I highly recommend this also. It gives suggestions for content-appropriate books even for kids who are extremely advanced readers.

I've seen lots of threads and websites that list movies according to category--historical time period, science topic, etc. Is there a movie guide that further breaks them down by age group? I would really love to add some movies to our history so ds can better "see" what times were like then, but he's young and highly sensitive. I would be using resources from our Public Library, and I don't have the time to pre-screen very much. Is there a list of great educational movies (esp history) for 5-7 year olds?

I've just started reading about learning styles. The library has a couple of books waiting for me when I pick them up. DS is undoubtedly a visual learner. I see more "sequential" in him than "spatial" though. I've just read some brief descriptions of different learning styles, so I'm sure I don't have a full understanding yet. As soon as I get my hands on those books . . . I always hear references to "auditory-sequential" or "visual spatial" learners. Is it even possible to have a visual-sequential learner?

I've heard of success and regrets both ways. I think there are two key questions to ask: Does he read with phonics? Many early readers do not and SWB says that they often hit a wall in about 4th grade, and it's really hard to go back and do phonics at that point. Most early readers use a combination of memorization, context, and intuition to read. How does he learn best? Parts to whole? Whole to parts? My early reader does read phonetically but it is self-taught so there could be gaps. Additionally, he always likes knowing the structure behind something. If he's given a new piece of info, he tries to figure out that "rule" that helps it makes sense and fit with everything else he knows. Because his mind seems to naturally seek a larger framework, we're doing phonics to make sure he hasn't missed anything. I expect we'll go through it very quickly, but I would hate to skip it and then regret it later.

I posted this in the K-8 but didn't get many responses, so I thought I would try here: Has anyone used Discipleland with their kids? They have a few different programs, and I'm particularly looking at their Core Bible curriculum. It's designed for a group setting, but it looks easily adaptable for home too. Opinions?

I was going to recommend Core Knowledge also. By adding library books or biographies, you could extend what's already in the "What My K Needs to Know" book.

bump ;)

It sounds like your ds is gifted, and honestly, pub school teachers (in general) know very little about giftedness. My ds is in a similar situation--reading at 6th grade level but doesn't know much grammar, punctuation, etc. While the school hasn't been critical, they don't know how to properly assess him. (Why would you give a "pre-literacy" assessment as the reading test to someone who has been reading encyclopedias for 2 years?!) It honestly sounds like the teacher doesn't understand the concept of asynchronous development. This is usually a big issue for gifted kids. Because your son's writing level is not equivalent to his reading level, she sees it as a weakness. And since his writing level is not a strength at the moment (TOTALLY normal even for very advanced kids), using writing to evaluate other academic skills is completely inappropriate. The assessment she used is much more a reflection of his writing than his reading. Just my humble opinion.

Has anyone used Discipleland with their kids? They have a few different programs, and I'm particularly looking at their Core Bible curriculum. It's designed for a group setting, but it looks easily adaptable for home too. Opinions?

Great thread! Play with math manipulatives like c-rods. Work on a page from a logic workbook like Prufrock Press. I also keep a "busy file" for ds of cutting/coloring that can be done to work on a lapbook or various other busywork that he decides he wants to do.

Another one who is curious! :bigear:

1+1+1=1 has some neat printables and now some inexpensive powerpoints. Her blogs have book suggestions too. I'm planning to use this in another year or so with my youngest. Some of the material is Christian but not all.

Is there a main website for them with samples? When I googled, I mostly found links to reviews.

I've decided on SSL as a fun intro to Latin, but I am anticipating we'll complete it quickly. I've been perusing various Latin threads here and have looked at the curriculum list on Latinteach, but I'm sooo confused! Ds will be in 1st grade next year but is very advanced and a quick learner. He will be in Classical Conversations so will have some Latin memory work there. I'd like to go through some Latin at home as well to complement what he's doing in CC (if possible). He is NOT an auditory learner but strongly visual. What curriculum do you recommend? What method is best--parts to whole or whole to parts?

I do have WTM. For some reason, I thought the info in the audio downloads was different. If it's the same as what is in WTM, I've got it!

I'm interested in a lot of the titles there, especially the ones about writing that I keep hearing so much about. Is this same information available in book form? If not, are there plans to put it in a book? I'm much better at absorbing info through reading rather than listening.

I just wanted to mention that You Tube has LOTS of videos about Montessori. I found it helpful searching there.

I'm in the midst of Native American History Pockets with ds, and he absolutely loves it! We're also doing some of the books that Guesthollow recommends for younger children. The history pocket has saved me tons of time tracking down my own lapbook materials, and ds is always begging to do history.

I've seen a lot of reviews in blogs but not much in terms of documenting lessons. I'm curious to see how others are implementing this. Does anyone know of any blogs where that would have this? I need some inspiration!

Thank you! I think I saw this in reference to Beautiful Feet but didn't really know what it meant. I will check out the site you mentioned. I'm new to homeschooling. Every time I think I'm figuring things out, I realize just how little I really know.;)

I've been browsing American history and am coming across this phrase. We are Christian, so this might be an approach that we would like. However, I can't find a clear description of exactly what the "Principle approach" to history is. Can someone give me a description or link me to more info?

bumping. I think WTM suggests it as an "easier" alternative to Drawing with Children. We're in need of something very easy to implement. Anyone use it?

WTM recommends this, but I don't think I've ever seen it mentioned here. Has anyone used it? Do you mind sharing your review?

Ds is always pushing the envelope with math. Since age 3, he's been begging to learn multiplication and division, and I've been telling him that we will learn that after addition/subtraction. Regardless, he's memorized a surprising amount of the multiplication tables. He begged me to teach him fractions this year, and I again told him that we need to do add/subtract first. Well, he figured out fractions and just memorized those that are equivalent so he can reduce them. I learned by accident that he has a talent for skip counting. If I get him started with skip counting by 4, 6, 7, 8, he can go well past 100 with barely pausing (and he can't do the addition to get him through this:tongue_smilie:--he said that he just recognizes the pattern and continues). Now he's become interested in decimals and he's starting to figure out which fractions and decimals are equivalent. When I gave him a math placement test, he was creating number sentences that correctly used negative numbers (he also skip counts backward right past zero and into the negatives). I've resisted skipping around because I learned math sequentially and don't know how to teach it another way. In my mind, it builds and you need the basics first. Now I'm reading Deborah Ruf's book, and she mentions that highly gifted often do better learning multiplication and division before addition and subtraction. So, I'm re-thinking our math plan. Should I be a stickler for learning addition and subtraction before we move on? Right now I'm planning to continue Singapore and then do Miquon 1-2 days/week so he can dabble in multiplication and such but not have gaps in his basic math skills. Does this sound like a good plan? If you teach math non-sequentially, HOW do you do it?

:bigear: