For context: son is in K and he is still 5, will be six this summer. I feel like I should love MBTP, but it feels like just worksheets we need to finish. Once in a while my son really enjoys some of the activities. He enjoyed drawing a landscape, the tasty survey (he made us eat sardines) and making a story about another boy with illustrations. That last one was probably his absolute favorite so far and it took us three days (scheduled for one day) but he was so happy doing it slowly and thinking about it before bed about what he would add to his book. Mostly MBTP feels like busy work. I've been skimming through and when I find something my son will like or benefit from we do it... We are focusing more on interest based history and science (stories, shows, library books, brain pop), and of course we consistently do our phonics, reading, short copy work and math. Anyone else using MBTP and is tired of it? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1. Patience This morning I explained to my son (again and again) how to add 9+5 and 9+6 with manipulatives, without them, with fingers, with drawings... I was getting bored, but I didn't loose my patience because why? I'll do it again tomorrow :) and next week probably. 2. Love (See above?) 3. Research skills and more patience You know that curriculum that doesn't work? Got to find another one. The way I'm explaining X isn't working. Is he too young? Should I try again or wait? Is there another way to teach it? My kid just asked me what animal lives the longest - let me ask google lol. 4. Patience Lady at the grocery store: wow you have your hands full! Is school out this morning? No, we homeschool. Cue in funny face, assumptions and questions about socialization. 5. All the other responses I read on this thread! I've seen great responses here. Much better than mine. Lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I can tell you what I'm planning to do for a second time :) I have Saxon K - all you need is the manipulatives, no workbook. I bought it used for either $10 or $15. I used it with my DS and next week I'll start it with DD. With DS I did it 2-3 times a week. At first we worked two times a week and then more consistently 3x a week as he got closer to age 5. It's gentle and scripted. A more experienced homeschooler can easily substitute the lessons that need lots of parent prep. It starts at around 10 minutes a day and goes up from there slowly. Note: I neither love nor hate Saxon. But I have it, it was cheap and it provides a good foundation. Edited because I'm typing on my phone and my original post was hard to understand due to many typos. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry! Good to know :) I am certainly learning. People always say crazy ignorant things about my heritage. My gaffe is certainly a good one for me to remember the next time someone asks me something silly. I just asked my husband - he didn't know this either.

A lot of time. I enjoy it! I find that no matter how much research I do, I need to use a curriculum for a few days to decide if I like it. And also, as I grow into a real homeschool mom (son in K -so you know what I mean), I have a better understanding of what I prefer and what my child prefers. My DD is so different from my son! I suspect that I will need different materials with her - so I will continue to research and read. But I don't mind. How much research is enough? I find that when I find a perfect match I stop obsessing. I didn't stop researching what to do about reading until I started my son on the AAR series. I think that for us it's a match there. I didn't stop researching math (or trying programs) until we tried Singapore. We are using MBTP and I sometimes like it, sometimes I don't. Even though I don't love it and I am unlikely to use it again, I will research the next level lol.

Wow that does sound fun (the green toilet) which is a bit like the Christmas elf. I also like the ballon idea. Now I need to know why Ireland needs to rid itself of snakes. And the music! Got to talk about that and the tap dancers. Will try the library for books on St Patrick and Google for the veggie tales Video. You all have great ideas! I think we are going to have some fun. My husband already made a face when I asked if it would be fine if I made corn beef, potatoes and cabbage. We'll stick with fun green foods like green cookies and kale chips. Baked potatoes topped with green pesto! Yum lol Not Irish but green. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm not Irish, not even a little bit. But my mother in law is Irish. She sent the kids some St Patrick's day stickers. She lives on the other side of the country :( and I would love to teach the kids a bit about what it means to be part Irish and so on. I have to because when he saw the stickers he asked if St Patrick was the guy on the box of Lucky Charms lol Of course, I've googled... So far I'm thinking that even though we are not religious, I used to be Catholic, and so I will explain what a saint is and read the story of St Patrick. Find Ireland on the map... I was wondering if you guys did something interesting with the kids or had ideas other than just making a craft with the stickers? My son is K5 and my DD turns 4 the day before St Patrick's day and I'd like to include her in whatever we do/read if she will stay lol. Edit to add that I just found a movie and other items about St Patrick's day on BrainPop. Just in case someone is also looking... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I know this isn't part of the discussion but I wanted to say thanks for this link. I just ordered the book for kids 4-8 thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My son loves audiobooks (he tells me this almost every time he finishes a book). In his room he plays them on a portable CD player while he plays with Legos (that's usually what he does, but he's allowed to play with whatever he wants while listening). I get CDs from the library and usually let him pick what he likes. In the car we use a mix of CDs (library, again) and MP3s (also from the library). I do have an audible account but I don't use it so much for him yet. He has one audiobook in his leappad (a magic tree house). Soon he will get a Kindle and then we'll probably do more mp3s. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My attention wondered half way through the article. Because my brain keeps wondering "why?!" And "who thinks this is a good idea?" Flawed data? It's likely than in a group of 20-40 students you will have a little bit of everything. You know a distribution? Of every normal emotion, family circumstance and ability. I suppose if all or most children come from a difficult situation (war? Recent immigrants fleeing danger? Recent school shootings?) then you would have a high degree of trauma. But you wouldn't need a test to know that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is not resolved. The information could still be released. Quotes from the linked article below: "The court also reiterated that no student’s personally identifiable information may be released to the plaintiffs unless and until they demonstrate to the satisfaction of the court that the method to be used to store the sensitive student data is secure, the CDE noted. The parties are still litigating the extent of the disclosure of student data." "Judge Mueller’s order made clear that the objection forms are not a means to “opt-out†of any data release. The court will maintain the objection forms in sealed boxes in a secure room at the federal court building in Sacramento." http://www.morganhilltimes.com/news/schools/updated-parent-group-responds-to-change-in-court-order/article_ea26a9ce-e261-11e5-9107-27717e227bc5.html

