That's what I was thinking :001_smile:

We love Core K! I started in August with a 5 year old and 7 year old and will admit that if DS was an only, I would have saved Core K for his first grade year, but he has done fairly well with it as kindergarten. I think DD had an easier time listening to chapter stories and connecting with the emotional content, but as he matures, he's enjoying it more. Sonlight's recommended age range for Core K is 5-7, so most 5 year olds can do it, but some do better easing in slowly, waiting for a little maturity. On their forums recently there was a post about rearranging the schedule to start with the easier read-alouds first. But yes, we've enjoyed it very much - adding Science K and math/LA/readers/electives at appropriate levels has made for a very full K/1st year for us!

Updating to say that we started EM this week, and my son LOVES it! He says it's his favorite book :D It IS challenging (but not impossible) for him, so that we're only getting 2-3 pages done a day, as opposed to 12-15 pages in EB, and I consider that a good thing - maybe it'll actually last us to the end of the year ;)

For now, I'm planning: Sonlight Core 1 Sonlight Bible 1 Sonlight Science 1 (all combined with little brother) Sonlight Readers 2int R&S English 2 R&S Spelling HWT cursive ETC 4+ WWE? (maybe some assignments to cover dictation, narration, copywork) MUS Foundations (continued from 1st grade) Singapore 1B, maybe 2A (for review from a different angle, alternating when we need a MUS break) Artistic Pursuits (we do a few lessons a month, very loosely) Piano lessons (since kindergarten)

I agree, and I'd suggest this one as well: Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers http://www.amazon.com/Hold-Your-Kids-Parents-Matter/dp/037550821X Most kids in school will have a female teacher, which isn't much different from being taught at home by Mom. Schooled kids will, however, be far more influenced by their peers than by their teachers, and that's not always a great thing ;)

My Kindergartener takes martial arts 1x a week, and is in AWANA club at church. My First Grader takes both of those activities and is in piano lessons 1x a week. Her piano class is directly before martial arts and in the same building, which helps. It also helps that all of these are short time commitments (.5 to 1.5 hours each) that only meet 1x a week; we couldn't commit to something with significantly more practice or drive time right now.

We counted it as school but abandoned our regular studies to do a unit study day - a little Presidents Day, a little leftover St. Valentine's Day, a little Chinese New Year and some Olympics thrown in for good measure. We did do reading and spelling, though, with some Olympic math for good measure :D

We started August 2nd and have to complete 180 days, though we'll school year-round. Today was day 115 :)

Oh it must be! We have the same thing happen at our house. My first grader is 7.5, and her work is NOT too hard for her, though she often resents that it's harder than her brother's. There are days I let her move at her pace, which can mean she works for an extra hour or so ... there are days I set aside some tasks, like reading, to be done later in the day with Daddy. Some days I try to encourage her to start early (she's usually agreeable; in the future when she's more self-directed, I can see her starting MUCH earlier). Today, however, I chose to serve as her scribe (in math, which I normally leave to her), and it was AMAZING how much faster her work went. I'm always right at the table, or right behind them at the computer desk, so it's not like I'm not involved, but it got me to thinking that maybe it IS still just too much writing (her math, Sonlight LA copywork/questions, GWG page, ETC page, spelling worksheet, handwriting). So, I'm going to work to break up our seatwork block to give hands a rest, and be more willing to scribe when her writing isn't required, and see if that helps us. I know with my DS, I'm constantly amazed at how much less I expect of him, now that I see just how young he really is ... maybe I'm expecting too much of her as well? :grouphug: anyway, those are my rambling thoughts; you're not alone!

Just subbing - I read about it on the other thread, too, and am very interested in it for my 5 yo. EB was ... a joke for him, but he's not ready for 1A yet. Hopefully someone who has used Essential Math can chime in!

I'd start with 1A as well; even if you move through it quickly, he'll get a good foundation in doing math the 'singapore way.' And thanks for the EM link - B book looks EXACTLY what I need for my DS who has finished EB (and MUS Primer, and A Beka K math, all last semester) but isn't quite ready for 1A. :D

I agree - it will help him to learn to do math the 'Singapore way' and shouldn't be too easy, but will serve as a good review before moving on. And thanks to nmoira for suggesting the Singapore Express books - those look great!

Black and white should be fine - my HIG for 1A had cards for photocopying in the back, and they were all black and white.

Agreeing with all the advice you've gotten here! We're using MUS as our main math curriculum while supplementing with Singapore. I have had to pause Singapore to allow DD to gain more understanding in MUS, but we like both and will continue. I definitely recommend workbook and textbook. I also have the HIG, and find it useful but could have done fine without it, not sure about older years, though. DS used EB before MUS Primer, and it was a good build-up. He could have easily used it at 4, and would have been less bored (he was 5 when we started, and blew through it and MUS Primer last semester).

Sonlight Core K Bible K Science K Readers 1 LA 1 Other Growing With Grammar 1 ETC 1-4 Piano Primer 1/2 of Artistic Pursuits lots of additional read-alouds MUS Primer and beginning of Foundations Singapore 1A-B HWT K and 1 A Beka K4 Cursive A Beka readers 1