I wanted to share this site...I was browsing to find Mad Libs online and hit the jackpot :D http://www.wordlibs.com/genre/?name=Childrens There are more selections from the home page, this link goes directly to the childrens page. We have had so much fun playing around with these and it's great for learning parts of speech!! We've done the actual Mad Lib books before, but love the ability to do them online :D

This is what I have my almost 6 year old do as well. We are finishing up 1B and are about to start 2A by the end of the month and it's the main frustration around here ;) He is a pro at math, but hates having to write so much FOR math, so I minimize it where I can, just making sure he knows the answers.

This! I do not 'make' him re-read any of his readers...but he's free to read them whenever he wants to. When he does his read-alouds to me, I always pick about 2-3 new books that he can choose from (either our own books we haven't read yet, or library selections). He is allowed to read at night in bed and has his readers alongside the wall (raingutter shelves) above his bed for as much free-reading as he wants.

I am using the freebie from Confessions of a Homeschooler... http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2011/06/worlds-greatest-artists-unit-study.html the curriculum is based on use with these books... http://www.amazon.com/Picasso-Getting-Worlds-Greatest-Artists/dp/0516422715 which we have LOVED so far!! They are the perfect level for early elementary kids to learn about famous artists. I am excited to see MANY more sets in the same series (composers, inventors, etc) I am keeping track of extra links on my WGA Pinterest board, which you can find here... http://pinterest.com/workofchildhood/worlds-greatest-artists-study-links/

My DS has NEVER liked to color...he would, and he *could* but he wouldn't unless I needed him to. He LOVED to draw and is a great artist! He only just NOW, literally in the past 2 weeks, has started coloring...and it was sparked by a new-found interest in his Color Wonder items...I even purchased him a new one to 'feed' the interest. He's been drawing and coloring everything now. He's very good at coloring when he colors though...if it's something he doesn't want to really do, he will scribble a bit more than usual, but for the most part, he colors in really well. He will be 6 in 3 months!

Target in the office section where the flashcards and other 'school' materials are :)

We haven't tested yet (this will be our first year that I do, even though I don't actually *have* to do so until he's 7) but I plan to use the Woodcock Johnson test.

I've been doing the same thing! I realized there were some things that I did "like" but didn't necessarily want to pin and/or make a board for...but if I want to find them, I can still find them fairly easily. Works like a charm! Have I mentioned how much I *LOVE* Pinterest lately?! :tongue_smilie:

I am so glad you mentioned this! I have those president flashcards from the Target $1 spot that would be perfect! ty

I have noticed that my DS is also NOT a 'school first thing in the morning' kid...he doesn't focus and we end up having more 'issues' trying to get through work. I think he NEEDS his time to just "be" in the morning...playing, watching his show (Inspector Gadget), etc. We don't even begin school until after lunch now and it goes SO much better!! I was making the mistake of going with my own personal theory of "hey buddy, let's just get school over with and you have the whole rest of the day free", but it just didn't compute for him...he understood what I was saying, and begrudgingly went along with it, which was hard b/c he LOVES to learn.

I struggle with it too and my DS is the exact same age...so I definitely think part of it is just an age thing. One thing that helps with cleaning up toys and such is to make it into a game. I will sometimes have him "race against the timer" and see if he can get everything picked up before the timer goes off, etc. Aside from that, it just takes lots of reminders...he gets distracted and starts playing with what he's cleaning up...very normal, but it is very frustrating, LOL!!

I use the 3M strips for just about everything. They have all different kinds for all different needs...hangers, velcro-esque hangers, and MUCH more...they are great!!

