I know what makes them the authority, GOVERNMENT CONSPIRACY!

I made one like that with a timeline printed on card sock and then "laminated" with Contac paper. I then went through our history program and made a timeline card for each section. We use repairable glue dots to stick the cards up. Mine folds up into a "book when we aren't using it. The cards I made in powerpoint with pictures from internet searches. It worked out really well and gave me a good preview of what was coming in history. I made up about a quarter of the cards at a time.

I was not interested in choosing or driving 25 minutes to 3 hours of preschool. After that successful year, I thought I could surely handle kindergarten and we have progressed in that fashion ever since.

I travelled for business in Japan many, many moons ago, and it seemed like there was something unusual about the atms, like the only ones my American debit card worked at were ones inside the post office? Maybe they were the only non-fee ones?

Yes, the benefits package leaves something to be desired.

Take off next week and then sprinkle the other 5 days as needed (or finish early!)

Here is the Yahoo! group. I can't compare the book to Henle. Having joined the group today, I can't really offer anything more. Try searching the forum, though. It has been suggested by others in the past.

You might have trouble digging the hole, but the trees will be happy! If your weather is similar to ours, they will probably start their spring growth already! If you can't dig a hole, make them a temporary home and transplant them when the ground is warmer.

We do MEP, it is free for the printing. It is also overwhelming at first look, so here is what you should do if you are interested - print the Practice Book 5a pages 1 to 30 for year 5 and the Lesson Plans for the same lessons. Then go through and do the parts that look interesting. The lesson plans include solutions for the student pages and additional activities. MEP and BA don't particularly line up with scope and sequence so don't let that trouble you.

My youngest dd got confused by that one year, so now in our family lore everyone has to "take an eye out" usually for brightly lit Christmas decorations.

Oh, Spanish! Our library had (has?) an online Mango subscription that I played around with, but it didn't seem appropriate for my (at the time) 3rd graders. Maybe if you can facilitate? If course, if you are going to be a keyboard interface, you could try Duolingo for free. Another library had Muzzy online. That was more kid-friendly than Mango, but too pricy if you have to buy it. I hate to be only negative, so have you looked at Salsa from Georgia Public Broadcasting? I also found CBeeBies from the BBC today, but I haven't watched/played with any of it, it was just linked from their Spanish resources site. Similarly, you might find appealing kids shows archived at RTVE, from Spain. If you are leaving Italy for the States and are interested in continuing studying Spanish, see if you can find kid-oriented grammar-type books, or science or history. It is tricky to find those types of books here. Perhaps while you are still in Europe...

BBC has Mi Vida Loca- 12 episode interactive drama for beginning Spanish Annenberg has Destinos archived, which is similar but uses a telenovela format and looks like it was filled I'm the 80's, so probably not interactive. I haven't tried using it. BrainPop has a Spanish version with a variety of topics. I've only used the free parts. I've come across a few things science-related and fewer history- related, but almost all is translated which lowers its value in my mind. Plus, my Spanish is not good enough to teach a content subject with any spontaneity on my part, so I need fairly self-contained resources. ETA: El Español con Juegos y Actividades is a short series of grammar/vocabulary books using games ore activities for practice.

Thanks for that encouraging post!

With my younger I folded in the free books from Progressive Phonics. Which also stretched it out and added nice variety.

If you've kept up with reading and math, you may be able to tall your kids into adding a content subject on the weekend if the reward is a long-weekend for spring break, or moving the summer end date up.

In limited situations I have had luck with read-alouds, but that can add some variety if nothing else. Maybe magnetic games like Magic Cabin, or tangrams, etc. We had a big book of paper monsters that you punched out, folded on the lines and glued. The assembly would be you, though. There was another book of paper airplanes...

Wow, as if the Latin Book 1 pot needed more sweetening! Thanks for sharing!!

We have a few Maurice Sendak books, "Pierre" and "One Was Johnny"

I feel like when we lived rural my dc's "range" would have been a lot larger. Now that we live "in town" the range is physically smaller. Does that make sense? Even so, my olders are looking forward to solo trips to the new grocery that opened a half-mile away. Soccer practice, one library, and a few parks seem within a reasonable radius - but not this summer, so I'm probably not as free-range add I might like to think. (blush)

Yes, although but quite in the same situation. I have, however, berg pleasantly surprised at how readily they accepted my story and were willing to go to work. Good luck!

I get, "Mom, I don't have any underwear." As we are heading out the door. Or, "Mom, I don't have any pants."

If it is pureed, add some ginger and maple syrup (or whatever flavors speak to your crowd) Here's my favorite recipe: 2lbs cubed butternut ¼ c. Butter 1t minded fresh rosemary (I always sub. dried) Steam squash until just tender. Melt butter in large skillet, continue to cook until brown and aromatic, about 2 min. Add squash and rosemary, and toss until heated through, about 3 min. Season with salt and pepper. Yum!

Thanks, Rose! I've been wondering how this would work in real-life, and collecting ideas for 7th grade. Serendipity!

I agree with Ravin, go early, but spend your time in the Phoenix area, there is so much to see, and so much more enjoyable than a rushed half-day drive up and back. Just my ¢.02!

I'm a hot pad gal, myself, no sizing necessary and handy double-duty as a trivet. What a neat project!