Thanks for the recs! Since posting, I'm leaning towards using Elemental Science. It's inexpensive and I like that there's a 2 year 'pre science' program. And it's laid out in a way that makes it easy to have the younger one sit in as she pleases. I think it will work out really well for both kids for the next couple years.

Well. That was easier than I anticipated :blushing: I guess I just needed to stop thinking and write it out! :laugh: Thanks for the vote of confidence!

I saw your blog post on Pinterest this morning & clicked over. I've really enjoyed reading your blog; we're getting started homeschooling our Kindergartner & preschooler this year (plus a 1 year old underfoot)

Tonia-your blog post was very informative! Thanks for sharing! I haven't the slightest idea what I'll use. It will need to be paper/pencil. I might plan 6 week terms on the computer & print those out? I'd like to keep track of reading lists, too. I might just end up using a plain old spiral notebook and writing everything out. I'm a planner junkie, but I've never really been able to make them stick very long.

I'm planning on starting my Kindergartener on a year round schedule, but I'm kind of at a loss as to where to start? We don't have a set amount of hours that we're working towards...our state (Washington) doesn't require anything, really, before age 8. I like the idea of 6 weeks on/1 week off, and also the idea of using Fridays as a hands-on day but that would still very much count towards 'school'. I'd likely also take a month off in the Spring & probably a week here & there to coordinate with DH's vacation schedule. I know at his age he doesn't need a lot of structure...but I DO :) even if it means scheduling spontaneity. LOL

I'm looking for a Science program/book for my K & PreK. I'm planning on doing it twice a week or so and would prefer something hands on that uses 'living books'. I know Science is something that I could easily throw together at this stage, but I'm afraid that, left to my own devices, I would get overwhelmed with choices and do nothing. :) I like the looks of REAL Science, but since it's for 1st grade and up, I wonder if I would find myself supplementing things that are more on their level. Any recommendations?

I agree with Gwen about the LOTW curriculum. I have the K4 curriculum, too and I feel that it's kind of all over the place. Like, there's shape tracing and number magnets, but also vowel combinations?) I felt it was at both the beginning preschool end and the advanced kindergarten end (like with the vowel combinations and place values...but maybe my standards are 'off') but not a whole lot of in between? I bought it as part of a bundle & that's the only way I would go. Definitely spring for the extra $10 and get the bundle Gwen mentioned if you do get it. There are a lot of different activities, but they are repetitive. I can't really see using it exclusively every day for any period of time. It's nice to be able to pick & choose from, but I don't find myself reaching for it often. Not really worth $20 to me. Plus, she really does offer a ton of freebies...and I think a good amount of them are in K4...you'd just have to download separately. Her writing practice worksheets are some of my favorites. http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2010/09/1-20-writing-practice.html http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2010/08/z-handwriting-worksheets.html

I'd really focus on counting OUTSIDE of school time. Play hide & seek. Have him gather as many rocks (or whatever) as possible and then you count them. When you're cooking together count, count, count. I would just model the heck out of it. Keep it out of school time completely for the time being if necessary. :)

My kiddos loved it when I put cornmeal (or salt or...) in a cookie (or plastic) tray. Then we'd all take turns suggesting a shape or something like "3 lines" and we'd all draw them with our fingers. I agree with the clothes pins, too. :)

My DS will be 5 in November, but wouldn't be able to start K until Sept of 2014. We've been consistently "doing school" 3 times a week for...months now and he's making huge progress in a lot of ways right now. I'm planning on moving forward with these curriculums in the next month. He's going to be "way ahead" but I just really want to harness this love of learning he's got going now. I just hope we don't burn out. My DD is 3 this summer & I'm going to get her a few things too. If I don't give her something to do during "school" it's disasterous. Within the next year or so I suspect she'll be caught up to big brother & they'll be doing very close to the same thing (just by way of exposure) Phonics: The Reading Lesson & Bob books. We'll probably move on to AAR at some point. Handwriting: HWT (I'll get the PreK for DD, too). Math: Singapore Essentials (Considering getting Earlybird for DD but I think it might be too advanced at this point) We'll be doing Science in the form of unit studies with whatever they're interested in. Next month we're going to get live caterpillars and observe them turning into butterflies. For language we'll continue with ASL (they learned as babies, and have more or less continued-and DS2 is learning signs now too). History will be by way of "real books". I'm itching to read the Little House series sooner than later. :) I plan on getting Lollipop Logic for fun :) And we also have Expedition Earth & Road Trip USA from Confessions of a Homeschooler that we'll throw in there somewhere, maybe. :)

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who responded! This is the exact place I find myself in. I'm a type A check the boxes, work the list personality, and so the idea of an expensive curriculum (or, ahem, ALL of them) appeals to me. I totally agree though, we'll be focusing on the three Rs and I think we'll do science and history via unit studies and just "doing".