Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading! Handwriting Without Tears

Us too :) So far, that has been 2yo for reading for my dds and 3yo+ for writing & math. That does not mean I count my 4yo as a 5th grader just b/c that is the level at which she reads or 1st grade b/c that is what math we are working on, I just stay at her level. When she is 7 (when we have to report), I will worry about "labeling" her grade for the state...

Volleyball's my sport so forgive me for being less than objective - please let her play on the A team! When you are good at something, it is frustrating to be with people who are not good and it is a great motivator to be with better players - it only makes you better! Pressure to be better (expecting them to be at every practice & game, try their hardest, etc.) is a good think imo. Yelling at them for mistakes, etc. is not but you have to be the judge of what kind of "pressure" she is under being on the A team. Congrats! That is a wonderful thing in my mind :)

Beverly Cleary books? Boxcar children?

Haven't read all of the posts but here is what I have found: Abeka, Singapore, & Horizons are GREAT and are more advanced curricula. Saxon is really solid in the basics but is a lot to handle (time-wise). It moves a little more slowly than previously mentioned curricula and has A LOT of practice (some say too much). MEP is really out-of-the-box math thinking. I *think* I have decided we are going to do Saxon (still trying to figure out how to make it bearable for everyone time-wise) and MEP. Saxon takes care of solid basics (great foundation) while MEP teaches TOTALLY different things and teaches her how to come at math from a different angle (and it's free!).

I am going to bump again...I appreciate all the opinions! I DO NOT like curriculum jumping for many reasons (main one being that we do not have hs $$) but I have jumped from Abeka to Saxon to MEP and I'm not sure it was a problem with the curricula but more that it was just beyond her level. The only problem is, I feel like I can't go back to the ones that failed for us - dd has an IMPECCABLE memory and will prob. cry if I bring out Saxon right now... So this time around I am working to find a better fit (for her level) but I don't know where to go as far as curriculum... thanks again :)

bump

WTM recommends FLL 1 once you've reached lesson 140 (I think just to make sure you are concentrating on your child reading well before you move onto something else) Yes, spelling once you are about 1/2 way through, for the same reason (I think).

Still trying to find the "right" math for my dd. We did Saxon last year and it was just TOO much! However, if I didn't pay attn and skipped too much meeting book stuff, dd would forget. I like MEP as a supplement but want something else as my base program. I am looking at Singapore & Horizons. (Keep in mind, she is just a "normal" math student, not advanced or anything) Has anyone done Saxon & Horizons and could compare them for me? Does Horizons have "too much" as well? One lesson in Saxon would take us an hour & a half and I do not want to spend more than 30-45 min total on math/day. Anyone want to vote for Singapore or Horizons for an average math student? tia!

My dd1 could NEVER narrate back to me what I read to her out of FLL 1. It was SOOO frustrating. However, I looked back at WTM and it suggests that you start narration by the *child* reading a fairy tale. I tried it with "Three Billy Goat's Gruff" last week and it worked! She was able to tell me 3 sentences about what happened. (WTM suggests that they tell 3 sentences and if they cannot tell you what happened, you can ask pointed questions to prompt them) We did The Elephant's Child (Kipling) today. It is a WAAY longer book with challenging words. She needed some prompts but she did well! Maybe you need to start with "easy" books and as she gets practice (or just with more interest), move onto narrating SOTW...just a thought :)

My dd2 is Madaline Ruth :)

I would continue the lessons. Lesson 100 is not even 1/2 through and reading at a second grade level does not mean he does not have more to learn. If you want to abbreviate the lessons so it doesn't take up time that you feel could be used elsewhere, then do so. Make sure he is reading more and more difficult books to challenge him. When my dd was slightly past lesson 100, she was reading REALLY well as well but I am a finisher so I kept on going. It was pretty easy but, as I've been told on the forum, kids can do some easy work at times, they don't have to be CONSTANTLY challenged. Then, when we got to the END of OPG, it got difficult again. It is all about multisyllabic (sp?) words and being able to read the words by themselves (without you covering up parts) is a difficult skill! Once my dd finished OPG, I just tried to make sure she was still being challenged (I looked at the AO read-aloud list for Kinders and SHE read them aloud to me - Kipling is the most difficult but she is improving still and we have been done w/OPG for almost a year now)

I just didn't want you to think it should take one year and then get stressed out b/c it takes longer. :)

He is obviously beyond (imo) building w/wooden letters. If you think he is beyond practicing on the chalkboard, I would think the workbook would be fully sufficient. He will probably go through it is WAAY less than a year but it prepares him for copying so *then* he'll be ready for copy work!

OOPS! Forgot you asked for curriculum AND schedule. My K's schedule is: 7:00 Listen to History during breakfast 7:30 Have roomtime (1 hr) 8:30 Get dressed for day 9:00 Play outside (too hot in the afternoon) 10:00 Bible with sister 10:20 HWT (5 min) 10:25 OPG (15 min) 10:40 MEP R (15 min) 10:55 Science activity w/sister 11:15 Bob book Done by 11:30 Less than an hour of concentrated, sit-down work each day.

I'm confused as to why you would need to teach him how to write his letters if he already knows how to write his letters...am I missing something? Does he know how to write upper & lower case? Do you only need to work on words & sentences? If that is the case, I certainly wouldn't do HWT, I would do what WTM suggests to do next (1st grade work).

Phonics: OPGTR & Bob books (hope to progress to real books by the end of the year) Math: MEP R (I am already planning different activities to reinforce what she is learning - MEP is REALLY out of the box thinking for her) Writing: HWT with her sister: Bible, Science, and History

OPGTR is NOT meant to be finished in a year!!! Please do not think that! It goes from non-reader (beg. of K) to fluent reader of multi-syllabic words (4th grade). That is 4-5 years. Granted, I've never heard of anyone taking 5 years to finish it, I have also never heard of anyone finishing it in a year (starting with a non-reader). PLEASE don't feel the pressure to finish in a year!

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1 If I speak gently (even when I am not feeling gentle), it turns away the wrath in my heart. I memorized this and try to read it every morning (and pray about my tone with my kids) to prepare my heart for the day (and all it brings). I also pray for a "calm and gentle spirit" daily and that I will have "sweet speech and kindness" toward my children. Nothing will change me but God - I know that. When I am in fellowship with Him, I do more godly things (no yelling). When I am not in fellowship with Him, it shows!!! (ex. when I was sick w/morning sickness, I did not spend much time in the Word or in prayer b/c I was so sick (just trying not to throw up all day & night) and guess what? I yelled A LOT (when I wasn't throwing up)!) Hope my experiences help. I am a yeller (and HATE it :(). I have faith that God will change me but man, I wish it would come soon. Mine are young and I don't want them remembering a yelling mom either...

I have no advice but that is what I was thinking we will do when we start next year. Can't wait to hear what others do and how it works out!

Her "promise to God" worries me b/c if she is not able to keep the promise, it will likely turn into a cycle (porn, guilt, promise, "being good", "slipping", porn, etc.). Maybe talk to her about accountability and ask if she wants you to be her accountability partner in this matter (since she doesn't want anyone else to know). The men of my church have something set up where if they look at porn on their computer, one of the other men will be sent a notice type of email. That is a way to keep each other accountable. I agree with others that she will have to earn your trust back (take away privileges for a time and give back as she has earned your trust more) but even after she has earned your trust, that does not mean that she will never do it again. Protect her by putting those parental blocks (or whatever they are called) on the computer but if it was an ongoing thing for awhile, chances are the temptation (at the very least) will creep back in. The devil gets us in our weakest moments. Set up an accountability situation with you and continue to keep the lines of communication open!

I started teaching dds 1&2 how to read at age 2. Believe me, that does NOT mean it's the end of play! It just means that 5-15 min/day, you do some sit-down instruction! No worries! Enjoy it :)

I think of the pre-k book as just for fun...if you are going to start teaching her how to write, I would go straight to the K book. In the teacher's manual (if you have one), it gives a template of how to make your own 'wooden' letters (make them out of cardboard boxes and they work just as well - oh, and their FREE!).

I think it depends on where you live, the size of the gym, and the local interest. I would LOVE to pay those prices, personally. Our yearly registration is something like $70 (or more) and then $45/6 week sessions for 45 min classes (goes up from there). We are finishing saving up for the baby :D :glare: before we can save up for gymnastics for another year for my two girls...

I have a 1st grader, Kinder, and a non-schooler 7-7:30 - breakfast (I read History aloud 3x/week) 7:30-8:30 - youngers play in their rooms (Math with 1st grader - 30-45min) 8:30-10-get dressed, play outside (too hot in afternoons) 10-Bible study w/everyone (baby down for nap) 10:30-Phonics (15min), Writing (5-10 min), Math (15min) w/Kinder 1st grader can do spelling or writing on her own. I have special puzzles & games just for school time. She also likes to have her roomtime (since she missed it earlier in the day) 11:10-Grammar(2x/week), writing (3x/week) with 1st grader -Kinder has special "school time" games or plays w/polly pocket (can only be played with while younger brother is down for nap) 11:30-TV, or science, or bob books w/Kinder 12-lunch 1-play 2:30-youngers go down for naps...1st grader reads to me & narration 2x/week 3-everyone rests - no more school for the day I LOVE the idea of having one do independent work while the other one works with me but that just doesn't really happen here yet (too young or not used to it yet). Sometimes it's easier to just have games they CAN do by themselves so they do not distract whomever you are working with. Oh, in order to keep this schedule, I need to keep to STRICT time limits. Not finish the lesson, just do the time and move on! It covers everything, times are recommended from WTM, and because it is spread out, it is not stressful and there is PLENTY of play! let me know if you want more specifics!