We stick with TWTM science recs for 1st and 2nd grade. Our kids pick a topic from whichever subject we are studying. They read a couple of pages and let me know what they learned. I write it down in a three ring binder and they color a picture or do an experiment if they are interested. They really enjoy getting to choose the topics. :) Then, we move to Elemental Science for 3rd and 4th grade. We tried TWTM recs for 3rd, but it just wasn't getting done. Now my ds9 can do Chemistry mostly on his own. He is going to finish Physics this summer. Then, start ES Biology for the Logic Stage in the fall (5th grade). Thanks again, Paige!

MOH HWOT AAS FLL WWE OPGTR (We don't use it long term, but have used it with 3 now.:) Elemental Science Singapore Math I am not a big curriculum jumper. Mainly because we have a small homeschool budget, but I like to stick with things. Most of what we have chosen is from TWTM. We are moving into logic stage so we will see how that goes. Lots of choices to make right now. :)

We had a similar problem with our 4 year old. He had no interest in learning the alphabet (even the song). And, he got nothing from the Leap Frog dvd. My first two learned all of their letter sounds from that dvd. Well, I decided to just start trying OPGTR with him at 5 years old (NOV 2010). We did the first lessons on vowels. He didn't like the lessons on consonants, so we tried the first few lessons starting at #27. He got more into it when he could recognize words that he knows, but still was struggling with letter recognition and sounds. What ended up helping for us was the little books you can print off at www.progressivephonics.com. We started with the first level of the Alphabetti books. He got such a kick out of these simple, silly books that we could read together. They motivated him to do the OPGTR lessons when he got to read one of those after finishing. He still struggles with recognizing some letters and their sounds, but that gets better each time he reads. I just let him know what the letter is and/or its sound and we keep moving. He really enjoys reading and asks to do his lessons now!

My oldest is in 4th grade and sometimes I wonder if we still need to plug away at all of these repetitive things (dictation, narration, copywork, etc.). Thank you for reassuring me of what the important things are and why they are so important. I want for my kids that I know I didn't have. I want them to know how to learn, how to teach themselves something new. So, thanks for the encouragement to keep at it!

My son (age 9, 4th grade) has really enjoyed Chemistry for the Grammar Stage. It is a subject he can mostly do on his own. I really wanted to stay with SWB's recs for science, but I was not keeping up with the experiments and write ups. This has been great for us. Now I know that everything is on the schedule and I just need to give him the weeks schedule. We work together on some things (experiments and quizzes), but he is able to mostly just take it and go. We start Physics for the Grammar Stage next. And, will start Biology for the Logic Stage next fall. Thank you, Paige!!

I would definitely have to say art and music get left out. At least MOH has artists and composers mixed in.

Thank you so much for your replies! I appreciate this forum sooooooooo much!

Thank you for sharing! I will check that out.

I have been reading through TWTM again and trying to figure out logic stage. (My oldest will be in 5th grade next year.) Here is my question on word study/spelling/vocab. (p337 TWTM) The book says if we use Spelling Workout through book H, we do not need extra word study. We would start Vocabulary from Classical Roots A in 7th. If we use Spelling Power, we need to have extra word study. The recommendation is adding Vocabulary from Classical Roots 4, 5, and 6 in 5th and 6th grade. What if we use All About Spelling? Does anyone know if there is enough word study or should we add in the books SWB recommends? Thanks for your thoughts!

We have followed TWTM guide for Latin studies. Last year my son, who was an 8 year old 3rd grader, used Prima Latina. Now, we are using Latina Christiana 1. PL is a great warm-up to LC1. There is just enough memorization to make it fun, but now overwhelming. LC1 has a lot more memorization and translation. PL lays a great foundation for LC1. I would not be able to do this without the DVDs. They are kind of cheesy at times, but I appreciate someone talking my son (and me!) through the lessons. Next year we will start First Form Latin. These are all programs from Memoria Press.

