I feel like I'm in a very similar place. My son will be 8 and in 3rd grade in the fall. We haven't been consistent on writing instruction and I feel the need to include some this year. We've done a few books of the Building Writers from Handwriting without Tears, but we are getting bored with those, and it doesn't give a lot of instruction of HOW to write so he's basically writing the same way every single time. We have grammar/language arts for this coming year (Grammar Galaxy) but I feel like we need a little more writing. I was thinking about Night Zookeeper, but being on the computer I'm not sure how it would work since he doesn't know how to type yet. I was looking at Structure and Style, and it looks good, but I feel like it's a bit much for 3rd grade. I really just want something simple that teaches how to write a good sentence and then goes into writing a few sentences or a paragraph. Getting him to write anything is kind of a struggle. I know I need to do more oral narration and dictation, but, like you, I need something that tells me what to do next...not just come up with it on my own. I don't expect him to write a paper; I just want him comfortable with writing and be able to get his thoughts across. When he talks he will take forever to say something and that kinda translates in his writing, but then he doesn't want to write that much, haha! I'm going to look into the Fairy Tales you showed. I know you mentioned doing it with your 3rd grader and then decided to use it for your 5th grade...did you also use it for your 3rd grader or what did/do you use? (Sorry this was long lol)

Have you compared phonetic zoo vs AAS?

When it comes to putting down the curriculum on a paper for keepsake’s, and to know what we are teaching what would I write for the curriculum’s that I am making on my own like hand writing worksheets I can make on my own and the math how would I put it

So when writing the curriculums down for our keepsakes when it comes to math do we put every day math or do we just put a curriculum book

Love this!

I really needed this, i was close to buying expensive curriculum and the lab kit but just reading the sample textbooks i knew this wasn't going to hold my attention or interest much less my son's. Thank you putting this out, it makes so much more sense for my boys.

There's only one time a year we can have a night game.

Thank you so much

We do the same with SOTW, but I'll have my middle schoolers do the test pages for review each week and i have them do extra reading in the Usborne World History book along with maybe map work or a project.

How do we get the digital instructor guide

Very helpful.

I would encourage you to research Sally Lloyd Jones’ book “Goldfish on Vacation” and her stance on inclusion and representation of same sex couples in pictures books.

My absolute favorite read aloud is "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane". It is SUCH a great book!

What math curriculum do you use? That computer math program looked fun!

Are the imitation books in order by levels? Im also freaking out about my son not writing enough. I may try the phonetic zoo from IEW for spelling. Thank you for the video

Thank you very much for sharing all your valuable experience! Truly helpful and greatly appreciated. May you, your family and all your subscribers be abundantly blessed!

Thank you for this video ❤ Just finished doing preschool with my youngest one. I’ve been homeschooling for 17 years but the last time I did preschool and kindergarten was 5 years ago so I am so happy to have found you. I have done preschool 4 times already with my four older ones. I did ”loose/gentle” preschool/kindergarten with her and even though we both enjoyed it I often felt like I should have been doing more academically. Thank you for your video. We were part of a nature studies co-op in which we went out and explore our state park and hike once a week with little friends. It was such a favorite part of my 5th grader and my preschooler. I am ready to tackle kindergarten after your video!!!! Best wishes!!!❤

thankyou so much i just download it now too nice love you

This has been super helpful! I have been struggling on how and what to do with my 1st grader and how to incorporate and make changes for my 3rd grader for next year. I live in NYS so I have strict requirements and didn't know how to do it and yet keep it simple at young ages. I am also glad to hear your free advice on a struggling writer when it comes to the brain and paper coordination. I just thought my second grader wasn't getting it. He's super smart and can do it but when I apply too much on him, I feel like he's in overload and it gets ugly and he hates writing to begin with (at least for school and still makes letters incorrectly and won't use the line as a guide, uses upper and lower case letters or anything else for that matter). Thank you for pointing all this out because I was just beating myself up when clearly this is or can be normal at this age 🤔.

For 7th grade, using structure and style for the very first time for us, which level should I start with? I am thinking of doing the teaching s and s course, but want the s & s program with streaming so it can be as independent as possible. But I have no idea which one to start with for 7th.

I barely have time for any social media. I eliminated TikTok and Instagram. They don't cater to people who love the subjects that I love. Hope you double-down on projects that serves your goals best.

