Hi Alexandra! I’m sure those are all wonderful programs. My biggest issue with curricula is mainly just that they take a lot of time and my kids don’t enjoy them. As their parent, I know where their strengths and weaknesses are and we just focus on those so that they have more time to play and pursue their own interests. Regarding the specific curricula you mentioned, here are my thoughts.

1) IEW’s Fix It – I know a lot of people using this and they really like it. I’ve seen it and I say go for it if you are so inclined. I actually do something very similar to this using the Arrow guides (which could be done with ANY passage in any book for free). However, because I am making the “worksheet” for them, I can focus on what I think they need to work on, like punctuation or spelling or knowing which there/their/they’re to use. It is more work on my part, because I have to type out a passage incorrectly and print it, but I do this at most once a week, so it is less work on the child’s part and I still feel like they get focused instruction and practice using a passage I know they are interested in.

2) Michael Clay Thompson – I have heard of this, but I don’t have any personal experience with it and don’t know anyone using it. Sorry!

3) Logic of English Essentials – I actually have a lot of experience with LoE. It’s a solid program and a solid company. I do love and recommend the Foundations program for those who really need the structure. I use Foundations with my kids, but only in the sense that I use the flashcards and Doodling Dragon, etc. books and I print out one or two worksheets per week depending on the child’s age, so I can have my child turn in samples to our charter. I have the teacher’s guide and I have looked at it, but I don’t use it. My 2nd grader is “doing” C and D this year, but really that means he’s doing like 25% of what is in the curriculum. Regarding the higher Essentials curriculum, it is extremely thorough. I used it for about half of one year with my oldest about 3 years ago. What I will say is that it is a HUGE step up from Foundations. It does not feel appropriate for a third grader to me. Honestly, it feels appropriate for an adult. I learned a TON (which just goes to show that you can get through a lot of life without learning all that grammar). My third grader learned a lot too, but it was a lot of time and energy and not fun at all. I am sure he has since forgotten 90% of what he learned. I will likely have my kids go through Essentials when they are in 7th or 8th grade just to fill in any gaps before they start highschool, but to me, it doesn’t feel at all necessary in elementary school.

Good luck!

I was wondering what was your opinion on IEW’s Fix it /MCT Michael clay Thompson/LOE essentials. I don’t think I have seen you discussing in posts but wonder why you didn’t end up using any of those? They all seem to be very well regarded by others.