I'm a big fan of MM. If you ever need extra worksheets you can get some premade and custom-generated at homeschoolmath.net, which is Maria Miller's site (big fan of her, too!).

I took the kids out when DS was in second grade and older DD was in kindergarten. Younger DD has never been to school.

We LOVE cereal. We eat it all day around here. Also instant oatmeal. So glad the kids are old enough to use the microwave!! Sometimes I trick them into eating cereal or oatmeal for dinner by calling it "silly dinner." They think it's great! Having said that, I will also eat gladly eat pizza, chicken, or cake for breakfast, or any meal. I'm an equal opportunity eater!

For fiction reading, I recommend Princess Grace. Here's the description: This year two girls will be selected as princesses in the town parade, and Grace can’t wait to be one of them. It’s the perfect opportunity to dress up—but how, exactly, should a princess costume look? Grace asks her teacher for help, and soon the whole class is learning that there’s more to princesses than pink dresses and frills. From Kenya to China and from warriors to spies, princesses are a multicultural and multitalented bunch, and there are just as many kinds of happily ever afters—both for the royals and for Grace’s community and its princess parade. Have fun with your princess study!

We are the exact opposite. I don't mind reading science and history, but I can count on two hands (if that!) how many story books I read to them last year. But goshdarnit we're going to read Charlotte's Web this year! They are interrupting a lot, but I can tell they're enjoying it a great deal. We've only read through Chapter Three, but woo hoo!!!

LIKE!

I have read some posts by parents who wish they had been more rigorous with grammar instruction. Has anyone looked back and wished they'd taken it easier?

For LA, I want the kids to fill up the page, but for some reason, the last page used is often not in the binder. So this year, I am trying 3-subject spiral notebooks (grammar, reading, writing). I'll have them continue on the page until it's full, writing the date at the beginning of each lesson. We will start Tuesday. We didn't have the missing pages problem with science and history, probably because we are all together for those. And the pages are usually filled up pretty well, so we will continue to use binders, with each lesson on a new page.

Really??? By himself????? Surely he comes to you every 5 minutes with a question?????? I guess my next question is: what is IN the workboxes? I'm intrigued.

I thought you were going to say something WEIRD! :D

We have been doing "the next thing." Sometimes, though, by 3:00, we hadn't gotten to too many "things." This year I'm going to try a more formal, timed (:svengo:) schedule. There's so much we NEED to accomplish! My hope is that I can motivate DCs to dilly-dally less by requiring them to stay on the schedule. When time's up, you have to move on. If you're not done, it's homework (delaying screen time). I hope to also have them work more independently. WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES!!!! Thank you for all the responses so far!

Especially if you have two or more. We will use a combination of teacher-intensive (like WWE) and more independent (like Math Mammoth) curricula. How are you scheduling it all? TIA

I think this is why copywork is so important. Copywork helps build that stamina, and gives her practice writing well-composed sentences until she can compose her own. Why not give it a try for a few weeks and see how it goes? Write some simple sentences for her to copy, sit with her and gently correct her if she makes any mistakes.

I agree with boscopup; give him some problems to refresh those skills. You will find lots of worksheets at http://www.homeschoolmath.net/worksheets/grade_4.php. You may both find that he remembers better than he thinks he does.

Check out Fizz, Bubble, and Flash!

Like others have said: thorough, flexible, without unnecessary activities and script. This will be our third year using it. I like that it focuses on one topic at a time, which I think is referred to as "mastery" appoach. It does not "spiral," where multiple topics are taught simultaneously (forgive and correct me, anyone, if this definition is not accurate!).

That's what I'm planning to try for my K-er this year. Since you already have it, you can try it out for a while before you spend $ on something else! :)

:lurk5:

We have family in the area who can watch the kids, so we're able to go out maybe once/month or two.

DS8 has really taken an interest in cooking lately. He checks out cookbooks from the library and looks for recipes he'd like to make, writes the grocery list, etc. At this age, he can be more helpful with reading the recipes and putting things on the stove. But we have done this type of thing since they were younger. Following a recipe and planning a grocery list involves reading, math, as well as learning how to cook (and clean up afterwards):glare: I hope you have a great time cooking together!

Do it!! :D

WHEN we get around to art, my kids enjoy this program. It's on CD-ROM. I like that it teaches about color theory, drawing techniques, etc. DC enjoy using the fancy art supplies (which are not included). I will admit, sometimes I feel like I would like more background information, or that I'm missing something. But I think the kids have learned something from it and, again, they have enjoyed it.

Today I was explaining to DD7 how to add to sums greater than 10. I wondered if it might be more confusing, but she got it. She said, "Turn one into ten, and see what's left!" :party:

40+ BOOKS FOR $30?!?!??! What are you doing online? Why aren't you at the library buying the books?!!?!? :svengo:

The older two have been to public school. From time to time, my mom asks which they prefer. The last time she asked, I encouraged them to answer truthfully and left the room. They said they like homeschool. :D