Writing Program Jump In, by Sharon Watson:

I am so pleased with Jump In, by Sharon Watson! It breaks down the writing process into small manageable tasks. My son was a reluctant writer and was hesitant to write anything at all. His thinking and vocabulary were so far advanced from his writing and spelling skills that he was extremely discouraged. Yet, my daughter who loves to write was lacking in crucial skills. This program pulls everything together for writers that either hate to write, or for those who love to write. The simple breakdown of skills, in each lesson, is written with a clear step-by-step process, with great expression and examples. I highly recommend this writing program. My children are finally writing opinion and persuasive essays, and are building exposition research skills! My son and daughter, now, both love to write.   Jump In Kit 2 Volumes 

Learning Language Arts Through Literature From Common Sense Press Also known as (LLATL)

My experience with this particular program has been very positive. If you use the teacher's Manual and student work book as intended, you will discover it does cover everything your child will need to know in Language Arts.

We have used 5, 6, 7, and 8/9th grade levels, and have enjoyed all the classic literature passages that are included. We have also learned so much about prose, similies, poems, spelling, and grammar concepts. Lately, we have been working on singular and possessive nouns, dictation, and in the seventh grade, we have started to learn about sentence diagrams. We plan to use all the levels through High School.

My children have relished in the assigned book studies. Most of the books suggested for book studies can be borrowed from your local library. When you need a book for a longer period of time, many libraries, if they know you, will let you have a vacation book pass. Our library will allow me to have a book for up to six weeks. Sometimes, even though I own a book needed for this program, I will still borrow one. This is becasue when we read together, we like to have more than one copy so we can all follow along together while reading aloud.
 
If you work the program at a slow and steady pace, it is doable, and not overwhelming. Occasionally, we supplement with other curriculums, in spelling, vocabulary, research, and writing. I felt the writing aspect needed a little more beefing up. That is why I added the Jump In writing program by Sharon Watson. I tend to be a perfectionist, and also wanted  more variety.  One of the strengths of the curriculum is that it uses rich passages from classic literature, and exposes your children to different texts, while gearing the lessons around that passage, to learn grammar.
 
To learn more about LLATL or other products from Common Sense Press visit: www.commonsensepress.com
                 
 
Everyday Life: Immigration Grades 4-8
 
This year we discovered Walter A. Hazen's unit study books. I was looking for books to teach my children about the story of immigration in the United States. After reading the chapters in Everyday Life: Immigration Grades 4-8 , and utilizing many of the activity pages, at the end of each chapter, we liked them so much, I decided to order several of Hazen's books.
 
His simplistic way has me hooked. I enjoy his crisp, clear writing, which will help anyone wanting to learn more, to have a clearer perspective on the history topics he writes about. The activities pages are great for you to pick and choose from. These help to solidify the theme by using, fact and opinion questions, changing fragment sentences into whole sentences, crossword puzzles, thought provoking research questions, and plenty of places and opportunity for someone to express their own ideas about several topics being discussed. More books in this series:
Everday Life: Revolutionary War Grades 4-8 Everday Life: Revolutionary War Grades 4-8
By Sourcebooks

Here's the story of the birth of our nation, from the beginning of unrest in 1763, through the first shots, to the signing of the Constitution of the United States, told in a vivid anecdotal narrative that students can read and enjoy on their own. The Revolutionary War is about more than battles. The focus of the book is on people--how they felt, how they reacted, and how they coped with the war and the years immediately following. Find out how most colonists felt about the break with Great Britain. Learn about the role of women, children, and free African-Americans in the war. Gain a better understanding of George Washington and other war heroes. Explore everyday life on the home front. Work challenging puzzles and participate in interesting activities that use skills from a variety of subject areas. Measure your knowledge of the Revolutionary War with puzzles and activities. Reproducible Answers included.
Everyday Life the Civil War Everyday Life the Civil War
By Sourcebooks

In this captivating chronicle, kids will learn about everyday life--both on the homefront and the battlefield--during one of the most trying times in our nation's history. Told in an easy-to-read, anecdotal narrative that kids can read and enjoy on their own, the Civil War comes to life with stories and illustrations about a typical soldier's life, the contributions of African American soldiers, and the role of women during the war. There are: Realistic details about everyday life during the war Unusual and fascinating facts about the period Interesting innovations that affected life during the war Real photographs and historic illustrations Each chapter of The Civil War includes activities and puzzles that engage young readers in the period and draw upon their skills in a wide variety of subject areas. Contents: Background and Causes; Advantages of the North and the South; Setting the Stage; The Leaders: The Soldier's Life; The Home Fronts; Innovations; Unusual and Interesting Facts; African Americans in the War; Hospitals and Prisons; The Aftermath Reproducible Answers are provided.
Everyday Life: Reform In America Everyday Life: Reform In America
By Sourcebooks

Each book in the Everyday Life Series provides an easy-to-read anecdotal narrative laced with fascinating illustrations and vivid photos to engage students in history. Chapter end activities include thoughtful writing projects, authentic arts and crafts projects, and cross-curricular activities. Grades 4-8
Transportation Transportation
By Sourcebooks

From traveling by foot and horseback in colonial times to blasting off at Cape Canaveral, Americans have always been a people on the go. "Transportation" tells the story of almost every means of transportation used in America's history, relating developments in an easy-to-read, anecdotal narrative that kids can read and enjoy on their own. Kids will "ride along" with transportation pioneers, learning what it was like to bounce along on crude roads, cruise on steamboats, float in balloons, brave rickety airplanes, and sail into space. They will learn about travel on: horses, wagons, carriages, and canoes; roads, canals, ridges, and highways; riverboats and sailing ships; balloons, biplanes, buses and automobiles; steamships, airplanes, jets, and rockets. Each chapter of "Transportation" includes a variety of activities and puzzles using skills from a variety of subject areas to involve young readers in the excitement of people on the go! This unique book features a pull-out, full-color timeline showing the progression from simple forms of transportation to more complex. Stories about how people's everyday lives were affected by advances in transportation enliven the learning experience. Also included are repoducible Activity Pages for math, vocabulary, art, critical thinking, reading comprehension, geography, and writing. Each of the ten chapters has four activities. Answer keys included. Grades 4-8. Softcover, 95 perforated pages.