We are an overseas military civilian family from Texas living in Grafenwoehr Germany with two home school kids and we don't report and don't plan to. DODea doesn't require you do any reporting either but registration through the school does give you access to resources like the library and after school clubs. It's good to live overseas! As far as Florida goes I would ignore that whole issue. Not based on any study of Florida home school law...

I like the "bed" approach to remembering b and d but I use a silly trick to make it stick for my kids. Make a "b" with your left hand by extending your index finger straight up to form the top of the "b". Form the bottom circle of the "b" by touching your thumb to your other curled fingers. Make a "d" by doing the same thing with your right hand... Now but the b and d shape together which makes a bed with posters at the head and foot of the bed and say "look, see the bed!! Now you make a bed - where is the b? Where is the d? See how b is pointing? See how d is pointing?" This really helps them figure out which way the b and d letters face - I still see my 1st grader do it every one and a while! rm

After doing lots of flights of 10 hours or more - I am counting at least 12 - with my kids while they were under 7, I think there are tons of good flight ideas here but I would focus on the sleep part of the trip - and not just the plane flight. Yeah, 16 hours is a long time but after you get there then the hard part starts - getting adjusted to the new time zone. And you want to start that process as soon as you can. The magical sleep answer for my family is benedryl. Full strength for adults, chewables for kids. It's completely safe and helps anyone fall asleep when you need a little help. Here is the approach we take: If you are traveling west, then I'd recommend very little sleep on the flight. Perhaps a nap. This would help you get ready to be sleepy and hopefully get some sleep once you get there. Hopefully there is no big transfer or travel after your flight. Take benadryl as directed on the package once you start your go-to-bed process for the next couple of days. If you are traveling East then sleep on the flight is critical. I would recommend giving your kids chewable benadryl an hour before you would like them to sleep. (as directed on the package) One word of caution though: Some kids get jacked up on Benadryl; test it on your kids before you go. And for taking away the entertainment when you get there - This might sounds good on paper but when your kids can't sleep and it's 2 in the morning, a relaxing movie has saved my next day many times... rm

Yes, I used the Home Instructor's Guide and I'd recommend them. Background: From my perspective the strength of the Singapore program is two fold. First, the conceptual foundation of how numbers work and the thinking behind the math operation is both fun to learn and hugely beneficial. Secondly, if your dc has a talent for math then it's easy to accelerate - simply have them do the problems in the text book and don't dive into the workbook. If they have a hard time with a concept you can add more practice, more concept discussion, more work with manipulates. ---- That said, the Instructor's Guide includes easy to implement conceptual exercises that are required to teach the way the program is supposed to be taught. (at least for me) If my dc gets it without all the conceptual stuff then I breeze through it - nice to know that you have more if you need it. One thing I didn't get was any of the manipulatives with Singapore - We think unifix cubes are fantastic and even work great as toys!

I ordered the tests for my dd in the 1A/B level but we haven't ended up using them. (As background Singapore books are divided into Units; Units contain individual chapters in them) The chapter tests seem like too much test for not much material and the cumulative tests are very brief. But my big issue with the tests at this 1 A/B level is that they introduce "new" types of problems. For instance, in the unit 1-4 test there is this previously un-introduced number bond looking thing with both numbers and objects in it. Completely confused my dd - and she really gets number bonds. But for the 3 A/B level the tests are much more appropriate and they serve a purpose. Again, I don't find too much value in the unit tests but we have used them for additional drill on things like two step word problems. Two things make the tests it required for us: 1. Cumulative review - We like that Singapore math moves quickly but a little review never hurts. And the amount of review in these tests is just about perfect. 2. Introduction to multiply choice tests - Although all the Singapore test books have two cumulative tests per unit (one multiple choice, one regular quiz) once we hit 3rd grade I felt it was time to practice multiple choice tests. So we do both the multiple choice and regular quiz for each unit. Overall, it's a great program. Good luck with it! rm

After about 6 years overseas I can't say I miss much about the US... except the shopping. It's tough getting the "right" foods, clothes, personal care products when you aren't in the States. Thank goodness for Amazon!! rm

Where I am coming from: I NEVER moved when I was a kid. In the same house from preschool through high school. I never a change in location or friends or circumstance. But the more I move my kids the more I think moving is a fantastic opportunity for them. Your kids will learn to make new friends, get to feel what it's like to be the new kid in school, how to adapt to a new schedule and new set of rules, and perhaps even a time change and climate change. But most importantly they will learn start to learn that change is to be embraced not shunned. And in these days and times that is a hugely powerful lesson. A move is also a big chance to reinforce the core strength of your family. All of the other people and friends and things associated with that place get striped away and all you have is your family. Each member relies on the other in ways you just don't see or appreciate if you don't move. We have moved a ton (to Japan, back to the states and to Germany with a couple of "local" moves thrown in) and our kids get that things change but our family ties don't. Move and embrace the change! rm

We have had great success with Spelling Power and there is a lot to like about spelling power for your scenario: 1. Multi sensory learning with built in review - If the student doens't get a word right in the daily test they learn the word using a 10 step study process that really works and then they review them later. It's solid. 2. Rules based - Each new section of words is focused around a rule and that rule keeps coming up again and again. This sounds like a good approach for your older 3. Easy placement - If you aren't quite sure where to put your 2nd grader the placement test will point you in the right direction. At the end of each year we retest to make sure we are still in the right level. 4. Advancement is based on performance; it just doesn't march ahead - If they "get it" and rocket ahead this program lets them. Need more review? It works for a slower pace too. 5. Includes non-traditional spelling activities - Part of the program is game-ish activities that reinforce the rules. Not super fun but worlds better than dry spelling list. 6. Low cost - The program cost something like $65 plus shipping but will work for both kids until the end of their need for spelling instructin and you can print out the consumable portions from the included CD. 7. No lesson planning required - just print the consumables then pick up the book each day and administer the next set of words. The only downside is that it does take more than the advertised 15 minutes a day - at least for us. That said, I work with both of my kids at the same time and it takes about 30 minutes. rm

I've have a real taste for beers, I live in Bamberg Germany which has more breweries than any city in the world (over 150) and spent some time as a home brewer when I could not get real beer - so, I guess I have an opinion worth sharing on this one... For beers available in the US my favorite is Newcastle Brown Ale. It's a simple light brown ale and goes great with food or by itself. Back in college the urban legend is that if you drank a "newkie" as the first beer of the evening you won't get hung over the next day. And experience tells me this is true. In Bavaria, all the beer that you would think are great like Hauf Brau, Lowenbrau, Beck's, etc. are popular but not nearly as tasty as most any beer from Bamberg. The local beer Fasala Gold Pils is by far the best beer I have ever had. It has a unbeatable crisp rich taste and golden color with a great foamy head. Not only that - it's literally cheaper than water, is 5.9% alcohol and is only available in .5 liter bottles. Somehow it's the best beer in what is the epicenter of German brewing and so cheap that the German drunks drink it. Go figure.

I think using a .com for a website if the goal is personal in nature or if the goal is making money. If the goal of your site is for many folks share with one another (hence creating an organization) and the profit is not the goal then I'd use .org. Seems like .com is best for your situation. rm

I have been where you are at... getting a good pencil sharpener is challenging. We have used a Staedtler two hole sharpener for a couple of years with good results. Using the small hole on the sharpener you get a very long tip and sharp point. Use the big hole and you get a really nice short tip that is great for kids that break sharp points. It requires no batteries, is kid safe, portable and you can even order replacement blades. Oh, and it only costs $6 on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E67Z16 Read the product reviews on Amazon for more confirmation of this little guy's goodness! rm