I purchased this book for my kids and we've enjoyed it. It's about an unschooling family. http://www.homeschooladventurebooks.com/

My kids have really enjoyed Atelier and the Mark Kistler on-line drawing lessons. We did level 1 of Atelier last year and plan to do level 2 this year.

We've only done two lessons so far (2 in 1st and 1 in 3rd). The lessons are great and my DH and I really enjoyed the overview book and hearing Dr. Enns speak at a convention. The focus on Jesus in the younger years is great!

First day of our third year. Two in 1st and one in 3rd. We started with breakfast at IHOP and they were ready to get started when we got home! They seem to be really ready and excited to be "back in school"--who knew?!?:001_smile:

:bigear: Thanks for the post. I have twins that will be in 1st this fall. We've only done informal oral narrations so far. One is much stronger than the other, so I'm still debating how to handle WWE next year.

I chose New American Cursive because I liked the way it looked the best. I started the first workbook with my ds when he was 7 and my other ds when he was almost 6. Now I use the Startwrite software with the NAC font.

I haven't used this yet, but I bought it for next year. I think there are three volumes. Looks like a story about each hymn's composer and a Bible-based devotional about the spiritual significance contained in the hymn. http://www.amazon.com/Hymns-Kids-Heart-Vol-1/dp/1581345054/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1305691486&sr=8-1

I have been using BFSU this year, and sometimes the discussions are difficult to get going. Sometimes I have to lead them pretty heavily to the correct concept, but sometimes the light bulb comes on in their heads earlier. As you mentioned, I think that doing "hands-on" stuff before the discussions is very helpful. Certainly, I'm no expert on socratic discussion, but I just wanted to encourage you. I have really enjoyed these discussions with my kids because I can see how their minds are working and because it's really rewarding to see them (occasionally) come up with the "right answer" after a question or two. Plus, these discussions help prepare me to do a better job of capturing "teachable moments" in everyday life.

:iagree: Two more thoughts meant to encourage: (1) I think that giving kids more time to be kids is part of an excellent education! and (2) Just by giving your kids a 1:3 teacher-student ratio, you're giving them an excellent education!

We've really enjoyed level one of Atelier this year!

I do supplement most lessons with Bill Nye videos, simple activities from Janice VanCleave books, and/or non-fiction read-a-louds. It is not absolutely necessary. My kids enjoy the extra resources, and I like to reinforce a science topic in different ways.

Looks like a nice resource! Thanks!

Sounds like a great idea to me!

I agree with previous posters that it's not a review of 1st grade math. I've used the first six chapters with my second grader this year. He's strong in math and working slightly above grade level. He does well with the first three levels and we work together through the Einstein level (of each chapter). He really enjoys the challenge. It's a great addition to math for us. I would also add that even though higher level math is included in this book, it is meant to be started before kids are fluent in multiplication and division. In part it helps kids to see new ways of thinking about and grouping numbers. Hearing Ed Zaccarro speak helped me understand these books better.

My kids love things I've downloaded from storynory.com. They have lots of stories. Also a version of Alice in Wonderland.

My ds8 has been learning NAC for about a year now and my ds6 began about 6 months ago. I purchased the first book (NAC1), but now I just use the software. I bought the NAC Startwrite software directly from Memoria. I don't believe it's included in the regular Startwrite software (at least it wasn't last year). I chose it because it was the font I liked the best. The first book was nice, but I didn't want to spend that kind of money on handwriting books for three kids. Both of my sons have done well with it.

Congrats! Thanks for sharing your joy! It reminds me to be more thankful for all the progress this year...and for being able to witness it firsthand!

I am appreciating the responses to this thread since my DS6 is very similar to the OP's description of Kid #3. My other two are strong auditory learners. When I read aloud to all of them, I try to let them eat a snack, color a picture, or hold "thinking putty." After I'm done reading, I ask DS6 a question first, so that he has a chance to tell me something he remembers from what I just read before the other two start to answer. Of course, sometimes he doesn't remember anything! When he reads out loud to me, he pauses every other sentence to talk to me about what he's just read. Needless to say, he doesn't read quickly! But it seems like this verbal processing really helps him enjoy reading and remember the content. When it comes to narrations next year (ala WWE1), I plan to let him read it himself, or at least follow along, if necessary. That said, he's doing very well with BFSU for science (with all 3 dc together). I think the discussion-oriented nature of the curriculum and making the mini-books works well for him and also helps his retention.

We are nearing the end of WWE2 with my ds8. I read it as many times as needed and try very hard to be patient. SWB says to repeat it as many times as necessary from the beginning, so this is what I am trying. Also, when ds8 gets stuck while he's writing, I make him reread what he has written from the beginning. Many times this helps him remember the rest of the sentence(s). It is definitely challenging.

Just thought I'd share what I do with my second-grader. Whenever I try to explain why something is not a complete sentence, I find myself talking about things he hasn't learned yet. So, if he has a tough time putting his thoughts into a complete sentence, I try to start the sentence for him and then see if he can finish it. If he can't, then I say the complete sentence for him and have him repeat it back to me.

I have this thought in the back of my head, too, even though I know I shouldn't. :001_smile: My ds8 and I have worked through many of the exercises in WS2 this year along with FLL2 and WWE2. When we do a lesson from WS2, I cut back on FLL that week. Also, I often write a "model" for him using his sentences, and then he copies the final draft. This is how Jessie Wise introduces composition writing at the end of FLL2, and it really seems to put my son at ease. For the second half of 2nd grade, I've also asked my ds8 to write one brief friendly letter per week (to a friend or family member). This "extra writing" rarely leads to frustration. I think it's manageable for him and puts my mind a little more at ease just in case PS is in his future. The only other thing I would add is that WS3 is designed for the student to work on their own, while WS2 is designed for the parent to teach/work directly with the student.

So far, I don't have any experience with dyslexia or a 9 y.o. that hates to read. My ds8 reads for a minimum of 1h every school day ("approved" by me). I think one thing that has helped our children to enjoy reading is letting them read whatever they want in their beds with a booklight. Also, I just wanted to add that I heard SWB make a neat suggestion in one of her talks at the Cincy convention last weekend. It was in her "Homeschooling the REAL child" workshop. She suggested that if a 5th-6th grader gets in a rut and hates reading, that it may help to just let them read whatever they want (that you're comfortable with) for several months. She said that reading lots of picture books or other things they really like can help them enjoy reading again. This was one of her tips for when things are not going well: "Drop the difficulty level, increase the time."

I'd say go ahead and start teaching him! I started ds8 at the end of first grade, but ds6 started about mid-way through K because he really wanted to. It was better than him trying to teach himself! We're enjoying New American Cursive here. With ds8, his writing improved after starting cursive. Ds6 could print quite well before cursive and he's still doing well with both. I plan to start dd6 sometime during first grade, since she did not want to start it this year.

Thanks so much for the helpful responses!

I think I'm going to use Lively Latin with my rising 3rd grader next year. If you've used it, did you buy the CDs or just use it on-line? Is the on-line access very reliable? Thanks!