My sil is a missionary in Poland. She is homeschooling their 3 girls. The oldest is in 5th grade. She is a wiz at reading and la in general. Sil is looking for a challenging la program (A reads at an 11th grade level). She would like something online or maybe even a dvd program. What is out there that she can use? What are you using for your dc's that you love? She has a budget for homeschooling that she doesn't use completely so money isn't a problem.

Robin, what in particular do you mean by "language arts"? I ask because that means different things to different people. Some are speaking of a writing/grammar/spelling program, others want lit selections with questions/comprehension exercises, some would like the best of each component, ie, best grammar, best spelling, best writing. What is she looking for?

It's hard, having a young reader reading at basically an adult level. I've got them here, too, and just keeping them in books is awful. I feel for her!

We use K12 and like it. It uses quality literature and you are able to choice some of the books you read from a list and then the quizzes and lessons are online and tailored to the book you choose. It also encompasses vocabulary (greek and latin based) and grammar.

I'm using Bob Jones and LOVE it. I don't know what it does for the higher grades but for the lower grades (I'm doing 2nd right now), it cycles through 10 days of grammer then 10 days of writing. I'm REALLY liking that because we're not getting bogged down with a year of grammer or sporadic writing. We've done 10 days on poetry, 10 days on "reference materials" (libraries, encyclopedias, dictionaries, phone books, etc.) and 10 days of simple stories. :) LOVE it.

Looking for something for grammar and writing, she is currently using BJ and that is fine but she is looking for something online to challenge her especially in the area of writing.

Hmmmm. Online, writing. It'll be interesting to see what people come up with! If she were a bit older, I've heard very good things about Cindy Marsch at Writing Assessment Services: Writing Assessment Services (http://members.aol.com/cmarsch786/)

We love Institute for Excellence in Writing, on DVDs, but again, I start that a little older, even with children reading at a high school level, because they don't write at an older level even though they read at an older level with accurate comprehension. We do IEW at the 7th, 8th grade level here.

I'll be interested to see the suggestions!

We love Institute for Excellence in Writing, on DVDs, but again, I start that a little older, even with children reading at a high school level, because they don't write at an older level even though they read at an older level with accurate comprehension. We do IEW at the 7th, 8th grade level here.

I'll be interested to see the suggestions!

Off topic, but Kim, I so needed to see that exact paragraph today. Feeling pretty crappy about how much I have done in the way of writing instruction - and i have the DVD's and program, just haven't put it to work fully. Makes me breathe a sigh of relief. Thanks.

Off topic, but Kim, I so needed to see that exact paragraph today. Feeling pretty crappy about how much I have done in the way of writing instruction - and i have the DVD's and program, just haven't put it to work fully. Makes me breathe a sigh of relief. Thanks.

In the interest of complete disclosure (and a further sigh of relief, I assume), Eldest Son didn't watch these videos until the summer between 10th and 11th grade (at which point he was old enough to just watch them alone). I only told him to watch one video (don't remember which) but he loved them and watched all we had, and ended up both loving writing and being a strong writer.

Poor guy, I'd tried every writing program out there on him, he being that guinea-pig first child. I was so frustrated that he was smart and loved to read but his writing stank :) . So that's why I'm a gigantic IEW fan, but prior to jr high, early high school, I really don't push writing beyond what one does learning grammar and the writing that life asks (book report, descriptive paragraph, thank-you notes, and the like).

Don't beat yourself up, mama - there's no timetable for these things beyond sending children off into the world with what you'd intended to give them.

Thanks for the info, I think she is going to look into IEW to use in the future. I think she is really sturggling with how to challenge her older dd and still do school with the younger 2. Oh plus continue to learn Polish herself. I think she is doing a great job just doesn't want to see dd fall behind or get bored.