what did you use for teaching K and 1st Grade?

[aneela]

I'm looking into buying material/curriculum for K for my son ...and would like to get some opinions about what you used and how you liked it? How much it cost etc.

Thanks for ANY help at all :-)

[stampingdimples]

I used hands on Heart Of Dakota Christian program and LOVED it.  On Ebay around $25-$32 for the main book you can check out their website to see a sample page.  VERy easy to use and you have most items in your home.  If you are looking for a Christian program you would reccommend the singing Bible to go with it for around $13 on ebay you would have to look at the website to see what else to use with it.  We like handwritting without tears and math u see also.  We also like Abeka World God Made.

 

[JimmieMom]

Way back then, I used Sonlight. It's quite expensive -- several hundred dollars for the complete set, but you can save by using the library or buying used.

[splendiferously]

This is what I use for my 5YO--some of it is on level, some above level. I'm a curriculum junkie, so I pick and choose on a daily basis without having any intent whatsoever of completing any specific piece, although we usually do complete most things since we learn year 'round. I'm not sure about the costs.

http://www.splendiferouslyimperfect.com/2012/01/kindergarten-curricula-2012.html

Since posting this, we've stopped using Wordly Wise level 1 (too busy and below my daughter's needs), Horizons math (love it, but decided to stick with Singapore and other supplements), and A Reason for Spelling (loved Spelling Power and don't need a different system).

I'd also like to add that besides all this paper curricula, we do countless art / science / kitchen activities throughout the week. Nature walks, painting, science photography, backyard observations, baking bread together...these are the things I think are most valuable in our every day lives. The list of curricula is just the stuff that makes me feel like, "Yay, my daughter knows *facts*". I'd give it all up and actually do drop it some days just to make sure we get enough living into our daily lives.

I love these threads because it is so much fun to see what other resources are available!

Have fun with it!

[aneela]

thank you ladies!

[KickButtMama]

In k and 1st I did a little of www.time4learning.com as well as Lapbooking.

[SilentDraconia]

I'm using time4learning. And adding activities worksheets walks field trips ext. we also follow along with interest.

[stampingdimples]

What do you think of time4learning for 3-4 grade level?  Would you just use this program or do your own curriculum along with this?  I really do like it looking at the trial ones.  Also can you just used this and pay for it like 3 months a year and just pay for that month then not use it for a while then again in a few months and just pay the months YOU want to use it?  Thanks

 

[gratefulgal]

I use Alpha Omega's Horizons program for K in Kindergarten, adding in their Health and P.E (can't say we use the PE book alot because we haven't needed it to get ideas yet, but looking through it--- it's pretty awesome, even better if you can get it used. :) Anyway, we have the usborne Childrens' Encyclopedia (which is what Sonlight uses, also I got used) and we have a ton of workbooks that I picked up for like a dollar here and there, but I almost never use them. I have puzzles, playdoh, washable markers, a ZILLION different crayons, high speed internet good for videos, youtube, google and nationalgeographic.com, etc. I Picked up hooked on handwriting for under 20$ at a new/used bookstore and it was new. For around that price I highly recommend it. We have board games, shape sorting wooden clock; we go on nature walks, we draw words in a cake pan filled with dry rice, we read tons of book from the library and that same bookstore (truly one of our best assets, we pick up books for 50 cents and $1) . Call crayola and tell them that you love one of their products and that you homeschool and you will get a packet full of samples and coupons. We do collages for cutting and pasting practice and we sew! Even K level kids can sew with large needles, yarn and shapes cut out of sheets of canvas (the one with squares). I have the book teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons, but don't really use it much-- not enough time.

We wing it for History, science and Geography. Do invest in a laminated world and us map! Also flashcards and we hang different bulletin board things on the wall. We Pick up SO MUCH at the Dollar Tree- go there often and go nuts!
We homeschool on about $300 a year, but we also buy (too many) books that push that total higher. Our 2 year old won't cost much of anything because almost everything is re-usable.

Also we have pattern blocks, a base ten set, and a nice globe.

[gratefulgal]

And a million other things that I have picked up....:) lol.