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mom4knights

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Everything posted by mom4knights

  1. Hello! I am fairly new to hs and have not been to a convention before. Our family had planned a trip to visit the acquarium and zoo for "field trips" and I discovered that it is also the same weekend as the state's big hs convention. Due to our other plans, I won't be able to make any of the workshops but I wondered if it would be worth the $20+ to pay to be able to shop the exhibit hall with the vendors? Do they typically offer better deals at the convention than what I would find online? Just trying to figure out if it is worth spending the money for the opportunity to spend even more $$?? :-) (Or should we just enjoy our visit, forgo the convention and just shop online??) Thanks! :-)
  2. I have been looking into spelling programs for my rising 1st grader. Due to all the rave reviews about AAS, I was about ready to purchase. Then I was reading a post (dangerous I know!!:D) about some of the writing products produced by EPS/School Specialty Intervention (the same ones who produce ETC). I came across a spelling program they have called: Sitton Spelling and Word Skills http://intervention.schoolspecialty.com/products/details.cfm?series=1886m This program looks really neat but more more set up for use in a school environment. Has anyone heard of or used the program???? Any comments?? Thanks! :-)
  3. Again, thank you all for your suggestions and the links to various sites for reference -- I have visited them all and added to my "favorites"! :-) I also printed out the entire thread so I can continue to review it ~ especially when I am "tempted" to go looking at more curriculum!!:D I do have one more ?: We did MOH 1 this past year basically as a "read-aloud" and we are only 1/2 way through. I may just continue as a "read-aloud" until we finish (it is a rare "cuddle time" with my active boys!:)) I am also looking at SOTW 1 with the activity guide but I also read (from another poster) about TruthQuest History. They have a US history book for 1st-5th. Do you guys recommend doing American History (even as a read-aloud) or Ancient History (as is presented in SOTW 1 and MOH 1). Any suggestions?
  4. Hello! We used the HWT program for our 'K' and Pre-K this year. Mine were just turned 6 and 4 1/2 at the start of the school year. I think the extras they offer are perfect for younger students. We got the Roll-A-Dough letters, wood piece letters and the Stamp and See Screen letter sets. My kids all loved it!! We also got the CD and it is one of my boys' favorites!! LOL!:D (I am also laughing at myself right now as I hum "Where do you start your letters . . . at the top!"):lol: I would recommend starting with the "hands on" portion of the materials first and gradually work into the workbooks - it is really a great program though!! Both ds are showing such improvement in their handwriting. HTH! Enjoy!:)
  5. Thank you to all have responded. I have been so overwhelmed with the idea of all the choices out there. I feel like I don't want to "mess" this up for my kiddos ~ but then I hear the Lord reminding me that He will guide me through this and they are still pretty young - so enjoy the journey! Again, things I know but have a hard time implementing. Chris in VA: you wrote "Get the AG, too." Can I ask what that is? I have enjoyed reading through MOH1 this year (but we are only about 1/2 way through it!) but I may also look into SOTW. I will also look into Ambleside Online - that is awesome that is free also!! I just started looking into TOG b/c it looks very good but is also seems like a time/money commitment. Becoming a "curriculum junkie" I can see is bad for the health! LOL!:D Thanks again!
  6. Hello ~ I know others have written about struggling with all the good curriculum choices for school next year. We are hs this year but I didn't have a lot of time to prepare before we decided to hs (and then moving btwn 3 states since the school yr started!). I am wondering (from those with more experience than me :D) what would be a good path to start with my oldest being in 1st grade next yr. (4 ds - ages right now, 6 1/2, 5, 3 1/2, 2). This forum has been great at given me a lot of information (sometimes too much information to digest at one time! LOL!:)). I am struggling with making a decision! Possibilities: 1. Variety approach - Language Arts with WWE, FLL, CLE, R&S, etc. History with Mystery Of History. Add in math, science, music (already in piano lessons). If I did this approach, I would continue in MOH series and switch at 2nd or 3rd grade to MCT for Lang. Arts (I think:D). 2. TOG - will I only need to add in math and science? Do they include everything a child needs in the Lang. Arts category? 3. MFW, HOD, SL Has anyone done a full chart comparison showing similarities/differences between the various companies? Any suggestions you could offer on which program offers best of language arts and history/literature? We have really enjoyed reading through the MOH book this year b/c it ties in chronologically what was going on in the World and the Bible. Is TOG or the other programs mentioned similar to MOH? Any opinions on which one does it the "best"?:bigear: Of course, since I am becoming the curriculum junkie, I would love to get them all to review over the summer and decide ~ but I don't think dh will go for it!! LOL!:D Thank you in advance!
