Thanks! Great ideas! I guess my problem is that I'm so disorganized and unstructured right now that I don't get anything done unless it's in a book/curriculum, etc. "someone else" suggesting I do it. Sounds pathetic probably but I'm just finding the time to sit down and actually plan out things like you suggested. I'd like to try though! But if there is a book out there with suggestions like that I'd love that too!

2nd grade level Early American history. I just posted about Trail Guide to US Geog but after looking at the two sample pages again I'm not so sure...It seemed like the locations to find/label on a state map were somewhat random. I could of course make up my own places to find and label based on where we are in history but would be nice if a program was already done that way. anyone have recommendations for a good geography program that would coincide will with American History?

Do you think that either Trail Guide to US Geog. or Cantering the Country would fit nicely with early american history? Could they be used in any order so, for example, if our history is taking place in Virginia we'd do Virginia georaphy from one of those books? This would be for about the 2nd grade level. Sound like too much? I haven't seen either book in detail- just skimming briefly at a convention and the on-line samples. If you have used them please share your thoughts! or any other ideas for some fun/interesting geography study that would correlate well with American History. Thanks!

Thank you so much! Lots of ideas to check out!

What I'm doing may not fit the classical history cycle, but I'd like to get some ideas for how to proceed. Last year was K/1 and we did Biblical history (creation to revelation) and then a brief overview up to early American history. This year we are doing grade 1/2 and early American history from Vikings through Civil War. Ideas for next year? (trying to think ahead a little) I was thinking of world history. If you have thoughts for how I could start a cycle based on what I've done last year and this coming year please share. :)

Where are some good places to buy a used or refurbished or otherwise inexpensive but good, working microscope? Either on-line or elsewhere. We live far from larger cities so probably on-line is our only option other than getting super lucky on craig's list.

thank you for the info on how to use a tablet- I think my son would like using it! and thanks for all the other info on KISS grammar. I signed for the yahoo group hoping to understand it better but am not approved yet... so far one thing I'm confused about is the levels/grades. I thought he called the first book a second "grade" book... did he intend for it to be used by grade one year per grade in a public school?

thanks. what is MCT Town? what is a workbook window? I understand what it's for but did you make it yourself or is it something you bought?

I don't have a tablet, but how do you use it with a tablet? (I'm starting to find more reasons why I might want a tablet.... this could be another...?)

Has anyone used KISS grammar as their first grammar program for grade 2 level? It looks interesting but I'm having a hard time getting through the info on the website. Not sure that I want to print everything out myself but I like that it uses real literature to teach grammar. If you used it please share your pros and cons. My son will be 7 in sept and is reading above 2nd grade level (not sure what level though!) but has not learned any grammar and done little writing.

Please share your thoughts on Instit. for Excellence in Writings Primary Arts of Language. I would be using it with a 7 yr old who is reading but not writing much. He is capable of writing sentences (either dictating to me or needing help spelling). I haven't been able to get a clear idea of the program from the online samples on their website. Some concerns I'd have is that he already knows how to print letters and I'm not sure about learning to write the long and short vowel markings, etc. (not sure what they are called). Otherwise it looks interesting. When it refers to story sequence charts and story summaries are the stories included in the program or is it for use with stories of your own choosing? What are the dvd's for? Are they instructional videos for the parents or for the students too? I just really don't have a clear picture of the program but am interested in knowing more.

please don't send me to the how-to board. I searched it briefly and anyone else asking for help didn't get any! I want to post a photo from my camera (or I can save the photo on my computer first). When I tried it the file size was either too big or not valid. Thanks!

glad someone figured out how to post a photo. I will start a separate post on how to post a photo because I can't figure it out. It keeps saying invalid file.

nevermind for tonight. got the photo but the file size is too large I think. there is a chart that I think is stating the max. file size for types of attachments and mine was 25MB! will figure it out tomorrow hopefully.

thanks. I see how to do it now. I will try to add a photo to original post tonight!

ok- so I'm becoming technologically challenged (I used to know more than my colleagues 7 yrs ago when I was a school teacher.... not now!) what do you mean by the little paperclip? I tried clicking on insert image but it wants a url- if my photo is just on my photo card then it doesn't have a url does it?

Can I just insert a picture into a post?

