I have a similar question. If I was able to borrow someone's DVDs for a few weeks and watch them all this summer, before teaching, would that work? Or do I need to have access to DVDs whilst teaching? Would I need the seminar workbook throughout the year?

I'm getting it, too.

I have recently started Math on the Level and my kids are liking that a lot. Sorry to not really describe it but I bet search on here would bring up more thorough explanations than I could! I'm on this thread to get ideas, really!

I'd love to see a list, too! I am SO not the one to write one, though! Organization is not my thing : (

I was hoping there are people who do this! My six year old is just starting to read and I'm trying to limit how many read-alouds I have to do. He loves listening to audiobooks so I wondered whether at least year one would work if we went audio-only. Does anyone do the student activity guide with the audio-only route?

Could you link to that blog so I could check it out, too, please? I'm trying to work out what I want to do with SOTW for my first grader. Thanks!

We just found Jericho and I agree--it is great! My husband and I wait for each other to watch shows together; he is reading right now and I REALLY want him to stop so I can get back to the last few episodes of season one! Other shows that have been Netflix obsessions: Veronica Mars--probably now my favorite show of all time. Firefly--yes, space cowboys, but awesome. Dollhouse--another Joss Whedon show, and also awesome.

My DS1 turned five in June. We are technically delaying kindergarten (Virginia requires registration or an official delay if the child is five by August something--the delay is only optional to those who are not six by September 30), but we will work on a few subjects. It will be more official than last year, but I'm sort of in line with the "start school at age six" crowd, so I'm not feeling too much pressure. But I am excited to do a bit more than last year!

Your advice actually sounds like a great idea--enjoyable even! And just reading it was like instant stress relief and hope! Thanks! In my brain I have always thought, nothing major till 1st grade. But then when I get the curric out and I hear what others are doing and I finally feel like my son can do a little more than before (which I've been waiting for for FIVE years), I start to dream a little too big and forget that my goal was originally know how to read and know how to count to 100 by the time he starts first grade. Anyway, thanks! And you are having a baby, too? Congrats!

This is a great thread, and I really am just commenting so it goes to my subscribed threads. This will be my first year being hopefully consistent with schooling, as my eldest just turned five. I don't have humongous plans, but I'm trying to make them now since a baby is coming in 3.5 weeks, if not sooner! I have thought and thought about how to organize everything, but I can't even organize my school room, let alone the daily/weekly/monthly/yearly lesson plans...so I think I'm done for. ruh-roh. I love the ideas of planning everything now, but with three sick kids and only three weeks to prepare for visiting grandparents who will watch the three kids and then a baby, and having just returned home from a month visiting family, I am going to have to realize that planning now is not going to happen. I mean, I need to do laundry! Thankfully my husband is a teacher, so he's off and can help a bunch, but still... Anyway, I'm sorry to steal your stress-relieving thread. It just seemed like the right place to join in and say I'm with ya.

I'm near Ashland!

Your post reminded me of this article I read a few years ago. Hope it helps! How Not to Talk to Your Kids The inverse power of praise

This is SO me. I do the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Micheals...it is HARD, but really fun, once you know the moves. Which reminds me, better go now...