I have been using Rightstart math A and B for my kiddos who are K and 1st. Well, next year I will be adding another child in and then every 2 years adding another. I spend a lot of face time with my kids, which I don't mind, but RS math is not getting done. I LOVE the way RS works, but I need other suggestions. What do you use and how much time does it take with you and without you? I don't mind worksheets, I think my kids would dig them. Thanks hive...

I also use WWE 1 with PR Level K/1. I haven't seen copywork and narration used specifically in PR yet (we are starting week 15 after thanksgiving). I think it is a nice combo, WWE is quick and easy and my son really likes it and asks for it. I'm just going to take it year by year, but I will probably drop it next year and just keep narration going through history. Hope this helps. :)

We also use it and LOVE it! Using Level 1 with my 1st grader. I will admit that it was hard to find others using it and reviews when I began, but I'm glad to hear you guys are out there! Let me know if a "group" is started. The Yahoo group doesn't have much activity.

:bigear:

I'm right with you. I have a true first grader using level one, then a kinder who was not quite ready this year. My kinder was using "Blend Phonics" (from DonPotter's website) and got past CVC words and blending became a problem. So today I pulled out AAS level one with him and we will use that for a while. The way they use the tokens to sound out the words really helped my first grader last year,even though we only used about half the book before we started PR. I will go back to blend phonics with my kinder after he gets good at separating the sounds in a word, because I really like that it covers most of the phonograms PR uses in about 4 months. I teach all phonograms the phonics road way with anything I use. So this was for my k'er. My 4yo preschooler, is using "Language Lessons for Little Ones" and as we learn new letters I teach her the correct phonogram, as a matter of fact I teach the sound over the letter name. Next year she will go to Blend Phonics and then on to Phonics Road. I say Blend Phonic because it is much more consise in teaching the sounds and blends vs AAS which only teaches about six phonogram teams for level one. Clear as mud? Hope this helps! Feel free to ask me more or to clarify.

I'm thinking through history for my family... ...it must be taught to different levels at same time, ...it must be living books driven, ...above all have a christian worldview and teach Bible. I've been looking at ToG, MFW, HOD, BF, WP, VP, etc. and its hard to tell from the samples on websites just how in-depth the worldview and Bible go. Can you give some insight into... ...how Bible is handled, if you use these programs, and/or ...what worldview they are teaching from? For example, it's hard for me to tell about TOG, it looks like just Bible survey and not actually studying the Bible, maybe its integrated with history? I'm using BF Early America now, but we we move on next year to Ancients or Cultures depending on what I choose. Your wise words are such a blessing to me! Thank You!

Beautiful Feet Early American...love it!

We are loving: The Phonics Road + WWE 1 Rightstart Math Beautiful Feet Early American History

I too was drawn to it. It's a beautiful setup and I like the way Veritas integrated the story and artwork. I bought it last year (the K-1 Version) after trying to figure out SWR and being frustrated with its organization. Well, I got through the first couple of days and decided its not what I wanted. I had already introduced all of the phonographs to my son and Phonics Museum starts with just the short /a/. It introduces each sound one at a time. It would be a while before we would be making some progress towards reading. I have found a curriculum that just fits us and my goals for my children--the Phonics Road. Getting back to PM, I think it is a fun and beautiful curriculum. It uses italics to teach handwriting (which I like) and uses clever puzzle pieces to "make" words, which could work really well for a tactile learning or any child for that matter. The readers interesting and colorful. Its just a fun and exciting curriculum. If I had never read SWR and bought PM first, I would have never looked back!

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That's exactly what I was thinking of. These seem really gentle yet lots of meaty reading. Fun, but not "formal." I'm pretty sure we will go with Apologia next year, but these look like good science reading!

I gave my 2.5 yo her first pair of scissors this year. I watch her closely with them and she makes big messes, but nothing my little dust buster can't handle. I think that is the youngest I have ever given them to my kids. She was just a little more mature than my others (she's the 4th).

