota and McRuffy. I have used both and find each of them to be very user friendly-pretty much open and go.

HTH:)

[chaik76]

Sonlight is solid, literature-based, and open and go.
If you'd like to include projects, Winter Promise is another open and go.
So is Heart of Dakota, but honestly I think they're a bit light in the early grades (I haven't had any experience with the older grades and am not sure what ages you have).

[angela&4boys]

Heart of Dakota would be my pick.

Infact, I looked at it closely but decided to go back to what we were doing last year. (We had a small and unsuccessful stint with Living Books Curriculum.)

It's a two-page spread that is so visually appealing. I like that it teaches to the younger dc but adds more meat for the older dc (as opposed to teaching to the older and adjusting to the younger). I also like that she incorporates elements of traditional and CM. The only thing it's lacking is a list of supplies (because most of what you need should be on hand). However, the HOD boards are amazing and I recall that some moms had made and shared their personal lists.

One of the other attractive qualities is that Mrs. Austin intentionally implements activities that are independent as the years progress so that the child will eventually be doing more of his studies without the need for so much parent-directed instruction.

I do see that you are using Ambleside and you may find the literature lacking if your using AO full-fledge. If that's the case though, I think you could still implement some AO's reading suggestions with ease.

Warmly,

[alilac]

Heart of Dakota is the least time consuming, yet full. You don't even need to go through and figure anything out or even gather supplies.

BJU is open and go, but more teacher intensive until you get used to the TM, because the TM is very full.

WP is open and go as well, but will take longer than Heart of Dakota.