The Oregon Zoo, we love it! OMSI Omsi has 2 dollar days the first Sunday of every month, and the zoo has 2 dollar days the second Tuesday!

Bible History Geography Science Art Music Handwriting/copywork Grammar Spelling Phonics Math Spanish PE Poetry Nature Study

Sorry I was too lazy to type it out:lol:

I do not think it is too advanced either. We did Zoology 3 this last school year with my ds for 1st grade. He will be 7 on Monday. He loved it. My dh just started Zoo1 with ds(almlost 7) and dd (4.5) They both sat and listened fine.

I got my BLHFHG guide today! We will be starting it next week on ds's 7th birthday. I'm really excited :001_smile:

I was thinking of having like weekly timed drills. I will have to print some out. Ds loves a good competition. :001_smile: Any online sites that he could practice on. We have done fun 4 the brain some.

We are using Draw Write Now, Great American Artists for Kids, and Child Sized Masterpieces.

Ok so my ds started SM 2a today. I went over all addition facts to 20 with him and he has those all pretty much down without counting. He also understands place value. His subtraction facts are a bit harder for him. I really want him to have them down before we get into Multiply/divide. Any fun ideas to help him memorize subtraction facts.

I have not used MFW, but what about Preparing Hearts for His Glory. It uses CHOTW.

Horizons math is not secular. I have only used grades K, and 1st, and there wasa few religious references. I'm not sure about later grades.

No not crazy unless I am too:lol:. I had everything planned out and purchased months ago, and then decided to switch to Singapore math, and use BLHFHG instead of making my own US History study.

Well I haven't use rod and staff, but I hear it is drill oriented. I think they would work well together. R&S would cover drill practice, and MEP is much more conceptual/puzzle oriented. I say give it a try since MEP is free it can't hurt to just print out a few lessons.

Draw Write Now, c-rods, art supplies, math manipulatives,:001_smile:

I'd say if you don't know all the phonics rules get a book like Phonics Pathways as a guide. My dd is 4.5, and wants to read, but doesn't like reading out of the Phonics Pathways book. Right now I write the words from the book on a white board, spell with magnents, or write them on index cards. I also make up my own sentences for her to read.

Check out HOD's site or Sonlight. I get some ideas from there for reading books. They are both Christian curriculum, but many of their reading choices are classic and such that are secular.

For my 2nd grader: Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory Apologia Zoology 1 Singapore Math 2a/2b MEP Primary Language Lessons All About Spelling 1/2 ETC 6-8 State/President study including map work and copywork Handwriting Without Tears Great American Artists For Kids Story of the Orchestra My Nature Journal CLP Nature reader 2 and a bunch of readers and read alouds :001_smile:

Today! At least partially, we are starting math, grammar, phonics, handwriting, spelling, science, etc. today. Hopefully I will get my BLHFHG TM this week and we will add that in next week.

I don't know about those specific letters but I bought these from Ross for 6.99. We have two sets and I use them for Phonics Pathways. http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Magnetic-Wooden-Alphabet/dp/B000IBPD76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1278439386&sr=8-1

I used PP for my ds for reading, and now we are going to do AAS for Spelling. I could see that you could use PP as a guide for spelling, but you would have to plan it all yourself.

I suggest the teachers manual, workbook, and the small slate. Yes you can get chalk boards at the dollar tree etc., but they do not work well. The HWT one is real slate.

Mathematics Enhancement Program. It is a British math program that is free to print and use. http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/primary/default.htm We have just been trying it over the summer, and my dd loves it.

Have you ever looked at Singapore Math? I just decided to switch my kids to it, and so far I think it looks good. We had previously used Horizons, which is very colorful. I think Horizons is a fine program, but I felt the TM were pretty useless, and it wasn't hands on enough. We also enjoy MEP, and will be useing it some along with SM.

I haven't actually used it yet but I'm planning to use BLHFHG for my 7 year old and almost 5 year old this coming year. I haven't recieved my guide yet, but I'm really excited about trying HOD this year. I just found this yahoo group it may be useful to you. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HomeschoolingHODMoms/ You could also check out the discussion boards on HOD's site.

Ok so I'm switching my dc over to SM US ed. My ds is going to be using 2a/2b, and dd will be using EB 2b, and then switching to 1a/1b. For ds I won a set from ebay that included 2a HIG, 2a TB, 2b TB, 2b WB, Extra Practice 2, and IP 2b. I went ahead and bought the 2a WB some where else and I'm still looking for 2b HIG. I was wondering how you all go about using the EP and IP books along with the regular WB/TB. We will be using BLHFHG, so that has a schedule for the WB/TB. Do the HIG's mention the extra books, or do you just add them in when you think they fit. Also for dd I just ordered the 1a/1b WB's so far because the HOD site said that's all that was needed since they have a schedule and hands on math in their guide. She will also be using MEP Y1 some also, so do you think I would need the other books for her, or would just the WB's be fine?

Well I didn't start my ds in it until 1st grade after having done a year of phonics with another program. We started at the 3 letter words and went through it in 1 year. I generally did 1-2 pages a day. My dd is just starting it and I will go through it as fast or as slow as needed. My goal is to have phonics pretty much done by the end of 1st grade.