so if I were to try R&S next year after TT7, would you use R&S 8? Hopefully they'll come out with higher levels after that. thanks for suggesting Christian Light - I'll check them out. thanks, lisa

I just checked R&S math. Does it only go up to 8th grade? Do they not have algebra? Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see it. Suggestions? thanks!! lisa

Thanks for all the feedback!! I haven't looked at R&S, I'll have to give that serious consideration! R&S is always priced so reasonable and seems no frills, maybe just what she needs. Thanks so much!! Blessings, Lisa

DD is finishing up TT6, with pretty good success. It seems to fit her style, but because of financial issues we will not be able to buy the next level. Can anyone suggest a cheap math program for prealgebra for a child who needs lots of repitition? thanks!! Lisa

I really see the value in using good models in learning style and writing mechanics, but I really have a hard time being consistent with a program like IEW. I know it's an excellent program (I have it), but I would love to just incorporate some of it's ideas into our writing. OH HOW I WISH TEACHING WRITING CAME NATURALLY TO ME. I would like to give up on writing curriculum for now and try to keep writing more natural and content based. Anyone not use a writing program? I plan on using journaling and dictation. I'd like to go back and work on strong paragraphs, maybe by taking apart paragraphs and analyzing them. And I'd like to use good models for dictation and maybe try to imitate them. Anyone have any good ideas? I'm just burn out on failed writing programs . . . Thanks so much!!!!!!! Lisa

Just wondering if anyone uses this as an alternative to writing out a timeline, particularly for those using TOG. Does anyone recommend a particular one? I thought TOG sold one on their website, but I couldn't find it. thanks! lisa

THANK YOU!!!!!!

Does anyone know where I can find the download for the handouts for this seminar? Thanks!!! Lisa

Just curious what an average bedtime is, particularly for an 11-12 year old? Also, how often do you allow them to stay up later, for instance, to watch a special show? Thanks in advance!!! Lisa

Do you print two sided, like it comes from TOG? Otherwise, won't you have twice as many papers? yikes. I never could quite figure out how to print two sided . . . Lisa

Another great book is Heart of Wisdom. She's a strong proponent of using the Bible as the center of your homeschool and the basis for your language arts. It really changed my thinking when I read it years ago. She has some good resources on her website as well. Thanks for your help! Lisa

Can anyone suggest a resource for teaching a sixth grader how to outline? Does SWB have any recommendations, does anyone happen to know? Thanks!!!

I mainly want to use it for writing/composition. We dont' really use a formal spelling program, just use spelling in our writing. I happen to have a Biblical Home Education on my shelf. I'm going to go dust it off right now and take a look! Thanks, Lisa

I'd like to start using the Bible as our source for language arts in an attempt to streamline. We always start out with our Bible reading, and I have dd8 draw a picture and write a sentence or two about what we read. Dd 11 usually writes a paragraph or so about our reading. I'm wondering if there's any resources that gives ideas on how to use Bible readings as a springboard for writing, particularly with older grades. I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for, maybe different short writing topics for each book of the Bible to dovetail with our reading? I also remember I think it was Cathy Duffy talking about how she just uses the Bible for language arts. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much!!! Lisa

This is probably our all time favorite read aloud. We've read it twice, once a couple of years ago when dds were 7 and 10, and again this past year. Yes, it's dark at times, but my girls weren't bothered by it at all. I really love this book.

If you feel homeschooling is the right choice for your kiddos, whatever your work schedule, you'll adjust your life around it. I'm an RN and work two 12 shifts (on weekends) a week plus I usually pick up shifts during the week when I can. This week I worked two 12 hours shifts, one 8 hour night shift, and a double shift on Friday (Christmas bills). I have five kids and have always homeschooled. The important thing is having the commitment to teach them at home and feeling strongly that it's right for your family. There is no "typical" homeschool; we all do our own thing and what works for us. Make your homeschool yours, make it unique. If you need to juggle a work schedule, it can be done. Blessings, Lisa

DD will be using a secular science program this year since we decided to enroll in a charter. I had originally planned on starting Apologia (she's in sixth grade). I'd like to balance her science studies with resources from a biblical perspective. I've considered using Apologia as a reference along with the securlar program. Are there any other suggestions for being able to provide a Christian perspective, particularly for biology? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Lisa

(((Colleen)))) I've belonged to this board for over five years, and although I've taken a back seat here lately, I still check in and feel connected to a community of great moms. By the way, I've always been a Colleen fan here :grouphug:

I've announced to dc that we were going very light on gifts this year and thought it would be lovely to make gifts for each other (okay, so my utopia is Little House on the Prairie). They were actually very positive about this. I just feel, and do every year, that Christmas has gotten very out of hand. I always start out thinking that I will relax and keep it low key, but get sucked into the present buying frenzy. The sad thing is, I see many of the more expensive gifts of years past barely get used. I really don't want Christmas to be like this anymore. I don't want it to be about the presents and how much I have to spend on each child (I have five). I think I'm my own worse enemy here, because I really have so much fun buying presents I think they will love. Aside from buying some modest presents for each child, I would like us all to exchange thoughtful, handmade gifts to each other. Mom and dad can help the younger ones with this. I'm not quite sure how to go about this. Any suggestions on ideas? Thanks so much! Lisa

Oh Jen, you did it! It clicked. Honestly, I could literally hear a clicking sound:) I think what made it clear in high school is we were writing the prime numbers in exponents, and now I do remember the teaching saying we chose the highest factor in each group. Yippppeeeeeee. Thanks ladies, lisa

Hi Jean, Thanks for taking a shot. Actually, I fully understand the concept of LCD, which dd has had no problem doing with smaller denominators which she can do in her head. But moving on to larger denominators is where the text is having her factor each denominator out and use that method for finding the LCD. I remember doing it in high school, but his explanation just isn't clicking for me. thanks for taking the time, lisa

I know when I reviewed this in college it was simple to me, so why I'm not getting it in my head now I have no idea. Maybe it's the presentation, so can someone explain it to me using different words, and maybe it will click? TT7 explains that each denominator should be factored. Okay, easy enough: so, for example, 1/24 and 1/40 would be: 24 = 2x2x2x3 40 = 2x2x2x5 Now, the LCD needs to have all the factors from both denominators with no extras. LCD = 2x2x2x3x5 Now, this problem: 1/3, 1/4, and 1/6: 3 = 3 4 = 2x2 6 = 2x3 LCD = 3x2x2 I DON'T GET THIS. What happens to the other 2 and 3? Why don't I see this. I don't understand that "the LCD needs to include the factors from all denominators with no extras". Can someone penetrate my brain with some better explanation? Thanks so much, lisa

Bible Study Guide for All Ages would work nicely with your ages. I love it because you can use it with all dc, just getting the right level activity pages for them. It's one of the best Bible programs out there, in my opinion; very thorough. You can find out more on their website, just do a search for the name (I can't remember the site). I've used this on and off over the years. This year we are reading through our Bibles chronologically and adding in different activities after each reading. I have the activity sheets, however, and pull them out whenever I can to reinforce a lesson. Hope this helps, Lisa

I really like IEW. We are doing SWI-A, but I feel like we're hitting a wall. We really haven't used it that consistently this past year, buy it seems to be hit or miss with us. We're struggling right now with report writing. Part of me feels like it's too formulaic (is that a word?) for us. For instance, this morning I tried to have dd11 just do some free writing with me. We had just done a Bible lesson on the book of Judges, and I asked her to write something she remembered about the story, sort of like narration. I thought it would be easier to just write whatever came to her mind without worrying about following a certain structure. I told her I didn't even have to read it if she didn't want. She was completely stuck to the point of almost tears. She's stuck with IEW's tecnnique of outlining, and she's stuck with more free style writing, because she feels like she needs to follow a specific formula, but she's still not sure what the formula is. I don't know if I'm making any sense, and I feel like writing shouldn't be this difficult. I know one thing for sure is that I am not a good writing teacher. I wish I could outsource this. Is there some other online or video course I could look at? I really want to take a break from IEW, but don't know where to go. I've neglected writing and now I feel like I'm making it worse by starting with something rigid like IEW. I want her to enjoy writing, not feel like it's some set of predetermined outlines that she has trouble following. Okay I'm rambling. Any thoughts? Thanks so much!!! Lisa

Yes, everything everyone said . . . Okay, maybe not in the same league as all the others, but I bawl at the end of The Sixth Sense, when the boy's in the car with his mother and she finally realizes that he really does see dead people, and he tells her all about seeing his Grandma. I cry. every. time. Also, Shirley Temple's The Little Princess, where she finds here daddy at the end. Oh yea, and the original The Miracle Worker. "Wawwaa". Oh my gosh, how I cry. I know there's more. I'l be back . . .