[Military moving question - sorta curriculum related ...]

I would mail the curriculum priority with insurance. THere are APO/FPO flat rate boxes that give you a bit of a discount. For your valuables, wrap them yourself in tons of bubble wrap. Most times, the shippers have to use their boxes, so it might be useless to box them up. Unless you want to bubble wrap and put in shoeboxes or something. The only time we have had issues is when moving from the states, but it's been nothing big. And yes, full replacement value is great and easy to do should you need it.

[Camera - SLR replacement. Which model should I get?]

If you're looking for an upgrade and speed, I'd check out a 40D or 50D. We went up to a 40D a couple years ago from the XTi and couldn't believe how much faster it was! I love my camera. Good luck with the decision. I'll also plug the 50mm too, best lens for the price and takes really fast photos/low light photos.

[Best classical music collections for children on CD?]

Not sure if I'm missing what you're asking exactly, but we have gotten much of our classical music from collections at Costco, lots of music for relavively little price. The big CD collections that they often have. Some our mixed others are the favorites from specific composers.

[Anyone purchased Happy Scribe?]

Thanks for the head's up! I'd been looking at these and you sure can't beat that deal. My son is now anxious to get started. (who would have thought, but the military and video games caught his eye.;))

[Help for the kid who thinks everything is "stupid, boring, dumb"]

Dahl worked for my son too as did Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. He is now hooked on Percy Jackson. Good luck, we hear those same sentiments here too.

[I want to teach my dc about literary elements. Any ideas?]

I am wanting to do the same thing and got this: http://www.ebookdestination.com/estore/product/RED1043 It's called Teaching with Movies and uses Star Wars and the Incredibles to sort it out. Looks like a fun unit study.

[I need help with teaching how to solve word problems...]

I feel your pain, I have the same problems and need my husband to do those lessons. I can do the word problems, it's the explaining that's hard. Pictures always help me though. Also, we got a Singapore word problem book last summer (off the shelf in the book store), the solutions are very well laid out in the back of the book. Maybe that would help. Wishing you much luck!

[Favorite resources to teach gov. to 3rd, 5th grader...]

Yup, Schoolhouse Rock came to my mind too. I think it'd be a good starting point. I believe you can get them on iTunes. I'd say the collection is worth the purchase too. So much fun stuff on there.

[Does anyone delay cursive?]

We'll be starting in the fall with my 5th grader. We just started homeschooling this semester and he's never had any consistent, real instruction in PS. I just want him to be able to read it if nothing else. I'm still trying to get his printing legible.

[Is it difficult *expensive* to buy curricula for military families overseas?]

I've had a lot of success just ordering through Amazon, free shipping and quick delivery. There are companies that want to charge more for mailing priority and I just avoid those when I can--you also don't get the same free-shipping deals a lot of times. I don't understand why they have to charge and arm and a leg when they can just put my order in a flat rate priority box.:confused: You also have to be careful of those who ship media mail. Those boxes can take up to two months to be delivered.

[Military Wives or Husbands...]

Now as far as what branch has the best...

 

AF has the best housing and I feel they make the most effort for families to be together. They also have the best hospitals. My DS was born at Kessler AFB

 

The Navy will take you every where in the world. Some of the places you don't want to see. :D I am always partial to the Seabees because that is what I know. They have a pretty set schedule/rotation, great duty sites, and amazing people. Also if he goes into the Seabees as an Enlisted guy he will actually come out with a job skill.

 

I know nothing about the Army except that when your MAC flight is diverted from Greece to the Stutgart Germany @ 2 am you better be prepared to walk because nothing is open. :D

 

Enlisted and officers have their benefits. I know of several officers who retired and could not find work and several enlisted who walked into 80k plus a year jobs. It all depends. They Navy has an Enlisted to Officer program that is not that difficult to get into.

 

Good luck and keep me posted on his decision.

 

This is pretty well laid out, but I'd have to say the navy is better at keeping families together. I know when we were in Korea, the navy was the only service there that didn't seem to have issues with bringing dependents.

 

I will agree that if you want to see the world, go Navy! We have been so lucky to see all that we have, lived on three continents and have had a blast--all this while married. Although there are a few exceptions, navy bases are usually on the beach too, and not the middle of nowhere.

 

To answer the orginial questions, we're on both sides of the coin. DH is both military (as a reservist) and a civilian, but we live overseas in the military community. When we were between military jobs, working in the states, that was the hardest time in our lives. The military has been able to provide us so much more in the way of benefits and security (job, financial, etc.) than the civilian world ever did.

 

I had a vague idea what I was getting into when we got married, but it's still been a roller coaster, although a fun one! My kids love all the benefits we've received being military, including all the traveling. That is the one thing they mention first when asked what they like most, that they get to travel.

 

Wishing your son and you all the best in your decision. I guess for us, it has never been a question of what service to join, both my dad and Dh's parents are navy. That's where our ties were, wouldn't have thought about going army or af. LOL!

[PBS NOVA The Pluto Files]

Good to hear! We recorded it this morning and I was wondering how kid-friendly it was. We'll probably watch it as a family this evening.

[Downloadable PDF's]

I am going to try to put my teachers manuals on my ipod. That way I not only have everything handy (as long as I don't loose my ipod), but I can take it to the library,bookstore, or craft store for an instant list.

 

What a great idea! I've been trying to gather book lists for a trip this summer, but never thought of putting them on my iPod. Thanks!

[Californians - need input]

Haven't been whale watching, but the Aquarium is a very nice one. Hope you have a great time and good luck with the college.

[Living internationally for an extended period?]

From what I've seen as far as teaching English overseas, most places want native speakers. I think you'll have better luck with a teaching degree too. We have been overseas for almost four years now--two in Korea, going on two here in Japan. We have also lived in Italy. (military has been very good to us.) I too wouldn't trade this life for anything nor would the kids who have loved the experience--to my youngest the US is a foreign country. We have been all over Asia and are looking forward to moving to Europe in a few years and exploring that part of the world. If the opportunity ever presents itself, especially for the short term, I say go for it!

[I'm fluent in Sign Language and want to figure out a "curriculum" to teach son]

I'll second Signing Time. I believe they also have a curriculum too and a program for instructors--might make for a good side job. We used ST for several years and I was amazed at how much my kids learned, especially my youngest. Wish I knew more to be able to continue.

[Movies that encourage a love for science...]

Not a movie, but kids have found a new love of science with They Might be Giants, Here Comes Science songs and videos. TONS of info in these, catchy songs. They're going around singing about cells, photosynthesis and the "blood mobile" all the time. (DS even made the blood mobile for his pinewood derby car this year!)

[Awesome Resource for Paddle to the Sea]

Thanks! What timing for this. I have just been introduced to this book and even managed to pick up Minn of the Mississippi from the free shelf at the library today! Off to check the resouce out. My kids love the story.

[Summer Course of US History]

Is it a story that boys would like too? Anything similiar for boys? We'll be spending a lot of time in DC, so I'll check out the other book too. They're super excited about going to the museums there.

[Summer Course of US History]

Thanks, yes that is one of the places we'd like to go and most likely will stop at.

 

Any other ideas? Texts? Books? Projects?

[Summer Course of US History]

Hi! We live overseas, but will be back in the US for the summer and I'd like to do some US history with the kids (grades 1 and 5) Any suggestions that could be done over the summer while road tripping? We're going to try to take in as much as we can, and spend a bit of time in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

 

Thanks!