[Any free study guides for horse-related novels?]

http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading12/king_of_the_wind.htm

[Give me your top biography recommendations for Christian scientists.]

Robert Boyle by Tiner (Sower series).

[Changing the Heart of a Rebel (CC)]

Thanks Kathleen. This looks like a great resource. I have a bunch of S.M. Davis' messages, and they have really been a blessing to my family. You can get outlines for many of his messages at his site: http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/downloads.html.

[Rifles for Watie----study guide, reading guide, novel guide, literature guide?]

http://webmail.ops.org/socialstudies_web/Novel_Guide/Novel_Guide_Lesson_Plan_Grade_8/Acrobat/riflesForWaite.pdf

[Download from over a million ebooks free until August 4th]

How do I find audio books?

 

What other titles should I be looking for?

 

Thanks :).

[Anyone use the Rosetta Stone workbook?]

Well, I'm afraid I can't be much help. We have the the 2002 copyright workbook, and it doesn't look like that at all. I've got the first edition of their Spanish (Latin American).

[lesson plan for 1st ed of Apologia Biology]

I PM'd you. I have schedules for 1st edition that I can email you.

[Free SeaWorld PDF teacher’s guides]

http://www.seaworld.org/just-for-teachers/guides/

 

Each guide includes goals and objectives, information, vocabulary, a bibliography, and classroom activities. Activities strive to integrate science, mathematics, geography, art, and language.

 

There are age appropriate materials for pre-K through 12th.

 

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR & TRAINING

ARCTIC ANIMALS

Endangered Species

MARINE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & TRAINING

OCEAN DISCOVERY

PENGUINS

SAVING THE WILD

Seals, Sea Lions, Whales, and more!

[Ideas for Bible Instruction for K?]

This one is FREE and easy: http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/curriculum.htm

 

It will take you through the Old Testament, then the New Testament. You can do much or little with each passage. We used it for K - 3.

[Pianonanny (or other suggestions for Teach-It-Yourself piano lessons....)]

I am not at all familiar with Pianonanny, but we successfully used Piano Course for Christians. We began with the Preparatory Level as soon as our kids could read. The books come with tapes, and they are well worth the investment. The tapes will help reinforce the books and let you know what the music should sound like. You can learn right along with them...or ahead of them. We asked a friend who is a piano teacher to see the kids maybe a couple times a year to evaluate their progress and make suggestions.

 

The Preparatory Level begins right off using both hands (though not at once). This was really significant to me. It was not so intimidating to have the left hand play a few notes WHILE the right hand plays because the left hand had been on the keys and playing a few notes.

 

She introduces a lot of musical notations...and a lot of familiar songs:

Oh, How I love Jesus,

Beethoven's Hymn of Joy,

Jesus Loves Me,

Sweet Hour of Prayer,

and others.

 

I would add that we wait until the child has pretty good reading skills as well. This makes it easy to read the instructions with each lesson.

 

And if you don't decide to buy the whole package at once (we didn't), make sure you get the tapes. She adds some helpful information... and the student gets to hear what the song should sound like. I would "graduate" them from a song when they could play it with her virtually error free.

 

You can get more information at Davidsons Music Homepage

http://www.davidsonsmusic.com/teacyourmus.html

 

We started with an inexpensive (about $100) keyboard...until we were given a piano. There are limitations, but there is so much more to learn than "touch"...and IMHO, touch is a somewhat sophisticated technique that will come with years of experience. It didn’t hinder my dd (piano major in college) who started at 7 and didn't play on a real piano for 2 years. The Lord blessed us with a free piano a few years later, but in a few years, you'll have some idea if the investment is worth it.

[Books on the Great Depression for little kids?]

From Publishers Weekly:

 

At age 79, Uncle Jed, after a lifetime of obstacles (including segregation and the Great Depression), finally realizes his dream of owning a barbershop. "Convivial descriptions of family life are enhanced by Ransome's spirited oil paintings," said PW. Ages 4-7.

[A few questions about Harnadek's Critical Thinking]

We have been using it for the last 3 weeks, so I am not deep into it. My older kiddos used it (but that is so long ago).

 

The TM has been very helpful for my limited brain power. We do go through it together, but I just tell my student to read the question to me, then answer it. So far, this has worked well.

 

I just asked ds (18), and he said it was very good and an essential part of a complete education. There you have it! :)

[any free critical thinking resources?]

Try these:

http://puzzlersparadise.com/page1042.html

http://www.puzzlersparadise.com/page1034.html

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/brainboosters/#logic

[I can't live with these headaches anymore]

I'm sorry :(. Sometimes a very hot bath brings relief to me.

[Five little Peppers And How They Grew/Grown Up ?]

Oh yes, the father had died.

 

We listened to it together. I don't remember anything objectionable. The children were VERY good (yes, a little unrealistic, but a great model to strive for :) ).

[Apologia Science Kits]

Are you referring to the experiment kit? I got mine from Home Training Tools.

 

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/product_categories/98/products/2473-general-science---science-kit

[Has anyone used "Career Direct" from Crown Financial Ministries (or any other career]

Thanks Amy, I'll look at "The Call" also!

[Question about self teaching piano course or book or DVD??]

Until you are able to afford real lessons, this might serve you well. We used Piano Course for Christians for years, and it was great for us. You might look at their site to determine what book might be best for your dd to start with.

 

http://www.davidsonsmusic.com/teacyourmus.html

 

I would recommend getting the cds. Your dd can hear how the song should sound, and you can decide to let her move on to the next song when she is able to keep up with the cd. We asked a friend who is a piano teacher to see the kids maybe a couple times a year to evaluate their progress and make suggestions.

[Has anyone used "Career Direct" from Crown Financial Ministries (or any other career]

assessment tool)? Was it helpful? Did it tell you anything you didn't know already? Did you think it was accurate?

 

Thanks for your help :).

[For those that do lapbooking]

I much prefer the cover stock (for the booklets). It is a very good weight for the lapbooks. I buy it at Staples.

[Gift cards as wedding gifts........]

I won't comment on the amount, but I will say that I would give (and prefer to receive) a check instead. Having received gift cards in the past that were a pain to spend (having to keep track of how much remains on the card, don't shop at that store, didn't want to purchase that much there, etc.), I really think a check would be much better.

[Music Theory link! It looks great!]

Yes, thanks. I'll be putting my boys on it this afternoon :).

[Confessions of a Read-Aloud dropout...]

We are "listening to" Swiss Family Robinson right now (http://librivox.org/ FREE download) :). My boys love it, and I enjoy it too. We listen at lunch every day.

 

I used to read aloud much more in my younger days. Now I am thankful for books on tape!

 

I do remember reading "The Long Winter" in the middle of a hot summer... sitting in the one room that had an air conditioner.

 

Yes, I freely abandon boring books. Reading aloud is way too much work for that.

[Rosetta stone: Homeschool version or Personal version??]

Hmm... This did not occur to me since they are on two different levels. I did make a back-up CD to protect the original from scratches. As to the legality of such an arrangement, you'll have to check with tech support. I don't know. Sorry.

[Rosetta stone: Homeschool version or Personal version??]

We have it installed on two computers. Yes, the tech support helped us do it. Oldest ds uses his own computer while the two youngers use another computer.