Okay so I am making the jump and pulling dd out of public school next year(she will be in 4th grade). The last week or so I have been really researching curriculums and such. DD is a kinestetic/hands on learner. These are the things that I am looking at getting to start with her come September. I like the idea of being somewhat structured but with lots of hands on.

Comprehension Plus
Winston Grammar or Shurley English
Spelling Power
Math U See
Backyard Science Books and Experiments
The Story of the World Series or The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide (with free World Outline Map) with Trail Guide to World Geography

Also what do you think of these:
Building Thinking Skills
Mind Benders

Am I missing something else? I think I have it covered? I think I might also get some Art lesson for her since she LOVES drawing (spends most of her free time drawing) and such.

Spelling Power is nice becasue you only have to buy one book for all your kids, but it's teacher intensive. Have you looked at Phonetic Zoo? The kids do it totally independently.

Mind Benders are awesome! Bryce loves them, the only drawback is that each book only has 14 or 15 problems in it, I wish I had known that and bought the computer cd instead.

We've used alot of what you list.

Spelling Power gets a thumbs up here . . . I'm not sure why earlier poster called it teacher intensive. OK, maybe figuring out the system initially and doing the placement tests takes a little bit of doing, but after that - we've just rolled on with it for years, so so easy and effective. We'd messed around with a bunch of other spelling programs prior to that.

Winston Grammar - do they have a younger grammar book? We used this about 5 years ago, but it was for Jr. High level at that time. The card system was kinestetic, yes, but the curriculum in general was very complex and the ds we tried it with did not do well. If I had personally put way more teacher time into this, my review might have been different. Shurley Grammar was a better fit in this house, anyway.

We're using both Mind Benders and Building Thinking Skills here this year (different dc). Love 'em both. The only thing we've bought from that press that we didn't like was "Red Herrings". Some of the solutions in that series are ludicrous, IMO.

There's a store in Tacoma called "School Daze" - phone first to check, since it's a drive for you, but they often carry the Building Thinking Skills/Mind Benders there. Also the Christian book store across the street from School Daze, Dightman's, carries some homeschool stuff in a room in the back of the store. They don't carry a ton, but it's worth a look if you can hit both stores. We've gotten our handwriting books there, for example.

Also keep in mind, when you send in your letter of intent in the fall, take a copy of that around to Borders, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Books (Tacoma, but worth the trip), where you'll be able to get an educator's discount card. Just 10, 15% but it helps.

Wow, thanks for the tip about taken our letter of intent in for a discount, I wouldn't have thought of that.
We do go through Tacoma at least once a month if not more so I will check those stores out.

I am very excited to homeschool, but on the other hand extremely nervous and scared.

Thanks!:)

We've used alot of what you list.

Spelling Power gets a thumbs up here . . . I'm not sure why earlier poster called it teacher intensive. OK, maybe figuring out the system initially and doing the placement tests takes a little bit of doing, but after that - we've just rolled on with it for years, so so easy and effective. We'd messed around with a bunch of other spelling programs prior to that.

Winston Grammar - do they have a younger grammar book? We used this about 5 years ago, but it was for Jr. High level at that time. The card system was kinestetic, yes, but the curriculum in general was very complex and the ds we tried it with did not do well. If I had personally put way more teacher time into this, my review might have been different. Shurley Grammar was a better fit in this house, anyway.

We're using both Mind Benders and Building Thinking Skills here this year (different dc). Love 'em both. The only thing we've bought from that press that we didn't like was "Red Herrings". Some of the solutions in that series are ludicrous, IMO.

There's a store in Tacoma called "School Daze" - phone first to check, since it's a drive for you, but they often carry the Building Thinking Skills/Mind Benders there. Also the Christian book store across the street from School Daze, Dightman's, carries some homeschool stuff in a room in the back of the store. They don't carry a ton, but it's worth a look if you can hit both stores. We've gotten our handwriting books there, for example.

Also keep in mind, when you send in your letter of intent in the fall, take a copy of that around to Borders, Barnes and Noble, and Half Price Books (Tacoma, but worth the trip), where you'll be able to get an educator's discount card. Just 10, 15% but it helps.

We are going to buy critical thinking software from critical thinking press....my kids go crazy over that stuff!!

What about Mavis Beacon typing?? I got ours on sale at Office Max and with the rebate it was free!!! :hug: