I started the bedtime story tradition when my oldest was a tiny baby. We read EVERY SINGLE NIGHT at bedtime. It was rare for us to skip (someone very sick, kids at grandparents...). We have read through many piles of library books this way...some multiple times. I usually read the longer read alouds at some point during the day. Evenings are for picture/story books.

Thank you!

Hm, good to know. I've been planning on using either/both but haven't been able to get a full look at Pentime's entire alphabet yet. Something else I thought of...a while back I printed out a (free) set of cursive flashcards from one of Don Potter's pages. They are in the same style as R&S/Pentime. They would be smaller than wall versions, but might be an option for you. Maybe you could enlarge them before printing??

Rod and Staff sells them for cursive (the big strips you can create a border around a room with), and iirc they use the same font. (?)

Not quite starfall, but... http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_fr.php http://www.languagesonline.org.uk/ http://www.languageguide.org/french/ http://www.knowitall.org/instantreplay/content/LanguageIndex.cfm French picture books (free pdf)... http://www.childrensbooksforever.com/childrenpages/French.html And just for fun while you're learning ;)... http://madebyjoel.com/paper-city (printable paper Paris)

http://www.amazon.com/The-Stars-H-A-Rey/dp/0547132808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350497602&sr=8-1&keywords=the+stars+h.a.+rey http://www.amazon.com/Find-Constellations-H-A-Rey/dp/054713178X/ref=pd_sim_b_1 Classics!

:iagree:I love Brian Wildsmith books and his beautiful illustrations.

Off the top of my head: Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe The Librarian Who Measured the Earth (bio of Eratosthenes) by Kathryn Lasky Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed the World by Paul L. Maier Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie DePaola Saint Francis and the Wolf by Richard Eglielski The Boy Who Loved to Draw: Benjamin West by Olivier Dunrea The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane by C. M. Millen The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies Audubon: Painter of Birds in the Wild Frontier by Jennifer Armstrong The Flower Hunter: William Bartram, America's First Naturalist by Deborah Kogan Ray

Hm...something like this? I guess you'd have to add more info to the back of them. http://www.toddlerapproved.com/2012/02/counting-to-44-presidents-day.html

What do you stand to lose? They are the ones who take a risk by sending money to a stranger. You don't ship anything until the money is cleared. :confused: BTW, I've sold to someone with only a handful of posts...no big deal. I get more nervous as the buyer.

:iagree: Well said. I began reading C. M.'s original works right after my oldest was born. Now that ds is official "school age" I'm finding our own path which does include C. M.'s influence...her ideas and ideals as the root...not simply a book/program that is marketed/labeled as "C. M.". (Not that there is anything wrong with those! Its just that there is more to it.)

http://www.livingmath.net/ You can search book lists by level or topic.

My plan has long been to teach cursive first. My oldest is just learning. He has written his own version of print on occasion but has shown little interest in writing up to this point, so it hasn't been an issue. My toddler, however, is already quite interested in writing, so I may have to handle things differently with him. He is trying to draw print letters on his magnadoodle and I'm letting him/helping him as he is interested. I'm no expert, but since your younger is only 4 my vote would be to go ahead and let her learn whatever print she's interested in with her new book and then introduce cursive early as an official part of her lessons when those become more formal (like when she would be "official" K or 1st grade age). In the meantime I'd keep a cursive alphabet available for her to see/learn. Amie ~ fighting to keep cursive alive, one child at a time... :D

It probably depends on the boy, but my husband has fond memories of reading the series as a child. :001_smile: (I enjoyed them as a child as well.) I plan to read them to my boys soon.

Great suggestions so far. I wanted to add GeoPuzzles in case you haven't seen them. Love those! Every continent!

:grouphug: and a prayer. Wish I had more to offer...

What about one of the Prufrock Press Logic books? Their Logic series covers every grade/age...maybe you could look over samples and find an appropriate level?

:iagree: I'll be keeping my eye out now...

(smaller) http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Guides-Manila-Orange-31-Set/dp/B001Q4DZY2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346807285&sr=8-1&keywords=numbered+index+card+dividers (larger) http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Laminated-Manila-Guides-05832/dp/B000J09HYQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1346807285&sr=8-3&keywords=numbered+index+card+dividers

Wow! A flash from the past! I had this book as a child and hadn't seen it since...funny...

http://www.amazon.com/Using-Cuisenaire-Rods-Photo-Teachers/dp/0914040049/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3J4E1L5UUHHB3&coliid=IR9IB1NF6B6GR (cheap if you buy used) I have an old set of C-Rods (from when i was a kid) and it came with a booklet and activity cards to guide you, but I'm not sure if new sets still come with anything like this...?? Maybe someone else here can answer that.

I do love your timeline! I've been considering a clothesline timeline of sorts for quite a while. I found this link a couple of years ago which was my original inspiration: http://buntglas.wordpress.com/2010/01/23/timeline-middle-and-south-america-history/#comment-1490 I've also considered doing a "Post-It" timeline by running a line/stripe of Post-it tape down one long wall and then sticking Post-it notes, flags, etc. all around it.

I enjoy seeing everyone's timelines! We don't have one yet, but hope to begin one soon. I do have some timeline inspirations and links saved on my Pinterest board in my sig.

I don't think he's "gifted", but my 3 1/2 year old wanted to learn to play Blokus with us last night. He did pretty well. Classics like Checkers and Connect Four are fun too. Could he begin getting familiar with Chess?

Is this a new one? I've been on a WTM facebook group for a couple/few years now.