Yeah, unfortunately I've heard that before with other children. It's starting to look like dd falls in the camp that it didn't really work for her. So, if she needs to go with a phonics structure, and we know how AAS resulted, what specifically would you suggest? The more specific, the better. And if all phonics based curriculum are not equal, what should I look for and what to stay away from?

If Spalding is all about memorizing rules, not sure that's going to do the trick. AAS was all rules and those didn't stick...after going through 3 volumes starting with vol. 1. What do you think? Oh, and she learned to read with 100 Easy Lessons.

Dd is 12 and can read fine and has good comprehension, but maybe a little lower than grade 6, not sure, but her spelling needs work. We've tried workbooks, AAS, making lists from misspelled words, and now we are on Spelling Power. We did it last year and I plan to continue with it. The reason I like it is it's short and to the point and no tears because of that. I've read how reading lots and lots can/will help with spelling so I plan to make a concerted effort there. Although I really don't see that she makes the connection with her spelling words and when she reads them, or vice versa. She misspelled these (theas) but I can't think of others right now. Oh, written was 'ritten' and write was 'right' but she said 'Oh, I know how to spell that' when I brought it to her attention. Oh and 'now'... : / But then she can spell things like 'Thursday', 'Wednesday', color, people and to me those can be tricky. I don't know if the simple answer is because she uses them more frequently. And the biggest thing that concerns me is she won't and/or can't sound out words. Is that a tell tale sign of something? Seems like I've read about that somewhere but can't put my finger on what it means. Yesterday she wanted me to spell 'form'. Now that seems pretty straight forward as far as sounds but she couldn't do it. Can anyone shed light on what is the hold up and how to make progress? Unfortunately we didn't start with one curriculum and stick with it but have been zigzagging for the past 3 years. I've thought to use Sequential Spelling in conjunction with Spelling Power to see if the family of words works for her but I don't know if I would be driving us crazy. Thanks so much if you've read this far!!! I sure could use some other POV's.

Thank you so much for all the replies. Lots of homework for me :)

I'm in need of a printer and could use some recommendations. The main problem in our household is we don't use it a lot. We go through spurts and then it sits. With the printer we had in the distant past, the ink would dry up by the time we got around to using it a second time : / If you have one you like that is a combo of sorts, I'm all ears! We don't have a scanner on our computer ( laptop) so that might be a good investment as well. Any ideas?? :)

I have the full set of books and have yet to use them (I think that is what is fueling me now, never used). Dd and I have listened to them in the past on cd but that was 4 years ago? Anyhow, next year for 6th I thought I'd use these and some living books for the reconstruction time to current day study we'll be doing. Anyone do a combo of these two or a combo of TSoUS and something else? Any ideas are welcomed! p.s. I like the idea of her reading instead of listening so she can strengthen that reading muscle. I thought we'd discuss it afterward or she would just read aloud to us and then we'd discuss. fwiw: I've seen the offerings of 'extras' offered on PBS-their go along vids. and discussion questions. We could use those, too.

I've been clicking on 'follow' so I have a list of the threads I like and want to remember, but I see some people post on a thread to do the same thing. Is posting better or something? It seems as if the two do the same thing. help me out, please :)

Charlotte's Web- I prefer the cartoon version over Julia's version Peter Pan My Side of the Mountain- love that book! Gulliver's Travels Around the World in 80 Days Cheaper By the Dozen Scrooge- many versions of this Red Badge of Courage

In between reading the various philosophies, you may want to take a break and read how some children have 'come out on the other side' :) Or some books on the various ways to implement these ideas and what it looks like. Reading some of these types of books could help to understand the philosophies as you go. Here are some books/authors I like: Linda Dobson Rachel Gathercole- The Well Adjusted child Rebecca Rupp- Home Learning Year By Year David Colfax- Homeschooling for Excellence Homeschooling: A Patchwork of Days by Nancy Lande Grace Llewellyn- The Teenage Liberation Handbook and others which have many resources and mentions of public education philosophies Alfie Kohn John Taylor Gotto-read his 'Teacher of the Year' speech Natalie Wickham-Pajama School Mary Griffith Educating the Whole-Hearted child by Sally Clarkson Nancy Wallace- Better than School:One Family's Declaration of Independence -- very cool, early beginnings author. Love her. Lisa Whelchel's 'So, You're thinking About Homeschooling?'

