I started my DS out with using the whiteboard to write out the spelling words (I have a cheap lined board from a few years ago, and in fact, Target has them in the $1 spot at the moment, so it's a perfect time to pick one up). He actually doesn't mind writing out his spelling words at all, even though other writing used to bother him. I have our AAS whiteboard hanging up in front of him and he has it for reference when he needs to remember a letter (usually only comes up for p, q, d, b - he remembers the rest, lol).

Yes, b/c he's reading well on his own...if he still needed more phonics instruction and reading help, we likely would have waited. We are using AAS1 at the moment, and will move up to AAS2 by October.

Standards - we started with US Edition for 1A, but I moved over to the Standards Edition once we started 1B and now we are starting 2A and will continue with Standards throughout.

:iagree: I think you will ALWAYS get answers all across the board with this kind of question. We have done structured lessons early on and we play all.day.long. even when we are learning. He's learned what he has wanted to learn...I haven't forced any of it on him...I have made it available to him. We do lessons in the afternoon too...always have...he plays all morning, and after lunch, we start lessons and then he goes right back to playing (well, usually we head out the door to play outside). Along the same lines, I am sure there are people (not nec. anyone here, just speaking figuratively) who would happily tell me that I shouldn't be doing nearly 2nd grade math with my not-quite 6 year old. He wants to learn multiplication (already knows some basic)...I am not gonna sit back and just say "nope, you are supposed to play" ;) but at the same time, I am not going to force-feed it down his throat either. I will work at his pace and have learning opportunities available (be the worksheets or hands-on activities or whatever). It's about finding a balance in your own home and finding what works for YOUR family. That answer will be different with every single person on this board.

Last year, we participated in a FIAR co-op and that was fantastic! We 'rowed' different books together as a group and did the activities together...it was SO much fun...we 'traveled' the world with the books :) This year, we are doing another similar co-op called a project co-op and another field-trip type co-op. For us, they really are more 'glorified play dates' I guess if you wanted to get real technical, but my DS loves them and so do I. For us, the co-ops do NOT replace anything that we are already teaching, they are just an added 'bonus' in the week for DS. BOTH of the co-ops are also taking place in the afternoon, which is fabulous and means we can get our school work done and out of the way in the morning and have the afternoon free (for co-op or whatever we want). We are also doing Zoo Club this year at the zoo ;) However, with all that said...I also only have ONE child...I am sure that my answer would change drastically if there was even one more added to that mix ;)

Probably this. Our "P.E." is playground time...not organized P.E. Can't see us ever really doing that. I have NO intentions of ever dissecting any animals, ever. Pictures worth a thousand words there ;) And the unsupervised field trips...can't see that happening for a while either, if ever...

Yup :lol: and here I thought I was "SET" and wouldn't make any too ;) I am still using RSO for science, but we are adding in My Pals are Here with it and just doing the RSO labs when they match up. I am still LOVING RSO, but wanting a little 'more' from it than just fun labs. Hopefully doing both will give me the balance I want...DS loves science and finding that 'happy place' for both of us is hard. I am also adding in small things here and there...Life of Fred: Apples, etc. and dropping other things (the History portion of the Ambleside Online Y1 outline...neither of us is particularly loving it at the moment...may revisit next year instead) Otherwise, so far so good...we are 7 weeks in at the moment and are still moving along well with what we are using :D

WTH is fluff? is my answer...I could care less what he reads as long as he's reading. I choose our literature selections ahead of time and we read tons of great literature, but his free-reading time is just that...free to read whatever he wants. I hate words like "fluff" and "twaddle"...it's offensive...like those authors aren't worth the pages they printed...I ADORED Baby Sitters Club and similar books when I was a kid, and I still managed to read a lot of great literature too...I don't see what harm could possibly come from whatever it is people consider 'fluff'... sorry...off soapbox...

We have this one (Dover Unabridged version - Thea Kilros illustrated) and I don't LOVE it, but it was something we already owned. If I was choosing to purchase one, I would likely have picked the Tasha Tudor one...it's beautiful! This would be my second choice (which is also the AO recommendation I believe)

:thumbup1: Thank you! You've been a big help :D

We are already doing spelling w/ AAS1, so maybe add in Grammar once we finish ETC next year? He's reading fairly well for his level (things like Mouse Soup, Frog & Toad series, etc) but I love the ETC books for the actual phonics instruction to help with deduction, etc. I am just wondering what the natural "next step" is once we move away from a formal reading/phonics type program?

