Who cares really? Does it really matter? I mean its not like the homeschool group educated any of the graduates so it isn't like you are lying. Also, as homeschoolers, can't we just decide whatever we want to do?

I am not opposed to seeing it, they are. They heard it was much more violent.

My older girls and I were going to go see Iron Man today but they heard it is extremely violent. We have seen all the other Marvel films. Is this one different? What is your review?

Memoria Press (modified) She could use her own Math & Language Arts. I would just have her buy the Teachers Guide, not the whole package to used for everything else. I prefer Christian Light Math 1st grade or Essential Math For handwriting I prefer Pentime For reading I like Explode the Code with one of the following (Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Phonics Pathways)

Yes, what you said is mostly true. Her oldest son is actually going to be a senior this year I believe. She has always homeschooled her kids. From HOD site: Carrie Austin holds a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a middle school endorsement. She received her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership. Carrie has eleven years of classroom teaching experience. Mike, Carrie, Cole (1995), Shaw (1999), Greyson (2002), and Beau (2006) live in Dell Rapids, SD. We have been a home schooling family since Cole started preschool in 1999 and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I think her programs really start to shine in the upper grades.

I would do this one of your options: MFW 1st grade MFW adventures 2nd grade MFW ECC 3rd grade HOD Preparing 4th grade Truth be told however, I am not a fan of HOD or MFW before 4th grade. I used MFW co several years (used K, 1st, ECC, CTC, RTR, EXp-1850) and while I dropped all the youngest programs about 1/2 way through the year I did enjoy the older guides. My problems started to come with #1 boredom- the guides lacked any variety and the book selections took far too long to get through. #2 to general- the guides were overly challenging for my younger daughter but too easy for my older daughter. #3 not independent - I was spending a lot of hours a day teaching several programs even though I could combine some of my kids. I have used HOD for the last 4 years and here is what I like: Variety: each years guide has its own look and feel. We don't get bored. More specific. Levels: my kids use levels more specific to their abilities. It challenges them while not being too difficult. Independent: my older girls can do all or some of their work on their own while I work with the younger ones. I use whatever I like now with my younger ones. I don't start HOD Preparing until 4th grade.

If Pomp and Circumstance is played as the graduates come in, what is usually played at the end when they exit during the recessional?

Thank you to the two or three people who actually answered the question i asked in the first post, which was to please share your libraries website if it has a homeschool policy. I am very sorry that everyone felt they had to " tell me like it is". I really wonder if you would have spoken to me like this in real life? I am very saddened at the conduct on the boards today. I have been apart of this community for the last 10 years or so and have never seen such a tongue lashing as I have today.

Wow. Rude.

My books were a day overdue. I usually can renew them (still paying a fine for the day they were overdue. They will not renew if someone has a hold on them). The computer wouldn't let me renew. It was a glitch in the system. The librarian wouldn't waive the fine. I really have felt attacked on this thread. I wish the whole conversation would go away. Many libraries have special teacher cards, just a business have special educator discounts. Everyone keeps saying "I don't know why I should get special privileges!" So tell me, do you use discount cards at places like Joann Fabrics, Barnes and Noble etc...? Is that fair to the average customer? I don't think it is unreasonable for homeschoolers to have a special teacher card. We use the library significantly more than an average person. I am not suggesting that we should be able to "hog" the books. If someone wants it they can place a hold and we would not be able to renew it. I do think because of the shear volume of books we often have checked out that lower fines or a grace period or volunteering to pay for fines would be great. None of these options are available at my library. If I make a mistake and go one day overdue on my books, that can be $$$ because of the amount of books that would all go overdue at the same time.

Low carb is hard, but it really does work. I just hate the Atkins version of it. Join this FACEBOOK group: https://www.facebook...rimhealthymamas and really consider getting their book. I did and I have been on their plan for two weeks now. I LOVE it. It is low carb, but NOT Atkins low carb. It includes all your food groups and allows you to feel really satisfied. Plus it was written by two homeschool moms. I have never liked a diet before so for me to say I LOVE it is really big. I have lost about 3.5 lbs in the two weeks I have been on the plan. Many MANY have lost much more. As far as your medical issues go, I think this diet could really help with that. A friend of mine who has similar issues as you found success with weight loss by limiting sugar spikes and that is exactly what this diet does. I also recommend looking into C25K for cardio. It is wonderful as well. I love Body for Life for toning and have had success with that as well. Finally, for keeping track of things (although you don't have to) I like Fitness Pal.

Jean the library was closed. I called them the first day they were open.

Ok as I said I was fuming mad when I wrote it and probably didnt clearly state the problem, but I still feel that homeschoolers should have a special teacher card. I wasn't actually asking anyone if they agreed with me, I was simply asking for links to your libraries that have these sort of things in place as many do. My situation involved a computer error. It usually lets you renew your books online but it had a glitch. At my library you can renew overdue library books as long as no one has them on hold. If there were other homeschoolers waiting for my books, as one person said... It wouldn't renew. My librarian SAID they had given me "special" treatment in the past. I didn't say that was a true statement and it wasn't. She was being snarky. I am having a bad today.

done with the drama

I want to add how we made the enrichment portion of the guide become a highlight. I printed off each of the art prints as photographs and placed them face down in a photo album. Each week my son would recite his art prints (title & artist) and then I would reveal his new print for the week. He LOVED this. In fact I am planning on doing the same thing for my other children next year. He now knows about 30 art pieces from memory. We would also discuss the paintings as noted in the teacher guide. Sometimes I would have him stare at his new print for a minute then take it from him and ask him to tell me what he remembered about the picture. I would ask questions like, what is the girl holding? What color were the walls? What was outside the window? It was a highlight for us. For the music selections we would utilize youtube. I love that my son was not only able to hear the music, but was often able to see the actual instruments being used. I would point out the french horn, or the violin and talk about what kind of instrument they were. The memory work was also part of youtube. I have more about that on my blog. http://homeschool-chalkboard.blogspot.com/2012/10/youtube-as-supplement.html

$18ppd. Yes, it was totally fine changing out those subjects. Let me know if your interested.

I loved everything with this program. I didn't use the math or Language Arts selections however, but the Picture Study, Music Selections, Picture Books, Social Studies, Science, recitations etc... were all wonderful! It was just what I wanted. I am actually done with it now so if your looking for a used copy of the TM, I have one for sale. :)

Picture! :)

As a girl with very fine, very straight hair... I would not grow out your layers. Our hair needs the layers to add thickness and volume. Here are my favorite hairstyles on my pinterest board. I really like Julianne Hough's hair right now.

I didn't used to recommend this, but My Father's World has recently updated their Kindergarten program and it looks really nice. I would also recommend you look into Memoria Press as their younger programs are really great. I am a Heart of Dakota user but I don't recommend their programs until Preparing. Sonlight was a little too easy. Memoria Press has great books scheduled and it feels more like a plan.

I don't recommend it..... at all.

OK! I finished my new homeschool room and I am super excited!!! I love it! It is my favorite location yet in the house. Here are some pictures: Here are a few close-ups

Be careful, you are falling into the trap that many new homeschool moms do... switching curriculum constantly. It sounds like Saxon was a good fit for your daughter so I would stick with it. It is unlikely she will continue at her current pace but if she does then do you really want to hold her back so she can line up with CC in the future? That is a long time down the road and you might not find it to be a good fit or you could move, the CC community to close down, so much could happen. Take it one year at a time. As for the Phonics, this can be tricky because there are so many programs out there. I sorta think that you should just stick with the one that has given you success and make the time to watch the videos. I would NOT switch to All About Reading or Spelling if you are having time issues, because they are both time and teacher intensive. If you really want to switch, I would go with something simple like: Explode the Code Phonics Pathways or Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading Rod and Staff Spelling Grade 2 (or wait a year on this as Explode the Code does some spelling work) Lots of library trips, and/or Bob Books or other beginning readers.

I am in the process of moving 4 rooms of my house around and the Homeschool Room is one of them. It is moving from my living room/spare room upstairs into my current bedroom. I am moving into a bigger room and my kids are moving upstairs into the spare room. I am looking forward to getting all my HS items into one room and out of the living room. I'll post pictures when I am done! (Hopefully today)

I personally love the ideas behind Charlotte Mason but find that other people's choices of books and implementation don't always work for me. I think you would do much better to read the actual books by Charlotte or a great book on her method such as "For the Children's Sake" by Susan Schaeffer Macauley. Then pull together your own program doing the time period you want and using the books that appeal to you. Charlotte Mason is not a box of certain books, it is a method.