[What is the worst educational/HS item you've ever bought?]

Two BIGGEST flops for us (there have been oh so very many)

Abeka language

Singapore math

 

Both brought tears

[Five in a Row for bigger kids?]

I actually like it not being a layed out schedule. . .that way I can pick and choose without feeling awful and behind when I don't "finish everything".;);)

[Does anyone not like Apologia science?]

We didn't like it. Still have it as a reference.

[STOW Is The Rumor True?]

However, the audio books do use BCE/CE. Consequently, my ds3 is always correcting me when I read BC, screaming, "IT'S BCE!" :lol:

 

:lol:that's adorable

[Five in a Row for bigger kids?]

I'd get non-fiction books for the science and geography topics and let him read those and write mini-reports. That would be plenty.

 

 

I like this idea a lot. He really LOVES to read, and we need to work on writing this year.

[Shining Dawn nature study?]

I hadn't seen those reviews. The samples do look amazing. And I like that I can get something specific to focus on. I'm thinking the one on snow and ice might be nice to try for something different in a month or two when the snow starts falling. :001_smile:

[Five in a Row for bigger kids?]

Thanks all. I got an account at FIAR boards so I'll ask for some more tips later today.

[Shining Dawn nature study?]

Anybody?

[How do you FIAR?]

:bigear:

[Five in a Row for bigger kids?]

I was just thinking of asking a similar question. Also along the lines of how it's done in their respective homes! Maybe I will do that instead of hijacking your thread! Sorry!

 

 

Not a problem. I'm interested in that as well

[Been in the homeschooling community for 10 years ... today was my first day doing it!]

Yeah! Congratulations:)

[Five in a Row for bigger kids?]

FIAR can totally be used for kiddos that age. There is a lot of meat in those manuals and taking rabbit trails is so much fun to do!!

 

 

Yeah! That's so good to hear.

[Five in a Row for bigger kids?]

I really want to target my 6 year old. She's been kind of drug along with ds. . .sitting through things she has no interest in. I think Beyond would be too much for her. . .

Ds 8 really does enough willingly. . .he reads through SOTW and any science books for fun. . .but I think he would enjoy FIAR as well.

[Five in a Row for bigger kids?]

I am so burnt out. I'm pregnant with baby #5 and my youngest 2 are almost 2 and 3 1/2. I'm seriously considering trying FIAR for my 1rst and 3rd graders. I know it would be plenty for my 6 year old. . .and my 8 year old reads soooo much on his own.

 

But. . .I mostly hear about people using it with Kers. . .Has anyone used it with bigger kiddos?:bigear:

[Shining Dawn nature study?]

These studies were mentioned in a recent thread by a couple of people. They look great from samples! Nature study with lots of handholding.;)

 

I would love to hear some feedback from other people who have used them. Which one(s) did you use? Favorites? Likes/dislikes?:bigear:

[What is your current read aloud?]

recently finished: The Star and the Sword

currently reading: Grandma's Attic

Next up: Caddie Woodlawn's Family (the sequel to Caddie Woodlawn)

[Does anyone here NOT teach all their children at the same time?]

I have 2 toddlers, so no. . .I can't work with both big kids at the same time. Atleast not while both littles are awake.

 

We have morning school HOUR in which I take turns working with each big kid while the other plays with the littles ie. keeps them from being mean to each other.

 

Then we do everything else during naptime. I know many hate using naptime, but it's sooooooooo much less stressful and quiet for us this way.

[Where do you buy your playsilks?]

I'm sooo doing this. I think my 6 year old dd will have fun helping me.

 

I also loveee the colors on beneath the rowan tree. I had gotten a bunch from the purple tangerine, which also has great colors, but they were 30 by 30 or smaller. It will be nice to have some a bit bigger.

[Where do you buy your playsilks?]

My DD's love playsilks so I have bought some "old lady scarves" from the thrift stores. I know not all of the scarves are silk but my girls love them.

I have a drawer of these too. The girls MUST love them, cause they're always out. lol

 

Dharma Trading Company. Got it.

They say they sell in yardage. So did you cut to size and then hem the edges?

[Where do you buy your playsilks?]

Maybe Oriental Trading or Dollar Store?

I'm looking for really nice silk ones;)

 

I am SO not a crafty person, but I bought undyed silks from here:

 

http://www.thaisilks.com/

 

and dyed them with food coloring using these instructions:

 

http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/fooddyes.shtml

 

They came out amazingly well. Which reminds me, I should get some more and do them again soon -- we've had the old ones for years and they're basically in tatters.

