If you do, how did you form your lesson plans? I have this vision in two falls to take a trip around our state/region and make it a huge field trip. We did something similar this past fall with valcanoes and went to Oregon, Washington and Wyoming to study different sites of volcanic activity... it totally rocked (pun totally intended!) I just dont' know where to start with the history of our state... ideas on resources? Oh... and when (what age/grade) do you think this would be best done at...?

Anyone use Homeschool Helper... or another app? What are your thoughts... likes/dislikes... things I should know? Thanks!

We used in this order: Ordinary Parent's Guide Phonic Pathways Phonic Museum and now All About Reading/Spelling It has been the most successful for us... as was Phonic Pathways. She remembers letter sounds like no body's business... just not the whole word or sight words. I'll look into the above. Thanks. I just feel like we are both trudging through mud every single day, every single word!

:crying: I just don't know what to do. My daughter is 7.5 and we are on our 3rd phonics curriculum. Relatively it is going "better". We are using AAS and all but 10 lessons to the end. She is a smart girl who picks up everything... except reading. It is just painful for both of us! She still has to sound out every single letter of every single word! The repeat the word after every word!!! PLUS I am not new to phonic instruction... I used to teach kindergarten for several years and have seen kids like her... but typically it "clicks" after some time... for her it isn't. It seems like she can't memorize any of the words! I just don't know what to do!

Those are good ideas... I particularly like the one that stated to choose the Core to our oldest and then fill in with more age appropriate literature for our youngers... That is a good idea! Thanks so much! We did Core A last year and are finishing it up. I thought about changing to TOG, but there are a few things I don't like about it... thanks!

We have a 7 yo, two 5 yo and a 4 yo and a baby in the wings. I love sonlight and used it last year. I've always wished it used the same format as Tapestry of grace where you have all the kids learning the same thing, but on individualized levels... Is there a way to do this with SL? If you do, how? Tips... Tricks???

Mainly I am wondering about typing... learning Windows and things like that...

When and how do you teach typing and computer skills?

Ok, wow! this is awesome and super helpful!!! :party: Thank you so much for taking the time to explain how you make it work for you and how you use them both to achieve what you want!!! That is exactly what I needed! We are excited to delve in!!!

Oh, also... how would you say that SOTW covers US history? Is it detailed and in depth? Does it lay out a clear time line of events in US history???

I was given all four copies of SOTW and the activity books FOR FREE!!! Here is my issue... I really like SL... we were set on it, but it is pricey... and now we have another option. I still like SL literature based approach. I am a bit stuck on that. So... I have a few thoughts... Use SOTW as our base, but add in some more of the SL readers and books? or sort of swap that and continue to use SL and use SOTW as an extra resource. What would you do? If you use SOTW is it "enough" for you... do you add in other things? How do you feel it gives your kids a "good picture" of history on its own? What do you not like or find it lacking in? Other ideas are welcome...

I have the PM set and am willing to sell it for pretty discounted...

Tiara... how do you do SL Cores with 2 different levels... what does that look like in your day? We have 2 on the low side of Core A and 1 on the upper side, so it works for us, I really don't know how we'd do 2 of them... Also, great ideas... but you all aren't really helping me. haha! I like the input however...

We only made it through half of our SL core this past year... we had a fall full of adoption travel and even though we got through every thing else we didn't get through the Core. We are literally only half way through it. So... what would you do? If we did it daily we'd finish it in January or February... then we have 14-16 weeks we don't have any thing like that to do. My ideas are: - Just not do history for those weeks and focus on finishing up other stuff strong. - Find some shorter unit studies and do them. - Do Beautiful Feet Character study. - Start the next Core and always be "off" in our schedule. What would you do??? :lurk5:

Just laughing... you have tried exactly what we did... and like you were pulling out our hair with frustration. Couple of thoughts... your child is really on the younger side for phonics instruction. I use to teach K at a classical school and found that it was nearly always frustrating before age 6... there are some kids who are ready at that age, but many are not. If it isn't working put it down, read aloud books she loves and enjoy learning... she will learn to read... when she is ready. Second... we tried both of those resources and also Phonics pathways... it was slightly better, but still uneffective. What we have found, enjoyed and been effective with was All About Reading and All About Spelling... it is highly effective and really teaches phonics in every mode (learning style) in fun ways. Check it out. Hope that helps... but really, don't stress... she will get it. I am fairly convinced that about 95% of it is "readiness".

We love love love the All About Reading/Spelling program for learning to read too... it is so effective and fun. I am with you... I have 2 boys who will be starting K in the fall... one really motivated and the other not really. I am not sure what to do with him. I wouldn't be sending him to PS if we did that... but I also think he needs to be pushed or prodded, or he might never want to start. :-/

Thanks! That confirmed my fears... Now to find others that would be more appropriate...

Thanks ladies... very helpful!

Hi there. Could any one put in a word on if the following books (or selected ones you've read) are going to be appropriate for me to read aloud to my 5,6 and 7 year olds next fall... we'll be studying early Amer. history. Other chapter book ideas are welcome! These are sort of "boy interest" books... and that is what I am needing is 2-3 books that would appeal to my boys, but also won't be "too above them"... they are the 5 and 6 yods. Here were some I was looking at... (These are on Heart of Dakotas Reading list for either 1st or 2nd grade) Pedro’s Journal – Pam Conrad Almost Home – Wendy Lawton Ben and Me – Robert Lawson Toliver’s Secret – Ester Wood Brady The Buffulo Knife – William O. Steele Thanks SO much!

My question is... we've been doing Sonlight Core A... all of us, a 1st gder, and 2 pre-kers... we love it. But SL doesn't do US history for some time, and I don't love that. We could switch over, do 1 year US History and then switch back to do Core B for our dd's 3rd and our boys 1st grade... does that sound ok? would there be an advantage to doing the reverse? Thanks!

Ah! Just remembered! Beautiful feet book! Thanks!:D Now any thoughts on them? I'd have a 2nd grader and 2 kindies on it???

Hi there. I had been looking at this US History curr. a year ago... and for the life of me, can't remember the name of the site for it. I thought it was something like "bare foot" books or something like that. :confused: Does that ring a bell with any one? Thanks!

What is ETC? Thanks.

Wow... thank you! Just ordered it! Wish I had known that a month ago!:D

Help! I've been trying to order... just the student book of MUS primer... it is always "on back order". Where else can I order this???