I think you might like Discovery Science Techbook. They have it available through the Homeschool Buyers Coop. It's 45/kid for the year. It's a great program, and when my kids reach your age, but I've reviewed it extensively and also have purchased it to supplement the curriculum in using this year (Sassafras plus my own lessons). My mom is a 20 year science teacher veteran (supports homeschooling) and thinks it's a very solid multi-media program; especially if science isn't your thing.

Not that I've seen... Pm though bc I may be able to sell most of it to you.

Sanity maintaining with STB 4 kids 6 and under. - Kids craft centers look great on Pinterest, but every crayon, colored pencil market, glue stick and pair of scissors are out of my kids reach. - 2 x year - give your kids a big plastic tub and ask them to fill it with toys they are too big for. Then sort and donate/store before they change their minds. - Rubbing alcohol with a spray nozzle attached works wonders for cleaning microfiber and walls. - Hubby doesn't write things down? Can't follow a list? Make an album in his phone called "Accomplish" and use a free photo editing app to take a pic of the problem with a brief instruction "Put in Garage" (with pic of plastic bins kids filled with toys). There are no "I couldn't find it, I lost the paper" etc. excuses. - Put the extra diaper pail liners inside of the diaper pail on the bottom. - use giant rubber bands and index cards to organize books topically (like "Jungles" and then list the books) - when the time comes for that topic, you just pull the stack. - target gets great deals on office supplies in the clearance section at the end of aisles. I've got 5 sticks of glue for .58, post it tab dividers for 1.00 and binders galore. - leave the avocado pit in your guacamole - it keeps it bright green longer. That's what I've got.

Books fall under 3 categories at my house: 1. Is readers - this includes everything that my rising first grader might be able to read independently or with guided assistance. Assigned reading and pleasure reading might come from here. 2. Read-Alouds which include both short stories and chapter books as well as non fiction. These could be bedtime stories that are relevant to what we are learning, but not originating from the time period, or a quality we might consider of value but not "Great Literature" - think Magic Tree House. 3. Literature - This would be literature or retelling which originate from the time period, even if they have been retold. This is the connection to that historical period. These would comprise the bulk of the literature we study together as part of our lessons (and is what I'm most interested in for this thread) and can also find it's way into audiobooks and bedtime reading. My goal for the coming year is to have historically relevant books available in each of these categories as we are studying Ancient Times. A lot of these options would be great for engaging my PK5-er in listening and looking along. Thanks!

OH YES! This is right up my alley and just saved me countless hours. I'll need to make a few adjustments, since we also do copywork in science and we read the Magic Tree House Book (and my sanity will not condone my hearing it again). Thank you so much for this resource! It looks like a lot of these are also in the CHOLL lessons too. I'm starting to have a good idea of what to get. I'm a fan of buying books. I use the library more for the kids to pick books for guided pleasure reading. I also use it if I need to preview something I can't find locally. Pretty soon, we are moving somewhere with a big library system; maybe they will have a wider selection. My current library and the small libraries around it for ILL rarely ever have what I'm looking for. :-( As I'm reading, it seems like most people are good with them, in terms of the scary factor, and it's stood the test of time - so I'm going with it. I'll think I'll use one or two of these suggestions to replace the MTH book we already heard in the CHOLL lessons. Woohoo!! So excited... Hunting for used book sales now...

Usborne has great compilations like the Illustrated Classics for Boys - which my oldest two (dd6 and ds4) are enjoying. They are condensed chapter books with illustrations all in one volume. I think it has Robin Hood, Gullivers Travels, and several more.

