We are going into our 5th year using Saxon. One thing I've learned is that the first 40-50 lessons are total review. For example, my ds 5 is finishing up Saxon 1, doing almost all of his addition facts. Then Saxon 2 starts with fill in the missing numbers 1-10, etc. If there hasn't been a huge gap between levels (like the entire summer), we generally just skip the first 40-50 lessons entirely. Sometimes, I'll just give my kids the assessments from the first 50 lessons or so, and if there's something they miss, we'll go back and review that lesson. Or, we'll just review for 2 weeks, do some time tests, etc. and then start around lesson 50. Doing every lesson 1-50ish can be painfully slow, so feel free to move ahead if you need to.

Yay you! I am so proud of you (and your son)! Major congratulations! Suzanne

Thanks for the suggestions - we're trying to steer clear of video or DVD-based learning. We are on the go quite a bit, as well as do a fair amount of traveling. It isn't unusual for ds to do his math while waiting at his brother's soccer practice, or on the plane en route somewhere. Just for convenience sake, we're trying to stick with something he can bring with him, without needing any extra equipment. Thanks for the suggestions, though! I would love to be able to do Chalkdust, as it is so highly recommeded here, but unfortunately, it won't work right now for our family life.

This is exactly the information I was looking for! Thank you so much for your patience with those of us who are still trying to figure things out! I think what we'll do is finish Saxon 76, then do Lial's BCM, then on to Foerster's Algebra I. This puts a lot of concerns I've had to rest. Thank you!

No insight into the videotext (we're at about the same point as you!), but just want to second your gratitude to Jann, Michelle, and everyone else who are so willing to help us wade through these decisions!

DS will finish up Saxon 76 in January and I am looking ahead to what we should be doing. Let me preface by saying that Saxon has worked very well in our household, and we haven't had any issues. Having said that, I think when we start into higher math concepts, like Algebra, we will move away from Saxon's spiral approach. The thing that I do like about Saxon is that ds can read the text with examples, learn what concept needs to be learned and then practice with the problem sets. I want something that is pretty self-explanatory and doesn't need a lot of extensive explanation either from me or through the use of DVDs etc. I've done a lot of researching on past threads of this board and am leaning heavily toward Foerster for Algebra, but am also open to Lial. Here are my questions: does Foerster have a pre-algebra text? If not, should we stick with Saxon one more year for either 87 or Algebra 1/2 and then move to Foerster's Algebra I? OR, should we do Lial's BCM after Saxon 76, then Lial's pre-algebra (or am I confused and BCM is pre-algebra?) and stick with Lial? Any help / insight / advice here would be so appreciated!

Not sure if this will work, but I think this is the one she's talking about: http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ4Z4&pageitemid=1&PMDbProgramId=22950&PMDbSiteId=2781&PMDbSolutionId=6724&PMDbSubSolutionId=6732&PMDbCategoryId=811&level=4&CFID=9687694&CFTOKEN=54374667

Thank you all! This is exactly what I am looking for. (Lots of attorney/moms here, it seems - how fun!)

I'd like to do some Physical Science for my rising 7th grader. Kind of a gentle intro to upper-level chemistry, physics, & biology. We've done Real Science 4 Kids, all the level I stuff, and level II chemistry. He'll be doing Algebra I, and wants to be a dentist, so lots of science in the future. I'd like something secular, and have heard good things about Prentice-Hall, but I'm wondering which Physical Science from them. Specifically, which author? because they have about 5 different Physical Science texts. The text doesn't necessarily have to be on a 7th grade level - up to 9th or 10th would be fine, but preferably not 11th or 12th. (Why doesn't Prentice-Hall put grade levels with their books anyway?!) Thanks so much to all of you on this board - I have learned SO much from your collective wisdom!

Definitely feeling feverish around here! (Go Michael Phelps!)

Thank you all! I finally located a copy of the Ball Blue Book, after going to 5 different places. Strangely, both Target and WalMart didn't have it, as well as two grocery stores and a specialty kitchen supplies store. But, Barnes and Noble does carry it, and I'll be picking it up this afternoon. Also, I have a trip to the local extension office planned for tomorrow when DH will be home with the cowboys. Thanks to each of you for your help - it's just what I was looking for! Suzanne

Anyone? Pretty please!

