I know a little bit from talking to a friend, but I wanted some inside information from those who know (my friend's kids go to private school). I know you get money per child if they are not in public school....but is this set up like a charter school-would I have a teacher assigned to me and have to turn in samples? Or could I still go completely independent? How is the library system? Where I live I am able to look up books and reserve/request them, as well as do inter library loans on my app then go pick them up when the library emails me that they are ready. I use library books a lot, especially for history. Do you have any problems with curriculum companies shipping to AK? If so, what do you do about this? I've heard AK is a wonderful place to be a homeschooler and has good supports/networks....would you concur? How do the long days of light/dark impact your schooling? Any tips? What else should I know about HS in AK? Thank you everyone! :)

I find it to be helpful. It is mostly the book lists, but I feel like it also has some good nuggets of info on how to implement the book lists according to how often you plan to work on the material (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) I would also purchase the teaching the classics as a companion to RR.

Sacramento, here. :)

Yes- I would be interested in knowing what resources you are using also. :)

Is anyone out there using this with their first grader?

So I found some old threads and did some further research and I am disappointed to say there is a very limited selection of Spanish software or appropriate curriculum for a first grader. (6 yo) I've found the following (this isn't exhaustive): Jump start - (age3-6) probably my first choice for an intro Kid speak spanish- (age 6+) probably my first choice for the next step after jump start (although this program has a Castilian accent- from Spain) Early expert- maybe decent, but I didn't like that it's an online purchase you buy, then pay a small annual fee for continued access. (Like a subscription) GSP kids spanish- hmmm....very poor reviews 123teach me- free and all online. Has potential- games, worksheets, etc. but, not very user friendly to use on my phone- will have to explore on the computer later. Also, I'm not really sure I want my 6yr old accessing the internet quite yet. Rosetta Stone- well I've heard a lot about this not really being a great choice for young children, plus it is expensive! Am I missing anything? I think I'm most interested in a software route for the first year or two then move into a more pen and paper type curriculum. I'm really disappointed that there aren't more suitable options. :(

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Helena- since I'm on my mobile I can't see siggys...do you have older children? I love your Martha Stewart idea! When do you start that with your kids? When do you start going through an ettiquette book/yr? I have ettiquette and home ec as long term goals, but not sure when to start to do something structured. Do you have ettiquette book recommendations? Especially for younger ages? (My kids are 1st gr, in the fall, but reading fluently now, and 4.) Thanks. :)

Have any of you used the interactive vocabulary workshop with your 1st grader? After consulting with the company I am considering getting the purple for my 1st grader (fall) since he currently is reading 2/3rd grade books and the book before it online looked too easy. Because the sections are lengthier, I'll probably do a lot if one-on-one in the beginning for pacing control and to ensure he is working at the right level, but after that, I'm wondering if the computer interactive component is such that he could do vocabulary independently while I work with his sister? I have experience teaching the earlier (non interactive) editions in a classroom setting, so eventually, once I instill the structure and standard of work expectations, i plan for it to be an independent curriculum (day-to-day) regardless of whether we use the computer element. (Might be down the road- 2nd gr, or 1st grade if he can handle it.) What are your thoughts/experiences? TIA

I am thinking ahead to the fall. My son will be 1st grade and it will be our second year of home schooling. He reads fluently 2nd and some 3rd grade books (like magic tree house). In the fall my 4 year old will also be staying home. I plan to work with her on beginning phonics and handwriting and she'll sit in on our history and science (and any math she's interested in). So- as I am already grooming my K'er for some independence in work (like handwriting, calendar), what during the school day can a typical 1st grader do independently? I am thinking of how to structure my day so he can be working independently while I do the one-on-one with her, like phonics and handwriting. Also- how many years do you continue doing calendar and 100 chart with your kids? 2-3 years? Thanks! :)

I'm curious regarding the description of EM as "fuzzy math"..... What does that mean? Can someone offer an example? Thanks!

I would love to hear from any others who might also have some insight. :) Thanks!

Good thoughts.....thank you ladies. I really love the curriculum and I also knew I would have a big learning curve....I definitely feel comfortable with it now and wish I could just start fresh with the new year. Lol. Part of me is just considering pushing ahead steadily and just making a clean break with the end of this year and start the second year in the fall. I also like the suggestion one of you made to just keep reading thru the summer. I may just make a list of books for the material that's left to cover when this year ends and sequentially and leisurely read thru it over the summer for exposure's sake. Have any of you used TOG year 1 with kindergarten and worked through the years? Am I agonizing over something that in the big scope will not be as detrimental as I feel like it is? I feel like I have a much better grasp of the curriculum and can keep pace next year. Any other users experience this? Thanks for your input! Please keep sending me your thoughts. :)

