I know I've got time, but I like to plan ahead, to make sure the money is there. We will also hopefully be attending a homeschool convention at the end of March, and I would like to have ideas of things to look for. So this is what we are doing for Kindergarten... Sonlight p4/5 with grade 1 readers ETC 1-3 CLE learning to read CLE grade 1 Math (we are going really slow with this for now, so it should last well into next year) So I could just continue on to SL core A and CLE LA, etc. But I would like to research more options first I am also not sure what to use for Science. If I continue with SL, then science will have to be something much cheaper to stay within my budget. Also, for those who are Canadian, at what point do you do Canadian history/geography? I know it can be hard to find good Canadian materials. So just hit me with your favorites so I can go crazy with researching
Actually you're using my favorite: CLE! I like the idea of using the Learning to Read for kindy, then starting Reading 100 along with LA 100 and Math 100 for first grade. I see you've started Math 100 already, which seems entirely workable as well. You may want to stop at some point and do walmart workbooks for a little while (or not! depending on how your child is doing with it) before starting back up again. Christian Liberty has a decent kindy Bible and science, if you want something like that. They used to have a decent history, but they've since changed it and I'm not that crazy about it. Sometimes I like making my own little units for science and history, using read-alouds and coloring book pages or stuff I get off the internet.
I really do like the CLE! Dd isn't too fond of it always, but it is working for us. I only started the math
Oops, typing on my iPod, lol. We only started the math in December, and right now we are only doing two lessons per week. Right now it is quite easy for her, but I know it will get more difficult. I haven't really looked at CLP much, so I will definitely check it out.
Math my favorite is McRuffy I like both ETC and Hooked on Phonics for phonics, since you are doing SL readers and ETC, I would move ahead with that. (We didn't continue with level 2 because we aren't Christian and I didn't want to use the Bible stories book) For Grammar, Vocab, Writing, I like Total Reading workbooks pretty well, about as good as anything else (if not better) than everything else we have tried. If you like SL then I would stick with that for history... I liked it, but once we removed the readalouds my kids didn't like and all the religion it was way over priced for us to keep using. I'm going more of a CM style on my own kinda direction now. Science I am using the Core Knowledge Sequence, adding in videos, living books and hands on fun. We are really really enjoying this!!! I'm also thinking of adding in a CM style nature readers and nature study kind of thing a few days a week.
For 1st grade we did: Sonlight Core B with grade 2 readers (I also got the Handle on the Arts package that corresponds to this and we did a few of those projects) Horizons Math 2 Horizons Phonics 1 Sonlight LA BJU Bible Truths 1 (I just wanted a little more hands on to go along with Sonlight's) Sonlight Science B A Reason For Handwriting Story of the Orchestra Artistic Pursuits We had a good time in 1st grade.
Thank you both! You have given me a few more things to look at I think I will probably stick with Sonlight for history etc unless I find something even more shiny, lol! Right now it is working well for us.
My second son will be in first this fall and he'll be doing: Math mammoth grade 1 all about spelling level 1 scott foresman free grammar printed from online apologia astronomy - all of the kids will be doing this together Road trip USA from confessions of a homeschooler - again all the kids will be doing this together I think that's the bulk of it. He will get handwriting practice in grammar and road trip and science. I don't generally do a separate handwriting program.
My favorite is Heart of Dakota! But I think it is one of those you love or hate! Not much in between. I like ETC and McRuffy Phoinics for phonics. For Math, I really like Horizon. I do have to say though, we just started it this week. But it is the first math we have done that my DS begs to do.
I like Singapore for math. I did mostly informal science and social studies at that age. For Canadian geography I did informal studies as well. The informal studies were mostly reading library books and doing lots of activities together. I didn't cover Canadian history at that age. HTH
Heart of Dakota is another one I will look at. Embassy, would you be able to list some of the Canadian books that you use/used?
honestly I wouldn't have started with astronomy as it's not my favorite science topic but my aunt has the teacher's guide she's giving me so we're going to go with it and I know my kids will love it. I am also going to add explode the code to my first grader's line up.
I used this game. We watched a Youtube playlist http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL062F61470897DEB2&feature=mh_lolz to get a tour of the country. I did get one book, but it was boring so we didn't do much with it. We learned O Canada and made a Canadian flag. We studied other countries the same year. When my kids were in 2nd and 4th grade they watched Canada: A People's History DVD series. It was more suited to my 4th grader though. This year we are doing virtual travel in Canada. So I guess we haven't used too many books.
Thank you! There is so much good US stuff out there that I am kind of nervous when it comes to Canada, because I know there isn't nearly the same amount of stuff. I want my kids to have a good understanding of Canadian history and geography. It doesn't make sense to know more about the US than their own country, lol.
I probably would have done zoology first. But as I said I know that my boys will love astronomy and if we do enjoy it we'll probably continue on with apologia for science.
Public schools cover a lot of Canadian geography and history. If you look at your provincial standards you will probably find a list of accepted textbooks used for different grades. I don't think there is anything for grade 1, but you will find quite a bit as your children get older. Just look for use textbooks on places like Abebooks or Amazon.ca. The new textbooks can be costly. http://www.canadianhomeeducation.com/ may be a good resource too.