 

This is a great idea. I'm glad you mentioned you're not crafty. . .that's exactly how I would describe myself. . .embarassingly NOT crafty.

 

Do you remember what kind you got? Did you get the pre hemmed scarf size or big pieces and hem them yourself?

[Where do you buy your playsilks?]

I have a collection of playsilks, but they're all minis and 30 by 30 size. I'd like to get some a bit bigger (but not huge canopy size).

We like bright colors.:D

Any suggestions? :bigear:

[What on earth will a 7 year old girl play with?!]

mine loves horses too. . .a popular theme among little girls I see

 

We're surrounded by amish horses and buggies, and the kids always talk about how fun it'd be to have one.

[What on earth will a 7 year old girl play with?!]

 

Paper dolls were huge too. She got this one 3 times http://www.amazon.com/Fabulous-Book-Paper-Dolls-ISBN/dp/B001G1JNBY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1310682574&sr=8-5 because she played with it so much. She bought a lot of these as birthday gifts for her friends; that's how much she loved them!

 

This looks fun! She has some AG that she likes.

 

Tickets to somewhere fun :) We are in Florida so there are tons of fun places, that we get tickets to for our kids (Amusement parks, theater, museums, movie theater, etc.). We don't buy toys for our kids anymore, we have WAAAAY too many :) Though we do still buy crafts, and ds games :) My girls love jewelry, too.

 

A trip is a great idea especially as a suggestion to grandparents. . .free shipping:001_smile:

 

Seriously though. . .maybe she just needs a doll. . .I didn't even mention that she sleeps with the catalog under her pillow. She really wants one, but part of me thinks she won't play with it. . .

But. . .literally the ONLY toy she has asked for for over a year (since before her last bday)

Now. . .to convince her to decide on one that she likes the best.

[What on earth will a 7 year old girl play with?!]

Does she like nature? An ant farm, butterfly raising kit, praying mantid kit? Mine really loves anything nature so we've purchased binoculars, a butterfly habitat, and numerous field guides for her. She also keeps a nature journal, so that and some nice colored pencils or watercolor pencils (even better) and a "nature backpack" to keep it all in is an idea.

 

She does indeed! She loves to collect worms.;) The butterfly kit would be great me thinks.

 

The toys my DD actually plays with are ones her friends also play with.

Yep. . .the things that get the most play are the things the rest of the kids in the fam will play with too. . .and not destroy.

 

I forgot one thing I meant to mention... jewelry... .

DD is so artsy. . .you'd think she'd love jewelry, but the ears that she had pierced have closed because she didn't like wearing them.:001_huh:

 

 

I'm noticing a theme. . .crafty things and that elusive item that she has actually been asking for. . .for over a year.

[What on earth will a 7 year old girl play with?!]

:bigear: I feel your pain. My girls are so hard to shop for!

 

What about some of these DIY craft kits? The girls always enjoyed those.

 

http://www.melissaanddoug.com/decorate-your-own-craft-kits

 

Becca also started cross-estitching and latch-hooking at 7; you could look for simple charts and kits.

 

Oh, and knitting, she knits too. What about a kid's learn to knit kit?

 

 

She is really creative/crafty, but VERY easily frustrated. . .but those Melissa and Doug kits look really fun!

 

She likes drawing more that coloring

 

My 7 year old LOVES the Usborne sticker books where you dress the princesses, dolls, etc. HERE they are on Amazon. She sits down for an hour a t a time and does that book, adding to each picture.

 

This looks great!:)

 

How about horses. The Liv Doll with the horse is loved here. :001_smile:

The horse and doll are moveable.

 

She does love horses. =)

She had originally wanted Felicity the doll because she loved horses. . .but they retired her so that's not even an option

 

We just started making wish lists for Christmas a couple weeks ago. Hannah will be 7 in a couple weeks. Here is her wish list:

 

Hannah Wishlist

4. Bottle of Vitamin C Tablets

 

 

:lol:cute. I'm actually a little crazy about the Vitamin C tablets. . .and echinacea. . .especially when we'll be traveling and eating fast food

 

My dd just turned seven. I suggest fun clothes, a camera/mini video camera, or American Girl crafts (hand sewing project, friendship bracelets kit, a kit so she can play school with her dolls, etc.).

 

She lives to change her clothes. . .and shoes:D

 

You may want to try the AG doll.

You may be right

 

When our dds were that age they always played with Breyer horses.

She has some of these books but I've never seen the horses. Must google