We are doing Apologia Astonomy with K5 son and 2nd grade son. It's going well. Here is a link to some free worksheets that I use with it. http://www.learningpage.com/ Sign up for free membership and you can download all kinds of worksheets. Also, we got a puzzle set of all the planets so we put one together as we start the chapter. It's called Puzzleball. http://www.amazon.com/Ravensburger-Solar-System-Set-puzzleballs/dp/B00140ZI8Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1282436457&sr=8-1 We just read a page or two each day and I try to come up with an activity....some from the journal they sell, some from other books I have and some online. We also bought a telescope which we are looking forward to using once the darkness comes earlier. Have fun picking what works best for you!

Well, as posted, the cards are new. But one thing to know is that you don't need all 4 sets for this year's CC work. You would only need the set for cycle 2 and also you could get the one that is for all cycles. One way to get the CD info that might be cheaper for you is to join C3, their online program. You could join, download the songs that are on the CD....plus it has so much more on it. You could join for a month and then quit if you didn't want to continue. You would only want to do that though if you're in a CC group because you get a major discount on C3. I've been enjoying all that C3 has and looking forward to using my science cards. Good luck!

We are doing an O-G approach phonics program called Discovering Intensive Phonics. It's done by teaching kids on white board and with games. It also has a computer program that you can do seperately or together, which is what we do. I really like it. It also has readers to go along with it. http://www.readinghorizonsathome.com/ Right now they have a 20% off coupon "Back2school" All About Spelling is also an O-G spelling program so we're doing that too. Between the two programs, I hope my kids will have a strong phonics base. http://www.all-about-spelling.com/ You might check these programs out to see if they would be a help to you. Good luck!

Here is what we are doing and like for K5 Phonics/Reading - Discovering Intensive Phonics - secular Handwriting: Handwriting without tears Math - Bob Jones Math - adds in Christian ideas with stories in the book History - Story of the World - has some Christian things but not as much as Mystery of History (though we found MOH too hard at that age....will use it when they are older) Science - Apologia Astronomy- Christian view - has Young Earth ideas Bible - Awana - We do this at church and it's great for memorizing Bible passages Classical Conversation - Great Christian group where we learn memory work, do science projects, fine arts projects, and kids give presentations weekly. My son has an older brother who he does History and Science with. All others he does just with me. Good luck picking what works for you!

We just started FLL 1/2 this year with my 2nd grade son. We are doing multiple lessons a day and plan to finish the book by the end of the year. You have to make the call if you think it's working for your child....but I've enjoyed seeing my son learn this year by using it. One thing I like is that it's not writing....he has to write for so many other subjects, it's nice to just chat as we're learning. Plus he loves the poems to memorize....so proud to tell them to others. Our schedule is: We do Classical Conversations Foundations Program on Mondays so we just do the basics on Monday afternoon. Daily :Math, Reading/Phonics, Spelling, and Classical Conversations Memory Work Tues-Fri: FLL, WWE, Song School Latin, History and Science

Here are my votes for favorites: Bob Jones Math K Discovering Intensive Phonics (Classwork and computer program together) Now I Can Read Books Handwriting without Tears Classical Conversations

Bob Jones Math is the one thing that has been solid and I didn't want to switch from since we started with it. I got Saxon K and thought how great it was to be all hands on.....till looking into it and realized I didn't like how the lessons were arranged. Found Bob Jones and have loved it! It fits well for my family. My oldest son has done K5, 1 and is now on 2nd grade while my younger son just started K5. We have never done the online but I'm expecting that as we get in the upper grades, I may use that aspect of the curriculum. Melissa....do you find you enjoy the upper levels? That is my only concern as I don't want to hop around and love the lower levels. I don't really know anyone else who uses it and our homeschool group uses Saxon....which I refuse to use. Would love to hear how you like it!

We love Bob Jones.....colorful, hands on, chapter focus on one topic and with review throughout. This is our 3rd year using it and we love it.

I guess I'll be the one who says it wasn't what I hoped it would be....I came from a reading program that taught word families and did All About Spelling. Tried PR but found it to not be set up like I expected. It's not like AAS where you cover a rule and then get words that fit that rule. It bounces around more like the spiral math does....so if your child and you learn well from that kind of format.....then it will work great for you. I'm more of the mastery kind of person so it was very confusing to me. I gave up and ended up with another program called Discovering Intensive Phonics and back to AAS. I think the program works great for some but I'm gonna sell mine and stick with other things. That is what is great about homeschooling.....there are many different curriculums out there as different things work for different people. Doesn't make it bad....I just realized more what kinds of things work best for my kids. Good luck making your decision.

:iagree: As long as it is for your own personal use and not made to give to another family....I'm sure that would be fine. We just got our first set of the CDs. Loving them!

That is the beauty of homeschooling.....you make the schedule. We started early this year but we're taking a vacation in Sept and Oct.....so start when you want....you'll get it done. Don't worry....it will be fine!

We love Bob Jones Math and I've been wondering if I'll have to switch as the kids get older and I need more help teaching them the harder math lessons. That is great news that I will be able to stick with the program by doing DVD or online as we have loved it for the last 3 years. YEAH!:001_smile:

You could do that. Or the TE CD will have things you can print for manipulatives. You could print the things you want to use and then laminate them. That is what I do instead of buying the whole manipulatives kit. Don't know if that would work for you or not. Not sure if that would save you money or not. But I would say that it probably would be best for them to each have their own set.

