Singapore math really seems like a popular one! I will have to do more research on this one. Thanks for all the great input!

Thanks for the replies. I guess I should have worded things differently. I understand the separate part of social studies as far as the community aspects. We do our special field trips and studies about our local community and the different roles of community leaders, etc. I am more so trying to understand if people teach history chronologically as in the WTM or do you teach it starting with the child's own community and then branch out to their own state, then country, etc. eventually adding in world history when they are older (vs starting with ancient history). I had planned on starting with SOTW, but then read some critics that say starting with a time/era that is so far removed from the child can be confusing and they won't retain that information because they can't understand things so different from their lives now. These resources recommend starting with community type social studies and then branching out into the history of the state, US, etc. However, I like the idea of learning chronologically and then cycling back through the information they have already learned every 4 years as in the WTM. I am so new at all of this and was just wondering what experience others who have already started history/social studies have had with their children.

So, I love to read homeschool books, blogs, etc. The more I learn the more secure I feel in my homeschooling I guess. My ds is 5 and we just read books and do little experiments for science and social studies right now, but I was looking at what to transition to for next year. There seem to be two main schools of thought, and I am interested to see what everyone here thinks. - Do you start by teaching your child about his/her community, then region, state, country, etc and then venture out to world/ancient history over the years? - Or do you teach history chronologically starting with the ancient world through modern times and cycle every 4 years as in the WTM??

Perhaps maybe I should put the idea of unit studies aside until he is a little older. Our current homeschool schedule is working, I guess I just want to jazz it up and make it more exciting.

He does well with school, but there is still always a little fussing to get started and then sometimes to complete his work (granted school is very short and sweet right now at his age). I guess in my homeschool mommy dreams I just want him to be excited and look forward to school, rather than it being something he has to do because mommy says so.

This is all so refreshing to hear! My ds is 5 and we just scheduled his first speech appt for the end of this month for the exact same things. He started talking at an early age, but just hasn't developed certain sounds and others outside of our family have trouble understanding him. I have worried about going to the appointment as much as I have worried about not going!

My ds is 5 and we have been trial homeschooling since last August as he would not technically start PS until this coming August. So far, so good and we have learned a lot and come a long way since the start. I started out thinking I was going to be a very structured classical method mom, and I still am in some ways, but I have come to realize we are actually more eclectic and do better with a hodge podge than an all-in-one curriculum. With that being said, part of my desire to homeschool comes from wanting to teach my ds that learning is fun! I know that it can't be fun all of the time and sometimes we have to just buckle down when it comes to things like phonics and focus (even then we are doing the PP train game). So, in my research it seems that unit studies are a great option to "do school" without him actually knowing that we are doing school if that makes sense. I am in awe of the moms that can put together these elaborate unit studies and dress the part, cook the part, live the part of whatever they are studying for that unit. I did trial a very simple apple study in the fall that was a complete bomb (and yes I know it was only about apples)! I want our homeschooling time to be fun and joyous rather than something we just have to get through or he can't wait to be done with. But how in the world do I bring these unit studies to life?? I've read the books, the blogs, etc., but I just don't know how to put my structured work books aside and do a unit study he would enjoy. Help!!

Thanks for all the great feedback! I don't know why I'm stressing so much for next semester already!

My DS is 5 and we will be completely BJU K5 in a few months. I have been doing lots of research to try and decide what math to do next. He did great with BJU, but I'm not sure Math1 is comprehensive enough and it takes a lot of prep time. Math is definitely his strong subject and he is a very kinesthetic learner. I feel like so many use Saxon and that I should like it, but at first glance I'm just not sure it's the right fit for us. There seems to be a lot of review work and I don't think it would be appeal to him. I also don't think I could get him to sit still long enough to do that much review. Anyone using MUS?? I've read so many mixed reviews. Some moms love it, but I've read so many others say it put their child behind in math in the long run. What about MM?? I haven't been able to find as much information on that. Any other suggestions before I drive myself crazy?! :confused1:

We are currently using Handwriting Without Tears for my Ker and it is a great handwriting workbook. My ds asks to do several pages a day and we've actually made it through all the capitals in just a few weeks. We are also using the OPGTR for phonics. I agree it does move slow, but I think once you get through the vowel and consonants it will move faster when the child is started to read beginning readers. Once we finish our phonics lessons we read lots and lots of books and then review the days lesson later that afternoon. I did purchase Phonics Pathways and have to say that I'm not a huge fan. There isn't much parent instruction to it and my ds just didn't seem to be getting it.

We also struggled with too much TV time, but you will be amazed what happens when you just don't let them turn it on! It's great! We are new homeschoolers, but since we started school a few weeks ago we have turned the TV on less than 5 times. I work on the weekends, so I do allow him free TV and game time on the weekend when he's home with dad, but he chooses not to watch nearly as much as he did before. During the week he has to earn TV or video game time and the TV doesn't come on at all until school work is done for the day. We do a pirate ship ladder and he has to earn 10 points to get to the pirate ship to earn either 30 minutes of TV or 30 minutes of games, but he gets lots of opportunites to earn them by brushing his teeth without a fuss, setting the table, helping around the house, etc. As far as our schedule, we are somewhat laid back. We don't wake up at a specified time, but usually by 8:30. We have breakfast, clean up a little and then start our phonics/reading lesson. I give him a 15 minute break and then we do math. Usually by then it's time for lunch and I try to give him some outside play time weather permitting. After lunch we do our writing lesson, take a 15 minute break and then do any other activities planned like arts, crafts, etc. Each day is different because we do activities during the week with our homeschool group, so we keep things pretty flexible. I have found that some schedules and ideas work better than others. Obviously, your experience will be different with more children, but you will find what works for you. It will just take a little trial and error.

Thanks! I will definitely take a look at BFSU. I definitely feel a lot better that I wasn't doing enough or anything concrete, but now I know that wasn't working for us because it isn't suppose to at the age of 4! Thanks for all the recommendations. I think I am just so nervous still that I am not going to teach him the core things that he needs to know. I'm hoping with time and experience I can relax a little!

Thanks for all the great feedback! This definitely makes me feel better that I haven't exactly gotten the hang of it yet. We will continue reading our weekly library books and check out the resources mentioned!

Thanks for all the great feedback! This definitely makes me feel better that I haven't exactly gotten the hang of it yet. We will continue reading our weekly library books and check out the resources mentioned!

Thanks for the great feedback! What is BFSU? I'm still learning all the different curriculums/programs.