I was able to use the smash math code. I signed in with my google account, then Entered child's name and a grade level, then clicked where it says "have a coupon code?" In the upper right corner... Then- smooth sailing.

Currclick is 70% off a lot of their items with the code mothersdaygift plus lots of freebies.

I agree, that kids can skirt through worksheets. I have the HIG and also consulted with someone to make sure I had a strong grasp of what I was doing. I just felt like the program wasn't enough for me to see confirmed results in the activity sheets, as opposed to something like RIghtstart where there is a lot of activity from different angles. It wasy first year homeschooling and so I let my daughter go ahead in the worksheets - but quickly realized they weren't showing whether she had really mastered the concepts. My closest homeschooling friend has a son who is excelling in a combo of Singapore and math u see. In theory, Singapore was what I was most excited about for kindergarten, but it just wasn't successful for us.

I just use the regular notepad on my iphone and "share" the lists to my husband. I just got homeschool tracker and will track activities and school in there. For our general schedule, I use MOTH on paper. I had cozi and other phone apps but they just didn't get used for the hassle.

For K, it took 2-3 hours to get through in the morning. For first grade, I've followed the recommendations from the WTM book and it works put to 2.5-4 hours per day scheduled; we will see how long it actually takes comes August. I think the timeframes are reasonable for each subject area based on last year. I'll edit this later with my actually planned schedule - since I can't show you the envelope with it written down in colored pencil. 😜 I need to start scheduling lessons in homeschool tracker anyway. :-)

I should clarify that my main issue with Singapore is the worksheets. We weren't only using them, I just don't think they added value in that she could do them even if she wasn't really getting the concept. Several ppl here mention they use Singapore with other programs. I haven't heard a lot about it being wholly successful by itself. I'm hoping rightstart works for us (it's a big investment)...

We did Singapore math 1a and 1b along with math u see and won't be continuing either for first grade. The Singapore workbooks are colorful and fun and I like the pages where we talk about concepts, however; for us - my daughter could blow through the worksheets and get the answers right and still not have a real understanding of the concept. She finished the Singapore worksheets way ahead of time, and now we have Math U See left to finish by end of June but I'm not happy with that choice either. We are switching to RighStart for 1st grade. It has heavy parent involvement, but there is a lot less opportunity to skirt thought lessons without truly understanding concepts. I'm starting FLL and WWE for first grade too. We are also using AAS1 next year, but my daughter is completing AAR1 now and that's another we won't be continuing with. She isn't enjoying the cut and paste anymore. And those activities are what originally took us down the AAR path for the money. For WWE, we are mixing in some Writeshop JR here and there to mix it up. That program is a lot of fun! Someone mentioned a reading list... From Writing with ease, I chose several of the novels mentioned and am creating worksheets to correlate to WWE's instructions (we are using teacher guide, not workbook), to these works of literature, such as Little House in the Big Woods. I'll probably have them posted on Teachers Pay Teachers by End of June. We are also using Story of the World. Some great resources that go well with Vol 1 (which we breezed over for kinder but are doing for real in first) are Ancient Science by Jim Weiss, Evan Moore Ancient Civilizations History Pockets, Eat Around the World, and the Usborne Ancient Civilization related texts. Feel free to PM me - since we are in the same boat with the first grader. :-)

I highly recommend Usborne non fiction for the grammar stage. I actually became a consultant with them just to fund my and my childrens' obsession with everything Usborne. We also have the kingfisher; but my daughter rolls her eyes at it. The language and illustration of Usborne (and internet links) can't be beat. :-)

I'm in a similar boat. I used AAR 1 for Kindergarten and next year planned to do aar 2 with AAS 1 for my first dd and aar pre-reading for my pre-k ds who struggles with alphabet, numbers and is just beginning to not have a toddler grip on a pencil. The price seems really high and I'm also wondering is this a grammar and reading program.. Or primarily reading? We are using fll and wwe next year. I'd like to see others' reflections on using it in the younger years. AAR has a lot of little components and my daughter is finding the workbook pages "baby" games. I worry if AAR 2 is the same she will get turned off! I want a curriculum that works, that isn't a million little pieces to set up one lesson, and that I can administer while maintaining my sanity with an 18 month old and new born bouncing around (when we start school in Fall).

I'm starting first grade with my daughter at end of summer and we are doing this with writeshop jr once a week. This article will be handy in years to come. Thanks!