Yes, this kid does not want anymore worksheets. Between math and LA there are 4 worksheets a night. This is basically what I’ve been doing, just with Heggerty as my base since I already own it. I felt like pointing out the phonics in the sight words wasn’t helping but maybe it just hasn’t been long enough. When I tried Draw Write Now (book 1, starting with the hen) we went over pens, lens, tens, etc prior to trying to read the paragraph. It was a no go. I ended up just reading it to the child after seeing the struggle and letting them draw it and copy “hens.”

What would you recommend for an 8 year old that is not reading CVC words yet? Child is a PS student. The child comes over to my house for about an hour every afternoon. The kids usually play but the mom asked me to help with HW. I realized DC cannot read, at all. I have been using Heggerty and playing phonics games. We tried Draw Write Now and I quickly realized that was a big mistake. I do not think DC can blend. However DC is a bit limited with how long I can practice my stuff because there is a 20 words sight words list to memorize every week and a spelling test on the sight words. Mom really wants me to work on that. I really don’t want to tell her that’s not going to help because then it will be me vs the school. Ideas?

Thanks! No worries then. I’ll just continue peeking out the window at the USPS man every day. 😂

I ordered a few things from CLE a week ago. I haven’t received any shipping notifications or updates. Is this normal for them? I didn’t want to call (#millennial) if they don’t send shipping emails anyway. I know when I ordered over the phone (😌) from Rod & Staff it took awhile. TIA

No Sweat Nature Study Outschool Generation Genius Elevate Science is a hybrid. I’ve never used it but I know a family that does and they seem pleased with it. Science Shepard (Christian.) Science Max, Wild Kratts, Magic School Bus and the like are very educational IMO. When we watch those for science I just have the children narrate as if we had read a book. Sometimes they do their own projects if they are inspired.

Children: I adore the Frog and Toad series. The Boxcar Children, The Railway Children, The Trolley Car Family, Mr. Apple’s Family, Baby Island, and All of a Kind Family. Mr.Popper’s Penguins, Charlotte’s Web, The chocolate touch, and The Year of Ms. Agnes. The Secret Garden, Heidi, A little princess. (Some of these are problematic, and I edit or we discuss.) I don’t care for the Magic Treehouse series. I did not like Adventures with Waffles, and I know I’m in the minority on that one! The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was definitely not to my taste. I’m not a big Little House fan as an adult, maybe I burnt out on it as a kid. I have a love/hate relationship with The Bernstein Bears. Some of them are great, and some…. Eeek.

Have you ever read Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie? Or Plan Your Year by Pam Barnhill? Are you familiar with the Smiling Homeschooler blog? Honestly, I would pause your homeschool and de stress. IMO you sound like you might be starting to burn out. If you are worried about academics, hook them up with some Outschool classes or online programs while you regroup. You could even let them start NaNoWriMo stuff early. Let them do the free trials of Generation Genius, Dream Box, Night Zoo Keeper, etc. While you guys are in de stress mode you can work on establishing a family rhythm to help ease your housework load.

Yes, I thought that too. I was thinking it was supposed to be more open ended? I don’t think I am going to do it. It is currently $22 a month for subscription, but she says there will be price increase in Sept. The individual units are currently $30. It looks like it would be nice for us, but I need to just make do with what I have for now. There’s no magic solution to my problems and all that.

Ah, yes. The sample did look like a lot of printing. We have HP instant ink so it’s not too expensive but it all adds up, especially if this is going to be like 500 pages a month. If you’ve looked at a full unit do you think it has a good flow or is it forced and choppy? Do you like the book list? Ugh. Maybe I’ll just try it. I have 6th, 3rd, 2nd and a tot. I have pieced everything together this year and I am quickly remembering that I don’t like 100 different curricula items to sift through every day.

Has anyone used the unit studies from Harbor & Sprout? Would you share your experience and grades/ages you used it with?

Thank you! I will check these out. I think you are right about this. Maybe I will DBD with the 7 and 8 year old and have the 11 sit in from time to time but give him his own program. That would probably help his confidence too. TY!

I would love that! I would even pay extra for those things. Especially for novels where the “fun stuff” is non existent. My son just finished the Mercy Watson series and was disappointed I had no props for him to make decorations for his room. 😆 I buy a lot from Primary Scouts on TPT. I love all of her retelling kits and crafts. The author of Tales of Buttercup Grove had some very cute things on her site I remember using.

Thank you for the insight! Should I be perplexed that my child working around a 4th/5th grade level is stretching out sounds/ clapping syllables instead of just jotting down a word like “neighbor?” He will write it phonetically, nayber.

Great ideas! Thank you!

If you have used any of the Kate Van Wagenen spellers from the 1900’s, how did it go? Did it help? Waste of time? I like the poetry in Dictation Day by Day but I am probably better off with Modern Speller. If you purchased a physical copy were you pleased with the quality? Which one did you buy? Am I nuts in thinking this is very similar to Spelling You See? https://archive.org/details/modernspeller02wagegoog/page/n2/mode/2up

I use the “fun stuff” like paper dolls or how to draw the characters. I will throw down serious money on TPT or Etsy for pre-made retelling kits and story craft kits. I haven’t found any teacher guides from authors that inspired me.

Geezus. These comments are bright white.

I’m 30 and my mom still blesses me by cleaning up after me and doing laundry when she’s over. Actually she does that for all of us. She’s amazing. I should text her and tell her. Now my MIL, idk. I might have been a little offended early on but not now. If I felt comfortable enough to text her about my cleaning woes I’d be fine with her helping l. My MIL still has tweens and teens though so we don’t really have that kind of bond. And if anybody volunteers to take the boys and the baby out, I am most definitely not going to spend that free time cleaning the house. Not a chance.

I just learned you can use a gift card for TJ Maxx at Marshall’s or Home Goods. I was pretty happy about that. 😄

I was today years old when I realized that there’s a little arrow on the dashboard gas gauge that points to the side the gas tank on.

If you are interested in picture books to go with each state, I found a blog: TheSurlyHousewife. I’m working on a list of movies next. Maybe I’ll luck out and find a pre made list. 😆

Grammar Tales stories. School House Rock. Lolly, Lolly, Lolly get your adverbs hereeee

I haven’t worked out all the details yet for ours. I bought Notgrass as a spine/simplicity. I am planning to have us make “travel scrapbooks” and use a big RV sticker map to track the states we study. I still need to figure out where I am going to put it. Ha. I found my childhood state quarter collection and I think that will be cool to pull out. Other than that I have a freebie from Crafty Classroom for US landmarks, Ticket to Ride Jr, Scrambled States, Game of the States, Melissa and Doug License Plate Game, and Guess in Ten. State Birds and State Flower books. We will see how this all plays out. Oh! I want to do a little Flat Stanley thing with our friends and fam that live in different states.

The oldest two are my bonus boys and I think their behavior/effort tends to be a bit better for me because I am not their real mom. They are here all day for home school but then they go home. It’s just a different vibe. You’ve received so many wonderful ideas and lots of wisdom. You will figure it out, you know your children best! Follow your intuition.