I agree. Great movie & not your typical movie-theater fare, so it was a nice change of pace. Definitely well-done -- dh & I both liked it.

Man, I'm sure glad to hear that someone else thinks the same way! :iagree: Hmmmm. I've been considering using IEW & this is just putting me one step closer to deciding that it is the right program for us to try, lol.

I didn't like the English Patient. I read the book first & really didn't like it. Then, I went to the movie, just to see if it improved, lol. The movie was visually stunning (just beautiful to look at), but I still didn't like the story or the characters. Never saw The Notebook (I'm not usually into sappy stories or I'd be bawling for awhile & that always gives me a headache, lol). Do try The Painted Veil. It's really just great (imho). ;)

I love The Painted Veil. (Actually, dh bought it for me on dvd because I loved it so much & I never buy dvds or watch them at home, really. The last dvd I got was years ago.) I saw it in the theater last year more than once & know I raved here about it too, lol. Seeing it on the big screen was just lovely too -- the scenery in China was just breathtaking. I loved the story between the 2 characters & all the emotions they go through: love, hate, spite, determination, and so on. There are so many levels to the story too -- the relationship between the characters, the relationship between ruling empires in foreign lands, is bringing 'civilization' or 'religion' to other areas of the world the right thing to do?, and so on. So many nuances. I think the Edward Norton & Naomi Watts did an incredible job; Toby Jones was great (and an astute observer) too. I really had to wonder why it didn't get Oscar nods & was so disappointed that it didn't. A friend (who saw it w/ me one time) went on to read the story on which it is based. She said the book is quite different, but very well-written & worth reading. So, I do hope to get around to doing that one day.

What ages would you say this is for? What types of experiments or activities does the book have? I'd love to hear any other info you can add. Thanks!

I'm sorry. Sending a hug to all of you.

I guess I'm probably the polar opposite of most on the boards. It's not so much needing time away as it is just a way of life for our family. We all do our own thing, at times. We are very close-knit & loving but don't see pursuing different interests/spending time apart as being the antithesis of being a very close family. That said, it is probably waaaayyyy helpful that both sets of grandparents live w/in miles of us & all of them are still very active & love spending time w/ the grandkids. Just because dh & I spend time alone while the kids hang out w/ the grandparents, we don't see it as spending time apart but as building great memories w/ each other (dh & I) & that the kids are creating some great memories w/ their grandparents. Prior to kids, dh & I loved to travel a lot. We slowed down a little bit after the kids were born, but have still done various trips together while the kids stayed w/ my parents (anywhere from a couple of days up to 2 weeks). We also travel as a family too (our immediate family &/or extended family members going along). The in-laws often have the kids over on Friday evenings (along w/ a cousin) for dinner & just-being-together time... meaning dh & I often get to go out then. My parents love for any of us to come hang out at their house. Just this evening, the kids & I hung out w/ my parents while dh vegged at home (just got back from a business trip & was tired). Hanging out together is normal. Hanging out apart from each other is normal. Dh & I are equal parents as far as parenting/taking care of the kids. So, dh or I can easily run to the store, or an errand, or to the coffee shop to meet a friend, or go to a book club meeting, or whatever (sanity break) & it's not a big deal. It just is. I've also taken the kids on trips many times w/out dh -- he stays home working & I'll take the kids to Charleston (sis lives there & parents have a beach home there we can use) or to DC or somewhere. Though I'm sure he misses us, I think he always breathes a little sigh of relief when we head off for a week or two, lol. (He gets the tv all to himself!) ;) And that's fine. We are a family. We are part of a larger, loving extended family. And, we are individual human beings too. It's all good & it's all normal, imo.

Yes, I've got one of those, lol (almost 10yo now). One thing that I've found that helps is not to demand immediate answers (when feasible for the subject), but give her time to mull things over & think about them (mainly when covering new material). So, we may go over a lesson or two, but I tell her to think about it while playing, etc... for the next few days. Somehow, after percolating a few days, the understanding seems cemented. She just has to mull it all over for a few days. It also helps if we read/review it from different angles (use multiple library books, or explain the same thing a few different ways), then let her think about it a few days. In the between days, I'll mention things about it, ask a few leading questions, etc..., just to keep it in her mind. In the meantime, she's thinking about all of it, putting all the pieces together, etc.... Also, if we're planning to do a project or something (art/craft/report/poster), I tell her ahead of time what we're planning to do & ask her to go ahead & be thinking about how she wants to do it. That way, we don't stall out when we're actually ready to get started. And, learn to chill about it & remember patience. (I've certainly had to learn a big dose of that!) LOL. In my experience, these kids do very well (academically) and end up having a very deep understanding of things, as long as they are given the down time to really think about things while learning them. This is my child who has been amazing at making connections between things from a very early age (much earlier than logic stage, when they typically start working on those skills). I basically had to make the decision to play to her strengths (doing the things I've mentioned already) & help her work on the weaknesses (speed). She's still not the speediest, but speed is improving w/ age too. Well, that was a lot of rambling. Don't know if any of that was practical advice or not, but I can sympathize. Hang in there & enjoy the slower journey -- it gives you time to really observe & enjoy things.

I totally second these suggestions. Luanne, like you, I used to think US history was boring (esp. compared to world history). But, over the past 2 years, we've gone off on rabbit trails & spent quite a bit of time learning US history. I just requested tons of books from the library (elementary level) & sorted through them as I got them. We didn't read them all, but there were plenty of fun ones for young kids & I actually really enjoyed them too. We've also done quite a bit of visiting to the DC area, Williamsburg, Charleston, etc.... Seeing these places in real life makes them more fun, imo. The Am. Girl cookbooks are good. There are also craft books (dd loves these) and the "Welcome to My World" books for each (which have some great photos & info overall). Generally speaking, we've spent a lot more time on older US history (colonial times - pioneer times) than the more recent history (though, we are currently working through SOTW 4, so we'll get more modern things this year). So, through finding lots of elementary level resources (no curriculum, just lots of living books, some crafts, and lots of field trips), I found that I have learned to love US history too. LOL. Good luck & enjoy! P.S. (What grades/ages are your kids? What area of the country are you in? Are there any field trip opportunities around/nearby that would tie in w/ US history?)

Living Books Curriculum: http://www.livingbookscurriculum.com/living-books-homepage.htm Don't know much about it, though. They currently have grades K-5. I am on the email list & grade 6 is going to be shipping at the end of this month, I think. They have plans to continue adding through 8th grade (at this point).

It's fine. I would eat it.

My oldest is not so much of a game person, but my younger loves games. We've never done a lot of games (esp. in relation to school work), but I think I'd like to give it a try as something fun for the 3 of us to do a few times a week in our school schedule. I'm looking mainly for board games or card games. We have some games already, such as: Math: Muggins Math (Jellybeans & Knock Out); a math card games book called Number Jugglers Language Arts: Scrabble Geography: Map Tangle So, are there any great games out there that are fun & educational? I'd love suggestions for all school subject categories: math, grammar/language arts, science (any topic), history, geography, logic, art, music, Spanish, Latin (beginning level, please, lol), PE, etc.... BTW, my dc are 7yo & almost 10yo (heading into 2nd & 5th in the fall). Thanks!

According to imdb.com (internet movie database), yes, it was the same guy. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410377/

"Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone" by Martin Dugard http://www.amazon.com/Into-Africa-Adventures-Stanley-Livingstone/dp/0767910745/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208049207&sr=1-2 Not too far into it yet, but so far it is really fascinating! and "Helen of Troy" by Margaret George http://www.amazon.com/Helen-Troy-Margaret-George/dp/0143038990/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208049300&sr=1-1 Right now, I'm so peeved at Helen that I've had to put the book down for a few days, lol!

Thanks for letting us know. We watched the preview online today & both my dc are very interested in us seeing it. Glad to know it's good!

Wow. Uh, I think it shows his horrendously bad manners (saying such a thing to anyone, but esp. a 16yo relative of yours) and how mean-spirited he must be to nurse an old wound for so many years. He must lead a miserable life if he is spending his 'present' life by being a jerk over things from 20+ years ago. Yikes. And what a bummer that he brought a little black cloud into your otherwise nice day! :glare:

Paula's Archives has a list like this for all 4 volumes of SOTW: http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/sotwgeo.htm It sounds exactly like what you may be looking for! :001_smile:

The Company Store has some nice things, imo. http://www.thecompanystore.com/defaultkids2.asp?= I was just looking at some of their horse-themed sets for my dd. Edited to add: I forgot to mention Domestications too. They generally have better prices, but I think their quality is also a little less than The Company Store's quality. If you do order from Domestications, they have email newsletters & send out promos pretty regularly. The current one is to get a gift card w/ purchase (use code D8CRGCG at checkout for $20gc w/ $100 purchase, $30gc w/ $125, or $40 w/ $150). GC promo is good through Monday. http://www.domestications.com/Dept/Kids+Teens/10000/10800

Here's a website that has some helpful info about notetaking... http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/knowitall/studyskills/notes.htm And, a page about the SQ3R method (not necessarily notetaking, but helpful too): http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm

LOL! Well, I don't think you saw my post about 'which play were you in' -- I hated, hated, hated performing/being on stage. I imagine doing my own travel show would be similar. Maybe we could trek the world together -- you could be the talent in front of the camera & I could be the one running the camera? :laugh:

Don't forget to eat a gelatto (or 2, or 3, ...)! Yum. :D (Oh, and all the other suggestions are good too.)

Helicopter Pilot! :) (Preferably in some gorgeous area of the world.) Or, an around-the-world traveler. (Ok, I know that's not a job, but it's something I would love to do.) Archaeologist (a la Indiana Jones, lol!)

Well, these aren't really 'learning' books, just nice picture books imo... the cowboy series by Joan Walsh Anglund. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/103-7168315-3249469?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=joan+walsh+anglund+%2B+cowboy And a very funny easy reader book we found was "Jess and the Stinky Cowboys" by Janice Davis Smith. http://www.amazon.com/Jess-Stinky-Cowboys-Easy-Read/dp/0803726414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207920607&sr=1-1 So, those aren't really 'learning' books but maybe a few fun picture books to look for at the library.

Freshly-cut grass (my favorite) Coffee The ocean Freshly-laundered sheets Bulgari's White Tea perfume & lotion, lol

I know quite a few folks on this board have recommended Harmony Fine Arts (covers art & music): http://www.harmonyfinearts.com/ Also, I'm interested in Handle on the Arts, which would meet my desire for a truly open & go curriculum (covers art & music): http://www.handleonthearts.com/shop/ We have Themes to Remember & have enjoyed it, but it covers only music.