We have used BJU Math for K5 - 2nd all 3rd editions. We love it! I don't think at this age there is a real need to pay for the DVD to go with it. I have the TE, student workbook and review workbook (starts in 1st grade). I print out any of the manipulatives I want from the TE CD. My second grader will do the review ws to start while I teach my K5 son....then I teach 2nd grade son while K5 son does his worksheet and then 2nd grader does his worksheet. Its fun, hands-on, focus on one topic with review. I've only used it but plan to stay with it. My only concern is when we get to older grades....I might need more help teaching but then I realize that there will be lots of time to figure that out later.....for now BJU Math works great for us. If I were you, I could see you staying with what you have if it works or contact BJ and just get the math curriculum.....unless you just don't have the time to teach it......it would save you lots of money without the DVD. Good luck!

For Math....I'll throw in Bob Jones. Started with Saxon but didn't like the format. I think MUS is more similar to BJ style. I have friends who love it but I've been happy with BJ and plan to stick with that. I think you have to decide what kind of math works best for your kids....my kids do better to stick with a topic for a period of time with lots of review. For History....I wanted the biblical part of MOH too so we started that in 1st but gave up.....it was too difficult for where he was. We got SOTW and love it. It is not the same with bible stories but the format works so much better for younger children. Plus the Activity book is awesome with maps, coloring pages, questions, narration and great activities. You can always add some of the MOH stories into SOTW but I think you'll find as Chris said that it will work better for older kids.....I'm saving mine for upper elementary.

We love Bob Jones.....our 3rd year of using it. My boys love the story that flows through the whole text. It's very colorful and covers chapter topics instead of different things each day. You might want to check it out.

We did a regular school schedule last year. This year we decided to start early and be flexible. We do school 5 days a week. We actually have 9 days done for the year already. I plan to work for 4-6 weeks and then take a week off. We are going on a trip in Sept and one in Oct....then time off for Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the Winter and Spring, planning to do a few weeks off including Spring break and be done in May. We'll take off the month of June and start back in July.....unless this plan doesn't work for us.....but I think it will. I'm excited to have more breaks so that we can love school not just try to finish our days. That is the beauty of homeschooling....you can do your own pace and schedule for what fits your family!

Rainbow Resource has ones 40" and 32".....don't know if either one would work for you. I have been looking as well....easy to find the really large size but smaller size that would fit my school room is difficult. good luck!

We are soon attending CC for our second year. We are so excited and love our community. I think it is cool to hear your story and see what has happened in your family's life. I know that CC will not work for everyone but we feel it is a great fit for my kids and myself. They are learning so much and love being a part of the group. It's great to see my small children (7 & 5) getting up in front of their classes sharing what they are learning. I also see the knowledge they are gaining through the memory work. I as a mom definately benefit as well through the interactions with the other moms. I love CC and can't wait to get started back in a few weeks.

The cards are brand new so not many people have used them yet. I bought the whole set at practicum this year. They look great and go with each week's science sentence. If you don't want to spend the money on all of them....you can just buy the set that goes with cycle 2 and then there is one on people....forget the specific name...but it is used every year. That would cut down on the cost. I'm looking forward to using them this year with my kids and as I tutor.

We use Bob Jones Math here. My sons are in 2nd and K5. We like that it stays on one topic for a chapter rather than just one day. It has review at then end to keep remembering what they have already covered. My sons enjoy the stories that tie in to the lessons and learn well with the hands on parts. Good luck picking!

We just got a Puzzleball globe. Fun to put together and then you put it on the stand to use as a globe. Just can't be too hard on it or the pieces fall in. Really like it....now got the kids the puzzleball Solar System ones to do as we study Astronomy. http://www.amazon.com/Ravensburger-Earth-540-Piece-puzzleball/dp/B000UEL05U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1281053782&sr=8-1

We love Bob Jones Math here! I've used K5 & 1st so far and now today am starting 2nd. I started with Saxon but didn't like the approach as much and then came across Bob Jones. I love that it's mastery working on a topic for a chapter...yet there is lots of review. Each back page of the workbook has some review and then I also buy the Review workbook. I have my son do the review sheet each day and then teach the new lesson and have him do that lesson's workbook page. It's got stories that you read at the start of each chapter which my son loves. It also had hands on activities. You definately need the teacher's manual and realize that it's also used in the classroom setting so you have to adapt sometimes. It is the one curriculum that I've been really happy with and love to recommend. Good luck!

I bought the PR1 and was also excited. However, I had the same feelings after getting it home. It didn't make any sense to me how it was set up. I guess it's not a mastery approach where you learn one rule/idea and get words that follow only that (like AAS). I ended up regretting the purchase and ended up with another program for phonics. I still wonder if I would have given it more time....would I change my mind and like it. Not sure and I didn't feel that late into first grade I could fool around any more trying to figure out how to help my son read. For now I'm holding onto it and might visit it again when my son is finished with our current program. Hope you can figure out if it works for you! Good luck!

Here is out plan for K5 this year: Bible: Awana Language Arts: Discovering Intensive Phonics Handwriting: Handwriting without Tears & Zaner-Bloser Math: Bob Jones History: Story of the World Science: Apologia Astronomy Latin: Song School Latin Classical Conversations