This is genius! And this! Makes sense completely to me! :iagree: :hurray: I have always thought I must do (math, reading, phonics), first thing while they kiddos are "fresh." But I am totally rethinking this. I love the idea of doing our "together" things first and then --in the afternoon when the kiddos are pursuing their own interests-- working with them 1-on-1.

So, I guess I could just pick and choose whatever books I want -- they are just recs in the self-paced history anyway. I like the idea of looking to SOTW recs for more picture books, if needed...

:iagree:

We tend to do things like cheese & crackers, pepperoni/sandwich meat, squeeze yogurts when we travel.

I'd definitely be interested in a dvd-based curriculum, and I wouldn't mind if they are homemade (but would prefer pressed dvds to burned -- last longer, less issues). So that's something to consider... 30 minutes a day is about what I'd like to spend on a Spanish program. Definitely interested in what you come up with! :)

DD6 has been plugging away at R&S phonics and doing well, but I think we need to add some variety to our week (getting tired of the same-old workbook). I was thinking of trying OPGTR again. So how did you speed-up parts of OPGTR? I will be skipping the consonant and vowel teaching sections. But once it comes to the short vowel/CVC words... I think we need a little bit of practice but not *that* much. If you accelerated through OPGTR, how did you do it? How do you let go of the mentality that *every* lesson must be completed!?

Both of my girls have straight, fine hair. The youngest has a chin-length bob (no bangs) and we usually just pull 1 side back into a clip, or I braid a small section of the front to keep it out of her face. (She prefers it short.) My oldest has long hair, no bangs. We do a variety of ponytails, braids, hairbands, clips, etc. One thing I've found: fine hair still escapes ponytails and braids. Wispy hairs escape all around the face. I am very low maintenance when it comes to hair, but I've discovered that if I want their hair to stay tidy, styling with water, gel and hairspray is a must...

Same here. I've never thought of putting it away. I don't even know where I'd put it -- no room in my kitchen!

Hmmm....interesting question. What are my aims with science? I guess I would go with exploratory, discovery-based.... but with a logical, sequential approach. :) I want to have an organized schedule of study (to make sure I leave no gaping holes) but I do want to leave some wiggle room for "rabbit trails" and interest. But I prefer structure (otherwise, my animal lovers would study animals each and every year.) I'm confused by this question: I would assume life science = biology? IIRC, that's Year 1 in the WTM science "cycle." Earth science and astronomy would fall into Year 2. We are currently following a less formal approach (more of a "let's read about it" format). Next year, when we fold in the youngest, I'll be beginning our cycle with a more formal curriculum...

My 4 and 6 year old really liked the My Father's Dragon trilogy. Super simple sentence structure, enough adventure to be interesting. (In fact, our library's CD froze on the VERY LAST CHAPTER, and my kids insisted that I purchase the books so we could finish it!) Mr. Popper's Penguins was also a hit, as well as Frog and Toad books. (The Frog and Toad books are great for new-readers, but they also make good read-alouds when they're very young.) (All of these we listened to on audiobooks.) They also like other books that were a little harder to understand (A Bear Called Paddington, The Reluctant Dragon and Winnie the Pooh). The combination of dialect and description made it difficult for my littlest to follow along; I just paused now and then to "recap" the storyline. They both ended up enjoying it.

I'm confused about something, maybe someone can enlighten me.... The Veritas Press self-paced history fiction/lit. list is 2x as long as the regular, homeschool list. Why do you think this is? What am I missing? Is it because the regular homeschool history also assumes you are also reading from the other books listed on the history cards (and the self-paced does not)? Regular literature kit (Old Testament/Ancient Egypt): Mummies Made in Egypt The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt Golden Goblet Tirzah Tut's Mummy . . . Lost & Found Recommended for the self-paced course: In the Time of Noah The Dragon and the Garden Sarah & Abraham The 5,000-Year-Old Puzzle Noah: Rescue Plan Seeker of Knowledge Tirzah Golden Goblet Tut's Mummy ... Lost & Found Egyptian Cinderella Obviously, the 2nd list is much pricier (on top of the already-pricey self-paced history). :ohmy: I'm curious if -- since as I understand it, the books are just recommended reads -- we could just pick and choose "the best." VP Self-Paced history users....what are you reading for historical fiction?

I think it looks *very* full. Way more than we do for 1st (this year). But I'll admit to being a "less-than-rigorous" homeschooler... :tongue_smilie: Depending on how well your child is reading... will you be doing any formal phonics program (is that in Sonlight or included in the readers schedule??) If your child isn't a fluent/strong reader, I would delay FLL and WWE until, maybe, the 2nd semester of 1st grade. I know my 1st grader, this year, could *not* of handled WWE right off the bat. Too much writing for her (very writing resistant). If I had that line up and wanted to do a state study, I would consider just doing it 1x a week (ie. "our state Fridays" or something).

Bump. I'm especially looking at The World Around Me. Anyone try it?:bigear:

I love the look of WinterPromise's offerings, but haven't tried any of them (too intimidated by poor reviews). I'm still fiddling around with our science program, mainly for next year. Anyone tried the World Around Me (K-2) or the Hoot, Chirp, Buzz, Bite (1-4)?

Well, I like the sound of that! In fact, it's kind of what I already do, LOL. Now I can just put a name to it! :D

Yep, turned ours off but had to turn it back on.

I know you specified that "cheap is good" but have you looked at Veritas self-paced history? It would definitely give a solid history for your DS. For science, definitely something like Bill Nyes or other videos would be great! It's hard to find content for older children that offers a "read-aloud" or narrated option! There are lots of videos to be found here, especially for science, but a lot of them look a little dry. :tongue_smilie: Here are some: http://www.makemegenius.com/ http://www.watchknowlearn.org/default.aspx BrainPOP http://www.havefunwithhistory.com/

We're UP by 7-8am but I don't even think of starting school until 9. Or 10.

I can't read the Rainbow Resource catalog. I open it up and my brain shuts down. I love to look at: Veritas Sonlight Winter's Promise CBD homeschool And judging from this thread, I need to go sign up for some more catalogs! :D

We currently are, but it's temporary. I scheduled a 4 day school week (with Friday being our library/art day since the local library has story time that day). However, I'm taking a 9-week Bible study at our church on Weds. mornings, and we end up being away from home from 8-3:00 ... basically all day. (Bible study isn't that long, we have lunch and then I have a church staff meeting afterwards.) Anyway, all of our programs are pretty much "do the next thing" so it doesn't throw things off too much. Math = Singapore (easy to catch up). Reading = R&S (again, lessons are numbered but easy to double up...we just started R&S a month or so ago, so we're behind anyway). We do Bible daily (just reading the next story in our kid's Bible); memory work, handwriting, read-alouds, science whenever we fit them in. Honestly, I'll be glad to go back to 4x a week. I felt like we were more structured and successful at getting our week done.

I picked this up at Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago, and I really like the look of it. Lots of stories I can see myself using it with (I plan on using it with our read-alouds). Doesn't hit on all the lit. elements, but covers a lot for early elem. (Though it may be more basic than what you're looking for...)

Double post

I didn't think the placement test was that accurate, though. My 6 yr old was placed on Map 5, but she has really benefitted from starting at #1.... That level was wayyyyy to hard for her.:confused:

Here's the codes (Reading Eggs will let you use 2 per kiddo b/f it cuts you off...): http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/61942 And the offer I have right now is $49.95 for 6 months + 6 free months, and then 50% off ea. additional child's add-on subscription.

Sounds pretty close to our 1st grade day. :)