I found some rules, but not a full one. Anyone have a better site that has more encompassing rules? Or a book choc full of them?

Well, the print making with Durer isn't really watercolor... I just used tempura with Aguissola and Rafael. K-3 book 2.

Love this thread- I have ap- I agree with walking iris about the watercolor crayon use. And almost having to reteach them. I think k-3 does a great job of introducing lots of mediums pencil drawings, watercolor, clay, construction paper, pastels, textured work, etc. I was hoping that ap2 was a tad more technique oriented - especially with the renaissance. Ap is definitely situated for history cycling. But does HAS or DWC or HFA continue with history sequence? I love that ap somewhat follows our 4 year history cycle. There was a big gap between certain eras.

Walking iris- I know it's not about the rules, but if I have them, he and I would have a better understanding how to memorize the spellings when the heteronyms and other words frequent things happen that I can't readily explain. He uses phonics to spell a lot . (Duv instead of dove) etc. even though glove shove love were presented earlier. Like if it's not stuck in the word family group, he needs to attach the rule or definition before he can spell it. C and k got me for the longest time, still does. There has to be a more comprehensive list out there. He is memorizing patterns with SS, don't get me wrong, just need something to back it up when he makes the same mistakes several times (doubling a consonant when it's a short vowel word before adding a suffix, etc.)

Yep, the first one is the one I have :( Any free all encompassing spelling rules lists out there? That way I don't have to buy 2 revised editions? I have SS1 and SS2 non revised editions given to me from friends, and the big motivator for using this to start with, was that I didn't have to pay for this program, and the next levels are relatively cheap compared to other's I've seen. As you can see, I get really scared to start something new. Being a grass is greener curriculum junkie, I am afraid to start something new cause I've been burned by homeschool fair OOOhhh's and Ahhhs, plunking down $$ for curriculum I didn't use or I probably won't use. I am too lazy to sell it back, because I have 2 dd's yet to do any curriculum. If they don't work well with the curriculum that I'd have already used with DS 1 - I'd still have options. It's always better to use the same curriculum, (for me if I can) cause my learning curve for homeschool materials and how to teach out of them is more proficient the 2nd or 3rd time around. I find it becomes less of a lesson planning chore.

I dont have it in my book either, it must not be the revised edition! LOL No wonder i am at a loss! I just got forwarded a spelling rules sheet from a friend. I don't know how comprehensive the list is. Is there a complete spelling rules list/book that supplements the SS good without me having to plunk down $75.00 (Does the patterns book contain all the spelling rules)? Walking Iris - Beating the clock for my kid is much better than him stalling out/drawing things out, passive petering out type of behavior. But only if it's done in a certain way? Where emphasis isn't placed on it as a huge penalty. (I have to learn how to incorporate it through most things.) His MO - He tries to stall so long, so as to think that he can get out doing of most homework, cause he thinks I won't be after him. He tries to make me feel bad for doing any homework, as if it's punishment sometimes. I told him that people do work, it's a necessary thing. I need a better explanation of how to help him understand it's fun, so that learning isn't a drag. Timing the spelling this week was an actual motivator for him. I timed last night and we were on lesson 42 and he clocked in at 23 minutes for all 25 words! He's getting better! And, he was all smiles. I also changed it up so that the sentences i used the words in were more funny than usual. He didn't get any wrong. Maybe it's my change of my attitude that was needed? and to not think that it was a mandatory 10-15 minutes for spelling. I just knew that 45 was a bit long... So maybe I need to adapt with better explanations of spelling rules instead of getting frustrated, and cut the list short for the day if he isn't getting the concept, and practice more on the particular words that he gets wrong, if it is a spelling rule driven thing. And in fact, when he did get it wrong, it was: which to use c or K at the beginning of the word, doubling the consonant for a short vowel. But he only missed 6 problems on the 40th lesson evaluation, so 70% correct isn't so bad. The other issue with grammar infusion with the words in spelling, is that it would be undocumented, and I wouldn't know that I covered it, or if it was review. I am totally a sequential person. If I can't check off lesson xyz being done, I won't remember if we covered it. I don't think I could drop FLL. I do drop all the dictation or extra writing exercises in FLL. I use WWE2 so that I know he has a better sense of Reading comprehension and writing. I make him do one sentence in WWE in cursive every so often so that he maintains the practice of it. His spelling words are always printed. I guess my other timing issue is the WWE2. So, maybe I should limit the number of sentences he writes or help him shorten the sentence in summarization? I want the sentences to come from him though. He's having issues putting thoughts on paper as his sentences become run on and long, it's gradual and slow full of spelling errors. Maybe I shouldn't correct him so often and just leave correction till the end. So that he doesn't get mad that he doesn't get it right the first time. And just sit there staring, and not comprehending? I guess my prep work of having to go through the hard words first needs to be had. It timed shorter when I explained the Pied piper/ week 17 definitions to him before hand, not just the ones that were given, but also ones that he wouldn't have understood at his age. I guess not all things are totally open and go. And, not all things should be black and white answers. This is where timing gets hairy. This is what's been the norm, which seems too much for a 2nd grader: 45 min WWE, 30-45 min SS, 10-15 FLL, 20 min Reading. So LA is winding up to be approx 1 hr 45 minutes minimum- 2 hours 5 minutes maximum, a day. That doesn't include history, science, art or piano lessons. So I was hoping to limit this somehow. You all think I should cut WWE2? Or, just cut a tad on spelling and a tad on WWE, so it averages out? And, if I did, I think SS will get better as we progress, but WWE I think will get harder. Editted 1/24 9:57 p.m.

Dottieanna29- my son is past cursive. He's already done a reason for handwriting all the way through cursive c. And we are on week 18 of WWE2 with him. I can't use other's leveling by age it seems, but just modify the approach of lessons, because we started a year early in homeschooling, so to stop, would mean going backwards or review until we're blue in the face. My son does all the writing in his MUS gamma book. So we can't compare totally. Isn't the next step proficiency though? Walking Iris- Ss- Timer is for both. One minute per word, and for me when dd distracts me. I usually tell him to try to write the word in one minute, if he gets it wrong, I show him on the chalk board app to copy it, using colored prefixes/suffixes. If he doesn't copy it in one minute (goofing off) then he gets an x has to write it three times and gets 3 minutes to do that. I know that 45 minutes is excessive, so if it gets that long, I stop and continue on another day. Most times for day 1 and 2 it's 30 minutes or less. I really appreciate the input on syllabic breakdown and practical grammar infusion. I forget to "teach it differently" And integrate the grammar with phonics somewhat. LOVE your ideas. You are speaking my language! By the way, I don't think I have the revised edition, and don't have the cash to get that Patterns of English spelling book, is that really necessary? Boscopup- He's already done OPGTTR. So, phonics has already been done through reading. But I've seen that spelling rules and reading rules are similar but not totally the same, am I correct or wrong in this? Eg.,Homophones, homographs, and homonyms show that in some cases? I don't know, but something tells me that plunking him in grade 2 or the first part of grade 3 of R&S would be too simple and not challenging enough. I should see if there are samples.

Writing with ease 1 - we did the whole book, so, my thinking, is maybe I need to pre-read difficult words to define them? I do critique his penmanship too, for spelling and wwe2, that could be cause for the time issue. SS -I time my son so that he can get focused. It does say to do it quickly in the teacher's manual. I don't see how it contradicts. It's there for me too, cause my 2 DD s will distract him and me too so it is there to keep us both on track. Afraid of r&s for some reason. Do you find it uses Orton gillingham rules? And is it rule based first or word family or random word lists that build on one another? Does it incorporate definitions or dictionary use? Walking iris- yes ss1 and he does do very well on the first day of the set of four days, before all the suffixes are added not at 15 minutes yet. But day 3&4 are taking 45 minutes. Also FLL is working fine 10-15 minutes is all I'm spending. It's just the writing intensive parts, which shouldn't be an issue, because he's done cursive, print and all of wwe1. Thanks for your comments on spelling and wwe2. Ss - I didn't see the rules in the back of my tm. I will look! He keeps on saying you don't need the explanations because kids should just get the patterning, so I assumed that he never listed them. All I saw at the bottom were homonym lists. I will check when I get home!

Most of the books I've used were for several months of use before I dropped them, so it's not like I tried them for 2 weeks and expected quick results. Most were used for 6 months or more. Spelling power- I have, and looked at and didn't use yet. (the Quick start portion isn't quick..) WWE 2 - 45 minutes is because He doesn't listen and pay full attention. I repeat the stories like 3 times before he answers right. And, he takes forever to write down a sentence. (Even with spelling mistakes) He stalls all the time, repeats questions all the time, and just sits there.

oh, we are almost finished botany. I forgot, we did apologia astronomy last year for 1st grade not this year for 2nd. My ds loves science and art, so it wasn't an issue.

