We use PAL, have been trying to use it or the last year. It is nice, my boys enjoy it, my young 3 year old is even starting to read from "doing school" along with his brother... BUT. .... It takes a long time to get through each day for me. It really is too long for one subject for that age, IMO. Even if the child has the attention span, it's too long for ME. It has so many different little parts that I find it just really clunky. It moves really fast through new words and sounds, and yet it seems like it drags on, too. I really don't know how to explain it other than I really don't like it, but it has some good points, so I keep trying it. I finally gave myself permission to dump it (except for the file folder games) and I will be ordering AAR.

:iagree: DD always has to ask what grade she is in, and when DS13 went into charter school we really had to evaluate what grade for him to enter since we've never used "grades". I started at the beginning and moved forward. I expect them to work at the level they are at, whatever that may be. Because most children are somewhat asynchronous in their abilities, this has worked wonderfully for us. It takes a lot of pressure off, both me and the kids! :001_smile: So, instead of doing anything over (unless needed to regain skill) I would just start at where she is at and go from there.

Whatever it is, be sure the kids are old enough to remember and really benefit. We lived in Germany for 2.5 years and my now-11 year old doesn't remember all the cool things we did. :( she was almost 8 when we left. I would totally travel... or perhaps really get into a service or project. Last year my daughter did Destination Imagination and helped restore a wetland area, both ending up being very time consuming, we didn't do a whole lot other than math on top of that (and other volunteer work and some classes). Although we are returning to a more sane schedule this year, her confidence really blossomed last year. She really rocketed forward in her leadership, communication skills, independence, and she was SO happy! She worked really hard and accomplished some big goals. Even though our academics fell to te side , I would do it all over again because what she gained I feel she really needed at that point. So. I guess I would travel a little, but really dig deep in something where there is a big accomplishment at the end of the year. Something challenging, something where there will be tears and frustrations, but fun and worth it in the end.

Going to agree with Costco, though I can't remember the price right now. It is where I've bought our binders for he last 8 years and have he no problems.

Physical things like gymnastics is a big priority for my little guys. I couldn't afford those things with my first two and they both have various issues we've had to overcome, so I try to make sure my younger ones do a lot physically. A lot of that is free (park swings, rolling down grassy hills, climbing trees), but gymnastics add an extra component to that. Swim lessons are also a must, for safety reasons at the very least. I also pay for classes at our local resource center, Village Home. That is about $300 per 10 week term for all my kids. And then music lessons, we did a cheap group lesson for violin this last year through the public schools, only $40 a month! But I don't know if we will continue, my daughter didn't like the teacher. :) We also have memberships to the science museum and zoo. I buy art supplies and such, but I don't consider that o be extra-curricular.

My now-13 year old was a self-taught reader at 4 and was quickly advanced reading Iron Giant and Trumpet of the Swan in Kindergarten. He is also an excellent speller, state spelling champion ths year and narrowly missed going to DC for the Scripps spelling bee last year. In his case, he sees the words, he knows what they are, that is how he learned to read. I taught him enough phonics to decode unfamiliar words, but that is about it. The thing that helps him most with spelling is knowing root words and having experience with words. I've never done a spelling program with him, we've done copy work and dictation (Simple Spelling I think it is called was great for this) and started English From the Roots Up in 3rd grade. Although I do use AAS for my dyslexic/dysgraphic 11 year old and precocious early-reading (but not to the point as your son or my first son) near-5 year old, I think it may not be needed for someone who learns from seeing. The explanation of common rules during dictation was more than enough.

Oh, and some speech issues may resolve as he progresses with reading. Once my son saw the letters used in words he realized he was saying certain sounds incorrectly. 'dr' was /j/, 'th' was/fr/, etc. In PAL they also have certain hints for sounds on how to form your mouth, AAS has a CD with the phonetic sounds so I can hear how I need to say the sounds. My youngest had a speech delay and we're not there yet with him, but I do know articulation issues with my 4-year old improved dramatically with learning to read coupled with me helping him form his mouth correctly for the sounds.

I'm going to agree with everyone else. I just start with where they are and move forward as they are willing and able, no matter what age or grade they are. Last year my 4 year old started with PAL for reading. He was starting to figure out reading for himself right before his 4th birthday and wanted to follow his lead without him teaching himself (and me having to follow behind to teach rules after he fact and him finding it boring). We've done it slowly (I don't want him having so much seat time that young), but he loves it and asks for it if we go too many days without it. I also added in some AAS and alternate between the two. PAL has a lot of file folder games that I keep accessible to him and he gets them out himself to play with during free times.

My 13 year old son has Asperger's and he just had an 8 hour evaluation at our children's hospital CDRC so I could figure out what next for him to help with his particular challenges. They brought up Transition Planning. The doctor said if he were in school his IEP would require it. As a parent you can get a free Transition Planning kit from Autism Speaks at http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/transition-tool-kit I was only given a checklist of skills to work on from the hospital, I have not received the kit yet, but I was really excited to learn about it so thought I would share it with you :)

I agree with the idea of doing things in the car - I try to have a book or lecture on in the car most of the time because we spend so much time in it! I wise homeschool mom told me once not to worry until 9th grade. Most of it can be made up for in high school. Practice math, practice writing, read a lot, watch documentaries, get out into the world in experience it. You will be going through history and science much more thoroughly in high school - hit the highlights now with some books and movies. Not necessarily how I planned my kids to be homeschooled, but because of health issues and other things I have not been able to really do what I used to do as far as homeschooling goes. My 11 year old just tested far above her grade level in all areas despite the last few years being really just some math, some writing, LOTS of reading, lots of activities, and Mythbusters ;) And LOTS and LOTS of talking as often as I am able. Discussion can do so much more than we give it credit for sometimes. We still go chronologically, I try to find stuff for her to continue on her history journey, but nothing like what we did in her earlier years. You do what you have to do and trust that it will be enough.

I'd be interested to see what others say. We didn't start it until C, and continued with D. We loved it.

We have a friend here in Oregon who was just diagnosed with whooping cough, and he had been vaccinated. He has been sick since February and they just recently, after several doctors and specialists, found out what was wrong with him (they tested for pertussis at first, but the test was negative, it was too soon? they finally re-tested recently and it was positive). I know of 2 other pertussis cases in our homeschool community, but I don't know if they were vaccinated or not.

We have a friend here in Oregon who was just diagnosed with whooping cough, and he had been vaccinated. He has been sick since February and they just recently, after several doctors and specialists, found out what was wrong with him (they tested for pertussis at first, but the test was negative, it was too soon? they finally re-tested recently and it was positive). I know of 2 other pertussis cases in our homeschool community, but I don't know if they were vaccinated or not.

Our daily smoothie includes cucumber, zucchini, kale, carrot, mushroom, avocado, apple, banana, frozen berries, and then a slice of lemon or some orange juice, or a bunch of grapes to change the taste. My 2, 4, and 11 year olds love them... my 13 year old has sensory issues and won't touch the stuff :) During the summer we also juice - cucumber, kale, zucchini, grapes, and lemon are the kids favorite - "green lemonade". ;)

I'm in the Beaverton area!

Oh, I do sympathize with her. To want something so very badly, especially a child, feeling the love for child #1 and just wanting to have another one to love again. I completely understand that thought process. But, no, it isn't right. That is such a hard situation. I would continue to talk to my husband. My husband was adamant, too, and got snipped. If he truly wanted to make sure that there would be no babies, he would get snipped... he has not, and is agreeing on a less than perfect birth control method, so perhaps there is a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, deep inside he is wanting one, too? More conversation, definitely. He may come around :)

I am in Oregon as well. My 11/2000 DD is 6th grader and my 11/1998 DS is 8th grader. In Oregon, if you have a fall child, you can take a test to see if they could go to school "a year early". I did this with my oldest because he was already reading, do addition and subtraction, and was bigger than most kids a year older than him. And he was ready. So he went to K a year early. DD was born 2 years and 1 day after DS, so I just had her 2 years behind him grade wise when we began homeschooling. It fit her developmentally. In 2nd grade she went to a DOD school in Germany and I told them she was in 2nd grade and that is where they put her, no matter she was a year younger. We toyed with keeping my oldest back because he has Aspergers and Tourette's and still working on social skills and such and going to a public school this year, but he is so far ahead in other areas we thought it would be a disservice to him. That, and he is almost 6 foot and has a mustache and all of his friends are older... it would have been worse for him to be with those his age, I think. If he isn't ready for college when he graduates, we will deal with that then.

