I'm getting ready to order WWE 1 and I'm still debating about getting the Level 1 Workbook. Does anyone have any regrets about buying it (or not buying it)? I was thinking about getting the StartWrite software for creating copywork, but I probably won't if I get the WWE workbook. Any comments would be appreciated!

We did FIAR for KG this year and loved it. Once you learn how it works, you can make your own lesson plans for picture books that you can easily and inexpensively access. Unfortunately, that means you lose the great open and go use of FIAR. You can easily cover the kg requirements for social studies in everyday living and conversations about picture books. You've got your list of requirements, just check them off as you cover them and then keep an eye out for books or life events to cover other issues. It might help to set monthly, quarterly, or semester goals to work through the list. Have fun!

AAS=All About Spelling

I did FIAR with my Ker this year. She was always so excited to sit down and read the FIAR books. We rowed each book for two weeks as part of a co-op class I taught, so we did it a little differently. We read the story and then did 1-2 Social Studies lessons and usually a L.A. lesson the first week at co-op and the second week we read the story again and did 1-2 lessons (S.S., L.A., or science usually - whatever I thought would work well in a group setting). I read the book at home as well (1-3 times more during those 2 weeks) and we would cover a subject(s) that we didn't get to in co-op. We did 2 lapbooks (just us, not the co-op).While I like the idea and I love scrapbooking it just wasn't a good fit because she needed so much help (she was a young 5yo when we did them) and I had a baby and toddler who wanted my attention. Looking back I should have tried it again during the boys' naptime, but I didn't. I am impressed with how much DD (and the co-op students) remembered from mainly a conversational approach. While we often did a hands on activity with each book, sometimes it was a simple as drawing a picture about the story. This week we played a review game at the co-op that I put together and they remembered so much (and most of those kids just heard the story twice). It was such a fun way to do geography and I love to hear my DD say something like "I know what buoyance means - we learned that from a FIAR book!" While I plan on doing some FIAR next year (I couldn't resist when I found an inexpensive used copy of another vol. 3), I don't think we'll do it every week. I think I would prefer a more systematic approach to L.A., history, and science ala WTM recommendations, but we've got so much out of FIAR I am not ready to give it up completely. My DH who really wasn't involved in our hs work picked up just enough of what we were doing and is a great fan of FIAR.

To help with allergies (specifically dust, but also to make it easier when outdoor allergies are bad), I begrudgingly began vacuuming every day that I could (which is about 4/week). There have been two unexpected benefits: the kids don't complain as much about picking up (I don't know if it's because of feeling like part of a team, or they understand the reason for picking up) and the house stays so much neater (which may contribute to fewer complaints because there is less to pick up if we are doing it all almost every day). It really doesn't take as much time as I thought it would either - again, probably because there is not as much to pick up before hand. Two other things really help me to be productive: exercise first thing in the morning gets me energized and having a to do list everyday has helped me to be so much more productive. I put it the to do list on an index card (I even put subjects to cover) and often carry it around with me.

We loved FIAR (vol 1) for kindergarten as well! The FIAR forums and homeschoolshare.com (and enchantedlearning.com but you have to pay a subscription for that) have some great suggestions and resources to use with it. One thing that surprised me was how much my hubby loved the FIAR books. He had read most of them as a child (I had not) and he just loved that our dd (and her toddler brother) was getting to read them as well. I can't believe how much geography my dd has learned with FIAR! We are planning a classical/CM approach to first grade, but I just found an inexpensive used copy of FIAR vol. 3, so we will "row" some more FIAR books for fun.

Our schedule changed dramatically through the year. I realize now that if I had waited 6 months, she would have been so much more ready developmentally. The last 4-6 weeks have been so much easier as her attention span and ability to focus have increased quite a bit. She'll be 6 next week. Currently we start off with reading a children's Bible during breakfast and then I try to start school by 9:00am. We spend about 15 minutes on the following: reading (an easy reader or McGuffey's), math (living math, playing with dice, using counting bears, number lines, skip countingetc..) handwriting (copywork or HWT), recorder practice. She usually gets a break in there at least once while I take care of her younger brothers or do an exercise video. We are usually done by 11:00 and that includes the 30 minute break I took to workout). Some time in the day we also do FIAR (L.A., science, social studies, art appreciation, applied math)a couple of times a week, memory work (AWANA verses or Mother Goose rhymes usually) 3-4 times a week, Spanish (we started out 3x week, but it is now often just 1x) using picture dictionaries or talking about certain topics (this is often done in the car). One afternoon a week we participate in a co-op where she takes art, music (recorder and music appreciation), PE, and FIAR (I teach the class and we "row" the book 2 weeks at co-op, so we don't do it everyday at home). We recently bought her a ball (like a big exercise ball) with a handle to sit on. I wish that I had gotten it 6 months ago when she couldn't sit still. When we began in August, we started at 9:00 with Bible, 15 minutes recorder practice (while I settled the baby for a nap and started the 2yo on an activity) 15 minutes of handwriting, and then if she seemed ready to do more, I spent 15 minutes doing math activities (similar to above). I tried doing our 100EZ lessons for phonics in the morning, but she did not want to sit still then, so I found it was easier to wait until the boys were settled for the afternoon nap. After she had played hard in the morning, she was then ready to settle down and cuddle up to read. I often did math in the afternoons also, because she was so much more compliant then. We worked in memory work and Spanish throughout the day and did FIAR with the little boys just before nap time.

