Thanks for this! Today will be his Valentines party, and I will be there all afternoon helping, I know I will cry. There is a little girl in his class who draws him pictures and "loves" him, she is pretty attached. She "cried and cried" when he told her he was leaving, and that just broke my heart, so I KNOW I will cry today seeing him say goodbye to his friends. But I also know we're doing the right thing. Just can't wait for today to be over. ;)

Today is my DS (5) last day of public school. I'm full of mixed emotions but I am really excited!! Can't help but be kind of sad for him for pulling him away from his friends, but I know this is best for our family, mainly HIM. He isn't sad at all and brags about homeschooling so I shouldn't be sad either! I can't believe I actually DID IT. :) Just had to share since I know many others have or are going through the same thing!! Let the fun begin!!

:bigear: Another question I have as well...All of those are on "my list" to research!!

Awesome! I can't wait to go the Library tomorrow, I'm going to look for My Father's Dragon, first!! I'm really excited to delve into these!! Keep them coming if there are more that aren't mentioned or ones that you agree with, I'm sure this helps more newbies like me!!

I know there are lists and I have visited a few of them (feel free to add any you know of, I enjoy looking at them) But I want to know your PERSONAL opinions for a 5 year old boy (with a 3yo sister listening) that doesn't read on his own yet, and hasn't sat through any chapter books yet. I want to start with some chapter books (and I can't wait to get started with some of my old favorites), but I'm wondering if there are some shorter books I should start with to "build-up" his comprehension and attention. I'm afraid we haven't been doing him much good with our current bedtime books, they are mostly short picture books, and a few stories and a BUNCH of non-fiction dinosaur, reptile, animal, books. He hasn't sat through anything that will help with comprehension. I did just buy a few books at Goodwill bookstore today including Charlotte's Web, but I don't know if that is a good starting book or not. What would you do?

:bigear: Thanks for asking this! I too am going to HWOT and was wondering how much of the "stuff" I need.

Thanks, the input helps a lot!! So, are you saying that if I get the WWE workbook, I don't really NEED the book as well? I think I will get both HWOT & WWE (at least the workbook) and do them alternating days. ( I also have 2 following behind him that I will be able to use them for too) Now you have me wondering if I should get OPGTR or not. I think he CAN be a strong reader, but PS isn't doing him any favors. He is not strong at all in phonics (as they are not teaching them), but DOES try very hard to sound out each letter. I think I will get ETC just for extra practice and I will do a TON of read-alouds when I pull him out next week :D If AAS will do the phonics and help him read then maybe I don't need both AAS & OPGTR (my PLAN was to start with OPGTR & Math when I pull him out of PS, and add things one at a time until we are at our full load) Could I start AAS first or is that too much for a non-reader?

If I plan on using these two with my 1st grader next year, do I need the WWE workbook?? I know that HWOT teaches HOW to write the letters, (which he has learned in PS kindy) but will also be practice in penmanship, and I gather that WWE is more compositional, but I'm not sure I want him to have to WRITE a ton, as it isn't something that keeps his interest, and Ive read so much about PS making them WRITE WRITE WRITE at such a young age developmentally. On a side note in other LA I will be using OPGTR & Explode the code for reading (as I think he's way behind) And plan on doing AAS at some point, but I don't know if I should start it right away for reasons listed above :) Input?

I'm also looking at each of those for my 1st grader next year. It will be my first year HS so I was thinking it sounded like overkill too, but it seems it's worth it to make sure they are strong readers/writers/spellers. I will be alternating as well, not doing it all every day. Good Luck! :)

Thanks for your input everyone!! It helps to hear people say it's ok to take it easy!!! I guess I feel like I need to do something school wise until June because of the baby being due in July, and I wont want to start up again until Sept-ish. I am in FL, and there is no requirement until next year (6). I have found a local HS group and plan on getting involved with that too. I feel comfortable doing Reading, read alouds and math games though, nothing too formal, maybe some HWOT. And I think the most important thing is establishing a schedule of sorts so he realizes there WILL be school at home, not nearly what he's used to, maybe only and hour or so a day for a while. Thanks for that tip about establishing a "school time" Now I just need to get over my irrational fear that I am somehow going to upset or messup my kid pulling him out of school, not to mention telling his teacher who I adore....(I know, I know I am doing the right thing, I just worry)

I could start a new thread on each subject I have so many questions. I will be pulling DS (k'er-6 in may) out of PS at Spring break. I've been neck deep in curriculum research, read TWTM, and have been lurking this board for 2 weeks. I have a good idea of what I think I want for next year, but I still have so many questions! Since I will be pulling him out before the end of the year, I need to do some sort of schooling with him until June. (also to get idea of what WONT work for next year as we will be having a baby in July) I do plan on a week or 2 or de-schooling. I plan on doing some reading/writing and Math for the end of this year but I'm undecided on Math, and need advice! I had made up my mind about Saxon, the switched my mind to Singapore, and now I'm all over the map with RightStart & MUS thrown in somewhere. He is Math/science oriented. I will begin with these for reading/writing (I feel like he is behind in reading because they aren't teaching phonics at all, just sight words) OPGTR & ETC Should I supplement anything else for the tail end of the year? I'm thinking of doing some dinosaur science stuff b/c he's really into Dinos and they are having an exhibit at our Zoo. Next year I will be adding: AAS, SOTW, Something formal for Science, something for Bible, and HWOT (should I start this immediately too??) I'm also kind of feeling like "I must fit xyz in or I will fail miserably" so I feel like I need a "curriculum" for each subject. Thanks for any newbie advice :)