I've been looking through my SOTW Activity Guide and I see some good options, and also some suggestions here. I have the Usborne books (I'm a rep so I have a LOT of Usborne books); I'm hemming and hawing about D'Aulaires' book because I've read mixed reviews about how appropriate they are for the lower grades kids - I guess a little graphic or scary. At the same time; my kids already listen to chapter books at night read by Papi (my hubs) and I know some of those classics can have stuff that might be scary and we haven't had any complaints. Im certainly going to use the retelling of Gilgamesh the King by Lumilda Zeman. I've read great things about it and I think it will work well with our writing exercises. I feel like my list is still pretty short..... so Im intersted to see what else pops up here.

The WTM book discusses choosing literature choices that coincide with historical period you are study. We are starting SOTW Vol 1 in the Fall. Has anyone successfully been able to follow this recommendation? If so, do you have specific suggestions and retellings that work well for this age group without losing the integrity of the original literature? I'll be using WWE next year (not the workbook) and am pulling my own passages. I'm hoping to integrate that with my literature choices. Thanks!

I just took notes for book ideas for my kids! My husband hates Junie B Jones because of the grammar and thAt she is a bit of a sassy kindergartener. But my kids giggled the whole time. They don't speak disrespectfully to me from the book though... It would be more " ooooh, momma - did you hear what Junie said! She said .... " and then laughter because they think they are getting away with saying something they normally wouldn't. My husband was a university English and Creative writing professor (until he realized quickly he hates teaching and enjoys a savings account), so he finds it to be a complete waste of brain cells for our kids to listen to a book written with the conversational grammar of a 5 year old, but we only use it for entertainment... But keep that in mind if you do choose JBJ.

Kindergarten for us is ending in June and then we starting up again early August. Kindergarten for my DD was my first year homeschooling - I spent 1.5 years researching and supplementing preschool prior. Overwhelmed by curriculum, I ended up buying Sonlight and within 3 weeks realized it was a complete flop. I sent it back, took a week off school and came back with a curriculum I built. We did AAR1, Singapore 1A/B with MathUSee, HWOT, a little SOTW and R.e.a.l science biology, plus lots of readying etc. Nothing with SOTW will be returning for 1st, though we will be doing AAS1 for Spelling. My daughter started kindergarten advanced in Math and has barely progressed at all. I've discussed my views on Singapore and MUS on other posts. We will be doing Rightstart B for 1st. So math was frustrating and unsuccessful. We started kinder just knowing basic phonograms and not reading really at all. I plugged away in AAR1, even after my DD decided she didn't like the games anymore. Very recently - it just all clicked and now she is flying along. So, even though we won't be using AAR2, bc I dont think the format is right for us, reading has been success. REAL science odyssey is a big bummer. A lot of people love it - but I feel like I could have just put the same thing together myself with 20 minutes a week on PInterest in front of my printer. There is nothing inherently wrong per se - just that we think it's boring and still requires a lot of supplentation. I'm keeping it to integrate some lessons for next year. We have Sassafras and Elemental (both bought used) to pull from to make my own next year. Kindergarten science was neutral... My DD is excited for real science next year. They really love listening to SOTW audiobook - we are really looking forward to Next year for that. Kinder has been an OK success. I'm glad I started for K because I learned a lot... And ready for the big kid stuff (hehe) and will also have a PK5-er DS, a 1.5 yo DS and a newborn DS (in September). 😳 :-)

I agree with other posters regarding less concerned about reading; more concerned about puzzles. For the reading, setting aside possible LD, I don't believe in stopping once you start. Change the program, change the pace, reduce the amount of time each lesson - but don't just put it away... Because my DD was a slow progression and then suddenly it just CLICKED and now we are flying along. We had to change up how we were doing things a bit but it's all working. I don't. Relieve in making kids miserable; it reduces their desire to want to learn, but I think, and have seen, kids who lose esteem, or feel like they've failed if they perceive it as "quitting." So, I'm in the persist, but persist with changes camp.

