You can sign up for a free trail month of ShopRunner and get free shipping. That is what I did for Christmas presents! It worked out great, I just wrote on the calendar when I would need to cancel to not get charged.

The Thornton Burgess Bird book, it is in the public domain for free or you can purchase it. http://www.amazon.com/Burgess-Bird-Children-Classic-Reprint/dp/1440095655/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1310867033&sr=8-13 We like his books! Edited to add the Apologia Flying Creature of the Fifth Day if you don't need secular. I have not done this study, but a friend loved it with her 4 children. https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_62

Thanks! Those are great, it looks like they love them. We don't have as much wall space in our playroom/schoolroom. There is a shelf midway up the wall that goes all the way around (chair rail height)so I need something more compact. This shelf will be just to display that months books/library books. I am thinking of having one of each of the shelfs for a subject. History, Science, Seasonal, Art, etc. We have the Ikea Billy ones in the living room to hold the bulk of the books.

We are thinking of getting this wooden freestanding shelf for our daughters books. The brand is Childs Play. Our first plan was the bookshelf gutter type idea from Ikea, but this might make better use of out space and easier to move. http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?Product=16171&rec=SRH Does anyone have any experience with it, or have another they would recommend? It would be $110 with shipping after the coupon code TWENTYEV for 20% off. I was also looking at the one at LakeShore Learning , but it is a little bit more money and not as deep. This is the description: This sturdy, hardwood book display has five 1 1/2" deep shelves to store and display your books. Measures 30"H x 32"W x 14"D. Comes fully assembled. Thanks!

Ah, I should have kept reading before replying!

I missed the thread, what tote do I need for Rightstart?! I will have levels A and B.

Me too. I keep trying to find time to pre-read it, but that hasn't happened.

Thanks! I am planning on doing some of their read out louds. They have other things that go along with them though, don't they? Discussion guides? Is that something I could/should add?

Thank you, I do have SOTW1, but I am still waiting on the activity guide. I also have the yearly schedule from a friend with all of the corresponding maps, coloring pages, activities, encyclopedia pages, Bible and other library books per week. What I have NOT seen or used, besides the samples, is the Core B IG. I guess what I am really asking is is for someone who has been there done that with both to tell this newbie to chill out and we aren't missing out if we don't do Sonlight. Darn that catalog.

I have been thinking more about this, and tring to figure out why Sonlight keeps tempting me. Over the last couple days I have figured out that part of it is the format of the catalog. A picture with ALL of the books layed out together for one Core. I guess I am a visual learner!! The other part is not knowing what I am missing using the IG for Core B. Could you try explain what we would be missing if we did SOTW 1 with AG , some corrolating Bible and reading lists from SL? I don't mind scheduling math, spelling, science etc on my own, I just feel like there is SOMETHING I don't know I am not going to do on my own with just SOTW. Is there any reason for me to buy just the SL Core B IG??

I think you can get the PDF for $5.

Really? Thank you. I am having the same dilemma. I am all set on SOTW 1 for my first grader and yesterday started re-looking at Core B! What did you/she like better about SOTW? I think I would add in SL books as well.

One other thought is that since he is technically k age, you have a lot of time for math. As in, decide if you want him to get way ahead in math or not. I have a daughter who will be an old first grade and loves math. I have decided to do a few programs so she has a stronger base even though she won't be "ahead" age wise. As opposed to just getting through one program and moving on to second grade. Just an idea. If we did just MM, we would be done with 1a and 1b probably by Christmas if not earlier. She also frustrates easily and I want math to remain "fun" for her as long as possible. We are going to do Right Start B as the main program with MM as extra. I don't know how much MM we will do, maybe a page a day? Maybe 2 pages on the weekend? We are also planning on doing a Miquon "Math Lab" one day a week.

