It can vary slightly district to district, but NY's cutoff is generally December 1, not January 1. Not that December is much better! And yes, when I was a public school teacher we had 3.5 year olds in pre-k and 4.5 in K. My husband has a mid-November birthday and started K at 5.5 (half day, play based). I have an August birthday and started at 6 (same school). One of our sons also has a November birthday, and I would never have sent him this year at 4.5.

I saw these at B&N last week, and have them saved in my Amazon cart for my nine year old: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1484709128?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER Think they're fairly new...they had the audiobook CDs available too. :)

Haha, same here! A house full of musicians!

http://www.funnybits.mobi/2013/10/if-we-watched-cooking-shows-way-guys.html

My 2.5 year old looooves Whoowasit. Not what you'd think of first for that age, maybe, but he can follow the game and participate. It's cooperative with three levels of play, so also a favorite with the other kids (9, 7, 5). http://www.amazon.com/Whoowasit-Award-Winning-Board-Game-Electronics/dp/B004UKNJCM/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1452045336&sr=1-1&keywords=whoowasit

However chaotic the day, by the time my husband is home everything is done so we can both relax. It's a nice season right now...dreading the time when the kids will have evening activities! I'm such a homebody.

Most of my family are new arrivals, as is DH's (although he some currently semi-famous musician relatives: strings and opera back in Italy), but I had to comment because one of our cats is named Nunzio! After one of the dogs in Dharma and Greg, though... No uncles. 😠We call him Nunz.

You can absolutely keep it very basic while still adhering to the regulations. I know a lot of homeschoolers of all methodologies who use the World Book list of topics to create their IHIPs. That leaves the door open to go in any direction you choose, and you can be more exact on your quarterly reports. Some districts will accept one-line quarterlies, but they are within the regulations to require more details. The Syracuse City School homeschoolers just had a run-around about paperwork requirements. The district was overstepping for the most part, but they are no longer accepting simple quarterlies as they have in the past.

Put up your Thanksgiving decor-- or if you're really ambitious-- your Christmas tree! ;) Our neighborhood suggests 6-8, but it's not a hard and fast rule.

Multi-level marketing. Those flashlight books are pretty fun too. I just ordered one of those for Christmas. Don't ask me which one! My little boys also like The Big Book of... series. Monsters, trucks, dinosaurs...right up their alley.

They will replace them for half price! A local consultant is actually dropping off a replacement copy of Farmyard Tales today (one of the buddy readers SKL mentioned). Our copy has worn out (book and CD) then got lost, and it's my four year old's favorite book! I wish they would move away from the MLM scheme in the US. That's the only thing that annoys me about Usborne. We are addicted to the sticker books, though, so we can't stop/won't stop. :lol: The Shakespeare, Ancient Egyptian, Greek Myths, and Prehistory sticker books were fun go-alongs for history.

Same here. All mine (mostly the cable knit) are in perfect shape. I wear house shoes though and don't go around in stocking feet (too cold!), so I don't know if that would make a difference? The kids' pairs made it through 2-3 winters before one bit the dust yesterday. Considering their track record with socks in general, I'm still calling it a win. ;) (Edited for typo)

I've been slowly building up my collection of everyday wool socks for winter. I love these: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/73313?feat=socks-SR0&page=women-s-smartwool-cable-socks. Thin enough for everyday, but warm! My kids mostly wear the color-coded Hanes cotton socks, but they each have a pair or two of Smartwool for really cold days and playing outside.

This is localish to me (an hour from where I live now, near where I grew up), and you're right about NY's regulations. There are quarterly reports in addition to instruction plans and annual assessments, which must be a standardized test in certain years from 4-8, and every year from 9-12. Either the district wasn't paying attention and they were flying under the radar, or they passed muster (33rd percentile minimum).

It is quite possibly all in my head because the misuse when writing drives me so absolutely bonkers. Morning vs. mourning is the same way. ETA: I've been walking around all day randomly saying both, and I think when I say "bawl," the "aw" is more firmly pronounced. I can't describe it well. Almost as if I can see it as I say it, so I'm emphasizing the difference. It's very slight, and like I said possibly indiscernible except in my little bubble.

Yes, where in the regulations are you seeing a requirement to cover child abuse? http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/10010.html I've never heard that mentioned in all my years HSing in NYS!

Ball vs bawl is one I see a lot. Everyone is always "balling their eyes out." I hear a (slight) difference when I say it.

LucyStoner nailed it. I'm in the Syracuse area, and there was a letter to the editor and a related FB post my friends were passing around, that outlined several instances on the Kiss Cam where the lady was forced to kiss against her will. I'll see if I can find it. (ETA: here it is... http://www.syracuse.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/no_means_no_even_on_the_carrier_dome_kiss_cam_your_letters.html Looks like it drew some national attention based on other articles I just saw.) I haven't been paying attention since then I'm afraid, but I assume that sparked the decision. The online comments were downright nasty, though, as you can imagine.

Would love an update too as you go along. :) I've considered something along these lines, or a loop for content subjects.

Looks like they've extended it until tomorrow (Thursday) at noon pacific, according to their site! http://www.evan-moor.com/t/weekly-promo

You're right. I was definitely snippy last night...the curmudgeon that many in our profession are accused of being. Don't get me started on poorly funded, depressingly stocked, sad libraries staffed by cranks, though, or I might slip back into character. :lol: I've been reading Amongst Lovely Things for a many years, and like Sarah. :) She has always struck me as very genuine, willing to learn, and happy to share her journey!

The books Sarah is unfamiliar with shock me on a regular basis. And yes, I am well under 40, but I am a children's librarian and the daughter of one so that may make a difference. I want to tell all the subscribers to visit some libraries, find a great librarian, and make a friend for life. :D

Most of these I roll into health. I just add on my quarterly when I list what we've covered. Patriotism and citizenship can be considered part of history and geography. Sometimes I add civic holidays to my quarterlies, and call that good (e.g. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or Presidents' Day). For NYS history, I would consider field trips to many of the great historic sites to be plenty. One fun idea is to list all the historic landmarks in your county and visit to learn the story behind them. I got that idea from my mom who taught in NY for 30+ years. There are usually dozens! I'm going to PM you too to see if we'll be neighbors and if I can help with this area specifically. And yes! Join NYHEN! http://www.nyhen.org

Whatever else, I highly recommend some kind of wool hood: http://www.novanatural.com/collections/clothing/products/wool-hood-1 Kids and adults! They make all the difference!

Please do not stress too hard about this part. Homeschooling in NY is not that bad, and there are many of us here on WTM, the NYHEN Yahoo Group, and many FB groups who can help you navigate paperwork and the districts. You have time to figure it out! If you get a moment to breathe, and want to PM one of the NYers your general location, we can probably help get you plugged in. You've got this! :) All the best as you sell, move, and transition!