I was planning on some of the board games mentioned above, as well as a summer math packet over at Teachers Pay Teachers. Math seems like one of those things where if you don't use it, you lose it. I just wanted to keep it light so our DD doesn't forget everything. Plus, she really likes worksheets, so a packet is super easy for me.

I think what we have is the older blocks. They were about $40 apiece, now the set is $80. We have a 2yo and a 1yo who will be coming up through the ranks, and right now I have not a clue as to what sort preferences they will have. I am certain neither of them will be like their sister who will occasionally plead for a worksheet. :huh:

Last year, when our daughter was in Kindergarten, I picked up Math-U-See Primer with one set of blocks. When I went to the homeschool conference a year ago and ordered Alpha, it was suggested that the second set of blocks would be helpful and so I got those, too, newbie that I am. I am mildly annoyed that we are nearly finished and have never cracked open the second set. I intend to go on with Beta, because the program is working well enough. I was thinking about selling the unused set of blocks to a friend, but am wondering if I am really going to need them next year.

We are just finishing up year one with our 1st grader. The DVDs are very helpful and engaging, since I never took Latin. I think they would work fine with a third grader, too. If you're trying to save money, you can skip getting a second workbook. I've made up my own review sheets for her morning notebook, and it would be easy to do for your 3rd grader. Somebody else said you don't really need the teacher manual, and I completely agree. Overall, it's a fun introduction.

The nearest homeschool conference is coming up in June, so I am working hard to try to figure out what we'll be doing next year. This year is the first time I've homeschooled, so while I feel much more confident than last year, I know I have a lot to learn. After looking at all the changes I want to make in curriculum, it appears I am very picky when it comes to Language Arts. :-) Spelling Spelling Workout A ---------------> AAS We got through the first workbook this year, but I didn't feel she was really "getting" spelling. We just started AAS 1, so right now I assume we'll continue that next year. English/Grammar FLL -------------> Shurley Grammar --------------------> Rod & Staff? Both of us were bored to death by FLL. Shurley Grammar has a much more reasonable pace, but I've read people skip levels because there is so much repetition. TWTM says Rod & Staff is very thorough, but doesn't recommend until 3rd grade. I just figure we'll jump into it a year early. Handwriting ZB -------------------> Joy of Handwriting? My daughter is not crazy about doing a lot of writing, but is really into mimicking cursive. Somebody suggested Joy of Handwriting on another thread and it looks interesting. Math Math-U-See Alpha ---------------------> Math-U-See Beta This is working for us, so I see no need to change it. Especially after buying all those blocks. :-) Science BFSU Vol 1. I really like this curriculum a lot. All lessons build on previous ones. It seems to live up to its title. History SOTW 1 ------------->SOTW 2 She really likes this book. There are days when she prefers it to supplemental books from the library. Latin Song School Latin 1 ----------------->Song School Latin 2 This is great because I never learned Latin and now I am. She really likes it, too.

I really like BFSU with my 6yo because the way it is presented concepts build upon each other. In almost every lesson, I can refer to a previous lesson, so there is constant review. At times, she is not so crazy about the Socratic method, ("Why do you always ask me QUESTIONS!?!"), but if I present the demonstrations first, or try to make the questions casual, say over lunch, she is more receptive.

Thank you for so many helpful suggestions! Looking to next year, I do not think we will use WWE again. It wasn't awful, and having the pdf to print pages out was really handy, but it seems that pulling sentences from what is currently being read would be more meaningful. Copywork seems like a good way to reinforce what's being learned in English and applying it to living literature, perhaps sometimes as a way to present the good, the true and the beautiful.

I have never heard of a Book of Commonplace. It's an intriguing idea. Maybe just putting copywork into a book form might make it seem more special and less of a drag. I am still surprised at times of how she can find a really simple game or a slight twist on something to be completely novel and entertaining.

Your blog posts were helpful - thanks for the links! What you said about about not understanding the phonics might have something to do with her distaste for writing in general. She reads fairly well (her favorite series right now is Geronimo Stilton), but when she comes across words she doesn't know, she will guess at them a few times and only if I prod her will she sound them out. I think of her as "gulping" words when she reads. We got through Spelling Workout A, but I didn't really think she was getting it, even though she did well enough on most tests I gave her. Outside of spelling tests, her spelling can be atrocious, even on words she tested well on. I have since purchased All About Spelling and we are starting with Level 1. (Did I see a post of yours on their website?) At any rate, this foray into the forum has taught me is that I still have a great deal to learn as a teacher.

It is nice to have a little perspective -- things could be different in a few years. The distaste for writing worries me a little, as I feel writing is an essential skill. I went to a small college where all classes were disguised as writing classes, and the guiding principle was that if one could write well, then one could think well. The writing expectations in Shurley English Level 1 are insane, so I skip those entirely. It would be nice if I could find her something to write that she finds enjoyable. She has written a few letters to cousins which seems to be a mostly enjoyable activity. Finishing it off with a dozen stickers seems to help. She writes a sentence a day and it gets mailed off about a week later, so that is something.

Thank you for the helpful suggestions, as well as the assurance that even if we don't do copywork, our daughter can still receive a good education. I love the idea of cutting up a paragraph and having them put it back together, although I don't think we're ready for that just yet. I also like the idea of tying it in with whatever the current read aloud is. It seems that a workable solution would be to continue with the Shurley English (because I have not given any particular thought to grammar in many years), and then do copywork from something we're reading to integrate those skills into other subjects. The only thing is that it will take more planning than just printing out the WWE worksheet. :-/

Yes, I know I am probably poking a hornet's nest with this question. :) This is our first official year of homeschooling, closely following TWTM. Since August, I have made a few alterations for our 6 year old. Most things come fairly easy for her, but she really does not like writing. Writing words out for spelling can be a chore. We got through Spelling Workout A, and she had absolutely no interest in any exercises that had to do with writing sentences or poems. As frequently as not, she does a slap dash job of any writing assignments, though when she tries, her handwriting is quite neat. Looking ahead for next year (2nd grade), I am trying to figure out if we should continue with WWE. We dropped FLL and switched to Shurley English, which seems to be working well enough, so she will be getting instruction on parts of speech and so forth. She will be writing out her narrations next year, so she will have plenty of practice writing. She does narrations on the novels and stories I read aloud to her, so she is getting exposure to quality writing. I'm thinking of either dropping WWE altogether or just doing it twice a week next year. Everyone seems to love copywork, but I am having second thoughts about it. It seems there are better ways to use our time. Please enlighten me if there is something I am missing about the benefits of copywork.