My 5yoDD could easily listen to audio stories for 4 hours a day or more. I have started to limit it a bit because I want her to participate a bit more with the family. She was starting to get very grumpy with her brother and wasn't playing with him very much. She still gets to listen when she wakes up in the morning, but once breakfasts starts, I usually don't let her listen again until rest time in the afternoon. She often listens in her room for 2 hours in the afternoon while her brothers are sleeping, although I only ask that she rests quietly for about 45 minutes. She also can listen at bedtime, if she gets ready for bed on time and with a good attitude. She usually stays up 30-60 minutes listening. Although she can read easy readers, she hasn't shown any interest in reading on her own and I think that's because it is easier to listen to audio stories. Her favorites right now are the Little House series and SOTW1. I wonder too, if it's okay to let her do that for hours.....

Even though my beagle's howling can drive me crazy at times (and right now she's making me mad by stealing food from the table) she is a great alarm system for us. Plus she's great with the kids. I haven't heard of any crime in our immediate neighborhood, but we're not far from any area that I would have some concerns about. Still, we leave windows open at night. I'm not afraid to answer our doors to strangers, but I do check the door first. I do let the kids play in the backyard by themselves, if the dog is out there with them. I try to stay in the kitchen (with the backdoor) and the kids are not supposed to talk to anyone (except specific neighbors) without talking to me first. They can only play in the front yard if an adult is watching them (sometimes that will be a neighboring parent, but usually for only a few minutes). I'm grateful for a couple of neighbors who are outdoors a lot and really have an eye on what's going on in the neighborhood.

Can someone comment on how PR's grammar compares or diverges from CM grammar? Do you think the spelling portion of PR keeps it from being a CM approach? My oldest will be in first grade in the fall.

Wow, what a great thread! I am learning so much. I think it's time I took the plunge read CM's original writings rather than interpretations by others. :tongue_smilie:

You might want to check your library first to give it a try. I borrowed it through ILL and have to admit I was a bit underwhelmed initially. However, after a few chapters, my dd5 has really gotten into it and two days ago, she asked me to change the CD so that she could listen to the one about Caesar Augustus again! My dd loves audio stories and would listen for up hours a day (I actually limit her time some days so that she'll spend more time with the family). My ds(3 this week) has also asked to listen to them during quiet time - of course it's big sis's example. I wonder how much she'll remember when we actually start SOTW late this summer. Knowing her, she'll catch me if I fumble a word when reading it aloud because her auditory memory is that good. While I'd like to purchase it, I may have to settle for using the library's copy. I'm doing better than I deserve! Wife to a K-Stater, mama to dd5, ds3 (almost), and ds1.

We will be wrapping kg in a few weeks! It has been a wonderful experience and I can't wait to start a classical approach beginning with 1st grade. I surprised myself (I'm so glad I did) with my choices this year - FIAR has been such an enjoyable approach to kg. WE did 100EL (mixed feelings about that), HWT and copy work, lots of manipulatives and games for math. -I, too, have learned that I'm not as patient as I thought. -If I had waited 6 months to start hs my dd (6 in 2 weeks), it would have been an even better year. (Although it could be that she finally got used to school - she's pretty independent/willful at times!) -I treasure our time together and have a hard time not telling my ps friends that I wish they would reconsider. However, I know my closest friends have given it consideration and made up their minds. -It took me awhile to figure out that I'd enjoy reading aloud much more if I picked the books. The Mysterious Journey of Edward Tulane has been a favorite. -Audio CDs are a wonderful thing - my daughter could listen for HOURS a day. -I am a much better Mama now that my youngest is sleeping through the night! -I am not a very fun kg teacher. I need to schedule more fun activities, because I find excuses not to do them. -It was great to see how much my 2yo picked up this year just being around big sis. -I am so glad I joined a co-op this year, so my daughter could do fun art & music (among other things). Mainly, I'm glad for my sake - I learned a lot from veteran home schoolers. -I get so much more done if I get up and exercise right away. -I can spend way too much time looking at curriculum.:tongue_smilie: Considering TOG and PR (if I can talk my dear hubby into the price of PR - he is sold on TOG) next year. I've spent hours doing research the last couple of weeks and have waffled a bit. I see all the curriculum hopping and am hesitant to lay out a lot of money for PR when I also really like the look of FLL & WWE. I am doing better than I deserve! wife to a K-Stater, mama to dd (05/05), ds (04/08), ds (03/10)