Thanks for the help!! Amy

Hello Ladies, Could anyone help explain to me if the Lit. Study Guide Set could be used without buying the Course Plans for $150.00? Or, is buying the course plans worth it? I am not even sure if that is the price for just the course plans. I would only be interested in the Literature. My daughter will be entering 5th grade and I like the book list of the classic reading. We will not be doing the Saint reading. I am so tired of looking for a literature program. She has tried many and I just give up. She loves to read and is very good at it. I just want to add some glossary, questions, maybe a small project and tests to what she is doing. Any suggestions??? Amy

Thanks ladies! Amy

Hello Ladies, Just when I thought I had it figured out I go and confuse myself. We moved recently and with trying to find homeschool support groups and activities for my children I found a MOH 1 co-op. They just meet once a month to do projects and review so nothing big and I have not committed to the co-op yet. My problem is that I have been looking at All American History and MOH. My oldest daughter is in 8th grade, my second in 7th and following last 4th (she is a history pro, just loves the stuff). My question-What would be best for my children's ages to make sure the older two are prepared for High School. Would it be way too much to do MOH 1 and AAH 1 in one year? I also saw where you could do MOH 3 and AAH 1 together seeing that those two books cover the same time periods. Anyone actually done that? I feel like I am running out of time to decide seeing our school year is coming up. Is taking on two history programs with different time periods way too much? Be honest! Just any help if anyone has had the same kind of problem. Thanks, Amy

Thanks everyone, I like the ideas and can't wait to get started. Amy

Hello everyone, I have a question and was wondering if anyone would share... How did you schedule your Chalk Dust Pre-algebra for your child? What is the best way to split it up? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks, Amy

Thanks, I already have them together in the same math level and have since 3rd grade. So she has always been a year ahead in Math. I will be doing the new Apologia Human Body book with my 4th grader and really wanted the older two to join in, help, and learn. I like the idea of them being able to do labs together. I would of started the younger one this year but I enrolled the oldest in a class and because of her sisters age she couldn't join, so that is how they were split in subjects this year. Thanks, Amy

:lurk5:

My daughters have had lessons taught to them from older homeschool children who are very talented. They were in 11th and 12th grade. We only paid $5.00 per lesson which lasted 30 minutes a week. My daughter loved it and I never had to tell her to practice and she grew in leaps and bounds. I know we were blessed to find that price because everywhere else was charging $15.00 for 30 minutes and that wasn't in our budget. Keep looking and see if you could find a homeschooler who is responible and willing. Amy

Hello ladies, I have a quick question or two for you. First, I own the first edition of the Physical Science-should I switch to the second edition? Are there many changes? I have everything I need for the first edition and I am just wondering if the change is major. Second-Hearing this once has me thinking-I have two daughters only one year apart. My oldest just finished the General Science this year (she was in seventh grade) Could I possibly not do the General Science with the younger and do the Physical with both so it's a little easier on me. Has anyone done this???? Thanks for any help, Amy

I pulled them out of Private School when they finished 2nd and 3rd grade and now they are in 6th and 7th. I hated what they used there and couldn't bring myself to even try that. Did you like the Lial's? I looked at that this evening and just couldn't decide. I pushed my youngest (3rd grade, age 8) at the time and her first year homeschooling she did Saxon 5/4 and did awesome. She catches on to Math very easily. I didn't want to do Teaching Textbooks this year, but I needed help with homeschooling three children and my husband being deployed for the first time(he helped alot). I want to get back to our Math as a strong subject but I am at a loss with Pre-algebra.

