I need help figuring out what to do for first grade. We did alright in kindergarten; it was fairly relaxed and we will be finishing over the summer. I am not an organized person and while I would do best with a packaged curriculum my son would not. I have never seen one where I liked everything it included. I have quite a few programs/methods I love but I need to figure out how to make them work together without it being too much. Here are the things I know I'd like to include; All About Reading 2, All About Spelling 1, Horizons Math, Story of the World and Handwriting Without Tears I think I'd like to do First Language Lessons and Song School Latin. I'm thinking the dictation in Story of the World will cover writing. I have a few different options for Art and Music. Here's my dilemma though - I really would like to do the timeline and memory work from cycle one of classical conversations and I'd like to compile a read aloud list to work on for the year from a variety of sources; Sonlight and a few others. Science I am completely undecided on. This sounds like way too much to me and I'm not sure there is a way to make all of this work. What do you think?

I homeschooled my first two for a variety of reasons - all of which are still valid. I like to choose what they are learning and feel they can learn better and more here at home. I also don't want them to go to school and come home with behaviors and morals that aren't ones we believe in. I also enjoy being with my children. For the most part I truly enjoy this time (schooling) with them. For my youngest there is also the fact that I do not agree with full day kindergarten and the school he would attend is one of the worst in our county.

I have three children. The two oldest were homeschooled until 4th and 6th grade and they are now in high school. My youngest is about to start kindergarten. Our life is drastically different right now then when we were previously homeschooling. We have one car and my husband has only recently found a job. Since money is extremely tight there is nothing in the budget for "extras" this time around. No gym or other classes, etc. There is also not an active homeschool group within a reasonable distance to us. Since we have one car I will be transporting my son and husband and some days my MIL back and forth to school and work. The transportation issue means that I will not be able to work with my little guy on any kind of schedule and he will be spending a decent amount of time in the car each day. Between the transportation issue and the lack of outside activities I worry that homeschooling isn't in my son's best interest and I'm getting cold feet. School starts next Monday and I'm driving myself crazy with worry. :( Any thoughts?

Fluffy the Hamster books Pinkerton books Sheep in ____ books (one is sheep in jeep) Franklin Arthur Babar Little Bear

I ordered the Elemental today and it looks great. My son loves books but compared to experiments? He will choose "doing" every time. I do think I will end up getting some of the K sonlight science books - he will enjoy hearing them. I don't know if he will end up liking to do worksheets or not. As far as his kindergarten year though he has enough seat work with phonics, handwriting and math. I need science, history and art to be hands on and fun. Thanks for all the opinions!

I think I am leaning towards wanting a general history approach. I have so many good history fiction books that I can supplement either program with. As far as geography, right now all I really want is for him to start to be able to recognize the states on the map. I have a feeling I'm going to end up getting both and doing a mish-mash of them.

We would do the Intro to Science course.

I'm trying to decide between these two programs myself for kindergarten this year. I like the history/people/topics covered in Elemental - I think it is a better general overview of history and people. However, I think I like the activities and some of the reading material in Road Trip USA more than the reading and activities in Elemental.. I'm having a hard time deciding which to go with for this year.

Ok, thanks! I like the price of Elemental better for sure. I also like how there are supplemental activities/snacks/crafts listed. My main reason for considering Sonlight was because of some of the units on weather and engines, etc. My son is really into both weather and how things (especially vehicles, electronics, and things like that) work. It's interesting to hear that the experiments don't line up with the reading though. I didn't realize that.

I'm trying to decide between these two programs for our kindergarten year next year. Other than the obvious difference of price, what are your thoughts?