Thank you for all the replies! They've been very helpful. :) For PreK, we're doing a sort of modified Before Five in A Row- some books fro the BFIAR list, some my choice, and activities to go along with each book. Lots of play, science experiments, and math in real life (recipe measurements, sorting, skip counting, etc). I think the BFIAR books are nice, but seem a bit young for my daughter. I think FIAR books would have been a better match. If I had to start over again for PreK, I would do Wee Folk Art Simple Seasons. I love that it's seasonal, and the book choices look interesting. I purchased Oak Meadow K for next year, but was uncertain on when to use it because my daughter already knows above and beyond a lot of the curriculum. However, I really love the philosophy behind how OM is structured, and decided to use OMK next year, along with WFA for enrichment.

I think my future curriculum spine is going to be a choice between Moving Beyond the Page, and Build Your Library. I'll be starting K with my daughter next fall. I'd love to hear your experiences, especially if you've used both. Strengths, weaknesses, favorite parts, etc. (In reference to previous threads I've started- I don't think I can get on board with Great Books Academy, and, at 4, my daughter already knows everything and beyond the Oak Meadow kindergarten curriculum (except for finger knitting), so the things I've contemplated in earlier threads are not the strongest contenders.) Thank you for your help. :)

Hello, everyone. I'm looking into curriculum for the future for my daughter, and am very intrigued by The Great Books Academy. http://www.greatbooksacademy.org/curriculum-2/ Does anyone have any experience to share? Thank you. :)

The house is picked up. You did it right. Your family is fed. You did it right. School is done. You did it right. You care about your family and home. You're doing it right. I try not to fall into the perfection trap, but it is so, so hard. I find comfort in the quote "Comparison is the thief of joy." For me, it's the bloggers that have time to take sun-soaked photos of their bountiful gardens, lovely garden-fresh meals, and lovely children wearing clothes that their mother lovingly knit for them. It's hard to remember that it's never the whole picture, just the highlights. Please be gentle with yourself. As for your update, if you think your children going to private school would be better for your family, then do it. You know your family best. You are no less a mom if you don't homeschool. Just remember, though, that it may not be a perfect solution, and that whatever is difficult now may not be fixed by your kids going to private school.

happypamama, I'm searching for the same sort of curriculum. Peak With Books is similar to BFIAR, but seems to be designed more for multiple children/classroom setting. I prefer the BFIAR/FIAR book selections, but it might be worth a look. Here's a peek: http://books.google.com/books?id=u0V0qbFwb60C&printsec=frontcover&dq=peak+with+books&ei=9KbRSKurBpWKyQT44OjpAw&sig=ACfU3U2SoHFWaG8Znw6H9I3pxztXGZeg_g#v=onepage&q=peak%20with%20books&f=false

DhanaCali- I think we must have cross-posted, I'm sorry I missed your reply until now. I'm still keeping my options open for K, and I do find Charlotte Mason appealing. :) I still love the Waldorf approach, but I'm thinking outside the Waldorf box for due diligence. I stumbled across The Great Books Academy today, and find their book lists appealing.

Thank you for your replies! I don't really want a box curriculum, but having something pre-made is appealing when I'm just getting started. Sewingmama- yes, I really like the Wee Folk Art curriculum! Little Acorn Learning also seems like a good fit for a seasonal guide. I'm considering MBTP- I like that it's literature-based and comprehensive. By 'boxed curriculum', yes, I do mean one that includes every subject. I live in California, and it does not appear that home school work is routinely checked on a detailed level- I plan on registering with the state as a private school, which the state expects to offer a certain list of curriculum subjects per grade level. I hear a lot of conflicting arguments on Common Core standards, and have taken a peek. I might review them each year to see what my children are expected to be learning, There's a little (probably highly irrational) part of me that seems to think I'm going to have to do a lot of explaining or justifying to some Great Unknown Powers That Be. I'm sure it's new homeschooler jitters. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I feel more confident to customize a curriculum.

Hi everyone. I'm new to homeschooling, and this board (I did post an introduction). Last week, we started PreK at home with our 4 year old daughter. I'm a strong believer that her most important work right now is play, so nothing too academically rigorous. I love a lot of Waldorf philosophy and education, but am not a purist. We're doing Oak Meadow PreK curriculum, with added literature and science projects. Math is worked in. PreK questions: We have a 'book of the week' that we read daily (we read a lot more than that, but it's our focus) and do activities and crafts based around that book. My book list is largely from BFIAR, but not entirely- do you think it's worth buying the BFIAR manual if I'm not going to use the entire book list? I've heard mixed reviews as to whether BFIAR is worth it. Part of me thinks I should get it just to make sure I'm not missing anything, and the other part of me thinks I'll do just fine without it. Is it worth it? What about FIAR for later? Kindergarten questions: How did you decide whether or not to use a box curriculum? I like the idea of having a set curriculum, even if I have to supplement it, but I don't want to spend the majority of my budget on something and not have enough wiggle room to round it out. If you do create your own curriculum, how would you present it in your records if someone wanted to see what your child was working on? How closely do you follow Core Curriculum standards? How much weight do they hold in your planning? Anyone doing a Waldorf-inspired, seasonally- or literature-based curriculum with their children? Thank you for reading. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Any advice welcome. :)

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Thanks for sharing your experience, Meg429! I'm finding it hard to choose. So far, I've ordered a PWB manual off Ebay. I think i'll get both manuals, and pick books off both. Unfortunately, there's not a library in my town. It makes me want to cry. I'll probably end up buying books used as I go along.

I Love You, Little One, by Nancy Tafuri The Color Kittens, by Margaret Wise Brown Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell I Am A Bunny, by Ole Rissom Edited to add: The Rainbabies, by Laura Krauss Melmed and Jim LaMarche

Thank you, rachelpants! :)

I'm trying to decide between Before Five in a Row and Peak With Books. Any information and/or experiences with either would be very much appreciated. Thank you for your help. :)

Hello, everyone. I'm new here, and new to homeschooling. I have a four year old daughter, and an infant son. I'm officially jumping into preschool at home, and admit I'm equal parts excited and overwhelmed. Fortunately, my internet searches brought me here, and the thoughtful posts I found lured me in. :) I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, writing, nature, art, baking, and (of course it's a real hobby) Pinterest. I'm hoping to find inspiration and support in this community. It looks like a great place, and I'm happy to be here.