Perfect! I chose manuscript writing, cursive writing, money, weather, and fractions.

Do you have the activity book for Ancients? Does it have maps? I only have the text and the cds, so I don't know if the activity book would be good for maps. Do you want to show the kids the way the world was or how it is now?

I'm ordering a Handwriting without Tears book for my son, and in order to get free shipping, I would like to find a few more items to add to the cart, rather than figure out later that I want/ need them. Thoughts on the following... a balance a scale a globe We have a US map and a world map and an atlas for kids. We have no measuring devices. We are going to be working on Singapore 1 and 2 this year. Any thoughts on what I should add to my list? Anything that I didn't mention here? geometric solids, etc? thanks, Chelsea

wow, thanks for posting! These are great ideas, and all put together already...thank you! I was planning on a composer and an artist a month, or so. We have the Classical Kids cds and the Intro to the Composers cds. I'll need to go through and start planning so I can order library books as needed.

We are currently doing Real Science Odyssey Life. It is fun and I'm not finding it messy or comicated. They have a try before you buy on their website. You can print out almost half a year of Life. I also have been doing matter with the kids. I'm just finding random stuff online and doing little experiments. They are loving it. Simple, free ( using library books) and fun. Mr Q has a bunch of great, easy to put together experiments as well.

That's a tough one. I would say cd except that I tried it and found my kids didn't listen as intently to Jim as they did to me ;) usually they love Jim Weiss, as do I. However, after a chapter read by him, I asked the kids a few questions and thy had no clue what was read. Granted they were tired, but when I read, they really listen. So a bit depends on your kids. I love using the cd as review, and for pronunciation. But for us, the book is important too. Our library had the CDs, so we are borrowing them now. I did buy the book.

I would find some great audiobooks. Jim Weiss reads a whole bunch of great ones. You can choose light, peaceful stories like Uncle Wiggly, classic stories like Treasure Island or Gulliver's Travels ( abridged), or Egyptian or Greek Myths! He has so many, and thu are all so educational. We also love the readings of Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Bambi, and other classic stories. I'd have her listen to those while drawing or playing quietly. My son, age 6, listens to stories while playing with magnatiles, cars, play dough, etc.

That's great! I love that my kids think history is as exciting as I do, thanks to SOTW. :)

wow, what a great resource. thanks!

I love the Lyra Super Ferby pencils, and so do my children. They get dull, but they never seem to break. :)

Ok, then is there another option for a fun supplement for a first and second grader to use while I am working with the other? We have Brainpop jr. And they love that. But I was hoping for something more to do with reading or LA.

oh, how come? I was thinking of getting this for the start of the year so the kids could have something to do while I worked with their sibling.

Well, we are doing REAL science Odyssey Life this year and love it. But I have nothing with which to compare it. You can get a large portion of the REAL science books online free from the Pandia Press website in the try it before you buy it section. That's how I decided to buy it. I did a few lessons with the kids from the free stuff, and they really enjoyed it.

Some things my two enjoy (they are first and second grade) snap circuits marble runs magnatiles Playmobil or other little figures - they can play with these side by side for hours audio books (while playing with other things quietly) drawing, colored pencils- crayons- other non messy art supplies perler beads regular beads for making simple necklaces magnets of all types craft kits- those little rubber band bracelet kits, mosaic sticker pictures, scratch art playing with doll house/ little critters

These might be a bit much for some kids- it definitely depends on the child, but right now we are reading our way through the books by Kenneth Tomasma. We finished Naya Nuki and Moho Wat. They are very descriptive, and there are definitely some parts that would upset or scare some children. My kids are very matter of fact, and are completely fine reading about a Native American boy losing his hand to a puma or a young NA girl being kidnapped. We really enjoyed these two books because we got a great picture of how the Shoshoni lived. Naya Nuki was a Shoshoni girl, and Moho Wat was a young Sheepeater boy (also Shoshoni, but different). We plan to read all of the other books as well. Naya Nuki was based on a real story. Moho Wat is all fiction.

How exciting! Want to share what you did? I have an almost 6 year old and an almost 8 year old. It will be our first year home schooling. We have already started with some science and history, but they don't know that yet. I think they think we are just reading for fun and doing projects because it's summer or something ;)

Do your first and second grade children have children's dictionaries? I'm looking for recommendations for a 6 and almost 8 year old. thanks, chelsea

I recently started correcting spoken grammar with my two, ages 6 and 7. The older asked me tonight "why?" when I told her it was "Kate and I", not "Kate and me...". I briefly explained it. I'm not sure she completely grasped everything, but it doesn't hurt to start. I won't do formal grammar until they are both reading fluently. But until then, I will expose them to proper grammar as much as I can!

I watched the Gerard Depardieux (I'm just guessing on the spelling) version when I was in 7th or 8th grade- French class. I really enjoyed it then. I don't know how old your child/ren is/are, but it might be a good choice. Of course, it might be hard with the subtitles if your child isn't reading quickly.

wow, I have no idea what you all are talking about! zombie threads? Why would someone be a spammer? I'm not all that computer savvy, but I'm curious why someone would join a board and post if they didn't actually want to be a part of the group. Chelsea

I don't know, but after you find one and read it, you might enjoy listening to Jim Weiss' reading of the story. It only includes a portion, but my kids both enjoyed it.

That's what I was thinking! They sound like they are doing quite well. :) I would also not correct a journal unless asked. I would also make not of incorrect spelling and help them learn the rule or use the words for spelling lessons.

We have no rules around screen time, but for the most part, we don't do screen time at all. At most, the kids will watch a movie every few weeks. This will change now that school is out and we are home schooling. I work every other Friday night, and I need about two hours in the daytime on those Fridays to nap. I will be giving them screen time then from now on. We don't have cable or video game devices, but we have an ipad with some apps and brain pop and such that they like to use now and then- usually about 30 min max once a week or so. But they were in school until recently, so they weren't home much. THings are likely to change now that they are home.

thanks! I just ordered them as well.

We love the Jim Weiss CDs. There is one about women in the Civil War (women in blue and grey) and one about the Western Expansion. I can't remember if there are others that may apply. There are tall tale ones as well.