Tnx! We're new to Rhode Island, so this will be a great resource!

Trumpet of the Swan read by E. B. White. His voice is great.

We like We Choose Virtues. Kids like the cartoon characters & funny rhymes. Now, when stuck in line at the store, even my 5 yr old says, "Don't worry, Mom. I can wait & wait & wait with a smile." I think we have the family kit. We also use Bigger Stories for Little Folks & Devotional Stories for Little Folks by Nancy Nicholson. Kids get a kick out of all the sticky situations the little brother gets himself into.

3 of my kids will be the same ages as yours this fall. We're also doing SOTW 1. I already had the Kingfisher history encyclopedia. I bought a few of the other recommended books from Amazon used. Doesn't get better than $0.01 + $3.99 shipping for some of those! I also found a set of World Book Encyclopedias at a local library for $25!! Score! My Logic age DS hates coloring, so I didn't buy the geography coloring book. He'll do map work with the younger kids and spend some time with the atlas. Everything else will come from our local library.

Solutions manual makes grading a snap. I could easily do it myself, but time is precious in my house.

Your situation sounds so much like mine. DS used WWE and did well until the end of 4th grade. He has always struggled with the dictation, esp this yr. With the narrations since week 32 or so of WWE4, he reads the passages & just looks at me with a blank stare when I ask him to summarize. He can summarize history or fiction he chooses without problems, but he told me, "I just don't want to remember the stuff I don't like." :glare: My current plan is to use WWS for 5th grade and see how it goes. I want to spend several weeks with WWS before implementing outlining across the curriculum. Maybe our trouble is spring fever...

I have 4 kids ages 2-10, so try aren't all little. I started using Chore Packs as described by Managers of Their Chores. A quick search will lead you to the author's website. I've also seen the book if amazon, Craigslist, etc. It's basically a to-do list with each item on a card; all the card are places in a plastic name badge with a clip. Dc looks at each card to see what to do, then puts the completed card on my dresser. When dc has completed all the cards, she knows she has finished her chores. It's working really well for us! Even our 2 yr old likes looking at her chore cards to see what's next-her cards have pictures. We use this system for morning & bedtime routines & afternoon chores. One of the best tips in the book is to implement the system slowing. We started with just morning routine "chores" like brush teeth, comb hair. After a week, I introduced the bedtime "chores." Everybody got the hang of these quickly. Later I introduced afternoon chores-dusting, sweeping, etc. it's not perfect, but so much better than where we were! The level of independence has jumped substantially! That's exactly what this mamma needs-kids who are independent. :)

When our last baby was born, the older kids did lots of puzzles, easy board games(Uncle Wiggly, Shoots & Ladders, etc), card games(UNO, Rummy, Dutch Blitz), and I bought a pound of multi-sided dice http://www.amazon.com/Chessex-Dice-Pound-Pound-O-Dice-Approximately/dp/B000X75BFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369363354&sr=8-1&keywords=dice+by+the+pound It was the best $20 I'd spent in a while. We still those dice for so many things--math facts practice, instead of spinners in games, skip counting, roll to see who has to set the table... Good luck & congrats!

We took 2 weeks for the Revolutionary War this yr. Focused on Boston & Rhode Island since it's out newest home(we're military & just moved here last fall). Then back to SOTW3. Over the course of the fall & winter we took tours in Boston, listened to Johnny Tremain on cd, visited Lexington/Concord, and read lots of fun books. So, it's been an ongoing conversation, but not the weekly topic of history class.

My DS won't start 5th grade work until later this summer, but I'm already wondering the same things. It takes at least a week to get many of our requested books. Our budget won't allow for buying lots of supplemental reading. So, I'm now hunting for a used set of encyclopedias. That would be easier & most cost effective for me in the long run, I think.

I LOVE this! How fun!

I read Mindset a few yrs ago. I really appreciated the idea of changing the paradigm to one of encouraging effort. I frequently comment on my children's efforts. I don't really remember getting that as a child. Just "A dollar for every A" at report card time. Since school was pretty easy, so that seemed great. But in other areas of life, I simply gave up if it didn't come easily. I assumed I couldn't do it if an activity required effort. I want my kids to see the benefit of working hard at something even if they aren't great at it. And recognize that it's the hard work that gets results, not some innate ability. Great book!

