she will be three this spring, and she likes to play school time, too. I had her grandpa build her a small child's desk to sit at and work beside us. I give her wooden puzzles, geometric stackers, wooden sorting toys, bead stringing, coloring and finger painting, and some of the boys' math manipulatives (she thinks they are cooler than spit) to play with. I also give her some easy Kumon pages for cut and paste, colors, and folding. And of course BOOKS! Any ideas for other educational toys for toddlers? I'm looking for some music CDs, and other stuff for her to enjoy during school time. Post ideas or links!

WWE does not cover outlining or reports. It does the usual dictation and narration. While I LOVE WWE, I think it my be too easy for that age level. My suggestion would be to start in Writing Strands, level 3. They recommend level 3 for 3rd through 7th grade level. They are inexpensive and easy to use. Once you finish that level go on to the next.

I would wean yourself into the workout idea first. Start with stretches like Yoga poses daily for a few weeks, then add other areas one at a time for the least amount of pain...arm exercises, leg exercises, tummy exercises, walking or jogging.

I think I'll stick with the way we do things. No need for tests. I'm satisfied with their retention so far. One trick I use is that I ask the boys to tell Dad what they learned in history (at the dinner table). That way dad knows what's going on and they (boys) review the material.

Yes, we do the meeting book. He does fine some days, then other days, it's like he totally forgets it. I have been doing extra practice with him like you mentioned--hundred chart, find this number, add one, take away one, add ten. He does well, but then it doesn't transfer once the hundred chart is gone. I'm looking into trying the base ten manipulatives with him since it covers place value. I'm really thinking he just needs more time and practice, but I wanted to get some input from others.

My oldest son had these problems after completing K and 1st grade in public school. At the end of the school year, he tested into about middle of 2nd grade in math. But when I worked with him over the summer (before our 1st year of homeschooling), I found that he was deficient in many areas, so I worked with him. My techniques worked quite well because I think he need more practice and other ways of explaining things. None of these techniques has really helped with my younger son. He is handling the other math work just fine (inlcuding addition and subtraction, fractions, measurement, time, word problems, etc.), just still struggling with these elementary concepts. I guess my feeling is that he is still young and immature and these things will come with time, more practice, and other ways of approaching/explaining it to him. Thanks.

My 2nd grader is struggling with number concepts. He is a hands-on learner and has a very difficult time with abstractions. We use Saxon Math 2 with the manipulative kit. While he does well in his lessons...he struggles with: number identification (some days he has it, others he doesn't) writing numbers (gets confused) place value He sometimes skips numbers when counting, can't find a number I tell him orally, can't read a number right (often read it backwards--says fifty-seven instead of 75), confused with writing numbers that don't sound like they are written (especially teens), and using place values for addition/subtraction or comparing numbers. I remember my older son having a lot of confusion like this in the summer before 2nd grade, maybe even early on in the year, but it cleared up with extra practice. Son #2 doesn't seem to be responding to the same techniques. Any ideas?

If you have another method that works, then do that. But sentence diagramming is important. Some people learn to understand grammar better in a visually organized way. I learned diagramming in college and felt like I missed out on a lot without knowing it. It really does help!

My boys love stories, but don't love reading. I have to assign reading. As far as reading amnesia...I would make it clear that you want to know what's happening in the book, and you will ask questions. My son used to do the "I don't know" thing, and it really annoyed me. If they don't answer the questions about the book, then you may need to *require* summaries each reading session, chapter, or book. That may get the message across that you won't accept "I don't know" for an answer.

I'm trying to decide if I should use the test booklet for SOTW by Elizabeth Roundtree (for my oldest next year--then 10 yrs old). My boys love history and are doing quite well without testing. I use the activity guide and they always answer the questions correctly. Is this enough to show they understand? Tell me your experiences and thoughts on this.

I used Handwriting Without Tears. Excellent program. Easy to follow, fun pictures on the pages, neat ways to describing letter formation (magic c). I plan to use again with my youngest !

First of all, you don't have to be a "teacher" to teach. Many "teachers" cannot! There are SO many resources out there and so many great curriculum programs that spell it out for us, that anyone can do it. Say that once, "anyone can do it." It takes determination, endless hours of research and planning, and the ability to ask for help at times--even if it's just on this forum. This forum alone has a combined hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years of experience. So if you don't know what you're doing, chance are that some one else does! As far as whether to do it or not. Your being here says you have an interest/desire to do it. Yes! By all means, she is asking you to do this. Listen to your child and take her home. The sooner, the better. As far as friends for your daughter...find other homeschooling parents in your area and set up "play dates" or park days or field trips. They are an enormous help. Friends for the kids, friends and a support system for you. Join your local coop. Sign up for classes (if you can afford to) like gymnastics, art classes, or sports. Sign her up for girl scouts. All of these are excellent ways to make friends. Good luck!