  7. Praying for you and your family ~ for encouragement! :grouphug:
  8. I must say that this thread has had me laughing hysterically!! We just started hs this year and I have been spending HOURS pouring over this forum and other sites trying to determine the "best" curriculum for next year. My husband travels every other week with his job and stays super busy but last night I kinda wanted him to go over some of the "nitty-gritty" details of my "somewhat" :) narrowed down list. He had really wanted to watch the NFL draft so he said we would definitely sit down and review things tonight. Even though he told me that he completely trusts my decision. :D I am laughing so hard though b/c I am also such a researcher - I research EVERYTHING!! I mean, I cannot make ONE decision before I have looked at all the possibilities!! LOL! MY dear hubby knows me all too well and he has definitely had the "glazed over" look at times. However, I must admit that he is great about sitting down with me when he knows I'm really stressed about something and want to go over it with him. I know that I can sometimes come to him with an issue with several possible solutions and ask his opinion ~ but if I've really already made up my mind then all I'm really looking for is affirmation. ;) It just reaffirms how different God made the sexes and how wonderfully we can work together to figure something out! :grouphug:
  9. Just adding my 2 cents - and this may not be what you are looking for - but we have really enjoyed going through the Mystery of History vol. 1. It was a little more advanced than what my kids were ready for, but they loved listening to the stories. It seemed to have a good amount of activities for older students as well. I also think the timeline that the students make would be great for retention. Just another option! :-) Jenny
  10. Thanks for all the good advice and comments - now just time to head to the library!!! :-)
  11. OK! I know this may sound crazy but I've been thinking about things I can do with my boys this summer (in addition to lots of outside water-filled activities:)). Wondering if anyone has utilized one of the literature based curriculum for summer use? I have a wide variety of items for the rest of the school year (I guess you could say I'm becoming a curriculum junkie!:lol:). I wondered about . . . MFW, FIAR, WP, SL, etc. . . . I have been a little overwhelmed at the number of choices. Anyway, has anyone used one for the summer - for some "light" learning? Using it without a more without formal math/LA program for the summer? Any suggestions? Looking for a good way to keep the boys (6,5,3,2) into reading and out of trouble(if that's possible!:001_smile:). Thanks!
  12. Hello! I am somewhat of a newbie and am amazed at all the information out there!! Just trying to sort through everything and get organized. I have read this thread about the HST and someone also told me about the Homeschool Skedtrack ~ www.homeschoolskedtrack.com ~ So, has anyone compared the two and if so, give insight on what the similarities/differences are??? Thank you!!
  13. Thank you for your suggestions. I wondered does the Skedtrack work well for making your lesson plans - I read another thread about the hs Tracker that mentioned it does a good job of tying in the lesson plan to the daily assignment, etc. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks!
  14. Hello! I am somewhat of a newbie (to the site and to hs in general) and I need to get myself more "organized"! I found a thread about the homeschool tracker on this site and was very excited about it (almost ready to purchase the 'plus' version) . . . Then, another sweet homeschooling mom told me about Homeschool Skedtrack (www.homeschoolskedtrack.com). HS Skedtrack was developed by a HS dad to help his wife in keeping track of plan, records, etc. This one is also totally free! Does anyone have experience with either of them??? They both seem really neat but I can't decide. I need direction!!!! Every time I think I have found what I am going to "go" with - I read about something else so exciting and then I'm confused!! LOL!! :lol: This site has been a huge help to me as we are just getting started in our homeschooling journey. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)
  15. Hello! I am new to homeschool as well and will have a 1st grader also. We did HWT for K and he really enjoyed it, so we will probably stick with it for 1st. I am going to try out Risas y Sonrisas Spanish for kids b/c it looks really good (I will post on it after we try it out). We did Horizons Math for K but I am going to switch for 1st. I am torn (and overwhelmed by the # of choices) between Right Start (RS) and Math U See (MUS). We already have the MUS Beta and may start it early and do RS along with it (if we don't go crazy!) My ds is really good with math (adding double digit numbers in his head) and I just want to make sure to give him something to encourage him in it along with challenge him. But CLE also sounds like they have a good program! We have been doing Mistory of History (MOH) and I really like it - I love learning about what was going on in the world at the same time as things in the Bible. I must say though, that the boys haven't really taken to it like I thought they might - so we are just reading the lessons and discussing them for now. We did Apologia's Astronomy for my K ds and CLP's The World God Made for my Pre-k ds. I did enjoy them but I think the astronomy course was just too much for right now. I am looking into R.E.A.L Science (Life and Earth&Space) and Real Science 4 Kids - both look good and hands on, so I think the boys will LOVE that about it -- getting their hands "dirty"! :-) We just focused on Explode the Code for grammar and lots of reading books. My PreK did Books A-C and my K did books 1, 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2. We loved ETC!!! I wasn't sure b/c the pics were just black-n-white but they really got a lot out of it and I enjoyed going through the teacher's guide and doing the activities with them. We will probably keep going with ETC just b/c they enjoy doing the pages and it isn't expensive but also looking to add WWE, CLE or R&S -- again, just so many good choices out there!! :-) Hope this is helpful!!! Jenny :-)
  16. Hello! We must be on the same wavelength b/c I posted a similar question last night! Although I am new to HS and am just getting started in picking out curriculum for next year. I just found this website and it has provided lots of great topics. I am looking at La Clase Divertida and Risas y Sonrisas. I think I might be leaning toward Risas y Sonrisas. They also list schools which currently use the program and I thought about looking one up and "cold calling" to see their opinion! :-) HTH, Jenny :-)
  17. Thank you - I too am trying to find the best spanish but there are many to choose from! :-)
  18. Hello! I am a newbie to the site and somewhat to homeschooling. We are about to complete our first year with a K ds and Pre-K ds. I am trying to find a great Spanish program to introduce and I came across the following: Risas y Sonrisas Spanish Program for Kids - www.spanishforkids.com I have read some of the other threads dealing with Spanish and noted that people mentioned Elementary Spanish and La Clase Divertida. ES is not going to be able to be an option for us, so I wondered if anyone else had experience with the above programs and could give their insight. Thank You!
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