We switched from Saxon to Singapore after K and I'm glad we did. My oldest is going into 6th now and he has an excellent, solid math basis. I'm pleased with the program.

I got a 8" Victorinox chef's knife that I love.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will look at Sandbridge. I'll show dh the cabins too. Thanks for checking on the bathrooms. Not sure what we'll do. Mariann - no worries...jump right in...looks like you are getting the footwork done! hehehe...maybe I'll see you on the beach :-)

Any locals can point me in the right direction? We are looking to get away and relax. Quiet beach, family friendly. Would love oceanfront but looking to not spend too much $$$. THank you!! Nancy

We have used SWR for three years, so I am familiar with the rules/phonograms. I downloaded the samples on EPS website and worked through them with the littles. We all LOVED them. I didn't have any trouble teaching it. Wondering if I can skip the teacher's manual? I looked online and can't find any samples to check it out myself. Thanks to all the people who responded to my post earlier this week! I am excited to try Megawords. PS. Just looked again and they have an assessment book...anybody have that an can comment on its usefulness? Money is tight right now, wanting to get what we need, but not extras! TIA

We have used Spell to Write and Read for three years now. My children were in a spelling bee and did poorly. Then we got our standardized tests back and they both did rather poorly. I would like to work with them over the summer and get them up to grade level. Suggestions for curriculum?

I scored 4.93097%. Hmmmm But, I already knew I wasn't a geek! :-)

My children have zunes and we are trying out a monthy program that gives you access to all the music they have available. My kids are too old for "children's music". My daughter likes PureNRG. Any other suggestions..

4 day weeks Quiz each day over last 20 words Dictate 10 words per day Assign 5 original sentences and one of three enrichment activites (Look and see/ post it notes, dry erase board) We go over charts when they come up I occasionally substitute enrichment activites found in the lesson My kids are 3rd and 4th grades - you'd adapt for younger ones

My son doesn't have any labels, of sort. I just didn't know where to post to get some questions answered. He is very active and needs to be constantly moving, especially when learning. He has modeling clay in his hands most of the time. This has been a habit since he was two. Today he made a comment about needed to get a lump of clay so he could think. We were playing Yahtzee at the time. I don't allow it on the white carpet so I made him put it back and he was fidgety the rest of the game. It got me thinking...what else could he fidget with that wouldn't leave his hands blue and not leave a mess on the floors/carpets? Any help or suggestions welcome! Thanks

Both my 3rd and 4th graders are not up to level in dictation. They both did fine on the year end evaulations for narriations. This makes sense to me because we have been doing narriations all along (they were both a bit wordy though), but I did copywork with both of them last year and not dictation. I couldn't decide where to place them either, but I think I have a solution. I started at the beginning of 1st grade and am using the narriation exercises with copywork of the sentence I write down. I have been doing one a day and moving through first grade just going over the samples she gives in the book. My purpose is to make sure there are no missing links --they are quickly able to progress through and I think we will be to the end of second grade in no time. I will at that point start my daughter there and when I get through a quick trot through third grade I will start my son on schedule. THey are both much happier. When I gave them the 2nd/3rd grade year end assessments they were stressed --showing me we do, indeed, need to go back and at least touch on the basics. I hope this makes sense and helps someone else.

It's here! It's here! I've been waiting all morning for USPS and they just came. I opened my box from Amazon and my 3rd grader said, "You've been waiting all morning for a BOOK?". I told her that was true. She said, "And it's a SCHOOL book?!". LOL Now I'm off to read...

Me too! Me too! Doing the happy dance!!

I have two wall maps I bought, but I don't want to hang them on the wall in my family room. How can I store them and still make them accessible for daily use? Thanks for all your great ideas!

I just got a fun order from Rainbow Resource --lots of math manipulatives. We do not have a school room, I school from the kitchen and I use the pantry for school supplies. Space is limited in there. I'm thinking I want something with lots of dividers/containers. Any ideas?

I just received Vocabulary Vine - I started working through it myself and I've very pleased with it. I will be using it in the fall with my children.

Good idea. I just emailed them. Fingers crossed! :-) Doh, Just heard from them and they haven't received the books yet either.

They didn't even have a new ship date. I looked on peacehill's web site and it looks like I would have to pay shipping too now, making the book 17$ more than Amazon. We start school the first week of August. I just don't know what I want to do. I have Writing Strands here, maybe I'll just use that this year. :-( Can anyone who has the book tell me if there are any other books/materials needed to teach the course? I've been waiting for my copy to arrive before placing an order with Rainbow Resource. If I do decide to wait, I don't want to find out after it comes that I need other materials. Thanks

I would be interested in that - if you can point me in the right direction. Thanks for your quick reply!

I'm thinking of using it to suppliment Singapore math. I looked at Rainbow Resource and I'm totally confused as to what to buy. There are so many books available. My son will be in 4th grade if that helps. THanks!

I'm thinking the "Extra Practice" books might do the trick. I see there is also a "Topical Worksheets" book. Has anyone used either of these? Can you comment? I'm looks for more practice problems and also something that I can use to test their comprehension. Thanks!

I just received my books for Latina Christiana and it says we need to buy "Famous Men of Rome". It seems like it will be a lot more work and basically a history program. We are already using Sonlight for History. Do you use it? Does it add a lot of extra time? Will I be missing something if I don't use it? My kids arer 3rd and 4th grades. Thanks!

They looked they would withstand kids and they were under 10$. They haven't come yet, but I'm hoping the kids like them.

We spend 10 minutes doing oral review and going over the lesson. Ds then does the work as "independent work" and I grade it when he's finshed. It takes him about 15-20 minutes to do the work. I have him do all the exercises and problems because I think the practice in writing and using correct grammar and mechanics is important.