Ok thank you. We have some of those then :)

Can you give more examples of living math books? We have one of the Sir Cumference books, and we get "math books" at the library. How do you know the are living books? I Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have two large Rubbermaid containers with books, manipulatives and other random educational items that we are not currently using upstairs in a corner lol. For laminated things I put them in gallon or quart size zip lock bags. I have sight word flash cards that need to be stored too. Those are all the same rectangle size so they are tied with a rubber band per level. Same with playing cards rubber band, all of the same go in a ziplock bag. On my active rotation (DS5 and DD3) I use dollar tree coordinating containers because our school area is the dining room. So I have a short bookshelf that the kids can access. Out for the kids to use I have one round container with playdough and playdough toys, one with water colors, crayons, washable markers and color pencils next to a large coloring book selection (thanks dollar tree). There's also one with the current laminated items (home made wild kratts power disks, flash cards, memory game...) and on the top shelf I have another round coordinating container with long things like rulers, thermometer, and other odd shape things like the pencil bag, glue, scissors... I try to keep it organized. Right now it could use some tidying up. I also have a reusable bag hanging from our shelf with my son's art. We homeschool through a charter and he takes a crafts class. Some of his art things we hang up, most are in this bag. At the end of the year I'll have him choose a few and we will file them away. We will recycle the rest. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ann Gabrielle Ann Isabelle Ann Irene

sides: 1. corn (on the cob or corn and butter) 2. cucumber salad 3. raw peppers and carrots 4. beans (bean dip or refried beans) 5. stuffed peppers (like the little peppers baked with cheese, top with salsa) 6. salsa verde desserts: 1. tres leches 2. flan 3. churros

A minecraft server is an online group you can join to play minecraft. Like a minecraft playdate and thus it is better if it is monitored, or kids only. I have no idea how to join them from my son's ps3. He's been playing by himself for almost a year and apparently it isn't as exciting on his own. I'm trying (not too hard lol) to figure out how to connect him to one.

When I started I was intimidated too! I started my son out playing with Starfall online. That helped a lot with the basics. I tried and disliked 100 EZ. I own OPGTTR and used it for about 6 months. It is very boring and I really hope to not have to use it again. But it's a good budget option. I've seen many posts of people who really like 100 EZ and people who like OPG. It really depends on your teaching style. When I was using OPG I felt that my son needed a lot more practice. I used yet another curriculum before I finally tried a program that worked for us. That being said, I am going to give another vote for all about reading - check to see what level you need - they have placement tests on their website. I use the free AAR phonogram sounds app to have my son repeat certain sounds. We also use Explode the Code and really like it. Teaching my son to read - using a scripted/semi-scripted curriculum has turned out to be very simple and rewarding. Tomorrow we start AAR2! For some weird reason I'm very excited. Even though it is March lol.

I really like this post! I am just starting with my son in K and read a lot on this boards. I love to hear from someone who has done it for so long. I am sure it must be bittersweet. Trends may change, the popularity of programs comes and goes. But in the end, the wisdom of a veteran mom is invaluable and many of us appreciate it. Congratulations!!

I like what many have said here. Also check out this lady's ideas of preschool education. Her name is Bev Boss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_OoFjCruU4

If he has the motor skills you could try Strawbees. They can be a little tricky to attach to the straws for a little one. My 5 year old managed it after a couple of tries. They are plastic parts that can attach straws together. You can make hinges or corners that are stiff depending on how you use the pieces. And you can join straws and cardboard together. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017PQKJU2?ref_=cm_cr-mr-title

When I was 6 and my mom was having baby #5 I asked how the baby got into her belly and she handed me a magazine with what I remember as a very long article on pregnancy and development through all nine months. I read it many times because I kept it. It also had some horoscope nonsense that I unfortunately also read and almost memorized. That was it. There was no further sex ed. The schools did that. I got a talk about periods at school in 5th grade. It was a Catholic school so it was all about periods, how to use pads and staying pure. No explanation on what staying pure meant. I had a more comprehensive sex-ed class in ninth grade - it was maybe more comprehensive than what I needed at that point (public school). I'm not sure if my parents were aware what the class/seminar content would be.

For AAR I believe they have placement tests on their website.

What are you going to study? PhDs in the sciences many times are all paid for with a research grant or teaching fellowship. I don't know about other programs...

Me too. If I need to remember something from a lecture I always take notes.