My son has never liked the readers that come with the programs...we tried Horizons set for K last year and I let him read parts of other readers online last month to see if he would like others for this year and he just kept saying, "Mom I don't like these they are boring." Well all except for the Reading Street curriculum. So this year we are combining LOE Foundations (simply because I am teaching him cursive along with my K dd and I figure he could use the review because he detested phonics last year--he learned it but hopefully this will make it more fun) and Reading Street. We will use the stories in Reading Street and also be using our library to let him pick out books on his level so he feels a little more in control of what he reads (it makes it more fun this way to him). So far taking him to the library has worked great for us. He went from hating reading to at least dealing with it better lol. With him it's not a matter of the reading being too hard--he just does not enjoy sitting down to read, especially if it's a huge page full of words. I think that was the problem with Horizons. The first book was full of short stories and he did fine but the second and beyond became longer stories with few pictures on the page. I would have rather had a thicker reader with more pictures to let him enjoy it and feel less intimidated by the page. Long story short.....the best thing so far for us is our library for the reading portion of LA.

I am about to be in the same boat. I have a Kindergarten dd and a 1st grade ds and I am about to be working full-time OUT of the home. Luckily I'm a RN and I will work 4 days a week usually from 5:30A-1P. Our plan is to do at least 3 days of school on my work days (that's the plan for now we will see how it all works). On work days I will be home around 1:30 and we will begin at 2p and get work done. My mother (thank God for that wonderful woman) is going to help with some simple things while I am at work to get them jump-started for the day. Our other 2 days we plan to do on 2 of the 3 days I have off all day. I was extremely nervous about trying to go back to work and continue homeschooling them, but financially we need it at the least for 1 year. Right now that is the timeline we have set is make it through this 1 year then at that point we will re-evaluate and see if I should continue to work or go back to SAHM or possibly see if I can at least go part-time with the company. I know it will be hard and I know it will be exhausting. I have done tons of research on moms who work full-time and homeschool. I recommend reading what others have to say about it simply because you will get some great advice and ideas on how to make things work. Everyone is different and so far I have found I am pulling about 1 or 2 ideas from each person's way of doing things to make it work for our family. I have also found that the biggest determining factor on whether it will work or not is the person's level of commitment to homeschooling and making it work no matter what. Flexibility is definitely key, and isn't that the beauty of homeschooling...that it is flexible. You can do it! You just keep trying until you find what works for your family. Good luck and stay strong!

LOL I hear that JennyCook....it's like buying a car and they start trying to sell you everything lol.

Thanks I will definitely have to look into all of those and see what our options are here in Mississippi. I just want to see at the end of this year where he is and where we need to be going type things...I think it's good plus like ErinE said I want him to have practice with these tests too. Thanks so much once again.

I've noticed people saying things like testing on placement, tested above grade level, etc? Where do you find these tests to test your child and how much do they cost? I am wanting to test my son at end of this 1st grade year just to see where we are after this year, but I have no clue where these tests are or how we get access to them etc... Thanks

I have researched MIF 1 and from what I have seen and understand is that the worksheets are meant to go with the lessons. So you do a lesson then do a worksheet....do a lesson do a worksheet, etc.... I know that is also how it works in PS because my best friend who teaches 2nd grade in PS uses MIF and the student books show doing a lesson then it will tell them "Do worksheet ___" If I am wrong about this let me know but that is my understanding of it after looking at the books and worksheets and reviewing it all online also

I totally agree with the statement, "you'll find that he knows a lot more than his test performance shows." First off, my son always knows way more than he gives himself credit for and he is a perfectionist like his mother so if he doubts he will get it right he would rather just not try in fear of getting it wrong. So encouragement for him is always a good thing. Second, have you taken into consideration a test phobia? I ask this because I still to this day have test phobia. I can know every answer until you put that test in front of me and I go blank. Over many years I learned how to overcome this and I was always very successful in school, but I would take a test and know that I missed at least a few due solely to my nerves and fears because as soon as I turned in the test I remembered the answer. Some kids do well with paper tests other don't for various reasons...test phobias, problem with written material on top of test phobias, etc. Maybe if you read it to him and have him answer that question then go to the next, etc he will show he knows a lot more. And if he has a test phobia try not calling it a test....I could ace anything as long as I thought it was just daily work, but if you put the word test with it I would instantly get panicked and freeze up.

I haven't used MIF yet but that is what we are going to be using this year for first grade. My ds used Horizons last year for K. While he liked it I feel like he needed something different. My suggestion though is maybe do like a discussion type deal at the end of each lesson or a few practice problems with him telling you each step of what he is doing and review each day what you have gone over so far that week. I know this helps my ds a lot and helps me really see what he understood completely. By having him do a practice problem at the end and have him explain each step or the rationale behind it I know if he really understood or if he was just following the motions of the day. Reviewing each day what we have done throughout the week so far really helps too. This is because it lets me see what he retained and if he really understood it and remembers it or if he just learned it long enough to get through the day.....if he doesn't remember we review it before moving on. Hope this helps some.