I have been looking for a gentle fun science for my Prek, K, and 1st grader. I have recently looked at Sonlight K, World Around Me Winterpromise, Noeo, Real Science, and 106 days of creation (simplycharlottemanson.com) among others. I've looked at Apologia, but I think we still need to wait a year to get more out of it. We will finish up Chrisitan Liberty Press Science K book this semester, but I can't find what I want for next semester. I really want a curriculum with living books. I don't consider Usborne living books, hence my problem with WP and Sonlight. I like the other aspects of their curriculum, but just too many Usborne books as the years go on. The front runner is probably "106 days of Creation," but I looked at my Queen magazine last night and got excited. I dont have any of these books, and I'm wondering if you have used any of these books or living books studies. I am using Vol 1 of Language lessons with my preschooler this year and we are enjoying it. Here is the progression from the back of the catalog as seen in the packs (I am considereing that "Pack A" is about prek): PreK - The Story Book of Science by Jean Henri-Fabre Kinder - Animal Life in Field and Garden 1st - The Story Book of Birds and Beasts 1st - A Nature Walk With Aunt Bessie 2nd - Mary's Meadow 2nd - Oakie of the Oak Tree (Living Book Study) 2nd - Daniil the Triceratops (Living Book Study) 3rd - "Animal Autobiography" Series by Jane Fielding 4th - Parables from Nature 4th - My Nature Journal 5th - Little House on the Prarie Study Guide (Living Book Study) 5th - Misty of Chincoteague (Living Book Study) 6th - My Side of the Mountain (Living Book Study) 6th - Pagoo (Living Book Study) 7th - Lost in the Barrens (Lving Book Study) Any PROS or CONS? Thoughts? Thanks for your time. This board has given me such an education. I know that I could not be the homeschool mom without you! I have learned so much since being here. I sincerely thank you!

Not Tina, but I use Phonics Road. It does use vertical phonics and it was confusing for my Kinder last year. We are using it this year again and cruising along well. I also have a Kinder this year too. Instead of waiting till first grade to do anything, I am doing Blend Phonics from Don Potter's website (bless that man!) with Jeremiah. I taught him all 26 letters and sounds according to Phonics Road. We are working through Blend Phonics, which goes short a, short i, etc which is different than Phonics Road, but I'm Ok with that. I don't think it will confuse him since I am using the same sounds and terminology of PR. So far its working well for both of them. For us this is just a great fit.

Same boat here. I have a 4,5,& 6 yo. I've looked at so many sciences. I had narrowed it down to sonlight or WP, but then I realized I really don't want heavy use of Usborne books. I want real living books at this age, with biblical content. So right now I will probably go with "106 days of creation" from SimplyCharletteMason.com, starting in January, which gives me time to finish CLP science (which is another good one, but would be too young for your 9yo) and gather the videos and books for the study. Then after that I plan on using Apologia, we can always add in some living books. 106 days combines scripture, covers a variety of subjects (which is something I would like to do first), uses videos, does experiments, and uses living books. Hope this helps, I've been frustrated because I've spend so much time on a subject that will not be a core subject and while I have so many choices, I still don't have something that just "fits the bill" (like my Phonics Road and Rightstart and Beautiful Feet History).

I think its a great idea to use AAS letter tiles with PR. I did, and it went over very well with my 6yo. We are now on Week 11 with Phonics Road and he no longer using them though. Last year I started him on PR, but he wasn't quite ready...so being a new hs'er I bought another program, and another one, and AAS. AAS was the best for him, at the time, but I really kept coming back to Phonics Road even though I was frustrated with it because of our unsuccessful start in K. This year we re-started (1st grade) and everything is going much better and we also used the tiles, which I think made a big difference with my wiggly son. I put magnetic strips on PR tiles, but they were too big for my white board, I think AAS tiles are just right! We use them on a white board, so you can just mark them with a dry erase marker also. I'm so glad I have chosen to continue with Phonics Road. I can't wait to get to the "books" at week 15! Having reading integrated into the language arts was the kicker for me since I was going to go with AAS, WWE, and FFL. I am still doing WWE, and my son really likes it and it doesn't take long. I know I said more than I needed to, but I would continue with Phonics Road, its a great program. :001_smile:

I'm using GBI and I would just skip Book A and move into book B. Book A has lots of white space, only practices letters, and is in "letter families" order. Book B covers all of Book A (in alpha order) and adds words and sentences for copying and practicing. My 6.5 yo son is using B with no problems.

Christian Liberty Press has a new preschool curriculum. I like the look of their activity book: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=971767&item_code=WW&netp_id=612391&event=EBRN&view=covers

I too researched my tail off before I started. I started with Phonics Road Level 1 (OG method), but failed because I started him (in hindsight) too early. This year ds is 1st grade and we are doing Phonics Road again and loooooving it! I also use WWE 1 to round things out. I have bought many programs: Phonics Museum, SWR, All About Spelling, etc. The longer I stay with Phonics Road, the more I like it. It is such a solid program. I do change up a few things like using the tokens in AAS to help him sound out a word and adding WWE level 1. I didn't much like Phonics Museum (even though I'm an art teacher and think its beautiful). It had a lot of pictures (which were beautiful), and worksheets. It just wasn't what I was looking for. I really wanted to teach them ALL the sounds (vertical phonics) of a letter rather than one sound (horizontal phonics) at a time. SWR was just too unorganized for me. On the other extreme AAS was wonderful with organization. I love the idea behind SWR, but after a year of reading through and trying to get it, I still felt like I would miss something really important. My plan this year was to go with WWE, FFL, and AAS. Then I realized the Phonics Road did all those, along with teaching literature analysis and latin (2nd level- 4th level). If I went with my origianal plan, I would not get either of these or would have to add them in. The only thing I didn't see was narration this year so I added WWE and it has been a match made in heaven for me! We spend about about 30 minutes total on english and I do break up the days if we are learning something new (ex: plurals). Phonics Road only has 34 weeks of instruction so I have wiggle room (heck, I homeschool, I have wiggle room anyway!) Hope this helps!

I had the "teacher" pages sprial bound, and keep the student pages on my bookshelf. I popped them in my printer and made a copy for my son. I have 4 more dc coming up so this was the best option for me. :001_smile: (my printer has been a great tool for me, it can copy and scan a stack of papers. I get my ink super cheap also and keep the copies on "draft" which also helps)

Thanks to all for your suggestions. Thanks for suggesting the Outdoor Hour, I have it bookmarked, but forgot about it! Does anyone do this and add a science, or would that be too much?

First year to do science. Have a Prek, Kinder, and 1st grader. I was thinking of ordering Sonlight K or WP world around me, but I picked up Handbook of Nature Study and it looks so rich. It also made me pick up WTM again and read through science again. I'm just thinking outloud about science, using the Handbook, I could: obviously add a nature journal (done) use usborne encylopidia for visual effect add nature parables for literature find dover books or internet pics for coloring pages add living books Has anyone used it the WTM way? How have you used it and did you add anything? How did you use it?

So do you ladies use Singapore Textbooks or Workbooks when supplementing?

I am doing Beautiful Feet Early American next year with my K and 1st grader next year. They have a primary (k-3) and intermediate (4-6) packages. I am suggesting because you said you wanted something Biblical and look like you wanted to use living books also. I had bought SOTW and changed to MOH, then when I picked up my beautiful Feet catalog, I knew I had found just what I had been looking for! Its more pricey than SOTW or MOH, but I am really looking forward to it!

Just a note to encourage you, we are exactly (lesson 73) where you are in RS A. I urge you not to worry, my son does the same thing. Looking ahead to RS B, the first twenty-something lessons are reviewing RS A, in fact they encourage you to skip them if you have completed level A. I would say, move on (we are almost finished!) and try the concept again next year in B, just make sure you don't skip that review lesson. I also use a workbook, horizons K, that we do on hectic days when RS doesn't get done. I like that I can see him putting on paper what he has learned. I do keep the workbook a little behind his level so it is more of a review and doesn't teach new concepts, I want RS to do that. Keep pressing on! Rightstart is great curriculum!