Here I am!! Sorry! I'm not on here very often! Did you ever find me? :lol: I have answered a few people through my contact us page...were you one of them? If not...send me an email. My email is jennifer@teachingboys.net. Talk to you soon! Jennifer

My 5 yo does Saxon Phonics K and Saxon Math 1. His math takes us about 30-45 minutes.....but, we don't always do all of the calendar. His phonics takes us about 30-45 minutes, also. But....sometimes we skip stuff! ;) So...if you do everything...it might take you a little longer than me. Plus....I will add....that Saxon Phonics 1 is harder (and more time-consuming) than Saxon Phonics K. I have done both....grade one is much more time-intensive. Easily.....Saxon Phonics 1 could take a complete hour....if you do everything they say....again...I don't.... (confession to the world....) Jennifer

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I need to buy a world map. But, my classroom is in my dining room....right in the middle of everything. I would like a map that is less "school-like" and somewhat pretty since it will be viewed by every person that enters my home. Yet, I need it to be laminated, accurate, and easy-to-read.....and cheap! I am not hard-to-please :001_smile:. Am I shooting for the moon? Any ideas? Jennifer

Never mind....I found it! I just needed to have a meltdown....to find my clarity! :001_smile: For those interested it is here: http://www.ibeleave.com/store/index.php?main_page=document_product_info&cPath=1_3&products_id=2 Jennifer

I have had a brain freeze. A couple years ago, I purchased some printables that a mom made to go alongside Saxon Math grades 2 and 3. They are a substitute for the daily meeting. I paid about $3 for the download and it saved me HOURS of prep work for Saxon! Now....my younger son needs it and I can't find it again! I have searched the web and can't find it! Anyone know what I am talking about? She had a place for the date, the number of the day, the clock, the coins, the pattern, a word problem, etc. There were five days of calendar on one page. HELP! Jennifer

Ok...I just read your previous response that you have already talked to your director. Her hands are not tied. She needs to go to her SM. Then her AM. Then continue until she gets an answer. You need training and you need it NOW! There are lots of options. Have her email me if she doesn't know what to do.....I am a director also. So, I can help her. Jennifer

I am a Foundations Director and the Essentials tutor.....plus, I was the Essentials trainer in my area. Here are my ideas for you: 1. Talk to your director. She should have ideas for you. If she doesn't, she needs to talk to her SM. If the SM can't help, go to your AM. There is a chain of command for this reason. You cannot be expected to teach Essentials without training. (nor does CC want you to teach it without training!) 2. There is a training packet that you can read before your training. I would send it to you, but I can't because I can't give them out unless I can see your signed contract. 3. I believe that there may be online training available, but I am not sure about this one. Check with your director. 4. As far as the first few weeks.....here are a few ideas: Put the kids in group. Give each group a simple puzzle (about 24 pieces). Do not give them the box top. Time them while they do it. When they are done, have them break it apart. Give them the box top and have them do it again while you time them. Their time the second round should be faster than the first. I ask them why it was easier. Why? They had the box top and they had a little bit of prior knowledge. Then I show them Chart A. I tell them that Chart A is our box top. It is our guide for the entire school year. The first couple weeks we will examine the entire picture. The rest of the year we'll examine each piece in more detail. It will take us the entire year to complete our puzzle. 5. If you email me a copy of your signed contrct, I will send you a sample of one of my lesson plans. Also, I will send you all of the things that I handed out to the tutors that I trained. 6. Also, you might check out my blog. I have a few things in there that I use in my Essentials class. Here are a few: We play Jeopardy on our Review Weeks. We play for M&M's or for tickets: http://teachingboys.net/2012/07/09/mm-jeopardy-review-game/ Here is a Math Game that we Play with a Soccer Ball...it is perfect for Essentials because it can be used for multiple skill levels: http://teachingboys.net/2012/06/30/math-fact-practice-with-a-soccer-ball/ When I want them to repeat definitions from the charts, I have them use funny voices and actions. Here is a list: http://teachingboys.net/2012/03/24/memorization-made-fun-and-easy/ It took them too long to choose a funny voice, so I made up this system with popsicle sticks to help them choose faster: http://teachingboys.net/2012/06/25/memorization-made-fun-and-easy-part-2/ Send me your signed contract and I will give you more! :001_smile: Jennifer

I prefer Vos. The stories come alive. We read it alongside the real Bible and Journey Through the Bible by V. Gilbert Beers. I think this is a perfect mix between making it interesting yet keeping the facts straight. I wrote a lengthy review of the one by Vos on my blog....if you want more details: http://teachingboys.net/2012/03/01/childs-story-bible/ Jennifer

I like the letters from All About Spelling. I bought one set to use with the program (for my older boys) and one set to use with my youngest (for teaching reading.) They are not fancy, but they are very functional. They have a strong magnet. They are small and flat, so they are easy to store. I don't like letters on my fridge because it leaves scratch marks. Instead, I store the letters on nesting cookie sheets. It is very convenient and works great. If you want to see pictures of my magnetic letter setup, you can look at it on my blog: http://teachingboys.net/2012/02/29/reading-three-letter-words/ Jennifer

Keep in mind.....you can always start a community in your hometown! :001_smile: Just contact the SM in your area and she can give you the details. I am a director for a CC group in my hometown. While I know a few families that have been successful with doing CC at home, the community aspect has kept me acountable to keep up with everything. I tried it at home one year and it always took the backburner. But, everyone is different! Jennifer

There is another book called "Games for Math" by Peggy Kaye that is really good. You might see if your library has it. Mine does! Jennifer

I started K at 4yo with my youngest. He saw his brothers doing school and he wanted in on the action! So, we started Saxon Math K and Saxon Phonics K. The math was super easy....he flew right through it. Saxon Phonics is not as easy. Now...he just turned 5....he is starting Saxon Math 1 and is halfway through Saxon Phonics K. Also, I add in lots of great books. My theory was start him on Kindergarten. If it takes us two years to get through it...that is fine! I "do the next lesson" once he has grasped the previous one. When I feel like I am losing him, I just stop and hang out in the previous lesson for awhile. I wrote a detailed description about Homeschooling my Kinder on my blog...if you want more details. I wrote it for a friend that is beginning homeschooling her Kinder next year. http://teachingboys.net/2012/05/08/homeschooling-kindergarten-a-quick-start-guide/ Jennifer

My boys are 10, 8, and 5. So, our ages are similar. I have posted a copy of my typical day on my blog. I define "typical" as the day that all of my ducks are in a row and mama is fully caffeinated! The best changes I made in regards to scheduling have been: -create independent work/ checklists. It never changes...from day to day. Many times, my boys will crawl out of bed and go directly to their work....without any help from me. They know what to do....the same thing as yesterday, but a different lesson, a different book, etc. -as the kids are working independently, I rotate from kid to kid....explaining new concepts and work that they will complete on the following day. -we combine Bible, History, Memory Work, and Science. This makes my life so much easier! It is very flexible. Every child is working independently, yet they have individual teaching time with me, also. We have family time with lots of exploring. I like my schedule. Of course, I realize that I might be a bit biased..... :) Here is a more detailed version of my schedule: http://teachingboys.net/2012/03/09/a-typical-school-day/ Here is a copy of their independent work checklists: http://teachingboys.net/category/school/schoolwork-checklists/ Hope that helps! Jennifer

I would address it, but not worry about it. :001_smile: Stressing about it won't help, but I do think I would continue providing different ways for her to cement them. My two favorite ways to practice math facts are Xtramath.org (free) and Flashmaster (not free!). My oldest son does great with Xtramath and has mastered all of his facts in three seconds or less! But, with this program, you will have to start with addition, then subtraction, then multiplication. (Although....now that I say that....I think you can go in and change the settings and directly choose multiplication. So....you could try that.) My middle son struggles with Xtramath because he shuts down with rigid timed tests. So, I broke down and bought him a Flashmaster. It was a great decision for my son, but I would try the Xtramath (free) first! If you want more info, I wrote a blog post reviewing both of them: http://teachingboys.net/2011/12/15/memorizing-math-facts/ Hope that ehlps! Jennifer

Meagan, Sorry it took me so long to respond! I just saw that I missed your post! Memory Master is not dependent on age, but on ability. Usually, parents will factor in many things when making this decision: child's age, child's ability, child's interest, and number of years in CC. It isn't one thing, but a combination of all of these things! As the parent, you decide whether your child is ready or not. But, I will echo what Jim said...you might be surprised! Last year we had a first grader become Memory Master...(although that is not typical! He was super-motivated!) Sorry...that isn't a black and white answer! But, that is the beauty of Classical Conversations! The parent is always in charge of making the final decision! Hope that helps! Jennifer

Let me throw out my disclaimer first....I am a director for a Classical Conversations community, so I am a bit biased! But, I am a mama first (to a 4 year old....plus 8 year old...plus 10 year old...) Honestly, my 4 yo tutor was so great....I really thought my son wouldn't get anything out if it because he is so active and he was the youngest in his class. I was so wrong! Let me preface with this...I have not worked with him at all...other than what he has overheard. He is always in the room when I work with his older brothers. The other day my neighbor called me and told me "Your son just told my daughter all about Pearl Harbor...Japan...the bombs. Last week he was telling us all about the Lusitania and German U-boats. What are you doing over there?" :) Plus...and this is the part you will like...he loves it!! He wants to have his own class...his own "teacher" (although the CC term is tutor), and his own playmates. The songs make it fun. He is going to sing about something....why not sing about Abraham Lincoln? Anyway...I know CC is not for everyone....but, I have been pleasantly surprised by how much my 4yo has picked up! If you want more info about memory work and CC-related stuff, check out my blog..... www.teachingboys.net Jennifer

I create a memory work binder and basket in which we store everything that we use for our memory work. I keep it on the kitchen table. Everything we need is in one place. While the kids are eating, I am quizzing them or playing the audio versions. Here is a further explanation of how I set it up: http://teachingboys.net/2012/03/24/memory-masters-study-binder-and-basket/ As far as what kinds of memory work.... We do Classical Conversations, so most of our Memory Work centers around that. Keep in mind that you can get the audio CDs without participating in a CC community. (Although, I love the community!) I highly recommend skip counting songs! Use them as a stepping stone, not an end point. They give the kids a "peg" from which to retrieve the information. Later, once the songs are stuck, they can easily memorize the facts without the songs. If you are wanting ideas on how to spice up your memory work so everyone stays awake.......check out another post I wrote about making memorization fun! http://teachingboys.net/2012/03/24/memorization-made-fun-and-easy/ Also, I have typed up our typical school day, which includes our Memory Work time..... http://teachingboys.net/category/our-schedule/ Jennifer

I just wrote a blog entry about my boys' (10, 8, and 4) favorite read-alouds. Many of these have audio book versions. http://teachingboys.net/2012/04/02/top-ten-family-read-alouds/ A few others we have liked are: Frindle, Lawn Boy, and Encyclopedia Brown...we listened to all of these on audio. A friend of mine likes Jonathon Park, but my boys didn't care for it. Jennifer

Thanks for the encouraging words! Glad to be here! Jennifer

Nick, I am a CC Foundations director and the Essentials tutor for my community. We chose Saxon math because that it what the kids will do if they go to the Challenge level. It is very scripted. My 4yo is doing Saxon K and is flying through it. (My olders use it, also.) Also, for LA, I use Saxon Phonics. I love the results of the program....absolutely amazing. But....it is very time-consuming! So, I have mixed emotions as to whether we will stick with it. I wait to do grammar until they get to the Essentials class. Here are all of our curriculum choices, in detail: http://teachingboys.net/2012/03/12/our-curriculum-2011-2012/ If you are wanting detailed info on a typical day in my home (with a 4yo, 8yo, and 10yo) you can read about it on my blog: Here is our typical day: http://teachingboys.net/2012/03/09/a-typical-school-day/ Have a blessed day! Jennifer

I did a post on my blog on the First Moon Landing. I included several book ideas. Plus, there is a link to JFK's speech announcing that America would fly to the moon. There are several videos of the Apollo 11 launching and landing on the moon. Plus, there is a link to the NASA Kids website. Maybe you could find something you like? http://teachingboys.net/2012/03/13/the-first-moon-landing/ Jennifer

You're welcome, ladies! Laura...I love having the white board with everything! We use the erase-a-word technique as our primary memorization method. So, it is nice to have the board with everything else.

For those of you involved in Classical Conversations........I thought I would share my idea...... I created a Memory Master Study Binder for my son as we prepare for testing. Also, I made a portable basket to carry all of our memory master "tools." I thought somebody else might like to see it. It has helped keep us on track with our goals! Here is a link to the assembly instructions and pictures: http://teachingboys.net/2012/03/24/memory-masters-study-binder-and-basket/ Enjoy! Jennifer

I just posted several fun ways to memorize things on my blog. Funny voices, writing in crazy things, singing songs, etc. Maybe you could find something here? http://teachingboys.net/2012/03/24/memorization-made-fun-and-easy/ Also, take it slowly. My 4 yo memorized a lot of the states and capitals. But, I chose five per week. We worked on those all week. Then, we added five more. Jennifer