Thanks everyone! All that info was very helpful. I think I'm going to try a modified SS (simpler and less words at a time) and then feel free to abandon it till 3'rd grade if it isn't working.

Thank you. That was a very helpful explanation!

I've got two readers, a five and a seven year old and I'm trying to decide on a spelling program. Our curriculum uses Spelling Workout and it was a total bust last year. I loved that my seven year old could use it so independently and it felt like we were working at it each day because of all the worksheets, but we got to the end and he'd learned nothing! Any spelling he can do is based on his knowledge of phonics from reading. I like the look of SS and SP but they both seem geared for 3'rd grade and up. Any advice on which would be better for first grade?

We just finished Easy Classical's Kindergarten program today and I've already purchased the first grade schedule. Six Reasons I Love It 1. It uses the curriculum I would have chosen anyway (Shurley Grammer, Saxon, Story of the World, Apologia) 2. It arranges all that curriculum into an easy to follow daily schedule, breaking it up so it fits into a 36 week school year. 3. It was easy to leave out the curriculum I didn't want to use and supplement with ones I did. 4. It provided little extras like memory, weather, and narration worksheets as well as giving shopping and library lists for the following weeks lessons 5. It is very affordable and uses resources that are easily found in the library and homeschool swaps 6. It has music,copywork, geography, and writing exercises that correspond with that year's history sequence I've always planned to begin Veritas Press in second grade, but have decided now to stick with Easy Classical through sixth grade, just supplementing from Veritas Press where I want to (there is a ton of overlap).

What are some of your favorite dvd's for the 3-7 age. I'm looking mostly for 30 minute shows for boys and girls that are WELL MADE and likely found at the library. We love Leapfrog, All Abouts, and Veggie Tales. Any other ideas?

I loved being "teacher" for my little brother and sisters growing up. That is so fun. We have used a couple of idea books for our little ones. You can find them here http://www.myportion...-preschool.html under "Homeschooling Toddlers". Slow and Steady begins at birth and goes through age 5. Unplugged play starts at age 1 and goes through age 9, I believe. That's the short of it, more details about how we use both books are on the link. Enjoy!

We've been using Easy Classical for K4 and K5. http://easyclassical...Curriculum.html. The daily lesson plans for the whole year are only $35. The selling point for me was that we already had half of the books listed for curriculum. The other we found at the library or used on amazon and homeschool books sales. We easily substituted Ordinary Parent's Guide for their reading program as well as using our own reading list. https://docs.google....uthkey=CN_P5pEK The one gap here might be the hands on learning. The art projects and math manipulatives help, but we add in "dance breaks", games from "Unplugged Play" and time outside for our wiggly two.

We keep a running book list for our kids of favorite books by grade and books for future grades. https://docs.google....uthkey=CN_P5pEK For our 3 and 5 year old we read from the Preschool through Kindergarten lists.

We've been using Easy Classical for K4 and K5. http://easyclassical.com/Kindergarten_Curriculum.html. The daily lesson plans for the whole year are only $35. The selling point for me was that we already had half of the books listed for curriculum. The other we found at the library or used on amazon and homeschool books sales. We easily substituted Ordinary Parent's Guide for their reading program as well as using our own reading list. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AitJejUq9C_QdHdpamVJencxRmw2OHNqUkdlVGRkcHc&usp=sharing&authkey=CN_P5pEK We love to read.