This is ours so far...I don't have it on the wall since we are in an apartment (limited space as it is), but on a trifold board...I just pull it out each morning. I still need to add our weather chart and perhaps one or two more things (haven't decided what yet)...but so far, we have: State Spinner - review one state each day, just for exposure (from Dollar Tree) Number of the Day - practice tally marks, determine if even or odd, and then verbally tells me 10 more, 10 less, 100 more, 100 less (using the tabletop pocket chart from Target $1 spot at the moment...may change setup to a laminated printable I found on Pinterest) Arabic Word of the Week - for review, using our Arabic flashcards Continent Review - (placemat) Our Address/Phone Number - using the dry erase strips from Target $1 spot so he can practice writing them each day to reinforce learning Calendar - he's in charge of putting up the date each day, we discuss the day of the week and month, etc Class Scheduler - also from Target $1 spot, plan to use it for days we have events and such, but I might be changing it or removing it...not sure! What Time is It - he is to check the digital clock each day when we start calendar time and then have the analog clock match whatever the current time is The weather chart will go in one of the blank spots on the left or right...

For your early elementary kiddo?? (i.e. calendar, etc) Please share pics if you do!!

We are using that same series for our Artist study, so I am debating on continuing with it for Composers too...LOVE the series!! I was drawn to the two above b/c of the CD (and the fact that it's all in one book...) however, there aren't as many artists as I would like covered (I mean, the don't have Mozart in there at all!) so that's a downside... Thanks for the feedback so far!! Do you use it more for your older child or does your 6 year old like it too??

Has anyone used these books before?? I am torn about which one might be 'better' for an early elementary age child...(or other book entirely) Meet the Great Composers (2 books in series?) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0882848550/ref=rdr_ext_sb_ti_hist_1 or Stories of the Great Composers http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Great-Composers-Book-Learning/dp/0739012797/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c I am specifically looking for a book & CD combo if I can find it, just for the ease of use factor. I know I can browse online and find the music too, and we will, but I like the idea of having the Book & CD going together.

:iagree: In some ways, it would be better... A) I wouldn't be online nearly as much...it's my vice. B) I wouldn't be as 'tempted' by curriculum threads like I am on here (curriculum junkie) C) it would almost 'force' us to dig for the info if we needed to find it, instead of relying on 'oh, we can look that up' convenience. We spend ample time at the library as it is (we are there at least once a week, if not more) so it would result in MORE library time I am sure. As far as curriculum goes, I doubt anything would change there, but I also don't rely on much needing to be printed anymore, which could always change. I really do want to get to a point where I, personally, don't even log onto the computer for several days...as it is, I am here in short intervals all throughout the day...:glare:

We started on July 4th :) I did the yearly 'self-portrait' drawing, the yearly 'first day' pic and such. Last year, I had a 'first day of school' gift that he picked out (a new journal, some new colored pencils, etc) but this year we skipped that. He still got new things, but it wasn't 'saved' for the first day or anything. We've had a great 3 weeks so far!! :D

:lurk5: My nearly 6 year old sounds exactly like your son, level-wise and everything...off to browse these links!

This is what I do as well. I have done it the other way as well, but I prefer the flexibility. I know it sounds like double work, but I actually plan everything out in an actual lesson plan book (I plan in terms of weeks instead of specific dates and then shift as necessary). Once we complete the work each day, I hop on HST and plug in what we completed that day. Once he's a bit older, I may switch to the other method and actually plan out the daily lesson plans and just print them out for him. Entering things in after the fact really doesn't take much time at all. I already have all the resources and things in the system, so I just plop them into the day and then give the grade, etc all at the same time.

Awesome! I just tried to call, but the lines are busy. I wish you could order online (I don't like the idea of giving out my card info over the phone) but I am sure they don't want thousands of people ordering either ;) LOL

:)

Yup! I specifically purchased a curriculum that is DVD based for him to learn Arabic, so I definitely count it as school time.

I saw this on a blog posted on Facebook and thought I would share...I haven't called yet, so I can't personally verify this yet, but what a great deal if it works! http://www.teacherthink.com/2011/free-america-the-story-of-us-book/ Last summer History.com offered a free copy of America the Story of Us DVD for every school. This summer History.com is giving away the companion book [Regularly $29.95, just pay $3.95 shipping]. Like the series, it has some amazing visual representation of history. Let me know if any of you have already called or if you get a chance to do so before I do!!

Awesome! Thank you!