Stream B + C

Mid-elementary mid-stream. Grades one through five. Leaving private or public.

Two streams meet here. Stream B covers grades one through three: the reset-and-rebuild plan. Stream C covers grades four and five: the math-transition plan if the child was on Abeka or another textbook. Deschooling first, then the rebuild.

Publishers, by tradition

By worldview, in our assessment, the publishers that absorb mid-elementary switchers most cleanly:

• Christian (evangelical, non-denominational)

  Sonlight Cores B through D.

• Christian (Reformed, Presbyterian)

  Veritas Press Self-Paced history.

• Christian (Catholic)

  Mater Amabilis Levels 1 to 3, Mother of Divine Grace 1 to 5, Seton 1 to 5, Catholic Heritage Curricula 1 to 5.

• Christian (denomination not stated)

  Memoria Press Famous Men, Apologia Young Explorer, Abeka grades 1 to 5, BJU Press grades 1 to 5, A Gentle Feast, AmblesideOnline Years 1 to 4, My Father's World, Heart of Dakota.

• Latter-day Saint

  The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Levels 1 to 5, Family School Latter-day Learning.

• Secular

  Build Your Library Levels 1 to 5, Blossom and Root 1 to 5, Torchlight Level K through 3.

The first 90 days

• Week 1

  Deschool. No formal academics. Read aloud. Visit the library. Watch the child rest. In our assessment, two to six weeks of deschooling for every year the child was in conventional school is a reasonable range. Do not skip this.

• Weeks 2 to 4

  Begin one subject per week. Math first (Math Mammoth, Singapore, RightStart, Beast Academy, or Math-U-See). Then reading (All About Reading, Logic of English Essentials, or continue what worked). Then writing (IEW, Brave Writer, or Writing With Ease). Hold off on history and science a few more weeks.

• Weeks 5 to 8

  Add history (Story of the World, BiblioPlan, Veritas Press history, or Catholic Textbook Project depending on worldview). Add science (Apologia, Berean Builders, Real Science 4 Kids, or BFSU). Settle into a five-subject morning. Afternoons stay loose. Keep daily read-aloud.

• Weeks 9 to 13

  First portfolio entries. For portfolio-review states (NY, PA, MA, RI, VT) save weekly work samples in a binder. Reading log entries. One field trip per month minimum. Review the math program at week 13. If the child is not making progress, switch programs now.