Hello Ladies, I am in search of a solid math program for pre-algebra. My daughters will be 12 and 13 years old this fall. I feel like we have done every math you could imagine. Saxon, Teaching Textbooks, Life of Fred, Math-U-See...I better stop or you will think I am awful. They are bright and do not struggle in math but I would like to find a really really good math for pre algebra. I have always kept them together since I pulled them from school and that has worked well. This year they did Teaching Textbooks 7 and LOF Fractions and Deciamls & Percents(as a refresher). They are in 6th and 7th right now. Let me know what has worked for you and any suggestions would be greatly welcomed. Thanks, Amy

Hello ladies, I wanted to get some input on where to start for learning about Pearl Harbor. This summer we are moving to Hawaii for two years. (Hubby is military and this is our first duty station) My children will be 13, 12, and 9.(all girls) I wanted to take this time to learn about Hawaii and what it has to offer seeing this may be the only time we are there, I am kidding myself, this will be the only time we will be there, lol. I was wondering if I should go over ALL of the War or just focus on Pearl Harbor. I don't know and I am at a lost. If any of you have done a study of Pearl Harbor, would you share what you used? My children love hands-on and real books while learning. If anyone has lived in Hawaii or been on the island of Oahu what did you learn while there? I want this to be an awesome homeschool adventure for them. Thanks for any input, Amy

Hi Josie, Thanks for trying to answer. I think what has me nervous is maybe moving in a year. He is in Hawaii, all the ID cards and Power of Attorney have been taken care of. We are on his orders as "Defferred Family Travel" He has had all these meetings which seem to leave him with more questions and I am not near a base. Do we have to move within a certain time frame?? That is what is so so confusing. My sister has offered to help me move and fly over with me (if he is deployed) if we have to go within a time frame. Our daughter's surgery is being scheduled and she doesn't graduate until the end of May so we are here for sure until then. Who knows????? I am at my ends wit for answers. Amy

Hi Everyone, I had posted earlier this summer about not knowing if we should go or wait to move with my husband. This would be our first move. He joined the Army in Jan. He is now in Hawaii because he doesn't have a choice to wait, lol. We stayed behind because our daughter is able to graduate early(she is in an Early College program and even though they do not give HS diplomas they made a exception in our case, she will not be able to get her two year degree but her college classes should transfer). She will be finished the end of May. She also has to have another surgery and I didn't want some doctor I didn't know performing a serious operation. She already has had two spine surgeries. She has a screw that has been toggling and they are going to remove that section of her rod. With all that said my concern is that will we still be able to move with him later. I know this may seem like a silly question but it is really starting to worry me. I can handle things here but what is the time frame for us. We are on my husband's orders as "Deferred". He went ahead and requested Early Deployment. He thought if we weren't coming soon(as in one month) this might be best. I don't know if that is best or not but what is done is done. We will not find out until next week if it will be approved. If he does deploy before May we will wait until he is back before we move. I don't think I can handle moving 4 kids, one dog, and the fact that I have never moved in my life.(at least not like this, the most I have done is done the street) Please help!!!!!! What will happen with us moving later? Will we still be reimbersed if coming later? Will this cause problems? Will waiting until May or longer if he is deployed mess things up? I am not even sure what to ask except I find this so so upsetting. I know some of you most of waited, so please give me advice to help calm my nerves. Please any advice!!! Amy

Hello Everyone, I started Writing Tales with my 8 year old daughter. She is an excellent reader and has no problems telling you stories with creativity, but when it comes to writing it down she HATES it. I bought Writing Tales to help her with having a base to write about and then go add her touches. So, here is my problem. She did okay with writing the story over but shortened hers because she thought the throwing of the pebbles went on too long and she got the point. Here is her story (first week) A crow came to a pitcher. It had a tiny bit of water in it. He threw a rock into the pitcher. He threw a another rock into the pitcher. He threw another rock into the pitcher. The water came to him. He was happy at last because he was not thirsty anymore. I didn't push it the first week but told her she left some key points out. We talked about it and then put the paper up. This week is where she gets to put in her touches. Oh My Goodness, she decided to rewrite the WHOLE story. She did leave in the fact that the animal she chose(horse) was thirsty and had to make the water rise in order to get it. I talked to her about added touches but not making a completely new story. I am at a lost for what to do. Here is her story: A long time ago there was a horse in the desert. He came to an old town. All the troughs were empty. So thirsty, said Rocky. So Rocky was his name. A bucket cheered him up. He tossed six rocks in the bucket. So happy, he said. He got a lot of water. In fact, he drank all of the water in town and everybody there said, Come on. He was so happy that he did an Irish Jig. The End. Hmmmm, In my opinion she missed what the lesson was supposed to be about by rewriting a story and not "adding" touches. We did talk about this and I tired to take her story and add the things she left out. Took the talking parts out and the extra people. How do I handle this for the next lesson. She already became so upset today and I really want this to be a wonderful experience. Help, Amy:bigear:

All your support, suggestions, advice, and hugs have all been very welcomed and greatly appreciated. Yesterday my good friend help me figure a way to stay for a year and go visit at different times. We found the Army Campground reasonable we would just have to go out of season(that is fine). There are ways to work this, it's just at times it doesn't seem easy without upsetting someone. Keep anything you can think of coming. I go get my husband today on a weekend pass and our trip home will be a long, long talk (there is no where for him to hid in the car, LOL!),Kiddos will not be with us so this is the perfect time. He might even regret the weekend pass by the time I am done, LOL! To answer one more question posted. I knew he wasn't happy at his job. They paid him well but would not hire any people to help him because they liked how he handled everything and thought he could do the job of 4 people. I know that's alot on a person. I knew he was looking for work, I even mailed his applications(which were local or the next town over), but the Army he keep a secret. I love my husband, but like any marriage we have had our ups and downs. I want to do what's best for my family with thinking of everyone. My other girls I believe would cope seeing they are homeschooled. My oldest would cope but with a lose on her side. It's just alot. Good Advice on finding out what unit he is in and seeing a deployment schedule. I will get on that. I think having something concrete in front of me will help some of this. Thank you all and I have to say you are an amazing group of women to endure and support your husbands in this way. It makes me look at life different. Amy

I spent a week researching everything about bringing pets, even down to what to put in the crate to asborb pee, LOL! The cost is unreal. I understand Hawaii is a rabies free state but my goodnes the fees are great. Yes, he could of requested another duty station, but HE didn't want to. I did ask several times. He thinks Hawaii would be a awesome place to live. Not that I disagree but I think we had more to look at then just an awesome place to live. He does want us to go but not if he will be deploying soon. He would rather we wait. I just don't know how to get this information. I would like to stay another year here, let my daughter finish then go. The other children homeschool and theirs is pick up and go. Yes, DEERS is set up and the dental. He has done the life insurance thing. I a three hours away from him now and can make the drive and do this for the wills. I have asked him to do the Power of Attorney and he hasn't. He is so used to me doing all this kind of stuff that it is like pulling teeth to get him to move unless the Army tells him. No discussion, went and did it and told me nothing could be changed. Maybe if we had discussed this and made this decision together I would not be feeling like this. It would of been joint. I cry alot, LOL!!!

Great! You are more than welcomed to give her my email: rinthia@yahoo.com Amy

My family is so supportive! My brother called last night and let me rant and rave, cry and he just listen. That went on for an hour(for a man, I think that's pretty good). In the end he told me he was behind want ever I decided and would help any way possible. My brother has friends in the military and understands that it's a hard thing to leave family and go. I'm 35. I wish it were this easy. We live in the Historical District so if we rented we would have to make sure no one found out. It isn't allowed unless it was a rental house before they changed it and it wasn't. I have asked some people about our dog even offered to pay and send money for what he needed. No takers yet. Our dog is a mess and very attached to our family. When we went to my husband's graduation, we had someone stay at our house for that week. He didn't eat the whole time and then started turning on the poor girl. She didn't let it bother her but he is awful. Maybe if we knew this some of these decision's would be easier to make. He has asked and asked and has got nowhere. It makes me want to scream.

Actually, My Mom and I have talked about this. My Mom said she would love to have her but in her heart she believes a grandmother is not a mother. I see where she is coming from. I honestly don't feel like I am done raising her. After she finishes she wants to take a year or semester off. She has had no breaks with going during summers and at 17 I don't think I want to send her away to college to work on her four year degree quite yet. She wants to travel with us, study colleges and then go, which I am perfectly fine with because two years of her college is finished. She tends to map out her life, LOL!

