I just looked at the samples and they look fun!

I really want to try AAR. AAS is a big hit with my 1st grader and I'm wondering if my K-er and my 1st grader would love AAR just as much. My K-er isn't catching on to blending yet so I'd even consider Pre-level 1.

There goes that plan...I wanted to C&P the student text. I really wish there was a student workbook to go along with OPGTTR. It would make getting it done so much easier.

I own the book but am wondering if it might be worth it to buy the PDF version. My kids detest doing their lessons using the book but will do them if I type up their lesson on the iPad. I just make a PDF with the words on one page and the story on another page. They love this but I don't want to do this for each and every lesson!

We did MM last year and just started Singapore this week with my Ker and 1st grader. They love it and so do I! I have MM 1-6 so my 7th grader is using some of the worksheets for extra practice. (He's in PS). MM just seemed too much like a bunch of worksheets and not enough instruction. Singapore seems MUCH more complete.

Welcome! I'm new to afterschooling also. :)

Thanks, everyone. :) I ended up buying AAS, Singapore Math, WWE, FLL, and I already have HWOT. I LOVE AAS so far and so does my first grader!! Now I just need to buy some things for my 7th grader and I'm all set.

I looked into those and they sound great! I'm thinking of adding in Easy Grams to quickly cover grammar. :)

I bought the program a couple of years back and highly recommend it. The hardest part is cutting out salicylates which is why I quit following it. I pulled it back out though and I'm going straight to stage 2, which doesn't cut out all of the salicylates.

My oldest qualified for speech therapy through the school when he was in 3rd grade. His speech therapist came to the house once a week for an hour which is the same amount of time as he would be getting in PS. He had an IEP but he also had other issues which required him to have a one on one LA tutor once he was back in PS. For the vaccines, you just need to fill out a waiver. I'm in Texas and had to order a waiver from the state. I'm not sure about Virginia. Good luck!

LA is my 7th grader's toughest subject and he was actually diagnosed with a writing LD when he was in 3rd grade. I'm looking for a curriculum that would be quick and easy to do after school and would hopefully have quick results. His writing and spelling are atrocious. He can read well but I have yet to find a spelling curriculum that works for him. I'm planning on buying copies of the books they will be reading in class this year to read with him but I am completely clueless on how else to help him. I do think if he were to see quick, applicable results that would give him confidence to stick with it.

I responded before I saw your reply, materusa. :) That answers my question about my Ker. He's not halfway through OPGTTR yet.

Thanks! He does HWOT and I have plenty of readers. :) My K-er does OPGTTR and HWOT. I'll do AAS with both of them but I'm wondering if I should get FLL for him too? I don't think he's ready for WWE yet.

3 of my 4 boys are summer birthdays so this is a topic that hits very close to home. I sent my oldest on time and he ended up doing kinder twice. It was too late though because he already labeled himself as "stupid" and not able to learn. He has struggled with very low self esteem ever since. He also has ADHD which makes the matter worse. My 5 year old could have gone to kinder this year but was no where near ready and I didn't want to set another child up for failure. It truly does last a lifetime. He's HSing now and will start PS when he's ready and I'll try to have him placed in the grade he's developmentally ready for. My 3 yo is a summer baby and we'll do the same for him. I have to say, my 1st grader is a November baby and I still had to pull him out of kinder to HS. What they are doing in kinder just doesn't match up to a child's developmental process. My opinion is that a child should read before they write but PS kinder has them journal writing before they can read. Makes zero sense.

I forgot to mention we are already doing OPGTTR but my 1st grader needs help with spelling. Do I drop OPGTTR with this combo?

Would these three together make a complete LA program for 1st grade? Are all 3 needed or would they be overkill? Thanks!!

I'm so happy to find this group! I've homeschooled my 7th grader off and on since 2nd grade and homeschooled my 1st grader last year. They are both loving school this year and we are blessed to live in a wonderful school district. We redshirted my 5 year old because he has an August birthday and is in no way ready for kinder. Plus, he was extremely adamant that he didn't want to go. I'm not sure what we will do next year but for now plan on HSing kinder. I'm going to buy some curriculum today and could use some advice! I'm doing LHTH with my 3 yo but need something for my 5 yo and 1st grader. I have MM 1-6 that I think would work well for after school. I plan on buying HWT for handwriting. They are doing really well with OPGTTR but my 1st grader is struggling with spelling. Would AAS work well for afterschooling? Thank you so much for your help. It's nice to find a place to fit in. :) I'm not really a HSer anymore but I also cringe at some of the teaching practices of PS. I'm hoping to have the best of both worlds. :hurray:

After thoroughly looking through the Sonlight site and their forums I think I've decided to go with Sonlight Core G for 7th and Core H for 8th. Then he can do Core 100 in 9th and continue with 200, 300, and 400. I want to choose a curriculum and stick with it for the long hall (I know, famous last words lol) and Sonlight seems to flow better for that purpose. And it's just way too hard for me to fork over $500 for Winterpromise when they have so many mixed reviews. I will definitely be choosing some books from their American Cultures 2 curriculum because they look great!

I just pulled my 6th grader from public school and am not sure what writing program to use. I also need feedback on the other curriculum im using We are using Teaching Textbooks 6, memorizing math facts, Spelling Wisdom, Easy Grammar, and Italics handwriting. Italics handwriting and Easy Grammar haven't come in the mail yet so we haven't actually started those yet. We read from Aesops fables and he narrates but I have not required writing yet. I have gotten mixed advice on this, some say to hold off until he can organize his thoughts through narration and some say to start WWE. He has severe ADHD, SPD, and a diagnosed learning disability so his handwriting is atrocious and his writing not up to par with a public schooled 6th grader but I'm not sure what I should expect as a homeschooled 6th grader. I'm a CM/classical homeschooler and I know both styles have children independently writing in later grades than PS. We also won't be starting history or science until fall in order to focus mainly on math, reading, handwriting, and language arts (Spelling Wisdom and Easy Grammar). I would love any and all feedback, good and bad! Thanks, Jennifer

I forgot to add we have HWOT kindergarten. It's working very well but it's just capital letters so far. I think he'll probably work through this book quickly.

Wow, I had not realized I had replies! I thought I'd have notifications so did not check. Oops. :001_huh: I still need to read over all of the responses but thanks! I ordered Saxon phonics, Learn Write Draw (?), and a Veritas Press copybook. We are also slowly reading through Mr. Popper's Penguins. For reading he has BOB books. We did a lapbook on pumpkins this week from Currclic. He would honestly do school all day. He's always asking to do more! I honestly can't keep up with him! Jennifer

I bought Saxon 1 and am going to order Saxon phonics. I need to buy a few more things to get free shipping from Christianbooks.com. What else should I get? I have HWOT but would prefer a simpler handwriting that's more basic. No special paper, etc. Also, Liam LOVES to draw, cut, paste, and do art. What can I get for that? What else does a kindergartner need? Thanks!!