I'm still tempted by WWW ... (despite being talked down from the ledge in an earlier thread). I think I may go ahead and cave on both GWG & WWW, just to "check them out"... then I can decide from there... :D

There are a LOT of fun phonics games here.

This is a wonderful resource: http://www.fcrr.org/Curriculum/studentCenterActivities.shtm I thought about dropping OPGTR, but I'm just going to rethink how I teach it. Maybe alternating teaching from the book with a day of fun phonics games to reinforce the concept (like from the site above). I also typed out all the student parts from the OPG lessons in Pages and printed them out so DD could mark on them (i.e. find the vowel and underline, draw a picture to go with 1 sentence, etc). And -- motivated by looking at AAR -- I made progress charts to go with each section in OPGTR. As we fully master a lesson, I'll let her put a sticker on the chart. (Just thought I'd share, in case someone else was struggling with OPGTR but wanted to keep trying it...) ETA: OPGTR incentive charts are on my blog now (see below).

I think that's the case. Each week's Bible lessons relate to the unit in some way, IIRC. I do think that the Bible is much more thorough in later years (or it appears so from samples).

For me, it didn't feel cohesive or that there was flow to it. I guess I prefer a Bible or story Bible and starting at 1 end and working my way to the other. The samples of their new Bible lesson plans look more well-laid out (or at least better explained). I just had a tendency to skip the Bible in MFWK; to me it didn't feel like a vital part of the program (and there wasn't anything tangible, like a specific children's Bible used, just verse references & such in the guide). It was easy for me to skip it when things got busy. (My own fault, obviously, but I have done better with a more structured approach for DD.)

I had MFWK this year (before it was revised/updated). This new edition looks more complete and easier to use, but I've only seen online samples. You could go with Memoria press and just add on your own occasional themed units based on seasons or items of interest or outside events (i.e. Autumn....or mermaids...or a trip to the zoo). Then you won't feel your whole curriculum is crumbling apart when you end up skipping one of the suggested science or art activities. Just do them as you have the time/energy/interest. One of the things I thought I'd love most about MFWK was something that I ended up liking the least....the Bible integration. It just didn't work for me (super easy to skip....and that's a bad thing, IMO). RE: revisions... I believe they added math pages. They did a grid format for planning. They made the Bible concepts for each week easier to view at a glance. Beefed up some of their themed activities. Do check out the samples. It almost makes me want to try it again for DD2....:glare:

I certainly think you could use the letter tiles with another program to make it more hands-on! Just this week I went back and forth on what phonics program I want to use with DD (who's struggling with CVC words). I was torn between CLE LTR and AAR..... Well, I went with CLE's LTR, but I plan on using our AAS letter tiles (and other things like games and alphabet stamps) to make the program more fun & interactive.

Some things I'm doing with my DD: ~Reading Bear website ~Starfall ~Bob books ~Evan Moor's Take it to Your Seat Phonics Centers (they're a lot of work to get ready but they're good and pretty similar to a lot of the games you get with AAR) ~have you seen these? ~we have a set of letter tiles in a tub that are pretty handy for word building HTH. :)

ETA: Oh bother, never mind me.... I'm just trying to see how many times I can change my mind in one day...

I think you'll find MFW's history cycle to be too much to begin with a 1st grader (despite their family inclusive style). What about just getting SOTW + the activity guide...especially if you're using your own math/Bible/LA/science? :) I personally *love* the idea of MFW....but in reality, I prefer choosing our own Bible, science,etc. If I do all that, I might as well stick with something like SOTW for the history cycle, KWIM?

Our focus in K has been more language-focused, so I've chosen to go simpler for math. We liked the R&S staff books and book C and I are more numbers-focused. Those 2 + plenty of Candyland/Hi Ho Cheerio/shape puzzles has been our K math. (In August, we'll start CLE 1 Math.)

We started it last month (age 5.5) but stopped around Lesson 40. My DD needed more review (and I needed some more hand-holding for that reviewing). So I just bought CLE's LTR. We'll work through that, then pick back up with OPGTR/ETC in about a year. I do plan to work through the whole book. ETA: oh bah. I've already cancelled the CLE order and decided I needed to man up and give OPGTR a fighting chance....

