Is one better than the other? Is MP easier? What age would you recommend starting? DS is reading very well so I wanted to add in more real books and more follow up on reading comprehension so I thought these would be a good place to start.

Have you looked at all about reading? It is a great program with fun reading and games. I know it's not on your list but I had to recommend it since its been so great. A year ago DS couldn't read even simple CVC blends and now he's reading everything in sight. I also think Memoria Press First Start Reading is a nice simple intro to blends and reading comprehension.

AAS1 is very gentle and pretty simple for the most part, except perhaps compound words which are still simple but longer like bathtub, or when to double f, l and s. I had planned to start spelling in 1st but followed AAL's recommendation about starting it after finishing AAR 2 I think and I'm glad we did. It was so simple and easy for DS that he was annoyed with some of it, like why the last lesson is super easy words like he, she, the, etc. but there were much harder words in earlier lessons. I think it's helped solidify his reading by reminding him of rules like when c is soft and when vowels are long vs. short. My DS seems to be a natural reader so I think a reminder of the rules is a good thing. Plus with AAS it's super easy to speed up or slow down so I don't think there could be any problem with giving it a try. It seemed like so much of it was a reminder of what vowels say so it really is easy to start. If I had known how simple it was I would have added it in sooner. Forgot about your pacing question, in the beginning it was easily one lesson or more a day as again they were easy and focused on vowel sounds. Then at some point it moved into more words and phrases. At that point I broke it up over a day or two or three so he wasn't having to write too much. Even though he could do most of the words he would get irritated if there were too many. I think they recommended spelling with tiles but since he could do the words I turned it into handwriting practice with writing out the words and phrases. I circled any he missed and reviewed them at the next session until he mastered them. I think we generally stick to the recommended 15 minutes or less. Plus the lessons really stick so I don't feel any pressure if we miss it for awhile and then come back to it.

I'm doing a general overview of history for DS before we start SOTW next year. He's really enjoyed having the Playmobil toys from cavemen to Egypt and it really seems to bring it alive for him. Unfortunately they don't seem to be making them anymore. Does anyone know if they ever bring back old sets? Or if they will be continuing to make them? I can't seem to find any information anywhere, Thanks!

No! I bought it and it was never worth it. I think most iPad apps are better.

Another AAR fan here. It is very thorough. I think DS started AAR1 last year at 5 and it started off hard for him because he didn't get blending but now at newly 6 he's almost halfway through AAR3 and reading everything in sight. It's been amazing to watch how far he's come. My only recommendation would be you might want to do something in between pre and AAR1. For DS that was a big jump so if your son isn't blending you might want to focus on simple blends first. Memoria Press First Start Reading is a great simple intro to beginning blends and reading plus comprehension or maybe check out explode the code. I wish I had done that first as he was very frustrated at the beginning of AAR1 but it did only last a couple of weeks.

Supplement with BOB books and I see Sam to help with fluency. What about adding in ETC? Maybe practicing writing the words would help with fluency. Is she having a problem with blending? Or is it more that she's doing it slowly and needs more time to speed up?

Just to make you feel better OP I asked about the ear thing too a few months ago when doing an art study for DS. So you're not alone! I did end up mentioning it and it was of course no big deal despite my stress over it.

I'd start with the audiobook versions of books you've read. With DS I think somewhere around 3-4 I read him Pooh, Paddington, and Peter Pan and then got him the audio books to listen to. He still very much loves the audio books and one of them is usually what he chooses to listen to at bedtime. It's crazy what an expert he is on Peter Pan now!

Yes and then it moves into the regular ETC line up. DS loved the get ready ones but so far on book 3 of regular ETC and it's very repetitive and dry so definitely not as much as fun!

http://history-unboxed.myshopify.com This is now an approved vendor with our virtual charter school so they just sent an email about it. I'm intrigued by it but there's not much info on the website about it. Anyone used it?

Unfortunately I have made him repeat sentences and pointed this out for awhile to no affect. He has perfect comprehension of what he's read and can answer all the questions about it. Any chance he'll just stop doing it on his own? If not I have no idea how to get him to really focus since it's not impacting his comprehension he really doesn't see it as a problem.

I bought it through Rainbow. I'm an Amzon addict but Rainbow is almost always priced better too. http://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?id=062512

DS is 5 and doing well in AAR 3. He picks everything up really well and remembers it. He has no problem with any of the concepts or new lessons or reading longer words, but he is reading so quickly that he is constantly messing up the smaller filler words like a and the. He knows how to read them but he is reading so quickly it's like he's not bothering with them so he is mixing them up and saying a when its the and vice versa. His fluency and speed has picked way up and instead of bemoaning the fluency sheets he is speed reading them super quick. Today I tried to make him move his finger from word to word to slow down but he refused that idea. Sometimes he is reading so loud that he is adding sounds and words that aren't there altogether when he reads aloud. Like assuming he knows what a word is going to be instead of noticing a difference (stopping vs. stomping, etc.). I've talked to him about this on a daily basis but it's not helping him slow down. Is this just something that will work itself out in time or is there something I should do to help? I know he is young and honestly I am not pushing him at all but just going at his own pace but I don't want to let it go if this will create problems down the road. I read fast too so I'm not sure if he's just trying naturally to read at a fast pace but isn't quite ready for it if that makes sense.

http://www.houzz.com/photos/1611990/September-traditional-kitchen https://shawfloors.com/flooring/laminate/details/riverdale-hickory-sl300/tellico-hickory Has anyone used this? We are considering the Tellico and I can't find any reviews of it. It will be for 1,000 sq ft great room with kitchen. I'd love to know how durable it is and how it's lasted. Thanks!

I love HP and have very excitedly been waiting to read them to DS. I was trying to figure out what books to buy him for Christmas and on what to use the Amazon 30% off code when I stumbled on the new HP illustrated edition. I don't have a physical bookstore in which to check it out but the pictures online look amazing. DS is almost 6, is this a good age to read him book 1? If so, do I start with the original edition or the new illustrated edition? I'm torn! On the one hand it is such a wonderfully imaginative book, should I leave him to imagine it? Or since he is young would the illustrated edition better hold his interest?

Ours is great, Ocean Grove, and I know they have I think a sister one in San Diego? OG does Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey. Maybe you could email them about adding in SLO? It is actually based in Placeville as for the headquarters. It's great. They have a list of approved curriculum and they approve orders through Rainbow. Orders must be secular but SOTW is fine, so I use the funds for MIF, science, etc. and buy MP myself. About half of the funds go to activities. We do have to have the Education Specialist (ES) come out every 20 days so she can check in on what we are doing. Super easy, she just makes notes and takes some samples, and DS enjoys talking about whatever he's doing.

IndigoMama have you looked into the virtual charter schools? Not sure about the public school ones that your friends are using but through the virtual one you get funds to use for your curriculum and activities. Our is $2200 for both semesters so we use it for DS to take classes and buy his curriculum.

What a wonderful book! I am very excited to read this to my children this year and I can see it becoming a yearly tradition. Thank you so much for sharing! And what a brilliant idea to make it 15 days to leave in wiggle room in the countdown! Merry Christmas!

Bible Treasures http://cathyduffyreviews.com/bible/stories-from-gods-word.htm It's a no frills comprehensive focus that slowly moves through the Bible. We are still pretty much in the beginning now and moving closer to Joseph. Each day I read the page to DS (DD sometimes listens in) and he reads and answers and writes in the answer to the questions. It's definitely not a fun curriculum but it does get done and I'm very happy with how comprehensive it is. It holds his attention and he definitely remembers it. He's impressed his AWANA leaders with his knowledge which I think is due in large part to how thoughtfully passages are explained. Again it's sllloooow but I think that is really helping him take it in and understand it more. By comparison I bought TOG primer and he dreads it and it is not getting done so I'm glad to have something quick and easy that he wants to do so it actually gets done. I wanted something fun but I didn't realize how time consuming it would be to just get through the basics everyday!

Ditto the above, that's what I was going to recommend when I read your post. My 3 yr old asks lots of why questions and has enjoyed the lets read and find out books.

Did your account get activated? They just emailed me that I had my account activated so now I can see the topics and watch them. Did the first one today and it had a short video which pauses to ask questions and then you go on. It had links to the materials needed, questions and additional videos. It was the perfect length and really added to what I had been teaching DS this week.

Thanks HomeAgain! That sounds like a fun program! FYI anyone else who is interested Mystery Sci is free for homeschoolers once you sign up. I'm waiting for my activation link now but their website said they want to spread word of mouth for it.

DS has used Mathematical Reasoning from pre-k to 1st books which were fun but started to bug him as too much spiral review. He is just starting with Math in Focus 1A but enjoying it and it's moving quickly and easy to teach. I'm intimidated by Asian math so I'm excited about MIF so my mathy child can do Singapore math but I can feel comfortable teaching it. I think it would be a mastery program but I believe it has more review than Singapore.

The time change ruined our lives here. DD went from sleeping to 6 to waking up at 5 and nothing will get her to sleep in. She has the OK to wake bunny clock and loved it but she has not seen the bunny wake up since before the time change. Probably because she is an over tired mess I haven't been able to get her to nap either. DS napped until he was 4 before he started skipping his nap every few days before dropping it completely so DD dropping it at 3 is new territory for me. She is so tired that she easily falls asleep quickly by 5:30. It doesn't matter if it's later she still wakes up at 5. DS is the same way, no matter how late he falls asleep he's always up at the same time, although it doesn't help that DD wakes us all up with her antics at 5. DS was always an early waker but usually closer to 5:30, I think we moved him from 5 but it was easier than with my very stubborn DD. I keep hoping if she back to napping she will stay up later and then sleep later but no luck so far. She has gone on nap strikes before but this is longer than all the rest have been. I'm exhausted! I'm a night owl and am now asleep by 9 and even 8:30. It doesn't matter matter apparently when I fall asleep or how many hours I get I just can't function with my day starting at 5. Any BTDT? Please tell me there's hope...