so I’ve been going back and forth between AAR and LOE and have no idea which one to start with. Which would you recommend first for a first time homeschool mom teaching reading?

Hello Love your content. Do you mind sharing the books your read at lunch. Loved them. Thank you

Did you stop The good and the Beautiful LA with your daughter?

We started level four and I had to switch most of language arts out for other things. We both really disliked the stories and I thought the writing workshops were lacking very much!

One thing I don’t like about AAR is that they say some words aren’t decodable and use them as sight words (they call them leap words). But in LOE, it proves how they are. But both have their place for each child. We did LOE for my eldest son and he loved it so much. So much so, that his testimony became an advertisement for them. He cried when he was done. But he was already reading before he started it. He taught himself to read at age 3. So we basically did it to actually teach him the phonograms for spelling purposes since he was never “taught” them. That being said, I felt like there wasn’t as much reading as I had hoped (but maybe that’s because he was already reading and so the reading in there seemed so few, but if someone was just learning it is probably enough). We had to read books on the side. Which was fine because my son always has a book in his nose. For my second son, we are doing AAR. The reason I’m not doing LOE is because of where he’s at. I felt like the lessons in AAR could be broke down more easily to cater to him. Like he knows so much from LOE already as I taught him the alphabet with all the sounds, and he can read a bit. But he had mild hearing loss for the first 15 months of his life and has some speech development that is being worked on. Although I do use LOE blending and segmenting a lot because it is super helpful for him. He is also super active. So I use the really active games from LOE along with the cut out games from AAR because he needs that. But besides the games in LOE, the rest of the lesson would be very “boring” for his personality (whereas my oldest loved everything in LOE). I needed to sort of switch it up with more. So I guess I sort of use the tools and knowledge I know from LOE and mix it with AAR (especially when it comes to the “leap” /site words). Both are great programs in my opinion.

Hole punching! Seems I never can line it up right 😣

Thank you so much for showing this video and how it works in action! One thing I didn't see much of is a "writing/composition" component. Do you use something separate for teaching writing?

Is this appropriate to half time it and stretch this 2 years?

I like how kids learn

I've been a relaxed homeschool mama, but now I HAVE to come up with a schedule of some sort. This last yr was a chaotic mess with my 4th grader and new to school kindergartener (who is difficult on most days). My oldest is now in 5th grade and my middle child is 1st grade and I have a tot which I'm gonna try a little bit of "schooling" with him. I've discovered together lessons and I'm hoping it will help our day in a little way. I like your way of blocking subject. Thank you this is helpful.

Thank you for this! I watched it when choosing LOE, now I’m back again in a similar position with my son after completing LOE B. Thank you so much for your content! You are my go to!

Hi ! I have a question. My son is in 9th grade but does he have to do both language arts and literature for high school or is only 1 required for sonlight because I see that they’re both separate?

Wow, this video has practical tips are super helpful! The overwhelm plan is so relatable and actionable. Grateful for your vulnerability and wisdom. I love the fun too! Gosh just all of it... I can relate so hard.

leap frog teches phonics

I have a 3rd and 1st grader, preschooler and twin 2 year olds this year. I'll get my 3rd grader going and work one on one with my first grader. I'll ping pong between them two. My preschooler plays pretty well during lessons but it's my twins 🥴 I have a sitter coming 3 days a week to play with them so I can focus on lessons. I have so much more peace knowing they are having fun and not getting into things. Once my twins are down for nap, I'll work with my 4 year old for a little bit. My "big kids" are usually done by lunch.

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We loved Pedro’s Journal! So glad you added that in. 😊

“I have a check box to check my kids’ work” - Yes! I usually take a break at 11:30 each day to check my oldest’s independent work before lunch.

Do you have a specific time limit for each block? So let's say your son is doing Science, is it based on what needs to be covered for that day or he works on it for like a specific time limit?

⏰️ must have a schedule! 😂 or at least a strong routine. We follow a plan, even though it's flexible as needed.

Thank you! I’m doing Sonlight HBL D & Science E, Logic of English, and an intensive math program with our 2nd & 4th grade boys, while also doing some preK with our 3 y/o. School usually takes us 5-6 hours, so I was encouraged to hear that it’s about the same for you. ❤ I often hear that homeschooling elementary students should only take 1.5-3 hours/day, but that’s not what works for us.