Is it really January 2012 now? Bummer! I was hoping my 5th grader would be able to go straight from FLL4 to Advanced Language Lessons. Now I have to actually think about what we are going to use next.:confused:

We definitely stick with what works around here. I have had to try a little different strategy with our 3rd. I am learning as I go! 5th grade boy Bible: BSF Logic: Building Thinking Skills book 2 Math: Singapore Math 3B History: MOH 3 & AAH1 Science: Elemental Science Biology for the Logic Stage Grammar: Hopefully SWB's new book Writing: WWE 4 Spelling: AAS 5 Latin: First Form Latin Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts 3rd grade girl Bible: BSF History: MOH 3 & AAH 1 Math: Singapore Math 2B Science: Elemental Science Chemistry for the Grammar Stage Grammar: FLL 3 Writing: WWE 3 Spelling: AAS 3 Latin: Prima Latina art class K boy Bible: BSF (start mid-year) History & Science: listens in with olders Math: Singapore Earlybird Kindergarten Math B Handwriting: HWOT My Printing Book Reading: OPGTR & Progressive Phonics Pre-K boy (We start these things when they are ready. I am guessing he will be ready sometime next year.) History & Science: listens in with olders Math: Singapore Earlybird Kindergarten Math A Handwriting: HWOT Get Set for School Reading: OPGTR & Progressive Phonics

We have "officially" been homeschooling since 2006. Our oldest is now in 4th grade. So, that makes it 5 years plus pre-k. I really appreciate this forum!

We have used OPGTR (added progressivephonics.com this year), HWOT Pre-K and K, Singapore Earlybird Kindergarten Math (old version and now standards version). They listen in on history (MOH) and "help" with science experiments (from elemental science) with the older kiddos. Lots of free play!

Thank you for sharing that video!

We us the US edition and I find the HIGs very helpful. I didn't have it for my first when we went through 1A and 1B. I started using them in 2A. Then, I went back and got the HIGs for 1 for my 2nd time through. If nothing else, they help me plan out what to do each day. And, they are there as a reference when one of the kids needs me to explain a section from the text in a different way.

We have enjoyed borrowing the Signing Time dvds from the library. We started using them when our 2nd son was two years old and still not speaking. It was very helpful for the older kids, Daddy and I to communicate with him. My kids are now 9 and 7 and still enjoy watching the shows. It is mostly vocabulary, though. We are not able to carry on a conversation with each other. Might be a good place to start or as an extra fun thing to watch. All of the signs are set to fun songs that are very memorable.

Thanks for sharing!

I used scissors, also. I strangely enjoy cutting things out (including fruits and veggies in the kitchen). Maybe because it is a job I can do that actually stays done. I find it relaxing. We, also, had to cut out some of our cards, too. Half were perforated and half were not. It is nice to have that done for you.

It is ginormous! I appreciate having it on hand, but I only look in it when I am looking for something new in a specific subject. It is great to read all of what they have to say about each curriculum.

My first two have pretty much done the same things for first grade. My third is walking to the beat of a different drummer. He likes to do things his way. So, I will plan on using the same things, but possible adding some things in to fit his learning style. History: Mystery of History/All American History (We do this all together. So, wherever we are in the rotation will be where he "officially" starts.) Science: Reading a section in a science encyclopedia and narrating to me (We follow TWTM, so first grade is animals, human body, and plants. The littles always join in on the olders experiments, too.) Math: Singapore Math 1A/1B Grammar: FLL1 Writing: WWE1 Spelling: AAS1 Reading: finish OPGTR, sonlight readers from the library Bible: BSF international, reading through the Bible with Daddy Memory work: FLL1 and BSF Artist and Composer studies: Ambleside Online

I have, also, found it hard to make it a priority to get FLL done. We school four days a week and I have it scheduled for four days a week. I guess I feel better if I miss a day every once in a while since it is scheduled that way. We really like FLL around here. I am grateful SWB is writing this new grammar level. Now I don't have to figure out what to do next year.;)

I like the freedom of a log, also. I pencil in what the next week will look like on a something I printed from donnayoung.org. Then, check off what got done or rearrange what did not get done. We tried following a pre-scheduled plan, but I always felt discouraged. I have a general idea of what we want to accomplish during the year and we go from there.

We have used the older combined version of FLL 1/2. We keep it at grade level and have continued with FLL 3 & 4 at grade level.

Congratulations! It is so good to see the progress of our kids.