Here are a few chapter books my kids enjoyed this year. They were in K and 1st grade. Stuart Little My Fathers Dragon Charlotte's Web The Trumpet of The Swan Mr. Poppers Penquins Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Mrs. Piggle Wiggle The Mouse and the Motorcycle James and the Giant Peach

We use real lemons and sugar in the raw! Yummy

Thanks these look good. Now to make a choice!

Someone posted a great schedule for SOTW 1 and I used it last year. I wondering if the same person has a schedule for SOTW 2? http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/sotw-i-workbook-pages----two-day-a-week-format/3018696?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/2

Are the Lab Annotation books any good at all? Just thinking outloud here but maybe I can start my 6yr old in Miquon and keep my 7yr old in MUS and Singapore. By the way I'm going to look at the diary books now online at CBD. Thanks

I was just gifted the Miquon Math orange, green, blue and red booka and the Lab book. I had already purchased MUS Alpha for my 7yr old and my just turned 6 yr old boy. Now I'm wondering how to use the program and if I need anything else? Just to give you a briefing about my 7 yr old we are just now completing the 1A Standard edition of SIngapore and we were going to start 1B next week along with MUS. Now I have these books and I'm clueless. My 6yr old completed the early bird series of Singapore and I was going to sart him with 1A and MUS Alpha. DO I need anything else to go with the books? Should I just use them to supplement the MUS and not do the SIngapore? SHould I just sell them? The Lab book is making my head turn it seems different to me!

I have a planning form that someone on the board sent me. I can email it to you if you like. I can't take credit for the form but it is very useful!

When you take your week off do you count those days? I'm in a state that count days(180) and last year I did the 3 wks on 1 wk off schedule but I didn't count them as school days. Looking back I should have slapped myself because we were reading, going on field trips, doing fun experiments etc. I think this year I'm just going to count everyday except for the major holidays.

Thanks I'm going to get the Astrology and the Swimming Creatures 2 book and download the first part of Zoo 1.

I guess it can't work for me because I like to start in July but if I start my new year in Jan that would only be 7 months. We usually school year round 4 days a week. My kids are young to but we are required to have 180 days here as well. For some reason I can't seem to figure this out right in my mind.

2nd grade plans Complete Hooked on Phonics 2/ETC 4&5 FLL 1/2 WWE 1 Finish SOTW 1/start SOTW 2 with cd's/ AG/Living books MUS Alpha/Singapore 1B Read aloud book list by mom Bible-Read VOS Bible w/narration Composers/Classics for kids cd's Art/come look with me books Science-Apologia Astronomy/Swimming creatures/field trips science kits/snap circuits Outside Activities Co-op classes 1xw Cub Scouts T-BAll/or soccer Piano Practice 1xw **I hope we can have lots of snuggling time and fun!

Can you explain this in details for me? Do you promote to the next level in Jan as well? How do you finish all your material before Jan? I'm curious, it may be something I want to try!

I think we are going to start next week the day after my youngest b-day. July 13 and we take 1 week off every month and end in May. We did some light schooling(reading and math) over the last month for 3days and we still have Vacation Bible School and Soccer Camp coming up in the next few weeks but they are all scheduled in the evening.

Thanks I couldn't find any links when I tried!

If so what do you think about it? We had a sales rep to come and give us a demo this morning and I liked it alot but I'm just not sure I want to make that type of investment right now.

I would like to get one of the Apologia's Science books for my boys but didn't know which book would be best to start with. I purchased an aquarium membership this year so I was thinking about buying the Swimming Creatures book and tying it in with our visits to the aquarium? I also wanted to do the WTM suggestions of Earth/Astronomy. Any suggestions?

I think you are going to be very pleased with FLO. I used them for the first time last month and the turn around time was very fast. Less than a week! Overall I woild say that the CAT-5 wasn't too easy for my 1st grader. But of course I haven't seen any other test and this was our first year testing. I also think some of the reading comprehension was a little above a 1st graders level but my son did really well overall. I'm just glad I can right that chapter good-bye and send in my results to the state!!!

Another friend told me about this game. And it's on sale! I'm thinking about ordering it! http://www.amazon.com/The-Learning-Company-380933-Zoombinis/dp/B00005LBVU/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3U4F6V60CTYAH&colid=1JIX8VU702QHJ

Trying to figure this out myself but it does say that the old version is compatible with the new activity book. And I also found the downloadable student pages on sale for the old version. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/history-and-geography/volume-2-the-middle-ages.html

Story of the World 2-old version http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/clearance-products.html

I totally agree about it being to much especially if it's more than one day! I really like being home as much as possible but I think my boys will benefit from it. Thankfully the classes are held on Fridays and we will only take 2.

We need math! Can't decide if I'm going to stick with Singapore or go with Rightstart or MUS????? SOTW 2 with cd's and AG, song school latin and more art supplies! We have so far: 2nd grade- Hooked on Phonics 2 ETC 4&5 WWE 1 FLL1-1/2 Vos Bible 1st grade- Hooked on phonics 2 ETC 3&4 WWE 1 FLL 1-1/2 Vos Bible

That's a good idea I didn't think of that. I think that will work even better!

We have never been involved with a co-op and I found a co-op in my area that has a classical educational flavor. I went to a classical conversations meeting and I liked some aspects of CC but not all. I decided not to do CC. I was thinking about letting the boys choose 1 or 2 classes. They are rising 1st and 2nd graders. The classes are each $20.00 a month for each semester the semester run from Sept-Dec than Jan-May. There is a small one time fee for supplies for some of the courses. The co-op seems to be very flexible. The parent can drop the child off or stay in the parent lounge and wait until the classes are done. They also have options for parents to volunteer for a discount on the classes. We can choose to do as many classes as we like. The clases are held or Fridays. I guess I just want to get some feed back since we have never done a co-op. I usually have school 4 days a week. Thanks Mon_school(piano practice @4pm) Tues-school(cub scouts @6pm) Wed-Library/grocery/errands Thurs-school Friday-Light day or field trip But if I do the co-op my schedule would look like this Mon-school(piano practice @ 4pm) Tues-school(cub scouts @ 6pm) Wed-Library/shopping or errands Thurs-school Friday-Co-op day Here are the classes I was thinking about: 1st grade- -10:30-11:30-Life Science( R.E.A.L. Science – level 1) -Lunch -12:00-1:00-Odyssey of the mind 2nd- 10:30-11:30-CHemistry( Real Science 4 Kids – level 1) -Lunch 12:00-1:00-Odyssey of the mind or -Galloping the Globe

Thanks for the ideas. Yes the picnic basket comes with the silverware, plates, and cups for 2 people. I like the idea of the blanket, music cd, and good chocolate! Here is the one I was looking at: http://www.familychristian.com/shop/product_image.asp?ProdID=127027