I just downloaded :)

http://www.amazon.com/Phonics-Practice-Readers-Teachers-Guide/dp/0813606519/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c the phonics practice readers as well as the McRuffy books (I think you could just order the books). I am pretty ANTI most readers found in the library as they tend to either be boring or have extra words he struggles with and I want him to feel successful after reading not like it was a constant uphill battle.

My mom arrived yesterday and had been very ANTI-homeschooling and can't stop raving about how well S is doing so I feel better. You are all right.. just a momentary panic! SIL arrives tomorrow night so we shall see :)

:lol:she is a math specialist and a third grade teacher.... to explain my panic!

so my SIL arrives in 3 days... THREE DAYS and there is no subtraction in sight in our Right Start Math.:confused: I mean we have FUN every day and he loves it but how long can one do place value? Thinking of switching. I already supplement with math Mammoth which I like but am confused as to how to go between topics there as well as mine comes as separate topics.:bigear:

What is CHOW? I love love love McRuffy Phonics and Right Start Math! I also love the book let's read : A Linguistic Approach by Leonard Bloomfield as my son tends to guess based on pictures way more than he needs to at his level. It has done wonders for his reading skills.

off to buy the next phonics program :) :001_smile:

and I can't figure out how it differs from a phonics program. I am completing the McRuffy phonics program with my 1st grade son and this seems very similar:confused: McRuffy even has spelling quizzes. Any thoughts? I was about to order the next McRuffy phonics level but I don't want to overlap.

and LOVE Many Creatures - A Song about Animal Classification to reinforce things!

and I made a lapbook for him to refer to as we move along. I focused on Vertebrate and Invertebrate as the phylums and now we are focusing on Mamals. We started with Living things vs nonliving things, then defined biology and spent a week classifying blocks and other household objects. I was overwhelmed at first but he seems to be picking up the basics and he is 6 ( 7 in january).

:bigear:

why so many of you who say you liked RS ultimately switch to Singapore or Saxon, etc. Why the switch if you liked the RS program?:001_huh:

Clearly I needed some hand holding:grouphug: Great suggestions!

and do a biology co-op (forgot that one) on Tuesdays. The reason I was holding back on First language lessons is that he is still struggling with his phonics and with handwriting and I was concerned about overwhelming him in that area. I'll have to keep in mind I can start it anytime.

I have to follow up the listening to the cd with actually reading the chapter to him from the book to insure any real retention.

a day. Just not all together. maybe that is where my stress is coming from. We are getting school done AROUND our lives and not the other way around.

I am using the McRuffy phonics along with Explode the Code, Right Start Math, SOTW, Writing with Ease. We do CC one day, a FIAR co-op another day and piano, soccer and swim team. I just feel like we are flying through everything (except for the CC grammar work - infinitives at age 6?). Should I be doing First Language lessons for this year or can it wait until second grade? Panicked because I am homeschooling in the face of protest from EVERYONE. I did homeschool my DS (19) for freshman year and it was CAKE compared to first grade!:chillpill: