My boys will be 5 in June. We are currently using OPGTR and will supplement with ETC starting in August (when we start officially hsing). Mendy

and, if so, what's your method for keeping track? What type of books do you keep track of? I'm going to be hsing my boys for K in the fall. I'm not sure what the record keeping requirments are for my state (will find that out soon), but I'm figuring on keeping a reading log for all reading (whether I read to them or they read to me (or on their own). Also, for subjects such as science, I was planning to keep track (title and author) of the resources we used for learning in my planner/log. What do you guys do? Thanks much! Mendy

I have BFSU and will use that plus the WTM approach (animals only) for K this coming school year. I'll add plants and animals next year along with anything else that catches our fancy. Mendy

I'm going to start K with my twins (will be 5 in June) in August. I've researched a lot of math curriculums on-line and will be able to see them in person at the home school convention in June. As of now, I'm leaning towards using Right Start. I know it is teacher intensive, but these are (and will be) my only kids and feel up to investing the time. So...one of my boys (J) will do workbooks, but they are not his favorite. He loves games though. His twin (E) LOVES games and workbooks. The boys are already on different learning levels. J is ahead of his peers in preschool and can do some skip counting, simple addition and subtraction. E is quite a bit more ahead -- he only missed about 4 answers on the Singapore 1A placement test (I didn't test any higher). He can skip count 2s, 5s, 10s, and more quite high, he can tell time (and make the correct time on our play clock) to the minute on an analog clock, he is adding, subtracting, and multipllying quite well, is good with money (coins and dollar bills) and is currently learning some fractions. So, while I would like to do Right Start with them both, I would like another curriculm with workbooks to let E work on while I'm working with J on stuff E is already good at. I feel like I should make sure I cover all the bases with E since we haven't done any formal math. He just gets it. I don't want him to get bored though. Any suggestions on workbooks that would follow the Right Start program easily? Thanks much for reading through my rambilng :-). Mendy

If so, was it a positive experience or did you have problems? Here's the link http://www.randysbooks.com/index.html Thanks much! Mendy

Thanks so much!!!!! I tried 70% rubbing alcohol (what I had on hand) and cooking oil. The cooking oil took it right off without a lot of work and no damage to the cover of the book (glossy type covers on some I Can Read books). Just have to be careful not to get it on the pages. I thought you guys would think I was weird :-), but I loved all the responses. Thanks again! Mendy

I'm hsing my twins for K in the fall. Here's my plan: -We are using OPGTR now and will start ETC for official school -HWT and StartWrite software to supplement (I think they are going to need the practice) -Probably using RS math with supplemental workbooks, but not 100% yet -Science (learning just the animal portion of 1st grade science in the WTM) with trips to the zoo and acquarium. The boys already picked the animals they want to learn more about and I'm collecting stickers, coloring pages, etc. for them to do as part of the lessons. Lots of arts/crafts, playing outside, and I may try them on my piano if I can find my beginner piano books (just for fun). Lots of reading! Both sets of grandparents are close by so also lots of visits with them :-). One of the many reasons I'm hsing them is I don't think they need to be in school 6 hours a day at age 5 (a young 5 at that). They should still be playing quite a bit and having fun. Mendy

Hi all! I'm going to start the WTM way of science for 1st grade with my K's next school year (just the animal part). We checked out the DK First Animal Encyclopedia from the library and the boys LOVED looking through the book. I plan to supplement with other materials as well. I'm trying to find a good resource to teach habitats (again for young K's). Any recommendations? I though the DK First Nature Encyclopedia http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756614155/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0756602270&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0AG80113G9TKKMCR6V89 might look good for that. Thanks much! Mendy

I love Goo Gone, but am worried about the smell. My one son can smell Goo Gone a mile away :-). I may try it a little bit outside if the other options don't work! Thanks, Mendy

I love you guys already :-)! Mendy

I know, silly question! Normally I buy books new, but I got lucky at the used book store today. I'm really weird in that I don't like sticky price tags on my books. The ones from the book store (Border's and Barnes and Nobel) come off very easy. Is there any way to safely get sticky off books (without using something unsafe for kids like Goo-Gone :-)? Thanks much! Mendy

My twins are 4.5 and these are my only children. I used to write it all (and still do) on a calendar that I keep, but I just finished doing Excel Spreadsheets for them starting with birth (shots, weights, visits, tests, dentist, eyes, medicines prescribed) and have it all organized now. I don't intend on switching doctors, but it will be easy to keep up with at this point. It took me about a week to get it all together (during the big blizzard we had in February). I figured I wouldn't have time to do it once I start HSing next year. Mendy