I needed this video today ❤

I have a visual timer on my phone that I use for my kiddos. It’s very useful when we’re out and about.

Great video!! Thank you!! We are going to start using BJU distance learning this coming year for science and history. How long are the videos on average?

🎉🎉🎉 THIS is exactly the video I’ve needed!! Oh thank you! May God bless you 🙏🏻❤️

Im not a homeschool mom.. officially anyways, I homeschool my boys who arent school aged yet. But I too deleted Instagram & TikTok officially. The first try was a fail. I redownloaded IG. Then I deleted it again. Then was back on it.. and it was like that for like 3 months. Then one day.. I realized how much more time i was spending with my family & I deleted again. Then i needed a recipe so i downloaded tiktok & it was a cycle. Till April I said absolutely no more. And havent since. I am done. I feel so much happier without it. I was such a consumer. And i was done. My screen time now tells me I am lower & lower on my percentage every day. I am trying so hard not to use youtube on my phone either.. and not on my tv either. Im trying to use my computer if I want to watch youtube.

How appropriate are these books? Our daughter just turned 10 and just got into reading wich we are thrilled by, but we want to make sure what she reads is appropriate. We are very strict about the media she can watch/ read and dont want her watching or reading anything innapropriate, anything with violence, sex, swearing, drugs or dark themes is not allowed and the good guys have to win in the end. These books sound fun and I think she would like them but we want to make sure they're appropriate for her before we let her read them.

This is exactly what I needed thank you! I feel such pressure to do everything every day! Also, I saw you do independent reading. What is in the “journal” part you do with that?

How do I find something like this in central Cali?

I’d love to rid of all social media besides KZfaq lol. The homeschool families and groups we do weekly stuff with are all on FB though and that’s where all the learning and invites get posted 😅. I do try to have a 15 minute daily limit, it can be too easy to bypass it at times. I find such a peace when I take long breaks off of it.

We have such a similar experience I almost cried just to have another Mama who gets it! My struggle is how to get all of these parts done in a week without having our school days drag out (plus my child fatigues). Do you have any videos that talk about your schedule to get all of the things done in a week? My kiddo is going into 4th. Thank you for such a genuine and helpful video!

As far as maps go- just purpose to try to manage without until you absolutely need it.

I’ve been off my personal social media for about 9 months now. Best decision ever! I don’t miss it. I should have done it years ago.

Thank you for video 1 & 2. You encouraged me to leave FB. It's been about 10 days and so far so good. I'm still on Instagram but cut my tech time tremendously.

I love how you are breaking all this down step-by-step! Thank you for sharing alll this with us. So many great insights🎉

Made2homeschool,YES🎉💖 @made2homeschool truly provides the space for meaningful, intentional community AND brings such value with all the resources and LIVE meetups 🥰

Thank you for this! 1st time homeschooling family here!

Thank you for sharing your experience!

Phonetic Zoo has a "budget option for $29 but it doesn't come with the CDs.

AAS recommends not starting writing until after level 3. CM says age 10. We found this perfect for my oldest who did ZERO writing until 5th grade and them started IEW. Narration, cooywork, AAS to 3. I also pace style and structure every 2 weeks. With my youngest I have abandoned AAS so not sure what my spelling marker is going to be!

Great video! You showed so many things I’ve never heard of before, which is perfect because I don’t love the things I’ve heard of. 😅 Also, now that it’s a year later, I’m curious to know if you enjoyed these choices? Thank you!

You are my twin. I am also Ashley, I also like Charlotte mason and biblical texts. Lol

I loved diagramming and hated writing as a kid. 😂

Can you do a 12/14?

Yeah I love this video !!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together. Very well explained.

I am not homeschooling yet... since our wedding is in four months :) but I love your videos. I found out when I was a teacher that I was unable to plan precisely, then follow exactly what I had planned. I think, with my future children for preschool, I'll have time blocks for school every day and a yearly check-list of milestones to reach. I'll let my children choose every day among several activities that I choose so that we can reach all the milestones. Then I'll write down every day what each child has done and voilà.

Have you used the Precious People? We are searching for next years history (thinking about starting at ancient times)and have used playful pioneers. And just can’t decide about next year, 1st and 4th graders.

Where can I find that planner?