He has always been like this. He will decide this is what he wants to do and do it. Not to be ugly but I tend to call him selfish in the sense that I believe a husband and wife need to discuss and decide as a unit. I have always been able to cope with what he does but this one affected more than just me this time and I guess that is why I am so angry with him. If he had brought it up and we had decided to do this as a family I believe I would of been able to go where ever with him, but to come home one day and be told I joined to Army and no turning back just floored me. He is so active in his daughters lives that I just couldn't imagine what he was thinking. To be honest, now our marriage is better. I think the time apart has helped. I think, if I were in Hawaii and he deployed he would constantly worry about things. In his training they constantly showed them clips of wives cheating and not staying faithful that tore him up. I honestly don't know why they do that in boot camp unless it's just to torture them. My husband is a jealous person. He even gets upset if the guys in his barracks want to look at his family pics. He has always been like this. I tell him time and time again he worries for nothing. I am a faithful wife that loves her husband way too much. What makes this so hard is that he is telling me I am the one to decide and I need to do that. I think we need to sit down and decide this together. Weigh it all out and decide. This is one reason I am so tore.

You are not asking a question I haven't thought of. I guess when I think of this I want people around me to help and pray. The community I am in right now has reached out like I never knew they could. I have friends with family in military that went as far as calling and asking questions. The stories I could tell with that. I think the comfort of family and friends that know me helps a little more. My mom is my best friend and just to be able to go to her house curl up on the sofa, have her cook my favorite meal, and pray with me is more than anyone could give. Sometimes she knows me better than I know myself. There have even been times I try to shut myself up, not answer the phone, and she is at my door telling me this is not way to behave but to take my strength and see the good in this. I am afraid that is one thing I will not have in Hawaii. It will not be easy if even affordable to get on a plane and fly back and forth. She has offered to come down if we go but that will be minimal. She just told me a few weeks ago she has already started saving. She is such a part of my children's life, I didn't have grandparents growing up and I missed that and I just want my children to have this. Oh, this has crossed my mind also and honestly I don't know. My husband did our DEERS enrollment, and I did the dental insurance. I do have a cousin who is retired military that has told me to call for anything. I have reached out some but at an actual base no. Where he is at right now, they aren't very friendly. I don't deal well with that and I know not every base is like that. This is something to think about and weigh for sure. Thanks for bringing this all to the front. Sometimes, I only think of the now and not the long run.

Good Morning to all, When I sent this message last night I was nervous. I didn't want anyone to think I was being a "awful" military wife by even considering not going. I went to bed and first thing this morning got on to see what came through. After reading and crying, crying and reading I feel a little better. I want to answer your questions but be patient. I don't know if I have figured out the quote thingy, LOL! I might have several posts. Let me see how much I can remember than I will go back and fill in. One question was age-I am 35. My oldest(16) is in the Early College Program in NC. It is designed to let a child from 9th grade to 12th plus one extra year obtain their high school Diploma and a 2 year associate degree. This will be her third year, but she has worked double and can finished by this time next year. By working two summers(this one she already did and next) she will have finished. We always have told our children to take pride in their work and to work hard and she has put forth every effort and more. She is a great daughter. She has not complained(maybe a little) but in the end has said that she will go if we have to. It breaks my heart to see her work so hard to have to go backwards. That is one reason she did a full load this summer was in hopes of us staying she could finish quickly and move with us. At her age, I am not willing to let go of her. She still needs to grow into adulthood. Our other three children we homeschool. I did research and found co-ops and people in Hawaii that homeschool. I am now going to go back through the postings and answer questions. Amy

We will be starting WT1 and 2 this year and we also will be doing a spelling program with it (All About Spelling). If your dd loves it then stick with it. Anything my children love to do I don't change it because that is a real find. Amy