I like Saxon. It is spiral, but we treat it much like a mastery program. If they struggle with something, then we hang out on that lesson for a few days. Then we move on. This way I can mix it up, but ensure mastery. FYI...my kids don't like manipulatives because they want to "get it done." They see the manipulatives as a way to make it take longer. They play with the manipulatives outside of school, but they groan when I get them out for lessons! So, it might be that he likes the maniplatives, but he just wants the lesson to be over quickly. One thought about the colors and pics....I chose Saxon because I have a kid that loves them as well. Saxon doesn't have them. My son would be so drawn to the colors and pics that he would ignore the assignment because he would be day-dreaming about why the little boy is going fishing, where he will go, how many fish he will catch...etc! Therefore, we love that Saxon because it is boring! Might just be my kid, but I thought I would throw it out there! Saxon only puts about 7-10 problems on a page, which is not so overwhelming. They recommend doing one side during the day and the other side later that day. (I don't do it that way because I want to get it done. But, that is what they recommend.) Here is everything else that I use for my kinder boy: http://teachingboys.net/2012/05/08/homeschooling-kindergarten-a-quick-start-guide/ Good luck!

I would check out Saxon Phonics 1 (or maybe 2, if he is reading that well.) We switched away from OPGR because my son hated it. He loves Saxon Phonics because he has learned how to code words. It is still just phonics, but he has to put it into practice and break down the words into syllables, decide whether the vowel will be long or short, find all of the digraphs, dipthongs, etc. It is hyper-phonics! ;) Honestly, it has made so much of a difference. Also, there are fun card games that go along with it. I make my fifth grader sit in on parts of the Phonics lessons as well. Even though he reads very well, he has never learned to code. He told me the other day that it is helping him as well! Just a thought! Jennifer

I like Phonics Pathways, Ordinary Parent's Guide to Reading, and Saxon Phonics. Of the three, Saxon Phonics is the most fun, but it is the most time-consuming.

Wow!! Very thorough list!! Thanks for sharing!! I love seeing how other people do CC! Jennifer

How about the book "Building Thinking Skills" by Critical Thinking Books? It is a workbook with supplemental critical thinking exercises. We love Saxon! I supplement with Xtramath.org (as mentioned above) and I sub out the meeting for the daily warm up sheets at this site: http://www.ibeleave.com/store/. I have good intentions to supplement with the Building Thinking Skills book as well. But, we haven't gotten to it yet! :( Jennifer

Check out my pinterest boards. They are organized by CC week. Just go to the week you are doing and find a project. While I don't usually do lapbooks, I have pinned a few for the sake of other people. Here are my pinterest boards: http://pinterest.com/wearejenandkev/ Jennifer

I am a Foundations director and Essentials tutor in my local community. I have typed up our "typical day at home" on my blog. I talk about the subjects we do at home, how to plan your schedule at home, how long we spend on each subject, what I use for each subject, and what we do during our off-weeks of Classical Conversations. In short....we spend lots of time reading the backs of all the science and timeline cards put out by CC. We watch lots of videos related to the timeline, history sentence, or science topic. (links on pinterest) We read lots of books related to the timeline, history, or science topic. When I have extra time, (which I rarely do when CC is in session, so this part gets put off until the off-weeks), I do Story of the World and Apologia Land Animals. When CC is in session, the CC cards, pinterest links, and library books are more than enough to keeps up busy! Here is the link to my post "How to Do Classical Conversations at Home." : http://teachingboys.net/2012/08/21/how-to-do-classical-conversations-at-home/ Also, you might want to check out my pinterest boards for help. I have organized all of my pinterest boards by CC week. It should help you with planning. http://pinterest.com/wearejenandkev/ Hope that helps! Jennifer

My 5yo does Saxon Math 1, as well. I don't do the meeting everyday. We do it every few days...skipping the things I am sure he knows. Also, on days that we hit a lesson that is easy.....I just let him skip directly to the worksheet without the lesson. Then, we do the next lesson. The beginning of every Saxon Math book is VERY EASY...accounting for summer learning loss. But, it picks up. I wouldn't skip to the next level because you could miss something. Just move faster..... Jennifer

Check out my pinterest board. I noticed that you are a CC mom. I have my pinterest boards organized by CC week. In my CC- week 4 board, I have two videos for the Seven Wonders of the World. Also, I have pinned several books and activity ideas. Plus....you will see some other things related to CC week 4. http://pinterest.com/wearejenandkev/cc-cycle-1-week-4/ We are a week behind you...just started week 3! So, I might have more ideas next week! Isn't that helpful? :001_smile: Jennifer

We do a lot of read alouds during breakfast and lunch as well. When I am done I say, "Tell me about it." I start with the youngest so that he can say the easiest answers. Then , I move onto the middle (in age.) He has to tell me more (without repeating what my other son said.) Then, I move to my oldest. Again, he tells me more (without repeating.) He is the oldest, so he should be able to draw more details out of the story. Once everyone has gone, I tell them what I remember....filling in the important points that they might have missed. This releases the pressure of "I have to get it right" and allows them to talk about anything they want to talk about. Some days they remember things I have forgotten about the story! The other thing I do a lot, which wouldn't work during mealtime, but it is something that works great at other times.......is narration with playdough. I hand them a chunk of playdough while I am reading. (no tools or toys...just a hunk of dough....same color works best) While I am reading they have to create "proof" that they are listening. They can create anything they want as long as they can justify how it relates to what I am reading. At first, I only did this during fun read-alouds, but I have tried it with history as well. It worked great! While reading about the Egyptians my boys were creating shadufs, the Nile River, and re-enactments of the battle between upper and lower Egypt..... out of a hunk of dough! I was amazed at the things they came up with! If you want to see pictures of their playdough creations, you can check them out on my blog: http://teachingboys.net/2012/08/30/playdough-narration-for-read-alouds-part-2/ Jennifer

When my son was in second, we used MFW Adventures.....it was a perfect introduction to U.S. history. It is intended for 2nd-3rd grade. That was one of my favorite years of homeschooling! Jennifer

I've used both- a lot! Honestly, I like them both! OPGR......is good for parents that want scripting....plus, the kids don't have to read quite as much each day. BUT.....my son was very overwhelmed by the fact that the teacher notes were on the same page as the part he was to read. Eventhough he knew he only had to read part of it......he would shut down when he saw so many words. (I wish they would make a student book with a separate teacher book!) Plus...the type was too small when we was younger. PP..... My son preferred PP because it had bigger type and the teacher stuff wasn't on the page. He felt like he had to read less....when actually he was reading more! This is the book that I used when I was a private tutor.....it always worked! But...there isn't much teacher help. I didn't need that, but some people want it. You won't find it in this book. I think that you should get both at the library (if possible) and see which one your child prefers. Both are solid programs. All that being said......we switched to Saxon Phonics...... :) Jennifer

If you are a member of CC Connected, it has a list of presentations and skills to be taught each week. It is divided by older students and younger students. It gives a topic for the week (literature narration, family, etc.) and discusses the skill for that week (eye contact, confidence, etc.) Each skill has a piece of clip art to help the kids visualize what to do. Plus, it has a checklist that the teacher uses to check off the speaking skills that are being mastered and the skills that need help. That is the presentation list that we use for our CC group. Jennifer

While I agree that MM develops skills such as perseverance and diligence.....it has academic purpose, also. It ensures that the child knows critical info in each of the core subjects before moving into dialectic. Later, as the child progresses into the dialectic stage, he will be armed with the facts. Since he is filled with that grammar, he can move into wondering why and how. Yes....he might know the info without going through the actual process of MM. But, MM is a measurable goal that ensures that the child is being exposed to the info multiple times over the course of the school year....ensuring true mastery. It keeps the mom and the student accountable to do hard things and stick with it. Also....if the child is ready to pursue Memory Master....it shouldn't take more than 15-20 minutes a day. My youngers could never do it in 15-20 minutes, but that is why they won't pursue MM. When they are mature enough to do it.....it is worth every moment spent. I can't tell you how many times my kids have starting searching their brains for a date or piece of information from their CC memory work! Just today.....grandma brought up the Enterprise because her father was on the ship during Pearl Harbor. My middle son stopped for a couple seconds....was real quiet...and then said...."He was on the ship on December 7, 1941?" I KNOW that he was singing the CC song in his head while he was quiet! You never know when that memory work will come out! I think the process of MM solidifies the info that they are learning all year....and makes sures that they keep it in their long-term memory instead of just memorizing and dropping it when they move on to the next subject. Jennifer

I like that idea! We already bought the other ones for the wall, but that might be a good idea to use for on the the floor....more of an interactive one....it would be very durable! Yes....my boys would use it as a cape!! :) Jennifer

I have used Spelling City to supplement AAS. My opinion....if you just let them play the games.....it helps a little. But....here is what I did: I entered all of the word lists and organized them by step. Each day he had to take a test first. After he had taken the test, he could play the games....if he wanted to. But, the requirement was the daily test. The games were his reward. In order for him to progress to the next step of test....he had to get 100% two days in a row. (Similar to Phonetic Zoo) I didn't match up the lessons I was teaching him with the tests he did on Spelling City....I just made them two different things. The Spelling City was a great way to review. Hope that helps. Jennifer

I love this idea! I purposely bought smaller maps so I could put the pictures around it! Jennifer

I ended up buying the National Geographic Maps and love them! Thanks for the help, everyone! Jennifer

Good! I hope you like it! We are usually done with both in an hour an a half....but....we skip all of the card games in Phonics (although he would probably love them) and we are hit and miss as to whether we do the entire calendar for math. We do the entire calendar, but not everyday. I have my guy sit in the kitchen to do his worksheets....while I am making or cleaning up breakfast. That way, I can read each problem to him, but I can be doing something else at the same time. Plus...added bonus...it lets his brothers do their math without 5yo brother noise in the background! Hope that helps! Jennifer

I just searced my inbox and didn't find any emails that I haven't returned....I am wondering if it got lost in cyberspace? Would you mind going into your sent folder and sending it to me again? I always answer all of my emails.....so either your message was lost or my reply was lost....Sorry about that! Jennifer

You can order the memory work CD's from Classical Conversations.....even if you aren't in a CC group. Jennifer

I second Typing Instructor for Kids! My boys play it without being told! Jennifer

We like Saxon Math and Saxon Phonics for kindergarten. (I don't know if they are considered inexpensive, but they are worth every penny!) Here is more info on how we homeschool kindergarten: http://teachingboys.net/2012/05/08/homeschooling-kindergarten-a-quick-start-guide/ Jennifer

Here are my pinterest boards: http://pinterest.com/wearejenandkev/ Most of mine are organized into weeks to correlate with Classical Conversations Cycle 1. But, even if you don't do CC....you will find lots of ideas there!

How about xtrmath .org? It is free and it works great! Also, I second the Flashmaster....but it isn't free....:) One more thing.....has anyone mentioned skip counting songs? (I didn't read very closely...sorry!) We use the skip counting songs from Classical Conversations....they make remembering facts so easy! Jennifer