We're using Phonics Pathways and ETC. What we do is pretty basic: sit down and do 1 page of PP orally (or on a whiteboard or letter tiles). It really doesn't matter how I do it, she still sighs and rolls her eyes like I'm torturing her. Then she does 1-2 pages of ETC. Sighing continues, but I can at least leave the room for this part, LOL. :p Then later in the day, she reads something to me. I've given up telling her WHAT to read. I let her pick from a box of phonics readers, all sounds we've already covered. She picks = better attitude. That's about it. :) ETA: for what it's worth, I was always successful when I worked in a public school and taught my 1st graders to read. Teaching my own child has been the toughest challenge EVER!

Are you looking for world history? A particular time period? I've got Elemental History (American) on tap for next year for a young 2nd grader and K'er. It does have some notebooking pages, but it also has activities and coloring. And lots of living book suggestions.

My girls (4 and 6) are working through CLE's Bible 1. We're stretching it out (2 lessons/wk) so that it doesn't advance too fast for youngest DD. We read important stories from the Bible and each has a color page/puzzle/etc to go with it. Easy-peasy, open-and-go. It doesn't look too exciting, LOL, but they seem to really like it. :D If you want something more family interactive, what about Long Story Short and Old Story New. We haven't used them yet, but the two books span a 3 year program. It has Bible passages, devotional topics, etc. Like I said, haven't used it yet -- it looks pretty sitting on my shelf, though. ;)

We have a similar structure for language arts here: Phonics Pathways introduces concepts, then we do a bit from ETC to cement it. We aren't using any spelling this year (1st) but planned on adding in R&S next year (2nd). So I think your plan looks good. :p

Indeed! :) Glad to hear! I've got that on my must-do list in a couple of years...Do you have the Usborne Art Treasury? I really like that, too (great for artists and techniques). And great pictures. :)

These are listed for ages 4-7... but I think they could go older (or at least be used as a starting point for older). Check out those free samples; they're pretty indicative of the rest of the book. ETA: This same author has a couple of books for an older age range, but I haven't looked at them... Here it is: http://www.kidscanpress.com/Canada/The-Jumbo-Book-of-Art-P5394.aspx It also has a free sample...

I mentioned this art book series in a recent thread on the Prek/K forum, but I wanted to share over here too.... I stumbled across a series of books by an author named Irene Luxbacher. The titles are: 123 I can Draw 123 I can Paint 123 I can Make Prints 123 I can Collage 123 I can Build 123 I can Sculpt If you click on the author's link above, and then on each book, there is a free sample lesson for each book (on the sidebar to the left of the page, Free Activity Pages). These are sweet little books, with a handfull of projects (24 pages per book and each project spans a few pages). The pictures and illustrations are clear and simple. The projects are EASY and fun and art techniques are discussed in kid-friendly terms during the lesson. I ended up buying the whole set (you can purchase used copies inexpensively on amazon). Anyway, DDs and I will be using this for our art program for the rest of this year and some of next year. Just wanted to share. :)

I'm leaning toward Elemental History next year for a 4 and 6 year old. Question for those that have used it: so are the read-alouds scheduled in the teacher's guide, and do they tie in to the other work during the week? (...or are they completely separate and therefore easily substituted or left off.)

I don't know that I'd use Singapore as a supplement, but that's just me. I do think Math Mammoth is excellently suited for filling gaps, etc. But if you're looking for a new main/core math program (ie. instead of Saxon) then I'd definitely go with SM. IMO, it's much more fun and well-rounded in instruction; I like how they teach new concepts (concrete then visual). We have used both SM and MM 1A, and I have (and have looked through both SM and MM 1B). I had hoped that we would switch to MM from SM (no reason, just looking for something "easier" for mommy to teach :p) but DD much prefers SM. I have to say, I do too...

Well, my oldest is still only in 1st, but she has been my guinea pig. What I wish I'd done with her for K: Singapore Essentials and ETC primers (A, B & C). We did start this year with SM 1A but I just received Essentials for 2nd DD and it's perfect for K (and a perfect lead-in to 1A).

I lost track. But I'm pretty sure it's not as far along as we should be...

We're finishing 1A and have found the HIG to be a wealth of info. And I don't consider myself a slouch in math...

Love it! Just the excuse I needed to hit up the chocolate aisle at Target... *Raising my hand* I have those moments in February. And October. And November. January...etc, etc. ;) I did think all of *this* would be easier. And quite frankly, if the local charter school didn't open so dadgum early, I'd probably sign oldest right up. (Alright, 8:30 isn't that early, LOL, but we're not big morning people here -- and I can't imagine being up and ready and making the 15 min. drive to school each and every day.) And so we plug on. :) I don't have any helpful advice...just commiserating.

