I have 3 munchkins and all have loved them! (Well, my oldest ds didn't like "These Happy Golden Years" as much as my dd, too romantic.) I think we're on our third round of the series.

A other vote for Math Rider! My son did not like the intensity of times attack but really likes this.

My 5.5 yr old is a little ahead of yours (reading CVC words when prompted) but I don't think that will matter. She doesn't particularly care for OPGTR and is stuck with HOP Kindergarten (too many sight words.) What is working is the online version of Explode the Code (I do not like the books for my kids because they require too much writing for them) and she really likes it. It is on sale through the homeschool buyers co-op (google it).

I sync my ipad calender with gmail and use this for menu planning. I also use gmail for tasks, although they do not show up on the ipad. I am very happy with it.

Sorry for the delay, the Gold Star pieces are just quite a bit different than Performance. Where the Performance book might have many beautiful pieces he does not find them interesting and enjoys the difference that the Gold Star books provide. I would say they are more fun while still being challenging. The Gold Star books have been his favorites of all the supplementary books he has used.

Well I would be a piano parent, not a teacher, but my son has used lesson and theory. He doesn't really like the performance one at all but LOVES the gold star ones. He is in between level 1 and 2 now. HTH.

Wow, I guess when you have one with LD (2e) you get a bit skewed on what can be done. Thanks!

I'm posting here for recommendations on my pre-k 5 year old daughter. (Just turned 5 a month ago.) I would not be doing any sit-down work with her but as her brother does it, she wants to do so as well. For this school year she has been doing HOP K, Singapore EB, HWT 1. Basically she is at the level (or past) where my son started at 6. However he is a reluctant student whereas she would do lessons all day long. Now to the question. . . she has been asking to spell words on the white board (like big brother) and has been doing excellent with CVC words, basic blends, etc. Do I start All About Spelling with her? She's doing excellent on her own but I wonder if having the rules explicitly laid out would be helpful or could it squash her enthusiasm? I really like the program and worry that if we wait a year or so she's going to be too far ahead for the beginning levels. However it just seems like too much for pre-k. Thoughts? Thanks!

Another plug for Faber and Faber. DS takes lessons but I am teaching my dd with the books. I played violin as a child but do not have any trouble helping her learn the basics.

I would switch off of OPGTTR. Both of my kids have hated it! They have both done well with HOP. Even so my 8-year old just really got reading in the past year and my 4-year old is starting to read on her own. Kids are different!

We used it for two six month periods. He liked it a lot the first time but on the second time through he said it got too boring/hard. It complements SM very well in my mind.

Janice VanCleave's boos are excellent. For that age you can do a lot about the scientific principles behind the experiments and then have the kids do the experiments. I used her chemistry bood for a class of mostly third graders and it was a lot of fun.

"the blue planet" and "planet earth" (both BBC I believe) are liked by my guys.

I am teaching my 4 yr old using Faber's pre-reading books. I took violin as a child and have sat through two years of piano lessons with my older son so this elementary book is easy enough. We will start formal lessons when she is 6.

We have the Fiskars and like it a lot.

I have an 8, a 4.5 and a 2. A crazy no-napping 2. I have no suggestions, just commiseration. When I asked the HS mom who does our portfolio review (OH requirement) about it she basically said to just get as much done as you can and know that our children are learning a ton of stuff from having a young sibling and that you're not ruining their future.

My ds (8) is really enjoying the MCT books (we're on the first). He says he likes it a ton better than FLL as it has the different colored words, more white space in the books and a better layout.

I have a very similar sounding 8 yr old ds. Singapore works for us as I do all the writing and the lessons are very short and to the point. MUS sounds fun but is quite an investment.

A to Z Mysteries, and The Little House on the Prairie (we did all of them until the end when they got too romantic for ds's taste.)

Thank you!

Does anyone have one for an 8 yr old? We have the DK one from grade one but he wants one that has more animals. Thank you!

Yes, I would put socks on hold for a bit. They're little and fiddly with thin yarn and I think you would have more success starting with some hats (say no to the blanket unless it's for a wee babe!)

No vaccines. We have had serious side effects from usually benign medications so we avoid most medicinal treatments in general.

No, if ds gets them we move on. I occasionally review words from the past but he doesn't miss them either. We are in level one.

I have seen a huge jump from 1st to 2nd grade in my son's ability to do this. I thought something was wrong last year but apparently he just needed time (and/or practice). She's only six!