[I am SO psyched now!!!]

That sounds so fun! I'm glad you were both so successful. :001_smile:

[What is the name of your homeschool?]

Durmstrang.

We don't have one yet, but I'm considering Beauxbatons Academy. :D

[How do you teach this?]

I remember being told as a kid to move my legs back and forth, but no one ever told me to lean my body back and forward, so I'm sure it took longer to learn than was necessary. I taught my boys by sitting in the swing next to them and demonstrating - lean back and straighten legs, lean forward and bend them. I got them to do the motion while the swing was stationary, then I'd give them a push to get started. My 4 year old still has trouble getting started on his own, but he can keep himself going if his brother or I push him to start.

[I finally gave in and bought Beast Academy... How's everyone else liking it?]

Ok, I clearly need to tell my box-checker self to chill and allow ds to skip more.

My son is the box-checker here. We haven't skipped a problem yet.

 

We're just about finished skip-counting, and it's going well so far!

[If you use MM, what do you use for K math?]

I haven't decided between MM and Singapore for 1st grade, but for now we're using SM Essential Math.

[For fun how many pairs of shoes do you own]

Nine. I donated all of my boots and anything I didn't wear regularly when we moved last winter, and I've only bought flip-flops since then. So, I have 4 pairs of flip-flops, a pair of high heels, a pair of wedges, a pair of Toms and 2 pairs of sneakers.

[Nancy Larson Science -- combining ages]

We've just started with Level 1 and haven't used the K level, but it sounds like it will work to me. :)

 

I'm not sure how similar the K level is, but Level 1 could definitely be done with 7 and 5 year olds. Even if your younger daughter isn't ready to do the written work, she'll still get a lot out of it.

[Our first real year..advice]

It sounds silly , but I've never had to push him to do anything because he's been advanced in things that other kids should be learning, he just got. But now I will be introducing all these subjects that he may not really want to do.

 

I was raised by a drill instructor type of mother so I know HOW to get things done but I've just never had to say "you need to learn this". Silly I know.

So far, my boys have been at least a little excited about each new subject we've started. Instead of just giving them a list of subjects we're going to be doing, I've been introducing them more like "I have a surprise for you tomorrow! No, I can't tell you what it is, or it won't be a surprise! It's no use asking your dad, even he doesn't know. You really want to know what it is? Okay, I guess I can tell you, but don't tell your brother. Tomorrow, we're going to do Science!" :D

[Creating a Language Arts road map]

My younger would love this. Thanks!

So would my older! Thank you!

[Creating a Language Arts road map]

I have several pages of ideas, and some colorful flow charts, but the backbone of my plan for language arts for the grammar stage is WWE and FLL. I have the first two levels for both (we're 1/3 of the way through Level 1), and I'm really impressed. I understand that the grammar picks up in Level 3, so if we hit there too early, MCT Island might fit well.

[Our first real year..advice]

We're in our first "real" year too, so I can't actually give any advice, but I wanted to say that your plan looks great! FLL is absolutely perfect. I don't know how else to describe it. We started math and language arts in July, and science and a few other odds and ends last week. Easing in has worked well, so far. :)

[How satisfied are you with your choices this year?]

I'm very, very happy with my choices for my older son, and "mostly satisfied" with those for my younger. But, I think that has more to do with their personalities than the actual choices. ;)

[what do you make for supper when you don't know what else to make??]

Breakfast! Pancakes or waffles. The kids love it.

:iagree: We do pancakes or bacon and eggs when I'm out of ideas.

[s/o of "red-shirting"]

For now (I'm willing to change these at any point):

 

DS1 - January 2007 - Kindergarten - Will graduate at 18 years, 5 months.

DS2 - December 2007 - Pre-K - Will graduate at 18 years, 6 months.

[Mothers of Sons: Birth Order Question]

I only have two boys, but you described them (as the oldest and the middle) perfectly! Maybe this means I should have another? :tongue_smilie:

[I have never heard of red-shirting here?]

I'm from Quebec, but my older son started school last year in Newfoundland and we now live in Texas.

 

My older was born in January 2007 and missed the cut-off for kindergarten my just a few days last year, but when we inquired with the school, they had no problem with allowing him to start school "a year early". He was the youngest kid in his class by 8 days and every other child in the class was born in 2006. One of my motivations for starting him early is that his younger brother is also born in 2007 (December) and I didn't want them in the same grade. I didn't even consider "red-shirting" my younger son. The principal told me that there were several other children in the school who were a year ahead, both by starting early and by skipping grades.

 

When we moved to Texas, where the cut-off is September 1st, I learned about red-shirting for the first time. My son was still a few days from turning 5 and over half of the kindergarten class he would have been in was already 6. We were already leaning toward homeschooling, but that helped with the decision.

[surprising results for our third week of school!]

Melie- I would definitely try the Rod and Staff as early as possible. I've put it off for years and years. ;) I am using it with all of my boys, and the youngest is in 4th grade. I am lucky b/c I can see it at all of the different levels. And, I am happy to say that I love the early years and how it progresses!

 

Good luck!

Thanks! I'm looking at 2nd grade Spelling and English, so we'll be starting at the beginning with those. :)

 

Which subjects are you using?

[surprising results for our third week of school!]

That's great to hear! We're loving WWE as well, and I'm looking at R&S for next year. :)

[Elementary - Life of Fred series - Praise!]

We're loving Fred here as well! Dh is doing it with the boys, but they've let me join in a few times. :)

[Anyone schooling tomorrow?]

We are doing school, because Dh is away and we don't have any other plans. His parents are coming next week, then we'll be taking a few short trips, so it'll be nice to get a 5-day week in before we have some shorter ones.

[They said what? Good thing they're homeschooled!]

This thread is one of my favorites. :001_smile:

 

Max doesn't normally show off his vocabulary, so it's kind of fun for me when he does.

 

He was complaining about being warm and thirsty (in the car, with AC on, on our way to dinner), and said he was going to faint. To distract him, Dh asked "how do you spell faint?"

"F-e-i-n-t"

"That's one way to spell it, but the way you meant it is spelled 'f-a-i-n-t'"

"Not really, I was feinting. F-e-i-n-t-i-n-g.":D

[science, does this exist?]

Nancy Larson Science sounds like it would be perfect for you. I bought it to use this year (we'll start in two weeks) and I'm impressed with what I see. :)

[If your child has PEANUT allergy...]

My son was 2.5, but I have a nephew who didn't discover his allergy until he was 5. 8 doesn't sound impossible to me.

[I Give Up On Planning]

My boys are much more linear learners than most seem to be on here, but I've still given up on an actual schedule. It's more of a flow chart at this point. :D

[Honeybees etc.]

I just had to cancel Shark Week in our house because my younger son is so upset that some sharks eat penguins. :grouphug: