It sounds like you are wanting to homeschool for all the right reasons :) And PLEASE don't worry about what other people think. I don't know why (some) other people find it necessary to criticize families who home school. Am I walking around horrified that all of the other children in our neighborhood are sent to public school? No. Some people are just curious, but don't let the critical ones get you off track! It is good that your husband and your MIL both support you--if you have those two in your corner, you have the hardest battles already fought! Do a little more reading and researching. After you look at Oak Meadow or My Father's World or whatever, post specific questions that you have on the board. You will get lots of help and opinions :) Sometimes it is hard to know if something will work until you try it. I was homeschooled myself and knew about different kinds of curriculum that my mom used...I thought I was "ahead of the curve" so to speak when I started hs my DD last year. But it took a while to figure out what kinds of things worked for her and what kinds of books I liked teaching from. In PS, neither parents nor teachers get to pick the curriculum used--you are stuck, for better or for worse, with whatever the district buys. That is the blessing and the curse of hs--so much to choose from, and no one to tell you for sure what to use. Give yourself some time, do some research, and also realize you might make mistakes. But you won't hurt your kiddos by keeping them at home. Just think of all the one-on-one time they are getting with you that they would never get in ps. You can do this! There are lots of people who are cheering you on!

I would like to do a more organized/formal "curriculum" for Bible next year with my girls. Right now I read a loud a Bible story book and work on their memory verses for church. But I would like to do some that helps them apply the Bible to their own life. What do you use for Bible? What do you want a Bible curriculum or study to do for you little ones?

First of all, know that you are not alone: we ALL feel overwhelmed by curriculum choices in the beginning! Take a deep breath. You aren't going to mess up your boys, even if you go with different curriculums. I was homeschooled for eight years myself, and my mom switched curriculum all the time. I have my masters degree now, so it must not have messed me up too much :) A couple of questions before I delve into yours...have you read the Well-Trained Mind? Or perhaps you've read another book or two about home schooling philosophy? Getting an idea of what you want in an education will help you narrow down the curriculum choices. Also--what attracted you to SL in the first place? And is it not working because there are too many read alouds are too much?

Play the cd during lunch and /or in the car...we take it everywhere! I punched holes in the cards after laminating them and them put them on two difference large metal rings. My 6 and 4 year old both work on them independently this way. We don't do Essentials, so I have suggestions for that :) We study Bible/ church memory work during breakfast, so that's how we fit it in. And with multiple ages of kids, have them quiz each other. I have to do all the quzzing b/c none of mine are fluent enough readers.

This is sounding like a good fit for us! I appreciate the replies. Can anyone describe the notebooking?

I looked at Apologia at a hs convention last year and really liked the look of it. But my eldest is only in first grade, and I thought it would be a little much for her. We are working on REAL science this year...it is ok, and I know I should supplement with more books, but science is just the last priority for me right now! I think I will enjoy having the accountability (and the "check--we finished a chapter" feeling) that a textbook will provide. So what kinds of kids enjoy Apologia? What kinds of teachers appreciate it?

I hate to admit it to myself, but it is so true. And then I look at other peoples' signatures or read the posts about how their first grader is reading an organic chemistry book and I feel as if I am doing it all wrong. And then there are the days I want to chase down the school bus... Still trying to figure out what are the essentials and how best to teach them without completely ignoring the two little ones. Sigh.

Tell me more about the Lifetime Reading Plan...

We are an audio book loving family! My girls listen to a new audio book TO DEATH. Our library just got two of Jim Weiss' Greek myths CDs; we checked them out on Friday, and we have listened to both of them at least four times in the last twenty-four hours! So I think an Audible membership might be in our future. Glad to know that Hakim's Story of US in available. I can't wait to start SOTW next year just because there is an audio for it!

Very happy with RS B. I love WWE1, even thought DD does not (she just resists writing). I'm thinking of finding a gentle cursive program for her because she keep connecting letters and saying she write like Mommy. I recently posted a thread on how I am waiting to fall in love with Phonics Road. I'm a little bummed that I spent so much money on spelling words and phonograms when I already have the Spalding book. I was really hoping for a great deal of teacher training, and I don't feel as if I've gotten that. Just finished week 12. Debating on whether continuing with WWE, Rod and Staff grammar, the spelling lists from Spalding and lit guides from Memoria Press would do the same thing for less $. Floundering in history and science. So I guess I'm not really happy.

How do you use it if you don't have a membership? Do you have people buy books as gifts?

How many of you use audible.com? My girls adore listening to stories--is it worth it? What are some of your favorite finds? Am I understanding the membership correctly--$14.95 a month gives you one credit--for one book. If you want to purchase more books, you can, at a discount?

Facing disrespect with my 6-year-old DD as well. The realization that she is a perfectionist might help--she loves attention but HATES getting things wrong or not being able to do something well immediately. Trying to be patient. Sending her to her room a lot too. Wish I knew if this was making any kind of different in her heart attitude or just causing more blow-ups later on. sigh.

Thank you for your responses. I did update my signature, because DD1 is actually 6 1/2, not 5 anymore... :) I guess my disappointment has been on the teacher-training side of the program. I saw all the DVDs and heard others on the board talking about how Mrs. Beers made them a better teacher, and I just wasn't getting that so far in Level 1. I completely understand that we have to lay a foundation in skills before moving on to the more interesting aspects of literature, composition, and grammar, but I was expecting more training for me. I know how to teach grammar and lit to a roomful of teenagers, but I've never taught anyone how to read--I guess I was anticipating more training. And there might be later on in Level 1, and I haven't arrived there yet. It is good to know that others do supplement the program. I felt like we needed to do WWE 1 because writing four words a day just wasn't enough practice for handwriting. I will supplement more with readers as well (which I started to do but felt kind of guilty about it--silly, I know!) As I'm typing this all out, I think my biggest fear was having some kind of gaps in LA; a very frightening prospect since it is such a vital component of education. I was hoping to avoid that with the help of PR, and Level 1 just hasn't met up to my expectations yet. Maybe I can look at Level 2 and compare it to Rod and Staff, FLL, and Shurley and some of the other popular grammar programs and see if something else in addition to PR will be what I am looking for. Thanks again for letting me "talk out loud" so to speak.

I am an English teacher in my former life, so I think it is terribly difficult for me to choose LA. When I read about PR, I thought it was everything I wanted. Right now, I am still waiting to fall in love with it. We just started Week 12--we were plowing through OPGTR, so we didn't start it at the beginning of the year. (OPGTR was a bust, BTW. I wanted to like that too, because it was so easy and had great results from others. But DD was frustrated by it. She became easily overwhelmed by how much text there was on the page. I did several things to remedy that, but it was too late--she was done with it!) The things that attracted me to PR were the completeness of the program and the teacher training the DVDs offered. Right now, I'm bored with the spelling lists! I know there has to be a foundation before you can get into the other aspects of the program, but only having spelling to do it getting tedious. I haven't been able to watch the DVDs past week 12 yet, so I am hoping there is more explanation on the composition and reading aspects of level 1. I am sure that things pick up in Level 2...but tell me, PR users: when does it get interesting? Is the plowing through the spellings lists going to pay off in the end? Do I have to wait until Level 2 to find what I am looking for?

chasing cherrios is another great blog. Sorry I can't link...typing on my phone in the movie theater :)

Please don't panic. Don't make decisions based on what someone else might think. I was an English teacher in my former life, but my eldest Dad does not love to read. I was very worried and embarrassed until I realized it was MY problem, an issue of pride. If you are enjoying it and your son is learning, stick with it. I love RS...it is giving my daughter confidence in math and an excellent foundation in mental math. Dr. Cotter has a great rationale for presenting the topics in the way she does. Have your read the background on the development of RS? But all in all, trust your heart, and don't let a "math expert," even if she is your SIL, ruin your Christmas :)

Should I get the Kindle version of SOTW? I don't have the touch or Fire, just the original :) I also plan on getting the audios and the AG. It's not a huge savings on Amazon, but I like the portability of having it on the Kindle. Or do I want a paperback I can mark up?

The geo solids are only used for one lesson. If you don't plan to continue with RS, then skip the geo reflector (I think you use it for one lesson--just as easy to use a small mirror); skip the appendices, because you already have them in the teacher manual; I would skip the CD because there is only one song on it for A--the others are for B; I can't remember how much the abacus tiles are used in A (a friend has my copy right now), but it is used to illustrate 100. If you already have the mini abacus, you wouldn't need that as well. Save yourself a little more cash :)

I did not have plastic coins (used real ones), the math balance, geometry reflector (can use a mirror), the calculator, the geometric solids, or the game instructional DVD. The DVD is not needed for A--you'll be able to figure out the games without it :) The other things I mentioned are only used for one or two lessons each, and I skipped the parts of those lessons--no biggie. The Yellow is the Sun CD has the songs you learn for RS A and B--the music and words are in the back of both books, so you only need to purchase them if you don't know how to pick out a song on the piano :) The song is helpful and fun, but I don't think the CD is entirely necessary. The tally sticks are basically just craft/popsicle sticks, so you may already have those. But I would consider them essential. The appendices are nice to have--saves from copying and laminating some things, but again, you can do without them if you have access to a copier. I can't remember if you use the abacus tiles in A...we've used them in B, but I think they are kind of optional with A. Place value cards are awesome and worth the investment. I think I would get the larger abacus too...I'm not sure how the mini one compares in size, but you will get a lot of use out of it if you continue with RS. I am loving RS with DD1, and I plan to continue using it :) HTH

Ok, whew! Thought I was missing the boat :) Thanks for your input, everyone.

DD is 6; she is in first grade but has a summer birthday, so I am trying to think of this year as K and 1/2--don't push it too much :) We are in week 10 of WWE 1 (that is the Davy Crockett/Sacagawea week for those of you who are familiar with the book). The only narrations DD does are with WWE. We read and discuss books for history and science, but I don't do formal narrations. Anyway, this week, her narration was "Sacagawea was seven years old." Is that an acceptable narration? It's not really the main idea of the story at all. At first she told me that Sacagawea was a servant--which I didn't understand since there is nothing to indicate in the passage that she is a servant. But then she explained to me that I had told her yesterday about her guiding Lewis and Clark, and she assumed that meant she was a servant. I didn't go into that, I just asked her to think about what I had just read to her in the passage, and Sacagawea's age is what she came up with. Do I ask her for more information? Do I ask her for an important detail? I can see where she would think the age is important because her next birthday is the big seven :) But do I need to expect more from her narration, or is what she is doing age appropriate?

I've read the Spalding book and am currently using PR. Phonics Roadis more than just spelling--it is considered a complete LA program, I believe. (We're only in Level 1, so I don't know for sure!) But I am loving the gentle, methodical method of PR, and I am excited to see how the skills will build for my DD. We tried OPGTR for phonics last year in kindy, and it just frustrated her. She is having real success as she spells words and has more confidence as she reads. I don't know if that helps or not, but I think it would be great to have all the school-aged kids go through it. Everyone should start at Level 1 and learn all the sounds and songs--the olders can accelerate through and the littles can go at their own pace and learn reading skills as well as spelling.

I agree with this.

Palm is not derived from pal...we do not get pollen from poll.