I received BJU matierals yesterday for my DD and sent them back the same day. The TM overwhelmed me and it seemed so "cluttered". :001_huh: We have been using CLE this year and I have realized that I like how clean and simple it is to use.

Because I'm not really sure she is understanding math conceptually. I use cubes & play money for manipulatives to help with CLE, but don't know that it's enough. I'm just not math minded to know what to do and make it more interesting, so that is where I hoped BJU would help. When we do flashcards, she is counting on her fingers for the answer. I feel like just because she can answer ?'s in a workbook, doesn't really mean she is understanding it well. :001_huh: Now if CLE math came on dvd's, our little world would be just about perfect! :)

I got the materials today and looked all BJU 1st grade math over. I have to say that I wasn't liking it really. It was scripted but everything seemed too busy and confusing in the TM. CLE just seems so clean and simple. I don't like clutter and the BJU seemed that way IMO. I know it's a great program and they get great test scores. It did seem so much more directed for a classroom than CLE does. Anyway, I'm not going to even look at another math program and be glad that I made the right choice in 1st grade, and didn't switch around all over the place. Thanks everyone for your input!

I agree that it really is none of your FIL's business. Also, there is absolutely no way that I would want my children in a hospital, exposed to all the germs and flu that is going around right now.

I'm 5'2 and 115 lbs. I like New York & Company. They don't carry everything in petite but have more choices than most stores. I also shop at Ann Taylor Loft & Macy's. :001_smile:

I am really happy with all my choices this year, but am ALWAYS second guessing myself on math and if I made the right choice. :001_huh: My daughter is using CLE for 1st grade and doing fine. I don't really care for the flashcards and the way they introduce them and drill them, but not really sure what I can do about that. Anyway, I ordered BJU math and am waiting to receive it. I thought it might help her more conceptually and be more interesting. Did anyone make this switch from CLE to BJU and happy with it? Also, I'm NOT math minded and struggle to teach it. I really want to use the easiest, scripted program that I can find. Maybe CLE is it but since I have nothing to compare it to I'm just not sure what to do. :lurk5:

We are using CLE and it's going fine, but a little dry and boring when it comes to learning the facts. My daughter won't complain about anything but I can tell she doesn't look forward to this part. Is there an online program that you can enter the facts you need for them to review?

Especially if you're not "mathy". I thought about getting the games for my twin boy's in K and daughter in 1st. She is using CLE and is doing good, but it's just so much workbook and kind of boring. :001_huh: They love hands on activities too. I read so many good and negative reviews on this program.

I'm using Phonics Pathways and AAS together. Whatever we are learning in AAS, I'll find pages in PP that go along with that lesson. I don't have my kid's do any worksheets at all. I am teaching 3 at once so they each have their own whiteboard and letter tiles.

My 3 children LOVE for me to read aloud the Magic Tree House books. They get so into what is happening. They also like the factual information included in the stories.

We do a lot of our reading outside. Usually on the front porch swing or we pack a picnic, blanket & books and go to our side yard. :001_smile:

My house if big enough that we could have an amazing school room downstairs, but I much prefer being in the kitchen. Our living room and kitchen is all open so it's nice to be able to do it there. I can cook, do dishes or whatever while they do lessons. I have a big white board and a homeschool closet in the kitchen so it just seems perfect for us.

I am so interested in learning how but have never even come close to trying. I have a book on hold at the library Knitting for Dummies. :) Hopefully after reading it, I'll know if it's something I want to try. A beginner class would be nice too.

We use Heart of Dakota too and really like it. :) I don't use their phonics or math suggestion though.

We average 2hrs/day. This is how it probably breaks down. Math 30-40 mins. Phonics & AAS 30 mins. Copywork & drawing 20 mins. Heart of Dakota program for bible, science, history & storytime 30 mins. The rest of the day is lot's of playing with her brothers, read alouds, picnics, nature walks and fun outside. :001_smile: ETA: Our phonics & spelling lesson averages longer because I'm teaching 3 children at once. We take turns reading aloud etc...

I taught my 3 children to read at the same time by keeping it very simple. I used all the Leap Frog DVD's to teach the sounds etc... Last year we used ABEKA K4 ABC 123. It's mostly just circling the correct answer and no writing skills needed. They enjoyed those sheets a lot and it really taught those blends. I didn't like Abeka's K5 workbook though because it seemed like a lot of unnessecary worksheet busy work~marking & crossing out vowels & underlining blends. :001_huh: I would also use a whiteboard which worked good. All of mine are able to read level 3 readers now and going great. Sometimes I think simple is just so much better.

:lol:

:iagree: This is absolutely how I feel and what I want. I'm using Phonics Pathways & AAS Level I together. We keep it as simple as we can. They do like the "hands on" with the letter tiles and it's good practice after doing a lesson in Phonics Pathways. I also purchased the Beehive Readers and will start those with the recommended lesson. :) I coordinate my Phonics Pathways lessons to follow AAS if that makes sense. Here are some rule listings someone posted the other day on this board. I like to keep them on hand too. http://www.dyslexia.org/spelling_rules.shtml http://www.lewrockwell.com/taylor/taylor79.html

Any craft ideas or suggestions for K & 1st grade would be great. :) My kid's have chosen this topic so I already have a bunch of library books reserved. Some hands on activities would be fun.

No, it wasn't a special needs forum, but a forum mainly for those teaching reading with the AAS program. I could kick myself for not bookmarking it. :001_huh: Thanks for your help though. :)

Thanks for all your input and advice! :) She did great last night while reading before bed. It's hard not to compare when you have 3 practically the same age. My boy's were such fluent readers at a young age and it just clicked with them quickly.

I can't seem to find it anywhere though. :confused: It was on here a couple weeks ago. :001_huh:

I pour mine in a can and freeze it. After it freezes, I throw it away.

:001_smile: I have taught all 3 of my children to read at the same time. My daughter is only 13 months older than my twin boys. I have noticed some challanges and I'm not exactly sure what/where I need to work on with her. My boy's are reading very fluently but she is sounding most things out painfully slow. She is fantastic at spelling and and narration but I have noticed when reading, she will say a completely different word. For example, last night she said the word "and" instead of "the", she said "kittens" instead of "kid's". If I say "no", she can go back and read it correctly. I'm not sure if she is trying to read quickly because her brothers do, since we take turns reading pages etc... I have asked her if she is just looking at the beginning of words and then guessing but she says she is not doing that. :confused: She is basically adding letters/sounds that are not even in the words. She will stop and do it correctly if I shake my head no etc... I know there are some here that are VERY experienced with phonics, so I would really appreciate any input you might have. :) BTW, I taught them to read using Abeka PreK and then we switched over to PP towards the end of last school year. We are combining that with AAS now.

We use LHFHG and really enjoy it. :001_smile: I do not use HOD's recommended phonics or math though.