I agree with this especially and a lot of the other sentiments here. Just to offer the flip side, my incredibly sensitive and shy daughter (6.5) would have probably fell into a ball of tears after the first or second encounter with that mom. There is no way she would have had the courage to say anything and would have worried for hours later after it was over what she did wrong. I spend a lot of my days trying to build her up, encouraging her to use her voice and be confident in herself and that if things don't go well, brush it off and move on. I'd say your dd is on the right path already.

Many thanks to Taryn for the Hoffman recommendation! I just watched two lessons, my daughter will love this. I wanted her to do piano, but she's not really interested now and the cost is just too much now anyway for private lessons. I think those cute little puppets will suck her right in LOL. Can't beat free to get her feet wet! I can sit the tablet right in front and we can learn together.

Ah I see! Perhaps she could draw some of the phrases or make her own sentence. I'd love to see a pic! Thank you a again, we used the sheet Tuesday, it was so much better than a plain ol' lined paper.

I'm glad you said this and thanks to the op for asking. I bought the workbook sight unseen and thought that for my daughter, she'd get so much more out of doing the exercises with literature we were already reading and enjoying. I just wasn't a fan of random excerpts out of context. This would be the only thing that I'd really have to plan as the rest is open and go so I think I could do it.

Murrayshire, what is meant to go in the "picture words" box? Thanks!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! We're halfway through level 1 and it's just starting to get a little challenging so these would be nice to change it up a bit.

I was wondering if this was a buy it now price. I just heard about this series a couple of days ago and threw it in my cart for later. Thanks!

It never occurred to me to read books beyond my child's level aloud until I started looking into homeschooling. She's 6.5 finishing up her K year and not reading independently. What a wonderful world that has opened to her, and a great bonding experience this has become for us! Even with a 4 yr old and 1 yr old that just started walking this week, we still manage at least an hour a day with me reading to her. Often we'll go outside so the littles can play and she's next to me on the swingset. Dad hangs with the babies for another 30ish minutes at bedtime. I'm just amazed that it's working and hope it continues. For the first time, my 4 yr old brought me a book to read to her (she rarely can stand to sit through a book) so I attribute it to this new rhythm to our day where Mommy is always reading and she wants to join in. We're knee deep in Narnia at the moment, which I've never read (gasp I know), so I'm enjoying it as much as she is.

Newbie here, also planning first grade. Just thinking out loud. Isn't it possible, in any curriculum for kids to skirt by doing worksheets without full understanding? I mean, it's up to you as the teacher/parent to see your child's performance and manage that. We've used 1a & my child loves the Singapore books. I cannot imagine not having the HIG even though I can clearly add and subtract, I want to be sure I'm presenting it in such a way that it can be built upon for future lessons, the "singapore way" if you will. If you try it you've not lost anything being so young, and can just try something else later. I'm sticking with it until I'm 100% sure it's not working as it is an affordable, time tested program. We do "supplement" with xtramath.org, just because it's more fun than flashcards but it's certainly not an indication Singapore isn't enough. With any program there are days when it gets monotonous, so put the workbook away and do a game instead. Since my daughter knows the phonograms, we're just doing AAS 1 (without tiles, she doesnt need them) as a combo phonics supplement/spelling program.

Following, the creator is local to me, I may go to her next demonstration!

I was getting worried we weren't doing it properly reading the other posts! We do exactly this for 1a. We just picked up the Intensive Practice book to keep reviewing as we move into 1B. She does a quick few minutes on xtramath to warm up before we start.

Well I'm partial to the Triangle, Raleigh to be exact because I have a daughter also starting first grade in the fall :) I grew up in Raleigh suburbs, and I've lived in the Charlotte area and the east side of the state in Greenville, but I really like the capital area best. If you like the mountains, Asheville is a great city. I like being in the middle as the beach or the mountains is a day's drive.

Thank you!

Posting as well, as I newbie I don't have a whole lot to say. Come on 8 posts lol. :laugh:

What a thread to stumble upon! We have an abridged version I picked up on a whim used and I read it to my 6 year old a couple nights ago and she is totally into it. I told there's a much longer book/series with lots more details and adventures and she is waiting not so patiently for me to get them! I wish my 4 year would pay attention, but perhaps down the road big sister will read to her too.

I'm in this exact place as everything is new to me and my first grader. It really is trial and error, so money must be spent and I'm just going for it! Just when I have it nailed down, I run across something else and then I'm back at square 1. Thank goodness for resale pages.

Hi all, I'm new here, but not new to forums. We started homeschool with my 6 yr old kindergartner in January after giving public school a try. We have really enjoyed it, just having fun. After reading WTM, I am feeling much more equipped to take on this task, and take it up a notch for 1st grade! I can tell she wants to do more. I look forward to chatting with you all and learning, this has already proved to be an invaluable resource. I have a 4 year old and 1 year old underfoot as well. Heather