Hmmm I can't give any favorites because I haven't used them yet but I think that is who publishes the mathematical reasoning books my K dd and 1st grade ds will be using this year....but interested to hear everyone's favs

Thanks everyone that is helpful

:lurk5: Sorry but hoping for some info here

Yeah, you would have thought if they were going to add in the common core stuff they would have added it to the workbooks too but that just goes to show that textbooks rarely change that much. LOL my husband and I had that discussion today as I was explaining to him that buying curriculum with the books being non-consumable and only the workbook being consumable would save money down the road because our K can use it next year and our 1yr old can eventually use it too....he was worried that a new edition would come out and we would have to buy everything again because of a new edition. I assume I am right on that thinking at least that both our daughters will be able to use the material when they hit that grade level.....I know our K daughter will as she is only a year behind our son but our 1yr old is the only one that I wonder if I will have to change it. I've spoken with a friend who his a school teacher and she says to her understanding real changes very rarely happen that the curriculum stays the same but pictures change and some questions/problems may change but not to a point I should have to worry about it any.....now if anyone disagrees with this or knows otherwise please let me know lol :tongue_smilie:

:lurk5:

Abba12 That is exactly what I was saying worked so well with my ds last year...everything else seemed to bother him a little but no long term effects...when I made him sit there all day if necessary until it was done he started straightening up and has done better since.

Thank you so much....I will definitely call and make sure they match up especially if I choose to go with the student pack that does not contain the TM....Being new to homeschool I am amazed how expensive the TM's are lol though I know it's normal after all my research. I had thought about switching math programs because of the price but I want the best for my kiddo's. I did read a review though where it said MIF for K is more designed for a classroom environment and could be hard to use for homeschool with only one child doing it so I have decided to use Earlybird Kindergarten Math for my K dd. From what I read it looks like after that she should have no problems going into MIF 1st grade....if anyone knows differently let me know, but that is what the plan seems to be.

OK just want to make sure I understood right sbgrace.....so the books from RR say 2013 and have Common core symbols on them and the ones from CBD say 2009 and do not have common core symbols....so RR carries the newest edition? Am I right in my thinking and understanding of what you were saying?

Oh my this sounds just like my son last year when I pulled him out of K in PS. I know his teacher in PS didn't help because she openly admitted to not really staying on them about getting their work (aka centers) done. In other words my son just sat at a center and was expected at age 5 to just do the work and pace himself without assistance....if he didn't do it there was no consequence at school and the other centers he was suppose to do just would never get done....I was so frustrated and became even more frustrated when he tried the same at attitude when we started homeschooling. He would literally sit for hours in front of his work doing nothing because he had learned in school that if he did that it was okay and eventually it would be over. Last year I think I tried everything including: 1. Charts--worked for about a day or two but then he could care less 2. Instant rewards (aka dollar store or as he likes to call it the toy store at the end of a successful no wasted time day)-- sometimes this worked sometimes it didn't and I believe in rewarding kids but I felt like I was bribing him to do school and that was a habit I didn't want to enforce 3. Not getting to go somewhere with the family (he would stay with my mom)-- when we would go he would get upset he didn't go and he would do okay the next day but we found if there wasn't something special that day he didn't care to do the work and we tried keeping it a surprise but then he just gave up totally never knowing if we were going or not 4. No TV, computer, tablet--once again he would get upset but within a day or two back to normal time wasting behavior 5. (This is the one I found worked best) Sit until it's done even if that meant all day long (I was not working last year)--After a few days of sitting at the table till bedtime realizing that he was NOT getting up until the work was completed (even if that mean 10 at night) he finally started straightening up...we still have some bad days but less than last year We haven't gotten our official curriculum this year yet but he helped pick it out (I really did but letting him have input on what he liked gave him ownership of it) and he seems super excited. We have been reviewing and reading and doing some math since we don't have our actual curriculum yet and we have had days where I wanted to pull my hair out, but on that note he does keep asking when his stuff will be here so I am hoping that is the problem. And, on top of that, the meltdowns/time wasting seem to disappear much quicker than last year so I see progress at least. I know it is frustrating because you sit there with them thinking if you would just get it done we could be done in no time but since you refuse to do it we are going to spend double or triple the time on this. I hope you find something that helps and gets them on track soon Best wishes

Maybe I missed it but I didn't see where RR listed the edition....I guess I could always call and ask though

Thanks everyone....I think I will probably go with myWorld Social Studies. I like the fact it covers the social aspects I believe kids need to learn about and some of America's history first before learning about everywhere else in the world lol. IMHO I think kid's that young can relate better to their own country than somewhere they have either A never heard of or B have no real idea where it is at (even when you show them on a map). I also like the fact it will combine not only the social studies with some history but it also will combine Geography in the year so I feel we are covering everything. I think if I weren't working while trying to homeschool this year then we would probably incorporate SOTW1 if the kids really found a love for history enough to really want to add it, but as it looks like I will be going to work very very soon, I'm already worried about trying to fit all the "MUST HAVE's" in

Well that's the issue...I had a big plan of having tons of fun and extra stuff this year to find out I need to go back to work....My husband and I considered me staying home and he supported the decision for me to stay home if that is what I would have felt was best...Honestly, I still think for the kids school wise it would have been better for me to stay home and not work, but with circumstances we cannot control in our life right now financially it was best for me to go back to work for at least a year to meet our needs and try to get ahead so next year I can hopefully be the SAHM again. I start work in about a week and a half (scares me to death that I will be trying to divide my time so much) and we are about to be ordering our curriculum. That's why I said as much as I would love to be able to do both Social Studies and SOTW I just can't justify buying both being unsure if we would really have the time to do both without burning out the kids.

So I think I have all my curriculum nailed down for the most part finally.... As for now I think we have decided we are going to use LOE Foundations for both our K dd and 1st grade ds. I had considered having our K dd do LOE Foundations and letting our 1st grade ds do Reading Street Grade 1.....I really love the look and ideas behind Reading Street and hate we are going to be waiting till next year to get it for him for 2nd grade but I keep telling myself since I want him to learn cursive LOE Foundations will be good and it can only make him a better reader and writer in 2nd grade by getting an in depth review so he better understands it all.......you can give opinions on the LA choice I think I have made lol, I'd love to hear your opinions on what you would do The sticking point for me is the History/Social Studies ordeal....I have spent countless hours going back and forth on this one. I first thought we would do SOTW 1 and my K dd would listen in and just progress with us as we go through it through the years. Then I found myWorld Social Studies and Scott Foresman Social Studies. I like the fact that it has a social aspect to it and it really looks fun--almost all of the reviews I saw say they loved it but I haven't really been able to find ones for K and 1st grade specifically. I like the fact that both the Social Studies books include Geography and that they include parts of American culture...discussing the flag, holidays, etc. I guess I should say why I enjoy reading about history, I never really cared for it....Don't ask me to recall names and dates, I was never a memorization person. I loved math and science because if I can figure out how it works (the logic behind it) I can recall the information all day long. I even considered doing both SOTW and myWorld Social Studies....money wise I really don't need to spend the extra money buying both....I can afford either or but not both. Plus time wise this year with me going back to work for at least a year I know we won't have tons and tons of time on our hands like we do right this second while I am still home all day and night long. I would love opinions from some who have done either of them or has tried out both routes or any thoughts on the three choices I have would be great too....If I can figure this one out I think we are good to go (yea LA is still a little in the air, but I think if I could just decide on History I could just make a choice on LA and go with it this year). Thanks in advance for everyone's advice, opinions, and recommendations.

Does anyone know if the Teacher's Supplement comes with the CD on Rainbow Resource? I know on GDL's website it says it comes with a cd containing the worksheets and quizzes.....but I want to make sure if I order from RR that it comes with their's too... Thanks

Just downloaded the trial of Scholaric....I'm playing around with it now....I can definitely say thus far though that Homeschool Planet is far more pleasing to the eye than Scholaric...but as I said I have figured it all out yet so maybe once I do I will like it

Chelli, Thank you so so much once again....I too have always been a perfectionist and felt the need to get things right the first time. I don't remember having melt downs like my son's, but I could have and just block out that memory. I know the week before I was about to start nursing school I felt so terrified that I almost talked myself out of it completely. I had always been academically gifted but I was so afraid to fail at something that I didn't want to try. Luckily for me, I didn't give up...I went to nursing school and proved to myself I could do it. I think that is where my son is at now; where I have to teach him when he feels intimidated he should learn to want to prove to himself he can. I think honestly all my life that is how I managed to overcome the perfectionist side of myself that was too afraid to try....I was competitive and had to prove (not to anyone else, but to myself) I could do it no matter how hard it was. I read your blog and loved the ideas. I think tomorrow I am going to sit down with my son and tell him the story of Thomas Edison and the light bulb. We will start a sticker chart and maybe have a reward system tied to it where he sees that trying is so much better than just giving up. I love my son and I have been like you were....my heart breaking knowing how it felt but not having a clue how to help him through it. Thank you so so much for your advice...I will definitely have to start following your blog.

Ok I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one that gives me some hope. He use to love his sight card flashcards and it was the fastest part of our day. I really think his problem is he is a perfectionist like his mother....if he can't get it right the first time he feels like a failure completely. I was never like that though I was a perfectionist but I can see the pattern looking at it. I have tried to explain that if you don't get it right the first time it's okay just keep trying....this carries over to everything (i.e. landing on your back on the trampoline and bouncing back to your feet) I keep trying to tell him it's okay nobody is perfect at something the first time....he just gets so angry and upset with himself and it comes out in anger.... We are just going to keep trying and use some of yalls suggestions to hopefully make it more fun for him.... Oh we do flashcards because that is how he started in PS K and they made them learn sight words so we just carried that over to our HS but I am all for changing things up for the betterment of my children. As far as the rule....lol....I use to say the English language was made by a bunch of old men sitting around who couldn't agree on anything so they just kept making exceptions to the rule lol....I always made an A in english and reading but I swear I hated that subject with my life because of all the exceptions...it always felt like just when you figured it out here comes an exception to the rule...plus how do you explain to a 6yr old an exception to the rule....it just confuses them