We like the Rod and Staff workbooks too. Also, dollar store workbooks are nice if you have one who goes through them fast. A great (free) idea I got from another mom here: give them a pretty catalog or magazine you are done with and a pair of kiddy scissors; ask them to find and cut out objects of a particular category for you (like objects that are red, or things that begin with the 'b' sound, or animals, or food, or things you might take on a picnic...etc. depending on the contents of magazine). Then they might enjoy gluing the pieces to construction paper or whatever. Keep certain educational play things put away until school time so they are more fun and special. Rotate through them like "subjects" (Cuisenaire rods, abacus, geo boards, puzzles, legos, tangrams, stringing beads/buttons/pasta, pipe cleaners, sewing cards, magnet letters on a board...)

"European handwriting" can mean various things, but here are some ideas and inspirations that may help: http://www.penmanship.ca/shop/book-10-european-handwriting/ (you should really download the sample of this one and take a close look) http://www.dafont.com/deutsche-normalschrift.font (so many different fonts on this site! this is just one of many German scripts) http://www.scribd.com/doc/2534576/Vikas-Cursive-Writing-Book-Part-1 http://quotidianmoments.blogspot.com/2009/08/cursive.html http://www.bmukk.gv.at/medienpool/15138/1994_56_beilage1.jpg Also, we have really enjoyed these fountain pens: http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1397057870&sr=8-3&keywords=fountain+pens+pilot+varsity (they were cheaper when I ordered them though--price fluctuates)

:iagree: I was going to recommend Mystie and Dawn (ladydusk) too. http://www.simplyconvivial.com/ http://ladydusk.blogspot.com/ You'll have to search for memory work/ memory binders there. They have a lot of other great info and ideas as well.

I want to "like" all of your posts! I learn so much from you lovely ladies. I enjoyed the Big Circe Thread before and I'm enjoying this one now. Nothing major to report here...we just keep on keepin' on...

No one? I guess I will just have to try one for myself...

http://www.penmanship.ca/ I am looking for some variety to add to our upcoming cursive practice. Anyone use any of these?

Rod and Staff makes blank tablets for each grade (different sizes): https://www.milestonebooks.com/item/1-15127-1/?list=Rod_and_Staff_Penmanship

Thanks for posting the Kreeft lecture again. I finally listened to it this morning and really enjoyed it. I've had it saved on my to-do list since you posted it, I don't know, years(??) ago! I recently finished my second read of Abolition... so the timing was right. I've had N&N on my Amazon wishlist for years now too, but it is expensive and I have so much to read... (We'll see if you all talk me into it.)

Count me in; I'm up for giving it a go!

Haha, this sounds a lot like me. I have certain perfectionist attitudes about certain things...and it can really hinder my progress. I tend to feel like I have to have everything just so before I'll even attempt it. Lately, I have been trying to focus less on the little details and more on just diving in and making progress. I love following a step-by-step plan, ticking off the perfect boxes and then filing it away in the perfect binder. :) We've had some great math days lately though where we take rabbit trails and pull out the c-rods, abacus, manipulatives, games, books...and it looks so messy...and half of my MEP page numbers are missing...and there are no boxes to check and not much to file in my binder...and that kind of irritates me...but they have been some of the best math days we've had and the kids are really learning. So all of that to say, you may just have to lower your standards...er...I mean expectations. ;) But if those things are truly getting in the way of you teaching math (and I get that), then, by all means, make a switch. Something like Math Mammoth all printed and bound/filed may be just the thing. I know it has tempted me more than once...

I often end up filling in the rest of the page number with a pen...but not always these days. And I do understand the issues with using the computer. I have a mixed relationship with it. It is so easy and convenient and yet also the reason we may hesitate in getting the "math ball" rolling for the day. I am very much a pen/paper/book in hand kind of person. I am actually planning on printing out the teacher lesson plans like shown in the fisher academy link above beginning with Year 2b. My original reason was to have more of our curriculum to show at end-of-year evaluations, but I really think it will help our days be more organized and efficient. I don't feel too bad about printing it all out either knowing I'll have another student to follow. I think a lot of my MEP success depends on the prep work I put into it, but a lot of that prep work can be done once at the beginning of a year or semester. Also, I forgot to mention earlier that we are covering all of the money/measurements in MEP as is and add in US money/measurements in everyday life (so far). But I'm thinking of purchasing a little workbook or the Math Mammoth section on money and measurements to round that out.

Here are a couple of my favorite old blog posts about setting up MEP for the year: http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com/2009/06/mep-101.html http://fisheracademy.blogspot.com/2010/05/mep-organization-in-pictures.html (There are probably other great posts by now, but I haven't searched in quite a while.) I do not print our worksheets on A4 paper and I never shrink to fit. You can print normally on our 8.5 x 11 copy paper and you will only lose the bottom half of the page numbers. That way the measurements will work out as they should. I haven't printed any of the OHP's/posters up to this point. If I use one I usually pull it up on my laptop or iPad (this may not be an easy option for others) for us to view there. This has been especially helpful in beginning Reception with my younger (all that color in Reception!). I usually do his lessons on the iPad opened in Notability so we can mark on the worksheets with our fingers. I have fewer children and a shorter MEP career than you do, so I am still learning and looking for better ways to organize. But I wanted to chime in with our (limited) experience anyway. I'll be watching this thread with interest.

