So, who's not done ancients in first? I am thinking of skipping it (more likely starting it later). I love the ancients! I think it's the most exciting history (partly because there is so much "story" mixed in with the history). BUT I feel a need to work on some different social studies (more about maps, what history is in general, communities/civics, our country, relationships, etc.). I am wondering how my child can learn these about ancient and foreign when she still doesn't know a lot about local and current. Am I just doing my typical over-the-top worrying, or do these concerns ring a bell with anyone else? Advise welcome.

Bento! If you're a Mac user (I don't think they have it for Windows) check out Bento. It's a database program for the small-scale/home user made by File Maker (the database people). I have just started to use it to keep track of all sorts of stuff (including books). Excell works, too. But the graphic interface in Bento (as well extras like drop down menus, ratings, etc.) make it especially great for things like this. Shannon

So, lessons take about 15-20 minutes a day, 4 days a week. And it's pretty much no-prep (aside from all the cutting-out people have mentioned). Sounds great! One reason I am looking at this (as opposed to SWR, or other programs) is that DD isn't strong in fine-motor skills (handwriting, or other--tying, buttons, doesn't like to color, etc.). It seems like less writing, and I am pretty sure she will like using the tiles. We're working on building fine-motor strength and dexterity, but I don't want to wait on learning spelling. This looks like it will be a great fit for us next fall. Thanks for the input!:)

This looks like a great product!! I checked out their sample lesson for level one, and it appeared as if it would take a lot of time to teach the lesson (but I could be way wrong). How long are your typical lessons each day? How much (if any) prep time do you do? Can anyone compare this with SWR. I'm looking for 5 yo DD (1st grade in fall).

I didn't like Phonics Pathways either (at first). It was visually "blah", and the directions were unclear, and it didn't seem "professional" to me (like it was home produced). We used 100EZ Lessons very successfully. However, I am now using Phonics Pathways to review a few things, drill, and then we will pick up where 100EZ Lessons left off. I am wondering, however, if Reading Pathways is a better place to go after 100EZ. I haven't actually seen the book. An earlier thread talked about Funnix 2, and how it picks up right were 100EZ left off. However, the price is amazingly high ($130)!

but if later one publisher meets our needs I don't see why we wouldn't stick with it.

luckily I live close enough I won't need to make reservations :) If hotel price is an issue, check into some of the hotels in the surrounding area.

Sadly, the full view means the full google entry (as opposed to the little bit of it that you see in the search result). I clicked on a couple of these (both of which were "full view"), and one came up in its entirety, and another was only a "preview". Usually right after the cover page there will be a little box saying "this is a preview." I was excited to see Emma Serl's Primary Language Lessons on there, then after scrolling through it I realized it was also only a preview. Still, some is better than none, and in many cases there is a lot of content in the preview that is usable without the rest of the book. I'd never seen Theme Pockets before - they look great! I've already added some history ones to my google library. Thanks!

My kids love the audiobooks so much they don't have time to bother each other in the back seat of the car! We listen to them every other time we get in the car (the kids take turns with me so I can listen to the radio news or my own music, too), or whenever a squabble seems it is about to erupt in a full row (I just click the disc button and there is instant peace). If nothing else, it makes me a better driver:driving:. The kids also get may turn them on at their leisure while playing (which they usually do). I turn them on in the background while they are engaged in simple tasks (drawing, folding laundry, building legos, etc.). Oh how we love audiobooks!!! I think the only way you could really over do it is if you completely substituted them for print. The kids need a chance to see you reading print, and to read it for themselves. Plus, the snuggle factor with read alouds is important to me, too. We have checked out soooo many from the library. I try to have at least two on my iPod, and one in the car. I have ones from CD that I ripped onto my computer the kids haven't even heard yet. And I get them for me too. I can curl up with my knitting, hot chocolate, and my audiobook at night and chill out. :mellow:I have purchased from Audible.com before, as well, and they have good quality.

We enjoyed Catwings, by Ursula K. Le Guin. There is a whole series of three or four books, be we so far have only read the first. Funny, I just requested the second from the library a couple of days ago. They are short chapter books, with a few color illustrations, and a few line drawings. Have fun with your unit!

I checked it out from the library. I think it would work for my 1st grader. But I am wondering if the Hillyer is better? I am not planning on using fictional stories for supplemental books, rather factual accounts written for children. I will use fictional stories to study literature, and for pleasure read-alouds. For example I would use this book about Cleopatra over this book. DD knows that some stories are made-up, and some are real. She has a hard time separating the elements of truth and fiction if they are in the same story. I found this out (unfortunately) after using a picture scripture book that had some "extra" (inconsequential) things added, which she now has cemented in her mind as part of the story. I am sure she will mature and develop the ability to separate fact and fiction, but for now I would like to make it easy to know what is accepted fact and what is fiction. I guess I could do as you, and preface those readings in question. Thanks for the suggestion. :001_smile:

Why didn't your son like it? I actually haven't got to see CHOW yet.

I use a state charter school to access funds to use for HSing, which means I can't use it to purchase any religious materials/integrated religious instruction. So yes, we are looking for a secular history program. I'll PM you - this sounds great! Good question:tongue_smilie: West coast US. I should have been in bed. Staying up late is my Achilles heel.

I am trying to decide on history (ancient) books for DD 1st grade next year. I would like to use a spine book for context, but use other books (picture, readers, easy chapter, read alouds, etc) for the depth. I was thinking of using Hillyer's "A Child's History of the World" or "A Little History of the World" by Gombrich as a spine text. I've also been making a list of other books to use for depth (there's a lot of great stuff out there!). But it is becoming a little overwhelming to make my idea a reality (creating a year long schedule of readings with corresponding supporting books). There has to be someone out there who has already done this! Does anyone know of a good reading schedule/guide using either of these books as a foundation, and supplementing with lots of other great books (I know that Sonlight 1 uses Hillyer, but for other reasons I am not using Sonlight)? Has anyone used either book for their ancient history? Likes and dislikes? BTW: I am not using SOTW because I don't like the fictionalized character accounts (my DD is so concrete that she still has a hard time separating these stories of "let's pretend there was a child at this time, this is probably what he does" from actual history. To her the fictional child is as real as Alexander the Great).

...my almost 6 DD is very similar. I know what you mean! Something that I have noticed about her is that her fine motor skills still haven't caught up to her other academic abilities, and writing quickly becomes an obstacle to completion of tasks. She will write the first few answers/words/etc. and then she seems to slow down and need a lot of prodding. I can tell she is tiring of the physical act of writing. She developed quickly and is quite "advanced" in many areas, but this is one where she is "a late bloomer" (she never really was interested in drawing or scribbling as a preschooler, either). I guess I just wanted to say, "you're not alone." I've seen a lot of good advice come from this thread, thanks for posting it. :001_smile:

I certainly didn't know of it, but I am so glad you shared! It looks like it would be easy to coordinate it with where you are in your study of history.