We have used Portland State University’s Italic Handwriting program for our seven children ages 12-25 and really enjoyed it.

Thanks, Christine!  I’ve heard so little about italic handwriting that I’m a little reluctant to buy BFH without hearing a little more, so thanks for your note.  Probably too late for this, but I have a dumb question. Does italic handwriting look (significantly) different than regular cursive or about the same?

PSU’s italic cursive looks much like BFU’s.  It is just the manuscript joined together with slightly fancier caps-very legible, quick to write, and easy to learn.  You can purchase it through Rainbow Resource Center and many other suppliers.You need to coach kids a bit in reading other people’s cursive.

I was chatting with my friend who homeschools and she mentioned that she thinks First Grade is more of a half day grade, just like Kindergarten.  If son is learning, why worry about the fact that he’s getting his work done in half the time of his public school peers?  If he needs a little bit more practice in some areas, you can always add things like flashcards or more reading.  You could also google for book lists for First Graders and add more read aloud time.

2-3 hours is PLENTY for a homeschooled 1st grader. Really.
A ‘full’, meaning 6 hour+at schoolwork, day shouldn’t start for a homeschooler until middle school, any earlier and you are setting you and your child up for some serious burn out.

I used First Language Lessons and liked it. First grade for my boys was two hours at most, including a time for me to read aloud.

I just wanted to mention that it is interesting that in the Ilg and Ames series of books about child development, they often mention their belief that boys should attend a half day first grade program. Well, back when these books were written I guess that was an option in some places but now it is not. Not only is first grade always full-day but I am hearing that half-day kindergarten is being phased out in many areas. Another good book I would recommend concerning child development and education is Raymond Moore’s “Better Late Than Early”.

It sounds to me like you are doing what is best for your son. I wish you both a great year of education.

I can’t answer your question about the curriculum you are currently using, but I will say that we use Seton and my 2nd grader can get school done in about 2.5 hours.

I use CHC and it’s rare for my first grade student’s lesson time be more then two hours.  It’s grade four before it’s normal for lessons to require more then three hours (dilly-dallying or perfectionism aside)

Thanks ladies!  Feeling a bit more confident.

Mine likes to dra;, do “copywork” which is sheets of letters for her to practice writing by tracing and then she can try writing them herself; play Fisher-Price little people (we have the old style which keep her occupied *much*longer than the new ones do) esp. if she gets to give them a bubble bath in the sink; and play outside - our yard is fully fenced, so I can just send her out to play on her own if I need to get something done inside.  She also loves to scrub sinks that I sprinkle with baking soda.  I give her a sponge and squirt bottle of vinegar and she goes to town.    Watercolor paints are good too.  Not terribly original ideas here, but they are things that do keep her occupied on her own for awhile.  And, for desperation or rewards for napping, Signing Time videos from the library.

oops, I mean “draw”

Sorry. My comment is below on the main thread

I let my son play with dry oatmeal.  I put it in a big mixing bowl, and he can stir it, pour it from one bowl to another, spread it around on a cookie sheet, etc.  It easily sweeps up off the floor, or you can use a vacuum. I also use dried beans in the same manner.  You can also get 2-3 types of beans, and use it as a sorting game.  Just have her put the black beans in one bowl, and the white beans in another bowl.  If you have a muffin tin, that is also fun to use with oatmeal or beans.

Other fun ideas:
Play-doh - we only get this out on days when we can’t go outside, so it is a special treat.
Tearing pictures out of old magazines, and gluing them to paper (with a glue stick)
Sometimes I will hand him a plastic baggie and tell him to go find a “treasure” to put in the baggie and bring back to me.  It is amazing what he finds around the house.

A great book I found at the library was Baby Days: Activities, ideas, and games for enjoying daily life with a child under 3, by Barbara Rowley.  The ideas were helpful for kids up to age 5 in my opinion.

We’re not sending ours to preschool either, but I have a lot of activities to keep him busy!  He’s doing Atrium one day a week (if you have it in your area, it is fantastic!), a homeschool co-op one day a week (these are great because they aren’t as big a commitment as real preschool, not expensive either).  Also, our community center has an open gym morning, which I am going to do every week on the same day, so as just to maintain a schedule.  Also, the local YMCA has a mom-tot program one afternoon a week. 

We just couldn’t afford preschool, (and to be honest, I would miss my son desparately if he went to school!) but I want my kids to still have the social aspect, and also the idea of having things to do to keep them busy.  You should check out community centers, YMCAs, co-ops, the local park system, your church - see what options are out there to do smaller weekly activities.  (Another bonus is I can be there and present through all those activities).

Also, there is a book called “Little Saints” which is a good Catholic preschool homeschool curriculum.  I think it takes about an hour or two a week - you could do that at home with your daughter to keep her mind active!

I really liked HOoked on Phonics.  I use it for my pre-schoolers in preparing them for K.

We use Phonics Pathways by Delores Hiske.  My kids do great with it, and learn to read quickly.  A lot of libraries have it so you may be able to check it out before you buy it, but it is not expensive.  Another one some friends like is Learn to Read in 100 easy lessons.

I have used HOP twice and just tried to use it a third time and the more I use it the less I like it.  Some of the word patterns are awkward when paired with the letter sounds, or maybe it’s our “accent” I don’t know.  For example they teach “a” as in apple.  Then for a pattern they teach -an words.  Now for us the “a” sounds less like an “a” in apple and more like and a/e sort of sound when in words like “can” and “fan”.  Does that make sense? 

Right now I’m 1/2 way through using Pathway Readers (different I think from what the poster above uses) and I LOVE them.  It begins very basic with “Before We Read” and “Learning Through Sounds” and mixes in whole language with the reader “First Steps”.  The program is inexpensive but effective.  It’s also Amish so the stories and examples are very sweet and I have yet to find anything that contradicts our Catholic faith.  (We also use Pathway for grammar for our older children.)  You can buy them through Rainbow Resource.  It can be a bit confusing so if you have any questions feel free to email me.

I love the Little Angel Readers! There are 4 levels. You can start your child out on the first book. It is a beginner reader and phonics book that go together and are pure Catholic. I am going to start my just-turned-5-year-old on book one next week. My 6 yr old learned to read with this curriculum last year and really enjoyed it!

I’ve used “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons” with great success.

I’m sold on Reading Made Easy by Valerie Bendt.  I’ve taught 4 kids to read using this book.  The new workbooks are a great addition too!~

what I did was switch to Seton.  While many people find Seton stressful, for me it was less stressful because I didn’t always have that constant worry that I wasn’t doing enough.If the cost of full enrollment is too much, they sometimes have specials for 3 courses.  I find that Seton really keeps me accountable, and I am never awake at night worrying about how behind my kids are.  They also have a special services department if you need that.

It’s ok momma, breathe!  If they are behind then you know where you need to focus this year.  They are not “behind”.  Hundreds of unschooled kids graduate every year with no formal grammar instruction and they survive just fine so your kids will be fine too.  The good news is your problem area is easily caught up.  Like I mentioned above I used Pathway Grammar (Climbing to Good English) for my 4th and 5th grader for basic grammar and we are going to be using Writing With Structure and Style from IEW for actual writing instruction.  If you have the means and have to pick only one begin with Writing for Structure and Style.  It is broken into manageable chunks and the benefits are broader than a simple grammar/spelling program.  It can also be used in conjunction with whatever curriculum or materials you are already using.

The truth is the majority of schooled children are graduating with below grade level skills in writing, I know I’ve read their resumes and cover letters coming out of college!, so don’t believe for a second you are “ruining them”.  You are raising whole people not just scholars.  Be proud of what you’ve done well and resolve to fix the weak spots and have a great year at home!

I’ll second the recommendation for Seton. This is our 7th year homeschooling and to be honest, I have a very relaxed personality. It’s hard for me to get motivated. I also get overwhelmed with planning, etc. with 7 children running around. I too always felt my children were getting a less than desirable education. I knew it was true when my 2nd grader could barely read at the end of 2nd grade. I had to hire a tutor to help me get her up to speed. I was so ashamed and embarrassed.
So, last year at the recommendation of a friend, I tried Seton’s curriculum without enrolling.  I told the children that we were preparing for when we did enroll with Seton and we all had to be held accountable. It was amazing! My children who were usually whiny and argumentative suddenly became students who had to get their work done because they would be held accountable to an outside source the next year. They also learned to do a majority of the work on their own. The big kids did anyway. I still have to spend a majority or my time with the little kids obviously.
This year, I held up to my threat (or promise) and we took the beg step and enrolled with Seton. It has taken such a load off my back. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to do everything they have in their lesson plans…it is totally workable for any family situation. My oldest does more because he’s advanced but the others do most or what they can. What Seton does for ME is incredible. They take all the hard work out for me, no planning, trying to figure out how it’ll all come together. I always felt like I was reinventing the wheel each school year. My kids are now officially held accountable to another source and not just mom (and dad). This alone is wonderful because they can’t argue with me! My child who could barely read at the end of second grade now LOVES to read and entered fourth grade looking forward to all the books she will get to read.
I’ll pray for you. If God has called you to this vocation, He will indeed give you the graces you need to accomplish it. Pray and spend time in Eucharistic Adoration if you can. He will give you the answers you are looking for. God bless you!

Ladies, Wow!  I cannot tell you how much this bouyed me up this afternoon!

I will breathe, and look into the ideas you wrote…thanks for being so honest and helpful, and even though I am ashamed and embarrassed right now, this is a call to try something different, but also, I will “never give up, never surrender!”

God bless everyone this school year!

That was supposed to be a reply to the preschool question

For teaching reading through phonics to 5 year olds… The reply appeared in the main section instead of where I thought it would.