Johanna Spyri's A Children's Christmas Carol is delightful.

Another sweet series with big sisters is the All-of-a-kind family series, featuring a Jewish family in New York about 1910 era. When your niece is a little older, the Maud Hart Lovelace series Betsy-Tacy is wonderful.

The American Girl series don't necessarily have sisters, but if you stick with the historical ones by Valerie Tripp, you'll find sweet and inspiring reading for a young girl. I would particularly recommend the Samantha, Josefina, and Kit books. Also, the Boxcar children books have older brothers and sisters featured in them.

Yes, certainly round up!

I would not suggest taking it more easy in 8th. If she will end up going to a B&M school, she needs to feel ready for how structured her life could get. You can always take a more fun year for her senior year of high school!

No way! Don't have her retake it! Those scores are beautiful. If you're worried about the writing, you could have her take a community college class in writing to show colleges that she can ace a writing class. Obviously, her English is a perfect 36, so you could explain the lower ACT Writing if necessary in her applications. Although, I am not sure you should even address it -- the ACT writing is optional and mentioning it would just draw more attention than necessary.

Sounds so fun!

Hi Kela, 1. I would move to using phonics for reading. Memorizing sight words has a history of failure for many students learning to read. 2. I agree with you that Singapore math is the best. 3. Learning to teach Singapore math at a local college is a double cost, both for the class and for the time. I would instead use a tutor who is experienced teaching Singapore math. We have used Tim (with Touchdown Tutors) who is great. It sounds to me like the teacher isn't doing her job if a kindergartner doesn't have the skills needed to move to 1st grade.

That sounds so fun! I hope your year is wonderful!

That's wonderful! Congratulations!

You might try throwing some baking soda in when you wash them. I know that works on slippers!

Wow! That fireplace is stunning!!

Judy McGregor

Brownies are good!

Charleston, SC!

Some children are very literal. In terms of writing, I would first suggest topics that are non-fiction or historical. Let's say he's read about dolphins and really enjoyed learning about them. Once he is very comfortable with the subject, try a story about dolphins where the dolphins can talk, for instance. Build slowly.

Franklin Planners are great. They have a variety of styles, including a day-to-day (each hour) type of planner.

Lial's Beginning Algebra book is excellent, particularly the edition that has the misty stairs on it! I think she could buy it used, pretty inexpensively.