Okay, ds4 is 2-3 years 'ahead' in math & reading. Super logical/structured brain. And a perfectionist. But he's always struggled with fine motor skills. He's just figured out how to use a pair of scissors, and is enjoying that. He likes to draw, color, etc. (what 4yo doesn't?)...but he doesn't hold his pencil/crayon correctly. Maybe 4yrs is too long to have waited to ask this question, but I guess I just haven't really noticed until recently... This is a bit difficult for me, b/c (1) I'm a lefty from a family of righties, and I never really learned to hold my pencil correctly either. Ds4 is a righty. Yes, I can look up how he should hold his pencil (or have dh help him). So I guess my question really comes from the next point. (2) He gets frustrated when I try to enforce "no, hold it this way"... I don't want to so frustrate him that he hates to do any writing/drawing whatsoever! Should I just let it go...and hope he figures things out eventually? Or is it really important that he learn this asap? All you experienced moms...what did you/would you do?

The Bronze Bow The Wheel on the School The Apple and the Arrow The Moffats Johnny Tremain and Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry (maybe for a bit older age group than you're looking at?...still some of my favorites!)

Great! Thanks so much! I have read a few/several of the suggestions (Thorton Burgess, Mouse & the Motorcycle, etc.) aloud to the kids already...but appreciate the reminder. Ds4 would prob enjoy revisiting those on his own. And I've got a looong list to take to the library with me this weekend! :)

So...those of you that have gone with Atelier & Artistic Pursuits... Both systems look great. What are the perks of each? Why did you choose one over the other?

My thoughts exactly. :) I am looking for something that teaches art (as opposed to just neat art projects for kids, etc). I love curriculum planning, and I enjoy doing my "own thing" for most subjects...but I'm feeling like I don't know enough abt teaching art to really give my kids a full education on the subject... Like I said, I know they're still very young, but I'd like to start out right. :)

Thanks for the helpful tips! The whole-to-parts discussion is particularly interesting. I guess I've never thought of dd3 being "whole-to-parts" but now that I think of it, I'm sure she is!

Anyone have a list of nice, simple chapter books (not interested in dark, depressing, shocking, heavy-topic stuff) for my ds4? He reads at a 3rd to 4th grade level, and my problem is that it seems like everything geared for that age is sooo dark nowadays! Ds4 is extremely sensitive. He likes adventure but can only take so much suspense. He's read some Little House, Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little...and a few of the BJU chapter books. (We'll prob do Narnia at some point, but he's not quite ready for that yet.) He does enjoy non-fiction as well. I'm looking for well-written non-morbid children's chapter books. :) Any suggestions?

I would love to be doing something "official" for art class...but the art curricula I've seen are all sooo expensive! I've got two in "school" right now (ds4 and dd3). We have "Fine Arts" Friday - with about an hour to devote to music and art activities. I usually just come up with something I've seen online or think the kids would enjoy...making play-doh "pots," finger painting, making a snowman collage, etc. But I do wonder sometimes if they wouldn't benefit from moving thru a series of art lessons, you know, actually learning techniques and stuff. I consider myself to be creative and moderately 'artistic,' but I never took any real art classes myself, and the curriculum I see (artistic pursuits, atelier, etc.) looks so neat! Anyone have any thoughts? Do you use a particular curriculum for art? Has it been worth the expense? Do you take a more off-the-cuff approach like me? Anyone know of an inexpensive art approach that covers all of the basics?

I need some ideas for teaching my preschooler (dd3). She does 'school' with me and ds4 because she doesn't want to be left out of anything. We spend abt 1-1/2 hrs on our 'classes' every morning. Mon thru Thurs is Bible, Reading, Math, History, Science. On "Fine Arts Friday" we do Bible, Reading, Music & Art. We do everything together except for reading. The rest of our day is fairly structured as well, with plenty of times for both indoor and outdoor play, reading together, "table time" (coloring books, puzzles, etc.), etc. My question is this: I have a hard time relating to dd3's learning style. I am much more like ds4 - logical, structure-oriented, word-oriented, math-oriented, etc. Ds4 enjoys memorizing lists, listening to stories (with or w/o pictures), stretching his brain with logic puzzles, etc. Dd3 is different. She's very visual. She loves colors and has a real appreciation for beauty and color in art. She's super-expressive (yes, a drama queen), talks with her hands, and wears her expressions on her face. :) She can't stand listening to stories (or 'lessons') without having pictures to look at or things to do. She's very 'bouncy', active, playful. Very coordinated. I know it's not a serious problem now b/c she's very young still. But I'd like to start out on the right foot. Any of you have experience teaching a visual learner (or maybe you are one yourself) with some advice for me? I'm really open to any suggestions - curriculum, activities, or just what it's like to learn this way or teach this type of learner. THANKS! P.S. As far as curriculum, my plan is to use Saxon Math (ds4 will prob go thru at an accelerated rate, but I like Saxon for the hands on approach with dd3?), SOTW history (I love this curriculum, but am concerned that dd3 won't get much out of it?), and AIG science (similar in style to SOTW).

I need some ideas for teaching my preschooler (dd3). She does 'school' with me and ds4 because she doesn't want to be left out of anything. We spend abt 1-1/2 hrs on our 'classes' every morning. Mon thru Thurs is Bible, Reading, Math, History, Science. On "Fine Arts Friday" we do Bible, Reading, Music & Art. We do everything together except for reading. The rest of our day is fairly structured as well, with plenty of times for both indoor and outdoor play, reading together, "table time" (coloring books, puzzles, etc.), etc. My question is this: I have a hard time relating to dd3's learning style. I am much more like ds4 - logical, structure-oriented, word-oriented, math-oriented, etc. Ds4 enjoys memorizing lists, listening to stories (with or w/o pictures), stretching his brain with logic puzzles, etc. Dd3 is different. She's very visual. She loves colors and has a real appreciation for beauty and color in art. She's super-expressive (yes, a drama queen), talks with her hands, and wears her expressions on her face. :) She can't stand listening to stories (or 'lessons') without having pictures to look at or things to do. She's very 'bouncy', active, playful. Very coordinated. I know it's not a serious problem now b/c she's very young still. But I'd like to start out on the right foot. Any of you have experience teaching a visual learner (or maybe you are one yourself) with some advice for me? I'm really open to any suggestions - curriculum, activities, or just what it's like to learn this way or teach this type of learner. THANKS! P.S. As far as curriculum, my plan is to use Saxon Math (ds4 will prob go thru at an accelerated rate, but I like Saxon for the hands on approach with dd3?), SOTW history (I love this curriculum, but am concerned that dd3 won't get much out of it?), and AIG science (similar in style to SOTW).