I voted 5, but really, if I had the space to put all of our bookshelves for school in ONE room, that number would increase ;) I have a large un-used entertainment center that I use for storage (counted as 2), and then 3 additional bookshelves in our dedicated school storage area. That doesn't include the tall bookshelf in DS's room that's strictly for books (that don't fit on the raingutter shelves above his bed) and one other tall shelf in his room that would also be in the dedicated area if it could fit...so it *would* be like 8 or 9 I am sure :lol:

I posted a similar thread a week or two ago and many shared photos, including myself. Ours is fairly simple but we love it!!

Is it really different from the "Little Kids" version?? We've gotten Little Kids for a couple years and have always liked it a lot...there aren't any ads in it at all and it always has games and things that DS has always enjoyed...

We are still a little way off from finishing the series (will be through book 4 and possibly book 5, by the end of this year) but I am wondering most people move on to after completing it?

We don't have a 'set' schedule as far as when we start school...it actually varies from day to day depending on what all we have going on, moods, etc. There are some days that we don't even START until 5 or 6 pm (we are a later family...DH works nights, so it's normal for us to not get up until 9ish and go to bed around 10/11ish). We usually go in this order: Calendar/Morning Board - ~5 minutes Math/Logic - 30+ minutes Reading/Writing - 30+ minutes (specifically ETC, WWW) Literature - 15 minutes or less (Ambleside read-alouds) Times above are all daily. Times below are only once or twice a week and come once the above are completed... Science - 15+ minutes Arabic/Islamic Studies - 15-20 minutes Fine Art - 10+ minutes (depends on if lesson includes art project that day) I never pay attention to our time to be honest, so the times are just estimates...we just start when we start and we finish when we finish. I have an outline for what I want to accomplish each day (pages, etc) and we just work through them. Some days it may take him 5 minutes to complete his ETC workbook pages, other days he may take longer.

Our local 4-H is mostly groups that are focused on just Horses :/ I am wanting to let DS join a local 4-H, especially since I LOVED participating in elementary school, but I would like more open-ended animal science for the focus, vs JUST horses...I am hoping someone in our area starts a group soon...I thought about starting it myself, but I already facilitate too many things as is, LOL!!

I am loving it so far, and DS seems to like it as well! We are using Level 1 and it is worksheets, so if you (or your child) are not fond of worksheets, then it might not be for you...but I love the slow & gentle approach to writing that it offers. Quick lessons each day, which he loves :)

We used to, but not at the moment...might again at a future date though! I think some stuff still is free, but most of the nicer printables are part of the subscription. Same with ABC Teach - another great site. Some is free, most is through subscription!

Singapore Math Whizz

I am interested in finding a Logic curriculum that has a little more variety than Logic Safari (and similar books). DS is breezing through Logic Safari 1 and I thought about getting book 2 and 3, but honestly, I am hoping for one with a little more variety in the puzzles. ETA: I like the variety with Tinman Press, but it's really more drawing, to me, than Logic...we have the "Doodle Book" and "Boys Doodle Book" already that serve pretty much the same purpose...so I am sorta looking for something similar to the Logic Safari puzzles with additional puzzles like some of the ones in Building Thinking Skills...

I wondered THIS as well...I mean...if I had him to try, he *could* read longer books (chapter books, etc like MTH and the like) but him read that and actually remember any of it or know everything he's reading? Probably NOT! I know he comprehends the easy books (Frog & Toad, Mouse Soup, etc etc) that he can read...but I am at a loss when it comes to this 'level' business :lol:

I am wondering this as well...I have tried using the Lexile level website and the AR Book Finder website and gauge it by them...I also found this PDF that shows the levels side by side...but I would love something that gives a more 'true' answer...if that's even possible, LOL!! According to the AR site, all the books he reads are between 1.5 and 2.6, so I am assuming that would be about late 1st, early 2nd grade level based on their levels. With the Lexile levels, his level range is between 250L and 400L, which according to their site is about 2nd grade level. I am not sure that they are accurate though when it comes to true reading level?! I am just keeping track of what he CAN read and hopefully someday I will find the answer :P So, according to that Scholastic one...he's also at a 2nd grade level...basing it on books like the Frog & Toad series, Mouse Soup, etc...??

We have been having a blast with them :P SOO funny!! I have noticed that there are some that are not so, um, 'great' (topic wise) so obviously use your own judgement with these...I haven't personally previewed every single one and my DS is still young enough to need my assistance anyway...but for those of you with kids old enough to play alone, you might still want to preview just in case...

I have found that it's really hit or miss with some things...some stuff that we cover he remembers like the back of his hand, even without extra 'effort' on my part...and some stuff, it's exactly like what you described..."isn't that the one..." and totally off basis, LOL!! For now, I just keep telling myself that it really is about exposure and not retention...especially with the Ambleside Online readings we are doing...he's doing well remembering the Aesops Fables and such, but then other things...like from Parables from Nature, etc are kinda in one ear and out the other :))