Suzuki programs don't require reading. We LOVE our Suzuki cello & piano lessons. There are always fun games, tricks, treats, etc mixed into lessons. So much better than the drudgery I was exposed to in Jr. High band...

We got the simple machines kit also-the regular Legos, not duplo. My kids really liked the program. I'm not physics/engineering savvy, so the teachers manual was great for me. I do agree with Arboreal TJ, though it's a high price for the kit. We used it for 6 wks. I know we'll revisit the kit in a few yrs when we come back to physics & my littles are ready to use Legos, so I try to use that as justification. On the up side, my kids know gears, pulleys, levers, and wheels & axles inside & out. Being able to build & manipulate those machines solidified their knowledge of the concepts. They've put the concepts to use in their regular playtime Legos, too. :) Despite high cost, I will buy from Lego Ed. again.

I second a stop n Newport RI. The Mansions are great. Admission at The Breakers includes an audio tour-one for kids, one for adults. In the kids'tour, the narrating character is the house itself! It's fun. Check out Washington's home, Mt. Vernon, in VA. And Jefferson's Monticello near Charlottesville, VA.

My kids LOVE Asterix. Dh discovered them while in Germany in the early '90's. He has German & English versions of some. I despise graphic novels, so these are strictly for kids & daddy bonding time.

Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Laura Davis This was a huge help to me when my first 2 kids were little! I also like How To Talk... I should revisit that one!

I want to throw one more suggestion out. Lego Education for part of a physics curriculum. http://www.legoeducation.us/?domainredir=www.legoeducation.com I love biology. I'm a nurse. I love anatomy of all creatures, get excited about physiology of all living things, but physics bores me to tears. I grew tired of the physics book recommended by WTM, so when we got to simple machines, I bought a set from Lego and my kids had a blast! The curriculum is well planned, includes handouts for the kids to use as they work through the projects, info to prep me on what we're doing, & fun "experiments." The sets are pricey, but we found them well worth the investment. We spent 6 or 7 wks on simple machines & we'll finish the yr with the robotics set. With a builder in your family, this might be a great part to your physics plans.

Lori D offered great advice & information. As you & ds research your options, go directly to the recruiting offices & ROTC reps & ask what their current/future needs may be. This may help you decide which branch is the best fit for ds's skills & interests. They can also give you up to date info re: homeschool vs. PS. You'll also get a better idea of officer vs. enlisted. My DH is active duty AF, and just completed an assignment as commander of a recruiting squadron. It is competitive, but they will help ds stay on track for the physical fitness test & prepping for ASVAB. Good luck! My DH LOVES his military career!

I type in the lists myself-each named for the rule of that lesson which gives him a good hint at what he should be thing about as he plays the games. For review, I make a "mega list" with 20 or 30 words. I only use the free version, not the subscription.

We use AAS, and my 4th grader really struggles with spelling. We started using Spelling City about a month ago, & he spends far more time reviewing now than ever before. His spelling is improving--at least now there's a element of fun to it. :)

My neighbor's son goes to boarding school. His school is actually right here in our town, but he lives at the school. His mom said he showed signs of being gifted in elementary school, so they opted for boarding school for his high school education. I also have an aquaintance who sent her son to a boarding school in NYC at age 7 or 8. The school's focus is boys' choir--they are similar to the Westminster Abbey boys' choir. She visits every weekend to attend performances, spend time with him,etc. She & her son also serve meals at a NYC homeless shelter. Her biggest concern is that he'll be in eighth grade next yr. They are hoping his voice doesn't begin to change before he finishes.

We have something similar & love it! I think we bought it at Lowes or Home Depot for around $80. Money well spent.

Ditto! That's my bag. I have a set of 8 or 10. Easy for baggers to use. Easy for me to carry. Durable. Never rip or fall apart like the Cheap Charlie ones.

The kids build leprechaun traps in the days leading up to St. Pat's, set them out on the 16th & hope they've caught one in the morning. That's about the extent of our celebration. if I can find a library book about the real St. Patrick, we read that. Occasionally, I make beef boxy from scratch. No matching shirts here...