The Families of the World dvds look really good, unfortunately none of my local library systems have them and they are pricey. Are there any other dvds out there like this that someone could recommend?:001_smile:

If you are just looking for map work, I wouldn't think you'd need the guide. The guide does have literature suggestions and other hands-on activities, too. The maps are basic, and you could find applicable ones all over the web or in an atlas.

Isn't Moses the Cat by James Herriot about a black cat?

We use a combo of Singapore and MM. The kids prefer MM. I like using both just to change it up a few days a week. Try MM, it is so inexpensive.

great list! thank you!

Hi all! I was wanting to start a more formal Spanish program with my kiddos- 9, 6, and 4 this year. We have been listening to audios and learning vocab for several years now and I want to take it to the next level -building sentences, putting it together. What do you suggest for a program? Thank you.

I have read her works and would agree that she was not against teaching phonics but against removing the phonics lesson from its literary context, creating a dry, less than lovely lesson.

I plan on lessons in Spanish and Latin this year.

I use a mixture of both. Isn't that what CM would espouse?

Yes, my daughter turns 9 in Sept., same experience. I thought it was because her younger brother has now joined in, but maybe it's just the age.

Can you do both?

The site is probably experiencing very heavy traffic. I couldn't download it, but I was able to checkout with it. Now it appears in my library so I can download at a later time.

I just wanted to share that this planner is the free product of the week at Currclick.com. The planner is regularly 19.95. Sorry if this is a repeat post.

We live about an hour from Williamsburg and visited twice this summer. I liked the book, If You Lived In Williamsburg in Colonial Days by Barbara Brenner and Jennie Williams. There are educational materials to be found on the website as well- history.org.

If I remember correctly, you choose books off a list in the back of the book. Each book will focus on one phonics rule and a few sight words. You read the book with the child, pointing out the phonics rule when you get to it in the book. The next time through, the child should be able to read the book. When you do lessons you first read the previous lesson's material (which should now be easy for the child) and this gives them a sense of accomplishment (Wow! I can really read!). You then move into a new book with a new phonics rule and perhaps a new sight word or two. Work on this until they master and then repeat. You could use any books really, but the list is nice to use so you can pick them out online ahead of time from the library and they will be the right level. We also played games and used Starfall.com, but we never used a real phonics program until now. I hope this helps. The second half of the book spells it all out pretty clearly.

I used this with my daughter and we loved it. You still teach phonics, but you teach the rules in context. I thought it worked very well and she is reading way above level. She is now 8 and we are slowly going through a phonics program to reinforce and review anything we may have missed along the way. I am surprised more people don't use the program.

Do you have any homeschooling friends you could get together with at a park? Being with other kids might help. Maybe doing something really nice for someone else (an elderly neighbor, etc.)would be good, serving others always helps me get my mind off of myself. We ae having a pool get together this week to celebrate.

I just finished Jane Eyre and loved it! :)

I usually keep the readings short and if someone is asking pertinent questions, I stop and answer them, at least they are paying attention. If there have been many interruptions, I just reread it. I'd rather keep the lessons short if it lends to greater comprehension. Mine usually play with legos while I read.

I just ordered the elementary set! I can't wait!

mine like dry erase boards and gluing random things (pom poms, feathers, buttons)to paper.

Is play-do too messy? Mine that age also really like hidden pictures and mazes.

I thought LOF was only for the middle school age group and up. Are these new? Wha age is the fractions books geared for? I have an almost 9 year old who hates math, but seems to enjoy living math books

Thank you. I'm also wondering about run on sentences. I need to just write her words down however she says things, right? I have difficulty not correcting her as she goes, treating her grammar as a separate lesson.

Do you have him watch you, so he can see where and how you punctuate, using it as a teaching moment, or do you let him just focus on the thought process of creating complete sentences?