I know MFW writes/sells lessons plans to accompany Singapore US ed. (lessons + answer key). IIRC, HOD does as well? There may be others.... I'm wondering what people think of these lessons written by homeschool companies? (Truth be told, I'm tempted by the MFW set, even though they use US ed. and we've been using Standards...)

Sounds like my nearly 7-yr old. She can sound out "flag" but sometimes gets hung up on the "easy" words like "has" or "it" or even sometimes "a!" (which she wants to just pronounce as a short vowel.)

Well that sounds pretty awesome! I've sent my lil one to preschool 2x a week (9-12) at age 3 and 4 (this year). It's been good, but she doesn't love it. She's ready to be home with me & sis. I've not seen any increase in our sicknesses -- but I have kept her home any time "something" was "going around."

Thanks for all the feedback on this! We'll definitely keep hitting it but it's nice to know that it'll be reviewed some more later on! We'll probably move on into 1B and do the graphs section, then come back to it. Re: number bonds to 10 -- she's got them pretty good but not instantaneous. Good suggestion to go ahead and work more on doubles and doubles +/- 1.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

I'm having a moment of panic. I was planning on having my oldest DD use BJU's language arts next year for 2nd grade. The books have been rolling in and they are WAY beyond her ability level. Um... waaaaaaay. (I knew DD was behind on her reading level, but now I'm freakin' out a little.) So, I'm considering a Reading Bootcamp of sorts. (Okay, more than considering...I've already hit "buy.") Just something systematic, open-and-go. And I actually like that CLE LTR includes some sight words -- though I know they're not popular here. DD can sound out lots of words on the CCVC level -- like clap, flat, glass -- but doesn't know easy high frequency words like "he, me, our, she." I was thinking that CLE's LTR might be a good one to use since it's not a full year's program, and I might can accelerate through some of the beginning workbooks. Thoughts? Feel free to share if you've had success using LTR as a remediation program for a slightly older student (DD is almost 7).

Are you looking for a single workbook or full curriculum? As far as full programs so, we're planning on using BJU Reading next year for 2nd, and the books arrived this week. I think it looks pretty thorough, like what you described: a wide smorgasbord of language arts, similar to what I remember from school. (We also are going to use BJU's English and it covers some topics, like writing poetry, dictionary skills, etc).

I'll offer a different opinion... If you want ETC to be your phonics instruction, then I'd recommend the guides. They give ideas for actually teaching the phonics sounds, suggestions for different learning modes, listening activities/phonological awareness, etc. If you plan on using ETC as a supplement to another program, then no....I wouldn't get it.

Thanks! We'll just keep moving on and not fret it for now.

No matter what, DD just doesn't understand the different ways Singapore teaches for adding/subtracting (adding in the ones place, adding to make 10, etc). I'm specifically talking about adding in the teens, covered at the end of 1A and in 1B. We're fine with counting on (and back) and some of the facts she simply knows. If we just plow through and solve these problems with manipulatives and such, will we later have problems for not having learned how to do it the Singapore way? Will this come back and make later levels (grade 2 and up) terribly difficult for us?

Thanks for the reminder of this site! I used this when I taught first grade in NC (nearly 10 years ago) and I remember using the activities with my kids. :) Might look into adding them to our week! To the OP: what about RightStart Math Games or Life of Fred or Beast Academy. On the pricey side, but that's about the most math I'd want to do during the summer months (if I were a 8-9 year old!) Also, my public library has lots of math living books (Sir Cumference, etc). Might be fun to look into those!

I found those beginning blends really helped my DD get blending when other phonics programs didn't....but we did those with R&S Phonics 1. We have been using PP since Christmas but the pages are just so busy/filled. I think the font is too crowded (not enough white spaces between words or phrases). I agree, using a whiteboard helps with this -- but there's still a lot to get through for each lesson (especially if you're someone who has a hard time skipping stuff or picking & choosing what to do.) There isn't explicit instruction/scripting like OPGTR... and no outside activities/games, other than the few listed/discussed at the front of the book. We have PP, the Booster pack (which is handy but not really necessary), and Reading Pathways...which I'm considering returning. My DD is just overwhelmed by the pyramids and doesn't consider them fun at all (even though we've only tried adding a line a day...) Anyway, I plan on holding on to PP for DD2, or possibly for some future tutoring... I think it'd be great for remediating an older child. (I'm just adding it to the long list of things that are/were a struggle for my oldest DD.)

