We're finishing up Year 2 with 3rd grade ds. We also did Year 1 for 2nd grade. I love the whole Charlotte Mason method and philosophy and this curriculum laid it out the best for us. We follow the curriculum as written, but we leave out the religious books. That includes: The Bible, Trial & Triumph, Parables from Nature, & Pilgrim's Progress. Everything else we read (and really enjoy). We also follow the Nature, Artist, Composer, and Poetry study schedules for the three terms. We use our own math and english programs (reading and spelling - ds is mildly dyslexic). The weekly schedule is great since we can break it up throughout the week however we like. I buy all the books - used or on sale and spend no more than $150 on them. I just purchased an e-reader (nook) and have downloaded 11 books for Year 3 that were free.
I have analyzed this curriculum to death and I have no cons. If there's a book we don't enjoy, I toss it. Not a big deal. We also don't bother with folk songs and hymns. Some people may not like the lack of specific instruction. AO (and CM in general) gives you basic guidelines to follow instead. I actually prefer it that way. We read the books, and try to incorporate as many aspects of the CM method as we can. This includes: narrations (oral and written), dictation exercises, nature walks & journaling, minimal "twaddle", history timeline, short lessons, afternoons free (we're done in 2 hours), and treating children as persons. We throw in LOTS of field trips & homeschool group classes, and ds is a cub scout, takes a theater class, and will get back into football or basketball. The AO yahoo group is invaluable for advice and ideas to enhance the program.
