[Overwhelmed by homeschooling drawbacks]

Homeschooling is a paradigm shift. My house is never completely clean. My hair is usually in a bun. I live in yoga pants. I schedule my things last. I put my kids education before everything else. I look at it as my career.

 

:iagree:

[Rod and Staff question]

R&S English is excellent for grammar.

I also encourage you as a previous poster to defintely do the review from the TM before each lesson. That is very important for the program.

 

:iagree:

[CLE LA... overkill or thorough?]

This I totally get. I won't be reusing CLE 100 when my next in line is ready. We'll probably go with FLL 1&2, BUT my current 2nd grader and 4th grader are doing well with theirs even though I don't really care for the spelling. . .or the phonics and handwriting sections (which we skip). I do go round and round over whether I should be using an all in one LA program in which we cross out the phonics (at early levels), handwriting, and spelling.

 

I hear you on this one!!! I tried this very same thing with hopes of using an all in one. But after so much of crossing this out and skipping this part and supplementing, it ended up not really being and all in one anymore so I gave up on the thought and am now okay with piecing things together.

[CLE LA... overkill or thorough?]

CLE100...OVERKILL! We dropped it after about a month or so.

[mastery based math currics?]

Rod and Staff!!

[days go by readers]

My DS7 is reading that very book right now and yes they are talking about the dolls and he doesn't have a problem with it.

[What homeschool items are on your Christmas list?]

Lots of Heart of Dakota gift certificates :lol:

[HOD - Creation to Christ - Q's]

I agree. Make sure you check the skills chart first.

 

:iagree:

[Well, it looks like I'm a box checker...]

I'm just now having to admit that I'm a box checker as well. I really did not want to be and tried to fight it for the first 2 years of homeschooling...lol! I am totally embracing it going into this 3rd year. We are using Heart of Dakota and loving every minute of it and checking off every box as we go. Oh well!!

[How do YOU bring peace and joy to your homeschool?]

This looks a lot like our family. I am curious, what do you consider a good bedtime? I know it depends on what time everyone gets up. These are our bedtimes: Baby-7:00 (gets up to eat again at 10pm), 3yo-7:30, 7yo-8:00, 9yo-8:30. Some people seem to think this is really early. And some, like my parents, even think we are kind of mean! Everyone is up by 7am. I would be interested to know when others are putting their children to bed....

 

These are the same times in our home. Since the time change and the neighborhood kids spending more time outside since school is almost over for the year makes my littles upset but so far we have not changed the times. We've been doing this for years.

[How do YOU bring peace and joy to your homeschool?]

Mama read a book called Homeschooling with a Meek & Quiet Spirit http://www.titus2.com/ecommerce/products/prod_listing.php/1120 and things are looking a lot better around here because of it.

[Are my kids the only ones that HATE school?]

My children ages 6 & 8 hated all things school until we switched to Heart of Dakota and we've all been loving it an happier ever since. It was a good switch as I was getting really burnt out trying to come up with ideas to make our days fun. I remember coming here posting a question...."DOes homeschooling HAVE to be fun?". Now I just open the manuals and go. School gets done joyfully and with good attitudes....no planning and less stress for mom.

[Math Curriculum Help]

we LOVE Rod & Staff math here!!

[R&S Grammar 2- do you need teacher's manual]

You don't need it but it's nice to have to read along with your dc. You will need it for grade 3 and on.

[Do you teach multiplication and ...]

I do. When they are learned together, there are so many light bulbs, patterns, etc. that she really enjoys and understands them. Just my opinion. :)

:iagree:

[Do you remember your FIRST year?]

OH BOY!!! Do I remember that year!!!!

It was just 2 years ago and I remember it being the most frustrating and challenging year of my life.

I tried SO hard to bring the public school into my home as it was all that I knew. I was so uptight with homeschooling. Now finishing up our second year....WOOHOO!!!

I know my teaching style and my children's learning styles and things couldn't be better. Heart of Dakota had a lot to do with it as well and R&S Math and English :lol::lol:

 

I am so laid back now, sometimes too laid back I think :)

The best curriculum is the curriculum that actually gets done. We are all very happy.

 

I do remember that we didn't get very much done the first year which added to my frustration. All the fears of failing myself and my kids was very overwhelming. I tried to do too much at one time--with the public school-at-home approach. We then took time to de-school ourselves as we ALL needed it. After that just sticking to the 3R's the rest of the year. We did start out this second year behind but am pretty much caught up--homeschooling year round has helped tremendously in being able to do that. It has also helped to take off a lot of pressure.

[I've messed up big time on math and grammar this year. How to catch up?]

I say Rod and staff for both math and english.

[Thinking of trying JUST the Complete Writer]

I went with the workbook for that very reason.

[Suggestions for a 2nd grader?]

Hands down....Heart of Dakota!!!

[Anyone using a textbook approach?]

We use textbooks for math and english (Rod & Staff) and couldn't be happier. I LOVE LOVE LOVE R&S!! We use Heart of Dakota for everything else. We are having a wonderful time homeschooling since we ditched everything else :lol:

[The single best curriculum you ever used]

Heart of Dakota and Rod & Staff Math and English

[The First Four Years (Little House) question]

Thanks, everyone! It sounds like we can go ahead and read it. :)

:iagree:

[R&S Math 1 arrived today :)]

 

And don't worry if they jump right into their workbook. There are days that it is so much review that mine do that too. Sometimes I will have them start the workbook if it is review and we are in a hurry while I do something else, and then get to it later. Sometimes I will look at it and know that they will be fine if we skip it that day altogether. But keep up the review as much as possible. It really works.

 

:iagree::iagree:

And we love R&S math here too. I don't (won't) even look at another math program because I don't even want to be tempted. I skip over all math threads that aren't R&S related as well :D

[HOD-Is it really as great as it looks??]

We are so excited to switch to HOD this year! I have poured over the samples, teacher's manuals, and books over and over! I cannot wait to start!

 

You are going to LOVE it!!!:lol:

[R&S Math 1 arrived today :)]

But the first grade flash cards also use before-and-after, before/after, and, um, at least one more thing, not just addition and subtraction facts.

 

That's correct--I made all these too! Somewhere in the beginning of the teachers guide it tells (shows) you all of the cards that you will need. It took me all of 5 minutes.