I don't like getting them either. I like for picture frames to be grouped together and semi-match, and someone buying a gift wouldn't know all of that.

Thanks - that's a great idea!

You should be able to see all of the Sonlight curriculum updates over the past several years at this page. ETA: We don't use the markable map very much, but we've only done lower Cores (my kids are 9 & 7). You can use any map for the map assignments.

If you use a curriculum that already comes with lesson plans (like Sonlight or Winter Promise), all you need to do is write the date next to each day's worth of assignments, then check each item you did cover, and put an X or cross through what you didn't cover. You shouldn't need to re-invent the wheel by writing everything out all over again. Try to keep it as simple as you can - don't overwhelm yourself!

I have thought about it, but haven't gotten my kids Kindles yet for several reasons: -I've had a hard time finding all of the books I wanted/needed in a Kindle/eReader format. (We use Sonlight) -I would lose the ability to have a physical reminder of how far to read, and when to STOP reading that day. My kids read very quickly (sometimes too quickly), and they'd blow through an entire book in a day if I just said, "Go read it on the Kindle." Right now, I use sticky flags attached to the page in each book with the date written on it, so they know to stop reading when they get to the next day's flag. I don't think marking a bookmark on a Kindle page would have the same effect. -I buy a lot of our books used, and often I can get books used for much less than the cost of a Kindle edition of the same book. If I could work around these reasons, I would LOVE to move to eReader format for Readers or Read Alouds.

If you end up looking at inkjet printers, you'd probably appreciate knowing that HP inks run when they get wet. Ask me how I know. :angry:

We use Sonlight, but we're a bit behind you. We'll be using Core D next year with my kids who will be 10 & 8. So although I don't have much advice to share about Core F, I have seen it recommended very often on the SL forums, from moms who have used it, to pre-read everything because there's a big jump in the maturity of subject matter in Core F. Have you looked at the Sonlight Forums? On their board for Core F, they should have a sticky post at the top with ideas for supplementing.

We use Horizons and DS learned division in Horizons 3. I think (although I don't remember for sure) that they did division with remainders in Horizons 3 as well. He's in Horizons 4 now and he's gotten into some very LONG division (like 38,940 / 58), this year. I believe he's about on par with his friends who attend public school.

I think it depends on your curriculum. We start math and English early in the school year (1st week in July for math, and mid-July for English) so we can finish with our other subjects and not drag those subject into our summer break. And we use Sonlight for literature & history, which comes with a 4-day schedule. When we get to SL's Core F, I don't know that we'll be able to continue doing only 4 days - the workload may get to a point where it requires 5. Until then, we do what works best......we do a co-op twice a month, then use our other 2 free Fridays for field trips or just a day off.

I did Apologia Botany with my DS when he was in 1st grade. This was before they had the notebooking journals to go along with the textbook. We mostly read the book, and did about half of the experiments. My DS is now in 4th grade, and he STILL remembers a lot from this book. He loved it, and I'd say that if you take it at the child's pace, not too fast, a 1st grader can handle it. I don't know if Apologia makes the "junior" notebooking journal for Botany, but I'd recommend that over the regular notebooking journal for a 1st grader. My DD is in 2nd grade and the regular journal is a lot of her this year. I will tell you that by the end of the year, I was really, really tired of plants. I don't know much about NOEO, but I would hesitate a bit about teaching chemistry in 1st grade. There are a lot of abstract concepts in chemistry that might be difficult to grasp at that level, depending on how it's presented.

I think the books I suggested reading are "harder" in several ways - sometimes it's because the language/dialogue is difficult to understand, or the descriptions are written at a higher level, or the plot takes longer to develop. Also, the Core C reading assignments are longer than Core B, if you are following the IG. I was a bit surprised at that when we began Core C. Hope that helps!

Thank you! For those who have used a text such as this, what age(s) would you recommend it for?

Do you have access to CHOW (A Child's History of the World) that you could borrow from a friend or through the library? That would be the clincher for me to decide whether to use SL, especially Core C, with a 2nd grader. CHOW is written in a very conversational tone, but there are almost no pictures, and it's one of two main history spines. As for Read Alouds, I'd pre-read Red Sails to Capri and A Door in the Wall. Red Sails to Capri starts out very slow, but by the end my kids were on the edge of their seat and loved it. A Door in the Wall is pretty dry. If she can handle CHOW and those two Read Alouds, then you should be fine doing Core C next year. I would also look at the book lists before considering Core D, and pre-read several of those. There is a big jump in length of reading, the concepts covered (much more abstract, more verbose), and there are some very difficult events in Core D (like death, serious injury, etc., dealt with in a more mature way). Obviously, you're two years away from considering this, but I'd just pre-read several of the books (like the Landmark History spine, Johnny Tremain, Calico Bush, and The Witch of Blackbird Pond) before deciding. Hope that helps!

It's SO easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed your first year homeschooling, but once you get a year or two under your belt, you'll be much more comfortable. Part of what makes a good homeschooling parent is the need to analyze what's working and what's not working, then adjust. I would not ditch the entire program if you like MFW, but maybe you need to move at a faster pace, or maybe you just need to add a different LA component to match your DD's current reading level. Or maybe you just need to work on being more disciplined with a daily routine, but make no curriculum changes. I would recommend making ONE change now, but continue to analyze what's working and what needs changing through the rest of your school year. Then when you buy curriculum and plan your schedule for next year, you'll have a greater level of confidence. Kindergarten is not meant to be a challenge academically. Encourage discovery and a love of learning new things, and you'll set your DD up for great success through all of her schooling. But every year focus on one area in which you can become a little more disciplined. Sounds like you're doing a great job!

Try looking at Miller Pads and Paper. I buy my kids' composition notebooks there every year at our homeschool convention, and they have many sizes & styles to choose from.

I was also going to suggest LLATL.

These are adorable - thanks!

I would look into Sonlight for history - they use wonderful historical fiction that you could use to accompany any period of history. I'd use caution picking books from a Core older than your daughter's age, though, because sometimes the content is meant for more mature children. But many of their books can be used with any age. I have a friend who does CC and she adds from Sonlight's read alouds to make their history more literature-based. It works well for them.

We got our kids pogo sticks for Christmas gifts last year, and they love to "pogo" in the garage on rainy days. They also like to draw tracks on the garage floors with sidewalk chalk, then ride their scooters over the tracks, pretending they are roller coasters.

Try Sonlight - works best with combining with a 2-year age span or less.

Is your local library part of the Overdrive eBook & audio book program? We've gotten quite a few audio books downloaded to iPods free through this program.

We used Geography Songs CD and workbook along with SL, but that might be a bit too young for a 12 year old.

One thing my DS had to do recently for one of his Cub Scout achievement badges was to use online software to plan the route for a trip, then act as navigator to get us there. He LOVED being navigator for the first leg (about 5 hours) of our road trip.

If you go with Sonlight, definitely do P4/5 for kindergarten and Core A for 1st grade. I used those with my kids in kindergarten & 1st grade and they were wonderful. I had a couple of friends who used Core A (which used to be called K, very confusing) for kindergarten and they hated it. Way too much for a 5 year old. The Developing the Early Learner workbooks that come with SL P4/5 are excellent. Definitely show you your child's strengths and weaknesses, and they gradually increase in difficulty over the year. Great for teaching the concept of "following directions," which is a key kindergarten-level skill.

You could also look into A Reason for Handwriting. We've been very pleased with it.