junepep, how often did you do lessons? Aroboreal, that sounds great! I'm trying to start planning now to make it more open and go as well . . .

How many and which threads did you cover in your kindergarten year?

Thanks.

Are there any all-in-one kits or other science programs that would go well with BFSU for K/1st grade?

Bump!

I'm looking for more readers for my dd who is about to finish AAR1 and was wondering, what are the approximate reading levels after AAR1 and also while or after AAR2? I see some graded level readers on ebay I'm interested in but not sure which levels would be best for now or in the near future to have around. Also, any other suggestions for good readers?

Thanks.

We are nearing the end of AAR1 and I was thinking before we went into AAR2, we'd go back and review all the fluency sheets and/or word cards. I was wondering though, is there review already built in the next level? Like, how the fluency sheets have mixed review in AAR1? Just wondering if I should keep going and jump directly into the next level or do some review (and hold off on level 2)? Thoughts?

Niranut, thanks for those sites. I believe I've gotten books before from Better World Books but through Alibris. What would be the difference between getting the books through Alibris and BWB directly? In the shipping invoice from SL, does it tell you the weight of the packages? This would definitely help me compare costs. I can order books from the US easily but usually have them forwarded through a service that charges a per pound cost. So, I could use international shipping or this service where it ships to a US address (usually free on the US side). I'm just wondering which is cheaper. Oh, and I can get books from different places and that is okay with me. Just thought some packages would be nice. I am on Lakeshore now and see they have lot of packaged sets (libraries) too.

Where to order large selections of books or book "packages"? I see Rainbow Resource has some for FIAR and the Let's Read and Find Out science book packages. Are there any others I've missed (their product list is massive!) Also, there's ebay. Any other sites I could order large selections from? Even sites that may cater to schools?

For those that don't use an all-in-one curriculum, what do you use to make a complete "package" for Language Arts in the early K-3 years that worked or is working well?

I'm always atleast going to do a little of my own thing. Especially when those "teachable moments" come along or when something strikes my or their fancy. So, I'd prefer to have lots of things on hand. Can't wait to see your spreadsheet! Hopefully it will save me time on making my plans :001_smile:. I like to have lots of resources to pull from, as needed. Do you think it's possible to make BFSU a little MORE open and go if I plan the year ahead and gather materials and supplies? I've found a few planning links and Pinterest boards for using it.

Great. Definitely adding that to the list. They love Berenstain Bears.

These are both for 2/3+ right? Any kits that could be done on the K/1 level?

LOL, Arboreal. Thanks all the same!

Thanks for all the links and recommendations! I think I'll go with something secular. I'm going to check out the Evan Moor books, BFSU and Nancy Larson as well. Just read something about Little Otter's science too. So, if anyone has more details or information on those, please share. Opinions and detailed information welcomed. I'd love to put together some kits and materials of my own too; like discovery boxes. Any good science tools websites or recommendations for materials?

Hmm, I wonder now because another lesson that had 4 word flippers, for example, lesson 33 was from page 123-129. This lesson also says it has four flippers but says it's from page 145-147. That wouldn't be enough pages to make 4 would it? Did you, in fact, have four flippers Arboreal? Now I'm curious.

Thanks Arboreal!

By level 1 do you mean the kindergarten or first grade level? And what age was your youngest who it was perfect for when you did it?

Guess I should've said more . . . Since I'm overseas and don't have access to a great library, I'll probably be ordering lots of books like the Let's Read and Find Out Series and more of The Magic Schoolbus books. We have some and the dvd's already. So, I guess I'd like a spine or textbook that would cover the basics and have vocabulary for the usual topics covered in K/1 that I could use when covering the basic topics. I don't really like textbooks or workbooks to be my main curriculum but I do like them as a reference and for assesment purposes (see what/if they've learned) at this stage. Or just for a little bit of reading material to go along with whatever we're doing (hands-on). The main thing would be lots of hands-on, experiments and play. Something with supplies included would be great. I could even piece together materials, supplies, models, etc myself if I had a list or some recommendations for those. Hopefully, the cost will be covered so all the bells and whistles would be fine. So, I could put together some kits and supplies to go along with the textbook/workbook OR use a complete science curriculum that comes with everything. Hope that was a bit clearer? I will check out the Evan Moor book. I've seen those here I believe . . . and good science readers you know of, please share

Maybe it got lost s and somewhere in all my stuff . . . but I only have two word flippers for Lesson 38 and the teacher's manual says there are four for this lesson! Eeek! Can someone pleeeeeease tell me which words I'm missing! I have the one with clink, pink, drink . . . and bank, prank, shrank . . .

I need to start researching and deciding for next year . . . any suggestions?

Thanks!

I just remembered I have Explode the Code 1-3 on my bookshelf that I'd forgotten about (from a lot of homeschool books I got at a thrift store!) and while they look straightforward, I was wondering would I need or benefit from the teacher's manual?

Here's a few . . . . Eggs and Legs http://www.amazon.com/Eggs-Legs-Counting-Twos-Numbers/dp/1404811141/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362800200&sr=8-1&keywords=eggs+and+legs Spunky Monkeys on Parade (Mathstart) http://www.amazon.com/Spunky-Monkeys-Parade-Mathstart-Counting/dp/0606174966/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362800222&sr=1-10&keywords=counting+by+2s Mooove Over http://www.amazon.com/Mooove-Over-Book-about-Counting/dp/0823417360