Thanks to everyone for the input! I think we will definately be getting the activity guide. :D

Ooh, thank you! :thumbup: Your blog looks awesome! I am adding it to my favorites. :D

I love the look of SL, but can't get past the price. Could you just get the books on their list and read them without buying the whole curriculum? I would think most would be easy to find at the library.

I just got our copy of SOTW Vol 1 in the mail today. I am a little confused here. :o It is just a read-aloud, right? Should I get the activity book and teacher's guide, too? I have read of people doing all kids of fun things with SOTW, so I am assuming they were also using the activity book? (I am a new homeschooler, can't you tell? ;) )

We have 2 parakeets. Ours are fairly boring, so I'm a tad jealous of the pp who has fun parakeets ;). One of them is absolutely petrified of being held, the other will let my youngest hold him for brief periods, but that's about it. They don't really do much, honestly. I had a parakeet when I was a kid, and it did like to be held, but I think the ones we have now are pretty scared of my kids. Personally, I would go with a cockatiel for a good "starter" bird, since they are generally a bit more social with humans.

Another question. :o Is the Verita's Press Phonics Museum kit worth the money? It seems very nice, and I think both my kids would enjoy it a bit more than the things we have tried so far. I have heard it is pretty difficult, though? My kids are not reading yet. They are only identifying letters by sight, and do not yet know all of the sounds they make. A few, but not all. So, is this a program that would be good for a beginner, or is it best that they have some knowledge of letter sounds at least? TIA!

Thanks to everyone for the great links! We do actually have the 1879 versions. I am thinking we will get OPG and try that. I am also going to look into Blend Phonics. I just need something that is phonics-based and a little bit more engaging that the TYCTR in 100 easy lessons.

Hi. No, he isn't reading yet. He just really hated the repetitiveness of 100 easy lessons, I guess. I mean, he really hated it. We only got to the 7th or so lesson before I just threw the towel in with that book, even though he seemed to do ok with it. I don't want him to see learning to read in such a negative light, and when he started begging me to skip reading I knew we needed a change! Thanks for all those links! I will check them out when I get home tonight! :D

sorry, double post! :o

:) bumping this, hoping someone can help!

Hi! I am new to the boards, and I am hoping someone can help me. I just got our set of the Mc Guffey's eclectic readers today, and I don't know exactly *how* to use them. I have the primer up to the 6th reader. Is there a guide, or preferably a website that gives an outline on how to teach reading using these? I am working with my ds, who is almost 6. We're basically starting from the beginning. He can identify letters by sight, but it pretty much ends there. We have tried "Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons" and it was pure misery for him. When it would ask him to sound out he would say, "Buh-orr-innn-ggg" and beg me to put the book away. :blush: So, I am hoping someone has some ideas to help me implement the Mc Guffey readers. Can I use the Mc Guffey's alone as our sole method of teaching reading, or should I try something like Phonics Pathways or The Ordinary Parent's Guide and use these as a supplement? Thanks in advance!:blush5: