Susannah, that link is very, very cool. I love the short vowel songs, although they are now stuck in my head, especially short E.
I also wanted to tell you that we do D'Nelian too. I found that it really helped reduce lower case letter confusion (b/d especially)and eased the transition to cursive. I use the StartWrite program to make handwriting practice, well worth the $40 because then you can connect their handwriting practice to anything meaningful to them, like their own names other personalized info when they are little, spelling words or vocabulary that has to do with science they are studying when they are older. It has cursive too, so lasts for a long time. I also like the Draw Write Now books, they seem to help make kids more confident at representational drawing, which for some reason so many children think is all art is about. I wish we lived closer so we could share materials.

Lynn, I have no clue how to link, but I'll try to go look it up so I can link to StartWrite and a few others and put them in the weblink homeschooling section.

Today DS13 visited our public school to see if he wants to go there in the fall. I'm totally fine with whatever he decides, and he is struggling with it. He visited the 8th grade, and his impression is that everything they did he already has done. Keep in mind this is the end of the school year, and he would be in 8th grade next year. He did really like the social aspect though, so he is trying to decide if the boredom is worth the fun.

DD4 did two pages of initial consonant sounds sheets and two pages of matching groups of objects with their numeral. We are about to read Swamp Angel, a fun tall tale.

OK, gotta go read.
Bye,
-Jo