I want to learn how to speak correctly, but not every moment is the time for correction. So, if I'm in a calm place and I can hear and respond to the correction in a timely manner.. I'm all for it. But if we are in a market and trying to make my point and the person understands me, then no, I don't want corrected. I also don't want to be corrected if the person is condescending. (i.e. a certain child who speaks much better than me and is sometimes rude about how I might pronounce a word!)

Good summary on the printed alphabet. I had to add that you didn't mention the cursive letter confusion! I can speak (not great, but good enough) but reading something written in cursive is so daunting! Is it a M or a T? What's that G doing? What sound is that! (I think it's G that troubles me!)

Thanks for the link. I will need to find out about individual test as there isn't anyplace to test in the country we are living in. I think we'll need to go to Poland for her to take the test. I was wondering (and I realize that I can call and get this information) is if she can test in the summer when she's in the States.

This isn't the samething, but I remember when my daughter got sick and I was mad at her. Why? Because she was going on a field trip (dog sledding) with her school and I volunteered to go with her. I was very excited to go. Instead, she ate something that she had an allergic reaction to which resulted in her being sick for an entire week with a high fever. And yes, I was mad at her. She knew she shouldn't have eaten it! However, I understood that she was still learning how to tell others what she could and couldn't eat and sometimes, she didn't know how to say no to an adult about a birthday cake. Too much temptation. She didn't go on her field trip and I didn't get to go either! In the end, I (reluctunatly) stayed home and played the good mom role. And felt quilty that I would rather have been dog sledding than staying home with a child who caused her on misery! (and this is 6 years later and I still remember that week like it was yesterday!)

Do you have a teenager? :lol: They can wash dishes! (I don't use my dishwasher very often.)

We live overseas, dd is 6th grade. She will need to take teh SSAT test in 8th grade to be able to go to boarding schools. I would like her to take a practice test this summer. IS that possible? Does anyone know how I could arrange it? She would be in Oregon for the summer.

Thank you! My daughter loves audio books and I love that they are in French! DD is now in 6 eme and started out in CP. All these years later, and I still don't speak a single word of French. I am always thankful when you or others post about resources.

Can you give me an approximate age for these books? My daughter attends the Lycee. She speaks/reads French at school. She needs to read more in French at home. I need to buy book that are appropriate for the 6 eme. Thanks!

Another location to seach might be HowStuffWorks.

hugs to your daughter.. I understand all too well what she is feeling. My father died in September. It's a hard holiday knowing he's not here.

It may not be the traditional source of English grammar, but the fact that it was being written in the Economist showed the confusion... http://www.economist.com/research/styleguide/index.cfm?page=805687

That's pretty funny! It reminds me of the book Eats, Shoots and Leaves. It's all about correct grammar.

In a way this pertains to my daughter. She "sees" patterns quickly and finds the right answer in her mind. However, she doesn't always understand how she knew the right answer. Her mind figures it out in the subconscious level, but when I ask her to show me how she accomplished it- she can't. We have to backtrack and go over some steps even though she can quickly figure out the pattern. Quite unfortunate, but I agree with KarenAnne. What a shame that we don't encourage and foster a society that encourages mathematical abilities starting in the primary years.

My daughter attends a French school and has always done so. They teach cursvie from the very beginning. She's in 6th grade now and still writes as a matter of comfort. I remember reading articles on cursive vs print. When she was in kindergarten, I found an article about the different attitutes between the Europeans and Americans on writing. The Europeans teach their children to write on grid paper and each letter should be within 2 mm. American children have a much bigger space to write in during the kindergarten-1st grade time period. I'm not saying one is better than the other, it was simply interesting to read the different reasons. I did a quick google just now and found an article about why cursive first. It wasn't what I read 6 years ago, but interesting none the less: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2164109/10_reasons_to_teach_cursive_writing_pg2.html?cat=4

This is an adult book, but might make teaching rules easier. The ABC's and All Their Tricks: The Complete Reference Book of Phonics and Spelling Edited to add.. oops.. I posted and then saw the book was already referenced!