Hello all, While looking for my second Fairy Book, the Orange one, I noticed the original included several color illustrations. However, I cannot find any (affordable) reprints that include the color illustrations, only ones with b&w copies of them. Does anyone know if there is a version available that includes the color illustrations that isn't $6,000? Thanks in advance!

Okay, probably the most awkward title ever, but I am trying to figure out how I want to bind several different things. For my personal use, I am going to get the Staples Arc system for an address book and possibly other future home organizers. I've also been thinking about how I want to bind my son's notebooks for next year. I know I want to bind his notebooks in a way that can be edited as we go along, so I was thinking pro-click or a 3-ring binder. Because I'm going to get the arc system for myself, I also considered it as a possibility for his note books, but I want to be able to permanently bind his notebooks (science, etc.) once he has completed each so we can have them as keepsakes. Has anyone done this? I am thinking the 3-ring might provide the most possibilities for me to make a permanent bound book later since it doesn't cut into the edge. Thanks in advance for your help!

I admit I only read through about 2/3 of the responses, so I apologize in advance if my post is just a repeat of what others have already said. First, I want to say that we use LoE as our main program, but I already had AAR when we found that, and so we use the AAR tiles and went ahead and completed AAR 1. I have AAR 2, but really love LoE, so I'm not sure if we'll ditch AAR2 or continue using it as a supplement. But, here's what we did for AAR1 w/ DS 5: HOW WE USE THE BOARD: When we first set up the board, I remember getting tttttthe measuring tape out and thinking, 2' x 3'? That's huge! I decided to just try using a magnetic white erase board we already ahd which is much smaller, but has worked just fine and I think makes it more manageable for DS. We keep the board hung up on a wall by our kitchen (which is where it lived in its former life as a chore board). When we are done for a lesson, I deviate from what AAR says, and I just leave the letters in disarray on the board, so that at the start of the next lesson I can ask DS to put them all in order (alphabetical and by groups). This gives me time to prepare that lesson right then (cutting the activity sheets, getting all the phonogram and word cards in order, etc.). WHERE WE PUT THE BOARD: I struggled with this just like you did/are, lol. First, I tried to use it on the couch. I tried having DS put it on his lap, then I tried propping it up easel-style in front of the couch, but couldn't find a way to make it steady. One day DS asked if we could just do it on the floor, so that's where we did it from then on. I like that our board is smaller becaues it is easier for DS to navigate. We do have the same 'wiggle issues' as a pp, but we mAnaged. (This is one reason i love LOE for us). PACE: I also struggled a little to find our groove with pacing. Long story that I often struggle to keep short, but DS is in public school and while I intended to try to let go and just go with the flow of his Kindergarten instruction at school, I quickly saw that was not going to work, and so I picked up reading instruction at home with him later in the year. Before Kindergarten he was in a private montessori pre-k and I had started some vertical phonics with him at home. He had forgotten most of it, so he needed a lot of review. I decided to start at the beginning. Even though the first lessons were extremely easy for him, it built his confidence, and it wasn't long before we were in new territory. I suggest not trying to stick to the 'one lesson per day' every day, and just follow the pace of your daughter. If she seems to move through the word cards and reading instruction lessons easily,,,,, but then seems bogged down when it's time to move to reading a story, maybe you could try doing one day of instruction with the board and the word cards, followed by a couple of days on each story. For example, you cold do a lesson introducing a phonogram or rule, and then instead of reading a story the next time, you could pull out the word cards just for that story the next day along with the fluency practice and just work on that for the day. Then, the day after that, maybe just work on the fluency practice, and depending on how it goes, move on to the story that day, or, put the story off for another day depending on how fatigued she seems or how much more practice might help her. WORD CARD REVIEW: Like others have said, I don't put a word card into the mastered section until DS can read it quickly without having to first sound out each individual phonogram. I also did what you do and often separated out the word card practice for earlier in the day (for us, breakfast time), so our afternoon lesson didn't last so long. Also, children benefit greatly from reading books slightly under their reading level--it helps build their fluency and confidence. I wouldn't worry about boring her. (I like a previous poster's idea of purchasing the AAR1 readers). Slowing down a bit or backing up might just help relieve some of the frustration you are feeling at the moment. I know how you feel, and I remember having to force myself to start DS at the very beginning, even though he was a little beyond that, because in my mind he seemed ready to be so much further ahead, but had just the instruction he had needed. He seemed behind most of the other K-ers in public school in reading level, but cognitively capable of so much more than just the beginning steps. I feared keeping him back by starting at the beginning (especially because we had already covered it the year before), but I am so glad I did. Not sure if any of this is helpful to you or not, but I can empathize with your feelings of frustration and not sure how to proceed. Just listen to your gut--Mommies really do know best.

Thank you both Waling-Iris and Monica-in-Switzerland. As I read your post, Walking-Iris, I noticed I meant that many people say 'The Wand' ramps up...not Jot it Down (see how confused I am? lol). I also think that just understanding that the parts do not relate to the whole helps me a lot. I think I was putting too much energy into trying to figure out how 'it all worked together,' and when I couldn't figure that out, became frustrated and quit looking into it before I gave myself the time to really continue researching. I do think the philosophy is something I would enjoy, and I just might try to dive into it this summer to really wrap my brain around it. I do have another question. So, now that I understand there are no real schedules of writing assignments, rather lots of theories an ideas, would one need to look elsewhere for a sort of scope and sequence of the topics you would want to teach? What I mean, is, does BW or TWJ give an idea of what grammar or writing mechanics should/would be taught for a particular year, and then you can put together your own projects from the theories/ideas given? Or would you need to get the actual lesson topics somewhere else?

I always read any posts about Bravewriter because I usually feel as lost as this op about 'what' it is and 'how' the different parts of the program work. Even when I've tried to read through all the product pages I never seem to be able to get a sense of what the actual lessons will be like (and the sample page for jot it down doesn't seem to explain how different the later lessons will be as ppl who have JID usually say the lessons ramp up pretty quickly). Maybe the blog will be a better source of information. I also find it interesting that people who own TWJ or other BW products usually love them, but find it difficult themselves to give a sort of step by step idea of what a lesson or week of lessons look like. Maybe this is because the approach is more 'organic' as sunny day noted? I'm intrigued myself, but almost feel like you have to shell out the money to buy the program before you can get a sense of what using the program feels like, lol. I've just seen so many other posters go through the same thing, it would be great if the BW website could explain it more clearly. (Or maybe I just need to have a cup of coffee before I try to understand it?). ;-)

What does WP stand for? :-)

I'm already considering the leapfrog materials (especially the tag and books), and I thought about what you are saying regarding the ipad. But...there are so many quality apps that will focus on the sounds and words and also that have interactive elmenets that, for example, allow the user to speak a word and give feedback. I'm probably overthinking it all, but I started looking at leappad and thought an iPad mini could go further and also be used by the parents. I probably just need to stop over-focusing on it, lol.

I can't relate directly to your situation, but thought I might still make a suggestion. My ds actually didn't start sounding out words until middle of K (age 5), which isn't late, but felt like it to us because he knew all the sounds for at least two years prior. He attends public K, so I let go of teaching him my own, preferred way in lieu of not confusing him until I just couldn't stand the "let him look at the pictures and guess the words" reading instruction he was being sent home with every night. So, even though he attends public K, I took up teaching him myself again anyway (which I had dearly missed). The point I am trying to get to is that by the time I did this, he had forgotten a lot of the phonics instruction he had before entering K, but was 'reading' a little beyond the beginning level of a lot of programs. I started him with LoE Foundations A, even though he was beyond much of it. In addition, we moved slowly because I'm an overwhelmed college student myself. Even though the lessons may have been boring for him in another context, LoE Foundations is so engaging and fun that he actually asked to do the lessons. Plus, I can't speak enough about the quality of instruction. There are definitely lots of other quality programs with less bells and whistles, (and I even integrate some of those with my son when I have the time). Even now, I wish I had more time to spend with my son on this because I can tell he is able/wanting to soak up the information at a faster rate than I feed it to him, but I resist skipping ahead because I know soon enough it will level out anyway, and in the meantime he still enjoys it. My ds definitely isn't advanced as your ds, but I thought I would suggest the LoE Foundations anyway as a possibility for getting in the foundations without boring your son to death.

Thank you Um_2_4, Those are great ideas. I'm with you re: the noisy toys thing, but I think in this case it would be helpful. The more I think about it the more I wish I could afford to send them an iPad mini with an itunes gift card. There are so many great apps that could help them.

I am loving this thread. I am planning on getting Mark Kistler's marshmallow program next year for my ds who will be 6 and loves to draw. I thought that would be a 'fun' drawing program for him, and then I am going to do a year-long fundamentals of art unit with him just using books an online resources. I always thought Artistic Pursuits sounded like it gave awful to no instructions the doing of art, so that is a good confirmation. And I was one of those people who definitely thought Home Art Studio sounded way too crafty. When I look at the samples it looks like you could easily just do craft projects from pinterest. . Not that there is anything wrong with arts and crafts...we love those around here, but I can do that on my own. Good to know they sneak some 'real' art in there Plus, we'll be doing lots of fun artsy things with history. I can't wait for that!

Hi Everyone, I have a friend who is aiding an African (not sure which country) refugee family transition to living in America and they need just about everything. She has several people in her city who are able to donate clothes and other necessities, but I thought I would have some books delivered to her address since I live several states away. The family does not speak English--just beginning to learn now, and there are three boys ages 2, 4, and 7. Anyone have any ideas or recommendations for books? I'm currently waiting to hear back re' what language they speak to see if I could manage to get a few books in their own language, but I would also like to get them some books in English. Open to all suggestions. Thanks!

Thanks everyone! Very helpful indeed!

Hi Roadrunner, thanks for replying. Yes, my son already does skype with his Papa on a regular basis, but his Papa insists on speaking mostly English with my son (much to my chagrin) because that is what my son speaks/mostly understands on a daily basis. I understand where he is coming from, but not only does he model poor English grammar, but my son doesn't get consistent exposure throughout the regular year to French. Every summer he spends several weeks in France and is immersed, but, then he comes home for the rest of the year with none. My French is horrendous, so I don't want to give that as a model to my son. Also, ds will need some formal lessons eventually, and it would be great if those could start...in France, lol.

Homeschool Mom in AZ...I couldn't agree more. I emphasize starting in prehistory (specifically for the americas in addition to our general prehistory) because it's just not as easy to find, but...my main reason for this post was expressed in your response...I don't want to cover NO U.S. history for 4 years while we go through the other rotations, but I also don't want to just plop down the concept of the American gov't on my son without making connections to its roots in European history. I knew I would be weaving the thread along with all our other history studies, but didn't want to wait 4 years to get there, lol. I just couldn't seem to 'feel' ok with any solutions. I thought maybe I could do a quick overview and then just cover presidents, etc. I just didn't know what I wanted to do. I'm still not certain I am any closer to deciding yet, but I love hearing what other people have done. Never know what nuggets you will find! I like your ideas.