I want to start canning and preserving fruits, veggies, etc. but I've never done this before. My grandmother did a ton, but she passed away when I was 10, and my mom isn't able to help me, health-wise. What beginner, basic resources should I look to for help? I've put a bunch of books on hold at the library, but wondering if there's a "gold-standard" resource I should be looking for. Thanks! Suzanne

Brain Freeze here! Yes, I am looking for a secular chemistry program. We are Christians, but prefer to keep those overtones for our religious study. I'm looking for a good chemistry program other than Apologia or BJU. Sorry for the confusion (on my part)!

I'm in the process of planning out our science schedule down the road and am looking for a good high-school level non-secular chemistry program. We'll be using various editions of Campbell's Biology, as well as Conceptual Physics, but I'm wondering what would be good for Chemistry. We'll be doing Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry levels I and II, but what to do for a higher level Chemistry? Thanks! Suzanne

We are working through Real Science 4 Kids Level I now, and will move to Level II Chemistry. I'm just looking ahead to figure out what to do from there. Thanks for your reply!

I have 4 boys who are all very science-minded and would eventually like to end up in some type of science-related field (medicine, dentistry, etc.) I've done a lot of research on past threads of these boards and decided that Campbell's Biology is the route we'll take. Here's my question: at what age could you start Campbell's Exploring Life? Is this generally considered a Jr. High age text, or early high school? I'm pretty sure that we'll eventually try Campbell's Biology, and am trying to move backward from there. Thanks! Let me just say, too, how much I appreciate all of the wisdom and insight I have learned from frequenting these boards. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with those of us who aren't quite as far along on the homeschool path as you are!

Thank you so much for posting this! I have been "on the fence" about having an ablation done for about a year now, but I'm happy to see such positive responses.

Another good "boy-mom" book is "Boys Adrift." Can't remember the author right now, but it's very thought-provoking. I have 4 boys, ages 5-10, so I read a lot of these kinds of books!

By the time my ds was 25 months old, he had said nothing. Not ma, not da, ball, nothing. He clearly understood me when I asked him things, but no language at all from him. Just earlier in the week, my pediatrician had referred me to someone to start doing some testing. It was the summer and we were barbecuing, and my son came up to me, holding out his cup, and said, "more . . . lime . . . juice . . . please . . . mom?" DH and I nearly fell out of our chairs, we were so stunned! These were literally his very first words spoken in his entire life. He's now my most verbal, logically-oriented, self-motivated, moving forward child of the bunch. He's definitely ahead of where his brothers were at this age, and is within jumping distance of moving ahead, academically, of his brother who is 2 years older. There is hope!

Dawn, I feel your pain! My in-laws are the same way, and I totally understand that it's not about the cake - it's about overstepping their boundaries between parent and grandparent. My in-laws are famous for their above and beyond attitude toward my kids, their only grandchildren. When my oldest was 4, we told DH's parents we were saving up to buy him a really nice wooden train set (Brio - not cheap!) for Christmas. Our reasoning was that it would last a long time and encourage him to use his imagination. So what do they give him for Christmas? A big, loud, remote-controlled train set. So obviously, at age 4, the one that moves on its own, honks its horn, etc. is the cooler toy. We sat there on Christmas morning, watching our son playing with his grandparents toy set, while the one we bought him (and saved quite a long time to buy!) sat unused. I can't tell you how angry I was, on a day when my feelings should have been completely opposite. This same scenario repeats itself over and over again. DH and I agreed a long time ago that we were not going to participate in the consumer-driven societal norms that are so prevalent today. We give our kids one thing for their birthdays - usually something really nice, and meaningful. Same for Christmas - they get one thing from mom and dad, one thing from Santa, and one thing from the rest of their brothers. We want to teach our kids to take care of what they have, to have gratitude and not expectations, and to develop their own skills and imagination without needing to be constantly entertained. My in-laws try to thwart us at every turn - $25 gift cards to Target on Christmas Day, to use at the sale the day after (do you know how many junky toys you can get for $25 the day after Christmas?!), plus about $100 in toys *per child* on Christmas morning; new watches, toys, and other stuff for their birthdays, etc. I could go on, but I'll stop before my blood pressure starts to rise! Finally, we sat down with the in-laws one January and just laid it all out. We said we will not be accepting any more outrageous gifts. We told them that we were initiating a TOY MORATORIUM for that year - One thing for their birthday ($20 or less), and one thing for Christmas ($30 or less). Anything above and beyond was unacceptable and there would be consequences for not respecting our roles as the parents, like reduced access to time with the kids. Pretty severe, I know, but it got the message across, and things have been much better. The toy moratorium was "lifted" about two years ago, and the problems since have been minimal. Sorry for such a long post, but this is one of my hot-button topics, and your rant just resonated with my experience so much. I empathize with you! Good luck with your child's birthday party - remember that it's YOUR child and YOU are the parent!

Side-breathing for freestyle is all in the hips: rotate your hips to the side (like rolling to your side) when you breathe and it will feel more natural than just turning your head. Good luck! And more power to you for doing a tri! I can swim til the cows come home, but have never attempted a triathalon. You go girl!

Yes! This is the very reason why we started homeschooling! When my ds was in ps 1st grade and I was asking about the second grade teachers, every parent I talked to said something to the effect of, "all the second grade teachers here are terrible, they don't learn anything this year at all, but the third grade teachers are incredible!" I didn't feel, that at age 7-8, my son had an entire year to waste! It is such an important age, as far as their minds being like sponges, and I wanted to get as much in there as possible! So we started homeschooling and loved it. For a variety of reasons (long story), my kids are back in ps (different, better school), but I am still a homeschooler at heart, and an active afterschooler. My kids still do Saxon math every day, FLL, Writing Strands, SOTW, Rosetta Stone German, and a pretty rigorous science curriculum. When there is a homework assignment that I think is pointless or stupid, I essentially share those feeling with the teacher and then we do our own thing. I'm sure I drive their teacher's crazy, but 99% of them are thrilled to have such a proactive parent. Like this summer, all my kids came home with a math packet from school they were to complete by August. The only thing, is that it was WAY too easy, so we're doing Saxon that is appropriate to my kids' ability: at least one grade level ahead. I guess my point is this: I think there can be educational failures on both sides of the fence. However, I think that the vast majority of homeschoolers, by virtue of what they are doing (taking control of their children's education), are ahead of the game, because as other posters said, they know exactly where there kids are in terms of ability, where they need extra help, and where they can move on beyond where their peers are.

Just got back from the pediatric dentist - the two oldest and the youngest all look great, no cavities, but dear, sweet ds #3 has eight! This is my son who is a professional Fruit Loop eater, candy connesoir (sorry, can't spell that one!), and top-notch food critic. He is the pickiest eater you've ever seen, and I can't say I'm suprised that he has so many cavities. The kicker, though, is that because he's also the king of the freak-out (just in the last 6 months would sit still to get his hair cut without screaming the *entire* time), we're looking at IV sedation. Otherwise, it would take two office visits - because there are so many - each visit requiring 4 shots to the gums. Because our dentist is a good friend, he reduced his part of it by 50% (bless him!), but the grand total will be very close to $1000! $492 for the dentist part, and $400 for the anesthesiologist. I'm feeling so grateful right now for Dave Ramsey (we have a $1000 emergency fund). So the next time your child pesters you non-stop for hours on end about getting a treat or having some candy, you can tell them about the little boy who had so much sugar that he had 8 cavities at once and cost his parents nearly $1000 to get them fixed. Taking full responsibility here, our son's diet will obviously be changing dramatically over the next few days!

I usually just look at the person and say, "Wow! Really?" It turns the tables and often makes the other person think about what they just said. We get comments like this a lot, because I have 4 boys within a 5 year age span. Lots of people ask if they're all mine, nearly everytime we go anywhere.