This is a SO from what Hunter mentioned in the thread about summer plans. Just wanted to toss out an idea for the block system that some colleges use where the student only studies one subject per block for 3.5 weeks. They go to class from 9-12 M-F for three weeks, the next week it's M-W and have Th & Fri off and then on Monday a new block is started. Colorado College uses this system. We tried this for the last few months of this learning year, to test drive it to see if we should implement it in full for 2014-15. It was an abbreviated test as I wanted to cover more subjects than we could if we went with the 3.5 weeks. So we did it with each block lasting 2.5 weeks. It definitely has it's pros and cons, and I believe they would be different for each family. The first block was math and dd was dreading it as it's not her thing. But it was fun using various books like 'Mathematicians Are People, Too', Math for Smarty Pants', online drills, and TT. The variety was great and the fact that math could be done verbally and with games was a plus. (I've tried the game route-living books math-but it's just not my thing) I knew for dd that we would need to incorporate math each week even when it was a different block, so I decided to include it once a week for an hour. Next block was geography. Good intentions got us started on reading '365 Days of Longitude' which we really liked but even though we'd look up the places they visited on the map, her drawing the flag, and drawing events that stood out to her from their visit there, it just didn't seem like it was sticking for her. We had a trip interruption so I revamped our plans and it went much better. However, this was about the beginning of April and I was already ready for the end to come so what we did was a little half-hearted. Passion-fashion-art block was next and of course, that went almost perfectly. She got to work on her passion, we took advantage of art in town (music, plays, trying new venues of art outlets). She loved it and I did too in that I didn't have to get her started on anything-she got started herself. LA was the last block but that fizzled out for various reasons and was shortened to 1.5 weeks. While there were some pluses, I think we both enjoy having a bit more variety so I'll keep this in mind for a later time when she is more independent. But it was a neat ride and fun experiment. Great to be able to change courses to try something new when the opp presents itself. Thank you home education. Thank you freedom.

Great idea!! start back up with my calligraphy that I've ignored waaay too long deep clean all the main areas of the house, but only what I can do in an hour or two. Don't want it to consume me. digg into some of these bookmarks I have and have not done anything with...Coursera, classes on line via the library, Khan Academy etc. Maybe take one or two days a week to dig in. continue walking an hour+ 6 days a week be faithful to try a new recipe each week...that would be amazing if I did! I've got ideas about schedules and laser-focusing on subjects but I'll put it in a new thread as to not get buried, although I've enjoyed this thread :)

Not much, hardly at all, but he is supportive in home education, the classes I sign her up for, and mainly 'pounding the pavement' to allow us to do as we (I) please. That's huge. Sometimes I wish it was more but then I think it would be just that much harder with 'two cooks in the kitchen'. He does teach her things but we don't call it 'school', it's just life. She knows aquatic fish care and tank care, fishing, camping, plumbing and electrical here and there. And there was that time she helped him make her bug box, with her 'Home Depot' apron and her pink plastic high heels...I think she was 4 yrs. :) I'm thankful we're on the same team ;)

We're pretty much doing the same time frame..I'd like to glean from your list if you don't mind.

We just started one with Word Press.com but it's on someone else's server...something I'm not completely sure how to explain. So far we like it. There are lots of themes, which means you can choose your format of the number of columns. Making it private--so far we haven't done that but there is a way to only allow registered users to post anything, although others can see posts. That's our next step=making it private.

