We are concentrating on the very basics. Handwriting, maths, reading (OPG plus early readers) 5 times a week. Handwriting is 2 sessions of 5 mins a day but I think it should be done daily. He listens to audio books when he is having a break. From Sept we will also do history and science probably 2 times a week for each, I'll see how it does and I'll start FLL and possibly WWE. My ds is also 5 yrs Stephanie

For a 5 yr old would you get the pre level 1 or jump to level 1. I was just going to get the pre level one student text and then go onto level 1 say next yr. Stephanie

Yes I am using manipulatives-the cubes which fit together (a bit like lego) so he can see that they split into 2 piles. He seems to get it sometimes but I also think that our session is too long, as he stops getting it as we do more and more. I'm too used to working with my older boys and forget that he is only little! I'm so wrapped up with him not falling behind that I am pushing him too hard, I know that but it is difficult when there are so many things I'd like to teach him and not enough time! He is my first one who I have taught at home-the other two are in school so it is a steep learning curve for me. Stephanie

Thanks ladies! I know you are right! I did think it was quite a difficult concept to master when I saw it. We'll just concentrate on the basic addition and subtraction etc and I won't worry about the rest at the moment! Thanks again Stephanie

and........................!!!!!!!! Please tell me more! Stephanie

My 1st grader is doing my head in! I'm doing Singapore Maths with him (My Pals are here) and we have just started level 1A number bonds. For the sum 6+?=8 I am getting him to split the 8 into 6 and ? so he can see that ?=2. He knows how to split etc but he can't do the working out on his own he keeps forgetting and I know he doesn't "get" it. He can do basic addition 6+2=8 up to 20 (haven't gone any further) but doesn't understand the split. Is this a difficult concept? I am moving on to the number stories which really is just addition but don't want to move onto subtraction until we have mastered this. I know that certain concepts are mastered at different stages developmentally so really I'm looking for reassurance that he will wake up one morning and all will be clear lol! He is only just 5yrs old. Thanks! Stephanie

Where have you bought it from? I need it shipped to the UK and have emailed them to find out how much I need to add for shipping but they haven't replied. Any other sources? Stephanie

I would say that the key is to find something that interests him. My ds1 reads nothing but fiction and ds2 only non fiction. So take what he is interested in and try and find something for him to read about it. Ds2 will read parts of adult non fiction books eg survival, Bear Grills etc because that is what he loves. Even reading internet sites counts, childrens magazines etc Stephanie

May get this too. Am I correct in that it is the most suitable for 5 yr olds? Ds is reading but not fluently yet we still have a long way to go so I don't want to confuse him with programmes which talk about different ways of saying the letters etc? Did you buy it from their site? Stephanie

oh no! I wasn't going to bother with the cd as I've bought so much. Now it looks as if I "need" to! I was hoping the book and the activity book would be enough! Stephanie

Over here (the UK) Kumon lessons are very expensive and I know that I can do the same at home even using sites like http://www.worksheetworks.com/. For my older ds (8 yrs) I printed out what I needed and got him to do a certain number every day before school-took him about 10 mins. As he got quicker I made him do more questions to fill the 10 min quota. Once he was in the routine he stopped complaining and knew that if he just got down to it he could play afterwards. With ds 3 (5 yrs) I ask him to do say 10 questions out of the kumon book whilst I'm in the room doing something else. Again if it is routine he just does it. You can try printing out problems form the above site and it costs nothing! I also like http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ Stephanie

Yes we do. We are currently using the pre grade books which include games with numbers up to 150 (dot to dot and colouring). Also one which teaches place value up to 120 plus basic addition and subtraction. I like them because they are increase in difficulty very slowly and give lots of practice. Good for in between times and where I just need ds to be occupied for 10 min. Stephanie

still not sure lol! Perhaps when people have seen it it will become clearer? Stephanie

Perhaps I should just get the textbook to read to him then and buy the others later? Stephanie

I think that these look really good but are expensive, especially for us in the UK. I am interested in the chemistry as I haven't seen anything similar suitable for my 5 yr old. I'm going with WTM programme for the rest of the science for grade 1 (will probably buy Elemental science's books to help!) but that doesn't include chemistry and it will be a nice intro I think. Has anyone else used it with a 5 yr old? Thanks! Stephanie

Wow Paige that is an impressive timetable!! Thanks so much for your replies! Stephanie

Off to find some second hand lol! Stephanie

Do you all get through this in just one year? I have just received the activity book and there seems loads of fantastic things to do in it but I'm not sure I can get through a chapter in one week? I assume that some do take a bit longer and some are shorter but do you all find that you can do the whole book in a year? Stephanie

I think that I am at exactly the same level as you with my just 5 yr old-we have started today at lesson 41, although we have done some of the later lessons via a different scheme. I was hoping to start FLL and WWE in Sept/October but I may be pushing it! I would be very interested to hear what others think at starting at age 5 as I'm not sure whether ds will understand what I mean by "nouns" etc! Stephanie