I just discovered & bought a set of books by Irene Luxbacher called 1-2-3 I Can Draw! (Starting Art). It can be purchased rather cheaply (used) and other titles include Sculpt, Paint, Collage, Print, Architecture. But they are wonderful! Step-by-step pictures, elements of art/technique simply discussed, and the projected are super-cute and DO-able. We've been looking through the print one and there are different types of print demonstrated and a cute project to practice. I also have How To Teach Art to Children, but it's too much for my 4.5 yr. old (as well as my 6.5 yr. old)... but it's also very nicely done. We'll use it in a year or 2. I also like Art Treasury, which shows a work of art and then teaches a technique to be modeled from it.

I've been afraid to start long vowels. :o Looking at our curriculum, we're probably about 2 weeks from introducing them. I'll keep an eye on this thread and see if you get any great hints/tips! Also, just something to keep in mind: one of the phonics programs we're currently using says that children are developmentally ready to read long vowels at around 6.5. But, obviously, that's not a hard and fast rule. It may not even be proven, scientifically -- IDK.

I've read on this forum previously that --as the grades progress-- the textbook really does become more necessary. I haven't found the textbooks necessary for Grade 1... but I plan to continue buying them to have on hand (especially since I was not taught with this style of math).

Well, my DD is 6.5 (so we're technically 2nd semester of 1st).... but I'm fairly relaxed compared to many. I'll tell you exactly what we did today: *ETA: Ooops, we forgot Bible. Usually we'll do 1 lesson from CLE Bible 1 or we'll read a story or 2 from our Beginner's Bible.* We started with 1 page from Lollipop Logic (she had to put 6 pictures in order by numbering them). Reading: she had 7 CVC words to read, then write them in her notebook (just a journal we're using to record something from each reading lesson). Then she did one page from Scholastic Grammar Gr. 1 (which I love because she can actually read it! It's like ETC1 had a grammar-baby.) Her page today did not require any sentence writing -- but tomorrow's page will have her write 3 very short sentences. ***Note: DD is a "late" reader, so this was sufficiently challenging for her.*** Math: re-taught a lesson from SM1A using counters and a 10-frame. Then we played a "reinforcement" game using a deck of cards (addition game). Then I had her do one small segment from a Math Mammoth page. Then because her little sis' wanted in on the card action, we all played War. We had lunch and then both girls watched 2 Disney movies while I did some lesson planning. :o Now they're outside playing. That's it for the day, so far. If I were productive, we'd do an art lesson -- but they're playing so nicely together, I'll probably let them be indefinitely while I wash clothes. :D :D Later we'll do a read-aloud (right now it's fairy tales). So yeah, not the most rigorous 1st grade on the block. :p

At this point (we are just finishing up 1A, about to start 1B) we use the teaching ideas & games from the HIG more than we use the textbook.

Similar to ETC (and from the same publishers) is Primary Phonics. The workbooks are inexpensive and they have lots of repetition/practice. I like them better than ETC.

We're only on K because I have a 4 yr. old who is doing it with my 1st grader. Maybe I should have a look at some of the later years... (I know K isn't going to produce great works of art :p ... I just wasn't hugely impressed with the projects in that level.) Ah, but it's so pricey! :o There is no way I could justify spending that much on an art program (not when I feel I'm somewhat artsy and could teach many techniques myself...) But thank you for the suggestion!

I thought I would love HAS.... just hand over the reins to a dvd instructor and voila! Art is done! But honestly, I'm not loving it. The projects are ... not what I'd choose to do to teach/practice the different concepts/elements of art. They're a little too craftsy for me. I will say, my kids have loved the lessons they've done, but I'm still thinking I'll sell the set (geez, and I got them all, K-5, sure we'd love 'em). I think I'd much rather just do our own thing (so probably any *curriculum* would fail for me....)

Thanks for all the great ideas! Off to check them out!

I think Phonics Pathways/Reading Pathways do a good job at covering how to "chunk" multiple syllables.

I only have 1B from MM and SM.... We used SM 1A, then moved to MM, but I think that we'll be going back to SM. My DD just can't handle the pages full of problems and I personally don't think there is enough *teaching.* I like the way SM presents concepts (very hands on, more fun, IMO). I will say that we needed more practice than SM offers. Right now we're using our MM books as a supplement, but I plan on moving to the Math in Focus workbooks and texts to help solidify concepts. I have had a chance to look through 2A and 2B of MiF -- and while I'm not ready to make the switch entirely, I think it's got something worthwhile... Same teaching style as SM but broken down into more manageable bites, a bit more practice in the workbook. (I wasn't a fan of the teacher's guides, hence keeping SM and their HIGs). Anyway, just another viewpoint... :)

I like Logic of English's cursive program. It does stand-alone, separate from LOE's other language arts. Quite affordable, too, IMO.