Another resource for foreign language fluency: My Language Exchange This is a website that matches individuals of varying languages with one another for conversational practice. It touts itself as "free" but you really need a "gold membership" to properly contact people. Cost: $6 for 1 month $12 for 3 months $24 for 12 months It is NOT a dating website, but it is set up in that same manner in which you --input what you are looking for (someone who speaks Croatian, but wants to practice English) --review profiles "Hello! My name is Tomislav, I come from Croatia. I would like to improve my language skills in English, French, German. I offer my help to those who are interested in learning Croatian, to study it." --contact people with a "hi" (free) or with an email (gold membership) Disclaimer #1: This is not a language learning curriculum. This is a supplement. Disclaimer #2: Do not leave unattended children (under age 19) in the presence of a stranger online. ----------------------------------------------------- What you need: Skype Gold membership Time flexibility that is compatible with time zones around the world. -------------------------------------------------------- My experience: --You can explore the site for free, but you really need a Gold membership to participate. --I have found two students from China (one is at a university in Sidney, Australia, the other in Shanghai) to practice my Chinese with. Usually one or the other is available. In return, I am better able to practice with dd7. --Since they are on the opposite side of the world from me, I wake early (I have chronic insomnia), and we practice before the rest of my household awakens. My morning is their evening. Yeah. 11 hours apart. --We don't visit every day, and we don't make plans from one day to the next. If I sleep in or they are busy, we just try again the next day. I greet them on Skype with, "Are you available?" If not, then it's not a big deal. --We don't follow a set curriculum. Today's English conversation was about mutts and Heinz 57. The last conversation was the difference between NASA and the NSA. :laugh: Before that, we spoke about geodes. Their English is good enough that they are ready for these cultural details. --Because we don't follow a set curriculum, *I* am responsible for the Chinese side. I use this as a SUPPLEMENT to what I am learning in Chinese class, Rosetta stone, and random youtube videos. Often, I just read Chinese sentences to my partner, and he corrects my pronunciation (which is what I need the most). Sometimes I add Chinese words or phrases to my part of the conversation, and I receive help with grammar or vocabulary. --I have had good luck that the two gentlemen I work with have MUCH better English skills than I have Chinese skills. Communication hasn't been a problem for us. --As English speakers, we are in demand (at least in China). All of the students in China who want come to study in American universities need English fluency. I have a local professor friend in the Chemistry department who telephones China at 3am once a week to screen potential Chinese grad students. These conversations are less about their Chemistry knowledge, and more about their general English proficiency because they will be leading undergrad Chem labs. English proficiency is also in demand in Chinese companies, and their job market is very competitive at this time. So many of their employees are "temp workers" and competing with their co-workers for a limited number of stable positions. For this reason, this generation in China is called the "Ant Tribe" because the young college grads go from one job to the next, looking for permanence. English competence is a boon for those who can prove it.

Why won't the secretary for Engineering Camp let me know the dates earlier than posted online when I send her an email? You always put the website up so late compared to the other summer camps/lessons in our area. I don't "special privileges" of signing up early or for her to save me a spot. I just want to know when to NOT sign up for Swim Lessons. I don't want to have to wait until the last minute to sign up for swim lessons (and risk missing swim lessons all summer because they will be full), and I don't have to sign up early for swim lessons, but then have to rearrange the schedule (cancel and re-schedule) so we will be free the week of Engineering Camp. The last secretary was nice enough to tell me. AND she sent me a personal email letting me know once the website was up (and registration was open), even though she didn't have to. I miss you, Nancy.

Ten minutes of car nap = One hour of nap in the bed I don't know why it works that way; must be physics or sumpthin'.

No, Cosmos, your logic is NOT overly dramatic. My cousin died two summers ago in a lawn mower accident. He was a few years older than I, so NOT a kid. (I am 43). The riding lawn mower rolled over on a slope, and it trapped him underwater in a ditch. He drowned in a few inches of water. :( I don't like Loverboy to mow lawn when when I am not home, or to work in his workshop (power tools, saws, etc) when I am not home or awake. I make sure that he takes his cell phone with him (to mow or to the garage).

If you think that you might be trimming your cat's claws, get him accustomed to this by "playing with his feet." Whenever you play with your cat, just pet and hold the cat's feet; depress the part that makes the claws extend. We self trim regularly, and this helps the cat to be okay with you manipulating his feet. I've had my cats for 9-10 years, and one just lay down next to me while nursing my little one an hour ago. I pet him, and I played with his front paws. We self-trim: 1) a couple of days before we go to the vet. Then if a cat scratched at the vet, the nails are as dull as they can be. 2) whenever the nails are too long or two sharp 3) I notice the cat "chewing on his toenails"

Done: bike ride blood drawn at lab (physical this week @ doctor) toast drop off library books To Do: swim (if weather allows) attend Russian story time @ library wash dishes cook for the coming week assemble new bunkbeds piano with dd7 read with both children But right now, I think I'll start with a nap...... :001_smile:

We are a household of night owls. The issue is that bedtime can be later and later and later, and start time can be later and later and later. Dd7 also stays up late to read, which I support because I want her to read, and I don't want her to lay awake for hours at bedtime ( which was my childhood). We start later, and dd7 can stay up nearly as late as she wants, with this caveat: "I really don't care how late you stay up, BUT, 1) you must be able to get up in the morning, 2) you must be able to get the things done tomorrow that you need to get done, and 3) you must not be cranky."

