First post here 🙂 I'll preface with both DS 6 and I are autistic. DS is more of a sensory seeking, clothing freakout, overwhelmed easily type. I like quiet and researching and noise gets to me fast. We are a pair! And we have my DD 3 running around wreaking havoc. We do "formal" work Tuesday/Thursday/Friday because I'm in school Mon/Wed. I want to get a plan together for next year and the ending part of this year because we hit a handful of snags and can't seem to get back into a groove. Currently: McRuffy Language Arts 1, we started this late and it's working well for us, I don't do all the workbook things because some is busy work and he hates that. Math is a mash up with some problems from Primary, some from math mammoth, and others from some teachers pay teachers pages. The thing with math is he will not play games, or use manipulatives, and he WILL NOT look at the actual book - I have to copy the problems to a whiteboard or into a plain notebook. I pushed too hard with math in the beginning because he was loving it and breezing through math mammoth and then there was just one day where he crashed and now the idea of a workbook makes him slither to the floor. Now, I'm ok with taking time off from math but he isn't! He wants to do math everyday and learn more but it would be so much easier if I could show him the pages! So I was considering starting MEP and getting him gently into math and maybe getting miquon with the rods? I want him to back up and find the fun again and at the same time make sure he has a firm grasp on the basics. Next year - I don't think we can do second grade McRuffy LA because the books get much longer and he is going to panic so I'm eyeing Reading Street or and then just planning on a ton of readers and library books. Any experience with Reading Street? Basically I want to read aloud and have guidance with the critical thinking type questions. Math - Horizons, MEP, or MCP, Science - probably nancy larson 1 History - SoTW read aloud and the Maps/Maps Activity Book Writing - this is where I have absolutely no idea. He hates to write so I want something that will spark his creativity... like a story starter but one that doesn't look overwhelming...writeshop? I need to get a strong idea of what next year will look like because there's a very good chance I will be in a PA program and won't be able to plan and prep once that begins.

My children may go to a full time school in a second language this year and I need help figuring out what to plan for us to continue homeschooling in the afternoon/evenings and on the weekend. I'm mainly thinking of my eldest, in second grade based on our home state grade level ages (we're overseas). For language . . . she's about a month or less away from finishing AAR4 now. We're pretty flexible with schedules. Last year, we ended up doing AAR3 part of the year and AAS1 part of the year partly because I just couldn't stand doing both along with DS5 also doing AAR2 (too many rules and cards for me!). She just read and read in between, so when we picked up AAR3, we flew through the remaining lessons. We also doubled up on our WWE1 lessons and condensed them to two days instead of 4 (my DD preferred it that way, she was always eager to listen to the excerpts). Right now, I know I want to continue AAS2 and WWE2 with her. I thought before to delay grammar til 3rd grade. We haven't done any so far but we have FLL1 and 2 already. Thoughts on that? What else should I focus on for language? For math . . . Though we're not sure what their math instruction will be like in the school, my dh is keen on them continuing with Singapore Math at home. I'd say last year was pretty easy since we started on the later side (I could've started the year before with her). I'm wondering should I make weekdays something more hands on and do things like science, history, etc and save the language for a block on weekends or vice versa?? I don't think they'll do very much hands on in the school. I'm sure we'll have to tweak our days once we get everything going but I'd love some thoughts and feedback on this! Help me think out loud!

First of all my kids hate math but these CUTE Minion themed Math Centers are totally LOVED by them! Plus, this freebie is only FREE until Sunday, August 9th! Check it out here - http://www.educents.com/minion-math-centers.html Here's the description - Add some fun to your math practice with these cute little Minions! Use these hands-on math centers to practice and reinforce key math skills. I hope you enjoy and benefit from this freebie as much as my family and me have :-)

I have been using Christian Light with my son through first grade. He turned 8 in October, and we are just now finishing the Reading One. He struggled with reading, so we have been working through Phonics Pathways for about 6 weeks as well. I believe he is right at second grade fluency level, with some days being better than others. Reading and L/A takes us the majority of our day; it is laborious and the workbooks seem a little too much for him. He doesn't enjoy reading,and this effects his attitude also. I love CLE because I feel like it is so strong academically, and it is open and go. I am having a hard time changing directions, but I feel like for the sanity of my son( and myself) I need to. I have looking at English Lessons Through Literature, and it seems much less intense, but I have never done narration, dictation, or picture study method, and I don't have a clue what to do with the poems other than just read them ( maybe that is all I am suppose to do). I just need advice on which direction to go with building confidence and better fluency on reading without sacrificing grammar and writing. I need a curriculum, because I need a Teacher's manual :) !! I have never taught reading or English and I don't find it easy to wing it. Also, any reviews or advice on ELTL from those who have used it, and what you think about starting at Level 2.

DD is 6 and finishing first grade. She works especially well with iPhone and iPad apps, which are also important b/c she has a vision impairment and these devices are more accessible for her. Am seeking recommendations on more apps, any area but especially fun reading apps. We already have Starfall, Reading Raven (ok), Eggy Phonics 1-2-3 (she liked but the 2 and 3 versions froze partway and she's been unable to finish them.) Any and all suggestions welcome! ::)

Wow! It's been a while since I started a topic around here. I fear this won't be eloquent due to frequent interruptions. :) We have been using (and loving) the Usborne Art Treasury for our more involved art projects. We love seeing the full color original art in the book and reading about the piece and the artist, then doing the project. I have been looking for something to help us continue in this way, but most things I've researched have fell short in some way or another (or are simply out of our price range.. which is microscopic). Does anyone know of a similar book to the Usborne Art Treasury that we could use next year?

To start with, I should acknowledge that I am not currently a homeschooler. I have a 7 year old son who just started second grade in public school (I also have a one year old daughter). He's had a lot of rough spots in school due both to his dyslexia (discovered at the end of kindergarten, and no great surprise given that both dh and my brother are dyslexic so it comes from both sides) and also to the fact that he's an active boy and sitting in school for seven hours a day is rough for most young boys. Anyway, we seriously considered pulling him out and I looked at a lot of curricula in depth and never decided which one would be best for sure. However, dh is really pro public school (both his parents are retired teachers), and, though I had a preference for homeschooling, we ultimately agreed to give public school another try for second grade. We'll reevaluate after the first quarter. All that said, I'm a compulsive planner, and would love to have a plan in place on the chance that we either pull out at some point during second grade or go through second grade but then decide to bring him home for third. After much research, I've narrowed my choices down to three pretty different curricula that I like for different reasons (and also dislike for different reasons, hence the lack of a potential plan :)). I'd love to hear anyone's take on these. 1) Moving Beyond the Page, starting with the 6-8 level (if started this year sometime) The project based learning looks like it's right up DS's alley. He loves to do projects. He also loves books, despite being able to read on only a very basic level, so a lit based program seems like it could be a good fit. I'm a Christian, but I'm very open to secular curricula. I figure I'm teaching my son about Jesus while he's in public school and doing a pretty good job, there's no reason I NEED a curriculum that helps me with this. I both like and dislike their approach to history and social studies. I don't feel like a classical history cycle from first grade on is essential (I know this is a classical board, but there seems to be some diversity of opinion on this :)), but it does kind of bother me that he wouldn't have any real history until 4th grade if I stuck with MBTP (which is when he'd hit the 8-10 package, covering early American history). Also, the 7-9 level is a big jump in reading compared to 6-8. Sure, he MIGHT make that jump this year (he's doing tutoring outside of school with Barton Reading and Spelling, currently about halfway through level three, for those who know it), but then he might not. 2) Oak Meadow, starting with second grade if I started this year. I love that creative, artsy things seem to be mixed in everywhere. I love the nature focus in the science, as DS is an animal freak and loves all things related to the outdoors. I also really appreciate that LA and math are taken at a slower pace and some see them as "behind." I think this could be a good fit for a kid like mine who struggles in these areas. It appears to slowly work its way to being pretty consistent with grade level (maybe not in Math, but you can eventually move ahead in that), and a slow progression could be a good thing for ds. Even though it's only Waldorf inspired and not true Waldorf, anything Waldorfy kind of gives me the creeps. I really think I'd like a lot of the practical aspects of Waldorf, but Steiner's worldview was about as different from mine as you can get, so I'm wary of things inspired by his educational program while at the same time liking a lot of what they have to offer. Just as with MBTP, ds wouldn't hit much history in the early years, though some of the ancient cultures studies look fascinating. 3) MFW, specifically Adventures I love that it hits history without delving into the violent parts of history that I think would be difficult to cover with this age. It seems like it would be a good balance of history exposure while still keeping the innocence of childhood. While I don't feel like integrated Bible study is essential, the Names of Jesus study looks really cool. I love that art and music are part of the schedule. These are ds's favorite special classes at school. I think their suggested LA (Serl's language lessons) could be a good fit for DS, especially since a lot of it can reportedly be done orally. Since it's designed for second or third grade, it could work to either start it partway through this year or the beginning of next year. It seems as if there's a fair amount of adjustment allowable based on a child's writing and reading levels, which doesn't seem to be as true for the other two potential choices. I could see following up Adventures with ECC, but I couldn't see sticking with MFW long term because of the strong young earth stance in their history and science. I lean more toward theistic evolution. I feel like I could probably tweak anything YE in Adventures or ECC, but it would just be too much to tweak starting with CTG. This doesn't mean I CAN'T use MFW for those years, but I'd love to just be able to pick a curriculum and use it for many years, and that would not be the case with MFW, whereas it could be with MBTP or Oak Meadow. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm going through the recommendations in WTM, getting ready for second grade. Are we supposed to do Zaner-Bloser handwriting AND The Complete Writer (or other writing program)? I did ZB K and 1 during KG, but last year for First grade I just did The Complete Writer. I thought that was all that was needed, but now that I'm reading through again it looks like we're supposed to continue the handwriting along with the writing. :confused: Anybody else doing it "by the book" and can get me straightened out here? I gotta order the books!

My son is a great reader as long as he likes the subject. He just finished "The Sword in the Tree" and I could'nt get him to put it down! I need more short chapter books that are heavy on the boy stuff (swords, war, dragons, trains, dinosaurs, etc.).

I have a 7yo who is still struggling to read, so we do phonics daily. We also drill math facts and do copywork daily, and read aloud, of course. What else do you have your 2nd grader do daily, and for how long?

Yay! I am pulling our WWE lesson out of our Bible study book "Learning From the Great Teacher", we do the copywork and the narration both every day. Then we started Abeka Arithmetic 2, which I thought we'd never get to with our math struggles, and she is doing so well! I think boredom was a big problem with the first grade programs. All About Spelling went fine today, adding in a little more from ideas on here. Then she read her Sonlight reader... the whole thing! She really likes the book and we did map work for US Geography everyday b/c it is right there in the Sonlight guide! She is still reading/doing a little bit of Ancient History and Science now and again. I told her we will order her ants when it gets too cold for bugs to be outside. We are done in less than 2 hours. I am thrilled!

OK, I am completely new to this forum--but could use some help. My son is in second grade (public school) and is struggling with writing. I guess at this point I would be considered "afterschooling" him, but I don't feel that I'm getting very far. He has never liked writing, never really even wanted to draw, or do anything with a pencil!--but is very advanced in reading and math--we just struggle with the writing. I realize now, after reading some excerpts from WWE, that my emphasis on him doing additional writing at home has likely just added to his frustrations--he needs to work on all the fundamentals, such as grammar, spelling, capitalization. His penmanship is not good, and complicated by his left-handedness (which means he covers up the writing with his arm as he writes it and loses the visual of the words as he is writing them.) At this point, he is barely writing at grade level (example: Cetos is asome! (for) Cheetos is awesome!) and has to be reminded consistently to capitalize, sound-out and punctuate. His frustration is probably heightened by the fact that he can read books 2 years ahead of his level, but lacks the ability to put his thoughts about them into comprehensible language. My solution has been to do short, single paragraph writing assigments as additional homework--5 sentences or less, on an easy topic (favorite foods, animals, etc.) I also work with him on revision and spelling as part of that assignment. I'm thinking now that he really needs more of the copy work and dictation practice that is repeated in WWE, to give him a better foundation of language and sentence structure, and to take the focus off "brainstorming" topics to write about on top of the writing itself. I'm thinking of trying the WWE workbooks as a supplement to his regular schoolwork. (His teacher has only said that he needs to work on his writing at home, and hasn't had any ideas beyond the journaling thing for him to do.) Any ideas on how to approach this? And given that he is in grade 2, but a struggling writer, should I start with workbook 1 or 2? Any insight would be greately appreciated, Michelle:confused:

OK, I am completely new to this forum--but could use some help. My son is in second grade (public school) and is struggling with writing. I guess at this point I would be considered "afterschooling" him, but I don't feel that I'm getting very far. He has never liked writing, never really even wanted to draw, or do anything with a pencil!--but is very advanced in reading and math--we just struggle with the writing. I realize now, after reading some excerpts from WWE, that my emphasis on him doing additional writing at home has likely just added to his frustrations--he needs to work on all the fundamentals, such as grammar, spelling, capitalization. His penmanship is not good, and complicated by his left-handedness (which means he covers up the writing with his arm as he writes it and loses the visual of the words as he is writing them.) At this point, he is barely writing at grade level (example: Cetos is asome! (for) Cheetos is awesome!) and has to be reminded consistently to capitalize, sound-out and punctuate. His frustration is probably heightened by the fact that he can read books 2 years ahead of his level, but lacks the ability to put his thoughts about them into comprehensible language. My solution has been to do short, single paragraph writing assigments as additional homework--5 sentences or less, on an easy topic (favorite foods, animals, etc.) I also work with him on revision and spelling as part of that assignment. I'm thinking now that he really needs more of the copy work and dictation practice that is repeated in WWE, to give him a better foundation of language and sentence structure, and to take the focus off "brainstorming" topics to write about on top of the writing itself. I'm thinking of trying the WWE workbooks as a supplement to his regular schoolwork. (His teacher has only said that he needs to work on his writing at home, and hasn't had any ideas beyond the journaling thing for him to do.) Any ideas on how to approach this? And given that he is in grade 2, but a struggling writer, should I start with workbook 1 or 2? Any insight would be greately appreciated, Michelle:confused: