That was normal here. Last year my then third graders couldn't spell anywhere close to their reading level. We've been doing spelling three times a week since first grade (although I regret those first two years somewhat). I feel like this year spelling has really stated to carry over to writing and become easier overall.

So, maybe "yes" to The Kid (Charlie Chaplin) and "no" to "E.T."? Farrar posted a link to a list of 50 pop culture movies from, ahem, Entertainment Weekly that I have been cherry-picking from. You have different criteria, but may find something useful there. Wish I could link, sorry. (Thanks, Farrar!)

Lamb's wool dusting the high corners and edges is an occasional core for my 5yo. Partly because it is cute to see her trying to control that crazy thing when it is extended.

I love the day-pack I got there. We don't use it a lot, but it always makes me smile. Check the sale and clearance ranks, otherwise you'll get another check next year!

I've been reading the Vegan Lunchbox cookbook from the library. We're not vegan, but that is an easy modification. :-) I think there is a website. Otherwise, I'm not much help, one of the contributing factors for my continuing to homeschool!

Another option might be to look around for something interesting to alternate weeks with. My 4th graders were getting burned out on WWE4 and I am not in a rush to start WWS in 5th, so I've started swelling in occasional weeks of Kilgallon or free writing. I don't have any specific suggestions for first grade, sorry, but perhaps you could find something different from WWE that would appeal to you and your student. My plan is to stretch WWE 4 to a year and a half and then do something similar with WWS, using my students's responses to set the pace. Good luck!

I think it just sounds like a life-lesson for them. This was what they thought they wanted, what every kid thinks they want. Next year they will probably be happy to wait. Maybe they will spend their morning making you cinnamon rolls!

No kidding! I've been toying with making my own Larry, but trying to get all the parts to work together would probably require a co-op which always brings me back to this thread...

Okay, who has a great system for storing all this stock? Do you freeze it in 1 cup-sized pucks, or 4 cups at a time, or? Do you freeze it in containers and then move the bricks to storage bags? Particular containers or whatever you have on hand? If your broth gets gelatinous, do you divide that up? I'm intrigued by making a whole chicken once a week, especially in the cold months.

No, don't remove the rind. I just had that discussion with my 5yo this morning. By the time we were done with lunch she decided she had "developed an appreciation for the rind."

I don't completely understand their concern sometimes, either. I mean, are they worried on my behalf that someone is going to, say, break into my WTM account and leave a bunch of imposter comments? Or hack my CurrClick account and order a bunch of things during "Dollar Days"?

You could fill the stockings with cheaper things each year and wean then off. Although, I'm usually excited to see my post-it supply topped off...

We do 2 to 2½ hours in the morning: math (1hr), writing, grammar, spelling (3x wk), piano practice, either Latin or Spanish. After lunch another hour or so: either history or science and the other foreign language, occasionally Amer. history. More piano later in the day.

One of my local groceries sometimes sells "you-pick" 6 packs, so I'm sure you could buy just one, although it would throw everyone for a tizzy and you would surely have to get help from a manager. Secondly, back in the dark, pre-internet days, my parents were doing a DIY remodel and throwing away very heavy garbage bags of plaster. In order to convince the garbage men to do their jobs with a sunny disposition, they would perch a six-pack on the top of the pile. It was popular! You might be able to do something similar with a "5-pack". :-)

Yes. There is a new website, also. I haven't looked at it, but the idea was to add comments and links to the lessons.

Oh. Well, then put on a good, tight hat, because I think you have to take the "head explosion" possibility seriously. It is a bear to clean up.

With that age split I have two separate read-aloud times. However, if you don't want that, I second Btervet's suggestion if wordy picture books, then transition to short chapter books with lots of pictures - Ivy & Bean, Dodsworth, a Cynthia Rylant series, Nate the Great, Frog and Toad, Arnold Lobel books, Underpants on my Head, etc. Short, humorous chapters with high picture content. You may find you can read the whole book in one sitting.

What about just going presenting what (little?) she has and then discussing what the grade would be in different situations, along with how embarrassing it is too not have completed the work. Then she can finish in her own time without affecting the entire group? Plus that way you don'thave to carry all that frustration, you can unload it as disappointment.

Great! So glad to hear everyone is doing well!

Hey, it's history, man! Those guys were in charge when stuff happened. Of course, there is a reason why most of us know a few and have vague recollections of the others. To know them all is a point of pride, not patriotism so much.

Too bad I don't live near you, I'd give her a ride. We don't often get sick and it isn't something I worry about a lot. I like the idea of hand sanitizer before and after. Chicken soup for everybody for lunch and citrus for breakfast.

I started checking the worksheet against the "classwork", also. If it was on the worksheet and I didn't anticipate a problem I skipped the class time. Obviously if he ran into a road block I knew where to go! I have three students, but just one in MEP. Even at that I've had to pare down MEP to stay sane.

Once they know how to form their letters I would drop handwriting as a separate thing and use copywork from the other subjects (like WWE). I assume you do SOTW, WWE, and FLL together, modifying on the fly to address all three students? FLL is meant to be done 2 or 3 days a week, I would alternate it with spelling workout. Saxon is pretty teacher intensive, it didn't work out for us, can you teach one while the other starts on worksheets, then switch? If it becomes too much, you might check out Math Mammoth. The teaching parts are in smaller chunks and I have an easier time rotating between students with that. Maybe do OPGTR first, if possible, so that if your youngest wanders off you can let her go. Then have middle do reading with you last thing until she is "done" so there is some built in incentive to finish and play. In our house, or best days start with math (during which my youngest does math, reading and writing), then WWE, FLL, one or two other things, break before lunch. After lunch we do content subjects like SOTW or science plus one thing. A few days we take another, longer break then reconvene for some last topic. Best of luck!

I would crack it into a separate bowl, beat it a bit with a fork, eyeball half, then watch in surprise as it all slides in en masse, mutter some $.25 words and then proceed in denial, making half the recipe with ask the egg.

Wait, did you say cold, *sweet* tea? I'm pretty sure you can use dust for tea if you are adding that much sugar! :-)