If you are just starting you can really get away with ONE cookie sheet. We used a cookie sheet for level one. We didn't start using the white board until level two, BUT my daughter really really does like to write on the white board, it makes it SO fun for her, and I love that.

I agree with the other posters. You really don't need the audio CD, or the box, or the bag. The student and teacher materials, tiles and magnets, and yes, Merry is right, it is great to have the divider cards!

I also agree with getting your 3 Rs nailed down before adding more in to avoid overwhelm. SO, after that, I'd say go with SL 4/5 Core A is a bit much for K in my opinion - you can easily use it in 1st, and even up to 2nd and there is still alot there. Maybe you want to look at LLATL red book? That seems more of a K choice to me because it teaches phonics. I wouldn't do Rosetta Stone at this age either because it is computer-based and I don't think K children should really be tackling a formal subject on the computer at this age, but that's my preference :). Artistic Pursuits is fun - but I don't have experience with the other programs :).

The DVDs are not word for word what is in the student textbook, they actually contain LESS than the textbook and teacher manual do. BUT I really really like them. The teacher has a way of phrasing and explaining things that really works, and he goes through the recitation with you too so you can hear how it should go/how fast it should be etc. He also moves his hands around in a helpful way if you have a visual learner.

I just read ACROSS the schedule when we want to do that :).

Hah. We don't mind this! Sometimes we end up doing a week worth of reading in one day, but we slow down other times so it's all good :).

Yep, we are on lesson 13 or so :). The DVDs make it easy-easy.

You sound like me! I taught my first daughter to read using A Beka's A Handbook for Reading and the readers, but I never bothered with the lesson plans. We just did a page from the Handbook, then a story from a reader that she read out loud and we worked through together. The next day we did another page etc. with reviews of the charts every once in a while. What we do for spelling is All About Spelling. It serves for both spelling AND intensive phonics review. It is open and go, and scripted, easy-peasy to get done in around 15 minutes daily. I love it :).

We are a family that uses AAS for..well, everyone. It is the most thorough, logical, easy-to-use spelling method I've ever seen. It is open and go so it's super easy to use - it is even multi-sensory. SWR has more of a learning curve for teachers so it doesn't work for me :). AAS is very much intensive Orton-Gillingham phonics and is very sound.

We'll be doing that core this year too. I love that SL makes it easy :). Have fun!

Another vote for Artistic Pursuits here :). I just wish we got around to it more often. It has art appreciation AND instruction - I love that.

Honestly, I took the 'easy' way out and bought AAR Pre-1 for my second daughter. She just turned 5 in April and though she knew all of her short letter sounds, the phonological awareness that leads to blending just wasn't there. I know you can do it by yourself, but if I don't have something scripted, open-and-go for me it doesn't get done, so I really appreciate that some fun, phonological awareness activities are all laid out for us to do together - she thinks it's all a game and she has made HUGE strides.

I don't know! I've only been to Calgary a few times - mostly to the zoo. I love the zoo in Calgary.

Every day until fluency is built :). Then 2-3x per week to build speed.

Well, I'm with Hunter. Use what works FOR YOU. If you can't figure it out, you won't be able to teach it to the dc. I also - pray, ask DH, read reviews/write posts on the WTM boards, research online, and then...guess and test (remember public school?)!! I buy it and see if it works, or if I can make it work!

Canadians use British spelling, but really, the main difference that I have found is just that where you would often have an 'or' in American spelling, you put in an 'our' instead. Colour Neighbour Favourite Toque ;) Cheque (as opposed to check in the U.S. - the money transfer instrument) We're just using AAS and I'll point out the two different ways you can go. For me it is a matter of personal preference in any case. When I type online and write blog posts I go for US spelling in any case because itis more widely recognized.

Where about are you in Alberta Carpe? More Albertans, YAY!

Ditto.

I just wanted to add that the SL readers are REAL books :), and they are very engaging, modern living books that are high interest. They are great choices.

There you have it HG - I think that's likely - as long as it's not just me!

I would get the WWE handbook and use it to do WTM style LA (narration, copywork, dictation) from whatever living books you are reading - that would be very CM :), and is what we basically do. We used SL readers, AAS and R&S (started half-way through grade 2, but optional if you want to go more CM). Can you find the main ideas etc. when you read silently to yourself? I am a bit that way too, I sort of zone out and miss things when I read aloud - it is more of an auditory processing difficulty (for me). I need to SEE things on the page instead of just listening.

For some reason I can't actually get that first Google book to load for me at all, it is stuck in snippet view and won't show me the pages (though others display fine).

Ah, here is an online one: http://www.sacredbible.org/studybible/index.htm It does come with notes too Bill - check it out!

So, to go back a few steps. Based on EM's recommendation to sit down and READ Latin to your children while translating - is there an interlinear Vulgate in Latin and English out there somewhere? That would make things simpler for parents who are learning Latin themselves while trying to educate their own children :). I was re-listening to the Bluedorn's lecture on teaching classical languages at home, and after learning the alphabet and pronunciation and learning to read in the target language, they then recommend reading from an interlinear line by line to yourself. Why not count the wee ones in on this too?

The problem I have with the Sansa products is that I am operating a Mac - I don't use a PC at all and on Amazon.ca it says that they only work in a Windows environment. Has anyone successfully used them with a Mac? FWIW my 8-year-old has been loading her own iPod with audio books and music for over a year, loads it, listens to it, yes, it's a shuffle, but we've never had any issues. She even likes to 'mix things up' by putting in a song every few chapters. It seems easy to us :).