Yes! Martha said what I was trying to say, but in three sentences! :)

Well every family/individual is different when it comes to friends and socializing, and I know for a fact that I am nothing close to the social butterfly. That being said, I would suggest re-evaluating your thoughts on how much kids really "need other kids to hang out with". Yes, everyone will have their own thoughts on this and you have to decide what is best for your family. However, it is quite possible to raise normal, healthy, happy, well-adjusted kids without giving them play dates with peers a couple of times a week. I get that some people simply enjoy doing that, but this sounds like it is adding unnecessary stress to your life. Not to mention--honestly?--these don't sound like the kind of kids I'd care to have mine around for long periods of time. We work very hard to teach our kids to be the very opposite of what you described...especially when visiting someone else's home. I want my kids to be able to hang out with other kids sometimes too, but not at that cost! It isn't always worth it. I'm sorry you're dealing with this and I do hope you can find some quality friends. However, you don't have to settle for stress and bad influences in the meantime just because you feel pressured to give your kids regular play dates. A "social break" won't ruin your kids. We've all gone through seasons where good, local friends were scarce if not completely absent. But hopefully it only lasts a short season. At least with a bigger family you have some built-in relationships and playmates already at home; don't undervalue those! (I come from a large family). Hugs to you!

WOW. You need new friends. Maybe this sort of parenting attitude varies by region?? I was originally going to suggest some sort of friendly sign you could hang on the outside perimeter of the your schoolroom--like a "closed" and "open" sign on a store front. Maybe something about school is/is not in session. Then maybe a small list of rules listed underneath. But after reading this last post? This goes beyond your school room and you are obviously dealing with some difficult parents. I really can't quite imagine...?? It sounds like almost all socializing needs to begin taking place in a location outside of your home.

Wow, you took nature study to another level...impressive! I was thinking nature study wasn't for the faint of heart last week when my boys' female Hercules beetle broke free during the night IN OUR HOUSE!! Yeah, they don't call 'em Hercules for nothing! This thing was enormous and there was no way I was going to get much sleep in this house until she was found. She turned up that afternoon, thankfully.

You do the best you can. And then you just have to laugh a little when you find Simon's Cat on the shelf beside The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. :001_rolleyes: Or at least that's what I was doing recently while re-straightening books...again. My kids are young, so I'm often tweaking and tidying the shelves. The tidiness issue gets easier as they get older, but I still struggle with how to divide the books when some titles could go in more than one category. I do know, however, that Simon doesn't belong in WW2 history. ;)

I agree with above poster, our local Dollar Tree usually has workbooks (nothing amazing, but something for them to do). Also, just a thought, can you encourage her to venture out on her own more instead of always requiring worksheets you've provided? For example: give her access to a stack of colorful catalogues you no longer need, some scissors, glue, etc. See if she will make something on her own or give her an assignment like "Can you find (circle, cut out) pictures in this magazine of things that begin with the 'b' sound?" (or things that are round, or blue, or animals, or things you would find outside, or things you would take on a trip, etc., etc,).

I love it! ~Florida girl here! :seeya:

We like the Archkidecture site too. So while we're at it... Here is an Architectural ABC's coloring book we've enjoyed (free pdf): http://www.crt.state.la.us/hp/mainstreet/mainstreet_coloringbook.pdf This site includes timelines of great architects and buildings plus lots of photos, maps, 3D models, etc.: http://www.greatbuildings.com/ And http://madebyjoel.com/ is fun for the younger crowd to make an itty bitty paper city or to include in a study/survey of famous structures around the world (Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, etc.).

I was going to suggest Beatrix Potter as well--especially if this is for younger children. Maybe not the most mainstream pick for an "artist", but appealing and accessible for children. (We found a great book about her art at our library, btw.)

I've seen some pretty cool things made out of cardboard boxes come through my Pinterest feed. Try googling cardboard box garage and click on images...see if anything inspires you. A couple of years ago we were visiting my sister/brother in law and kids were playing with bil's old toy airplanes. Bil got the idea to make them a last-minute airport/runway out of some old shipping boxes, tape, and a Sharpie. The kids loved it and still look forward to digging it out of sis/bil's closet every time we visit!

Another victim of Icy Hot...

:lurk5:

I have been on this exact search! We, too, enjoy memorizing longer passages (like an entire Psalm) at a time. I have some illustrated poems we enjoy (like Paul Revere's Ride or Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening), but I can't find much variety for Bible passages yet. Thanks for the link; I have thought about just letting the kids (as they are old enough) copy them down in journals/notebooks and illustrating them themselves. What I do know of: Tasha Tudor has a couple...Psalm 23 (again) and The Lord's Prayer...maybe something else if I can remember... Gennady Spirin has illustrated the 23rd Psalm as well and also the "Christmas Story" taken word for word from the KJV. Somehow I own this little book: http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-All-New-Leaf-Press/dp/0892214937/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352858729&sr=1-1&keywords=the+wonder+of+it+all It has a large passage of Job set to beautiful photography. I like the idea of it and wish I could find more of something like this. I thought about making/ordering my own photo book with scriptures in it. (?) I think one of the Bluedorn's daughters (Trivium Pursuit) illustrated a Psalm or two, but I haven't seen those. This book is on my Christmas wishlist. A British soldier illustrated the book of Psalms as a gift for his wife. I think his son had it published after his death. It may serve as inspiration for us in making our own books. Hopefully others will have suggestions I haven't found yet.