We are currently using lollipop logic. We need a program with a bit more practice before increased difficulty. For math we use a mastery program (MM) accompanied by a spiral (Excel). I would like something similar to this level of repeated exposure plus incrementally more challenging puzzles/problems. What would you suggest?

I have the same issue!!! I have made it small and tried to upload from my desktop. It said failed to add photo...or something like that. Tried to put it on Flikr and I get the same pink rectangle with no message.

I also asked in another thread about Salsa Spanish. Anyone? Is an immersion show overwheming to young kids with no background?

Daffodil, how do you like Salsa Spanish? We are considering it. My partner starts with all 4 about 5:30-6. While they eat breakfast she reads latino picture books aloud and discusses their culture (we are a multi ethnicity family). She does some music and dance appreciation lessons. After that they get cleaned up and dressed. At 8 she goes to work and I start with them. As a group we do Draw Write Now and some calendar work. We do table work in the morning. My 6yo writes 3 sentences in her journal about the previous day and draws a related picture. Then she does math: 1 page in light blue MM, 2-3 pages in two different Kumon workbooks and 1 page of Excel math (she's on about lesson 100 in gr 1 book). If it's difficult for her I'll get out some Miquon. Math is not her strongest subject. Then she reads a story in an AAR reader or a Go Phonics reader. We do 10-15 words from Natual Speller or How to Spell and one How to Spell wkbk page. Sometime around 10 we have snack. then she works on Practicing Standard Usage and 4-6 pages of grammar wkbks. Then, we just started WWE so I fumble my way through that. Then, it's about 11:15, time for lunch. After lunch she (all the kids actually have this, the younger ones nap) has a 1.5 hour quiet time/silent reading time in her bed. At 2ish we have snack and I read a story aloud with accompanied Sign Language. From there it depends on the day: M tae kwon do (1 hour) Tu swim (1 hour) dance (1 hour) Wed tae kwon do (1 hour) Th & Fr no structured lesson! Sat gymnastics (1 hour) Sun (UU fellowship and RE with my partner...I don't attend) In the evenings, we come home and have dinner, feed the animals (chickens and dog) clean up and get ready for bed. Watch a 30 min video while sibs get nebulizer treatments. Each child gets to hear two read alouds (each same sex sib picks one then my partner and I switch each night reading two books to either the girls or boys). Time for bed. Then we get up and do it again!

Redsquirrel, A post described a lock in with Juno. We have never done this. The kids at one local UU go on a type of three day survival hike/orienteering program. You describe OWL curric starting in first grade, others describe middle school. One UU in our area starts at 12 and one starts at 14. Some UU describe OWL during regular RE, I have not had this experience in several other UU fellowships. I have no doubt that there is training and a structured curric. However, the experience of most aspects of UU vary widely. The OWL program within these highly varied contexts is not going to be similar.

Our youngest was a major shape sorter guy, the others had no interest. He is now a great puzzle guy (3yo who loves 100 pc puzzles). Listed here are his favorite toys, and a few the bigger kids liked. I agree with the gear toy. Also magformers with or without wheels, lauri toys shape and color sorter (peg type game), peg board, Imaginets, Quercetti Fantacolor junior pegboard, Design and Drill (our three year old loves it but younger may need help) we have the regular kit but the take along kit looks even better, Melissa and Doug shape sorter sequence, Laugh and Learn Piggy bank (huge favorite!), and Oreo matchin' middles game. This will probably sound weird but we got the Leap Frog Learn to Read Phonics desk but took the batteries out, our youngest loved to put the letters in and out, like a puzzle.

Be concerned. This does not sound like depression. Are they on medication for the depression?

OWL, and UU in general, is so very different depending on the specific UU fellowship you go to. More so than what I have seen in other religious groups, UU seem to be more autonomous. It is harder to compare the experience of one OWL program to another.

We have an ipoint as well. It sharpens quickly but not evenly.

We experienced the same frustration. We did end up with a $25 electric. It is better than the handheld but I think a wall mounted sharpener would be better.

Public parenting, like at a party or social gathering Talking on the phone Having visitors come over

I voted for other. I think my kids would do best with AAS but I can't manage it. They are all very close in age. I am not an organized person. It was too hard to manage all the materials with them so close together within the same program. I think we have a strong program mixing several different curricula together. Please see list in signature. If you have questions about any of the curricula listed below, feel free to ask.

Tide HE but once in awhile Era.

Vitamins/supplements, knock-off vacuum cleaner bags (half the price of miele bags at the store), swimsuits, birthday and holiday gifts, picture books, chapter books, curriculum, pencils, pencil grips, curriculum, Kumon workbooks, electronic accessories, k ruled notebooks, journals, puzzles,... I buy most kids clothes second hand but I have one child who is difficult to fit so I buy her pants at amazon.

Shurley Grammar. Cumbersome and the chants were awful. Stories dilluted the content.

We adopted four children from foster care. Some of them are bio sibs. The whole process took three and a half years. We had both voluntary relinquishment and court involved situations. each situation was VERY different. It depends where you live what cost there will be in foster care. We had to pay for two lawyers per child but were reimbursed for that through taxes. Our children came to us at a variety of ages, between five months and twenty two months. We would only accept preschoolers. We are a multiethinic family. Some of our children are latino. Most of our children came to us with delays but have made amazing progress. We are later in life parents, My partner is 48 and I am 43. Our kids are now 6,5,4,3. Foster care was very hard for us. The uncertainties, ups and downs, dealing with many social workers. It took quite a toll. The kids are so amazing it made it all worth it. Our adoptions were all finalized 13 months ago. We are so thankful!

We have a rolltop desk that we need to sell. We need to sell it because it is where we need to put a coat organizer system in our sunroom. We haven't placed it on Craig's List because it is so full of papers and other stuff that was important to someone at sometime that I can't bring myself to get it all cleaned up for pictures. In the mean time all of the snow pants and coats for four children are landing on the chair inside the door.

"It's Perfectly Normal" and the rest of that series.

My children have some fear issues. At this time they can't tolerate info about weapons, hunting, violence, animals or people being harmed, and a variety of other topics. They will not be able to read several of the WWE selections (e.g., Little House). Is it still viable to use if I have to skip some weeks work?

I'm starting level one with my 6, 5, and maybe my 4yo in a few weeks.

We don't have cable so we get zero channels. We do stream netflix for Super Why and Diego and Word World but that's about it. When on vacation we allowed sprout tv. We saw Dog with a Blog once at a hotel. The 6 and 5 yo loved it and I thought it was awful. My kids are a little younger.

Yes I think it completely normal. Here are some ideas to help. Add other non writing tasks and hand eye coordination games. Play with lots of playdough, put coins in a bank, use tongs or chopsticks to pick up cottonballs. Have her play with Perplexus Jr. Mazes are a great idea. Have her make letters in playdough, sand, pudding, fingerpaint, and shaving cream. Use magnetic letters and numbers when you need her to answer to take the pressure off writing and allow her to better focus on demonstrating math or reading concepts.

I agree with Oryx and Crake as well as the Handmaid's Tale. Brave New World is a good classic. For YA there's Into the Forest. Other not YA include Parable of the Sower Parable of the Talents.