Does anything like this already exist? I know there's a Hogwarts Correspondence School thing on Yahoo Groups, and I haven't searched the MASSIVE amount of threads on the million groups they have :lol: (exaggerated, I know...but seriously, there's a TON of stuff on those boards!) I'd also be interested in other 'favorite novel' writing prompts! Harry Potter is a favorite right now, so I just have it in mind for now, but I am sure there are other great ones too!! A quick Google gave me these... http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/article_225.shtml (Hogwart's Express) http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/article_223.shtml (Gringott's) http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/article_224.shtml (Diagon Alley) http://www.classbrain.com/artteensb/publish/article_156.shtml (Hogwart's) http://www.classbrain.com/artteensb/publish/article_155.shtml (Family/Friends) http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/article_222.shtml (Life with the Dursley's) http://www.classbrain.com/artteensb/publish/article_153.shtml (Difficult Relationships) http://www.classbrain.com/artteensb/publish/article_154.shtml (HP General ??'s) (I put a Google Doc together with these I listed above, but would love more!)

Does anything like this already exist? I know there's a Hogwarts Correspondence School thing on Yahoo Groups, and I haven't searched the MASSIVE amount of threads on the million groups they have :lol: (exaggerated, I know...but seriously, there's a TON of stuff on those boards!) I'd also be interested in other 'favorite novel' writing prompts! Harry Potter is a favorite right now, so I just have it in mind for now, but I am sure there are other great ones too!! ETA: A quick Google gave me these... http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/article_225.shtml (Hogwart's Express) http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/article_223.shtml (Gringott's) http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/article_224.shtml (Diagon Alley) http://www.classbrain.com/artteensb/publish/article_156.shtml (Hogwart's) http://www.classbrain.com/artteensb/publish/article_155.shtml (Family/Friends) http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/publish/article_222.shtml (Life with the Dursley's) http://www.classbrain.com/artteensb/publish/article_153.shtml (Difficult Relationships) http://www.classbrain.com/artteensb/publish/article_154.shtml (HP General ??'s)

:confused: That is quite unfortunate! I agree with the PP, I would be writing the teacher or talking to her in person about it then. Surely they have SOME sort of plans for differentiation?! If there aren't any other children in the class who are beyond the sight words level, then perhaps they could move him up during that period? I have heard of students doing that in some classes. I know most AG stuff doesn't start until 3rd grade (when they could test him and be pulled out of that class for an AG or more advanced class), but maybe there are exceptions in place?! Surely he's not the first child to be ahead of the pack.

The first weeks usually are an evaluation period. The range of levels for most students is HUGE in K and 1st. Some kids come into K or 1 reading Harry Potter and there are other kids that are JUST learning their alphabet. The teacher has 20+ kids in the class and has to get to know them! Personalities, abilities, NAMES, and so much more! I wouldn't expect much differentiation in the first few weeks...once she gets time with each of the students, she will likely break them into reading groups with kids in similar levels, etc.

Oh I love it! I love Beast already (we are in 3B at the moment) and this just makes me love them even MORE! My little perfectionist will love it too!

I thought the same thing, so don't feel mean! Or at least know you aren't the only one :lol: In all seriousness, we really don't do anything special! We are usually BOTH quite excited about the new book and that ends up being a reward in itself ;) Or, if it's close to the end of the year, we celebrate the fact that we are DONE with a book and won't start a new one in it's place til the new year :tongue_smilie:

http://pinterest.com/workofchildhood/

NP! I was really excited when I was browsing through our 4-H catalog trying to decide what to teach this coming semester! I am not an engineer, but really love STEM activities! :D I also saw this in the catalog and will maybe be getting it as well...I don't know any additional details about it other than what's on the website though... http://www.4-hmall.org/Product/educationalresources/4h-national-youth-science-experiment-kit/NYSD4.aspx

In level 1, they will design and create a marshmallow catapult. There is a module to test balance (torque/force) with the catapult. Then, there is a module to create a robotic arm - they first learn about the different types of robotic arm designs (jointed, polar coordinate, cylindrical coordinate, and Cartesian coordinate). They will then move on to designing and creating a pneumatic power source for the robotic arm they design (with balloons, tubing, etc). The last modules in level 1 have them designing and creating a 'grip' for the robot arm. Based on what I am able to see of lvl 2 and 3 in the Junior Notebook, in level 2, they move on to learning about friction and will design and build their own friction-minimizing robot. They will also explore electrical power and circuits to understand how some robots are powered. There's another series of modules on mechanical aspects of robots, where they learn about gears, axles, etc and design their own slow-moving rover. They will also cover buoyancy and create an underwater robot or ROV. In level 3, they learn how to build circuits, and write an effective program. By the end of module 1, they will create their own double pole throw switch. Module 2 has them working on accuracy and they will build a car that can sense a wall and change direction to avoid crashing. In module 3, they learn about the inner workings of a circuit and even learn binary. By the end of module 3, they will begin building circuits on a prototyping board. Finally, in this level they will get into actual programming. It's Junk Drawer Robotics, so they are designing things with every day items, that you would literally find in your junk drawer. I don't have the details of the programming aspect since it's in level 3 and the student notebook doesn't have any pages dedicated to that last part of the program. I am JUST starting the program with our 4-H group next month. We have quite a while til we get to that point :tongue_smilie: Programming seems to be the very last thing they get to...it builds up to that point, but again, I don't know what the full details are since I don't have those books in hand yet! HTH!

The notebook is great b/c it has all the lab papers and such in it, and it covers all 3 levels in one book. I don't think you necessarily "need" it b/c you could always just use graph paper or notebook paper for sketches and stuff, but I think it's worth it to have. For the levels, I can't really give feedback on which would work better. I think there's something to get out of each of the levels, so I'd be apt to start from the beginning no matter what age, or would at least review some of the stuff in the notebook from lvl 1 before starting lvl 2. Level 1 really gets them to think more like an engineer and by the end of the level they are building robotic arms/levers like a trebuchet and such. I am not sure what is on the DVD's yet b/c I haven't purchased them just yet! They are going into my cart next week so I can get them before our classes start later in Sept :D I only have the lvl 1 book and the Junior Notebook at the moment!

I only have the first part of the Junk Drawer Robotics, Level 1: Give Robots a Hand and I have the Youth Journal. I will be ordering the first DVD before our sessions start in September and won't order the future books (lvl 2 and 3) until later in the year once our group has moved past the first level (and show that they have interest in continuing with it)

I am actually teaching a Robotics class with our 4-H group and I know the curriculum is available for anyone to purchase. I will be using the Junk Drawer Robotics curric... http://www.4-hmall.org/Category/robotics.aspx

You might need to email them...if you made your purchase after midnight, it might have been in the process of 'ending' automatically so the links might have shut down automatically. If the payment went through, they will get it fixed for you I am sure!

only an hour left til it's gone for good!

Awesome! Thank you!

I did the same thing over and over again b/c the LOTW and the K4 curriculum's are no good to me now. They are a huge draw for many who want this bundle. I already owned Expedition Earth, but not Road Trip USA and not the Classics Lapbook pack...so that's what ended up drawing me back to it. Plus, the Weekly Planner from Homeschool Creations. Even though I use HST+, I love that her planner is fully editable, so I can modify it as needed! Everything else was gravy :D

Did they split them into individual files now? That's a lot of files if so! LOL! It was only 26 downloads on the first night...but it took forEVER! Glad it seems to be working now though! Hopefully they know for next time (if there ever IS a next time...which I doubt, LOL)

Awesome!! I am glad they updated it!! LAST chance btw to get in on the bundle...it's gone after MIDNIGHT tonight!

You might need an actual PDF Viewer app on your iPad. The FAQ page on iHomeschoolNetwork links here: http://notebooks.com/2010/05/11/how-to-download-and-open-zip-files-on-ipad/

It seems that they kept them the same...they have the same list on the FAQ page, which they updated, so I am assuming the files are the same, just uploaded to new servers.

:iagree: THIS exactly!

Another email came through this afternoon...

:lurk5:

I don't think y'all are the only ones having trouble! I got this in my email late yesterday...

2 days left!