;-) Kate

Amber, Thanks for the resource... ;-) Kate

Nancy, Thank you for sharing this file.. Kate....

Those are great suggestions - Thanks;-) Kate

Aurelia, Thanks...I like the idea of including non-academic goals.. I like the "swimming independent" one - this is something we've been working for a while and will continue this year. Among mine (my rough draft) is for her to learn 3 new jokes - she loves jokes, and has a bit of a repertoire (maybe 3 or so) Plus she makes up a lot - which make no sense but she finds hilarious as she says them... and she always ask me to teach her a new "knock-knock-joke" so I added that for her... Kate

Hi, We're really excited about starting first grade in the next few weeks.. I'm getting ready to prepare the lesson plans and things. And I was wondering (since I was thinking of doing it, but then wanted to know if it was "over-kill) do you set goals for the year? If so - how specific or vague are they?: Are there in line with you states standards for the grade level, or are they more like "finish the Grammar Book by x date" Or are they more tailored to your own child (even if they do not correspond to the state's standards) or do you just use the State Standard as your benchmark to follow? Then how "hard" do you adhere to those goals? Do change them often, or try to stick to them come rain or shine, or take more of a middle ground? Thanks, Kate

South Florida area here as well... Have lived in Florida for many years : 20 and counting LOL Kate

Uperdonmommy, Tyou're welcome... If I had to choose ONLY ONE Between Mindbender and the Building Thinking Skills... I would ahve to agree with JudoMom.. Choose the Building Thinking Skills... is has MUCH MORE A Tip for you - this is what they said (Critical thinking Rep.) about ho to use them: The Book is divided into sections - some sections focused on Figures and other on verbal... So for example you work one day on Chapter 1 "Describing Shapes" activities and then the next day/time you work on Chapter six - "Describing" things.. and so on... then when you get to Chapter 2: Figural Similarities and Differences - you do a page from that and then the next time you do one from Chapter seven: verbal similarities and differences and so on... This way you're working both sides of the brain.. You can do both verbal & figure activities the same day or alternating - either way - the practice of alternating is what is important... Best, Kate

Uperdonmommy, Tyou're welcome... If I had to choose ONLY ONE Between Mindbender and the Building Thinking Skills... I would ahve to agree with JudoMom.. Choose the Building Thinking Skills... is has MUCH MORE A Tip for you - this is what they said (Critical thinking Rep.) about ho to use them: The Book is divided into sections - some sections focused on Figures and other on verbal... So for example you work one day on Chapter 1 "Describing Shapes" activities and then the next day/time you work on Chapter six - "Describing" things.. and so on... then when you get to Chapter 2: Figural Similarities and Differences - you do a page from that and then the next time you do one from Chapter seven: verbal similarities and differences and so on... This way you're working both sides of the brain.. You can do both verbal & figure activities the same day or alternating - either way - the practice of alternating is what is important... Best, Kate

JudoMom - Thank you about the idea of the Communicator Clearboars - I had never seen those.. I got the Crayola Dry Erase, 'because I saw it the last time I was Office max (and my DH had recently mentioned he was tired of the whole photocopies LOL)... But these communicator clearboards are a great idea for when we want to do work on the Park... Kate

Count me in for a HS IPhone Application - ;-) I would want one too.. Kate

Hi, I have used their products.... and I like them.. More importantly - My daughter likes them.. In Kinder we used: Can you Find Me? PreK and Mindbenders PreK-K - She Loved them!!! There were days that I had planned to do only 2 pages on the Can You Fin Me? and she would say "can we do another one? and then can we do another one? Now in 1st (Starting in September) - We'll do the 2nd volume of the Can you Find Me? K-1 and instead of Mindbenders 1-2, we'll do Building Thinking Skills - 2-3 Grade. Why the change - and not used Mindebenders? My daughter goes to her Dad's office Once a week, she has workbooks (the ones you can get at Home depot or office Max- Dora, Princess, etc - pretty general not curriculum based)/coloring books/activities there for her to do and keep herself entertained... Sometime during the middle of the "school" year the baby became very mobile and it got harder to do "school work" in set time... so we streamlined our scheduled.... So I sent the Mindbender to the Office - and kept the Can you find me at home... Now, because of the format is written (like little riddles) and because I'm not asking her to write on the book (circle the response) but just to point to the answer, I had the baby with us (he thought it was story time - LOL) - it worked. Because she had multiple selections at the office - she's still has pages to do in the mindbender - Plus because we do not write in the workbooks but rather my husband photocopies or we use the following Dry Erase Activity Center by Crayola (see link) [Link: http://www.crayola.com/products/splash/educator/dry_erase_activity_center/index.cfm ] - she can "write" on the page (safely under the "plastic" window) and she can redo it as many times as possible... Also, I guess... just to "change things up" - Once we're done with the Building Thinking Skills Book 2-3 and finish the current Mindbender, I can get the next Mindbenders 2-3... Now based on my understanding of WTM these skills are not really "covered" in the grammar years... But I picked them because she likes puzzles and riddles - so I got it as enrichment/enhancement and not really as curriculum... And the reason I picked two products to offer variety... (as much to her as to me)... I hope this helps. Kate

Yes, we're member of PSG.... We follow a Classical Approach with a preference to secular materials. Are you Dominican? (I ask your signature says: There's also some crazy Dominican who lives in my house. Who is he anyway??) My Parents live around there - they live on 28th... LOL Kate

Jennifer, We live where Hollywood, PP and Davie Meet... so it sound's you're really close to us.. Kate

Hello, I was wondering if there is anyone else here from South Florida. I live in Broward County. Have a 5 year old girl and 1 year old Boy. Close to Pembroke Pines. Saying HI!!! to ALL Floridians as well :grouphug: - we go often to Tampa, Orlando and North port.. :D Yep we travel a lot LOL :auto: Kate

Jessica, Yes - the amount usually is divided per term.

Jennifer, You could definitely provide vocabulary through reading good books... there are many words that my dd knows that she has "picked" up from our readings - which makes sometimes our History readings a bit longer - every few words or sentences: "what does that word mean?" The curriculum just makes it easier and entertaining and you have your set of words... Both things work well together.. Hope this helps.. Kate

Suzanne, I agree with you - My daughter loves it and is one of her favorite things to do (along with "Can you find me?").. I haven't seen the 1st grade or the 2nd grade, so I'm not sure how much different the program is... bu is good to know that in 1st grade is still interesting and exciting... Kate

Hi, I'm using Wordly Wise 3000 for Kinder, and Plan to use it next year in 1st Grade. I enjoy it, and my daughter loves it - she likes the stories and the activities... I got the full package (with concept cards, TM, etc) and I think it was a great investment... It has the lessons divided into 2 weeks and 3 days of work per week.. is some what scripted, but I've "modified" as needed.. for example one of the activities has the kids touching the nose every-time they hear one of the new words on the story; I simply tell her to jump (she enjoys this much more) - it is however written for classroom setting - something to keep in mind like when the instructions say to pair kids or have them work in groups... I think this has been a great investment and is something we're enjoying and plant to continue to use... PLUS - and this is outside the realm this was intended for - I think the concept cards are so well designed to serve as a visual cue for the word itself, that I've use it to also cue the word in a foreign language (Am I making myself clear? I sure hope so - if not let me know and I can further explain - LOL ).. Kate

Hi, I've never heard of this program - but thanks for the Link - I was looking at the different files, I liked the little Short Books (stories) related to numbers - they're colorful and use math language and/or numbers and they are arranged by both Age and Grade.... Thanks for the Link.. ;-) Kate

Hi Clara... Nice to meet you... We also live in South Florida, but Broward... Kate

Maureen, I hear you and I understand when you say: "I may still be tempted to look for greener grass, I need to stick with what is working for my kids" - Thanks for sharing this note with me... Kate

Carmen, Have you done so? How has it been? Kate

LadyAberlin - Thanks this is a great tip.. ;-) Kate

Stephanie, I've set my planning with WTM in mind, but I've read other threads about LCC and it seems interesting - I like what I read in one of the posts that talked about "Multum non Multa"... What would you say are the biggest differences between following WTM and LCC? And what other guidelines does LCC offers for 1st grade? My impression (from the back threads I've read) was also that Latin has a biggest part.. so there' no Latin in first grade? Thanks.. Kate