There is something they use called an Ancient Line The Ancient Line is a simple way to document the first 3000 years on your Timeline without using 60 pages of card stock for a handful of recorded events! This ribbon portion of your Timeline is designed for the 2-page-per-century layout, but as with the rest of the Add-A-Century Timeline system, you can use it for however many years you choose! http://www.addacentury.com/ideas/blog.html

This is our plan for my older first grader. Keep in mind this is our first year, so I am new!! Many of these were choices offered in TWTM. Right Start B and Math Mammoth Story of the World 1 with Activity Guide and added Bible Stories All About Spelling 1 (also finishing up Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading) First Language Lessons 1 Writing with Ease 1 Geography- Evan Moore. We will only do this once or twice a week, she thinks maps are fun. Science (haven't picked one yet, I can't decide) Nancy Larson would be easy to use, but expensive. Atelier Art Level 1, plus our own art ideas! Will also be adding our own Nature and Classical music studies (fancy words for going for walks and listening to music!!). We might also add in Spanish after we see how everything else goes!! She will get a tiny bit of Spanish at a twice a month co-op. Hope that helps!

I finally decided to buy the Paperback AG from Amazon for $21 (add something to get free shipping :)) and then get the PDF Student pages for $8 from Peace Hill Press. So, for $1 more I get the hardcopy and the ease of printing off the student pages!!

I am also planning on using MM and RS B with my 1st grader! She will be done with 1a by the end of the summer, then we will start in with Rightstart B and start MM 1b when we get into a groove and need some worksheet time! She loves math and we are also going to do Evan Moores Daily word problems. I bought that on a whim so hopefully it is good, she loves story problems. At least this is the plan for now, we are new to homeschooling so we will see how it actually goes!!

Thanks for the book recommendation! Also the tip on printing in Peru, very helpful. What were your favorite things to do/see there? They will be in or near Lima.

Thanks, I will have her check into the math suggestion. Also, good hint about having Sonlight ship to Peru, hadn't thought of that. I bet it is crazy expensive though. Any other ideas for South American studies, or what you would do if it was your family?

My sister and her family are moving to Peru for 2-3 years. Their children (will be grades k, 2, 5) have so far attended PS. They are looking into options to homeschool while they are there. She will need to have everthing she needs for the first 6months or so ready to bring with her and weight of books is a concern. They do have a Kindle, will probably get one more, and are considering an IPad. What would you chose for these ages for while they are there? I posted last month about the 5th grader, he tested very high in reading and fairly high in math. He would read through SOTW just for the fun of it. The 2nd grader is also a great reader and loves math (she is an older 2nd, will turn 8 in August). Are there any good curriculums you can think of that include South American history, art, music, geography, etc? They plan on doing field trips to museums, the Amazon, Machu Picchu, possibly Galapogos Islands and whatever else they can find and afford. A spanish tutor is also a possibility. She is thinking possibly Singapore math for the younger 2 and possible Teaching Textbooks for the 5th grader. Are there any other good options for 5th grade math online, dvd or software? Sonlight is also tempting her. I told her she should just do bare bones curriculum/Spanish and learn through experience in Peru and their reading. What do you think?

I have the book, Siblings Without Rivalry on my list to read. I don't know if it would specifically address affection.

Just wanted to give you a bump, I will also be a new homeschooler this year to a first grader. We are also using going to use Right Start, but we will start with B (she has has quite a bit of math). Has your first grader had any math yet? There are placement tests on their website to see if you really need to start in A. I think the beginning of B has review from A. I met the author and she placed my daughter in B.

This is what I am afraid of!! I know it will be different this year when I officially only have one to teach. The thing I am afraid of with no or minimal planning is that is seems like people that plan a lot tie everything together better. How will I know what library books to have if I haven't planned ahead? Oh, so much to learn. Maybe I just need to plan (schedule) History and Science more indepth, now thats an idea. If I could only pick a science...

You could also use a regular stamp in a light color such as yellow or pink.

If the adoption is done legally and finalized, no one can take the baby/child away.