We actually clapped out the phonograms in a little rhythm for letters like /o/ and /y/, etc. I agree with PP, move on but keep reviewing...it will eventually stick. I love AAS b/c you can move at your child's pace, I never felt pressure to "hurry up". Best to you!

Love this thread...learning about many I've not heard of before! Last year we really enjoyed GuestHollow's Otter's Human Body Science (it's FREE too!) We started out with Apologia's Human Anatomy but it was too much for a 2nd grader, IMO. http://www.guesthollow.com/homeschool/science/otters_science/science_human_body.html FIAR for K-1st. Can't wait to start with my DD this coming year!

I only used the TG, student book, and slate for K. Since then, i've printed out free letter builders from Confessions of a Homeschooler's site to use with my pre-Ker.

I used it with my 2nd grader this past year and we really enjoyed it. I love the format of her lesson plans. I had originally intended to use Apologia's A&P but my son did not enjoy the textbook. We mainly used it for the "Try It Now" experiments. We also added in a lot of Bill Nye videos and used this site for short videos and games: http://kidshealth.org/kid/

Have you considered Before Five In A Row? You can do as little or as much as you want. There's also great go along packs (if you have time to print and stick in a folder) from Homeschool Creations and Homeschool Share. I've found BFIAR doesn't require a lot of extra supplies and it sounds like your littles would enjoy the books. I used it lightly with my dd last year b/c she was wanting school too but yet I didn't have much time to prep. She still sings the ABC Bunny song from YouTube. :) ETA: most books can be ordered through Amazon except a few out of print.

Just started on For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.

My husband told me to make an IKEA wishlist this weekend and we'll plan a trip this summer to get things for the schoolroom (huge YAY!). Jolanthe's room and Erica from "Confessions of a Homeschooler" we're also my inspiration! Have fun!

We finished May 10th and will start back early July. Our break is going fast!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just spent the last three hours tweaking your schedule to fit ours...you saved me a TON of time...and now I'm done planning SOTW for next year, yay!! :party:

Thank you so much for posting the links! I had made a note of this website and went back to it and it was an adult website! Same address...don't know what happened?! :eek: so glad it's there!

For next year, I printed out the student book for CKE Earth Science, will make copies from SOTW AG, print out B4FIAR packets from various websites for my Pre-Ker, print out a reading program, print out our artist/composer studies, and also any additional unit studies. I copy and laminate all year long but like to get a jump start in summer. I just need binders for all these papers, lol.

2nd grade Hits: AAS 2 WWW Proverbs People GuestHollow Otter's Human Body Science HWOT Rand McNally Schoolhouse Beginner Geography (picked this back up after dropping Road Trip) USAB Download N Go studies Prima Latina Misses: FLL 2 (sad, b/c we loved 1) Road Trip USA (we are not lapbook people...at least at this point) Apologia Anatomy & physiology. ( liked the "Try This" sections) Tolerated: BJU Math 2 Song School Latin

Thanks so much for the input. My dd loves using C-rods so I will look into Miquon as well as Essentials. She caught me off guard...I wasn't planning anything formal for math this coming year but she seems to be ready!

A couple of questions regarding the Singapore Early Bird Math books....do you need both the text and activity books? After looking at the samples, they both have questions to answer (and it looks like you write in the text). I noticed in the textbook that it gave teaching suggestions...am I missing something else? Also, my almost 4 yo is taking off...she just taught herself to count to 100 last week and understands simple addition/subtraction as well as all her shapes. Would books A and B be worthwhile to pursue? She doesn't have the muscle strength yet to do much writing and I don't know if these books require lots of independent writing. Thanks!

We are doing audio books in our van, educational Netflix movies that springboard conversations, iPad math games ( maybe Spellboard too...looks like a great app!), card games that my 4yo can get in on like UNO, reading, and life skills (I'm having my son take over more of the chores and teaching new ones). I still want more structure but it hasn't worked out that way, so I'm just trying to roll with it. :)

I didn't know about the annual 50% off sale...good to know b/c I had a friend asking about this curriculum. Thanks!

It's not a complete list, but I am using some suggestions from this blogger, Satori Smiles. http://satorismiles.com/curriculum/story-of-the-world-1/ I'll also follow this thread for more ideas. :bigear:

Love it! Thanks for sharing....it makes me more anxious to purchase the LoF books for my son! :001_smile:

I bought RoadTrip USA and used it for the first few months of our school year. It wasn't a good fit because it was a lot of lapbooking and I was the one doing it. My son doesn't enjoy cutting/pasting. I also felt like I could have printed the state sheets we used for free from other websites. I still plan to use it for a reference and I'm sad it didn't work out this time around.

Have you seen the classical literature unit studies Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler put together? http://store.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70_76_90&products_id=257 They look awesome and we plan on using some this summer....probably starting with Charlotte's Web.

One of my favorite hsing resources. :)

Great...thanks so much for your replies! Just trying to eliminate an extra purchase if I can. :)

I am switching my rising 3rd grader over to GD Italics book D from HWOT. Is the Instructor's Manual necessary in your opinion? Just asking because I only used the TM the first year I taught him HWOT....but since it's a new style, I am not sure. Thanks!

My 7yo really enjoyed Blue Planet and I'm starting a Ken Burns series on The National Parks.

We enjoyed Rand McNally's Geography and Map Activities (Beginner). It was simple and straightforward. http://www.amazon.com/McNally-Schoolhouse-Beginner-Geography-Activities/dp/0528934694 I think I picked it up at a teacher supply store.