[Newbie and all over the place! LONG!]

Hi! I pulled my 8 yo DD KK out of PS before Christmas. I originally planned to HS my two preschoolers, but found this board and started researching and reading like crazy and decided I wanted to go ahead and HS her as well.

 

We took about a month off from everything and I am already wondering what I have done! :confused: KK is great, but I have already learned right off that she absolutely HATES the reading program I bought, but now am wondering if maybe she doesn't need it. She is into greek mythology and is an avid reader. She just finished reading the whole series of Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

 

So far I have SOTW 1 to use with HO, but I haven't started those because I don't want to overwhelm myself and I thought I'd hold off and start that with her and N (4) next year.

 

So for KK, we are using spellling workout level D, which we both LOVE. We are doing SM 3A, which seems to be going well so far. We have God's Design for Heaven & Earth - Astronomy and so far this seems to be a good fit as well. She LOVES astronomy! We're using MCT Island Level and this is going really well, too. I had bought BJU Reading 3 before I purchased MCT and decided to do only the comprehension parts of BJU, but she is 100% uninterested in it. I need to find something different for reading... or should I even worry about it. Before she left PS, I was told she was reading on a 5th-6th grade level, but I'd like to find that out for sure. That's probably why she is bored with BJU Reading 3, eh? lol

 

For N (4), I have SM Earlybird A, which he will only tolerate the pages where he can cut/paste. He doesn't want to write and that's okay - I know it's kindergarten level and he just turned 4 in November, but he's very smart, so I wanted to see what he would do. I am looking for RSM Level A to try with him so it is more hands on instead of worksheets. We also have History for Little Pilgrims, which he loves to listen to and talk about. He doesn't want to color in the coloring book though. He isn't into coloring. And I also have ETC Primers A, B, & C. He has fun with this, but gets bored quickly. Again, I know he's young and I am not pushing it at ALL. I also have HOP, but he doesn't want to participate in this either. I KNOW he wants to learn to read. He keeps asking me how to spell words, etc. I'm just trying to figure out the right path to take to keep him interested in learning to read. I downloaded Funnix, but haven't tried it yet.

 

Then I have the 3 yo and 20 month old runnng around screaming and getting into absolutely EVERYTHING they can get their hands on. They will both sit at a different table and "do school too mommy" and color or glue and in 5 minutes they are over it and into something else :D I seriously need to figure out a better schedule so I can quit getting frustrated with the two younger kids and make sure the older two are getting what they need!

 

I've noticed with KK that if we don't eat breakfast and start school immediately after that, she is not really interested in doing her work throughout the day. But, it is so hard for me to help her and keep the little guys busy. I considered getting KK up two hours earlier than everyone else and then maybe doing the last two hours during naptime, but I'm worried I won't be able to get back on track after all the free time.

 

So I guess I am looking for support to keep going and wondering if anyone has any advice or opinions about what I am doing b/c I honestly feel like I have no clue what I am doing :tongue_smilie:

 

I also want to say how thankful I am for this board! I would't have had the courage to start HS and probably never would have. My husband has been trying to convince me to HS since KK went into kindergarten, but I didn't think I had the brains or the patience to do it. So, THANK YOU ALL!!!! You are all so wonderful! :)

[Strictly Using Lapbooks for Science and History?]

:lurk5:

 

I am new to homeschooling and am very interested in lapbooks for my 4yo! Cant wait to read more responses :)

[North Carolina]

Another NC mommy here! Currently in Wake Forest, but headed to Cary next month - hopefully!!!