Can I say "everything"? Lol. In my childrens' minds, what I present to them is not optional. I scale as necessary, but I have a solid of idea of what is not optional over the course of their education long term: Spanish - my husband is Spaniard with a half-French mom; he speaks 4 languages fluently - I've seen the benefits of being multi-lingual. We also live in South Florida. Classical Music Education - both in study of composers and in formal tutoring. My kids get to choose (at 4 or 5) what instrument they would like to play from the choices given (sorry, no drums). My daughter is taking piano and my son is taking violin. My sister is classically trained in Flute and piccolo and plays a variety of other instruments. Once they are solid is reading music and their base instrument they can add on with my sister when they are older. I never learned to play. I wish I had and am very blessed to provide that for my children. Science - I do not believe in making science a "when we get around to it" subject. My mom is a science teacher, so she helps me with experiments and whatnot. I do believe science helps to broaden interests, expand curiosity, provide context to difficult vocabulary (and later Latin), develop critical thinking skills, provide a real-world application of math concepts. I believe in science!! Home economics - from chores to cooking and sewing and family finances. Creative Exploration - art appreciation, drawing, multimedia exploration, etc. Physical Fitness and organized activities - free play outside? Yes, tons. Organized activities? Non-optional from age 4-5. My oldest is in tennis and Kung Fu. My second oldest is starting tennis in the follow and also does Kung Fu. The benefits - I could write a whole post. This is beyond what I consider the basics of history, language arts, math.

We used SOTW 1 for kinder, before stopping to put it up while we focus on the 3rs before 1st and tackle it "formally" for first grade. My DD and DS find it boring but if I put in the audiobook (which I personally find not very exciting), the kids LOVE it. We listen to the chapters when going to music or tennis lessons and then build from there... Some resources that tie easily with SOTW to make in more engaging: SOTW Activity Guide Usborne History Encyclopedia or Ancient History Evan Moor History Pockets - Ancient Civilizations Ancient Science by Jim Weiss Map Trek (they have multiple versions of maps and I really love them) Eat Your Way Around the World.

I've never heard of Ronit Bird. I'll be googling that tonight. He's had an eye exam by a pediatric eye doctor and they said his vision was perfect. Is that different from the developmental test?

My son will be 5 in October. He has very advanced verbal skills for his age and can do simple addition in his head, but he is just beginning to hold a pencil not in toddler grip, only can't recognize 1/2 a 3/4 of his alphabet and maybe 5 out of 10 digits (despite attending part time preschool and me working with him daily). My mother who is a very qualified educator with specialized certifications suspects he is of gifted intelligence with dyslexia or a similar LD. That being said - I'm planning the following for him for this coming Fall. We will be spending the summer working on his alphabet and number recognition. Phonics/Reading - Phonics Pathways and Reading Eggs Math - Leaning to Rightstart A (my first grader will be doing RS B) Spanish - BJU and practice with my husband (a Spaniard). The following will be along with BIg Sister (I make him simplified worksheets etc and he can do them as he likes or just follow along): History: Usborne's Prehistoric World (adjusted for our religious beliefs) for a few weeks then SOTW 1 Science: Elemental as spine but lots of adjustments to make my own Literature: From the Ancient Period as studied with DD Music: World's Greatest Composers (Confessions of a Homeschooler curriculum), plus weekly violin practice with tutor and practice every other day. Art: Eclectic Bible: CLE 101-105 (he and his big sister each have one) :-)

My kids really like Junie B Jones - even though it's told from a girl perspective - my son and daughter both enjoyed. Audible has the collections for cheap.

There was a lot of food for thought there and it gave me a idea - down here in Miami they have partial day summer camps that are language immersion running about 2 weeks. My accent isn't terrible, my husbands is a cross between Latin American and Spain-Spanish. Thank you for all this info - I just saved it in my "curriculum notes" for future Latin studies.

I think my "goal with Latin" would ultimately be a serious study. My DD is not yet reading fluently, though it seems to be clicking more. We will think for 2nd or 3rd grade for the reading and writing skills, along with Spanish conversation to develop. I do think Latin is an important study... And I'm a planner.

I feel a lot better about waiting on Latin. My dh only speaks English at home, or French if he is trying to butter me up..ðŸ˜.. But he promises he will now speak to them in Spanish so they will learn properly. English is his third language and he learned it by watching Sesame Street and when he was sent to school in 1st grade. The problem with Dh is he doesn't know how to explain any rules or why he says something a certain way. I often ask him What language does he "hear" in his head. For example, in my head - I translate Spanish to English. I think in English. He says he is universal and doesn't know what I'm talking about. I'm jealous. Lol So it's up to me to teach the Spanish rules and the formal bit - we are using BJU because although I'm not a fan of their other stuff, I really like the format of their Spanish - it's very silly but still a lot of vocab - I think my kids will enjoy that. We will work on getting this Spanish solid and then branch to Latin.

That's kind of where I'm leaning... To wait - my main concern is them being behind most others in Spanish. Most people we know are bilingual or multilingual.. My husband speaks 4 languages. I speak Spanish from living here my whole life. I think I may hold off on Latin until they are conversational in Spanish. Or maybe just have Latin as a non rigorous elective... Depending on time. I think we all struggle with just wanting to give our kids the best!

As I'm reading through the first grade curriculum choices of others - there are two subjects which pop up... Which I haven't planned. First, is Logic - I'm not making that a stand alone subject and next is Latin. My children will be doing Spanish next year and I'm forcing my husband to speak to them in Spanish (he is Spaniard and fluent in Latin American and Spain Spanish).. They have to learn it. We live in South Florida. My sister took Latin in high school and college and thinks it is a great tool. She wishes she had started learning it earlier. So, I'm on the fence about if I should add it as a subject for first grade or if I should wait.. And if I do it now - where do I start - what curriculum? Help!

I had never heard of this - I though BW was for older kids.. Like 3rd grade and up. It says Jot in Down would be for an advanced first grader... What does that mean???? I'm resisting the urge to compulsively buy new exciting curriculum, and am sticking with WWE for 1st with WriteShop Primary mixed in. I'm not using the WWE workbook, but instead the TG, and then am trying to develop my own work list from literature that corresponds to our historical period - so it's not so disconnected with little snippets from different literature as someone mentioned. That's my summer project :-) and I'm hitting up my hubby who has a PhD in English/Creative writing to help his poor right brained wife out. But goodness, this Bravewriter program looks awesome....

CurrClick has lots by different publishers and they send freebies. This weeks is Time Pockets which integrate with unit study for one of the little prairie books. Someone else mentioned Confessions of a Homeschooler. I don't have any of her literature unit studies yet, but I have LOTS of her other stuff and I find it very affordable and quality. She has a great blog in general.

I jumped on sonlight and returned it 3 weeks later - quickly helped me evaluate what was way wrong for us. No interest in: BJU except the foreign language which we are using next year. Teaching Textbooks (I can't even get past the title) Mammoth Math Saxon Math 100 easy lessons Any curriculum that is Completely based on Unit Studies Apologia (I'm christian, but I think the texts are making it out like YE is the only "true" Christianity. Which is a shame) Real Science 4 Kids

I just mentioned about Singapore on another thread, but can't remember which. We did 1a/1b alongside MUS for Kinder. We will not be continuing. Math u See I have a thousand problems with, (though I love their skip counting CD), but Singpaore with the textbook and HIG just didn't work. As a matter of fact, my daughter is almost exactly where she was at the beginning of kindergarten and now we will be doing Righstart after a lot of research. I love the approach of Rightstart, and it shares some of the ideas with Singapore, but I feel like my child will do better with RS which seems easier to avoid issues I faced with Singapore, where her work looked great - but the long term comprehension wasn't there. I will mention that switching any math program (as I'm learning for myself now) - try "teaching" yourself some lessons as practice to really make sure you understand the methodology. It may also help you decide if it's the right move for you.