Some people use ETC with OPGTR. In TWTM, they recommend FLL and WWE partway through OPGTR.

Thanks for your thoughts. Boy, I'm wavering on this issue today. Now I'm back to researching CLE LTR (which, of course, we had and returned when we -- meaning ME -- decided we'd try OPGTR). Blahhhhhhhh. Anyone else? Thoughts which I should pick? AAR 1....CLE LTR? ETA: I was typing when Merry was replying. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

Bumping for the after-lunch crowd. Any feedback appreciated! :)

After plodding through a few weeks of OPGTR (on Lesson 31), I've come to the conclusion that DD (who'll be 6 in June) needs *much* more practice with her letter sounds and pre-reading skills. She knows all of her letter names & most of the sounds...but still mixes up a few (n/m, b/d, p/t). Plus, she tries to do a LOT of guessing when we read the words in OPGTR. :glare: She does fairly well with ETC Book 1 (independently, even) and with other hands-on methods (letter tiles, etc) but does not do well -- seems overwhelmed and unable to focus -- with OPGTR. I'm thinking about buying AAR Pre-reading and Level 1...heck, maybe go ahead and get Level 2, so DH can REALLY flip his lid when he sees the bill this month...(DH = :toetap05:) So here are my questions: How quickly does one move through the AAR levels? Is it a level per year? or self-paced (like AAS)? Do you continue with a phonics program after AAR 2? (Can you do AAS1 and AAR1 simultaneously or do you wait to finish AAR2 then move on to AAS1? Confused about how they fit together...) What reading level does AAR take you to? (OPGTR takes you to a 4th grade level, supposedly.) Do you think I should go with Pre-reading or Level 1? (I do have a 2nd child, 2 years younger than DD, so it would get used again.) I already have the tiles for AAS. What else would I absolutely NEED to do AAR? What can I skip (we are totally skipping the puppet, sorry :D). I have exhausted our budget buying the Bob books sets 1-5 this week (before I realized DD needs some more help)...what's the cheapest way I can do this? I'm majorly feeling slack-mommy guilt (we had a very "relaxed" K year), so THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

R&S?

:iagree:

Doesn't each age level have a pretty extensive book list to purchase (or check out from the library)? I'd be purchasing new books for each cycle.... Since we're skipping the grammar stage history cycle, we'd only be using it for the 2nd and 3rd cycles (Logic stage +HS).

I've been having a look-see at the TOG website and I'm interested. I really like the idea of the history cycles being all laid out for me, with Lit. and Bible included. But I did a preview of what the cost would be for Year 1 and .... :eek::blink::willy_nilly::svengo: Anyway, I can see it being worthwhile for a family with several children (the aspect of combining them and whatnot)...but I've just got the 2, who are pretty close in age and fairly easily combined for history/science/Bible/literature. Does anyone here use Tapestry for a smaller family... and do you feel it's worth the investment?

...other than Draw Write Now? (which may have it's place, but --from what I see-- is not an art program but a copywork/drawing program.) I'm wondering if there is a ready-made Art program that matches up with the time periods from the 4-yr. history cycle? One that studies art styles/masters from each period, as well as trying some hands-on experimenting with those styles. (E.g. for ancient Egypt, study hieroglyphics, the decoration/design of a sarcophagus, any known Egyptian artists...then we make our own, make paper from scratch, those things.) Does that make sense? I'm pretty sure this would be reasonably simple to put together, but I'd hate to reinvent the wheel, KWIM? If it's out there, I'd like to see it! :) Thanks.

We really enjoy these. Current favorites at our house: DK First Encyclopedias (Nature, Human Body, Animals) - hours of interest The Dragons Are Singing Tonight ~ Jack Prelutsky (a big hit here) There are so many beautiful or clever or just plain FUN picture books out there; we check out a lot from the library...too many to consider buying.

Okay (shew!)...I was wondering if I was missing something. :)

Wow, really? Can you expand on this? Why you think it isn't enough for a 1st grader? Thx.

That looks AWESOME! My almost-6 yr. old doesn't have any clue about who/what HP is...but I'm a big fan! *I* want to do Hogwarts Corresp. School!