Thanks everyone. I'm still wondering if I can just apply some of the methods (like beginning with gross motor) to whatever I choose to use for penmanship. Or I may order their cursive program from Rainbow Resource...

Thank you all! I'm so glad to hear such great reviews. I guess I'll be adding this to my shopping list. :001_smile:

I've watched some of the videos and read some of the articles and it all seems to make sense. I'm particularly looking for a way to teach cursive first (if possible). They now have a cursive first option in e-book form, but it is kind of expensive. It can, however, be viewed here in it's entirety (just not printed). So I'm wondering if after reading the book I can just apply the methods and come up with my own thing. I was wondering if any of you have any thoughts on or experience with the Peterson method. :bigear:

How interesting! I'll have to pass this along...

I've seen this mentioned in the past and also in some of your "siggys", but I was wondering if anyone actually gets around to using it, and if so, how do you like it (or dislike it)?

Breakfast burritos stuffed with whatever you like--just make sure you put plenty of cheese to help all of the filling stick together (less messy).

Hmmm, this wouldn't be considered a true story, but it uses real animal photography which my son has loved. http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Woods-Photographic-Carl-Sams/dp/0967174880/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251480312&sr=8-1 Hopefully someone else can be more helpful.

:smilielol5:

SWB's Writing With Ease :001_smile:

It doesn't matter to me. I will evaluate everything--"secular", "Christian" (any denomination), etc.--before I use it with my children. I have friends/acquaintances from many backgrounds and beliefs, and I find inspiration and resources in many different places.

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This has been a very interesting thread! I'm enjoying the different perspectives shared by so many different people...very fun. :lurk5:

Haha, that is hilarious. I don't think I would have ever come up with that one!

Thank you--this looks interesting!

I too have loved exploring Elizabeth's site (and Don Potter's) over the last few months! I've already printed out a few things that we are now using. I still need to try the phonics concentration game.

I can't really answer your question, but have you looked around on Donna Young's website much? She has printable "checklists" you can give to your children so they can mark off each subject they finish for the day. She has some info on how to use her various planning sheets (some I would never have thought of). Just a thought.

I just wanted to tell you that you shouldn't feel bad! My mom homeschooled me/us (there are nine kids!:ohmy:) and we never followed such detailed plans and schedules (though I will probably do more of this with my own children). I'm not saying it was all ideal or perfect, but it worked out just fine. She obviously had goals in mind for the year and we worked toward that, but we usually just did the next thing. We often finished on schedule for the public school year or even a little early. But if we didn't quite finish a subject, we would simply have a little extra work in the summer. We each kept a log book instead of a planner. I'm not saying you shouldn't plan; you may want to give it a try. Now that I'm grown I'm looking at doing more planning myself. I just wanted to tell you that you shouldn't feel bad! (Also keep in mind, a lot of curricula is written to be completed in a regular school year, so you can usually look at it at the beginning of the year and know that you will have to do ____pages a day or ___chapters a week, etc.)

Really, I wouldn't worry about it at all. Go over them periodically; she'll learn them eventually--she won't be in highschool and not know the months of the year! ;) For fun: This is a cute book with the days of the week and months of the year--we found it at our library. And give her a calendar of her own to put in her room and let her begin keeping track of fun or interesting things on it.

:iagree:

Not much help in this area, but look up Lucy Micklethwaite--you may like some of her books (?).

Here is Martha's list of pipe cleaner crafts.

This lady found a creative way to hang one: http://wildflowersandmarbles.blogspot.com/2009/06/detailed-look-through-learning-spaces.html It is a long post, so you have to scroll down quite a bit until you see "Hanging a wall map with little wall space"--complete with pictures. I like how she stored the map when not in use--hung under a shelf from cabinet handles. I'm sure you could also come up with a way to hang it with gromets or holes in the top of the map if you don't want to trim/frame it with anything.

Here is a recent thread that contains some wonderful info on the writing instruction in the R&S English series. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116968 (make sure you read far enough into the thread to see more discussion on how to apply the writing instruction)

:D How funny! I forgot to mention that I've also owned book marks that are kind of like a big paper clip. They book mark your place, but can't fall out. Sorry, I don't have a link for any to show you, but I think you can find them pretty easily in book stores and such.

We have made quite a few fun magnets (for a different purpose) by glueing small disc-shaped magnets to the back of objects with a hot-glue gun. They have all held up well (even using heavier objects). The little magnets are not self-adhesive and you can find them in many craft stores or craft sections of larger stores. However, they aren't as flat as the self-adhesive strips (if that matters to you). Just another idea. :001_smile: