I would sort them into stacks on the floor (categorised however best pleased me at the time), and use the stack heights as indicators for how much shelf space each category requires, then shelve accordingly.

I hear some of my better arguments reflected back at me by my (appropriately egocentric) young child. He is SO logical. It drives me batty! I'm watching this thread with interest, and would love an update, once you've followed up on one or more of the suggestions above. :)

Oh! I remember having exactly the same problem! I couldn't figure out how to pick, or find a balance between, either coming off as a know-it-all, or just feigning ignorance. I finally discovered that I could ask people about their experiences, rather than their knowledge. If I'd already read someone's work, I didn't want to hear facts from them, but I could ask them things like: Who or what inspired your choice of topic? Did you know from the very beginning which methods you would use? Did you begin with a theory that you believed to be false, or in need of more information, or a raw hypothesis of your own? Were your findings what you expected? Were your colleagues/peers supportive of your research? Was it difficult to find funding? My questions were a fair bit more specific, but I have no idea what to ask herpetologists and the like, so I've just given some skeleton examples. I hope your DD's nervousness subsides so that she can really enjoy it. What a wonderful opportunity.

In my very naive opinion, it sounds like your DS needs to do more non-fiction reading on paper, but that perhaps the online class with embedded videos isn't the best way to do this. Are there supplementary readings you could provide, on content not covered by the videos? Or printed content on another topic altogether?

Ok, I'll bite ;) Here's a sample of my scribbles from working through Alcumus. I divide the page in half vertically by folding it, then try to keep workings to two columns. I show a lot more working out than most students would, because I'm learning on the spot, with no instruction. I like being able to look back and pinpoint exactly what went wrong, if I don't find the correct solution the first time. You won't be seeing my geometry, though. That's just embarrassing!

Book depository have been consistently speedy getting stuff to us here in Australia, also. And they send things separately, so we end up getting exciting post every day, for a few days, if I order a few things in one go. That's always a bit exciting!

I think that sounds lovely :) My DS is just slightly further along than your LO, and it's slow going, but he loves reading so much that I expect he has close to memorised most of his BOB books by now (he reads about six every night). I am always on the lookout for ways to add variety to what he reads, at this very early stage, and I often print extra readers off just to mix things up a bit. But, really, some people learn more by rote, others learn rules and then apply them, and more still use a combination of these. Memorising cvc words won't mean our children can't also learn phonics rules, IMO.

This looks great - thanks heaps. I see what you're saying about writing tasks not always being necessary or useful, and I agree. The kind of tasks and activities I have in mind for DS over the next few years are things like narrations from our read alouds, recording observations from nature walks and science work, and letters to friends and family. I'm not big on busywork, and actually, now that I think about it and reread your post, we'll probably do workbooks orally, or not at all. DS is at that wonderful soak-knowledge-up-like-a-sponge stage, and seems to just know things having heard them once, so it's not like he needs to spend time and energy on boring activities, or read over his notes in order to commit anything to memory.

This was my gut feeling about it all, yes. :) Thank you all, for your thoughtful, and incredibly encouraging responses! I feel much better about powering on through workbooky stuff that interests him, without requiring any writing. I'll look into speech recognition tech once his speech is a bit clearer - I bet there'll be something really nifty available on the ipad by the time he's ready for it (if there isn't already).

The smallest sprinkling of lemon juice works well for both fruit and veg.

My DS is still young yet (five at the end of the year), but I'm starting to think about how to best support him as he begins to do more seat work. He has incredibly hypermobile fingers with swan neck deformities, and hyperextends several joints just using a touch screen. He can do a little bit of wobbly drawing and writing with felt tip pens, but can't apply enough pressure to use pencils or crayons. I'm aware of and employ various tools to promote correct positioning, and techniques for building strength in the core, shoulders, and hands. We'll keep working on it. But for now, I'm wondering if it would be appropriate to scribe for him for any written tasks as they come up - apart from specific handwriting work, of course. I'd hate for this to hold him back in unrelated tasks. Has anyone here scribed long term for a child working at or above grade level? Or decided not to? Would you mind sharing how it went for you, or the reasoning behind your decisions around this? Thank you!

I have a pretty tidy house (for the first time in my life), but my cupboards are full of things I have weeded out of DS' toys, and have yet to smuggle out. The toys and games we do keep out are all quite well organised, so very quick to pack up. I don't fold washing often, but we have a clean washing basket each, and don't leave clothing or towels (dirty or clean) on the floor. I also have trouble keeping up with the dishes, but try to at least rinse and stack, so they're not sitting around getting smelly whilst I summon up the courage to stand at the sink. If I wipe down the benches a lot, the dishes don't really bother me. Slacker lifehacks ^ ;)

Descartes goes into a bar and orders a drink. "That'll be eight dollars," says the bartender. "I think not!" Descartes replies, then disappears.

A baby seal walked in to a club. How sad.

A positron walks into a bar, and orders a drink. The bartender peers back across the counter and asks, "Are you an electron? Because we don't serve electrons in here." "Why, no," replies the positron. "I'm not." "Are you sure?" The bartender eyes the particle suspiciously. "Yes! I'm positive!"

Have you tried compression stockings and/or long socks and tightly laced shoes, Jean? If your deconditioned muscles don't push blood back up out of your legs very effectively, the resulting lowered blood pressure can, IME, contribute to pain and fatigue all over.

Yes, I have chronic pain/illness issues also. The dysautonomia means I don't regulate my HR and BP well, and the mysterious muscle wastage in one leg is just a pain in the bottom, really! Congrats on your recent improvement :)

Depends on the time of day, for me. Pre-breakfast I have to be careful not to collapse just waiting for my toast to pop up! I'm also pretty wobbly after bathing, and in warm weather. At other times I might be able to stand for ten minutes or so. Early twenties

I have been thinking about running a poetry circle for our K/1 friends. I might prepare a selection of poems based on a different theme each lesson, and let each child pick one to learn and recite the following lesson. We'd probably do something crafty each lesson also, in keeping with the theme. I've seen yarn crafts work quite well for this age group, too. You can make a weaving loom from a square of cardboard, and a knitting Nancy from a cardboard toilet tube and a few icy-pole (popsicle) sticks. Children can be taught to knit using pencils, too (keeps materials costs to a minimum).

I have collected links for printable early readers here: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/460225-pre-k-and-kindergarten/?do=findComment&comment=5730732 I'm on my phone, so couldn't c+p the links over individually, but hopefully you can acces them all at the group I've linked to above ^

Paper chase to find the teapot?

Are they doing much reading outside of the lessons? Summer is a great time for read alouds. Here, we take it in turns to read to each other at RA time (bedtime for us): I read a story, chapter, or poem, and DS reads me a BOB book. We do this over and over until one of us feels finished. I like to make reading such a delightful thing to do, that we can spend hours a day reading to each other. Periodically I check in with OPGTTR, to ensure that our readers haven't left us with any holes, and move the bookmark along a few lessons. The lessons are largely made redundant by our daily RA time, and occasional spot checks.

My kid is similar, and also an only child. When we are with other children, I barely see him as he is so busy playing. At home, just the two of us, we do a LOT of reading, play one or two board and card games a day, and just generally potter about. He does play with Lego, which thrills me to bits, as his fine motor co will be a fair way behind for many years. He is not naturally a free ranging kinda kid, much to my surprise, so I try to keep on top of offering engaging activities, and we have fairly regular play dates.

Just popping in to second Alcumus! I wish they had an app so I could play more...

I have breastfed babies whose mothers were not able to, or chose not to for various reasons. Some women I've known with breastfeeding aversion have continued feeding; others have fed when they've felt ok about it, and used donor milk or ABM at other times; some have preferred to commit to a certain time frame only, at the beginning and end of every feed (eg, 2 minutes each side, feed with whatever alternative is being used, let baby suckle for another 20 seconds); some women can't feed their babes directly at their breasts, but can express at least a portion of the milk required; others have ceased lactation entirely, and use donor milk (expressed and/or directly at another woman's breasts), and/or powdered infant formula. It doesn't have to be all or nothing (though it's so hard not to think in absolutes when emotions are running high!), and you don't need to make a decision right now. It sounds like you will be well supported in whatever you decide.