We just read. I have the Enki Early Education Guides and I have to say I love them. I'm Charlotte Mason/Classical leaning - but for my particular kids, and the family, an Enki approach has been really perfect for us for early ed. Inspired by both Charlotte Mason and Enki I've up to now mostly worked on routines, habits, that kind of thing... but have gone through a massive education for myself really putting it all together for the future... and in the process tried to see what he might need help/encouragement in. He's not naturally into or good at writing/crafting/drawing, and needs encouragement with physical stuff. He's a reader/thinker/dreamer. So... I've tried to encourage more drawing/crafting, painting, he's all about the stickers, now - so I got a sticker alphabet workbook that he loves. And he's doing storytime/gymnastics, that kind of thing. I have Peak with Books and really like it - it just hasn't worked out for us yet. Both DS and I each have a short tolerance for contrived activities, and for now it works best to just enrich our daily rhythms in super simple ways. We have wee sing in the car, different music programs about composers that have stories and are geared to kids... I'm going to use the things in my siggy (and more) next year as a very casual/no pressure pre-K to work in a bit more focused work... He already knows letters/numbers... and a couple times has started blending and phonics. So even though it's exciting I'm resisting pushing/encouraging until he's ready. :)

I'm still looking for it. I think I know what you're talking about but it is completely missing from my history! And no matter what I google I can't find it. I really wanted to get it also - so I'll keep looking.

Oh - I think I know what you mean but I can't find the bookmark. I'll look for it and post back if I can find it.

I've finally realized that no matter what boxed curriculum I tried I'd tweak it to death... I really considered using Oak Meadow as a core. We're planning on using Enki as a core, it has all my "can't do without" qualities. I won't go past 1st with it... but while DD is still little (and causing trouble) it provides a holistc unifying whole that I can adapt as we need. I've heard of some people using Oak Meadow just as is and perfectly happy. I listened and asked around for a really really long time. I think it just depends on whether you're a "tweaking" kinda parent. I tend to want to have specific things and definitely have my own standards - so I just know I would be.

I took piano as a really young kid and I want to teach my kids as well. I have KinderBach that we're going through now. I like it. DS is a busy busy kid and it's so interactive it just makes it fun. I like the look of the Bastien books. I'm going to try to teach my kids myself at first. But I do know piano. I have to say that my piano teacher as a kid was really really good and I don't think I'd get any similar kind of experience at home. When it comes to reading music for really tiny littles I like masking taping a music sheet on the floor - they jump to different notes... super fun and kid friendly. If my kids really take to any kind of music I'll send them out for lessons. I don't know how we'll pay yet - but we'll figure it out! :)

I'm following this because even though we're far from this issue I want the impossible. I want to cycle through 3 times with both kids - but do it together. hmmmmm... I can't figure it out either.

Thanks to you all! :)

We're planning on HSing all the way through. I plan when asked to just tell people they're in whatever grade their age would be in... but except for that just work progressively through everything as we're ready. I think I'll always in the back of my mind be aware of what grade level everything is "supposed" to be finished by.... and I suppose if we get behind I'll want to know just so I can adjust things if we need - or help if needed - that kind of thing. There are also some things that I've found it helpful to know what grade level it's usually taught - to make sure I don't introduce it too early. I don't adhere to much as a steadfast rule - wanting to individualize their education, but it's nice just to know for reference - if that makes sense. We're not planning on doing any kind of boxed curriculum, though, which I suppose makes a relaxed attitude and flexibility easier.

Oh my goodness I just found Galore Park this morning. I'm not even truly interested in that style! But I STILL want some to study/look at. What is with that! :)

I tend to be slightly anal and feel like I need to do it all - and I still don't think you need it. We're planning on adding some local history storybook kind of things, but only really as read aloud - no narration or anything at all required. Although I do think I might want to introduce some social studies kinds of culture stories... but only as exposure/fun. I feel like until 1st as long as they're starting handwriting and phonics, and doing some math concepts, and being exposed to art, music, PE, that kind of thing just through osmosis then they're good. :)

We haven't done much yet - but I just got the little hands Science Play book. I like the looks of Science is Simple (I think is the title - little girl on cover) and because we're pretty living books-ish... I really like these vintage readers I run across sometimes, they're usually called "read and learn" or things like that - there are a couple different series, and they're basically science story books. If I had to pick one thing, though, it would just be nature walks and nature collections. I plan on doing that as a thread and just adding activities for fun from the books.

Does anyone have any recommendations for these? I don't want an intense curriculum kind of thing - just as many ways to expose him to language as possible. I have a copy of Rosetta Stone I could use I think... and I believe I heard of a public television Sesame Street kind of thing online I could probably google - but have any of you done this? thanks. :) ETA: I tried searching for a thread thinking there'd be one somewhere - feel free to linky me if it's easier. thanks!

My son's b-day is July also. So he'll actually be 4 this summer. We're homeschooling all the way through, but I'd given it a lot of thought as to when I'd start. I'm going to do some pre-K stuff with him next year... and probably Kindie stuff when he's JUST turned 5... But I'm calling the next two years Pre-K and K without the pressure. haha! I think I'll file with the state once he turns 5, officially saying I'm doing Kindie at home. I don't plan on entering him in the PS - so I don't really care where they think he is supposed to be at grade wise - and to my knowledge so far my state has to testing/portfolio or anything required. But part of why I'm doing it is because I feel like he'll be ready by then as well. I'm pretty Charlotte Masony - and she didn't really buy into any formal schooling until age 6... and while I don't want to "inflict" any curriculum on him until he's really truly ready (he's also a very busy kid - not really into the whole sit at a desk and do a workbook thing! :)) I feel like a very slow encouragement into more "schoolish" things will work better for him than all the sudden saying at age 6 - okay we're doing school now! He's more of a slow change kind of kid. I know what you mean about the paperwork. I was really tempted to do the same. I still might - I need to look into the laws and decide what feels best... But I also kinda realized that I just want to get all my ducks in a row early - so that if I've made mistakes there's time to figure it out or change things later.

Mine's the same. But he loves stickers - so I use them kinda as a transition. He does like to paint sometimes. He also likes to try to use scissors. There are some "early learning" books I got off amazon - an abc, animal and number one. They were basically just a toy gift because I thought they were mostly stickers.... but there's something about the interactive format that my son wanted to do more. I actually think going to storytime has helped him start getting itnerested. There are lots of little girls - and they're all SOOO excited about the craft portion that it's made him reluctantly start getting interested in coloring, pasting, that kind of thing. I was worrying about it because I wanted him to work on his mobility/dexterity, fine hand skills... But I gotta say I think boys (and my son) are just different sometimes. I've mostly given up stressing about it and instead we go to gymnastics. :) I think getting these busy little boys back into their bodies in whatever way works is great. I plan on doing LOTS of messy, messy outdoor crafty things this spring/summer and am hoping that helps.

I was in an IB program when I was in High School. I think, personally, it depends greatly on what the student's goals are, where they want to go with their life, what kind of college they want to go to, etc... I'm sure they've changed quite a bit in the over 10 years since I was in it... but I dropped out of it right at the beginning of Junior Year and instead attended advanced and AP classes. Which was a MUCH better education for me. Partly b/c I was heavily involved in non-school activities, I worked, and because I was interested in a liberal arts future. What I didn't like (and still don't) about how it worked for me was that it really was either IB, or NOT IB. In other words, it was a really full commitment to a specific kind of education within a school that was very different from everything around it. PLUS - you couldn't take advantage of things like AP and early college credit which I think is great for anyone who wanted to. To be honest, in my school anyway, the kids in it weren't the most well-rounded. But SOME Of them were the most focused and I'm sure went on to lead Ivy-League successful lives... I have a family member who is in it now and loves it. And I had friends who were in it, did great, and attended great colleges. Don't know if any of this helps. It's a great program... but I think worth seriously considering and really thinking through for both parents and student.

I spent a few days months and months ago googling for book lists. Just kinda internet searching from one place to another... caldecott lists... FIAR lists, teacher recommended lists, that kind of thing. I printed out tons of lists and I randomly go through them... Plus pick up from the library. We do storytime, and then a library trip one other time a week that's specifically for getting new books. I'm also a thrift store addict and to be honest some of my favorite and greatest finds have been there.

I don't know if this is completely uncool to say - but I don't really like the Kumon books. My son (and I) are sensitive to too much stimulus... and they're just too busy for me. But I found some books put together by "flashkids" that i REALLY like. Very simple, but colorful illustrations. They have some early maze, tracing, letters, numbers books. Their later ones and combo ones are busy busy too... but the early ones I REALLY like. Plus they're almost half the Kumon books. I found them at Barnes and Noble. But I've also picked up some multi-workbooks at walmart and places like that, dollar tree even... I'm not a workbooky homeschooler, but sometimes the tracing/cutting pages are great. I usually don't use the book - but photocopy it. I'm planning on copying a BUNCH of my favorite pages from things and then binding them into a custom book for DS. (Once I get my proclick... yippeee)

My son does this too. I tend to think it just takes time and practice. I used to tutor new college students who had learning differences. The mix-up was common for them too... but I tend to think that in almost every case at this stage it's just a matter of getting all these confusing letters and sounds really down. For some reason I feel like as soon as they're reading, and see the letters in context, it might get easier for them to tell them apart too. ??

When I start I'm planning on focusing oh phonics/reading/handwriting, early concrete math, LOTS of read alouds, nature and music. And lots of other exploration. I'm kinda planning on doing lots of experiment/exploration regarding science, history and arts, but nothing too concrete or set in stone b/c I also want to start more structures work with I can include the younger one too. (In other words, I plan on doing SOTW - but beginning the cycle when we can all do it together, which means waiting for DD) I guess I think especially for Kindie - it's personal choice a bit. For me I want some basic skills to start, reading and math, but it's most important to me that we start to get in touch with nature, routines, begin doing some music, and be exposed to LOTS of read alouds, art, music, culture, that kind of thing but with no expectations... Does that make sense?

My DS went through a very similar stage. Some of his intensity lessened a lot once I worked with him a little differently. We started doing a LOT more... I'm kind of a stay at home and have a quiet routine kind of parent... but he just really needed more world stimulation. So - we go out a lot more. To stores, parks, zoos, libraries, story times, gymnastics, church... We have about 3 regularly scheduled fun/stimulating/kid things we do a week... and I try to do something fun new every week. It kinda goes against my nature - but you can see him integrating himself a little... does that make sense? I second the Charlotte Mason rec. I think she's my single biggest HS guru. She's just sooooo wise - reading her complete works she just UNDERSTOOD kids. I struggled a lot because she doesn't recommend any "school" until 6... Well - my kid needed something! :) So while I'm adding things very gently for him - and do plan on doing "pre-k" in a very non-schooly way next year... I can say that her Early Education info has helped me SOOO much. Simply Charlotte Mason's put together a nice Early Years guide. . In terms of the stubborn/no thing... I've found 2 things to be absolutely vital. 1st - is to have a routine. A routine thorugh the day. A routine way of doing things. Second is to mean it - no matter WHAT the consequences - when I say no. I was soooo terrified of the future when he was 2-3... I was just worried it would get harder and harder... And it's just not - because of these two things. The only downside is that to be honest? Nobody else can work with him. If he's in anyone else's care he either ends up getting absolutely everything he wants or fighting the entire time. :( But the upside is that he's not quite good company most of the time and I love being with him! :) haha!

My son loves chap books too... I'm always surprised how much he picks up (3.5) He really loves the Magic Tree House books. They're short, adventurous... But he loves the Thornton burgess books, Stuart Little, Mr Popper's Penguins... and Winnie the Pooh... The Magic Tree house is the most adventurous, though.

Counldn't remember if I'd posted in here already. I also have a super busy active 3.5 year old boy who does somehow need intellectual stimulation as well as physical. I've found with him that he really needs to kind of figure out his body more - it helps with his crazyness... if that makes sense. I've started doing a kids yoga tape with him, have been working on breathing and counting when he gets a bit toooooooooo busy... and we JUSt started going to gymnastics with him which I think is maybe the single best thing I've done for him yet as a parent. You can just SEEE his little mind and body coming together when he's there. So for now I'm MOSTLY focusing on Gymnastics, doing the exersize/yoga/movement at hime, we do storytime once a week... and then I'm SLOWLY working on adding small snippets of fucused activity. Kind of as a way for us both to warm up for the fall.... For learning I've found up to this point it really needs to be a physical thing. Which is weird b/c he'll sit and listen to a book for an hour. But he won't engage really with anything unless it involves some kind of physical manipulatives. So I have alphabet cards we work with, some math manipulatives that we "play" with. In terms of PHONICS... I have 2 other programs I want to use when he's ready - but I will say I checked out the Hooked On Phonics from the library to see what it was like one time and he totally got it. We watched the short little videos, and he even almost was interested indoing the workbooks. I think when I first start to really start with him I'll begin with that because there's something about it that was really approachable and non-bookish for him. Edited to add... I've seriously considered when I reach the "pick a phonics program and stick with it" phase doing McGuffey's speller and/or primer HEAVILY supplemented with manipulative alphabets. My son has no interest in the leapfrog fridge word whammer thing.

Thanks for mentioning that Caldecott across the Curriculum book. That and the similar Early Math book look really interesting to me. I think math especially is something I need to find concrete story examples for DS to get.

My uncle's a teacher and he always said between 50 and 300... depending. I'd call a couple and get a quote. Unless there's something wrong with it - if it's just tuning, they should be able to tell you over the phone. If it's been a while I believe you might just have to get it tuned quite frequently for a year or so.

We're members of the Unity Church. After 20 years of looking for a church/community home I think we may have finally found it. I'm quite religious/spiritual... My family slightly less so. Earth based spirituality is very imporant to us and the Earth-based holidays are the ones we celebrate as a family. I'll definitely be a follower on here - but probably slightly quiet.