Any updates on this? DS is nearly finished 604. I am trying to plan what to use for next year - switch to Saxon 8/7 (using DIVE) or stick with CLE and use 700, then switch to Saxon for Algebra 1 with Dr. Shormann.

I ordered PR1 to do with my 6 year old (rising 1st grader). I noticed on the AAS site, though, that they now have a pre-reading program. Has anyone used that? Would that be suitable to use with my 4.5 year old (rising K-er) this year as a precursor to PR1?

trying to make a similar decision. I've used and enjoyed both, but do find Right Start very teacher-intensive.

I know this is an old thread, but I'm having this very dilemna. I purchased SWR last year, and as much as I like the idea of it, the implementation of it is too much for me. So I'd like something that's a little more open-and-go. I'm leaning towards Phonics Road, but All About Spelling sounds good, too... My 6 year old is an EXCELLENT reader (at a grade 4-5 reading level), but not a very good speller.

I started this in the spring but then fell of the bandwagon with a bad knee. I am hoping to start again the week after next (when we are back from vacation).

These are great ideas; thank you!

We're in Canada, so my children will learn French. I am also hoping to teach Latin a little later on.

LOL. I agree!

I know I keep re-hashing this topic and that you're probably sick of me! I'm worried about the time commitment of SWR. For this year, I will probably not implement the full program because I don't think that a 4-year-old should be having so much school time. I'm trying to think ahead, though. Has anyone tried to split up the SWR program into more mangeable chunks, over a longer period than a week? Would that work? Say, if I did each lesson over two days or did 10 words each time instead of 20 and finished each set in two weeks, spending 20-25 minutes per day on it instead of 45+.

I was originally planning to start the week of August 31st, but we will be away the weekend before and I want to take that last week to prepare before we dive in. So we'll start the week of Sept 7. This is our first year homeschooling! We plan to school year-round, with Dec-Jan, another week or two here and there, and August off.

I am hoping to combine the two, but am wondering if you go through and do lessons in one based on whatever your main program is teaching so that it's not confusing for the child to be covering totally different topics at different times. I already have Right Start and have just ordered Singapore, so I haven't been able to look at them side by side yet.

Thanks, everyone! If I am going to get the phonogram cards and CD, I figure I might as well purchase the entire SWR core kit. So that's what I'll do. :thumbup: Thanks!

I have heard various versions of "garage" I say gu - ROJ. Most of the people I know say the same or gu - RAJ. I've also heard just GRAJ and the GARE - ij that was mentioned. I've also noticed variations in how people say the final soft "g" sound, but those are too hard to explain here!

Okay, so I purchased a used copy of WRTR and am in the process of acquiring a copy of OPGTR. It will be nice to see the programs. At this point, I am thinking that I will just purchase the sandpaper letters and the phonogram game cards for this year. Maybe Cursive First, since it's not outrageously expensive, but as I haven't seen the program at all, I have no idea if I would use it at all (anyone?). Also, are the phonogram game cards very similar to the phonogram cards that come in the core kit, or am I totally off on that?

I totally know what you're talking about. I definitely say the "a" sound in those words you listed - and likely most words with an "a" followed by an "n" or "m" - differently than I do in words such as "cat." I think the sound I make for those words is kind of a mix between the short and long "a" sounds. It must have something to do with the letters that follow. I can't say it the other way (with a "regular" short "a" sound) without it sounding really funny. :tongue_smilie: So, really, it's regional? I wouldn't think so, but if everyone else seems to think it is... How do the rest of you say those words? The "a" seems too short in the words "and" or "Sam" if I pronounce them with a short "a" sound and too long if I pronounce them with a long "a" sound. :confused: I'm in Canada, too, BTW. Where in Canada are you? I'm near Hamilton, Ontario.

I'm about 45 minutes from Toronto.

good to know that people like Vos! We have Ergermeier's (it was my mom's from when she was little - kinda cool!) and have been reading at dinner time, and just got The Child's Story Bible along with DS1's Living Books Curriculum. We do like Ergermeier's, too, though, and will continue that as our dinner time Bible reading.

Another question: If I plan to use SWR formally next year, would it hurt to go through OPGTR with him this year? (Just so that I feel like I'm doing something, I guess...) And if I did go that route, does it matter if he starts at the beginnings (since obviously the beginning lessons would be far too simple for him)?

Hmm...I'm thinking I might pick it up this year and do the phonogram cards, etc., and then really get to know the program myself for next year. We'll see how it goes, though...who knows? Maybe it will just "click" for me. (Hopefully!) Thank you, everyone, for your helpful advice!

Thank you!

I'm confused about this new standard edition. Can I just order the two textbooks? That's all the is included in the Sonlight K core (I saw my friend's Sonlight stuff the other day). I e-mailed a Canadian company that I was hoping to buy from, and she wrote back saying that there is a textbook for each for almost $30 (CDN), an activity book for close to $20 each, and the teacher's guides for $60something each. Do I need the activity books and teacher's guides?

:bigear:

Thank you, Elizabeth and Julie! To answer your question, Elizabeth: Up to this point, we have basically just been reading a lot and doing some fun computer stuff. He was interested in their letters and sounds at a really young age (he knew his alphabet at around 18 months) and I just went with it. Never pushed anything, but showed him the letters and told him the sounds they made. He used to play on "Keyboard-o-Rama" a lot when he was 2 (it was simple for him - he would just push a letter, and then Elmo would say a word that started with it), and then last March, he learned to use Starfall.com. He played on there a lot for a few months (still does, just not as frequently), but I wouldn't say that that taught him anything but that it definitely helped reinforce what he already knew. We go to the library on a regular basis, and I often take out the Little Bear, etc. beginning readers (Level 2, I believe?). We picked up some BOB books this spring and he loves being able to read those to us. Just recently, I came across an awesome deal for HOP K and have been doing that with him a little bit this summer. It is fun and easy for him - he is breezing through. Elizabeth, can you point me to your tutorial/intro to SWR that a previous poster mentioned?

Still wondering about a few things I asked earlier... Or something else (ie A Beka...?) this year and start with SWR next year or the year after... and along with that question: thoughts/opinions? ? Can you tell I'm a HS newbie? Everyone here is so helpful. Thank you SOOOOOO much! :D ETA: Julie, I sent you a PM! Thanks!

Thank you for all of the helpful replies. So much to think about! Has anyone used A Beka's K5 (or K4) Phonics, Reading, and Writing Program?