Thanks for all the ideas. I didn't know diagramming sentences was available through currclicks as a download. I have it in my amazon cart,waiting for $25 to accumulate so I can get free shipping :) I think I will try that and this Grammar & Diagramming Sentences (Advanced Straight Forward English Series) Nan DeVincent Hayes to start. Tomorrow is start day I am excited and nervous but hearing from others is helpful. We will go as slowly as we need to. I have no intention of following the day to day weekly schedule. We will just chug along slow and steady. For now I will not require any additional writing. I'm hoping that by Sept I will be able to add some content writing but I will not rush that. I will also work with him. I do not expect independence yet. I will post to let you know how we are doing and anything I have found useful.

Thanks Michele I will check those out.

I think we are going to try the recommendations in the WTM. This one to start http://www.rainbowre...l.php?id=ELDGPK its a little pricey so I'm still considering other options. I also might get the CLE guide to diagramming to check out. It is much cheaper.

Thanks I will take a look at that.

I have debated this for a while. I was waiting to start till next year but I'm tired of looking for the perfect filler program. We are working in WWE4 and my son is ready for more. Slow and steady I think this will be the right program for us. We will continue to work through the rest of FLL4 which I am milking. After that we will go light on grammar for a year maybe LLATL tan and a diagramming review book. My kid loves to diagram. Then for 6,7,8 we will go to AG. He is naturally strong in grammar and doesn't require much review. I will use our time to work on writing(of course that is applying the grammar) I'm dropping formal spelling because my child benefits more by being exposed to words. We will use this time to read more. I don't think I will start a vocabulary program yet his reading is strong and he absorbs a lot from that. I think that covers it all. I feel confident is all my choices except grammar. What I need is a program that is planned out, I like the confidence FLL gives me to teach and the open and go nature. I need open and go with my work schedule. I don't mind teacher intensive, he's my one and only. What he does not need is a lot of review. He is a very fast learner and gets frustrated with repetition. I know it seems contrary to FLL but I modify for him. Most of the instruction is for me, I like it. He likes it but is getting to the end of his patience with it. I've looked into: Hake to repetitious R&S Can't get past the religion KISS really want to like this but don't MCT ditto above, I have a very strong feeling every time I go to the site it will not work for us. My son has seen the program IRL and has no interest. VIE $$$ Any opinions or options I haven't considered appreciated.

I was just going on to write my revised LA plan for review. Grammar is my stuck point too. I think I am going to work with grammar through writing/latin and diagramming review in 5 th and do AG over three years starting in 6th as it is recommended. My son gets grammar so I don't think I need to overdo it.

I think you may have picked up my kid by mistake. :) commiserating with you.

I work outside the home. 2 twelve hour overnights 7pm-7am per week, different days each week. It is stressful and I am always tired. We make adjustment, our schedule is ever changing. This is something that will not change. I have to work. I want to homeschool. I do the best I can at home and at work. Find what works for your family. PS I didn't read all the responses I'm trying to clean toilets befor my three night weekend. ;)

Never used that but we just started LSD, Lego Design School. It's my self made curriculum. My son designs a lego set (using what he has) writes a descriptive piece, designs the box, writes assembly instructions, sets price, picks target audience and makes a commercial. I'm sure other things will be added along the way. So far it's been fun.

Super homeschool day! My son chose to write a story. He is a very reluctant writer. He sat down at the computer and produced a great piece. He incorporated styles and ideas of several of our read alouds. All my worry that exposing him to good writing wasn't enough to turn him into a good writer disappeared. I love that reading to him is still my most effective teaching method. He was willing to accept gentle editing help and made several changes on his own. Spelling and grammar were great. We then read in SOTW about knights. After we finished he assembled a knight costume and has been playing for hours. Great day a reminder of why I am doing this. I love seeing my son grow and learn. This is his story because I am so proud. A Sailor's Journey One fine day in 1979 at 15 degrees latitude and 45 degrees longitude the trading ship Young was sailing from Nova Scotia to Bordeaux. Then the worst possible thing happened. A terrible storm hit the Young at 6:00 am on October 12. One of the sailors was flung off the ship by the wind and waves. The other sailors stood dumbfounded by the storm. They had sailed this route at least 10,000 times and had never run into trouble! Until the watchman yelled, "MAN OVERBOARD!!!" at the top of his lungs the others didn't realized that they were missing a man. They rushed to find a life preserver and threw it to the drowning sailor. The sailor could neither see nor get to the life preserver because of the waves. The whole company of sailors panicked and didn't know what to do! Until Captain Young came on deck. He yelled to his crew, " Find a rope me hearties, a rope!" The crew found a rope and threw it to the sailor. He grabbed on and all the sailors on deck pulled. They finally succeeded in pulling the sailor back on deck. That sailor just happened to be me.

