I've been drooling over Kindle tablets for long precisely because of immersion reading. I'm a non-native English speaker so this function can be very useful for me when I read books in English. I don't play any game or use many apps so I'm thinking of getting a cheaper HD 6 or 7 for myself when the newer version is released in October. But I wouldn't get a Kindle for my kids because, like other PPs mentioned, MUCH more and better educational apps are available in the iTunes store. You can find a daily update for free educational iPad apps at http://www.smartappsforkids.com/. I also looked into the details of the FreeTime Unlimited subscription option ($2.99/month) on Kindle tablets and found out a majority of the kids shows, games and books included in FreeTime are "twaddles" (mostly Disney and Nickelodeon stories) that I would not personally pick for my kids, so no merit for us. Moreover, you can watch all Prime streaming videos with the Amazon Instant Video app, play the Amazon Music app and get free e-books with the Kindle app on iPad as well. The only true pros of Kindle tablets I've seen are that you can download Prime videos and do immersion reading on your Kindle tablet. OTOH, I'm quite happy with my Kindle Paperwhite for it is easy for eyes and only for reading, thus not distracting. My DS is reading the early chapter books on Paperwhite we checked out from our local online public library. I just wish this e-book reader also had the immersion reading function.

Are there Singapore K Essentials activity books? As far as I know, Essentials A & B are only workbooks. Perhaps you're talking about Singapore K Earlybird Activity Books? If so, I do not think you need those. I bought both of Earlybird textbooks (A and B ) and activity books (A and B ) but did not use activity books at all because textbooks alone had more than enough hands-on activity suggestions. A level is as easy as pre-K (counting, shapes, patterns, etc.) and a lot of concepts in B level is repeated in Singapore Primary Math Grade 1 books, so for most kids the K activity books are unnecessary IMO.

No, I didn't buy it used. I bought it new from other sellers through Amazon. I don't trust used books from Amazon, either. Mathematical Reasoning Level A brand new book now costs $30.90 plus $4 shipping on Amazon. (The price went up overnight!) Which level book do you need? I'm not sure how much it is to make a copy of MR.. I own a laser printer and a proclick machine so I use them for digital books and worksheets. Maybe you can ask for a quote at your local Staples? Or you could try to have your each child work on a separate notebook with one same book. It's a colorful, cute book so it might be a considering factor for your kids. Not very helpful.... I know. :( Thank you for your compliment. :)

I bought Mathematical Reasoning A from Amazon. I paid $32 and it is now as low as $29 including shipping. I did the entire book verbally with my DS and saved it for younger DD. We decided not to use MR from B level. I think binding two copies would be much cheaper than buying two books.

Plain. Everyday I have a cup of Americano with nothing added after I wake up in the morning and a plain latte with 1% milk after lunch. I love my Nespresso machine!

Late 3. My DS4 came to the U.S. when he was early 3yo and spoke no English then. He picked up the alphabets and letter sounds by watching the Leapfrog dvds. Soon he found a great interest in writing down some random cvc words on his magnetic drawing board and reading them on his own. We started our first phonics lesson two months before his 4th birthday. My younger DD2.5 is receiving an early intervention service due to speech delay. Her communication and fine mortor skills are behind her peers' but she has been able to recognize and say all of the alphabets, letter sounds and numbers 0 to 20 since she turned 2. She recently started to sound out a few cvc words but I don't think she's ready for any formal learning yet.

I was thinking of this article and so glad to see it here. I am a former engineer at a multinational IT mega-corporation and my DH worked in a major computer company in the U.S. before joining the military. We also try to severely restrict our kids' TV and iPad use although it is not always successful when we're occupied with other chores. But we do feel guilty every time when our 4yo plays on iPad even if it's an "educational" app. It's passive learning at best. We don't allow it for our 2yo. And we're not going to allow any video/computer games in our house, not even Minecraft. I hope more parents understand technology is more harm than good for kids, especially in the early years. I see many parents lament the early push for academics but not many seem to realize how those iPad apps negatively affect their preschoolers' (or toddlers' in worse cases) attention spans. Here is the TED video on a related topic:

I agree. I grew up in East Asia and both were equally emphasized in math classes. We learned concepts in a similar way to the "Singapore" but also did lots of facts worksheets for tests. When solving problems, various methods were encouraged as long as you can get the right answer. We didn't need to show the whole process of calculation like Common Core Math requires. I haven't been on this forum for long but honestly felt there existed some kind of "myth" about SM or conceptual math. IMO it shouldn't be the one way or another. I used SM1 and didn't find any superiority in it to other programs. Sure, it's a solid program and IP and CWP are more challenging but that doesn't mean this is one fit for all mathy students. And it is true the reviews built in SM alone would be no way enough for average students to excel on tests in my home country. As students, we tried to avoid getting fixated with one certain method or presentation and used several different math workbooks that include various methods, math fact drills and challenging problems. I believe it's not so different in other East Asian countries whose students also far surpass American peers on international math tests.

Great idea!!

Actually, the Amazon Instant Video and Kindle apps on iPad are pretty good. I'm tempted to buy a Kindle Fire more for its FreeTime subscription and immersion reading function (and we have a Fire TV, too). There seems to be a big price difference between the 7" and 8.9" screen, though. Do you think 7" is sufficient for videos and ebooks?

I tend to forget about my own well-being so... happy mom = happy children = happy husband = happy home :thumbup:

Big ears because I'm also a regular customer of TJ's but have bought mostly fresh and frozen food there. I was upset when they stopped selling dried kimchi, kimchi fried rice and bibimbop bowl. ;( Thanks for the ideas!

Evan-Moor Teacher File Box! Good supplement in all subjects. My DS shows little patience for my instruction part of the lesson and chooses to work independently on TFB worksheets more and more.

I watched the video and it's exactly how I was taught to do it in my home country. How do you do it differently in "traditional" math??

Same here. My kids are little and only 18 months apart but they are already so different in every way that I can't imagine of using the same materials for the younger one or teaching them together. I'm going through lots of trial and error with DS and expecting to do the same with DD. We're doing the field trips for both kids and that's it.

Guess we're losing all photos in this thread, too... Thanks for the fun, guys!

It's only a snack in our house. DS is the only one who requests it like once a week.

So sad to lose my avatar... (that is from a Japanese picture book for toddlers) :crying:

We live close to our local public library and have used it exclusively and extensively for picture books and easy readers so far. Now that my DS is reading through the Magic Tree House series, which alone have more than 50 books in order, I found it more difficult to find the books we want at the library unless I put each of them on hold early in advance. But I also feel, unlike picture books, it'd be a waste of money to buy all chapter books because he is not likely to read them multiple times. Did you buy them all new or used? Or used a library with patience?

Surprised to see so many people chose travel! I've been to more than 20 different countries and yes, traveling is nice up to a certain point but I kinda got tired of it. Now that we are a military family moving from state to state every 1-2 years, I so wish to settle down in one nice area and raise my kids there. Then I wouldn't need to worry about homeschooling, and the $100K would go towards mortgage and the private school tuition for kids while I pursue my career. Sounds so dreamy...

I used these flash cards. Both of Dolch and Fry words are included and sentences are on the back of the cards. Worked well for us. Sight Words-Level 3: Skill Drill Flash Cards https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F8TFHQ/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_25Kdub02D7Y5N

I usually try to refrain myself from passing judgment, too. It's just the Teen Mom is one of the few American reality shows I happened to watch and it was really shocking to me. I know it was meant to be so for the ratings. I actually frowned more on how uptight, cold and abusive Farrah's mom was towards her daughter in the show. I felt sorry for Farrah and wished her better than to work in the sex industry after the show. But... you're right. I'm not in position to tell what'd be better for Sophia.

But... Farrah is really something. Have you seen the show? And her after-the-show career?

nm

We like Splash Math, too, even though it's on a pricey side. It's cute and fun with little rewards and games. You can either pay $10 for each grade or $35 for grade 1-5. You can try it for free, 20 questions a day.