Thanks, that is what I thought. I am going by TWTM. It is just hard to switch from the ways of ps where they had my oldest dd writing so much - and getting into bad habits - to me now, where I do much less, but really work on grammar, etc.

I have 6&7 y/o dd; how much writing should they do/be expected to do? We do try and incorporate writing in different ways: calendar time, writing time, spelling, science, not much in history, grammar, and wwe. But what about creative writing? Just having them write. Now in ps, they did this a lot in 1st grade. Pages and pages to make a non-fiction or fiction book. Of course, no grammar was taught, so some bad habits formed that I had to work on, but they just did more writing. My dd2 just hates writing, unless I sneak it into science. Dd1, just loves most anything. Thanks.

Sorry, dd2 is 6 y/o.

Have any of you used ALL About Reading? I started using AAS and love it. It has really helped my dd2. I am thinking of getting ALL About Reading. I looked at the inside views - are the books just black and white, no color? What do you think of them, for those of you who have used them? Thanks!

What is the best way to teach addition and subtraction math facts? How important are number families? My oldest dd relies heavily on her fingers, younger one doesn't, yet. I have my girls do a variety of math games, flashcards, etc. I am debating how important learning all fact families are - I don't remember learning it "that way", but that doesn't mean it was right? Thanks

I have Math in focus, which is also singapore math. I did buy the extra practice book, and that has helped a lot. I almost am doing 2 lessons a day because I do the teaching lesson from my manual, then dd does her workbook sheets that are based on that lesson (one dd needs me to be right there for her workbook assignment, the other does not). Then later in the same day, I assign a lesson from the extra practice workbook. We do a lot of math games. 4 way countdown is a great board game - I even like it. Lots of Ipad apps too.

Hi, the link is broken. I would love the cards though, and thanks for sharing!:)

I have a similiar 6 y/o in my house:001_smile:. My friend, who is an early childhood teacher, suggested we put our spelling workout A on hold until dd can read better. She emphasized that reading should come before spelling. I went back and bought AAS, and since that is much more a phonics based spelling program, I think it is much better suited for my 6 y/o. I also read a lot of threads on here of people stating that when their child used AAS, that their child jumped levels in reading. This is what I am hoping for. Get my dd the ground that she needs, learn her phonics really well, and be able to decode words then much better. She was just trying to memorize her way through reading with sight words - not going to work. Spelling workout is good, but I think for a child who likes reading, or is a stronger reader. My older dd, is doing just fine with spelling workout. I plan on incorporating back into dd6 curriculum, when her phonics get better. Also, it is amazing what shaving cream can do! My dd had so much fun doing spelling words in this! Try sand or salt too. Window markers are great also. Good luck!

Thanks so much to all of you. I am just not sitting right with this. I put a call in to her ped and was told by the nurse, just keep giving her the iron. **** it - she almost died a few years ago due to some crazy liver thing that was never really figured out. Now this?! I work in the health care field (physical therapist), and this sort of thing drives me crazy, when people just want to make assumptions. I am going to call her liver doctor tomorrow and see what they think. I was told by the audiology team that the APD test has to be given only on children >7, otherwise it is not reliable. She sees a neuropsych this week for a test, we will see what that is all about.

We would like to get a microscope to use for our science unit, but OMG, there are like thousands to chose from. We don't want to get too pricey, our kids are pretty little. I saw the Geosafari Tuff Scope, I like that it is portable (we have a lot of woods and are outside a lot so this would be a great feature). Any other ideas? Thanks.

Exactly our concern too!! We put a call into the doctor for this same question. When we were first told this, the docs commented that it was probably due to food (or lack there of). Now, her tonsils have been bugging her, but not enough for anyone to take out, but, she is still eating, loves meat, etc. She was a very sick little toddler (in the hospital with a "type" of liver failure - her liver function tests were in the 1000's!) They never did find out why she got so sick, but she eventually got better. Even before I knew she had an iron deficiency, I told my dh this summer that why is dd acting like she has ADD, when she doesn't normally act like this. This is a common sx of iron deficiency, I am told.

Ok, thanks for all the advice. We did just find out her iron levels are very low, and low and behold, low iron levels can cause ADD like sx's (which she is exhibiting, mildly, lately - she never use to before), and it can lower mental functions, etc. The ped thinks that some of what we are seeing will get better with the iron supplements, but not all. I am going back to phonics - that is my main subject with her right now. I think she was trying to memorize her way through reading. Her kindy teacher said her sight word list is above average, but until me, no one took the time to realize her phonetics sucked. Hence another reason for hs. As far as the ear infections, yeah, I am wondering what is causing her to have so many. Gluten? I don't know. Thanks for all the insight - very helpful. Just realizing how her little mind listens and thinks differently, gives me more patience to help her.

This just tore me up - hearing and seeing her cry so much. Even when she wanted to quit dance, some told me I should force her, but I knew something didn't fit. I knew she loved dance, it's sad that whatever is going on is keeping her from loving things she really wants to do. I pray we can get the help she needs, thank you all.

Thanks all, yes, her reading is okay, not strong, she struggles. She turned 6 in the summer, so she is a young first grader. Until last year, she didn't have any interst in being read to at bedtime. Now she finally likes that. What makes it tricky for me is my older one is advanced, about 2 grades ahead esp. in language arts. She does a lot of reversals with her writing too. With her phonics, she can tell me the beginning sounds, but really struggles with ending sounds.

My 6 y/o dd has "something" going on. Long story short - Last year in kinder, the teachers said she was average, but I could tell she wasn't catching on with phonics, reading, and rhyming. She just got her 3rd set of tubes in Feb of her kinder. year and said in recovery, "hey, I can hear people talking!?" My heart just dropped when I heard that. Shortly after getting her tubes, she cried everyday on the way to school and the night before. (She had a loud, obnoxious, huge class). Then, this summer she made comments like, "can you please not drive on the interstate, all I hear is the tire noise." She tried tap dance and quit after 2 classes (threw a huge fit - turns out weeks later she talked about how she couldn't hear anything with the music and the kids and teacher talking). Now with homeschooling, mostly due to her is why I decided I need to, I am picking up how hard spelling and school in general is for her. She just doesn't "hear" the words/letters. Today, when she was trying to hear a "t", she said, "oh, you mean ch". She is too young for an audiology processing disorder test, she keeps passing all her hearing test, so her audiologist is having her seen at a child development center through Children's Hospital. What do I until then? Just keep at it with hs? Spelling is so hard for her - any suggestions? Sorry so long. Thanks. Oh, and we just had a sleep study done on her (sleepwalking, bed wetting) and found out she is very iron deficient (blood test confirmed), so she just started on iron supplements.

Wow, my kids want to come to your house! I am new to hs this year and have a "calendar time" in the morning. It is both of my girls favorite time of the day (I found this out the other day). I am going to add more to it, from your list - thanks. In my calendar time I include making the date with money, and ones/tens/hundreds place, etc. We do time, and I have tooth charts for when the next tooth is lost. I need to get a birthday template to chart all the family and extended families birthdays (then I won't forget my husband's side of the family!).

I am new to hs this year, and just amazed at how some are able to hs and have this awesome blogs full of wonderful ideas and free printables :). Could you all please share your favorite and yes, I know many of you have theses wonderful blogs I am talking about - thank you. Someone started a thread on here about FIAR blogs, thanks, I use FIAR. It just got me to thinking about some of the other curriculum I use too. Thanks!

Hi all, I went ahead and bought the Prairie Primer to do with my 7 y/o "on the side". I told my 6 y/o she can join along when she wants, but I am not "forcing her" as this is an extra. I am not wanting to go overboard with the Prairie Primer, I just want to have some fun with and supplement as needed and allow my 7 y/o go down more rabbit trails. Thanks.

Hi all, My 6 y/o is showing a lot of interest in learning about Mozart, and a few other composers. She is a beginning piano player. Any suggestions, ideas? I got some cd's from the library that she is loving. Thanks

Hi all, I had a great week with my young 6 y/o. She has really struggled with spelling. She wasn't learning any words from SWO. So, I stopped and decided to just review. I didn't do any oral review or written. On Monday I had her write all her spelling words in shaving cream, that's it. On Tuesday, I had her write them in sand (I have sand in a scrapbook bin), that's all. On Wednesday I decided to test her. She got 12/12 right!!! Wow. My other dd can just look at the words, memorize, and move on. It sure helps to know how my younger needs to learn. What a great feeling - just though I would share for those of you struggling too.

Thanks so much!!

Yep, I am changing it up a bit. Things are finally starting to flow a little better here. We have been testing the waters for about 6 weeks now, and really got more into it last week. Having a workbox system has helped so much (just switched this week). Far less whining with that. So, I figure with hs, we get to spice it up once in awhile, right? I got us all tickets to Seussical this weekend to kick off a whole week of Dr. Seuss. I just have to start collecting more ideas now, I know they are out there though. Do you have any? Thanks all.

Hi, we are using MIF instead of the original SM. I guess for me, I just read the reviews on Rainbow Resource for both of them and thought MIF was a better fit. It sounded more user friendly. I am not sure how much of a difference it is making. All is going well so far, but this is our first year hs. Good luck. My cousin is using SM and likes that too. Her dd is older though, I don't know if that makes a difference.

Thanks all, if I go with the AG do I get one for each child? Or is it more of a teacher's guide? Thanks!!

Hi all, Well, now that I feel we are starting to get the hang of our schedule, I feel I need/want to add more history. I am doing some through FIAR, but I am thinking about adding SOTW. I would start with vol 1 of course, but do you recommend the activity book and the tests and audiobooks? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!:001_smile: Thanks, Suzanne