For WWE, you don't need to buy the text if you plan to use the workbooks. You can just buy the text, but then you need to find your own reading selections and copywork/dictations. I am not sure about Telling God's Story.

I don't want to hijack the thread, but could you tell me what age you could start with Tell Me More? My son is working through L'art de Lire, and I would like to add an oral component. Thanks.

Why do you say he is behind in reading? Does he know his letters and sounds? What programs have you tried? Children can definitely write before they can read. Teach him how to form his letters and begin copywork. My boys love science also, but at that age I would think formal lessons are not necessary. Trips to the forest, a few simple experiments, going to the zoo, and reading lots of science books would be all one would do. I would recommend focusing on reading and math when they are so young.

It's hard to believe we are almost done a whole year of home schooling, but it is also hard to remember when the kids were ever in school. I feel like I know my kids so much better, especially how my oldest learns. It has been more chaotic than I thought it would be, but it's been fun! I am looking forward to trying year two with different expectations and plans. I don't think I will home school all the way through for all of them, but I am so enjoying it now! I feel like becoming a home school mom has made me feel fulfilled and happy where I am.

We love the SOTW audio CDs. They are the reason why history gets done every week at our house. I can put the CD on as I am cleaning up after lunch, and the boys listen intently. We also can listen in the car. I didn't know there were FLL audio companions. We obviously don't use them, and still love FLL.

You can get the lower price throught the Learning House in Canada. Julie

My ds6.5 has beautiful printing. Yet, his colouring is at a Kindergarten level, and he hates to draw. I do similar things to Critterfixer to help him! I have not required much colouring, but when he has to colour, I do remind him to outline everything first and then colour all in the same direction. He can do that now, so it looks okay. As far as drawing, I started using Draw Write Now so he can see step by step what he needs to do. I also will draw before he draws to give him an idea of what the object he wishes to draw could look like on paper. I hope he will learn to draw enough that he doesn't dread it when he is asked.

This will be the end of my first year of homeschooling, and I am not sure how to "end" it. We have done about 145 days of school, and the boys have completed some of their work already. My ds8 has finished phonics, WWE, and his cursive work. He is almost done math, MCT, and French. My ds 6 is done his handwriting, FLL1 (we've already started on FLL2), his math, and is close to completing the phonics book I hoped he would complete for grade 1. What do I do? Do we just cut back? Add more projects? Start the next grade in math? We still do TWTM way of science and are have 10 more weeks in SOTW. I have four children so creating projects or piecing together units isn't easy! Any advice would be great! I think I want to keep up some schooling all year, but I am not sure if I start the next grade early. Help!

My ds8 plays the violin, but he is interested in the viola. His teacher plays the viola and would love for my son to switch. Right now, my son is using a 1/4 size violin and his teacher says that he just isn't big enough to start on viola. A teenager in our church has just begun the viola after playing violin for 6 or 7 years. He really likes it and is working on Book 3/4 after only 8 months of lessons, but says he plans to return to the violin because he misses the "solo parts" you play with the violin. I have a feeling my son would miss that too:)! I am not sure this helps, but I thought I would just add what I know.

I have three boys ( and a little girl) ...and I am still learning much about boys. Here are a few things I have discovered: 1. The day revolves around snacks. They are motivated to complete work to get to snack time. 2. We have races. Not outside, but inside the house. They run very fast, for long periods of time. We haven't too many serious injuries. 3. My oldest son likes to do his work on the couch, surrounded by large cushions. My middle son does his work at a regular height desk, but kneeling on a child-sized chair. 4. Humour in the work is a must. 5. The two days a week we go to the YMCA are our life-savers. 6. Legos are amazing. 7. They crave mommy's attention. I try to give it to them as much as I can. 8. Audiobooks are amazing. Some days I think I can't deal with having three boys anymore, but then I dream about what life may be like 15 years from now. I imagine them visiting me, and telling about the things they are doing. I am so proud to be a mom of three boys and I know I will just get prouder and prouder as they grow and mature (they will mature, right? At some point?).

My boys love history, but do not like writing narrations what they have heard. At the beginning of the year, we did some narrations but it resulted in screaming, pencils being thrown... Just recently, I have started putting written narration back into our history lessons. I usually have them do three to four sentences on one section from the chapter. For my ds6, he writes one and write the rest. My 8 year old does it on his own. They use WWE and also do some narrations in science. I think it is plenty:)

My son is just finishing MCT Island Level. I would like to use FLL next. What level should I get for him?

We love FLL, WWE, and SOTW. Her book, WTM, has had a huge influence on how I teach. Thanks, SWB.

I used MCT Island Level with my ds8 this year. We both enjoyed it greatly, but because of the cost, I am thinking about switching to FLL for him next year. My ds6 has been doing FLL1/2 this year, so I am familiar with the curriculum at the lower levels. My question is: What level do I do with my 8 year old? Should I go quickly through FLL3 before FLL 4 or can I start with FLL4? Any advice would be appreciated.

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Try posting this in the Special Needs Forum... you may get help there!

The dictation in WWE and AAS serve very different purposes. WWE dictation does not require the child to spell all the words correctly without help from the parent. It is focused on remembering the passage, and writing it down from memory (with correct punctuation). AAS has simple sentences that contain spelling words... the whole point is to get the spelling correct.

My first grader is on lesson 109 in FLL1&2. We started grade one with five lessons a week, but now only do 2 or 3 a week. I would suggest to keep going, but just slow down. Do some of the enrichment activities. I have done Grammar Island with my third grader. I won't be using it with my second son until he is in third grade. I want to save it until he is truly ready to appreciate it and do all the assignments in the Island Level.

Wonderful news about the chemo! I will continue to pray for you and your family. I agree with previous posters... just take some time to be a family. God bless you, Christine.:grouphug:

Over the last month, my son, who just turned four, went from knowing how to count to 8 and recognizing a couple numbers, to being able to count to over 30 and recognize two digit numbers. I attribute it to watching Leapfrog videos including Math Ahoy and To The Moon, as well as playing lots of games with dice. We also would count anything and everything like the number of matches he got in Go Fish or how many trucks he was playing with. He also has access to a hundreds chart that he looks at with his brothers and on his own. I don't think you necessarily need special books or videos... just count things, talk about numbers, and make it fun!

My ds6 flew through Level 1 and 2. Level 3 has slowed him down. As Merry mentioned, by Level 3, there are 12 sentences in a step as well as other extra things to do like the Magic E book, writing station, homophones... We used to do a step a day, but now in Level 3 we take about three days to do a step.

I thought we were doing well by having our first grader complete Book 2-4 this year. Is he behind???? I was planning to save book 5 for grade three, but perhaps I should have him start it as soon as he is done book 4.

Explode the Code -- It is a series of phonics workbooks. There are 8 levels as well as some extra practice half levels. You can check it out on Amazon, I think.

We do ETC in addition to AAS, FLL, and WWE. Two pages takes about 15 minutes, and it really is a great program. It is also independent and the other programs are not...

Here a few that my son loved: anything by Beverly Cleary (Ralph and the Motorcycle, Henry Higgins etc.) The Moffats by Estes (there are a few in the series) I will reply with more soon! I have to go ask my son!