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MiddleKingdomMom

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  1. Someone mentioned the openlibrary.org site recently, so I signed up for a free account. Now that I have that, I discover that they have many science-related books available-- not always a specific title, but something on many basic subjects. Of course, they also have other books, including picture books, early readers and history books. This site allows for check out of five ebooks at a time; accounts are free.

     

    Another resource for ebooks is wegivebooks.org. Their title list includes many science-related titles from dk publishing. Free account.

     

    I've found these especially helpful since I live overseas and can't pop into my local library...

  2. Thanks for the input. Right now, I'm thinking something along the lines of...

     

    K4- The Story Bible from Concordia (gorgeous pictures; used at Amazon is a good price)

    K5- Ancients Year 1-- Greenleaf Guides (OT, Egypt); SCM's Ancient Egypt spine

    1st- Ancients Year 2-- SCM Guide 4 (includes Rome and a harmony of the gospels)

    beyond that, maybe a combination of SCM Guides, SOTW 2-4, perhaps a gap year for Beautiful Feet Geography Guide, and then try the Hakim materials...

     

    I started this thread hoping it could help give ideas for others who might have tight finances...

  3. There's lots of history materials out there, but some of them require a big outlay of money up front (perhaps with promises that you can reuse it for multiple ages and multiple kids.) Perhaps you are still not in a position to afford those programs or you'd like the flexibility to try several options without committing to one company for the next twenty years of history instruction.

     

    What options have you found?

     

    Two I've found are Simply Charlotte Mason and Greenleaf Guides. (I like the samples. We're not at grade 1 yet, so I can't say I've used them.)

  4. Glad the links helped. I hope to leave a few more at the end of the post, some of which should work in the States.

     

    Several other mandarin resources...Pablo is a free dictionary download, Anki has free flashcards. I've heard there are lots of free Mandarin apps if you have the technology for it (I don't, so I don't know the details.)

     

    Happy Birthday (bi-lingual)

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzQ3Njk2NzI4.html

     

    白雪公主 Snow White

     

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTEwNzUyNzMy.html

     

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjcxNDMwMDcy.html

     

    三åªçŒª The Three Pigs

     

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzE0OTUzNDIw.html

    ç°å§‘娘-Cinderella

     

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzE0OTUzNTQ4.html

    å°é©¬è¿‡æ²³ Little Horse Crosses the River

     

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjY0MTA3NTgw.html

     

    å°çŒ«é’“é±¼ Little Cat Goes Fishing

     

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjM4NjQ3MTg0.html

     

    Tooth care

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjk2NjE0MzIw.html

    å°ç†Šèµ·åºŠ Little Bear Wakes Up

     

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjk2NjI0MDcy.html

  5. Resources for learning about curriculums

     

    Cathyduffyreviews—info about most products available on the market. Much free information, though we found her 101 Top Picks also helpful (paid download)

     

    Exodusbooks.com—this site sells new and used books, as well as reviews of many products. You can see sample pages for some of the resources sold, which is very helpful.

     

    Handwriting and coloring

    Several sites offer ebook downloads for handwriting. These include Italics: Beautiful Handwriting for Kids, Classical Copywork and Pentime.

     

    Many sites offer coloring pages. DLTK has a wide variety of free coloring pages, calendars, etc. I plan to use downsized copies of some of the pics for our first timeline.

     

     

    Ebooks

     

    Simply Charlotte Mason, Greenleaf Press, Biblioplan, and Tapestry of Grace are all living-books based history curriculums. Free samples of these history guides are downloadable as well as the guides themselves if you should choose to purchase. Obviously, the living books would have to be accessed in some way.

     

    Naturexplorer and 106 Days of Creation are both ebook science materials for elementary.

     

    SCM has resources for other subjects as well as a free curriculum guide. Almost all their products are available for download. CharlotteMasonhelp and Ambleside Online also have many free resources.

     

    Some companies provide ebooks of the materials even if they aren’t listed on Amazon (i.e. a Child’s Geography books.)

  6. Thanks for the input. I hope to add more later.

     

    For now...

     

    There was a related post a month ago which has some suggestions:

    http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/473967-advice-on-homeschooling-without-library-access-please/#entry4983074

     

    Perhaps there are ways to share curriculum within a given region (i.e. southern Africa, northern China, SE Asia, eastern Europe) if you meet a mom who is interested in the same materials.

     

    Here in China, I've found that many English books are available for order from Taobao, including many that could work for school. Prices aren't as good as used, but if you need a certain type of book you might be able to get it. Just search for the title and see if it comes up.

  7. We currently live in China, but when we were in the States, our library had several series of DVDs for Mandarin; our favorite was Play and Learn with Chinese with MeiMei. There were 8 volumes or so. Here in China, there are videos (children's cartoons) on youku (like youtube.) I believe they can be accessed from the States. Here is a partial list I compiled (if they work for you, I can add more)--

     

    Little White Rabbit—å°ç™½å…” 白åˆç™½

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDE2Nzg4NDY0.html

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTk5NDk5NDM2.html

     

    Two Tigers—两åªè€è™Ž

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzI5MjQxMTE2.html

     

    Pull the Carrot—拔èåœ

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzI5MzMyNTA4.html

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzI5MzMyNTA4.html

     

    Little Donkey—å°æ¯›é©´

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzI5MjM4MzY0.html

     

    打电è¯- Two kids call on the phone

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzI5MjQwNDQw.html

  8. Overseas WTM posting…

     

    For those of us living overseas, it’s always great to find resources that are online, downloadable, and printable—anything that doesn’t take up precious suitcase space. Here are some that I’ve come across or had recommended:

     

    Early reading…

    (I’ve used all three with my four-year-old)

     

    Starfall.com—letters, reading, songs and math, all with animations. Lots more options (including a curriculum plan and early readers) for $35/year. Not really classical education, but if you are stuck with no materials to work with, this could be a good option.

     

    hubbard’scupboard.org—free, Christian preschool materials, including short-vowel activities.

     

    Jsite.com/lcr—these are printable readers, Christian. Donations welcome.

     

    Stories

    (like having a small library available overseas)

     

    Wegivebooks.org—free account allows you access to read children’s books online. Many DK books available, as well as others currently in print.

     

    Storylineonline.net—children’s books read by actors. Some books on social issues as well as some modern classics. This requires fast internet and may not always be accessible overseas.

     

    Some other sites have older books available, like Project Gutenberg and the Baldwin Project.

     

    I’d love to hear what other overseas moms have found along their homeschooling journey…

  9. Thanks for the suggestions and feedback.

     

    I'm glad SOTW 1 works for so many people...it is my least favorite in the series, so I doubt I'll start with that. Part of why I liked First Timeline was their timeline with line drawings, but I think I will make my own using resized pictures from dltk coloring pages. I've been interested in the Simply Charlotte Mason History Guides-- the first year is mostly Bible with some intro to Ancient Egypt. So I may use that...

  10. I was reading the recent post about favorite curr. and noticed the SCM history modules mentioned several times (simplycharlottemason.com) I've been considering those for a while, though planning to speed up through the three ancient history years. I like how so much has been laid out for the parents to work with and I definitely like the price.

     

    Questions:

     

    1) Does it feel out-of-date or old with lots of reprints from yester-year?

    2) What do you use to add color, since most books have few pictures, or only black-and-white illustrations? Or is it only my assumption that it might seem a less colorful/boring?

    3) Anyone know about the depth of the materials for high school (this is thinking long-term. I'm at K-5 right now)?

     

    Also, does anyone want to give me their perspective on the Ancient Egypt and Her Neighbors study? It's so new, there's not a lot of reviews out there.

  11. I'm interested both in Biblioplan and SCM History Guides (yes, the ones at simplycharlottemason.com.) It will be a year or two until we start, as oldest ds is only 4. I've thought about doing BP for Ancients, then SCM for the other three. Of course there is also SOTW; I previewed those books several years ago, and liked the last three volumes much better than the first.

     

    One thing I like about Biblioplan and SCM is they both have samples to download so you can see what it looks like. SCM's includes their booklist. So if you've got the same questions, I'd suggest looking at those to get a feel for the material. I do like the you can buy individual items from BP, so I might use that to supplement something else if I can't afford the whole BP package...

  12. I'm looking for something simple to do as a history overview for a five-year-old....kind of like an introduction to the big picture before we go at it slower in first grade (i.e. SOTW, 4 years.) I've read a little bit about First Timeline book (Ye Hedge School) and pictoral timeline and also History for Little Pilgrims (CLP). I appreciate the History of Little Pilgrim's Protestant perspective, but hear that it mostly justcovers Bible and US history. I like the look of the First Timeline sample, and also that it covers more history from around the world. However, the publisher seems to be strongly Catholic...will I object to a lot of the lesson topics and materials as a Protestant? Or will I find most of the lessons useable?

     

    I'd love to know your thoughts if you've used these...

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