We started out using a bilingual Spanish CD by Twin Sisters: http://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Music-...7431881&sr=8-2 or go to www.twinsisters.com If you are not looking for something formal or a full curriculum this is an easy, inexpensive way to start. My daughter loved it and learned so many words. The lyrics to the songs are included and you could also make flash cards. After my daughter could sing along with this CD, we went on to La Clase Divertida level 1. She enjoyed watching the kids in a classroom setting. Amy

If I order a curriculum that has a consumable workbook, I always order an extra so that I have one when it is time to sell. Amy

I would also suggest you start using the pencil grip now. It may be frustrating at first but it is better to break the habit as early as possible. My son started using a pencil grip when he was four and used it part ways through 1st grade. At first, he only used the grip when I was working with him and then he worked up to using it all of the time. After awhile he did not mind using it. Amy

If you are planning to continue using Saxon, I would recommend going on to Saxon 2 after she finishes Saxon 1. I love Saxon but have always felt that it is a little easy at grade level. My daughter has always used it a grade ahead and it has worked out nicely. Amy

I would suggest using Daily Grams along with Easy Grammar, especially considering your child's age. The extra practice she will receive will be very beneficial and the sentence combining is an added plus (something that is not included in EG). My daughter does her Daily Gram book (1 pg. per day) on her own and we do Easy Grammar (1-2 pgs. per day) together. There is very little time involved in doing both of these books on a daily basis. Amy

We have completed the first two books from Suffer Little Children and I also highly recommend it. It has taken us more than a school year to finish each book; there is so much in each book. I like using the Betty Lukens felt set along with SLC, especially with younger children. I like going through the lessons and marking the Bible verses beside the different points on the outline. Then I read a section from the outline and my daughter reads the scripture that it corresponds with. We prefer this over reading the whole passage at the beginning. Even without the felt set, this is a wonderful curriculum and my daughter has a very good understanding of the Bible and is also able to find the Bible passages quickly on her own. The suggested memory verses are good even if you only use them as copywork. Amy

Thank you for sharing the info. about this timeline. I have also been searching for the perfect timeline and wasn't finding what I was looking for until now! I just placed my order. After completing history last year, I feel that a timeline is essential in studying history. What we were using just wasn't doing the job. I know that it is a little overpriced, but I also know we will treasure it for years to come. I plan on this being a summer project. I would like to have the events we have studied so far on the timeline by the time we start back up in the fall. Amy

We started cursive the second half of second grade. This will be less frustrating for child (and parent) if you wait until second or third grade. By third grade, your child should pick it up very quickly. Amy

We started out using a bilingual Spanish CD by Twin Sisters: http://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Music-CD-Book-Set/dp/1575832992/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247431881&sr=8-2 or go to www.twinsisters.com My daughter loved it and learned so many words. The lyrics to the songs are included and I would also suggest making flash cards. This is a fun and inexpensive way to teach spanish words (and some phrases) to young children. My daughter is now 9 and still enjoys singing along with this CD. Amy

I used Song School Latin with my daughter when she was 8.5 and we loved it. It was a fun, easy way to learn 100+ words in Latin and with the new addition to your family this might be what you need. Since my daughter was a little older, we completed the program in about 4 months. This program can be done with younger children but I don't think it will be too babyish for your 9 year old. I am very glad we started out with SS before beginning Latin For Children. SS Latin helped us learn the sounds that letters make in Latin. Having this knowledge will really help when you start a full Latin curriculum. Amy

I Am Reading Latin Stories (set of 4 Four Books) by Rose Williams. http://www.amazon.com/I-Reading-Latin-Stories-Books/dp/0865167036/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247425151&sr=8-3 These would be considered beginning picture books. This is a set I would like to own but I am hoping to find them used. Anyone selling? I just orderd Cambridge Latin Course Unit 1 Student's book (North American edition) from Amazon Marketplace. I ordered the 3rd edition: http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Latin-Course-Students-American/dp/0521343798/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247425383&sr=1-3 There is also a 4th edition available: http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Latin-Course-Students-American/dp/0521004349/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c Amy

I totally loved Hooked on Phonics and highly recommend it! My children are now 9, 13, and 16 so HOP has changed some over the years. I found the set that we used on Amazon Marketplace: http://www.amazon.com/Hooked-Phonics...232946&sr=8-10 I paid $199 + shipping back in 1998 so this is a pretty good price. My set came with cassette tapes instead of the CD's, which we did not use. I went through the entire program one-on-one with each child. For additional reading we also used BOB books. I liked that this was just a reading program (not combined with writing, etc.) You can really focus on phonics and reading. The other thing I liked was that you are starting with the vowel and ending sound and then adding the first letter/letters. For example: a + t = at and then c + at = cat, a + ck = ack then st + ack = stack. This seems to be easier for a child to sound out than c + a = ca. Also, there aren't any words that your child hasn't learned when you get to a workbook story or one of the HOP books. This helps the child not get overwhelmed and it also makes them more confident in their reading. Amy

I agree with going with Saxon 1. I used Saxon K for preschool and felt that it would have been too easy for Kindergarten. I love Saxon but have always used it a year ahead. Amy

The phonics program that I used for all three of my children was Hooked on Phonics. I totally loved this program and highly recommend it! My children are now 9, 13, and 16 so HOP has changed some over the years. I found the set that we used on Amazon Marketplace: http://www.amazon.com/Hooked-Phonics-Learn-K-2nd-Deluxe/dp/193102040X/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247232946&sr=8-10 I paid $199 + shipping back in 1998 so this is a pretty good price. My set came with cassette tapes instead of the CD's, which we did not use. I went through the entire program one-on-one with each child. For additional reading we also used BOB books. I liked that this was just a reading program (not combined with writing, etc.) You can really focus on phonics and reading. The other thing I liked was that you are starting with the vowel and ending sound and then adding the first letter/letters. For example: a + t = at and then c + at = cat, a + ck = ack then st + ack = stack. This seems to be easier for a child to sound out than c + a = ca. Also, there aren't any words that your child hasn't learned when you get to a workbook story or one of the HOP books. This helps the child not get overwhelmed and it also makes them more confident in their reading. My children are all good spellers as well and I have to think that this is partly because of the way that HOP is layed out. Amy

I have a 9.5 year old daughter that would read every waking moment if I let her and I do give her a lot of freedom in this area. She has learned a wealth of information from her reading that can never be taken away. I have never considered it a problem but it is something that I have to constantly work on. It is a little easier in the summer than it is in the winter. Once she gets outside she has fun but she doesn't usually go out without me suggesting it first. Our rule is that twice a day she has to do something active even if it is jumping rope in the basement. She is used to the rule so I usually don't have any complaints and she knows when she is done she can go back to reading! I try to schedule a play date every week and this is something she really looks forward to. My daughter is not one to do a craft on her own but will work on something if I am with her. We have done a few things this summer that she has enjoyed (small rag quilt, no-sew fleece blanket, water-color, and decorated advent bottles for December http://dailypleasures.blogspot.com/search?q=advent . She also likes crossword puzzles (by Trip Payne), playing board games (when she can find someone to play with her), writing letters and she keeps a personal journal. I have been letting her cook more this summer since my schedule is a little less hectic. I would keep letting her read but try to find some things to break up her day and don't worry there are worse problems that you could have. Most parents can't get their children to read! Amy

Here are my plans for 4th grade: LOGIC: Building Thinking Skills LANGUAGE ARTS: Daily Paragraph Editing Easy Grammar & Daily Grams Wordly Wise WRITING: Writing Tales 2 READING: various - she loves to read Abeka Read & Think Skill Sheets MATH: Saxon 6/5 FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Latin for Children, Primer B & some CLC (online & start reading unit 1 book) Rosetta Stone Spanish HISTORY: Veritas Press Ohio History Study U.S. Presidents Unit Study (lots of reading on historical events during each presidency) plan to take 2 years to cover GEOGRAPHY: Europe Map Study & Lapbook (1st Semester) Asia Map Study & Lapbook (2nd Semester) HEALTH/SCIENCE: Abeka Choosing Good Health Scott Foresman Science 365 Simple Science Experiments BIBLE: To Be Like Jesus, John Piper - Children Desiring God Catechism for Children ART/MUSIC: Art & Music Appreciation How to Teach Art to Children Recorder (working on this summer) Amy

My daughter enjoys the crossword puzzle books by Trip Payne. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b_0_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=trip+payne+crosswords&sprefix=trip+payne Amy

We are studying 1 continent per semester and this has worked out well for us. Last year we studied North America and South America. This year we will study Europe first semester and Asia second semester. When we started out we were trying to do history and geography together but we were not getting as in depth with the geography as I wanted. Since we have seperated it out, we are really able to learn a lot. I think it can be accomplished both ways but this is working better for us and obviously you can't totally seperate the two subjects - we are definitely learning some geography while we study history. Amy

We will also be studying the Presidents this fall. Here is a great lapbook that we plan on doing: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/presidents_lapbook.php. I made my own information sheet for my daughter to fill out. Items on this form include: President's name, Place of Birth, Date of Birth and Death, Dates of Presidency, How Many Terms Served, Party Affiliation, Vice President, States Added During Presidency, Historical Events During Presidency, Major Accomplishments During Presidency, One Fun Fact. These sheets will go in a 3-ring binder. She will also mark the number of electoral votes for each state on a blank map of the US. The books we will be using: The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents Don't Know Much About The Presidents (fun facts and a time-line) Our Country's Presidents, by Bausum I am excited about our study of the US Presidents and there is so much history that can be tied in to this study. Amy

I have been using How to Teach Art to Children by Evan Moor. This book teaches the 7 elements of art. There are step by step instructions with color illustrations. We do not have any artist in the family either. This has been a great intro. to art book for us. The book is recommended for grades 1-6. Amy

At your sons age and the fact that he has been doing grammar, he could easily transition to Easy Grammar and complete the pages on his own. Amy

We also use the IOWA test that we purchase through BJU press. I like testing in our own home because this is the environment that they are most comfortable with and my daughter is always done before the time is up and we can move on to the next section without waiting for others to finish. Amy

We have been using Easy Grammar since 3rd grade. I have been pleased with this program. It is a complete grammar program without the student or teacher feeling overwhelmed. We also use Daily Grams but this is optional, especially if your son is just getting started with grammar. Amy

I have also been looking at Living Memory but don't want to spend the money at this time. I have been putting a 3-ring notebook together for my daughter that is a combination of memory work and resource information. It is broken down by subjects. The free site with memory work from Hannah Wilson will come in handy. Amy

I like the Pearables Home Ec. books. There are a variety of skills covered in each book and are easy to teach. Instead of using recipes from the book, I used recipes we already have. This way my daughter is learning to make our families favorite dishes. Amy