Thanks. The ebook sounds like the way to go.

I am interested in this also and wondering whether to get the ebook or the print book. So which is better? Thanks.

Hi My DD1 will be 8 early next year and would love a PenPal. She loves reading - unicorn stories at present. She enjoys squinkies, bike riding, drawing and craft, and playing on the computer. She is learning the Piano. She has almost finished Grade 2. We don't homeschool but do some afterschooling. We are not religious. Please PM or reply if you are interested or would like more information. Thanks.

Hi I have a 7 yr old DD that would love a pen pal. She will turn 8 in March and has almost finished grade 2. Starts Grade 3 in January. She loves unicorns and books, and has quite a few barbies. She is in the choir at school. Only catch is we are in Australia, so postage would be a bit more and would take longer. We don't homeschool but do afterschooling and we are not religious. Thanks.

North Queensland and The Great Barrier Reef is really worth seeing but it would most likely take out 2 of their 3 days to do it, which might be a bit much. I think there is plenty to do in Sydney for the 3 days and the suggestions given already are very good ones. If they really want to see another part of Australia, does their plane have to arrive and depart from Sydney or can they fly into Sydney and depart from Melbourne or Brisbane or Cairns? That way they might be able to have 2 days in Sydney and 1 day somewhere else without having to also fly back to Sydney. Hope that makes sense.

Hi I am in Australia and have a 7 yr old DD who would love a pen pal. We would only be able to write in English as we don't know the other languages sorry.

Wow, thank you very much everyone. I will have a look into all the resources you have listed and the ideas provided. We are just starting out with afterschooling mainly due to the fact that I am not as happy with our school as I have been previously and especially that I feel DD is being left behind with spelling. Thanks again. I am sure I will be asking more questions of you all very soon. ----- Ok, now the kids are asleep, and I have read through much of the suggested pages I can provide a more detailed response. Min & Mrs JWM --- It is great to know that AAS can be done in 15 mins or so every few days. Thank you. I also like the idea of the audio in the car, but we only have a quick trip. This could however be useful for longer car trips, great idea. jenbrdsly - wow, I love your blog. So much information and very interesting especially all the info on gifted children. You have me wondering if this applies to my youngest as she is to use your analogy a "harnessed racehorse" at times. ElizabethB - Thank you. I found all the spelling rules and now to digest them. Great site and lots of info. Thanks again everyone. Really appreciate all your help.

Hi I am new here but have been lurking for awhile. I am looking at the AAS program for helping my daughter (aged 7 grade 2) with her spelling. And was wondering what you all thought about just using it with afterschooling or if it was a bit much to try to get her to follow this program after a day at school. She is a great reader but her spelling is not very good. The main problems is that her school started teaching the phonics of the letters in Prep and Grade 1 and then just dropped it. She is a kid that follows the rules, so she learnt it and now that they dropped it she is a bit lost. The way they were teaching it was a bit confusing to us parents, but I now see that it follows completely the way All About Spelling teaches the phonics. The difference is that the school then didn't continue it to then teach the spelling rules that go along with the way they taught the phonics. If they had continued to teach the spelling rules it would have worked well, but to now just drop it and expect the kids to spell by memorising the words has been confusing for my daughter. That was why I was looking at the All About spelling program. So what do you think? I am concerned that it will be a bit too much to work through and that I will struggle to get her to do the work. Is there any lighter program that does the same sort of thing in teaching the spelling rules ? Thanks. Any help appreciated. K.