Oh goodness, I've known classical schools to use Spalding. Working through spelling that way you sort or end up with a chant as you spell which is how we were encouraged to teach k-6th ( WTM is the only place I've seen that calls 5th logic stage, though I have seen 6th elsewhere). The markings seemed to work as a memory aid. The

We are using just the activity book B. But we're using Singapore as a supplement, not the spine of our math course.

My husband is too.

Middle of the morning. AAfter recitation, English studies, and arithmetic he's needing a break so we have "gym" where he exercises.

It's both here.

We tried McRuffy and it's fun. What is sticking though and helping my ker make connections is the totally hands on RightStart. We recently started this: 2 lessons Rod&Staff 1 a week (Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri giving each lesson two days). This is mastery math, pure arithmetic, and will solidify knowledge. We take two days because of all the writing. BTW memoria press has students work through half of book 1 in k. 4 lessons RightStartA 2nd edition a week.(Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri). The lessons are short and don't require written work probably 98% of the time. Each concept is presented in multiple ways using different manipulatives. This is conceptual so he'll understand how math works and relational so he'll see connections. 1 lesson from Singapore K Activity book (their kindergarten supplement) a week (Wednesday). This seems to really cause him to think critically about math.

It's almost all American the last two levels (Explorers to 1815 and the Modern one) while the first three are world. Check out the table of contents and see for yourself. The one you linked to is. Of course many explorers were European. In the final level Europe reappears during the world wars.

A complex vocabulary and beautiful fairy tale book find: Snow White by Wanda Gag. It was written in the 30s and the vocabulary is impressive.

Yeah, I'd been excited about Sonlight (known about it since I was homeschooled but Mom didn't use it). Had used 4/5 and was going to use A. Changed to creating my own! For Bible I'm trying to teach my son to treat it as devotions rather than a required subject. Right now we're using Christian Liberty Press' new Bible Treasures series. It has the text of Catherine Vos' Child's Story Bible, with discussion questions, activities, and memory work. Really very lovely. After we're done with that I plan on having him go through Veritas Press' Bible as I love the idea that he'd know exactly where to find different things in the Bible (like Othniel and Ehud in Judges 3). For reading this year I'm crafting my own curriculum based on award-winners. Myths and fairy tales too. After this year I'll probably move on to Memoria although if I have a lot of success who knows, I may continue crafting my own for my son. I have different goals, like allowing my son to form his own opinion and encouraging him to express it rather than trying to drive him to see the curriculum's per-determined conclusion. For history my plan is this: right now we're doing VP's new Bede per my son's request. Each lesson is short and sweet. After we make it through both volumes of Bede I plan to use VP history combined with TruthQuest (I plan on doing the CM 2-track history just as my mom did, though she used Core Knowledge books with the library & a history encyclopedia). Science is BFSU with Science is Simple/Magic School Bus. When we start VP I plan on using Science in the Beginning series instead of Magic School Bus.

I started it at 4. We did a lesson each time. However we didn't do it every single day. By the end of Pre-K we made it to introducing hundreds, about lesson 73. For K we plan to finish A and begin B. Already counting was a non-issue for us. What was an issue was using the left hand for one vs the right. I'm now trying to use the left hand when showing the numbers to my toddler so hopefully she can avoid that same issue!

Very similar to my experience with AAR 1. I bought it. Thought it was good compared to RIGGS etc. But when I tried LOE Foundations wow! I'm impressed. I love how it gets the kids up and moving (plus explains the hows and whys of the sounds).

I do the same with the tiles. Started out with AAR and then switched to LOE. No looking back. Started with the LOE teacher guide and have gradually ended up with most of the materials.

When I was 4th grade my mom read Sketches From Church History to me. Published later was Trial and Triumph: Stories From Church History. My younger sister got to enjoy that one!

There's a 5 year old Delia at homeschool group.

I have a 5 year old named Theodore. His nickname is Theo. We actually meet several boys named Theo a year. Only one Teddy ever. Just yesterday at the library my son did a double take for the second time (& state) in a month when someone called out "Theo!" addressing a different little boy. Theodore has been on the rise for a decade, climbing from 300 in 2002 to 170 in 2013.

Covenant Home and Christian Liberty Press in jr/sr high are not devotional.

I also taught in a classical school prior to kids. Students in k did Saxon 1, and they did Saxon 65 in 4th. I know that the school has since moved to Singapore and they started the transition in I want to say 3rd and under.

Big fan of Wisdom and Eloquence by Robert Littlejohn! The two book that really got people interested in starting classical schools in the early 90s would be a useful read even today. It's called Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning by Douglas Wilson. It started in private schools what The Well Trained Mind inspired in homeschools.

I'd look at Veritas Press for history for both with Science In The Beginning.

The one thing I wish would be specified in each post is whether people are referring to 1st or 2nd edition RS since some big changes were made. That said yes I do if you are interested in having the instruction being through hands-on discovery with less emphasis on worksheets than most, and concepts being taught through multiple manipulative means (for one idea you might show it three ways in one lesson!), then yes it is worth the money. The new 2nd edition also holds your hand as the teacher which for a non mathy person may be helpful. Seeing the same concept from different angles and feeling them move helps me enjoy math for the first time in my entire life as it is finally making sense, not just something you accept, and I think all the manipulative make it feel more concrete. I'm also now a huge fan of the abacus. Wow, knowing that thing is probably going to be worth the extra time alone.

I haven't received them in the mail. The images online sure indicate as much. As for the enrichment guide didn't take the plunge as am leaning towards trying out my own literature curriculum. But yes I believe it contains the plans.

I agree a package is harder when you have a reader. Same boat re Memoria kagmypts! I have a reading rising kindergartener. He wanted to learn to read last year so we've made it beyond all three or four sounds each letter makes to the world of two letter phonograms. I've caught him reading over my shoulder before, asking questions about what he read. He's doing basic encoding too, not just decoding. It's his handwriting that isn't beyond k. Last night I ordered from Memoria the PDF of individual lesson plans including the copybook plans and skipped the k reading plans. You know, ordering the first grade reading and k handwriting might be an option for your kindergartener. Since he's halfway through RightStart A I skipped the numbers book too although I ordered the PDF math plans and R&S math. I'm going to try out a method of math education suggested by a friend who teaches ap math at a classical school (he proposes the best foundation for upper level math is old fashioned arithmetic balanced with a conceptual program). Also got the sketchbook, and recitation plans. Btw the enrichment guide is only $12 on PDF!

Direct flights are so much easier when traveling with kids without another adult! I've traveled to visit grandparents alone since my firstborn was a couple months old. Make the trip without my husband at least once a year. It's rough, but completely doable. I also drive half a day with the kids and without DH to visit other grandparents fairly regularly. I don't think it's crazy at all. At that age you won't be lugging diaper bags. The hardest part is always trying to get bags, car seats, and little ones down the aisle alone.

Basically it is similar to AAR. The biggest difference is there is more handwriting. A lot more. Students write the phonograms and words they are using to learn how to spell/read simultaneously. They also mark them indicating rules, sounds, etc. So most Spalding based programs would introduce the phonograms and all their sounds first. You'd use flash cards plus learn to write them. Then soon you'd introduce very basic spelling words. Like with "me" you'd say something like "Me. You are sitting with me. What is the first sound in me? Mmm. What phonogram do we use to write "Mmm"? M." Then you'd write it and dc would copy. Continue with E.