We love SLs readers, but even though I have the LA for the 2 intermediate readers for our upcoming 1+2 core, we are sticking with R&S and WTM language skills across the curriculum. It really reassures me to work in a systematic, incremental approach with LA. I also feel the amount of original writing asked for in SL isn't appropriate for my daughter :).

Thanks ladies! DD is fascinated by the books I've been slowly accumulating for our test run of Y1U1; she also loves lapbooking and hands on activities, so I think she'll really enjoy going more in depth than we are currently doing. Thank you for sharing your children's thoughts!

:party:

The books are broken up into 'steps', so you just move through the steps at a pace that allows your dc to master the content. There is normally a standard progression of things to do for each step: review, teach new concept with tiles, introduce new key/phonogram cards, have your child spell with tiles, dictate words that use the new concept (writing), dictate phrases and sentences that use both the new concept and review concepts (writing). It takes a while to find your groove and some steps will need more review/take longer than others. My daughter likes to do all her spelling on the whiteboard, and we do a step over a few days so she doesn't have to write 6 sentences at once :).

We just do a lot of reading and explain vocabulary as it comes up in context :). Working great so far!

They have discounts on new sets as they are released.

:lurk5: Can't resist listening into a LG TOG thread.....

:iagree::iagree::iagree: Mine are close to the same age and I often feel the same way. It is SO easy to feel 'behind' when it takes so long to nail skills down, but I KNOW building a foundation is the most important thing during these years. Thank heavens my OWN copy (not the libraries!) of WTM came in the mail a few days ago. I still have some gaps in my own understanding of this all. For some reason whiteboards are like magic! My daughter will write far more on the whiteboard than she will on paper. She actually gets excited to do it! I totally credit the Hive with the idea of using the whiteboard in more subject areas than just AAS. I am so thankful and use it liberally for any writing tasks (except copywork).

I just wanted to say that it is VERY easy not to do all the subjects Illuminations has scheduled with their program. In fact, they have pdfs that you can edit to type your OWN choices/plans in, so it is MADE for you to modify :). So...you don't want to do their LA? No worries - just type over that. HTH.

I'm always reading about how much we homeschooling moms love TOG, but what about our children? Do they love it as much as we seem to? We aren't using it yet, but DD asks me once a week when we get to start TOG! I understand the philosophy, and organizational benefits, depth of learning etc. but those all seem like MY pros as the teacher. I'm curious to know if your little ones have like TOG as much as you do :).

:bigear:

Math U See doesn't include Bible stories or scripture verses. My edition certainly doesn't! The only Christian content is some of the skip counting songs, but there are also secular versions of those songs. :confused:

Have fun! :party:

We have 1+2 waiting on the shelf for Fall, and it is a great, full program for a one-year overview of world history AND geography. It really covers a LOT based on my preview. Now, that being said, I'm waiting for the new online catalog!!! If they have a hands-on CD for 1+2 I'm totally buying it :).

:iagree: For some reason little white boards make EVERYTHING more fun!!! My daughter really hated doing our English on paper. But on the white board - she begs to do the written work! We do a lot orally as well :).

Your little one is 4, right? If so, your little one definitely won't need more than is in MFW, take it easy, 4 and even 5 is so small :).

Decoding and encoding are separate skills, and sometimes need to be taught in two different ways. We have used a separate phonics program, and use AAS for review and spelling instruction. The reason we chose a separate phonics program is that my daughter has been learning to read at a much faster pace than she learns to encode at. She can do 1-3 phonograms a day, and our AAS progress is much slower than that :).

I know from personal experience too! The Tapestry customer service is really excellent in the case of a computer breakdown :). We had Unit 1, our computer crashed, and they helped me get it installed on my new machine, no problem!

It is SO worth it to get them ready made. I'm thinking about buying a second set to have as backup because we lost a couple of tiles. It is really a pain to make new ones, and I'd like to have back-ups! You need to find appropriately colored paper, write the phonogram (neatly!), laminate it, put magnet on...bleh...just did TWO tiles the other day and it took like...10 minutes! BLEH! Get the tiles!! It IS worth it!

I posted on my blog yesterday, so you never know ;). I'm hopeful!

Like some previous posters, I felt that the expectations for younger children were very inappropriate (original writing). They don't jive with a classical understanding of language arts instruction. The quantity of written work is quite heavy as well (in my opinion). For the grammar stage I prefer to stick with copywork, narration, and dictation (ala The Complete Writer) and it's really working for us. We are doing a separate grammar program that is very structure (Rod and Staff) and does a great job of easing my worries about gaps. In their spare time my children do some informal writing, but that doesn't count as 'school'. I don't correct this or provide spelling help unless they ask for assistance. HTH! We do really enjoy SL's cores though :).

We have a set of..hmm, 1985 World Book in pristine condition that we picked up for $10 at our local homeschool store (used of course). Well worth it :). Ever since I found my daughter looking up "Vikings" after reading a historical fiction easy-chapter book, I've been SO sold on hard copy encyclopedias. Children can get them out to look at pictures, read them, do research whenever they want - even when you are on the computer ;). Demographics change...always. Political boundaries also change. A good atlas will cover those off for you. But the general knowledge in an encyclopedia doesn't generally change much over time. If you can find a set used at a good price, enjoy!

Just put my order in. DH only let me get the Blue, but still happy!

:iagree: This is totally more my style ;).

I'm at my wits end with Apologia Astronomy! My daughter loves it, so I have to finish! We have only finished 3 lessons so far (started in February) :glare:. Sigh, the first time we tried to start I dropped it :lol:, and I still don't like it. SOOOO....once I'm finished with this (run away), what should I give a spin instead? If YOU didn't like Apologia Astronomy and found something you liked better, what was it? PLEASE TELL ME!!! :lol: