If delaying the formal reading instruction is recommended by a friend of mine, I usually pipe up and talk about the things that the child can do in the mean time. You can always play board games (Guess Who?, Alphabet train puzzle, etc), read aloud books and discuss. audio books, basically don't stop totally interacting with your child. They are good homeschoolers just for noticing the potential problem and looking into it.

There are so many different types of hsers that it makes it a gray area. The comfortable / this is a lifestyle stage is setting in with me already. I think it's because we have such a cushion because I'm blessed to have an AL. We've hsed since prek because he thrives with structure and a schedule. I wouldn't start counting till last year's K year, though. I also think it has something to do with the amount of research I've done on learning styles, methods of teaching, and curriculum options. I have friends that have hsed a lot longer than I have but have no helpful information regarding any of these. It might be my definitions though. To be a veteran implies been there done that but also is knowledgeable to help others. I don't consider K just parenting though because that implies I provided his basic needs of meals, wiped butt, and protected from harm. Homeschooling K implies upping the readaloud time(audio books etc.) and other adult interaction like board games, crafts, letters, numbers. I would reward parents for above and beyond parenting at K age. :thumbup: We need all the support we can get.

I got my son and I a kindle fire hd (the bigger screen one) for ebooks for our ELTL books. I noticed our faces get red after reading on it for long periods. I like the free classics which is what that curriculum uses. I think it would be more appealing to read a long book if you can feel and see the book mark progressing. I like that visual, physical confirmation with long books. We like the library's overdrive ebook app. We get audio books and ebooks on it.

I'd like to hear more replies to this. :bigear:

It maybe a hard question to word properly but it's also a hard question to answer. My son was not challenged so we switched from Saxon to Beast. There was a chapter one adjustment period. We are set. Well until he burned through Beast 3 by the end of Feb. Now we probably have to get Beast 4 early because he quit Zaccarro after two weeks and Khan isn't as fun as it was last fall. I'm going with what he wants to do and not what I want (which is not to finish before production). I'm confident the program will challenge him and get him to where he needs to be. My answer to challenge is: Is he thinking something out on his own each day? My son watches 60 minutes on Sunday nights till one section interests him and then he's solving the problem for the next 2 days. Asking to watch Youtube stuff on it. This happened out of laziness. I didn't feel like putting him to bed so he saw the water shortage episode and was hooked. Failing roads was even more interesting. I did get to thinking about the challenge in every subject problem. I did that to him last year. Just because he can diagram a sentence doesn't mean my 1st grader needs to. We opted for ELTL's (listening to great stories, poems, and art with some copywork) so he can do what he wants (Beast Math and Pathway readers). As long as he's doing some thinking I don't care. He also loves SSL (his secret language :lol: ). He could have figured out LFCA this year and I would have gotten my moneys worth. Looking back though, my 4 yr old and I loved sitting with my 6 yr old on the couch cuddling while the Latin DVD played. We love singing the songs on long car rides to drive dad nuts. We also have physical challenge. Without being asked my 6 yr old flattened the ground at our walk out basement and laid all the paving stones. It was a huge undertaking and he figured it out. Digging across and not down. He made nice rows without being told. I was really impressed. The stones sat there since last summer because the adults were too lazy. He was happy to use his shovel he got for his birthday. This is daily life challenges that teach without tears. It's memories. I thought I had to build in challenge and now I realize a lot just happens on it's own.

I have a K-12 plan. It started on a spread sheet while I was reading WTM because I couldn't get a full understanding of the big picture. I only thought I would hs till 3rd grade back then. It's been adapted because of life. It reminds me that there is plenty of time and that I can do this. I can write in cool curriculum I hear about and might want to consider later. I also can see where extra curricular things I learn about can fit in for the different ages, if he's interested. Doesn't harm anyone to have a tentative plan.

If you REALLY want them, I would get them because it sounds like he would come around eventually. If he blows a gasket when he sees them then say you wanted the freshest chicken for supper.

I understand the need for buying cheap used but there is a way to bargain without making the seller feel guilty that you can't pay the offered price. The shopper needs to understand that the seller might really need the money as well. State your low offer and hold out loosely for a short response. I was very lucky recently to sell a "big impulse math mistake" for 60% of the new price. I am so grateful! My husband was very mad that it was bought when I had something else already that would have worked. The buyer got me out of a huge sticky marriage fight. Lesson learned. The old is working perfectly.

I think we are going to try this in the summer with old remote control cars and other toys downstairs. Thank you for the idea!

I had acne till I stopped using face washes and changed my diet from fast food to home cooked. I don't wear make up. I wipe (not scrub) my face with a clean wash cloth during almost every shower. I use the Loreal youth code glass jar stuff after every shower. The youth code stuff has spf 30 and makes my skin soft and even colored after two weeks of use. I'm on my third jar! A little penny's worth does the whole face. Soft skin seems to look younger even if it's saggy and dark spotted. (I'm over 30 and did a good amount of tanning till recently)

I like the idea of teaching Psych in elementary. I went to Rainbow Resource under Science then Psych and found Psych for Kids. It's grades 3-9 but it's been discontinued. Maybe a unit study approach with library books and a topics to cover list?

For review and extra practice we use tablet games like Medieval Math and stuff. The grandparents felt the need to give us 3rd and 4th grade School Zone math books that turned out to be a nice supplement for the days his brain wasn't in the mood. Khan Academy online was a nice addition too. I just wanted to say though, the placement test didn't give me an accurate idea if my son could handle it or not. Beast is mind bender type stuff not school zone spit out 20 or the same thing. The placement test tells you the topics he knows but not if he could handle the thinking for 10 minutes on one problem then doing it wrong and having to redo.

My Ker will mostly continue what he's already doing. Pathway Readers 2 Miquon With brother: Ssl 2 Sotw3 Chem, probably atoms and molecules and the elements Then we'll add: wwe 1 or ELTL 1 He loves songs so I'm trying to find science and history songs.

I watched the first video last night and the second this morning. I think the first video said they have one teacher that stays with about 20 students from 1-6. I like the idea of the same teacher for 1-6th grade. They move up with the teacher. Then, I'm guessing, the teacher starts over with a new class. I think that is a quick switch that would make a difference for us. Teachers are then accountable to the students/parents for a longer ride. It would , hopefully, create transparency, work through tensions, and give students a constant. This would make it obvious who was the insufficient teacher. I also wish we could compromise, many tests or no tests, on one test at the same time every year. Then slowly work on trust while cutting back to every few years testing. I like the idea of an ethics class or religious class of your choice. That might help some of our socializing problems.

I've started planning as well. When you guys write "Lit" is that what your making them read or reading to them with discussion? What I currently have planned for 2nd grade: Math: BA4 / Khan4 / Zaccaro Upper English: ELTL2 I don't know if I'm going to buy the originals (readaloud) or abridged (him to read)???? Reading: Pathway Reader 4, if I can't figure out ELTL2 and Sotw3 books, I like the "Working with Words" vocab section and the few comp questions so I know he actually read it Writing: WWE3 Spelling: we ditched Spelling Workout, after A and B, a year ago but I'm considering adding C in because we already own it Latin: SSL2 History: Sotw3 Science: The Elements / Adventures with Atoms and Molecules I would really like him to read ELTL and Sotw books so I don't have to buy Pathway 4. Do they need guided/phonics readers in 2nd grade?

My first grader is too immature at times to handle BA, too. We took a break this week and did Zaccaro's Primary Grade Challenge Math. He does one chapter a day and only levels 1-3. This is 15 problems total. We are working on showing his work. I borrowed this from interlibrary loan to see how it goes. We will continue with it as long as I can renew it. The concepts are different each day which is good for my hyper/unfocused child. I made a list of topics I want to cover/try with him at the beginning of the year instead of the typical goal of "finish this curriculum." It included things like learn to multiply (everything), learn to divide, work on problem solving, learn more geometry, try deeper fractions, keep reviewing money and time, etc. Then I come up with computer games or workbooks on that topic. This is what I resort to when we need a break. Khan Academy online has been great also. BA went really well though. We haven't needed much else till coming back from Disney. We just can't get it together now. We only have 3D left. My box checking anxiety is bubbling.

I was just thinking this morning how I'm so addicted to coffee. It's such a drug addiction with mood swings and all. I'm more apt to share my Mikes then my coffee.

I found a fat pencil that corrected my 4 yr old son's grip. It is nothing fancy, just a fat pencil. For some reason it worked. It's not as big as those Disney souvenir pencils. We have those too which he loves but they tire his hand out quickly. I was given this idea from a friend. Her son attends a private school that requires the fat pencils till second grade. http://slimpikinsitis.blogspot.com/2010/11/pencils-ticonderoga-style.html

The scratch and dent sale thread is still pinned to the top of this board as "cheap books". I got most of my wwe and sotw from that sale. I was thinking last night that I could have used the activity guide with a library card and skipped the sotw spine. We love the spine but the activity guide added writing, art, reading, geography, science, ...the activity guide makes it full. Otherwise sotw would be a summer review read to me. We love sotw. Math Mammoth 1-3 from the homeschool buyers coop is cheap, strong, and easy to fill holes. I would suggest that for the first year to build confidence and strength. Then you can make an expensive math buy with more information. It is a mastery math but with all the suggestions for games online we made it spiral review. Another thing to try is Khan academy. It's an online free math (and other subjects) program that puts the amount to learn and what can be learned in his hands. Good luck!

I have been going a little stir crazy this week because of planning. I'm relieved to see others thinking about this. This year has gone so well! But now I realize we will finish Beast 3D at the end of Feb. That means no new topics till Sept. My son said that he wants to continue BA because he wants "to learn something new everyday." I want to keep that going but realistically we do drop off more than we would like in the summer. June there are too many camps to do school with him so I don't mind taking that month off. I read in another thread that stretching out the cute colorful curriculum is a good idea. This makes me think I should stop BA till next year because otherwise we will outpace BA5 or finish colorful BA before he's willing to tackle the boring. We will complete by the end of Feb: School Zone Math 3 and 4, BA3, Khan 3 Choices I'm looking at: School Zone 5 and 6, BA4, Khan 4, Zaccaro Primary Challenge Math, Murderous Maths (easy reader ones) I want word problems and busywork practice so he can choose what he feels like each day. I don't want to get through "fun math" too soon. I want some busywork math for the same time as BA4 also. Zaccaro is from the interlibrary loan but I would probably need to buy it to use it. Murderous Maths samples doesn't show me any pages with problems for him to do. I'd like a few problems for him to try after reading like LoFred has. We are also finishing ELTL1, SSL1, Sotw2, and Earth Science by the end of Feb. We only schooled 3 weeks and then took a week off (on average). I don't know what happened. I will go back through earth science and sotw to pick out some more books for readalouds. These math decisions every year are going to be the end of me! :crying:

We love the DVDs and the student book for ssl 1. That's all we have but I wouldn't do it with less. Next year we will do the DVDs, student book, and teachers guide for ssl2. I'm glad to have the DVDs with the derivative river (for me mainly) and the monkey section is a favorite of my boys.

Listening.... what about those science songs in the vertias press catalog? Are those any good?

I would change topic if that's all she wants to talk about. Then, if she still brings it up, which I understand because it is a big part of her life, I would offer suggestions or ask "I can do some research for you on that if you want?" I have no problem giving advice in my home or a public place. It does get weird ignoring the homeschooling elephant in the room. If you want to be close friends with her then you have to come to agreement on how to respond to each other about this. Obviously, be careful. I'm the type of person that likes a sounding board friend, with good intentions for my children, that isn't in competition with my children. Your children are not close in age, great! My friends that I can't discuss hsing with (the biggest part of my typical day) are the shallow friendships, acquaintances. It is useful to offer her a break hour of babysitting and encouraging words too.

Thanks for starting this thread. I bought miquon a few months ago but it isn't taking off like I'd hoped it would. Mainly because it's so different then what my oldest used. I read the annotations. I'm just afraid I'm using it wrong.

I've seen sotw used as summer independent reading. We will use it in young middle school with the tests and older readalouds. We always get more out of a book by reading it twice.