I have a few chronic health conditions and when they flare up, like now, I lose my voice all the time. Makes homeschooling super fun! Ugh so annoying. I keep a bag of Hall's cough drops at my desk, which helps some. My girls think is funny :p

Thanks everyone for responding. I'm going to give the Proclick a try. We do use binders, and I have a 3-hole punch, but the binders are bulky and my girls think the rings get in the way so we are always pulling sheets out and putting them back in. Off to amazon to purchase my Proclick :)

We are planning on starting FLL 2 in the fall. My girls did well overall with FFL 1 but they didn't love it. After browsing through book 2 I can say I'm not overly excited about it myself ;). My girls are kind of immature for their ages, and I dread working through those preposition lists! I have seen mentioned, in several posts, that some of you chose not to do a formal grammar program until later elementary and the wheels started turning. For those that skip formal grammar until later, any regrets? Do you find that spelling, reading and writing is enough?

I've researched the Proclick but this is my one concern as well. I feel like it would take forever at only 5-6 pages at a time, and I have peripheral neuropathy in my hands which means they go tingly and numb with any repeated motion (like typing this!). Staples is about 7 minutes from my house so its not inconvenient. Still trying to figure out what to do.

Yep, 2nd graders. I purchase digital curriculum or a hard copy (like WWE) that I tear apart and make copies. I've never heard of the Pro Click. Definitely going to check it out!

I went to the GHC in Greenville SC this year and was pleasantly surprised. And Greenville itself is really nice, with a gorgeous park right in the center of town. One of our favorite daytrips from Charlotte. If you are looking for a driving trip, it isn't terribly far away.

This is why I steer clear of many FB topics. I don't talk or comment on anything political or controversial, ever. My fb is mainly to share pictures of my kids, since most of my family lives out of state. Life is too short to get worked up over fb drama that some people like to start (I know several myself), and I swear these people seek it out. Doesn't sound like you are missing out on anything by leaving the group.

I have a minimum of 12 individual sets that need to be bound prior to school stating back up in a few months. I'm trying to decide if its worthwhile to purchase a binding machine vs having them bound at Staples or Kinkos. DH makes the copies (color and/or bw) for me at his office so binding is all I would need done. Can someone give me a rough idea of how much it costs to get, say, 100 pages bound at Staples? If you have a binding machine, do you find it to be a worthwhile investment? The ones I'm eyeing on amazon are around $60 plus the combs and front/back covers.

Thank you all for making me feel better. Some of the words are very old-fashioned. We will discuss process of elimination first. At least I wont be too surprised by the results if they arent favorable.

Good point!! Thank you for calling that out. Just removed!

I always get the "oh, are they twins?" I want to say DUH! They are identical. Same height, same weight, same hair color and length, same teeth missing, both wear glasses. Its rather obvious!

So, per my state requirement I rented the untimed Iowa test which came in the mail yesterday. This morning I read through the directions and browsed through the questions. I'm freaked out about the vocabulary portion! We do not do a formal vocabulary program at this point. They learn new vocabulary words in AAR and AAS, through our daily reading, various other subjects (science etc) and my girls are quick to ask questions when they don't know a word. I thought that was enough but the vocab section is throwing me. It's words we don't typically use. EDITED OUT SAMPLES Anyone else worry about this section? Should I really be concerned? I don't have to submit the results to the state so mostly its for personal use, but still. Am I not doing enough? I'm going to add a vocabulary program in the fall!

We have the free membership, but there are still certain mysteries that are locked and only available with the paid membership. I'm debating the purchase. We loved the mysteries we have done, but I pick and choose based on my two 7 year olds' interests which left out quite a few. I need to look at it again and see if the locked topics look interesting enough for us to purchase. They are supposed to be adding new mysteries soon, I believe?

Ha! I should have said Amazon Prime! I was in such shock (and sleep deprovation) that I gave the honest answer (yes) and walked away before he could ask any specifics! I got all kinds of nosy questions with twins (the girl at Ikea who asked if I took a pill because she wants twins?!) but the vaginal birth one takes the cake!

I was at a Brugger's Bagels with DH and my then 4-month old twins. A man, standing with his wife in line behind us, asked me if I delivered them vaginally :huh:

Thanks everyone. Guess we will give it a pass. Okay so, at the risk of sounding like an idiot, can someone explain the point of learning Greek or Latin? Is it to help with language arts?

I'm not a phone person. In those rare moments when I have nothing going on the last thing I feel like doing to chatting on the phone! Wish my MIL would take the hint ;) And my girls can not ask for anything all morning and then as soon as I get on the phone they are a) hungry b) fighting c) has a boo boo that "immediately" needs attention d) all the above!

I would like my girls to begin taking German in the fall. How is Rosetta Stone? Do your children retain the information well? And can it be done independently? I took four semesters of German in university but its rusty to say the least, so I'm not going to be much help. Can anyone compare the boxed program vs the online program? Or give thoughts on either? Thanks!

We will do SOTW, science and maybe WWE together. The other subjects I'm going to separate. Love the idea of audio books. I'm also looking at adding Wordly Wise online, which would help keep one busy. And of course silent reading. Its going to be difficult at firs but hopefully it will work itself out once they get used to the new routine. And as they each have their own set of strengths this will hopefully alleviate some of the competition and frustration.

Thank you all for the tips and suggestions. Very much appreciated. Our school year is coming to an end and I'm going to use the summer to it them into place and come up with a plan. For my own sanity, they are going to have to learn patience while I work with the other. My twins are identical and think everything needs to be the same, all the time but our current arrangement just isn't working.

Thank you for responding. Its easy to get into the mindset of lumping everything together but I agree that its important to have 1:1 time. If one of them is having a "break" (ie not working on school work) the other whines because her sister gets a break and then vice versa when we switch. I think I need to work on getting them to accept it though, because keeping one busy with school work while I work with the other isn't working out too well.

Overcast and upper 70s here in NC. Back in the upper 80s this weekend...I think I would prefer MN summer temps! Welcome!

How many subjects do you teach together versus individually? My 7.5 year old, slightly immature for their age, twins need structure and teaching. They both struggle with independent work, which is one (of many) reason I pulled them out of PS earlier this year . However, they get giggly and silly, or whiny, at times which makes teaching them together also a struggle. I find it difficult to get, and keep, both of their attention when teaching certain subjects. An example would be AAR. We do it together daily. Yesterday we were working on silent e blends. They know silent e, but were making silly mistakes due to a lack of attention. I get aggravated and eventually lose my patience. When that happens it can lead to a meltdown with my HF ASD daughter and then nothing gets done. Sigh. Next year I think I need to figure out a way to work with each individually. Any been-there-done-that advice would be helpful!

I so want to go to this conference! Its about a 7-8 hour drive for us so sadly its not going to happen this year. The only conference I've been to is a Great Homeschooled Convention, only to shop the vendor hall, which was definitely lacking in secular options and I felt like the odd man out.

I am so so very sorry.