When you say "standard children's abacus," I think of a simple counting frame with beads of several colors, not a Chinese or Japanese abacus. This type is often sold as a toy, and may look like this. Is that what she means? RightStart's abacus is similar, but the bead colors provide a visual indicator of groups of 5. Here's a picture of the RS abacus. If the gift is like the first picture rather than a Chinese or Japanese abacus, there are a few very simple game ideas on this webpage. Maria Miller (creator of Math Mammoth) also has a blog entry on using a school abacus. :) Carolyn

That's a pretty long list. I wonder if she's already found a diagnosis and wants to know if it fits. Have you asked her what she thinks is going on? My short answer is that she should back off on reading, and work with the alphabet in a playful, low pressure way. She should take some time to breathe and reconsider her expectations. It really is okay if her 5 year old isn't reading. Ruth Beechick's reassuring little book (The Three R's) might be a good one to suggest, because she emphasizes that if the child isn't ready, the parent needs to be patient. Long answer: That list sounds very normal for a 5 year old. Letter reversals are normal at first. Alphabetizing is not something a pre-reader is supposed to have mastered. Left-to-right sequencing isn't inborn. It has to be learned, and maybe it hasn't sunk in yet. It is totally normal (yet totally frustrating for the parent) for a child to sound out a word at the beginning of a sentence, and then have to re-sound it out later on the same page, or even in the same sentence. Most of the behavior mentioned on that list sounds completely normal for a 5 year old as well. Is she trying to compare her son to her older children, or to someone else's children, or is she trying to keep up with a school curriculum? Maybe she just needs some reassurance that it is okay to tailor her child's education, especially when things are going too fast. The first thing that stands out to me is his inability to remember letter names. I don't think that means there's anything wrong, but I do think it is a big red flag frantically waving the message that he's just not ready yet! Has she considered that possibility? Is she trying to rush him through? I can't imagine trying to push forward with reading when a child doesn't yet know the names and sounds of the letters of the alphabet. It sounds like he's struggling to perform for her, and is relying on guesses when he reads, which results in various types of word substitutions. Some of them (bread-broad, chair-cheer) point to a phonics instruction issue. He's recognizing beginning and ending sounds, but isn't sure what to do with the middles. What kind of phonics instruction has she been using? (But the issue of phonics is somewhat moot, because I still think they need to back up and work on the alphabet first!) Again, some 5 year olds aren't ready for phonics, and that's okay. In that situation I'd drop reading completely. If she waits a few months or longer, things might be very different. I'd probably encourage some independent work, like Starfall for the alphabet activities, but I wouldn't encourage going forward to the Starfall reading activities until he's got the alphabet down. I'd do lots of reading aloud (with my finger under the words to emphasize L to R sequencing), play letter sound games, etc. Best wishes to your friend's sister! :) Carolyn

In case anyone goes looking for the Zen-On Stanesby Jr. soprano, Susato carries it for quite a bit less. :) However, I don't believe there's any consensus that the Stanesby Jr. is the best-sounding plastic recorder available. For example, David Green of Antique Sound Workshop doesn't have very nice things to say about it: link. But Green seems like a pretty opinionated guy, to put it mildly. ;)

Yup, baroque soprano is the place to start. The Yamaha 300 series comes highly recommended by many serious recorder players. I think they are a few dollars more than the Peripole Halo. They are often used as back ups for a wood instrument, or used when playing conditions might be hazardous for a wooden recorder (ie. a Renaissance Faire on a rainy day). It is a big step up from a toy store recorder, but not terribly expensive at between $14 and $23 dollars each depending on the color/finish. I can suggest places to purchase if you're interested, or you can Google the model numbers to find retailers: YRS-302B (brown), YRS-312B (simulated rosewood), YRS-314B (simulated ebony). You can also get a translucent 300 series recorder in pink, blue, or green with solid white trim (YRS-322B). They were manufactured only for the Japanese market, and recently discontinued, but I know of one US retailer who has them: Susato. Lazar's might also still have some pink ones in stock. (Note: Yamaha also makes some cheaper translucent recorders which don't have the solid white trim, and they don't sound quite as nice.) My kids love their translucent recorders. I'm a little jealous because mine is boring brown. :tongue_smilie: Oh, and I'll fourth the Penny Gardner suggestion. We also like the Oak Meadow books, and I have a few other favorites aimed at older children and adult beginners. :001_smile: Carolyn

Okay, I have a question about this. Reading material is pretty limited until a child has acquired at least a few of the Dolch sight words. If I eschew teaching sight words, I feel I'd have to hold back any remotely interesting reading material until we've done a LOT of phonics instruction. That seems like a recipe for frustration and boredom, doesn't it? Or am I overthinking this? Should I give her reading that includes Dolch sight words we haven't gotten to with phonics, and just tell her what the words are as we read together, without instructing her to "learn" them?

Well, look on the bright side. At least you know his comprehension is good! :D

We considered international adoption, and after researching it, the fees made a lot of sense for the country we were considering. But it has been a few years, and now I'm leaning more toward adopting from the foster system. Adopting through the foster system is generally low cost. Check with your employer; some offer adoption assistance in the form of reimbursement of approved expenses. There are also tax credits available for approved adoption expenses, up to a certain dollar amount. If you want to go through the foster system, you'll want to pursue certification as foster parents first. Along the way, you'll be able to specify what kind of placements you are willing to take. Remember that the goal of the foster system is reunification with parents or extended family, so most children in the foster system are not legally free for adoption, at least not yet. However, there are times when even though parental rights have not been severed, reunification is unlikely and there are no relatives who are eligible to adopt. In that situation, the state will try to place the child with a family whose intention is to adopt the child. This is often called "legal risk" adoption. In other cases, parental rights have already been severed, and the child is legally free for adoption. Good luck with thinking through all the options. I know it is overwhelming. Just take your time! If you haven't already, it might be helpful to attend the presentations of local adoption agencies as well as the foster care organization.

