I teach 11th Grade ELA at the local PS, and my students always have the misconception that writing has to be grand. When we hit the narrative writing unit, I spend days convincing them that they do not have to write about this profound moment in thier lives. Anyway, I teach at PS very differently than I teach my kiddos at home, but I have found a book that has helped me become a better teacher in both places. It is by Penny Kittle and it is called Write Beside Them. It is a teacher text and shows how she teaches in PS, but I was able to alter several of the ideas and use them at home with my kiddos. I recommend it as a good read to help you, especially when it comes to how she helps students find topics to write about.

I do expect her to give 110% in class and take her school there seriously. But we focus a lot on other activities, and I don't honestly want homework to interfere with our life outside of school/work. I expect her grades to be excellent in class, but I could honestly care less about her doing homework, especially because I will be working with her. She seriously tested into 6th grade at the end of 1st (and we don't want her to be moved up a level), so I don't think the work in class is going to be difficult at all for her. I'm used to spending all day every day with them, and I want to do as much of that as I can when we are free. SKL, maybe I'll encourage her just to finish most of it up in class. Hopefully, it is minimal. I do see it being easy for her, so if it gets done quickly, I see no problem fitting it in while I am cooking or on our drive home. And I do know that I am being difficult, but I will not require my son to memorize lists of sight words. We teach by phonics, and he is already starting to read, so I will not change the way we have been learning for school. Yes, I am probably being more difficult than I need to be, but we have a good thing going and I don't want to lose progress because of a temporary necessity.

I'm thinking no...the teacher might not be happy, but she is well ahead of her grade level, and they will only be in school for 2 years. I just don't see how we could do homework, church activities, piano, and after schooling. I want them to have time to just be, too. I could care less about how they do in school, which is probably a poor attitude to have, but I'm not entirely happy with the whole situation to begin with. I mean, I care about their education, but I'm confident that she won't fall behind if we are working on school every evening and Saturday.

Sadly, it appears I have to go back to work full-time. My kids have never been in public school before so we are new to after schooling. I'll be teaching at the school where they go. My thought is to ignore any homework given and just do our own thing every day. Has anyone done this?

If anyone happens to have a copy of this, can you please send me a message or post the first week of Astronomy suggested readings for Grammar stage? I know all of the books are listed in term 1, but I just need to know which texts are used that first astronomy week. We are moving and my new copy was shipped to our new home across the country but I'm trying to order now everything for when we get there. We have prime so I just need the first week. Thanks a ton!!!

I thought that might be a good ideas, too. I also really want to help her build her mental math skills and I thought Singapore was good in that area. If we are using Singapore as a review, would I need the HIG? And which edition to you use? I wish I knew what she liked. Accelerated would prob be the way to go. She plays Reflex Math everyday:) That has really helped with her facts.

My DD is finishing up 2nd Grade CLE. It has gone fantastically. However, math is not her strong area and I don't want to just jump ahead to 3rd grade CLE. She actually "hates" math and just told me that she is "willing to work hard in other areas, just not math." :/ We school year-round so she has time to do another 2nd grade program to finish out our year. I'm thinking something "fun" and in color to keep her fresh and give her a solid review. We do RSC during Loop time (math year for us), but don't want to make that our new core math. So, solid math program in color seems like a fun idea. I'm thinking Singapore or Horizons...any advice?? We plan on picking back up with CLE in the summer/fall.

Just saw on the PeaceHill Press site that all downloads are 25% off.

I have the Orange book somewhere. Any experience with Farmland Math Mat Bundle from Timberdoodle?

Any favorite hands-on math for an almost four-year-old? I like RSA or Singapore, but would like something inexpensive. Thanks!!

Spanish for You has 30% off total purchase. Code is on site, but it is HOLIDAY30

Usborne is also having their Book Friday/Cyber Monday sale with books up to 60% off. Sale starts Thanksgiving Night at 10pm EST. My site is in my signature, visit their website, or ask your consultant for more information.

Bright Ideas Press has 20% off entire purchase Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Code is fridayblack Excludes bundles and clearance items.

I just got on here to see if anyone had started a Black Friday thread! Looking forward to hearing the deals out there.

Haha...if only. Wrapping up as in finishing making them ;) I actually don't have a single one complete. One is quilted and all, just waiting on binding. One is currently at my sewing machine. The others have not really been touched:/ Plus, since they are advent calendars, I need to get them out asap so they can actually use them in December. No sewing was one yesterday...again. Gah. Not good. I did finish all of our Medieval History stuff, though! Everything is ready to go for next week when she starts. We had a pretty decent school day yesterday. DS has been begging for school, so I have been working with him for about 30 minutes a day. A lot of it is just coloring along side him, but we are both having fun. I also sorted and mostly put away a huge stack of school papers. Today, we need to get to the library because I have some overdue books. I want to finish putting away school papers (they are currently covering craft table, which may be why I haven't been sewing much). I also need to catch up on laundry. Before any of this, we need to do our school routine. It is just my two lovelies today, so that does make things easier. MrsRobinson - hope everyone is feeling better in your house. My DS has a cough, too:( DD is starting to sound hoarse...