Our Review of Fix It! Grammar Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)

        I was so excited to have my son Fox use Fix it! Grammar by Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). Anything to do with Language Arts drives Fox bonkers. We have tried so many things and he absolutely hates everyone of them. Trying to teach him to diagram a sentence drove us both to tears so I was thrilled to give this program a shot with him. The lessons are short and to the point, only about fifteen minutes a day. The program is to be used four days a week. As with any other program though I am sure it is simple to fit it into your schedule. 

       It was wonderful to receive both the student book and teachers guide to the first book in the series, The Nose Tree. The teacher's manual does include a download link to print the student book. You could skip buying the preprinted version if you chose too. 

        Fox got started right away and had no issue doing it on his own after we discussed the way the program works and the expectations he was to meet. So this program also gets points for being independent. Fox is not a little kid any more and he truly don't like his mommy sitting over him to do school. 

          I chose the first book in the series since we had zero experience with the program. I had never even heard of it before. There is a placement test you can have your child complete though if you are unsure of the level to begin with. With Fox not liking any grammar program and always struggling book one was idea for him. 

Our Review Of Bessie's Pillow

     

     My daughter has been amazed by the book Bessie's Pillow for the past few weeks. We were offered this book by Strong Learning, Inc. this month as a review item and it has been wonderful! She has really enjoyed reading this book. 





     Skyler truly enjoys pictures with her favorite books and this has become a true favorite for her!

Skyler is changing

While this is shocking to most we are dropping Animal And Their Worlds by Winterpromise. While we are not using the newer updated 2010 set we are using the older set and it is not working. The majority of the activity resources are alphabet based and well she is passed that. She cannot stand the Animal Encyclopedia and to be honest I can't either because well, it reads like an encyclopedia and really who wants to read that?? Not us. I have the resources for the pre k-gr 1 and I will have to say that it is really pre-kish is the activities. I also realize I do not like reading Beverly Cleary out loud. I loved her as a child but as a read aloud not so much and my daughter has to struggle to pay attention so that is no good. I have no idea about the newer updated program for Animals and Their Worlds but I know I am not buying it. We had an Our Father's World Science for 1st grade and we are going on with that at this time. We are not doing the book in order exactly but picking topics as she is interested in them and adding experimants and most likely lapbooks as she really enjoys them. The topic she has picked first is Plants so we started on that by reading some of the chapter and a Magic School Bus book and starting a little plant. If you would like to see more on that topic please visit our nature stuff blog.