LOL. He was great! :lol:

Oooh, now that's an interesting idea. DH is a non-fiction kind of guy, so he might really enjoy reading a biography to her. Any favorites? I'm not familiar with any that are aimed at younger children, but I'll admit I haven't gone looking.

I've felt safe in our libraries since I became an adult, and I've never had a funny feeling about anyone hanging out in the children's area. But thank you for the reminder. One day when I was a teenager, studying at the library, an adult male exposed himself to me. (Actually he was masturbating. Ick.) I'm not sure why I didn't tell anyone....

If Kool-Aid dyed, they may come out a completely different color, and quite a bit lighter. Ask me how I know this. :D

Pollan included a quote in Omnivore's Dilemma that expressed a similar idea. It was something along the lines of a farmer saying a lot of his customers were young moms concerned with nutrition, many of whom had already "opted out" once by choosing to homeschool.

Huh? Whose actions are you speaking of? Palin did not fire Wooten. That's not what the investigation was about. Palin's firing of Monegan was questioned because she fired him after he refused to fire Wooten. She cited other reasons, but Monegan begged to differ on her motivation. Palin tried to get Monegan to fire Wooten. She didn't have the authority to do it herself. She did fire Monegan. What actions of Monegan's do you think were inappropriate?

If you haven't already, please do read the book cathmom mentioned: Protecting the Gift, by Gavin de Becker. That book should be required reading for all parents. It is not about being scared of shadows and living in fear. It is about learning to trust your instincts and act on them without being hampered by social/gender roles, and teaching your children to do the same.

Agreed. I also understand the problem of some groups of people not having legal ID for lack of money or transportation. I tend to lean towards the view that "If you want to vote, you'll need to get yourself some ID." Then we'd need to figure out how to ensure that everyone who wants to vote can obtain proper IDs, by subsidizing them, creating DMV-mobiles, etc. I'm truly baffled by the fact that states have different regulations regarding ID requirements for voting. How can it be right for different states to enforce different rules for a national election?

Aside from the link in the first post, I don't think anyone is doing any systematic testing. I Googled the words lead slow cooker, and got back a lot of hits, many to blogs or online forums. Hamilton Beach claims their glazes don't contain lead, but some don't like their slow cookers because they're made in China. I think some object on principle, while others worry that the maker may not be truthful about whether or not the glazes contain lead. Given recent news stories, there may be cause for concern on that point. I'll be getting lead swabs to check mine when I buy. There's a glass slow cooker that I want just because it looks so cool, but at 3.5 quarts it is quite small: link. VitaClay makes non-glazed slow cookers. They claim the crock is made out of clay that doesn't contain lead or cadmium. There's a Kitchen Aid model that has glass over the glaze, but there have been many complaints of the crock cracking. And I've heard others mention an All-Clad slow cooker, but I haven't investigated that one as I'm sure the pricetag is out of my range.

:hurray: Yay! Now I've got a long list of books for DH to look through. Thank you! :) Carolyn

I have a Le Creuset dutch oven, but I don't use it that much. I find the slow cooker to be more economical than heating up the oven. On the other hand, we don't have heat in our kitchen, so sometimes firing up the oven is much more satisfying than plugging in the slow cooker. :tongue_smilie: About lead in slow cooker glazes: I'm replacing my Rival Crock Pots with Hamilton Beach slow cookers, because they claim there is no added lead (or cadmium) in their glazes. Rival does admit that their glazes contain lead.:thumbdown:

...and the sequels, so what should we read aloud next? DH patiently read Winnie the Pooh and Cricket in Times Square, but I think he needs something more interesting for their next chapter book. I was thinking maybe something by Roald Dahl, but it has been so long that I can't recall if any Dahl is age-appropriate (language, themes, etc.) for a 5 year old. Unfortunately, DH is not capable of editing on the fly. I want to save Wind in the Willows for myself. DH doesn't appreciate my favorite chapter (Piper at the Gates of Dawn), so I don't think he deserves to read that one. ;) Maybe something humorous, maybe something exciting...any ideas? :) Carolyn

You'll love it! We got ours as a wedding gift 8 years ago, and it still works like new.

I'd move and get a portable dishwasher. They cost $150-$450 depending on size. We'd have to budget for it, but if it was for the kinds of reasons you're citing, we'd do it!

He is SO cute. :D Distracting? That's laughable.

We love this one: Microcosmos. The footage is just incredible. :) Carolyn

What if you abstain from your personal attacks on someone you've never met? I don't agree on 90% of what Obama represents, but I would never stoop as low as you do in attacking his abilities...he has many failings, it's not my place to dredge him over the coals as you seem to like doing to the candidates that you are against. What about my statement was a personal attack? And are you suggesting that the only people qualified to form an opinion on candidates' qualifications are those who know them personally? Well, I guess that'll cut down on the lines at the polls come November. And really, are you trying to say that this wasn't a garbled mess? That was an EASY question Couric asked. Nothing devious about it. Saying Palin betrayed her lack of experience with this response is NOT a personal attack. It is just a statement of fact.

My thoughts are not in order today. Sorry for multiple posts!