Here is a great store here where we live that has great guns. Love this family as well. http://wildwesttoys.com/ These are great guns.

We have wrapped our books for years! Love that tradition. :D I usually try to come up with some idea to do with each book, either a craft, cooking, or a movie. Some days nothing. On to our book list: Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree Tree of Cranes Cranberry Christmas Little House Christmas Treasury Jonathan Toomey Best Christmas Pagent ever There are lots more but that is what I can come up with right now.

MFW and A world of Adventure are popular to use after FIAR. I just went with Biblioplan.

:lol: :lol:

My kids love them! They are a great way to sneak in science. I have learned so much. I can't think of anything objectionable in them if you understand they from a young earth pov. Then again I am in line with most of their views so things others may find objectionable I may not notice. I do think some of it is cheesy, but the kids don't seem to notice and they really enjoy them. I just ordered the 2 newest ones for Christmas.

She does not specifically address SAT writing. She said form should be directed by topic and she has never been happy to see a 5 paragraph essay when they were turned into her.

I was actually debating the use of IEW (we have used the theme books here, and like them) for next year, but then I was wanting to use more of the outlining that SWB talks about as opposed to KWO. I understand KWO more, it makes better sense to me. However, if Susan prefers the 3 level outlines, so I thought they must be important. I am just a little confused right now and trying to sort out what it is I need to do to continue my son's education. :tongue_smilie:

she mentioned in there about NOT teaching the standard 5 paragraph essay, that no one ever actually asks for those, and it was not productive to learn that "form". So, do you teach it or not? Is it useful somewhere or is it an artificial form of writing we made up? What are your thoughts? I ask because I was about to start concentrating on teaching this! :D

Yes, it is Rod and Staff English. I will try that! :001_smile:See, I overlook the obvious! :glare: I am tired! :tongue_smilie:

Ok, we have been using IEW this year, and it has been going well. My son is in the 8th grade. I understand KWO. They make sense to me. However, SWB talks about doing multi level regular outlines and writing from those for 8th grade, and either I am using bad source texts, or years of doing drugs (teenage years) or mommyhood had fried my brain. I see what she is saying, but it hard to wrap my brain around. I was hoping to get Remedia Outlining 5-8 ebook, but I can't find it available in a digital format. What sources do you use to outline? Maybe I am doing this wrong, you outline each paragraph right? I am usually not this dense, but this is baffling me, maybe it is because I have 4 other children to teach, and 1 is new here and WAY behind in EVERYTHING! :tongue_smilie:

I use it, love it, and have several Amazon gift cards from it. :D Not a scam. Although you can get really into it and spend tons of time answering surveys, watching videos, and "hunting" for codes- I don't and I still get at least 1 free gift card a month.

For those who may not know, this series is free on the Kindle. ;)

This lady has an awesome blog, and she detail how she teaches grammar this way. http://blogshewrote.blogspot.com/2008/06/thoughts-on-grammar.html

No advice here, I too struggle with this. I have just been having them do modified key word outlines.

I am considering it myself. There are so many good books out there for free, the Kindle is a great way to read them. My Kindle has paid for itself just by the books we were able to get for free.

Well, I am not an expert or anything, but it looks good to me. :D

Another :D :thumbup: here!

That sounds like a nice plan. I will try that for a while and see how it goes. I am enjoying what I can do of the p90x, there is enough variation to keep me interested. :D

:iagree: with you on the eating. My eating is much more under control now. I am watching my calories, and paying attention to what I eat. I just never realized how many calories I consumed in a day when not paying attention. :tongue_smilie:

I have been doing the couch to 5k and have lost almost 30 pounds in the last few months. I am working my way back through the program this time moving at a faster pace. A friend (who is in shape after 4 kids) says she used p90x and got back into pre baby shape - of course she didn't really have any weight to lose and I want to lose another 50-60lbs. She let me borrow her p90x program to give it a try and I am 3 days into it. It is definitely a work out, and I still can not do all the moves (no Dreya rolls, and my abs were shredded). I also have 3 of Jillians videos (Shred, boost metabolism, and no more trouble zones) that I like, but have not used in a while. So which of these have you had more success with, or which do you think would be most beneficial to shedding pounds?

That's ok, I enjoyed reading this thread. ;)

Here is my favorite: http://www.charlottemasonhelp.com

Actually you can download and try any of the vol. 4 units in the digital store. We love FIAR, and have used it for years.

The closest of these conventions to me is 10 hours away. I would love for Susan to come to Arlington though. Until then I will just have to order cd's and downloads. ;)

Biblioplan? It has several history spines to choose from, and readers at different levels already scheduled for you.