I wouldn't worry about creative writing or reports too much just yet. They need to have a strong foundation in writing about their own ideas before they can interpret and summarize others' ideas. FLL and WWE are scripted, step by step programs so there are no questions.

First Language Lessons focuses mostly on grammar concepts. There are optional copywork or dictation exercises at the end of the lesson for extra practice. I usually choose to skip these. Writing With Ease focuses on the writing portion. Together, they are an excellent start to learning the mechanics of our language and writing. I'm an English major/teacher by education but now homeschool, and I highly recommend these programs above all others! My son does extremely well with these programs and he was very resistant to writing before.

My son also loves math and is advancing quickly. My two recommendations are 1) if he is absorbing and learning the math easily, then move him along faster (he can probably get into higher math faster than most) and 2) find other ways of doing math that isn't just school work. Math Blaster is a fun computer game my son enjoys. We also have a game called Numbers League by Bent Castle Workshops. It's a math superheroes game that involves quick computation.

Thank all of you. I think I'm going to look to a used set that is not too old. I will call around the local libraries first. I used to work at two of the local libraries, so I have connections:)

Try Knowledge Quest Maps. Great timelines and books! www.knowledgequestmaps.com

For researching things. As the kids ask about things or topics come up in our lessons in history, science, life, etc. Also a place to go for information for researching topics for reports as they grow older. I really want them to be good learners and know how to find answers to their questions independently.

I admit the computer is the first place I go, but I get frustrated because there's so much irrelevant information out there. I would prefer to teach my kids to look it up in the encyclopedia first. Later on, it would be acceptable to use the CD or online versions (later teenage years). There's something about the feel of a book in front of you. I still prefer books over e-versions of anything (except quick searches).

would you only look at the newest edition available, or would you consider an older, much cheaper (used) version? I'm debating between taking the plunge and buying the newest set of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2010) that will stay with our homeschooling family of three kids (and mother who is working towards becoming a professor)...or buying an older, used version for now (and saving tons of money--which is always in short supply). I wonder how much the information has really changed since, say, the 1993 edition? What would you do and why? Thanks!

Would you consider this to be a complete spelling program as well---in other words, do I need to supplement another spelling program? We have tried several spelling programs, and my son is still struggling. He is mildly dyslexic (as is his father), so we do what we can. I'm more focused on learning spelling rules than memorizing lists and getting every word correct at this point.

I'm looking for a great lang. arts program to follow FLL4. I would love an integrated language arts curriculum, and I just love Saxon Math. Have you used Saxon Grammar & Writing? We would begin in level (grade) 5. Any comments and/or suggestions are welcome!

hahaha. I did this a few times, too. But showing our anger only teaches them that we--the parents--have no self-control, so why should they? I always *try* to react as calmly as possible. I pull them in close and whisper in a very serious tone about what they are doing wrong. Forgot to mention...when they did misbehave in public, they were immediately reprimanded, scolded, and we left. I had to leave my cart full of groceries on more than one occasion.

He is 6 yrs old, for starters. So his social skills are just developing. I had some things like this when my boys were younger. Things I did: 1. pulled oldest out of public school and any activities where kids behaved SO poorly and set bad examples. homeschool now. this helps tons. 2. talked about appropriate behaviors/responses in each and every case that occurred. And not later in the day--at that moment. 3. did "role playing" to practice acceptable behaviors. 4. constant reminding... 5. setting good examples for him to follow. use your best manners at all times and expect it from him. please, thank you, yes m'am, no m'am, etc. My boys used to embarrass me and I felt like I couldn't take them anywhere. In fact, we did that. We stopped all outside activities for a while. I wouldn't even bring them to the grocery store. I said something like, "if you don't know how to behave in public, then I won't take you anywhere." But when you don't take them into these social situations, they don't have the opportunity to learn. Now, after working with them, they are some of the better behaved kids I see--when we go to the park, cub scouts, baseball, art class, stores, etc. I'm proud of my kids. They now point out other kids misbehaving. I simply tell them it's not what "we" do and we need to set a good example for them as well. They like being the "teachers" now. good luck!

I guess I didn't state that my 1st child--born at hospital--was a positive experience. Great staff that was very supportive. My 2nd--born at hospital--was a horrible experience. Nurse was mean, argued with doctor, doctor yelled at me, told me he was going to leave, etc. My 2nd was born, they whisked him away and I didn't see my child for an hour. Terrible experience! Then the hospital said he had an infection and had to stay an additional three days to receive antibiotics through an IV. The culture--three days later--showed no infection was actually there. It was such a bad experienced, we considered "never" doing it again. Four years went by and I discovered that my insurance WOULD cover a birthing center and midwife delivery. I was thrilled. We did interviews, visited the center, etc. I loved the idea. We had our last there and it was wonderful. In a way, it was healing my emotional pain from the 2nd. Hubby and I still talk about what a wonderful and special experience it was. If I had only known before I had my first two! Hope this helps!