Little Einsteins. :p (Actually, it's not that bad, but geared toward the preschool audience.)

Yay, glad to hear others have done this successfully! Do you guys who use ETC exclusively use the teacher's guides or just teach from the workbook? (I've already said I've ordered the guides -- I'm just curious what others have done.)

I replied earlier in the thread re: my husband.... But it's funny you mentioned your child... I see the same thing with my 6 yo daughter. She gets attached to things -- part of her problem is she has *plans* for these things (and yep, it's stuff I'd consider trash, like paper wrappers and scraps of ribbon). She has plans for things she wants to do with it (but being 6, she can't do all that she envisions, so it all just sits in boxes and piles...but she doesn't want to throw it away).

Oh, how ironic... I was just looking at this in the library today!

I see a lot of talk about R&S, CLE, TT, Singapore, Saxon, MiF, MM, Horizons..... but I never hear BJU Math mentioned. I'm just curious as to why? Is it just that BAD? Lacking in some way? Poor fit for homeschoolers (meant for schools)? Too pricey? Does anyone use it?

Thanks for the feedback. I think we're going to give ETC-only a go. I went ahead and ordered the teacher's guide, since it looks like they give some more ideas for teaching (instead of just doing the pages). As far as Phonics Pathways goes, we've been using it different ways (whiteboard, etc), but still..... I'll definitely hold on to it for DD2 (and as a reference for DD1) but we'll probably put it away for the time being...

My DH is like this, also. I often get accused of throwing away important items -- but my reply is always "If it was important, it wouldn't have sat on the counter for a MONTH!" I haven't found a way to resolve this. We have a very small house, and there is no spare room to make him his own space, which I'm sure is part of the problem. (My DH also grew up poor and in a very messy/cluttered/hoarder-like home.)

Maybe you'll get some more hits if you post this on the MS sub-forum or the HS board?

We've been using Phonics Pathways as our phonics program... but it's going pretty slowly because DD6 does not have the stamina to do an entire page in a day. There are SO many words on those pages! We also do 1-2 pages of ETC afterward (because DD likes it and I think she retains from it.) Anyway, I'm considering dropping PP and just plugging along with ETC for a while. DD is not a strong reader, but she's gaining confidence (she can read most CVC, CVCC and some CCVC words.... albeit slowly). But PP is so visually overwhelming and ETC is more ... tolerable for her. I don't think I'd have a problem teaching from ETC (honestly, I didn't see a huge amount of "teaching" in Phonics Pathways....it's mainly pages of word lists and sometimes a brief blurb about a phonics rule). Anyone do this? Anyone use JUST ETC for phonics instruction (nothing else, no other supplements or programs... other than things like Starfall/Reading Eggs and books)? I just feel we're bogged down by all we're trying to do and we'd make more progress using just ETC. We'll be picking up BJU's Language Arts in the fall and I'm anxious to get DD through ETC 3 (long vowels) before then... wondering if dropping PP would hurt or help her... THOUGHTS?

My preschooler has enjoyed: Paddington, Beatrix Potter, My Father's Dragon trilogy, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Little House in the Big Woods...

When I was that age I LOVED The White Stallion of Lipizza. It's OOP but can be found fairly inexpensively. Great illustrations. http://www.amazon.co...ions of lipizza

Well, all orders over $200 have free shipping, right? (which is pretty much all of her complete programs.... :))

Artistic Pursuits has a preschool program that I'm eyeballing... but I can't see DH being happy for me to spend $40+ on a preschool art program! :blink: Especially since my youngest nearly K. We've also used The Complete Book of Arts & Crafts: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Arts-Crafts-Grades/dp/0769685579/ref=dp_ob_title_bk But it is definitely more on the CRAFT side, not art. However, it covers paper crafts that all kids should do at some point, LOL. Weaving paper strips, for instance. You can't NOT ever do that! ;) ;) Marble painting (rolling them around)... fun, but who'd think to do it otherwise? And lastly, we use a lot of Pinterest ideas. (We love art. :D)