[Need book recommendation for STRONG girl character]

Nim's Island.

 

 

[Spatial skills]

This Keva set is a similar idea: cards with a top, front and side view of a construction.  Solution on back. 

[Writing with Ease Level 3-Dictation HELP!]

My 9 year old can't do the dictations after 3 repetitions either.  Truly, I doubt there are very many third graders who could.  We adapt:  either more that 3 repetitions (sometimes many more) to memorize the entire passage, or break the passage down into shorter chunks to dictate in series.  I'm seeing steady progress as the year goes by, so I am happy with this.  

 

I've looked through WWE4 (looking ahead to next year).  I don't think that I am capable of doing some of those dictations in 3 repetitions myself!  So I will likely continue adapting for my kids and call it good.

[Pudding in a bag ?]

A bit of paint in a bag works too.  Bonus:  lasts forever, won't rot.

 

 

[Instant Pot Request: Vegetarian Recipes]

This one is super easy, super tasty and from mostly pantry items:

 

Coconut lentils

 

1 cup or so of chopped onion

1 pound  (2 cups or so) lentils (I use a mix of red and green)

1 can diced tomato

1 can tomato paste

1 can coconut milk

4 cups stock or water

spice to taste: a teaspoon or so of garam masala, pepper

 

Brown onions in a little oil on saute mode.

dump in everything else.

20 minutes under pressure.

 

We eat it on  rice.  Very yummy.

 

 

[Trumpet of the Swan by EB White?]

Both my kids were fine with The Trumpet of The Swan, and have chosen to re-listen to audiobook version several times.  The like the one posted at Kayray (a recording of her reading it to her own kids)

 

Charlotte's Web was upsetting for both, and the more sensitive of the two was also upset by Stuart Little - too intense, and worried ( for weeks and weeks!) about how thing turned out for Margalo.

[quick guide to diagramming sentences?]

I have been working through this one myself.   It's not quick, but it seems thorough.

 

 

[Kids do better on the board than worksheet?]

Space in MUS Gamma for multi-digit multiplication is definitely too small.

 

I rule vertical lines in pencil to help keep place value aligned.

I sometimes rewrite the problems in the margins  to creat space, or separately on graph paper.

 

 

[Where to buy orange c-rods or what else to substitute]

Thanks all.  You inspired me to look harder for base ten rods, and I've found some orange ones!  Canadian to boot.

 

 

[Please. Help me with an easy costume idea.]

Cut and tape paper stars and planets onto black clothes = The Universe.

[Where to buy orange c-rods or what else to substitute]

Hi All,

 

DS8 is working on learning to multiply large numbers, by making rectangles with c-rods and hundreds flats, then regrouping units, tens, hundreds to get  a final answer.  The method works beautifully and he is totally getting it.  The trouble is we are forever needing more orange rods than we have.

 

Does anyone know where I can order more orange rods only (not full c-rod sets)?  Bonus if it's in Canada!

 

Alternatively, any clever hacks for substituting with something else for the orange rods?  I've been using popsicle sticks trimmed to length.  They work, but not ideal, fiddly to handle.  The only base ten rods I've been able to find are the same colour as our hundred flats (light

blue), and I'd like the to be able to visually discriminate the 10's from the 100's, so also not ideal.

 

Ideas?

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Math U See with Cuisenaire Rods]

We do MUS with C-rods, and it works well for my kids. 

 

But, we started with the MUS blocks and made the switch to c-rods much later. The kids  are fluent with both types of blocks and switch back and forth easily.

 

I think it would be confusing to start MUS with c-rods right from the get go. 

[The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings]

the Jemima Catlin version of The Hobbit is the favourite here.  There is a small full-colour illustration on almost every page, and full page illustrations every chapter or so.  the illustrator has been very careful to match the details of the illustrations to the text

[looking for bra alternative]

I wonder if an Enell might work.  It's very different from any other bra I've tried, in that it distributes its support over a very large area.   Nothing digs or binds.  No wires.  Fits more like a short, snug top than a bra.  (Sure is ugly though......)

 

 

 

ETA link

[High Chairs? Update post 54]

Hmm...may look on craigslist now, and see if I can find anything between now and say, next year this time. i have lots of time till I need the highchair. How much space does the Tripp Trapp take up? How heavy is it to move from room to room?

 

The same space and weight as any regular wood kitchen chair.

[toddler potty recommendations needed please]

we liked the IKEA one

 

 

[High Chairs? Update post 54]

1) Ikea one with tray.  We had these at each set of grandparents.  Sturdy, easy to clean, and the legs pop out easily for compact storage.  The price on these is unbeatable.

 

2) Stoke Tripp-Trapp for home.  Spendy +++++, but fantastic.  We were fortunate enough to be gifted with one for each kid.   At 7 and 8 years old they still use them for eating and for school work.  I anticipate they will be used right up until the kids are adult sized.  They are engineered to glide (instead of tip) if kiddo pushes self away from the table.  Easy to clean and beautiful too.

 

 

[Free Self Paced Math Course]

I took this course a few years ago.  A very motivating course about learning, mindsets, and the big picture.  Great for teaching. 

 

Jo Boaler also has a math enrichment site that I quite like.  There are quite a few articles there that touch on much of the course content.

[Swim googles that are best for flat nose and almond eyes?]

MIne have similar eyes shape with low profile noses (half east asian).  They do well with Aqua Sphere Vista.  The single lens style seems better for them - less to go wrong where the eye meets the nose.

[Teaching the kids to sew and knit]

Are there any yarn shops near by? Where we used to live, a town of 700, there was a yarn shop and once a week they had "Sit and Knit." It was just a group of ladies, mostly retired, who got together to knit and chat. I didn't know much, but they were really nice and willing to teach. You could check that out...

 

 

Our public library has a knitting group that meets weekly.  Similar group of mostly retired women who meet to knit and chat.   They were very welcoming and  happy to help and encourage kids along.

[Best audio version of the Hobbit and LOTR]

Kara Shallenberg has recorded herself reading this to her kids.  (complete with occasional  little  questions from the kids, very cute).  Scroll way down to find it on her page.  My kids like her best.  They found Rob Ingliss too "scary"

[Teaching the kids to sew and knit]

Favourite books here:

 

Kid's Knitting by Melanie Falick is simple, step by step, projects that are actually worth making, and has some photos of boys knitting in it (super rare in kid's knitting books!)

 

Sewing School for hand sewing.  There is a sequel for machine sewing. 

 

Knittinghelp.com is my favourite online resource.

 

Sewing is easier to start with.  Knitting is trickier.   I started to teach my boys to knit at ages 6 and 7.  Eldest picked it up relatively easily.  6 year old just couldn't knit on needles.  He could finger knit and loom-knit just fine though.  We made tube knitters out of toilet paper rolls and popsicle sticks.  He's made yards and yards of knitted tube "scarves".

 

 

[Anyone use Scratch for computer programming for little kids?]

My 7yo and 8yo both like it.  We've downloaded the offline editor to an old laptop for them.  Once the offline editor is downloaded, there is no need for an internet connection so Scratch can go with them anywhere and no need for for me to supervise internet access.

[How old is too old to wear graphic tees...]

My 72 year old mother wears them.  She looks great.

 

 

[THE Instant Pot Best Ideas for Busy/Sick-of-it Parents thread!!!]

My fastest is chicken breasts + jarred sauce----bbq, korma, masala, marinara, whatever.

 

 

Did this tonight: jar of butter chicken sauce, 3 frozen chicken breast, 15 minutes under pressure.  Delicious.