That's great. I didn't see it on their website so good to know!!! Mendy

Which font in this program is the HWOT font? I'm just getting ready to start HWOT and I have one son that I know is going to need extra help/practice. Thanks, Mendy

My boys are 4.5 (in private pre-school) so I haven't formally started for K yet -- we start in August. We will be doing: HWOT OPGTR (already started) Explode the Code Probably Rightstart A (although waiting until the homeschool conference in June to make a final decision). Science -- working on just the animals suggested for 1st grade in WTM. I'm going to make it fun for them -- lots of coloring, stickers, lots of reading with a little narration (I'll do the writing), and a trip to the aquarium and zoo A little bit of history (we live in Northern VA so this will likely be in the form of field trips and reading) Lots of reading, arts and crafts, playing outside, nature walks, etc. Did I say lots of reading :-)? Have fun! Mendy

Can anyone share their opinion of Rosetta Stone Spanish for 5 year olds? We live in an area where Spanish is quite prominent and feel it would be worth the time. Thanks much! Mendy

Hi all! Can anyone tell me the difference between Family Math for Young Children and Family Math? On the Amazon.com site, the descriptions state that that Family Math for Young Children is for age range 4-8 and Family Math is for K-8. My boys are 4.5. I have one son that is advanced in math (already multiplying in his head) and one son that is on par or maybe a little ahead for his age. Thanks much! Mendy

I already ordered from Scholastic so no turning back. I got them for $1.67 a piece though which I think is pretty good (there were $2 each at the used book store in my area). I went onto the author's website and found there are 21 research guides out ther so far. I may hit up the Grandparents for some of the guides for their b-day :-). Then I can look for the bundles as more books are released! Thanks for the replies so far everyone! Mendy

Hi all! My boys really enjoyed their 1st Magic Tree House book. My library doesn't have them so I'm getting most of the set (great price through Scholastic) so we have them here. I'm wondering if the Research Guides that go with the books are worth having? Thanks much! Mendy

Hi all! For those that have it or have seen it, is the Berenstain Bears Big Book of Science and Nature http://www.sonlight.com/PS12.html is worth $30? My boys are 4.5 and I'm starting HS K in August. I'm not going to do an overwhelming amount of science this first year, but want to get some in each month. I'm following the WTM way of doing science for 1st grade (starting in K) and also have BFSU (I love reading this myself). I think my boys would really like this book though -- just to read -- as they are really into the Magic School Bus books right now are a learning a lot. Thanks much! Mendy

One of my sons can do that now at 4.5 -- he loves math. His twin cannot. Mendy

Hi all! My boys are 4.5 and LOVE books and reading. One of my boys is quite advanced in reading, but loves to be read to. His twin's reading ability is just taking off, but I still do a lot of the reading. During our reading time, the boys are asking TONS of questions. Sometimes I read one on one, but most of the time they are both there and I'm getting questiosn x2! I love this, but it is taking FOREVER to get through a story. If they would let me read a little bit, many of their questions would be answered. Also, for the stories that we re-read, they know the answers, but still ask a TON of questions -- I know this because I turn the question around and they answer them. I try to answer the questions or say let's read some more and find out, etc. but the questions just keep coming. How do you all handle this? Do you make them wait until the end to ask questions? I'm afraid I'll discourage them from asking, but when I can only get one or two words out before the next question, I start getting frustrated. Any advice? Thanks, Mendy

I'm going to HS K my twins next year. I was at my bi-annual multiples group yard sale last week and several moms have twins going into PS. Lots of talk about which school the kids will go to and if they will be kept together or separated. Of course, I was what school my boys would be going to and I told them home school. I either got the your nuts looks without comments or the "Good for you, but I could never do that" comments. I know I'm making the best choice for my boys so I just didn't say much or try to defend my reaons why. My boys have also been in pre-school the last 2 years. They can hang up their coat in the appropriate spot and wait in line just fine with the rest of the kids -- LOL. I'm confident in my decision that it is best for the boys, but I'm not always confident it is the best decision for me. I may not be sane by the end of K, but I will try my best :-). Hang in there with the comments! Mendy

I put mine in fresh fruit smoothies with some vanilla yogurt. My boys get it this way also :-). Mendy

I haven't officially started HSing yet (will be doing K next year with my twins), but I'm looking forward to: 1. Not rushing in the morning (doing that 3 days a week now for preschool). 2. I've already scheduled a vacation for late September this year :-) and am planning to go to Disney next year the week AFTER Thanksgiving!! 3. The boys' grandparents will still get to spend lots of time with them. 4. Spending tons of time with my boys. 5. Watching the boys learn. 6. I'm learning too! 7. School in our jammies! I'm so excited to begin this journey! Mendy