My son will be entering 1st grade next year. I would really like for him to be apart of Target (the gifted program) at our local public school. His kindergarten teacher ( at his classical Christian school) said she would suggest that he be part of any advanced programs in 1 st grade. He is smart but I really do not think he would be considered gifted. I am considering getting the Cogat bundle from Critical Thinking Co. to prepare him for the test in September. Here are the contents with space if anyone wants to add less expensive options (prufrock etc): The critical thinking co. = Less expensive alternative -Mind Benders® Book 2.... -Can You Find Me? K-1...... -Building Thinking Skills® Primary".......... -Mathematical Reasoning™ Level B".......... -Math Analogies Beginning.................. -Thinking Skills for Tests Workbook..... -Thinking Skills for Tests Guide............ Any experience with these books? Are they worth the time? Would the Developing the Early Learner books be beneficial? I figure it is worth a try. If he does not get accepted to Target, he will at least get some good practice with critical thinking. I know that moms have strong feeling about prep for tests like this....please don't throw any rocks. :leaving: Any equivalent books that can be recommended with prufrock? Would the Developing the Early Learner books work for any of this?

My son will be entering 1st grade next year. I would really like for him to be apart of Target (the gifted program) at our local public school. His kindergarten teacher ( at his classical Christian school) said she would suggest that he be part of any advanced programs in 1 st grade. He is smart but I really do not think he would be considered gifted. I am considering getting the Cogat bundle from Critical Thinking Co. to prepare him for the test in September. Here are the contents with space if anyone wants to add less expensive options (prufrock etc): The critical thinking co. = Less expensive alternative -Mind Benders® Book 2.... -Can You Find Me? K-1...... -Building Thinking Skills® Primary".......... -Mathematical Reasoning™ Level B".......... -Math Analogies Beginning.................. -Thinking Skills for Tests Workbook..... -Thinking Skills for Tests Guide............ Any experience with these books? Are they worth the time? Would the Developing the Early Learner books be beneficial? I figure it is worth a try. If he does not get accepted to Target, he will at least get some good practice with critical thinking. I know that moms have strong feeling about prep for tests like this....please don't throw any rocks. :leaving: Any equivalent books that can be recommended with prufrock? Would the Developing the Early Learner books work for any of this?

Thanks! Can you send me a link to the dandelion logic books? Which would you suggest? Any equivalent books that can be recommended with dandelion books or prufrock? Would the Developing the Early Learner books work for any of this? The critical thinking co. = Less expensive alternative -Mind Benders® Book 2.... -Can You Find Me? K-1...... -Building Thinking Skills® Primary".......... -Mathematical Reasoning™ Level B".......... -Math Analogies Beginning.................. -Thinking Skills for Tests Workbook..... -Thinking Skills for Tests Guide............

My son will be entering 1st grade next year. I would really like for him to be apart of Target (the gifted program) at our local public school. His kindergarten teacher ( at his classical Christian school) said she would suggest that he be part of any advanced programs in 1 st grade. He is smart but I really do not think he would be considered gifted. I am considering getting the Cogat bundle from Critical Thinking Co. to prepare him for the test in September. Here are the contents in the bundle: Mind Benders® Book 2 Can You Find Me? K-1 Building Thinking Skills® Primary Mathematical Reasoning™ Level B Math Analogies Beginning Thinking Skills for Tests Workbook Thinking Skills for Tests Guide Any experience with these books? Are they worth the time? I figure it is worth a try. If he does not get accepted to Target, he will at least get some good practice with critical thinking. I know that moms have strong feeling about prep for tests like this....please don't throw any rocks. :leaving:

Also check out SALSA on GPB.org. My daughter adores this show. You can watch it free online. Just do a search for salsa gpb. My little girl has learned so much. It is full immersion like Muzzy. Btw. My husband is Spanish speaking, and he approves the quality.

Ok, so my kiddo (6) is reading pretty well. He completed TYCR100 ez lessons, WeBster's syllabary and a kindergarten year in Abekka phonics. He is fluent except for the area of developing expression while reading. He does not like to read right now. Over the summer, Should I: A. " Fill in the blanks" with OPGTR and require him to read aloud to me 15 minutes a day and I read 15 minutes at least a day. B. have him read aloud to me from a reader to build fluency (go down a level) 15 minutes a day, read aloud to him ( up a level) 15 minutes and have him read to himself ( at level) for 15 minutes. C. The obligatory other: please explain My goals are: 1. Expression in reading and developing fluency 2. Develop a habit of reading. 3. Develop a love for reading. I am trying to think of something that might make reading more fun ( a special snack, craft etc. Any ideas?)

:) bump

:) bump

My selections are above!

I downloaded that app recently. My daughter LOVES it.

Ok so I would love to hear your favorite apps by category: Math Spelling Phonics Critical Thinking History Memorization Religious Nature science General science Flash cards Homeschool planning Handwriting Foreign language Grammar Storybook Free educational Paid educational ALL TIME FAVORITE

Any other suggestions?:)

We are going on an Alaskan cruise as a family. Do you know of any movies appropriate for kids ( or documentaries) appropriate for a 6 year old? Netflix on demand is preferable....

The Worm by Ralph bergengren When the earth turns into spring, The worms are fat as anything. The birds come flying all around, To eat the worms right off the ground. They like the worms just as much as I, Like bread and milk and apple pie. And once when I was very young, I put a worm right on my tongue. I did not like the taste a bit, So I did not swallow it. But oh it makes my mother squirm, Because she thinks I ate that worm.

Ok, I am seriously not going to enroll my daughter in fine motor skill boot camp. I am a little concerned because dd who will turn 4 in August and will be tracing maps in classical conversations. Any suggestions on how I can build her fine motor skills over the summer?

Well, his homework for today is for my son to read the a beka reader with expression. She said that he reads smoothly and accurately. I thought that, besides comprehension, that is one of the last steps towards fluency as a reader. Am I wrong? I know Captain America can word attack. I have watched him. He does guess some...but I stop him and remind him that this is not the guessing game...then I ask him to READ.

I would just cover subjects like the American flag, where you live ( county, state, city, address, telephone number etc), holidays and their meaning for social studies.

Does this have anything to do with the fact that he is a visual learner? I just want to learn for dd who will be 4 in the fall.

Ok, please explain this to me. My son has been obsessed with letters since he was 2 years old. I taught him basic phonics. He watched the Frog when he was little. We finished TYCR 100 easy lessons. I taught him the Webster's syllabary ( and basic spelling). He finished Reading Eggs. This year he is learning kindergarten a beka phonics from his Classical Christian school. I spent TONS of time with phonics (besides Reading Eggs which does teach some sight words.) I talk to my son's teacher and she insists that he is a sight word reader. She may be right....but oh how much that frustrates me. I worked very hard to make sure he was a phonics reader to make sure he would be able to word attack hard words in the future. He is probably reading at a 3rd grade level very accurately and somewhat smoothly. Is it possible that with all of this instruction he is a sight reader? Any suggestions on how to Make sure he is sharp with word attack? I am glad that he is a good reader. I want to learn from the mistakes I made with ds for dd. Btw, When I take him to church he reads words like : righteousness. I did not teach him this as a sight word. To me, I think he is using his phonics rules for word attack...or maybe he just understands some of the logic of reading English. Ah I am rambling....just thought the hive mind could explain this to me. He does reverse letters sometimes (at 6) and he reverses some words sporadically like saying "was instead of saw". I just thought this was sort of normal at this age especially since this does not happen regularly.

Ds (6.5) and dd(4)will be doing a Bible lesson with me next year. My concern (since my son will be in school) is the length of each lesson. How much time do each of these programs take to complete a lesson: -Bible study Guide for All ages -Grapevine Stick figure through the Bible -positive Action for Christ Any recommendations for other curriculum? How to save time?

I would love to find a good article or blog post that compares and contrasts modern education vs. classical education showing the strengths and weaknesses of both. Not too skewed one way or the other...more objective. I need something like this for dh. He wants ds to go to public school next year. This year ds attended a Classical Christian school for K. I just wonder whether he just does not understand classical education. He thinks modern education was good for him so why not ds. Btw, He also works for the school district's central office.

IMHO, I think your loyalty is to your son. Your son is defenseless. He needs an advocate with clear boundaries. Someone ( husband or yourself) need to have a loving intervention with mom and sis laying down the boundaries. For example, if you do.... I will be forced to ..... ( cut off communication until an apology and a promise of respecting boundaries, not being alone with child etc.) Your son needs someone to stick up for him. And you need to stand up for your right to choose. I would also say that if ds mentions school their response should be " that is wonderful honey, we are so proud of you or we support you" if not we will leave. Many families make other more controversial decisions. I would tell sis in a loving way that if you wanted to have a teacher criticize your child, you would be in public school. If she wants to be an aunt, then you will completely support their relationship. If she puts on her teacher hat, that you will miss seeing her but you have to protect your son. If a stranger treated your child this way, you would not stand for it and you would not build a friendship. Your son and his love for learning are your responsibility. Protect both!

John Rosemond books

ABCs of God Montessori crosswords Montessori counting

Ok, that sounds wonderful. My son is not in CC.....yet. We will see...but i will be doing CC with dd her K4 year. My first year...