Disclaimer: We are not there yet, but this is my plan. Within a year or two, dd will be assigned (or can choose from a list, or can choose her own) a chapter book. Example: Arthur Chapter Book : The Mystery of the Stolen Bike (59 pages, 10 chapters) 1) She will be assigned to read one chapter at a time, and then to tell me 2 things that happened in the chapter. 2) This will evolve into her writing down (in complete sentences) 2 things that happened in each chapter. This gives her an easy framework for how to write a book report (taking notes, remembering what happened in the book, being able to find details by knowing what chapter they are in). 3) Eventually, we will read "classics." First we will use books that win the Newbery Award; then we will move onto "anything that has a Cliff Notes, has won an award, is on the current NYTimes Bestseller List, or is from Shakespeare." I hope that my daughters will be well-read by the time they graduate from high school; I hope they are ready for Lit level classes in college.

Could you take Spanish with the tutor, but teach your son beginner piano yourself? This assumes that you or your dh have a musical/piano background. IMO, beginner piano is not any harder to teach than to teach someone to read. Search the forums or pose your own question about experiences in teaching young children or one's own children the piano.

We also like IEW's poetry.

Catcher in the Rye I've read it at least twice, maybe three times. I never really understood it. One acquaintance was a Middle School Librarian for years. She said that she had never really liked it either, until she retired and re-read it. That time, she said, it was hilarious. So, I'm waiting to retire in 20+ years before slogging through it again.

The other side of the coin is expecting our children to share our passions. I knit. I crochet. I craft. I have shown dd7 how to do some of these things, but I have also made it clear to her that I LOVE to do these things. I specifically tell her that if she doesn't LOVE to do them, that's okay. She will have her own hobbies.

IF the mama27's daughter wants to share fairy tales, and IF the daughter is crafty, this book has beautiful patterns for felt-board characters. Flannelboard Classic Tales The book has characters and settings that can be used interchangeably among several stories. The daughter could use these characters 1) to tell stories at the local public library. Our local library would bend over backward to give her the opportunity to share stories and perform; hopefully your library would, too. 2) to make stop-action films of stories that are not well known. Promise me that you will make one of Tatterhood! 3) to start a lifelong collection of characters to be used in storytelling Warning: --Making these characters is time-consuming. --Use a glue gun. --Make a master list of the felt colors you are using, just as you would for a large latch hook or cross stitch project. Glue a sample of each color of felt you are using next to the color name. This will help you keep track of which blue is used for medium blue, royal blue, and dark blue, etc, etc. --Have a plan for storing the characters. I had hoped to put the characters into scrapbooks with different sizes of photo sleeves and a master list so I could find what I needed for a specific story. IF you do this book, you may develop a better way to store your characters.

Look at afterschool activities in your area. You can send the older one, and keep the younger one with you. Tae Kwon Do, Swim Lessons, Parks & Rec, Nature Center, Art Class at the local museum or gallery. Use the time with your younger to take her to the library to snuggle and read, or to run errands.

How about a computer magnifier? It is the halfway decision between a handlens and a microscope, and they are great for kids under 12! This is the one we bought for our family, however, there are many choices. Just type, "Computer Microscope" into the Amazon searchbox. Things we like about our computer magnifier: --cheaper than a traditional microscope (ours was $40) --can take photos --can take videos --good for teaching younger children; even dd3 can participate --one can point out what is on screen and confirm that everyone sees and understands it --so easy, a 7yo can use it --plug and go. We installed the software, plugged in the magnifier to the USB port, and started looking at things. --an easy science activity is: "Go out in the yard and find 3 things!" Then we look at it under the magnifier. It's also a great activity when friends come over. Things we looked at today: --a peacock feather --two types of flowers --video of our beetles --robin eggshell --dandelion seed --dandelion flower after the seeds were blown away Disclaimer: This is similar magnification to a dissecting microscope. You won't be able to see bacteria or amoebas under this lens. ------------------------------------------- For $40 you can't go wrong. I'd say try the computer magnifier. If you dd still has her heart set on a microscope, see what Home Science Tools has in stock.

Teaching the Classics has been on my shelf for a year. It is time to pull it down and watch/do the seminar. Technically it's not a reading, but it does need to be done.

