PLL (Primary Language Lessons by Serl) is a free download on google books and has poetry memorization suggestions. Anything by Robert Louis Stevenson or A.A. Milne. We have the book Favorite Poems Old and New and I pull selections from that as well.

5 for both.

My thought on this is if you are paying a premium teacher price, you should not have to be self-educating to fill in the gaps she misses. If younger students are not in her comfort zone for teaching, is there another teacher that you could switch to?

Please tell me this post is for a musically gifted 6 yo! I have been glad my ds 8 is catching onto I and V7 chords in the key of C recently after completing the Bastein Primers over the past 2 years, lol.

http://bogglesworldesl.com/dolch/lists.htm At this website there is a link to the 220 Dolch sight words by grade level.

If you do remove her from school, my encouragement is to take it easy for a several weeks to transition. Do fun things like field trips, crafts or baking, light/fun educational videos, classic literature read alouds with an interesting plots, exercise, etc...... During that time, research for yourself what math, writing, reading, history, science, and fine arts materials you think are best for you as a teacher and her as a student. Add in a limited subjects/week when you start in your formal academics, maybe build up to a full load after Christmas, or whatever time frame is best. If you don't have much time, don't pick something parent intensive for all the subjects. Prioritize where you want to be most involved, and pick materials she can do independently for a couple subjects. I hope all goes well with your family's decision. You and your husband can certainly do well at educating her, as you know her best and love her most.

Can't think of the name of it, but I used a book that had a movable hands clock/wristwatch on it. It explained very well how the minutes correspond with the numbers and lines, and how the hour hand slowly moves every few minutes during the hour. Google "books that teach telling time" and many suggestions will come up. Maybe the library will have some books like that. I didn't bother teaching ds quarter, half, and 3/4 hour...I waited till he was 7ish and taught it all at once. Occasionally, I'll ask him to tell the real time. We skipped the time worksheets and went straight for the real thing (an actual clock). 2nd opinion is to agree with those above....stop trying to teach it for a few months and come back to it maybe after Christmas. ETA:my dd 6 doesn't know yet even though I have explained the basics, but plan to wait a few months when hopefully she will have a better grasp on the concept.

Me! Me! Me! The only one I attended, I shopped during the keynote speakers everyone was so excited to hear in person so I didn't have to push and shove in the convention hall to get a glance at the latest editions of all the popular programs. I just don't get how conference speakers are treated like celebrities at the conventions...as in, "I can't believe my daughter got to shake hands and take pictures with Josh Duggar!" or "Wow! That's Steve Demme right over there! I hope I can push through this crowd to get him to autograph my MUS manual!" No offense to those that go hear the speakers for genuine insight and encouragement to make the homeschool day and schedule flow better.

Thank you for the insight and advice, Jenn.

OP, I am curious if you have communicated with your SIL much since your FB correspondence. If so, has she acted friendly and normal or seemed distant and offended? I ask because it is difficult to disappoint a close relative, although close relatives need to be disappointed when they feel entitled to services by other friends and family members. I have had to dissappoint my sister and BIL often when they want to frequently "mooch" off of us. It isn't easy. Especially when it makes me seem like the bad guy in the family, and I know she will give me a bit of an attitude or distance herself from me for awhile. With friends, it is a bit easier because the friend can either decide to continue to be a good friend even though they don't get free babysitting at will just because I'm home while they are at paid jobs and my kids will be playing anyway (what's one or two more, right?), or the friend can get offended and drop the friendship (in which case it isn't a friend worth keeping). One can go out and hunt for a new group of friends..... but one can't hunt for a new sister, SIL, or nephew if the family member gets offended by being told "no." when that family member feels entitled to various free services by other family members (free rent, babysitting, whatever). P.S. It sounds like you need to be on the receiving end of some free childcare, housecleaning, meals, etc....by your family and close friends. I am sorry you are having a difficult time with health. I hope you can find just the right balance of rest, meds, exercise, and diet to give you the energy to live each day to its fullest. I hope your SIL recognizes what a jewel of a friend/relative you are to have been so accomadating of her needs as you were able to the past months and years. Her plate is full with 2 young ones and a pregnancy as well, but I hope she is able to return the favors back to you someday.

Agreeing to see a doctor soon would be the next step. After diagnosis, a good chiropractor may be able to help with treatment as well.

I don't think the issue overall is K is more like pre K, as much as generally pre K tries to be like K these days. This is more the norm. Of course, there are LOTS of pre-K kids working on a K or above level because they are just wired that way and that's great.....just saying some parents want their kids working at a K level in pre K just for bragging rights on part of the parents and the preschool program. My son went to pre-K one day/week, for a Mother's Day out for me, and his pre-K teachers were literally worried about K being too overwhelming for him since he didn't have same the 5 school day/worksheet experience his peers had before entering K. For those dc that do pick up K level work easy in a pre-K program, it is easy for some parents to think their child is gifted. Not saying this is the case with you, as she may very well be gifted. But, if that is the case, a supplemental program at a ps school may not address the issue. My neighbor bragged about her dd doing K work all through her pre-K year. My ds went to ps K knowing less than most Ker's. He wasn't even reading CVC words. His K teacher told me not to worry. By the end of his K year, he was working on a high 1st grade level. The kids who were more advanced entering K were on his level, a little higher level, or a little lower level by the end of the year. There was no rhyme or reason to it. I started homeschooling ds for 1st, he now reads at a much higher reading level, but he is just wired that way. I haven't put much effort into reading instruction for him. I want to consider him gifted, then I read what other hs kids are doing at his age and it keeps me humble, lol. My dd, homeschooled for K and now in 1st, is working at probably a mid K level in reading, writing, and math even though I've put much effort into teaching her these things. My neighbor's dd who was doing K level work one year prior to entering K is now in remedial reading and at grade level for math (now in 3rd grade). It usually all balances out come 3rd-4th grade for MOST children rather they are accelerated or behind at the start of K. A select few will continue to skip ahead quickly and a select few will need remediation. A classroom teacher would have a difficult time keeping the advanced Kers challenged on their level in addition to bring those with little letter/number recognition up to speed. Homeschool or tutoring is really the way to go if you always want dd working at her exact level of academic ability. If that is not an option, it isn't the end of the world if she doesn't learn much in way of reading or math in K, she will likely advance at her own speed in a year or two with or without massive intervention now. The gifted program in our ps is just a few hours/week, and I think just enrichment like more social studies and some science concepts that the kids would learn when they are older anyway. I'm not too sure about the specifics because ds didn't qualify for the program in K, although he would qualify now if I had kept him in school. The moms I know that have their kids in the program say it's really no big deal.

Thank you all. Over the last week or two, I have decided that ds is thriving on AO year 2 selections, even though all of it isn't my cup of tea. I think it is not so much too much for him, as it is for me. This is the 1st year I am doing a full homeschool schedule with dd as well, and the 3Rs aren't coming naturally for her. She will be fine and she is making progress, but the 1 hour one on one time I am giving to her, walking her through each of the 3Rs is draining (in a rewarding sense of the word, I am thrilled to have that time tutoring her that she wouldn't get in a traditional school setting, it's just that it's more intense than I thought it would be). I have dropped AO readings completely for her and will try next year. She is giving much of her energy to the 3Rs. Asking her for narrations (even to short passages) on books books she has no interest in was frustrating us both. Ds loved the year 1 books, but she could care less about them. I am backing up to reading quality living books of her interest for pleasure to her with no pressure, and will reevaluate in a few months when the 3Rs are less effort for her. While I respect and use CM education, I am definitely not a CM purist. Some of the Sonlight book recommendations combined with CM style of education is more up my alley of interest, but much of AO fits my son like a glove, which is why I want to continue on with AO for him without exhausting myself. I have been pondering the above comments the last week, appreciative of each one. I think one issue, like someone mentioned above, is that I have other books I'm having him read on the side not on the AO list (books I found used that are "too good to miss" on curriculum lists like SCM, Sonlight, etc....). This may be interfering with us both having time to keep up with the AO schedule. Ds does read some KJV scripture, more so for short memory work passages here and there. I will revisit adding Shakespeare Tales back in once I'm more in the flow with the other readings...I appreciate the comment about the value of exposure to the Shakespeare characters and plots, explained from an angle I haven't yet considered. I had dropped Shakespeare out quickly because it was one thing he didn't enjoy when we introduced it, he was soaking up everything else, and I knew something had to go. We are doing the original Pilgrim's Progress reading, so am hoping that helps with the flow of more complex English literature. I'm reading this aloud instead of audiobook, because reading slow helps us both keep up with the plot better and gives me time to stop to explain anything that is difficult to understand. To simplify the schedule for me, I am planning to continue to leave out PofN for now, add in some Shakespeare Tales (but less than scheduled), hand over Tree in the Trail for ds to read on his own (I was going to drop it, but he asked about it last week and was not happy about leaving it out), and add Little Duke to his other 2 audiobook selections (OIS and Understood Betsy) without guilt of doing too many audiobooks (please don't report me to the PNEU police!). I will continue to do the readings for CHOW, Pilgrims's Progress, and our free reads. He narrates for OIS, Understood Betsy, CHOW, and the missionary biography dh reads to him at bedtime. We don't do formal narrations for Pilgrim's Progress or Little Duke, but I do make sure he is understanding the general gist of those plots (again, please don't report me to PNEU!). Probably next year, he will be doing more on his own which will help me stick to the schedule better when I start dd in year 1. Thank you again all for your insights.

For non school days, "I have a commitment." works too! Just practice letting it roll off your tongue to be quick to say it anytime she asks.

