I am using this website to teach Emily and Hannah from preK to 3rd. It is so easy to use. Even a new homeschooling mother can do this program with no problem.
Easy Peasy All in One Homeschool worked better for us than ReadingEggs and another paid program I tried. Neither of those programs were very effective, and we lost months trying them. Easy Peasy is fun for the girls! I wish it had been around with my oldest two because I would have likely used it with all seven.
I believe in teaching phonics for the many advantages it gives students, and I taught phonics with my oldest five children. This program teaches sight words first and then phonics, and I like this approach better. This method lets children start to read from a book much sooner and boosts confidence levels. That translates into fun and interest for the student which makes teaching easier and more fulfilling.
I recommend you read through all of this mom's opening pages, but here are some of the main points. She is also the mother of a large family, so busy moms, she GETS what we need...short, simple, effective, inexpensive.
http://allinonehomeschool.com/
"This site holds preschool (getting ready 1), kindergarten (getting ready 2), and first through eighth. (We have a separate high school site.) Grade levels include all of the English, math, computer and logic. The other subjects are combined into “program years” so that all of your children can study the same topic at the same time. Year 1’s theme is ancient history and biology. Year 2 has early American history and zoology for the theme. Year 3 is earth science and geography and cultures as the theme. Year 4’s theme is modern history, physics and chemistry.
Your child just goes to Day 1 on his or her level (found in the sidebar) and starts clicking through the assignments! That’s all!
And yes, it’s all free. You’ll need paper, pencil, etc. and some minor supplies if you choose to do the experiments and art projects, but all of the reading materials, etc. are all free and online."
"Your children will need access to a computer and the internet and to you! The children are often instructed to tell a parent or older sibling about what they just read. Be available or assign an older child to be available. Occasionally they may come to you and say they earned a high five or a hug. Please oblige! About once a week the kids also get a little something extra, just for fun, tucked into their school day.
This school is intended to be college preparatory. They will read challenging books and will always be reading something. Most of the books are chosen from the Robinson and Ambleside curricula. You can read the book lists and specific course descriptions on the individual course pages.
I have sought to make this curriculum comprehensive, but not intensive. The lessons are short, intended to keep the school day short. At one point I had three children doing school on one computer and they were able to take turns and finish before dinner without a problem. Also, children in the same age bracket (first through fourth -L- and fifth through eighth -M-) can work at the same time on half of their school day. My children spend their extra time reading, writing, exploring, experimenting, programming, drawing, creating, working, doing chores, helping others, and PLAYING!
This is a Christian curriculum. Not everything is overtly Christian, but I do point to the Bible from time to time in literature, science, history, etc. and seek to promote a biblical worldview. I also believe in a literal six day creation. I do choose to use materials that talk about millions of years because it is what’s available, and it’s useful for our children to know what’s taught out there so they can be intelligent in a response to it. I do address it to varying degrees when it comes up.
The school year lasts 180 days because that is my state’s requirement. Beyond that I believe children should continue schooling the rest of the year with reading, experimenting, exploring their interests and passions and the world."