When mine was that age I would take him to the library. He would spend hours looking we would read tons. There was always something he would want MORE of. We'd take out every book on the subject, watch tons to videos, reread his favorites. This was my FAVORITE way to teach him. He learned so much and enjoyed it! 5 is young let him find his interest. He will. Enjoy your time with him. This approach is how my son learns best I recently resolved to return to these roots.

Me too:( I have tried to quit so many times. Thanks for the bump to try again. Dandelion thanks for assuring me I can success.

The other problem is its vacation week here for school. All my nieces and nephews are home. Ugh!

We are been on vacation for over 3 weeks. Yikes! Our ten day vaca turned to 16 after the blizzard. 2 days off to get ready 4 days to recover when we got home. Starting back today! I'm really trying to not anticipate resistance, find an engaging topic and not panic that we haven't done "school" in three weeks! It helps today is Presidents Day. Presidents are his favorite topic.

We just listened to Young Fredle in the car. It was a great book. My son loved it. Probably not the most challenging reads but enjoyable. He is reading Swiss Family Robinson for school and really likes it. He has read abridged versions before. He keeps saying "I forgot how good this book is" and on our trip to Disney last week his first stop was the Treehouse.

The new bakery in France has amazing food. Definitely the best quick serve in Epcot. The grilled type sandwich(has a fancy name I don't know) was by far the best thing I ate all vacation.

Just got my copy yesterday. I found the sample lessons intriguing. I want to incorporate writing across the curriculum and I'm having a hard time. OK to be honest I'm meeting a lot of resistance LOL. Hoping this will give me some guidance on how to make it more appealing. I will post a review once I go through it.

We were just "stuck" there 5 extra days because of the blizzard. Cat Cora's restaurant at boardwalk was great. Magician shows at night are free on the boardwalk. Rent a surrey bike. Definitely 2nd Boma try the night vision goggles to see the animals Whispering canyon cafe was fun. Wilderness lodge was beautiful check out the geyser. There is a pirate cruise from port Orleans never done it but it sounds fun. Firework cruise Character breakfast at Cape May Cafe was great The Mexican restaurant at Coronado springs was great Have fun! If money were no object I would do the Animal Safari back stage tour.

She really doesn't know what else is out there so maybe she will like it better. Sid the science kid, word world, super why and any leapfrog videos are great for that age. My son learned tons from them. I miss those days.

My kid didn't know how to roll a snowball to make a snowman. He's 10 and we live in New England :)

I totally game up planning science. I had my whole year experiment supplies and all ready to go. 1st lesson he knew 100% of what I wanted to cover "because I read it". Obviously he does fine on his own for now. So we are now science I unschoolers. Lots of library books and documentaries. He follows his interest. I throw in topics I want his to know. Everyone is happy here. Except when I think back to the time I spent organizing "my" perfect plan. :)

Dealing with this was one of the hardest things I have been through. I felt so alone. I was positive that my kid was the only one who did this. I've come to realize people just don't talk openly about it. There is no amazing quick fix to offer but I can offer understanding which I wish I had back then. Best wishes.

My son is very much like this. It is getting better, he is 10. The little progress you see is real progress. When my guy was your eyes I never would have said that. It is frustrating and very trying. I felt like a bad mom all the time. Keep working instilling the behavior you expect. He is hearing it. He wants to control himself he just doesn't have the maturity yet. Children all mature at different paces physically and emotionally. I know it is very hard for you I've been there. With my son making sure he has a high protein snack every couple hours helps. I also have to limit junk more than most. He is starting to realize how this helps him so its getting easier. Know others have been through this. It takes all kinds to make the world go round but it is definitely a challenge to raise them.

We listen to it in the car and enjoyed it. We then watched the movie to compare/contrast. I wouldn't continue if its not catching you. Maybe try again later. There are too many good books to read. Just because its "classic" doesn't mean you have to enjoy it. We hated Black Beauty.

I do set limits because it's dangerous to read while walking in a parking lot :) Sometimes you just have to put the book down. I always feel guilty for doing it but I guess its a good problem to have.