tucker is 4 and doing abeka 1st grade, horizons math k, and reading lots and lots of books. (he finished sonlight pre-k).
he loves the workbook approach w/ abeka, yet he is an avid reader. i'd love the idea of combining the two but of course that would be way too pricey.
he reads on a 2nd-3rd grade level and writes very well, spells incredibly, and loves language 1 and spelling 1.
my question is this: what should i do for next year? (our year will finish up in the spring -- i'm asking now b/c i'd love to ask for curriculum for xmas ;) ) griffin will be coming up on three in the fall and my original thoughs were to hold tucker off to allow griff to catch up a little and do sonlight k with them both. but sonlight has so little workbook type work, and even w/ the core 1 readers he'll be ahead -- and i'm hesitant to allow him to get bored --- yet, i don't want to challenge him too much. if i follow ruth beechik's writing, i feel i should do k and let tucker have a year of just breezing on through, but part of me is fearful that if he isn't challenged, he will get bored (happens easily w/ him -- i'm beginning to question adhd but that's a whole other post:help: )
so, i'm welcoming any and all advice/opinions and thoughts!!!

I'd go with Abeka, if he is like my boy (and I do question ADHD too here...) it's really nice and challenging. Vidura started 1st too for reading/phonics, he turned 3 end of August. He can't write though, but spells fine on computer.

And library, get tons of books. We get 24 books every two weeks (the maximum at our library) and I buy/sell/trade books constantly on homeschooling forums.

We're starting Singapore math 1a in January, very nice and cute workbooks.

Abeka is definitely great for kids who like workbooks.

A way to "hold him back" without him getting bored is to do unit studies, he can go deeper than is brother and you can still keep them "working together" on projects and such, but he can do more reading/comprehension stuff.

It's nice, with you and Heather I'm feeling more "normal", lol.
Ys,
Radhanuga

I would also stick with A Beka if it is working for you and add in extra reading books. If you don't have a library handy, you could also buy readers in big lots off of Ebay.

I'm very very pro-sonlight. I love it. Erik learns so much, but I'm not "pushing" academic skills, if that makes sense. But Sonlight is a great fit for my family, and I plan to use it as long as we homeschool. I've never really looked at Abeka, so I can't reallly compare.

If you did Sonlight, I'd recommend NOT doing advanced readers. Just get the regular package, and either do a different reading program (from a different company), or check out appropriate leveled readers from the library. You're right in that the level 1 readers would be far below what he needs, and it would just be wasted money for you.

We're also doing Singapore math, Erik is in 1B right now (of primary math). That is workbooks, and they are nicely done.

I guess I'm just not much of a workbook teacher, and Erik really isn't all that into them. He's a HUGE auditory learner (also visual, but REALLY auditory), and a literature-based curriculum just works so well for us. We're going to get through SL K in less than a year (and we're so far schooling year round, just taking breaks when he wants them), and I'm very excited to move on to core 1, where it starts getting a bit deeper. YOu really could look at starting with Core 1 if you wanted, just slowing it down to an appropriate pace. And then going back to Core K when Griffin is older, supplementing up for Tucker. There's a lot you can add to the Cores, given a good library ;)

Anyway. Sonlight is a PERFECT fit for our family, and we truly love it.
We look forward to school every day. What kind of Bible program does Abeka do? The Egermeier's Bible is great--longer stories with more details, and Erik really likes it. They also have questions in the back if you like asking comprehension questions.

Oh, and I'm starting to think a little group for us with advanced early learners would be fun... It is so nice to have others who really understand the struggles that go along with the joys!

And Jen, have YOU looked at gifted traits yet? Getting bored easily is not only a factor of ADHD--it's also a trait of giftedness.

Heather, would those of us with mainly math gifted children be welcome in the group? I have 2 that are gifted in math - and sometimes I have trouble just with understanding how to present things just because they think so much differently than most children. :)

Heather Mitchell


Oh, and to the OP - we are loving Sonlight. Right now we are only using the intermediate 2 readers for my second grader - but plan on using Core 3 next year (have it all boxed up under the bed! lol). We have found that the worksheets that are provided in Sonlight (science, LA, etc) are sufficient for some type of seat work. Add in some spelling and a couple of extra helper books (reading comprehension for my oldest, more math for my 2nd grade math lover) and we have enough seat work for us. But... each family is so much different... and each child needs different amounts of seat/independent work.

Add us to the Sonlight group! It's a perfect fit for our family, we're finishing up Core 1 now and will start Core 2 in January.

I also have an accelerated learner. Jacob is 6 and is reading basically on an adult level and is especially advanced in math. He is breezing through Singapore Math 4A right now. I'm finding that I'm skipping the simpler steps in problems and taking him straight to algebraic methods of solving problems. His brother Chase is taking Algebra I for high school credit at age 11 right now, but I see Jacob ready for that much sooner. Having a group of moms who are facing the same challenges would be a Godsend for us - especially the part where the moms understand that an accelerated learner IS a challenge! I had a friend tell me, 'I wish I had YOUR problem.' Now I'm very careful about mentioning what Jacob is doing and that makes me feel lonely. :wah:

Hmmmm.... OK! I have tried out a few groups for accel. learners, but haven't found anything that "fits" us. Maybe it's just that I'm not willing to get to know a huge group of people again, I don't know.

I'm more than willing to start something, see if it meets our needs. Do you all like yahoo groups? Would you rather see about a sub-forum here? I love the support from people who know I"m not sitting down and drilling my kids all day to "make" them smarter.

Hmmmm.... OK! I have tried out a few groups for accel. learners, but haven't found anything that "fits" us. Maybe it's just that I'm not willing to get to know a huge group of people again, I don't know.

I'm more than willing to start something, see if it meets our needs. Do you all like yahoo groups? Would you rather see about a sub-forum here? I love the support from people who know I"m not sitting down and drilling my kids all day to "make" them smarter.

I pm'ed Jo/sagemama yesterday about starting a sub forum for us :D

Having a group of moms who are facing the same challenges would be a Godsend for us - especially the part where the moms understand that an accelerated learner IS a challenge! I had a friend tell me, 'I wish I had YOUR problem.' Now I'm very careful about mentioning what Jacob is doing and that makes me feel lonely. :wah:

I totally know what you mean. They don't get that all their "He's a little adult in a kid's body, you're so lucky" "I wish it was that easy for us" are not helpful, lol.

No, it is NOT easy by any means to have accelerated learners, it's a constant challenge, a constant "What if I fail him? What if I can't meet his needs?" feeling. And of course there's the "bored" and "hyper" stuff that goes with it. I have my hands full with my one boy, I am in awe of mamas like you Lisa :)

I love the support from people who know I"m not sitting down and drilling my kids all day to "make" them smarter.
Amen, sister :thumbsup:
I actually get embarrassed if Tucker reads aloud in public. The inevitable questions begin: "how old is he?" -- "how did you teach him to read?" -- "do you force him to read?" -- "that's not normal" --- blah, blah, blah.....:rolleyes:

Amen, sister :thumbsup:
I actually get embarrassed if Tucker reads aloud in public. The inevitable questions begin: "how old is he?" -- "how did you teach him to read?" -- "do you force him to read?" -- "that's not normal" --- blah, blah, blah.....:rolleyes:

Jen, that's so true!

Any word on a forum? I was thinking about it today.

Oh, and have you decided on curric. yet, Jen?

Any word on a forum? I was thinking about it today.


Got a response from Jolene, she agreed :) she said she was super busy with holidays and all and to keep bugging her until we had our forum, lol. So I'm gonna pm her now ;)

Jen, that's so true!

Any word on a forum? I was thinking about it today.

Oh, and have you decided on curric. yet, Jen?
not yet.......still doing a ton of research.

Jen, I have been thinking about your curriculum connundrum. ;)

This is what *I* think. (take it or leave it - lol)

Sonlight readers for him to read. You know they are good basic kid books, even the ones in the 2nd intermediate books are just plain old good kids books with good stories. I would think with young readers like that, you have to be careful about what the content is.

Then I would also find some workbooks. Because it sounds like he is really enjoying working on his fine motor skills with writing. So find even some inexpensive workbooks that will reinforce what you are trying to teach him for language skills. Or printing off worksheets off the net. Even if you were to just go with Sonlight, you could find worksheets to reinforce the concepts. kwim?

Anyway, I was thinking about you... and I think that is what you should do. (lol, as if I had all the answers... wouldn't that be nice?)

Jen, I have been thinking about your curriculum connundrum. ;)

This is what *I* think. (take it or leave it - lol)

Sonlight readers for him to read. You know they are good basic kid books, even the ones in the 2nd intermediate books are just plain old good kids books with good stories. I would think with young readers like that, you have to be careful about what the content is.

Then I would also find some workbooks. Because it sounds like he is really enjoying working on his fine motor skills with writing. So find even some inexpensive workbooks that will reinforce what you are trying to teach him for language skills. Or printing off worksheets off the net. Even if you were to just go with Sonlight, you could find worksheets to reinforce the concepts. kwim?

Anyway, I was thinking about you... and I think that is what you should do. (lol, as if I had all the answers... wouldn't that be nice?)
you are absolutely sweet to think of me. i just wanted to thank you :heart:
good suggestions. we're leaning towards sticking w/ sonlight. dh is most comfortable w/ it --- though i'm still exploring a few other curricula ;)