I would take schoolwork. Yeah, I'm a mean mom in that way. 1) Would this vacation (2 weeks off) make you feel "behind" in any subjects, and interfere with having the rest of the summer free? If yes, then teach the lesson off "use your time wisely; we're just going to be sitting in a car anyway." 2) Do your kids travel well? My kids don't do well if they don't have a plan for the day. If your kids don't travel well, then having something to keep them occupied. 3) Do you homeschool year-round? If you homeschool year-round, I'd be tempted to take the two weeks off, and do no schoolwork for that time period. Return refreshed! 4) Don't be married to the kids finishing their work. It's not worth fighting over finishing a worksheet while on vacation. Perhaps take it along, offer it, but only strongly suggest it if there is fighting or complaining in the car. 5) Do YOU need a vacation? Homeschooling Moms (and Dads) get burned out. Do YOU need a break during these two weeks from all sights, sounds, and references to homeschooling? Think carefully.

Myths, Folktales, and Fairy Tales Fairy Tales and Folk Tales Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Analysis

I love fairy tales, too! Read different versions of them! Some other things to add to the pot: Politically Correct Fairy Tales and A Tale Dark and Grimm -- a story that adds elements of many of Grimm's Fairy Tales. Get the audio version. It is soooooooo worth it! Pro-girl Fairy Tales Goodreads list of "Rewritten Fairy Tales for Teens" ------------------------------------- Women Who Run with the Wolves was used as a college textbook for a college class at my Community College. I never took "Magic, Myths, and Monsters", but every person I know who took the class said that it changed their lives. I read the book and see the world, and myself, differently. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If it was my daughter, and I was serious, I would look into these from OpenCulture.com. Go to "Online Courses," scroll down to the Lit Section: Faeirie and Fantasy The Epic The Hobbit, The LOTR series I would also look for courses in Mythology and Shakespeare. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Our Time is a BBC Radio Program that has a different topic each week. Different topics are discussed by a roundtable of knowledgeable scholars and professors. (I LOVE THIS WEBSITE!) Go to "Explore Archive." Look for: Faeries Robin Hood Brothers Grimm, The There are other topics, but that's all I could find on short notice. -------------------------------------------------------------------- There are a few curriculum/books about "The One Year Novel." Disclaimer: I have not purchased or used any of these curriculum. The One Year Adventure Novel -- I'm intrigued by this curriculum, but put off because the author is pretty condescending to non-Christians ( which may or may not be an issue for you). I haven't ruled it out. Learn to Write the Novel Way National Writers Project -- Write a novel in a month. There are other forms of guidance if you go this route. Please use the Hive as a reference to look for help finding other curriculum to do this if you need us. Also, there was one Hive member who had taught a coop class where the students each wrote a novel. They may have even self-published (1 copy) each of their books. I can't find it in the archive, but maybe someone else knows who this was. --------------------------------------------------------------- And for fun: Tell Tale and Tell Tale Fairy Tales from Blue Orange Games. Dd7 and I use them to write our own fairy tales nearly every writing session. (She dictates, and I write like crazy). It's a crazy way to see where a story will take us. We roll a 20-sided die 5 times and count through the cards. First roll gives us: 1) Character(s)/setting So, if we roll an 8, we take the 8th card. Second roll gives us: 2) Problem So if we roll a 17, we take the 17th card. Continuing: 3)Friend/companion 4) 2nd problem 5) Climax/resolution of problem

1) Dd7 says she wants to learn Russian this summer. I know NOTHING about Russian, but here we go! 2) Make a bug-collection book for dd7, similar to this birdwatcher's book. 3) Find all the supplies I need for Fall 2015 that are packed away in the garage; clean the garage. 4) Go to the pool as often as possible.

You are correct, OP, to recognize how important speaking is to learn a language. The part of our brain that hears a language and the part of our brain that speaks a language are two separate parts. The speaking is important. ------------------------------------------- How old is your son? What is your expectation of the Spanish 2 class? Do you want high school credit? Or do you simply want your child to: --not lose what he has learned so far? --continue a subject he enjoys? --expand his language abilities? You don't need to answer any of they questions here. It's none of our business; but it may help you to find solutions to what you want. -------------------------------------------------------------- Our experience: Dd7 is finishing first grade. We have worked on Spanish and Chinese this year. We will continue both next year. I learn the languages with dd. Dd --fills out her Spanish workbooks --plays many (homemade) Spanish games --interacts conversationally with me. We talk about what we are eating for lunch, where we are going in the car, and list the toys and play animals she has. As the mom, I: --use a computer curriculum for me --watch youtube videos --use online dictionaries to find words and pronunciation --accost [foreign language speaking] strangers in my community to ask grammar rules My Chinese is much less developed, so I have found someone to practice with me. My Language Exchange is an internet program that matches people learning languages to practice together via Skype. One can register for free and explore the site, but to actually contact people and find a match, you need to pay the $24 for an annual membership. I have had no problem with people contacting me to practice their English. The young gentleman that I have been practicing with speaks MUCH better English than I speak Chinese, so don't be afraid that you will be matched to someone who knows no English. That is possible, but if it is not a good fit, then find a different partner. It's not personal. Disclaimer: I would never recommend that your child interact on the internet with a stranger unattended by you. If I set my teen or tween up on the internet with this program, I would be present at all times. ------------------------------------------------ If you are looking for high school or pre-college credit for Spanish, look at the rules for your local schools/colleges. I have heard a rumor that Rosetta Stone is unacceptable because it does not teach grammar. I have no idea if this is true or not, but before dropping $$$ and making my teen study for a year, I'd find out in writing what the institution's expectations are.

I didn't leave my overnight, but whenever I left either nursing daughter with Loverboy (their dad), his philosophy was, "She can have WHATEVER she wants. She can't have the one thing she wants most (breastmilk), so I gave her anything else we had in the house."

Dd would say: --Spanish because of all the games we play --Chinese because of the Chinese Jeopardy Game on Easter Sunday's class. (Yes, we had class on Easter Sunday). --Usborne curriculum of Dinosaurs, and before that Under the Sea. (Reading Usborne books on a related topic and looking up the quicklinks, mixed with some enrichment experiments). --Typing on Dancemat --Top Secret Detective for World Geography. --Dino Lingo Russian --Getting Blue Death-Feigning Beetles for a pet --Getting to watch science documentaries (Nova, Nature, PBS, etc) for science some days. --Digging for fossils at the old gravel pit I would say (bragging alert): --Dissecting our pet fish that died --My first grader using the handheld computer-magnifier to take pictures of the flower we dissected. --My first grader following the discussion of Punnett Squares used in genetic inheritance, and answering the questions beautifully to predict statistical outcomes. Yeah, she's a science kid. --My dd3 joining us for Spanish games, and answering properly in Spanish without being prompted. --My dd3 spontaneously singing in Chinese. Who taught her that???? Dd7 and I joined in. --My first grader recognizing random art references to Warhol, Seurat, Pollack, VanGogh, and Lichtenstein

Can we come, too???? *needs a jealous smiley*

I am NOT a music expert. BUT Here is from our experience: 1) Piano was a good fit for us. At age 4, it is very easy to just hit the keys. We started at age 4. 2) Our keyboard was ~$100 from Target, but if I had it to do over, I'd go one step up to get a keyboard that registers loud (forte) and soft (piano) based on how hard you hit the keys. So much of early piano with little kids is based on loud and soft, and I can only discuss it in theory with dd. That said, we have definitely gotten our $100 worth out of the keyboard. It's still going strong. 3) Can Mom or Dad teach the piano lessons? It's hard to justify $12+ for piano lessons for a child that young if you can do better yourself teaching beginner piano. If Mom and Dad are musically uneducated, then pay the $12+ for Mom or Dad to take piano lessons, and come home to teach your own dc. You will get your money's worth better out of an adult learning than a child of that age. The other advantage of teaching your own children is that they will advance to the next song when you feel they are ready. Some songs, dd practices for 2 days; some she practices for 2.5 weeks. Do you want her to linger over a song for a whole week if she is ready for new material? When we took lessons at the music center, I taught dd the next song in the book. The teacher listened to dd play it competently, and assigned for her to play it again for the coming week. She assigned and taught no other new songs. 4) Be prepared to sit and practice daily with a child of that age. In general, 4yos do NOT have the attention span to use their time wisely if you say, "Go practice your piano for 10 minutes." My dd7 is still not independent enough to do this without help to focus her. I've heard other parents say to not expect children under 10 practice without direction. 5) At practice, play the song so your child can "get the song into her head" before she is expected to play it. At the end of our daily practice time, I also play the next song that she has not tackled yet. This usually gives her a week or more of hearing it before she needs to put her fingers on the keyboard. 6) Games. Many, many games. The key to teaching piano at that age is many games. If you can find a teacher that will take a student that young, find one that has a stash of musical games. I have a list of musical games that I use with dd, but I've already failed to send it out to two people who have requested it. (I'm sorry! I got bogged down updating the list). You can find piano games online by searching for them. If I get my act together on my own list, I'll post it. 7) Pay for practice. Dd started out getting paid 25c for her daily practice. (There is NO allowance in our home. All money is earned). When she was taking lessons for $20/half-hour at the music center, an extra $1.75/week was a small price to pay to ensure that she was going to get the most out of the lesson. Disclaimer: Paying for musical practice is not the right choice for every family. It's okay to say, "We're going to try this as a system, but it may not be permanent if Mom and Dad change our mind about whether this is a good thing for our family."