Maybe call it Bible Bookend. As they end of your day 😊

I so appreciate your updates. I'm so glad that you share how time-consuming teaching phonics is.

How's it going? :Exhales: feel like we have gone backwards.. like, you didn't realize how good/much you were doing until you aren't? Combating doubts and questions, seeking the Lord, as we keep moving forward... 🖱 😜

It's important to stick with things? Not for the sake of just sticking with it. It's equally valid data to recognize when something isn't working or serving you and adjust/pivot. That that tool has served its purpose and can be done now. We have that freedom 👍

With your daughter, great data that highlights a character development need. I see these areas/struggles as where to focus and matching which character quality/life skill it's revealing as needed/lacking/weak and then repeatedly referencing that as it relates to the matter at hand, opportunity to practice diligence for example. It's actually a gift of clarity and direction 😉

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I'd love to hear more about your personal morning routines and daily mom rhythm.

Angie, could you share any chore systems that are working for your kids this year? With his Saxon...he does corrections but do you do any teaching to help him along? My son will end up needing to do just a few problems with me after we check the answers. What sort of input do you have with his Saxon. Thanks!

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That was helpful! I appreciate these videos! I have my routine all planned out as well but it rarely goes perfectly. 🕰️

I also include a section in my planner to remind me to check my children's work. Otherwise, I will often forget that even though the subject is done, I am not completely finished until I have given some feedback on their work.

We don't have much of a schedule at all... which is weird, because I personally love scheduleds! But I let my kids work at the pace and order that they want. So... it can be a mad house. 😅 But mostly it doesn't drive me crazy, so I guess it's good enough! We start after I clean the table after breakfast (kids eat first, then scatter while I eat), then we just go until lunch. 99% of the time we are done with the big things. But we practice piano, do chores, and some light reading in the afternoon.

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My daughter is only in grade one but we've decided this year to do 4 days of school and for her to not do all subjects in one day. Math drills, main math lesson, and phonics/LA is daily. She also reads in the morning before we officially start "school". She is currently reading Little House on the Prairies. I split the chapters into sections so usually 2-3 days to finish a chapter cuz they are long. The rest of the subjects alternates. Before bed is when I allow her to read books she prefers or ones that are more fun. She's been doing a lot of Thea Stilton and The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls lately.

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⏰ I’m a schedule gal through and through! I don’t want to have to think about it in the moment! I love block scheduling too-I find it a lot more relaxing the structure without the stress!

I am normally very schedule oriented, but with school I have to remind myself that it's okay not to have everything all planned out and followed to a T. It's been a new revelation for me this year, and it has helped school be much less stressful. 😅

I have also had to spit up my 6th and 7th graders. They easily distract each other. My 7th grade son wakes up and wants to get all of his independent work done. My 6th grader moves a lot slower in the morning so she sits near me so I can help her stay focused. Once they both are ready for the day we start HBL F. Usually my son will have at least his math done by then.

Reminded of the Dear America/My Name is America book series. Neat to supplement with. I've enjoyed them myself!

Thank you! Do you have any other books you have collected since this video? My two boys are going through level 1 right now and my oldest needs more practice, but looking for something that is more engaging for my kid than "A cat sat on the hat" sort of books.

Prep is fun 📚 ✍️

I am also struggling with G&B level 4 for my daughter - we loved level 3 - she struggles with reading and G&B has always worked well. We are thinking about switching to Sonolight and I was going to have her switch between audiobook and reading herself. We are using IEW the themed version for writing. She really likes it but I also struggle with the editing.

Great selections, thank you!

I have two kiddos actively doing schoolwork every day and it’s going pretty well. We school year round and break as needed but for some reason we’re feeling a little rusty lately. Meanwhile my three year old is surprising me by bringing me a reading program book and wanting to go through it with me so I may have three readers on my hands before the year is through.

Thank you so much!

Waiting for my first appointment to find out which autoimmune disease i have. Schooling really hard at the moment

🐭 We’re about 7 weeks into 4th with my son. We’re using IEW this year and he absolutely loves it. The corrections that I, as the editor, make are pretty minimal at this stage. I think its more about spelling, minor grammar, and rearranging words if needed. It pairs fantastic with the Fix it Grammar program. Where my son learns the grammar concepts alongside his writing with IEW. So I highly suggest using Fix It Grammar.