"Wake up and smell the testosterone moment'.....that's great!!! So many of these observations resonated with me. And I didn't know it! That's why I love posts like this...they help me to give words and meaning to feelings I have but wasn't in touch with them. We've gone from FIAR, CMish, eclectic, unit studies, 'gitter' done!' attitude. I feel like 'Sybil' as in the last few months my ideas have gone the unschool route to p.s. to no enrichment days, back to CM....ugh. I feel like a rollercoaster! I really would like to know why everything seems 'right', yet they can be polar opposites. thanks for this question

'One Small Square' series for pond life. There is quite a bit there and lots of names for all those peeps in the water, seen and unseen. Not sure if you'd need to beef it up a bit. You might find a copy in your library.

Have her read the thread started by klou. It's got great info from so many experienced people.

Reefgazer, I'm with you!!! I wanted to click, click click and click some more to the post by Serene At Home :)!!!!! to say how much I liked it :) Just want to say I hope this is not a troller because so many of you have poured out your heart and souls to bless him, but you're blessing me, too!!! RIGHT ON, SISTAHS....and BROS!!!

http://guesthollow.com/homeschool/science/otters_science/science_human_body.html Burgess Animal Cards (by Mind-Fires Academy).pdf - Google Drive Sentence Diagramming, Paula's Archives Try these. If the links don't work, google the main name. In Paula's archives, she's got a cajillion lists for everything!!!! but that link should get you to her page.

Oh, that's too bad. I hope dd has a better experience...she's already signed up : / I was a little concerned that it would all be scheduled and not time for them to make something of their own creation... ugh.

We didn't do WTM when dd was in K but did FIAR among other things free in the community. I spent less than $200 i think and most of it was reruns: used books, h.s. gatherings where moms were getting rid of their old curric. So, it was not very much. I spent more time offering events and activities for dd for music, art, library outings and events. Just getting out in the world and meeting different peeps from different cultures was a learning experience in itself. However! I do like that I've been tracking yearly what we spend, where we go, what she reads, who she plays with, and what she does or volunteers for because i can include that in our 'year end review' book. Like an annual type book. And now, as she is a rising 12 y.o., the costs are rising as well :) Just another POV for the future :)

I just found this camp and dd is a tinker'er so it seems like a great fit. It costs more than I typically pay but seems worth it. Anyone use it? Like it? Hate it? :) I'd love to hear your opinions. http://www.campinvention.org/ Thanks, yolanda

This is an amazing, amazing video on dyslexia. She offers other videos as well as resources-all free. Even if you don't personally need the information, wouldn't it be great to be able to pass on helpful, encouraging resources to those in need? 1 in 5 people, kids/teens/adults have this highly inheritable condition. I think it would be great! Bright Solutions

Thanks for your input, ladies. Your replies helped me. (Hi Nancy Ann!) I've read Alfie Kohn's book years ago and loved it and that's some of the reason I've not used rewards. The ideas therein really resonated with me. (I've yet to crack open 'Feel-bad Education...and other contrarian essays on children and schooling' lying on my stack of books.) When I look back to when I was 'in the mood' for the reward system, I can see I was in one of those panic stricken cycles that are typical of some h.s. moms. (not my first for sure :) Taking time to talk it over with IRL friends, read a great book of Tammy Takahashi's 'Deschooling Gently', and reading these replies helped me get a grip again. So much better (and less expensive) than a 'paid' ear, IYKWIM So, I so appreciate your thoughts, ladies :seeya:

Just wondering about rewards and if you use them with your children when it comes to learning, not chores. This is something I've chosen not to do for my now (almost) 11 y.o. for various reasons. Well, recently I thought about it and to encourage more self initiated learning, I made some charts for a few subjects and when the rewards would be given. After two days or so, as she was going after the rewards, it just didn't sit right with me. I didn't like it for various reasons. (I'm purposely being vague as i know some people use rewards) So, if you use rewards, could you enlighten me as to the good you see coming from it? Because, if I'm missing something, I want to be open to other opinions on rewards and the good they do. Thanks! Yolanda