Thanks for that 

Teachers salaries are not the issue and a teachers salary is not there just to cover the school day! Teachers put in a lot of work both seen and unseen in and out of the classroom never mind when trawling through both classwork and school planning during holiday periods.Fine there are a number of teachers that can't spell but I bet there are plenty of things they do exceptionally well- making learning fun for instance!  It's fine to moan but there a lot worse for children to contend with than the odd spelling error. We all make them!!!

Ya in Ireland we teach starting with the C shape- also much easier to help distinguish between b and d if there a difficulty there - "cd player" following the same movement for c creates the d and "hb ice-cream" following the same motion for h (down- halfway up -around) is similar to that for creating b.

I started Taylor on the slideshows at 4 months. She is now 6 1/2 and lately she has really been responding to the animals download. as soon as Bird and the image and sound come on she starts smiling and when we reach the Pig at the end of the slide her legs and arms shake and she lets out a grunt of what I can only imagine is "its finished next" cause as soon as we move onto colours the arms and legs are shaking and when we get to yellow another grunt!! Its so funny, don't know how much she is actually taking in but definitely know she enjoys it. As soon as the lap top goes on she starts banging the keys and grabbing for the mouse! she knows that they do something to get her slides working! Can't wait til she really starts reading like some of the parents have expressed because it is simply facinating

Taylor loves these birds- makes the scale fun


http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/music/early_bird_singers.swf

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/music/piano.html

makes music by just hovering over the colours- 

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/touchtunes.swf

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/Chimes.html

These are lovely activites that can get you talking and for those children who have the strength and ability great to develop hand-eye coordination

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/animalmagic.swf

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/touchcirc.swf

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/teddydress.swf

there are other good resources for older children too  these are from the foundation page

Time out works but you need to explain to the child why they are there and then give them time to explain why they are they and apologise. I use it in school, we have a time-out chair. But would not recommend any child facing the wall- can have long term effects.

Came across these little music activities they're fun to play and a nice way of recognising notes:D
http://www.musick8kids.com/html/musicgame.php
http://www.musick8kids.com/html/play_bw.php
http://www.musick8kids.com/html/recorder_training.php

http://www.msnucleus.org/membership/storybooks/zoom3.html
there are some great little clips,  This one is nice too about taking a rocket to the moon

Taylor has started with dada and mama and lately baby signing milk, which im so happy about! Shes also responding now and then to her name .... its all so exciting

In Ireland RSE -Relationship & Sexual Eduxation starts at 4.  Its not grafic by any means at that age but in class we teach the children to wash a baby- a doll or if possible a real baby. starting at the toes and working towards the head. This way the child hears all the anatomically correct terminology for every body part including the penis and the vagina.  In this way it doesn't make a big deal out of learning these words. It is not necessary at this age and stage to teach them particular parts of these private areas but as previously mentioned when it comes to sex abuse and children are interviewed it is clearer to record the childrens discussion- there is no speculation!
Also as previously discussed it is not the children that are embarassed about these terms its us adults who did not grow up in society were it was acceptable to even mention.  I think it great to be in a posiition to teach them penis and vagina and if they shout it out in the supermarket well at least its something to share in the forum!

Main PC runs windows but Asus eepc runs Linux.  when using it dont get any sound files on the downloads. Thanks

Scored 12-6 and am right-brained -Its a really interesting test to do.  When I get back to school think might just run it through the class might help with lessons and planning. Great thanks

   This site is fantastic and I think its great that it is available to all! First found out about teaching baby to read from my grandfather who saw it on a Dutch TV channel. We live in Ireland and after a websearch found that to get YBCR set was STG£607 nearly 1000euro and there was no way we could afford that- You want to do the best by your child but there is a limit!!! To be able to read posts by like minded people who want to give their children the available opportunities is great.... there are so many out there that dont and so many more that think you are up yourself for even trying. Personally I have only told my mother because she is so positive and tried stuff with us when we were growing up.  When I started baby sign I told some people: friends and family and the reaction was unreal! This time I am keeping it to my side of the family and she can tell them herself later!!! When it comes to learning it is so shocking how negative people can be...