We don't really have a homeschool room that we stay in most of the time. It's the downstairs bedroom that we call the office (my husband and I used to have desks in there and the computer and it was always a mess). Now it is becomming more like the homeschool storage room/library. It's not very big and I struggle finding a way to make it slightly functional such that we would actually come in here and do some kind of learning in here. I think it will be more for computer use and quiet are for other work now and then. maybe a beanbag to sit and read on? as for organizing here's where I need some tips or advice or thoughts.. right now we have a 10 drawer cart that is not being very useful, a 9-cube shelf from target that is a fraction of a cm too small for binders to fit on the shelves:glare:, another narrow shelf thing we store paper and printer type stuff on (photo paper, labels, sheet protectors, pocket folders, etc.) next to that is a small file cabinet in which only 2.5 of the 4 drawers are being utilized well. and then a waist high shelf with misc. supplies on it. one after the other, all lined up. the whole wall space above is not being utilized. (can we post photos here? if it's easy I'd do it). we also have a closet with no doors with shelves in it that has some books and some supplies. so... my thought is to buy the Gorm shelf system at IKEA (unfinished wood utility looking- intended for basements etc.) that is 94" long and 68" high and buy extra shelves for it. it would take up almost that whole wall with the mish-mash of other shelf systems. It would have about 37.5" of shelf space! Does that sound like a good idea? get rid of the other things on that wall and either use the new ikea shelf for ALL books and put all supplies in the closet or still put certain books in the closet and have some books and some supplies on the shelves. has anyone done something like that? Did it work well? It seems like it would help. but it will be about $100 canadian and a trip across the border (we live in US) and an hour's drive to get it. so I don't just want to jump into it. I would really love to make my own bookcases but it will take me too long- I need to get organized now!!!

Thank you. I guess one concern I have right now, especially after reading the sample daily schedules in the book is that there is almost no play time in first grade.

Thanks for the ideas. As for the Lego club at currclick.com please let me know if you can describe what they do. I didn't find a lot of info about that on the website. I'm looking for building functional lego things- using the gears and some technic pieces. Possibly using engineering design principles or science physics concepts.

I've just started reading The Well Trained Mind. I'm not sure if I fully agree with all of the ideas. But I haven't read enough yet. What I'm wondering if you could share success stories with me for those of you actually following the classical method and ideas from the book. (It seems like plenty of the forum members here do not follow the method very closely??). And did you find success with classical method even for a left brained, mathy, engineering mind child? (he wants to process information even at age 6 and build things, make physics type connections, etc. and I'm not seeing much room for that with the classical method.) perhaps I should post though on a forum for parents of older students and many reading here still have just younger children.

I would love to start a Lego engineering group in my area for homeschoolers. I've heard of a Lego camp at Play-well (not sure if that is a specialty toy-store or what it is- there is one in CT near my brother in law). It sounds really good but they don't seem to sell their curriculum. Does anyone know of a place to buy (or download for free!) good Lego curriculum based on engineering or science (physics) for age 7+? oh- and not sure I can afford those pkg's marketed for schools that are over $100 for each segment. perhaps a basic school pkg could be purchased by a small group of homeschoolers though and divided up and then each child brings his lego pieces to the group each time?

Thank you all so much! overall it sounds like more of you think sticking with right start B is better for now and after level B there are mixed ideas of switching to Singapore. I guess I'll stick with RS B for now and start learning more about Singapore to figure out what to do after RS B. I bought all the Miquon first level (? maybe second level?) stuff and never quite figured out how to do it, though I didn't try as hard as I could have. It still sits on the shelf though....

we've been using Right Start with my son who is now 6. We started level A but it was always too easy so we moved up to level B. Even though we are in lesson 27 now- beyond the lessons that catch you up if you didn't do level A, it still seems to easy? or too slow-paced? Not sure what it is. he often seems bored with it and he either already knows the concept or he figures out right away. anyone who knows both programs: would your recommend we switch to Singapore? Is it faster paced? and for Singapore, would I understand how to teach it without the teacher's manuals? (isn't that the expensive part?)

My 5.5 yr old is loving reading and wants to do more and more. We are using hooked on phonics and he is almost done with level 4. I had been wondering about how to go about teaching spelling. He had been doing ok for his age writing stories, asking how to spell some things and in the HOP pages where he is asked to spell the words I tell him with letter cards. But now that we are into the double vowels like "ee" "ea" and "er" "ir" "ur" he is getting frustrated. He barely spelled any of the er/ir/ur words right and was feeling frustrated and angry. so.... what is the best way to teach spelling? For someone who seems to be a natural reader (coming very easy to him) is it just a matter of more exposure and reading the words over and over and practice writing them in context? Is he too young to be studying word lists and doing spelling tests?