We started typing with my dc were 7, 5, and 3. They are using Sponge Bob Typing. I chose it because it was cheap and I thought that they would enjoy the games. It took a while to get enough typing skill to do the games but now the kids spend a lot of time on the games increasing accuracy and speed. The advantage to starting early is that they are not learning bad habits as they spend time on the computer. The oldest is currently doing Calvert Spelling 3rd grade this year, this skill is being reinforced. The youngest is using it as a means to learn his letters. He hasn't yet started real touch typing but demands his time.

I have been almost 20 years with the same beautician. I pay $18 for a cut and style.

Not a boxed program but my little guy is using a combination of Singapore Earlybird Math, Get Ready for the Code, and Kumon Maze and Cutting books. He is also sitting in on his sisters' history, science and latin. If he was the oldest I would probably be doing a lot of read alouds in lieu of history, science and latin.

We currently have as guardians for dc one of my dc's godparents. They do not live locally and their children are grown. I don't know whether they would homeschool but I do know that any decision they would make would be in dcs' best interest which is all that I can ask for. In fact of all the people currently in my children's lives they know them best and would be best able to take over their care.

My First Grader is doing Explode the Code and Copywork. I have Educational Fontware and am able to develop copywork to suit her needs and interests. I also use both programs for writing once they get passed the learning to shape letters.

I didn't use the test book but the Rainbow Resource Center website lists it. http://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?sid=1201560789-377200&subject=11&id=036981

I ordered the AP supplies for K-3 Book 1 from DickBlick.com for the same reason. I ordered sketch books, watercolor books, Ebony pencils, scissors, brushes and erasers for all but only one of the other items. I also ordered more clay than the kit because of the extra children.

We are just finishing up Singapore's My Pals Are Here Science , 3rd grade. It really pushed dd to think and it was easy to implement. It does not follow WTM rec's.

Sorry that I am slow posting but the beauty of this system is that you may actually know... How about Calvert Spelling? It is a computer program with lots of games. There is a small creative writing component at the end of the lesson which can easily be skipped. The beauty of the program is that you can go back and repeat any of the games and even whole lessons whenever you want. I know that we have gotten our money's worth. Arch At Home

I am no where near high school but I did notice that the University of Missouri has a number of AP classes in its distance learning program. http://cdis.missouri.edu/coursedisplay.aspx?l=h&p=a Arch At Home

Have you looked at http://www.bravewriter.com/? Their not so much a writing curriculum but a how to course for the mother to learn how to teach writing. They also have online classes, some for the parent and child and some for just the child. It is really good for reluctant writers and starts where the child is. Arch At Home

I work part-time and do FlyLady. FlyLady advocates routines. She gives out sample routines but always suggests that you customize them to work for you and your situation. The e-mails are not necessary but do give me the little push I need to keep on the wagon. I don't do the daily tasks that get sent out because I haven't been able to work them in but do find that all in all it is a good program for me. Arch At Home

Oh, that is funny. I never thought about the Arch. Arch in my case is short for Architect as I work part-time as an architect and am lucky enough to telecommute part-time thus the "At Home." We are not officially a member of any homeschool groups. We are taking class at the Westport-Roanoke Community Center in midtown. I am looking for a group but it is tough to make them work as I homeschool mornings until about 1 or 1:30 pm and then dh takes over. So many homeschool activites extend past my witching hour. Please tell me more about CPHE and LSHE. Would they have anything that would fit my timeframe? We are surrounded by unschoolers here. I am afraid that dc will someday catch on and want to do the same. It would be nice for them to know some more traditional homeschoolers. I am still debating whether to attend the MPE conference. I attend the curriculum fair last year and enjoyed seeing a lot of different materials. We are pretty set in what we are going to do next year though I would like to see Simply States and Simply Presidents if they come to town. Boy, I am pretty chatty this morning. It would be fun to get together. My dc are dd 8, dd 6, and ds 4. Arch At Home

I am in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Where are you? Arch At Home

Well, on the old board the definition was working one year ahead. Arch At Home

DD is a visual spatial learner and I knew that the early spelling programs would not work with her. We did Explode the Code until third grade when we started Calvert. We may switch to Sequential Spelling next year. Arch At Home

Very few are on this time any morning, let alone Sunday morning. Arch At Hom

DD, 8, is reading Ballet Shoes and historical fiction around the Revolutionary War through Civil War. DD, 6, is reading the Annie and Snowball and Henry and Mudge series. We are reading aloud Trumpet of the Swan, the Royal Ballet School series and the My America series. DS, 4, is not predictable about what he will want read but it is usually either silly or about vehicles. Arch At Home

I have always been Arch At Home. I work part-time as an architect and my firm allows me to telecommute part of that time. I have 3 dc. My oldest, 8 yo, is accelerated. She is into Shakespeare, ballet, and historical fiction. She doesn't like math but it pretty good at it. She has many of the personality characteristics of a gifted child. My second, 6 yo, is trying to figure life out. She definitely has a mathematical brain. It is amazing to watch the concepts click and her manipulate numbers. She is starting to show an interest in sports and is currently eagerly following the Patriots. She also really likes flower fairies. All of my children have late summer early fall birthdays. We officially termed the fall they turned 5 their kindergarten year. The girls were definitely ready. My third, 4 yo, is coming along nicely but I am not sure that he would be ready emotionally and perhaps even academically this next fall. He is really into vehicles and wants to be a truck driver, motorcycle driver, and a train driver. He also likes to do anything his sisters like to do. Arch At Home

I like Educational Fontware. Arch At Home

As I have a 3rd and 1st grader, I am supplementing with read the My America series as read alouds. The girls are getting a good feeling for the important time periods of US history and an overview of the others. Arch At Home

I must admit that no more spam is the best part. I am a skimmer so this new format is making it harder to take it all in. Arch At Home

I will see if I can find it. Arch At Home

We don't object to the point of view but don't want it to be in our face everyday. I have looked at History Odyssey. The writing component is more than I want.:cool: Arch At Home

I am trying to figure what we are going to use after we finish SOTW 4. I will have 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders. I do best when things are laid out or it is do the next thing. I would really like to make a second pass at SOTW with the younger two and have the older one do a program that ties in with SOTW. I know that TOG uses SOTW for upper grammar so it might work. However, how secular it the program? Arch At Home