I just need some confirmation here. I was researching spelling methods and trying to find the best fit. But trying to apply WTM suggestions is leaving me feeling overwhelmed with Language Arts. My son is now mid year into 2nd grade. Feeling like a curriculum junkie :drool5: . Explode the Code review- Thought it was a great series. We followed OPGTTR and whatever dipthongs they introduced-- or phonics they would go with, we did the same in ETC. For Ex. th words, we'd find whichever book had th in OPGTTR and do the exercises in ETC. I dropped ETC because the sentences were too hard for him at the time (k'er) to read and respond with the written and because someone told me it was just reinforcing phonics, not spelling per se. At the time, it was a lot of writing for my K'er. He got up to book 5 though. Spelling workout Book A review - I like how it was laid out, because it covered dictionary practice, proofreading, rhyming, vocab comprehension, writing, and provided some rules. I wasn't understanding how the word lay out was of benefit to my son in the long run, because the lists put words together in odd ways. Ex = words beginning with v, y,z, qu The list words were van, zoo, you , queen, zip and very. The visuals on the page were great for my son, but he had too much writing for his grade (early 1st grade at the time, we dropped it because cursive, WWE 1, grammar, and reading took precedence). Then I saw Sequential Spelling (It was free from a friend, and my portfolio reviewer said I needed to help him do it- I previously dropped spelling in favor of concentrating on Reading, Cursive, grammar, and WWE 1 during 1st grade), my son finished (Ordinary Parent's Guide to teaching reading and now is in 2nd grade.) So I thought he was ready. He got 14 out of 20 words correct on his first spelling test after Lesson 40. He doesn't take 15 minutes to do a lesson like the book says, it's more like 30-45 minutes and this is teacher intensive on my part. (He sometimes stops at 15 words) I have to use a timer, and set it to one minute after each word on the list or he won't focus. I will draw on my ipad (chalkboard app) instead of the whiteboard. SS doesn't provide the other things like in Spelling Workout, but he's able to spell complicated words through word families and patterns. No rules. He and I like rules, so I was considering purchasing Uncovering the Logic of English to tell him the rule that associated to particular words he had problems with. We use Writing with Ease 2 and FLL 2 and Abeka readers at the moment. It is taking a very long time for us. So I ask maybe we should change curriculum? He only got through lesson 40 and we started in September 2012. Spelling Power - I have the 365 activity cards,and the thick spelling list book but the rules aren't logical to me as to the why or how they should be applied when we would be stuck on a spelling. So far, this week, I will be continuing with SS and possibly purchasing ULOE unless I get other feedback from people. I have a 4.5 year old and a 2 year old that are totally testing my patience. Would love an open and go curriculum that isn't teacher intensive for my DS 7 yr old. Should I switch back to Spelling workout and force independence? I feel like it's going to take forever which ever curriculum I employ, as he gets distracted easy with the youngers. I am trying to get a feel for if I should employ something that is all inclusive come 3rd grade, because my K'er will be a handful-- or if I should continue breaking out all the subjects in LA like the WTM suggestions that I follow. WWE takes 45 minutes, FLL (grammar) is 10-15 minutes, Reading is in 1 hour increments 2 times a week (he read all of a Frog and Toad book in one sitting) . Spelling 45 minutes. The LA seems too time consuming.

Love this thread, it confirmed what I had been doing! I used both curriculums, and am glad to know that the problems with the support for the teacher wasn't there for me either. Like around lesson 50 or 40? Road block I think in SM level 1A. Anycow, we went back over with MUS addition facts and he got it. I think that SM gets a little too abstract for the teachers to explain for non math whiz's or kids that are average in math. We spent 3 months using a free online math site to quiz math facts. But it was a failure. My son is in MUS gamma now. DS loved the math visuals of Singapore (1A) and abeka (K) but we stuck to MUS because of the sequential style and repetition to ensure mastery. So it's MUS spine and SM for road blocks for us.

I used astronomy 1st and my son is in second. I would recommend journal. Just because my kid loves cutting and pasting things and drawing. He didn't care for all the fill in the blank stuff, but I wrote down his thoughts and did 1 crossword puzzle with him.

Unplug it during school time and tape it with packing tape. My mom actually cut the cord, and My brother (now electrical engineer) figured out how to rewire the frayed edges of the tv cord! LOL

I have the same issue. I was hoping to not have to buy something else. She started at lesson 27 and we did a modified version of abeka's ba be bi bo bu. Blends. Then we are going at half speed using more magnetic letters on chalk board, than her reading directly from the book. But reviewing really slow. She still gets short I and short e mixed up.

I just took a deck of cards, took out the face cards and told ds 1= Ace and we did math wars for greater than less than. We also did flip the card over and who ever could add the two cards flipped faster would get those cards. A lot like war. I would let him win a lot to let him build confidence. We took the mus principles, but used the cards several times along with. I tried him on something else free online, http://www.xtramath.com, he scored good some days but bad on lots of others. I think that the card games was better. There are also the math wrap ups. It's like a key with a string.

7 DS will be finishing up Ordinary Parents guide to teaching reading at the end of August. What do we do next? I remember reading that it's supposed to cover phonics and reading up to a 4th grade reading levels. He reads stories like Frog and Toad, Nate the great (which is like a 2nd to 3rd grade reading level.) With maybe 3-5 mistakes per page. I assume his fluency needs to be better. He's done wwe 1 and FLL 1 so I assume I should just go into WWE 2 and FLL 2, but what about after OPG? I did part of spelling workout A, but am going to switch to sequential spelling. (I failed at giving him enough spelling this past year-- I only gave him 2 lessons from SWO.) He was overloaded with too much writing. He's already done A reason for Handwriting Transition (whole book) He's into writing longer passages of scripture, and is needing a break from so much writing between WWE and ARFH.

I have the same issues with my 4 year old. She had a little friend in sunday school that actually got her to participate, now she goes to regular service with us again. I wonder of the 5 love languages, they have a quality time issue?

My son did abeka k math spiral approach in 3 months. we went through it without the teacher's manual, because it was too much prep for me during k year. He loved the visual colorful- cause he is a visual learner. Then I changed to Math u see -Alpha for the 2nd part of his k year and first part of his 1 st grade yr.), a mastery approach, but very black and white. Concepts were sequential, the way I could aid in teaching, and I really like the DVD and understood how to teach it. But, he hates the black and white. So I went Singapore 1a us edition. (because some concepts weren't reviewed enough in SM, we combined MUS and Singapore.) Singapore - concrete to abstract very quickly. This confused him a lot. I am stuck right now, and his addition and subtraction math facts are slow. I did speed tests using xtramath.com, and he bombed and hated it. Learning curve plateau'd. On paper, It takes him a minute per problem, because he gets distracted so easy and sometimes gets hesitant to add or subtract certain combinations.. Friends say that you should be able to do 3 seconds per math problem. Or, to just not worry about it period. He's finished SM 1a, math u see alpha, so he can add and subtract up to 20 just slow. Anyone else have similar issues? And what did you do? should I be following supplementals from a same company? Or spend a month reviewing math facts or problems using key wraps or timed tests? I just hear that multiple digit addition and subtraction requires speed, or else it would take forever. And I want him to find confidence, not backtrack. Help! The second guessing before April book conventions, is killing me quickly...

So up until now for my son, we've done, Kindy - Consider God's Creation, 1st - Real science 4 kids Chemistry, and Konos which hits science related topics and I purchased Astronomy apologia which we will start this month and hopefully finish in August, but we really want to get back on some kind of 4 year cycle for science starting in 2nd grade, so that I can combine ages. Any suggestions? My daughter will be in K4 Abeka starting this month hopefully ending in August. So kindy would start when my son is starting 2nd grade. All my kids are 2 years apart. This year has been CRAZY. I can't imagine documenting EVERYTHING. My hubby JUST bought WTM for christmas for me. I read through some chapters in the very beginning (Library had it). I feel so out of control with the art and the science this year. (Even though I purchased Artistic Pursuits and Apologia astronomy and the notebook. ) I guess I should have let him do some other artwork-- cartoony types because Artistic pursuits had a leap forward in the history time line (Dark ages, not much to teach), whereas, we're still in the late 900's in Mystery of History. So, initial question, is what have you done, when there is terror toddler, a K'er a 2nd grader and how did you combine them to do science? Or did you just do everything seperately?

We're doing Konos, and volume 1 is better for youngers, they even say that on their yahoogroups board.

Usually I try to get my 3 r's done even if we have a field trip, but, I Try to cut my field trips so that I leave where ever I am at 1:30 to get home by 2:00. 2:30-4:00 is what I aim for to get the 3 r's done. Always eating in the car, always dvd'ing the history or sign language (signing time) if possible in the car. If I could carschool :auto: the whole day, it would be great, they would totally be locked in (seatbelts ON!) with their eyes at attention, and not goofin around.:lol:

Bill, would you recommend a switch after us 1B? I already purchased US everything IB, don't want to ditch it, but trying to save myself from grief later. My multiple maths are Mathusee alpha, Singapore 1a, and now xtramath ate.com for fluency.

Oh, I should add, that DS finished the first 15 lessons of ARFH Transition book which I think is ARFH B equivalent. I am thinking about 4 more lessons, and then just doing the "transition lessons" for cursive. SWO A seems too easy for him, for some things, but he needs the "practice" in others. Like, ETC (1-3) already covered most of what's in SWO A, except for the proof reading skills and writing a sentence. Should I just hit all the review lessons? And then buy SWO B? Or, just use Spelling power?

Sorry, I think that a lot of you assume he's in K. He's not--he's in 1st grade according to the state. And, he's already done Abeka Pre k 3 yr, K4, and K5. So... not to say that I shouldn't take it easy on him, since he's still only 6, but-- I am not one to go backwards by dropping something that he should progress on.