bumping for replies

Hi! If there are any of you who use TOG with your younger kids, I have a question for you: I am behind…..really behind. (finishing week 10) I love the curriculum and have just found a groove. I want to cover the remaining year's material even if it's just a light skimming, but I really don't want to do school past the end of May. I don't even know if this is realistic. Is there a way I can hit the highlights, so that there isn't too big of a gap in learning when we start year 2 in the fall? I got really bogged down in the first several weeks with all the bible reading plus trying to get used to the curriculum and figuring out how much or little to do. Now I am at a quicker pace, but I rely on library books and have hit some waiting periods with that process. Here is what I found works for us: First: Vocabulary (the most concrete ones) (my Ker copies the words, cuts out pictures and pastes above correct word) Second: Map (he colors, then glues on the correct labels that I have precut from the answer map) Third: we read the main book that goes with that week (or the alternate if the main one isn't available) I also hang up the vocab and map work during the week which reinforces learning. I have done some of the activities, but often do not, because I keep running out of time. This year with our schedule, what I finally figured out works for us is to do history 3 days/wk. (We take my daughter to/from preschool 2x/wk, are in a Monday co-op, and do afternoon sports most days. Next year our mornings are clear and our school schedule will have much more flexibility. Thank goodness!) Id prefer not to drop the vocab or map work, but I'm guessing I might have to consider that if I want to zoom through the remainder of the time. My main concern is that I don't want a big time gap in the content when we start year 2 in the fall. I am firm about starting a new year in the fall (I plan to take a break between cycles in 4th grade for our state history, and I know this year's material will be covered again in 5th grade- which will be so fun and more in-depth and engaging because of the age). Any thoughts, comments, tips from some veteran TOG users who might be reading this? (BTW- my k'er loves history and will often ask to read history, and enjoys the map and vocab activities.) Thank you so much, in advance!!

My kindergartener is a fluent reader and has read through the Little Bear books and is currently reading through the Frog and Toad books. He reads Dr. Suess, Curious George, and actually if it has words on it and he sees it he will read it. What should he be reading next? Are there more books like the above mentioned or should we try a chapter book like Magic School Bus (since he likes the videos) or something else? He has very typical boy interests (bugs, anything science related, outdoors, sports, etc). TIA

I'm sorry- I should clarify....it's not pain, but soreness and it feels just like I've been on a horse after not riding regularly. Feels sore in the area where your pelvic bone area would have contact with a saddle. That surprises me, but I guess it might be normal if I am doing forward and backward on the elliptical and I haven't been doing that exercise before? I am out of shape and perhaps my muscles in that area aren't engaged in the same way with treadmill walking and stationary bike? Don't get me wrong, I also feel some soreness in the very top of both hamstrings into my butt....just like I would expect from doing exercises that are aimed at targeting my glutes and quads and the soreness is symmetrical, so I feel pretty sure it's all normal getting into shape soreness.

Does anyone have any insight?

A brief background: I was training for a 10k, doing my second round of Insanity videos, just lost 25 pounds post baby weight and was more fit than I've ever been when I herniated my L5. It wasn't diagnosed as such initially so I went thru almost 1 yr of pt and post pt rehab when I finally went back to dr, had an MRI, was diagnosed (significant L5 herniation pitching S1 nerve). On feb 5 last year, I had a micro discectomy and am recovering well. I am walking for exercise (in addition to all the walking/ moving I do with a 5 & 3 yo) and have been doing exercise bike since summer (building up in small durations of time but now I can easily do 15 min at a time 2x/wk in addition to walking). I have some weight to lose, since I gained it back after almost 2 yrs of inactivity. I am trying to up my game a little. Last week I began mixing in the elliptical 2x/wk. I do 2min forward, 2 min backward, then repeat and I'm up to 16 min. Here's where my question comes in: my back feels fine with this new exercise....actually great! BUT I feel like I've been riding a horse! I felt this for the first time today after my third session on Wednesday. (I'm doing it on Wednesdays and Fridays.) I'm a little baffled as to why my pelvic bones/ region would be so sore. (My glutes are too, but that I understand.) Can anyone enlighten me? (If it matters, I'm 40.) TIA.

Great question- hoping for some good recommendations! :)

Thank you everyone! I will definitely check out that website. I have not made pesto, but we grow herbs too and I am always running out of ideas, so I would love to try that. Please keep your favorite healthy, cheap recipes coming! :) Thank you!

Well, I just planned our budget for 2014 and I want to try to eat/plan meals more frugally. I'm not a good cook (I don't like to and it doesn't come easily) so it's hard for me to think of things on my own sometimes. Currently, we have plenty of chili, turkey noodle soup and some lentil kale soup in the freezer. We already have a good stock of chicken breasts & tenderloins, whole chicken, whole turkey, And ground turkey. I have a briscut and lunch meat and hot dogs & a lot of frozen veggies as well as lots of frozen fruits and spinach for smoothieS. We keep a regular supply of canned beans, (Costco) brown rice, quinoa, and pasta. We buy from Costco a lot, in the summer I freeze and can from our garden and produce we buy. Some meals in my regular rotation: crockpot: shredded chicken and salsa (eat alone or make into enchiladas), pork carnitas; spaghetti, Gorgonzola chicken with sides, ground turkey into taco meat,Italian meatloaf with Mac and cheese. (Homemade) & veggie, soup and grilled cheese, lasagna... We don't grill (ours is 13 yrs old And hard to use). Ideas? Oh, and did I mention kid friendly? Thank you so much!! (:

I'm interested to know, too.

I want to bring more classical music exposure to my children, so your thread piqued my interest.....what are the classical kids CDs? Currently we just listen to random things on pandora, but it ends up on the same 'station' and becomes background noise, so I feel like I need to be more purposeful in how I expose my kids to a variety of great music. Sorry if this is considering hijacking your thread, but I'm curious to see other posters ideas also. (: Thanks for posting!

My DH works on Tday, so we are celebrating on his only day off this week- Tues. (: at least he'll get Christmas Day off this year, but it's still a bummer. I'm trying to use these opportunities to teach our kids that the holidays we celebrate aren't about the date of the calendar so much as they are about the reason for celebrating and the family we celebrate with. It's a good lesson for me, too! (: