Our papyrus paper-making kit did not work well for us. When finished, the strips just fell apart from each other. Have you successfully made paper with one of these kits? What is the secret? (I think the ancient Egyptians must have used fresher papyrus!) Thank you for your ideas.

Hi MCT Language Arts Users, Does MCT include spelling, do you use a spelling program alongside MCT, or do your children already know how to spell everything?:001_smile: I'm looking for 3rd grade level information. Thanks, CamperMom

If you get the opportunity, go and see the Da Vinci Experience. Please see www.davinciexperience.info/. It is a really well done traveling exhibit. They have a great film about da Vinci, a gallery with reproductions of his artwork, samples of his notebook pages, and they have built many of his inventions with materials he would have had available during his lifetime. We saw it in Nevada a while back. It was recently in San Diego. It is now in El Paso, Texas.

My daughter (8 yrs.) and I read this book together. We took turns reading it to each other. We laughed and laughed as we read it. It's brilliant. I wouldn't read the unabridged version; I'm sure it would lose something. As modern-day Americans I know we aren't getting some of the humor which I'm sorry about. But we do our best and keep our dictionary right next to us! We looked up the history behind much of it too.

I think at this age some table work is fine mixed in with lots of curling up on the couch. You might want to try shorter lessons at the table for now. Try just a couple of minutes of copywork at first unless she chooses to go longer. Build up the amount of time as she becomes more interested. You might also try having her choose her own sentences or words to copy. Or you could prepare copywork from something you read together that she seemed to especially enjoy. Certain sentences will get my kids to laughing because we had so much fun with them during read-aloud time.

We gave our TV away four years ago. I believe it was one of the best decisions we've ever made, for our children and for us! Living without TV becomes as much of a habit as living with TV. We don't miss it. I wish I had grown up this way. Best wishes to those who are trying out life without TV!

Have you used the "Lift the Lid on Mummies" activity? How long did it keep your children's interest? Can it be re-used or is it just a one-time activity? Thanks!

You may want to look at the writings of Susan Stephenson, a Montessori educator. Please see www.MichaelOlaf.net for her catalogs and articles. She offers so much wonderful information. Her son was homeschooled at his request, and I think it went very well. I have enjoyed reading and learning from her catalogs.

Have your children help you pack a few of their "favorite things" from home before you leave. Whatever it is ... a favorite pillow, blanket, toy, book, game, shirt, they'll feel less homesick and will be happy travellers for a longer period of time if they have their favorite things with them.

Thank you, ladies. I get the feeling we'll enjoy them too!

Do your children enjoy looking at the Veritas Press history cards? In other words, would they pick them up and look through them without being asked? I haven't seen these cards in person, but thought they might be a good visual supplement to our history readings.

1. The Well-Trained Mind 2. Home Learning Year by Year, by Rebecca Rupp 3. Michael Olaf Company catalogs, by Susan Stephenson (her catalogs have so much information, they are like books about the Montessori method of teaching)

We found something at the teacher's supply store that I like best. It is "Magic Removable Mounts." They are two-sided sticky small foam squares that seem to hold posters and maps up really well. Yet I've also been able to move things from one wall to another and remove the squares from the posters easily.

Stomp rockets - We use ours quite a bit.

Yes, I don't use the terms "multiplier, multiplicand" themselves when explaining. (Not yet anyway! I agree, it is probably more than they need to know right now.) But when explaining multiplication to the kids, it seems like they understood better when I said for example ... "1 x 2 means that you have 2, 1 time, or 3 x 4 means that you have 4, 3 times." And then I would have them take manipulatives or the abacus and actually show 4 items, 3 times. It seems to make it much more clear for them than it ever was for me when I was trying to learn it years ago. I was just going to explain the same thing using our flashcards which are done vertically and wasn't sure which way to explain the problems. (Then after they understand what multiplication means, I explain that it really doesn't matter which direction you multiply since the answer is the same either way.)

Great, that helps a lot. I couldn't find the answer in any of our math books. It is much easier for me if I (mostly) know what I'm talking about when I am trying to explain something to the kids!

Can someone tell me which is the multiplier and which is the multiplicand in a vertical multiplication problem? For example I know that in this problem: 2 x 3 = 6 , the 2 is the mulitiplier and the 3 is the multiplicand ... but what about problems that are in this format: 2 x 1 ____ Is the top or bottom number the multiplier? Thanks!

After several knot and bow-tying "lessons" with my four-year-old using laces, ropes, Klutz kits, he called me over today to watch him tying knots with his new Wikki Stix. How wonderfully it was working ... the Wikki Stix stayed in place when he moved them around into different positions to tie the knots! They're a little stiff to pull tight, but you can see where you are in the process of tying each type of knot without everything flopping around and getting lost. Just thought I'd pass this along!

I like the Montessori catalogs, www.MichaelOlaf.com and www.forsmallhands.com. They have great supplies and great information.

We also bought a used set of World Book Encyclopedias from the library. I'm so glad we did; we use it almost every day. We probably saved $1,000 by buying a used set and I don't feel that we've missed anything by not having the latest. I really like having the physical books rather than a CD. Sometimes we'll grab one and sit at the table or couch with it to find out more about something that just came up in conversation or in another book. It's quick and accessible; no messing around with the computer while everyone is sitting there waiting.

We use RightStart here and the kids respond pretty well to it. I think they're getting a good understanding of math and they have fun. Yes, manipulatives do lead to play at times, and I let them go ahead and play. I believe that somewhere in that play they are also learning. I keep the "lesson" part short, and the "play" part as long as the kids want to play with the math manipulatives. When I say "play" I don't mean playing catch with them or anything! For math facts, I use flashcards most days for a short time. If I feel that they are tired over math lessons, I read math storybooks to them for a week or so to get the interest and curiosity for math going again. And we play games; many games have some math involved in them. Maybe switching to a different program would help your child or maybe just shorter lessons and adding interesting books and games to your present program might increase the enjoyment. Best wishes.

I recently discovered the "Shakespeare Parallel Text Series: Third Edition." You will find these in a Shakespeare catalog by The Writing Company, www.writingco.com/shakespeare. These books have Shakespeare's original text on the left page and the contemporary English on the facing page. We also listened to the Greathall Productions CD of the play we were reading this year. Of course, we'd like to go see the play in person if I can find locally.

Thanks for the great information. Any other small instruments which would be easy to tune/play on camping trips?

Hi, I'm looking for a small musical instrument to take on camping trips. Recorders look like a good possibility but I don't know anything about them. What are some things to consider? What are the reasons one would choose either the alto or soprano recorder? Thanks for your help!

We have a Monopoly game on the shelf that my 4 year old discovered. He now asks to play Monopoly daily. He's learning addition with the dice, reading dollar amounts and paying the proper amount of money to buy his properties, etc. Also budgeting to save his money for his favorite properties! For skip counting we use the Right Start abacus. Also when we play hide and seek games, I skip count LOUDLY, count backwards, etc. when it's my turn to seek. It's like regular counting; if they hear it enough out loud, they just seem to memorize it.