will do! Thanks!

I think the first step is to look at how your son learns and then immediately look at your own teaching style. Even the best curriculum won't work if you don't like teaching it. I found choosing curriculum to be incredibly overwhelming (and still do at times). Start with one subject, check out samples, post here, etc and go with your gut. And then expect to find something *better* in 2 months. :lol: The first year or two is probably the hardest, but it does get easier!

We didn't laminate ours and honestly, they don't get a ton of use...now the AAS cards, those I wish I'd laminated from the get go. They are getting pretty rough looking.

Good to know! Thanks!

DD(6) is starting with Level B. I have a list of the learning outcomes for math, but find it useful to ask people who have used the program because often they notice gaps that others may not. (ie: weakness in word problems, etc). I am not worried about the testing, as it is a ways off, but rather just want to know if there is anything I need to add in to really make this program go from *great* to *awesome*. :001_smile:

We have to test in Grade 3...

RS math. :)

We are starting this as our core for DD6 in the fall. Just wanted to get a heads up on any areas it may need supplementing in. So, what do you feel it's lacking? And what do you use to supplement? (edited to clarify - Rightstart math)

Here's a freebie from HOAC that might work -- I haven't seen it and I can't find any details on it - but the title suggests dolphins..LOL http://www.handsofachild.com/freebie.html

I have never called my kids preschoolers. We just call them by their given names.:lol:

We use HWOT, and just used a level behind (so grade 2 for grade 3.) They start cursive in Grade 3, but we will just do that level next year, when we are ready for cursive. :) We don't do all the sound effects, etc - DD8 just does the workbook pages. No matter what you use, I think the biggest thing is to sit with them so you can make sure they are forming the letters correctly.

We are also required to have a grade level and we have provincial testing. This year, DD8 would have been required to write, and would have undoubtedly scored below because she is still learning at a grade 2 level - despite her birthday technically placing her at gr. 3 level. I personally don't care about the test results themselves -- but this is what she is being measured by, and that I have a problem with. I find it more detrimental to "push forward" and have her always be labeled as "behind" then to repeat a grade and give her a chance to catch up and start performing at the grade level she is registered for. I think the homeschoolers that struggle with this concept are not required to have a grade level? I'm not sure. Or perhaps they think we repeat the exact same material? I have read comments suggesting "ignoring" the level and just trucking on -- which is exactly what we intend to do -- we'll keep her in grade 3, ignore the level, and just keep learning. BUT, I have now given my kid the gift of having an extra year to catch up, which I know she needs. :001_smile:

We are doing this exact thing this year. My oldest is, on paper, in grade 3. Her maturity is not there. She is a at a grade 2 level in everything. She has a fall birthday, and in hindsight, I wish I would have waited a year before registering her for Grade 1. We could keep trucking ahead, but if we do, she will always be expected to perform at grade level, regardless of the fact that the material she is learning is a year behind. We don't intend to do the exact same material over again. We want to use the time to really slow down in math and LA and give her a chance to catch up to her grade level. If grade levels weren't required, it wouldn't be an issue...but it is what it is. Good luck to us both! The only advice I have is to go with your gut!

You don't have to do a new lesson each day. You can slow it down and work on A for a week or more, if needed. Just add in other A crafts, playdough time to form letters, etc. You can also use magnetic letters, if he likes these and the card games between lessons if he wants.

We check daily. If I am on the ball, I will correct one subject while she works on another. I won't move on unless I've checked her work.

We use Jump for oldest DD8 - for 1 reason only - it aligns well (we are in Canada). I am not using it for my second DD6. I, personally, don't love it. It is mastery based and they don't offer review quizes until Grade 3, so until that point you have to create your own. The lessons are the biggest part of this course, and you can get those free online if you sign up. I'd suggest having a look and seeing if you like the way they introduce topics. There are a lot of lessons that are classroom based that you will have to adjust, although it usually isn't too hard to do so. We much prefer MM here.

:lol::rolleyes:

Choice #3 made me giggle! I had to choose other though. Aside from using some MM units to help us with a couple tough-to-grasp topics, we have only really focused on one curriculum. Next year will be our first full year of using MM and Jump. I will be paying attention to see how others make their combos work!!

This is how we are using it next year for DD6 - for grade 1. I think it's going to work well! :)

Got mine too!! Have it burnt to a backup disc and was toying with the idea of having it printed at Staples - but yikes! -- changed my mind on that quick! I will print it myself and just have them bind the books as needed.

So exciting! i hope me link comes today too! I am not a patient person!!!

We got one at Walmart for maybe $11?

Sorry, no, we are not using the DVD's. Haven't tried those yet.

For once my "I'll order tomorrow" laziness has paid off!:lol:

We are using English 3 right now. It is our first year using it. I have mixed emotions about it. There is a bit of prep work (printing pages, sentence strips, etc) for some lessons. It takes maybe 10-15 minutes for every chapter, so nothing major. When I first went through it, I figured it was going to work really well, but DD8 isn't retaining a lot. We do the extra practice, and some extra on top of that...but she just kind of glazes over when it comes to the grammar. I do, however, really like the writing units. They are well laid out and work really well for us. The lessons are not self-teaching, IMO. They are scripted and designed to be done with you sitting beside the child. They are easy to follow and don't require the student or the teacher to make any leaps and bounds.