Hi Kristen! Hmmm, good question. I guess I would say they are really worth the money, but I bought them with the school’s money. I only ever bought the books, not the visual aids, because I always made my own. Before spending your own money (they are really expensive!), I guess I would wonder if you have a lot of other resources to draw from or if you could really use the ideas. I found I used the 1st and 2nd grade books more than the 3rd grade book – and I haven’t bought the 4th, 5th or K. If you can afford it, go for it! But, if you’re on a tight budget, I’d say use the free resources you can find online! 🙂 Hope that helps!