For starters, try to keep the reading lesson short and have it everyday at a predictable time. If he is struggling with all those different things (as PP pointed out), you might consider a big "do-over". For one of mine, we made it to the mid-point of the phonics lessons with lots of frustration and I decided to just start back over. She was happy to be back at material she had already gone over, and I was glad to be back to the fundamentals (although not excited to hear some of those stories again!). :) If the problem doesn't require that drastic of a solution, you might also be able to find early readers at the library that help reinforce particular phonics ideas. HTH.

This thread is great - cautionary but encouraging. I am just starting out, and I hope this thread comes back in 3 or 4 years when we move to the next level and then again 4 years after that! I'm sure to need reminding once in a while. Thank you for your honesty! Sigfile.doc Sigfile.doc

I just got it to work, from the "Digital Library" I clicked the play button on the thumbnail and then waited. A long time. It took me 3 tries before I waited long enough. :) I watched one (Salsa 204) and it was good, but tiny, and it seemed to stop before the actual end (although it was long enough that my little look-ee-loos learned that angry is "enojada" in Spanish). I think teaching kids Spanish needs to be a multi-pronged approach. We don't have a native speaker in our home so we watch Muzzy and Adentro y Afuera (and now Salsa), we have a tutor come once a week for an unstructured lesson, and I read them Spanish picture books from the library. Susan

We focused on reading in the pre-K, K years and my son picked it up quickly. His twin, however was much slower, but got the basics. I started Spelling Workout A in the second half of K and found it was a nice complement to our phonics program reinforcing the rules in a different format. We just do one lesson a week and then review the spelling on different days. It seems like reading and spelling are different (closely related) skills. Susan

I got the caterpillars too early last year and almost picked my budding hollyhock plants to death trying to keep them happy! Susan

Can you recommend a "keyboarding" program for K/1st graders? I was planning to hold off on "keyboarding" for a couple of years, but now I'm reconsidering. I would like them to learn hand placement and better form so that they don't have to "unlearn" later. Susan

Math: Finish Saxon 2 and work on Saxon 3 Language: FLL finish 1 start 2, WWE, Spelling Workout finish A start B History: SOTW1 Science: Hmm. Here's a hole to fill... Spanish: Once a week tutor and lots of story books from the library's Spanish-language section PE: Swim class, ballet, gymnastics, other? Depends on what is of interest at the time. Art/Music: Study composers, perhaps with more emphasis on particular pieces, or styles?, Art study and also general creative mess-making. I'm intrigued by the idea of a nature journal, although it doesn't fit one neat category. This is my first time trying to write it all in one place and I'm glad I have a few months to iron out the details! Susan

I agree with the previous poster - what about having everyone share and making the "extra" bedroom a library or toy room. It might also be useful for sleepover nights. Also, having the room unassigned would presumably make it easier down the road if someone needed/earned their own room.