What do you use for first grade?

[MittensKittens]

Just curious. I am particularly looking for math and history curricula that you found interesting, and that hopefully won't require a second mortgage . And for history, I'd love something that is NOT Euro-centric. Does that exist?

[womenswisdom]

We're using Singapore Math (though not the typical first-grade level, as ds is ahead in that area). Last year, when he was doing more typical first-grade stuff, we used Miquon Math and did a Montessori-type math co-op, which he really "got". So we also have math manipulatives like base ten blocks and place-value cards. He also uses time4learning.com.

For history, we're doing a relaxed approach with Myths, Maps and Marvels (which is free and does not appear overly Euro-centric) along with History Pockets and various history encyclopedias.

[MittensKittens]

Originally Posted by womenswisdom 

We're using Singapore Math (though not the typical first-grade level, as ds is ahead in that area). Last year, when he was doing more typical first-grade stuff, we used Miquon Math and did a Montessori-type math co-op, which he really "got". So we also have math manipulatives like base ten blocks and place-value cards. He also uses time4learning.com.

For history, we're doing a relaxed approach with Myths, Maps and Marvels (which is free and does not appear overly Euro-centric) along with History Pockets and various history encyclopedias.

I've been looking at Singapore. Do you prefer Signapore to Miquon? Do you need the instructor's guide for Singapore, or are just the work books fine?

[PGTlatte]

I tried several different math programs and what ended up working best here was the Spectrum Math workbook from the bookstore, a bunch of plain wooden cubes for manipulatives (ordered in bulk from Casey's Wood Products), and a number line made with tape on the kitchen table.

For history I have really floundered and finally ended up using Story of the World as a read-aloud.  If you want more to go along with it there is an activity guide for it that you can buy, or History Odyssey uses SOTW as a spine and has interesting activites to do.

[sarahtar]

We wrote our own for Math and used History of the World for our World History portion of history, and again wrote our own for the American History portion. (we did paleoamericans thru the beginnings of westward expansion)

[rootzdawta]

We're using Math-U-See.  We're on the Beta level right now and I like the program although I think I have to go back and review some things that DS does not seem to have mastered.  It's not a cheap program but it's not as expensive at others (like RightStart Math which cost me almost $200 and was an epic fail for us).  I am using a math curriculum because I really want to make sure that he gets it . . . elementary math (arithmetic) was/is not my strong suit.  If it's yours, I don't see why you couldn't check your state standards and devise your own curriculum for math.  

For history, like women'swisdom, we're using Myths, Maps and Marvels (the A Little History of the World version).  It's not overly Eurocentric but I still see areas I will need to add content to give a more well rounded, inclusive look at history. So I'm just using it as a spine for all our history study.  

[kgianforti]

We are using Horizons Math and Singapore Primary Math for my aggressive math learner. I also have Key to Measurement and Life Of Fred Apples on the side for when we want a break from the other programs.

For history, I'm stretching out Sonlight Core 3 (it's  Core D now) for about 3.5 years. We started it in the spring and are taking a break from it for the summer and will resume August 29th when we begin 1st grade.