READING: I really have no idea right now. I am hoping to stumble across a booth at the NCHE book fair next weekend. I hope it has a bunch of neon lights all around it with a banner that says, "Connie! Over here! It's this one you want!". That would make it so easy. I tried the "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Lessons" about a year ago but James was NOT ready for it. I may try that again this summer to see if he is ready or if he just doesn't like it.
MATH: I have definitely decided to go with the Math U See curriculum. I LOVE their math! I was absolutely SOLD on it when I went to the website and saw a video demonstration of a sample lesson on place values. Go to Math U See Primer and click to watch the second video on the page. James caught me wathcing it and crawled up on my lap to watch it with me. He seemed to like the idea of eleven being called "1-ty 1" instead. ;)
WRITING: Handwriting Without Tears This page from their website shows the teacher's guide and it has some really great videos that show their writing sequences. I think it's ingenious in it's simplicity!
SCIENCE: The Backyard Scientist: Series One by Jane Hoffman. I should have picked up the first one this year but we will do some fun stuff in the Fall! I found this on one of the Charlotte Mason websites.
What I will spend:
- Math U See Primer Set: $85.00
- The Backyard Scientist: $6.00
- Handwriting Without Tears: $21.00
Grand Total (right now without reading curriculum): $112.00
In a recent post, I set my budget at $400 for curricula. So far, I am doing pretty good. This, however, is strictly for curricula and does not include fun books to read, pencils, pens, arts & craft supplies. I WISH I spent more on arts and crafts but James is just not interested in coloring or drawing or big art projects. He is a "Wiggly Willy". He wants to MOVE! And he wants to TALK! Anyway...This also does not include field trips or sports teams that he may want to try next year either. But! I am excited! I am developing a plan and a path for us and all the while remembering that "kindergarten" means "a child's garden".
2 comments:
Your choices so far are tried and true. In that vein, definitely stick with PHONICS for your reading foundation! Read "Why Johnny Can't Read" for an explanation of why phonics is better than the sight method.http://www.amazon.com/Why-Johnny-Cant-Read-about/dp/0060913401
There are many more choices now than when I was teaching my kids to read, but you might look at LLATL Blue Book Common Sense Reading Program for your Wiggly Willy. http://cathyduffyreviews.com/phonics_reading/blue-book-llatl.htm
I also used 100 Easy Lessons with all my kids, and didn't need to go through all 100 lessons to get them started reading. With 2 of them, I did have to put it away and come back later, as reading readiness doesn't always follow a neat timeline. With J, I used the Explode the Code workbooks, and made up a bunch of my own games, like BINGO with pictures to learn sounds, and then with letters, and finally with words... ENJOY THE JOURNEY.
Beth
Thanks for this Beth! I will definitely do some more of my own homework on reading programs based on your recommendations. I do have my handy-dandy "100 Top Picks" book so I will look over that again too. There was one that looked interesting to me called "Happy Phonics"...but the name is so silly! With a name like that I wondered if I could take it seriously. My goal is to narrow down my choices before the conference so that I can BUY curriculum there in the hopes I will get a discount. Thanks again!!!
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