I so know how this is, and I only have 4 kids. The first year after my last baby was born my older kids pretty much unschooled. The year after that, when my husband was unemployed and we moved across the country, well, we didn't accomplish much that year either. And it is ok. Neither of them are "behind" in anything, DD was behind in math a little, but then we just got her up to speed (math gets earlier to learn as they get older, I have noticed). Cooking and some living math books, as well as khan academy was enough to keep her at just about grade level. Khan Academy actually allowed my oldest to rocket ahead to be going into Algebra in 7th grade. He was "behind" in math for a couple of years and I asked him to do 45 minutes of Khan Academy a day for a few months before summer. He entered school this year and placed in Algebra, because he was ready and it was easy for him once he was ready. DH was military for 6 years and we had a lot of ebbs and flow to homeschooling because of all the moves and long-distance visiting the kids had to do to see their natural father. It worked fine. I worried a lot, but it all worked fine. No matter what I do, the kids learn :) I will say that I found it easier to get outside for nature walks when I had a baby... because I felt like I *needed* diversions in order to stay sane and keep the kids under control. I also do read a novel aloud every day, but I don't have as many littles as you. I find a natural "quiet" time, something after a big activity, after coming home from an errand, what have you, and read aloud. Because I NEED some quiet calm, and this is how I am able to get it LOL. I know it doesn't work like that for everyone, but we all do what we need to survive the day sometimes when there are little ones in the house, and that is one thing that I found worked for me to help me center myself. Another thing that I found helped a lot is routine and ritual. Every day at a certain time I would sing a certain song and then I'd have snack ready. Or I would read a book. No matter what else was happening, no matter if the baby was screaming and the dog was peeing on the rug... I tried REally really hard to adhere to 2-3 times for certain things every day. As the kids get older I add another thing. It makes our days so much smoother because the kids are "trained" to expect this thing, whatever it may be, and one thing is that much easier to get through that day :) It is hard at first, but eventually it helps far more than the initial work involved. I haven't read all the replies, but wanted to let you know not to worry :)

My 6th grade DD *still* remembers most of what she learned doing SotW in Kindergarten... I wasn't even going to have her do it, but her 2nd grade brother was and she wanted in on the action. They both remember all the important bits... and really, it isn't about remembering all the things, anyway, it is about becoming familiar. Knowledge builds upon knowledge, and all those pegs help them learn down the road. For instance, several years ago (oldest were 1st and 3rd grade) the oldest drew a narration card out of the jar that said to make a song of the reading, which was about the death of Vortigern. His song was "Burn Vortigern, castle inferno" to the tune of Disco Inferno. Now, the kids always remembered this, even though my 1st grader didn't quite remember who Vortigern was, she remembered how he died, and when she read about him again 4 years later it *really* stuck. The kids also have a Book of Centuries they put in pictures they've drawn, quotes, clippings, etc into which serves as their personal timeline of things they've learned. They go through it often and they really remember everything that is in there because they revisit it often, and show it to every person who visits us LOL. Most kids don't remember what they learn in elementary school because of how it is taught and learned. It is dry, boring, and pretty worthless to the child. Make it interesting, relevant, and memorable and you'll be surprised with how much they'll keep with them!

Which one? We've been using SL (loosely with lots of additions) the last 3 years and, while I LOVED the 2 years of American History (with some tweaking) we were looking for much more hands-on and some variety. We also have a heavy year this year and it appeared as if WP was a little slower paced than the break-neck speed of SL. Hmmm.... more to ponder...

What a wonderful blog, thank you! :) I am making a list... this will make augmenting much easier!

That helps me *a lot*!! Thank you so much, I didn't even think to look for the ToC to help me out.

OK, so I got WP Quest for the Middle Ages because, well, it looks awesome ;) I don't have the time this year to piece things together myself so I needed to find something that had a lot of the work done for me that had a lot of hands-on stuff for DD10 to do. After going through the books and materials... I love it! Well, most of it... We are not Christian so I am having to secularize, which isn't a biggie, except I seem to be having a hard time this time around. Granted, I've only tried to go through the first couple of weeks, but I can't seem to figure out what is being covered enough to know what I should have DD read about. I do not have MoH2, so I can't look it up. I have the link that correlates SotW to MoH, but not all MoH lessons have SotW chapters, and there are activities that they want you to do in MoH... I'm just a little confused and lost at this point... and did I mention I lack time?? So I thought I'd ask and see if someone else has done this or are doing this to get some feedback. I have SotW on hand as well as the AGs. My daughter isn't wild about them though because she finds them babyish (she reads at 10th grade level, is in 6th grade), but will use them if need be. Is there something better? Thanks!!