As a SAHM who is homeschooling, dear friends who work seem to think I am available for all the odd teacher inservice days or when their work schedule puts them in a pinch to not pick up a child from the nearby school. At 1st I occasionally said yes to not hurt my friends' feelings since they saw it as I'm home anyway and the kids will just play, or I'm right down the road from the school and it will take me a short time to pick up their child...to them it is no big deal. Finally, I had to decide that I am a working mom, working just as hard as they do at their jobs, and I now say to almost every request for drop in free babysitting or a school pick up, "We have a commitment." End of discussion, I don't care if our commitment is to lounge in PJs, watch videos, and eat popcorn all day. "We have a commitment" and nothing else has been that key phrase that leaves no room for the "why not?" pause or requires me to lie or come up with a lame excuse no matter who it is that asks. After one or two times of telling people this, I promise they will take you off of their ask list. When I was making up excuses, like, we don't feel well or we've got to get shopping done today, they would call another time and I'd have to come up with something different. I make exceptions for true pinches, like unexpected MD appointments or temporary life stresses (like surgery or sick relatives). I also say yes to 1 or 2 homeschool moms for things like haircuts or kid free errands who are likewise available to me when I have something less vital to tend to kid-free. These moms would not take offense if I said no without excuse. For a close family member, a gentle, matter of fact conversation stating something like, (long version if you want to explain yourself) "I have been glad to watch the kids a few hours here and there since moving, but my plate is full with homeschooling, housecare, and other commitments. Generally, I do not have enough energy to accomplish these priorities due to health concerns. I am glad you live close and enjoy visiting more often, but I am sorry that I am not able to watch your kids anymore. I will be glad to provide a babysitter reference or ask my friends for one if needed. It is not personal." A short version with little explanation is just as appropriate, something like....."I know I have been able to help you out in the past, but I can't watch Billy and Sue during the week anymore, I have my hands full already and can't take on anything else." should work just as well. I wouldn't use health as your only bail out, because if you start to feel better, you may have to come up another excuse, eventually having to be more blunt and rude.

Salsa Spanish episodes thru Georgia Broadcasting website is a good supplement to any Spanish program for that age. http://www.gpb.org/salsa/term/episode The videos are no longer listed in order, but episode 101 is first, then 102, 103, thru about episode 130, then you start with episode 201, 202, etc ...... http://www.freelyeducate.com/2011/01/free-spanish-lessons-for-elementary-students-k-2nd.html The above website has links to the episodes as well and tells about the program. Only thing is, I can't get the free lesson plans to go with episodes to come up at the link to the dept. of Wyoming education website. Not sure if they removed the lesson plans or if their site is temporarily not working right. If you find their lesson plans, they are written for grades K-2 and lesson 1 goes with episode 101, lesson 2 with 102, etc.....

I used MFW K loosely. I did something different for phonics. It is easy to sub this out. She was tagging along music, picture study, poetry, and free reads with older brother. Older brother liked the MFW weekly science topics, character building, stories, Bible, book recommendations and poems in the MFW manual in addition to dd. it is very easy to do more for math, writing, and phonics with MFW K if you'd like to do that. Progressive phonics and I See Sam is what we did last year. This year we are doing McGuffey Primer for reading. All either free or cheap. MFW K is just as easy to tweak as a preK program. The K worksheet package may be too easy for your child though, there are some printable worksheets to supplement online if you are up for that. I don't know what Abeka K is like, but I've heard small talk that it does a good job with phonics instruction.

Reason #157 for never parting with anything....lol (just kidding). Seriously, I had a hard time parting with our K stuff even though I have no more Ker's, and IF my dc homeschool, it isn't worth saving in case they use it. I would do as others suggested, ask for sections of it back after completed, or save the module for next year.

Just curious, as I am contemplating dropping a couple more selections off AO year 2 for ds after already dropping Shakespeare Tales and Parables of Nature, plus replacing the science with something more modern that is done once/week. With learning to play piano, learning cursive, taking swim lessons, starting a new handicraft, spelling dictation, attending a varying extracurricular activity a couple hours about once/week, having time to just be a kid, doing beginning Spanish here and there, starting more complicated math, and having a younger sister that mom is working one on one with for about an hour every day......is it really okay to not be doing about 1/3-1/2 of the books from AO or similar program? We are doing poetry, folk songs (hymns last year and now just what's song at church), picture study in the simple SCM style, listening to composer music, a handicraft, nature classes 1-2x/month vs. weekly nature study, and free reads. 2 of our assigned books are audiobooks, he could read more on his own, it's just finding the time to do it. He is also doing lessons from McGuffey 3rd Reader, which is working well for both of us. We love Our Island Story (audiobook), I love Pilgrim's Progress (he's not narrating this one, but keeping up with the plot), CHOW is our spine, and Understood Betsy is our other audiobook. I am thinking of dropping the Little Duke even though he is starting to like it since he has made connections with OIS and CHOW. I am also thinking of dropping the Holling Books even though we like them okay, just think it won't hurt to drop these since geography is already integrated with other subjects as he likes to study maps and atlases on his own, plus we locate relevant things on the map often. Open to opinions regarding the tentative drops. Note: I really do know deep down it is okay to use as little or much of any literature program as works for us as long as the 3Rs are solid in our school day, but would like to know if others drop a lot as well. Or if you do it all or most all, feel free to comment how you do it well.

Nm

Wow! It is obvious that the answer to my OP has been answered, the teacher is being reasonable and fair, the mom and child are overreacting. Thank you. Sorry I don't have time to respond to everything, but I do appreciate everyone's input.

This is a very good point.

This is hysterical.

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