You're at the end of week four! We'll be running again today, which I know it's not ideal to run three days in a row, but that's how it worked this week. What exactly is cross country running? Is this another term for long distance running? I found some great meal/snack ideas to coordinate my weight loss with the running; I'm excited about that. Happy running!

to keep moving! I love reading all your testimonies. Thank you for sharing. JaniceO, I messed up my reply to you...sorry, my plan to quote didn't work as I anticipated; I hope you can decipher the message from both my posts. My children are 11.5 and 13. I, too, hope to give them life-long healthy living habits, so they aren't where I'm at almost 40. It's been a tough few years with my divorce. I've always loved exercising, but am not consistent. The past few years have definitely been "inconsistent and I've gained some weight". However, I have renewed energy and focus and I really think we're going to enjoy this. I especially love that we can participate as a family. It is very empowering and uplifting to act healthfully and help train your children to live this way - to preserve their bodies as temples. Maybe we can keep posting and encouraging one another? Those farther ahead can keep motivating people like us, who are just beginning. Fun, fun, fun!

I know just what you mean. Due to our custody schedule, we're going to have to run two days back-to-back, but I think that will be okay. It is very true that exercise keeps the mind clearer. We often take a physical break when the kids get *fogged* from too much sitting and focusing. Keep up the good work! We'll have to keep posting as our families progress. It would be fun to see where we are/how we're all feeling in the next nine weeks!

We run M, W, and F but I am so proud of myself after last night that I almost want to go run again tonight. I'm hoping we'll become healthier and next year I would love to get up first thing in the morning and run with the kids before we start school. I've heard people rave about how excercise first thing keeps their kids calmer and more focused throughout the day. I know just what you mean. Due to our custody schedule, we're going to have to run two days back-to-back, but I think that will be okay. It is very true that exercise keeps the mind clearer. We often take a physical break when the kids get *fogged* from too much sitting and focusing. Keep up the good work! We'll have to keep posting as our families progress. It would be fun to see where we are/how we're all feeling in the next nine weeks!

Our trails are quite *hilly* so it was hard - who knew 60 seconds of running could be so long. The kids were great and we're all determined to continue. Has anyone else done this with their dc or actually finished the program? I don't necessarily want to run forever, but I want to shape up my heart and lose some weight! Maybe in 9 weeks I'll love it. For now I'm doing it! It's a breeze for the kids, they're often jogging in place waiting for me to catch up...I'm hoping to improve that too.

I am recently divorced and have a BS degree. I *thought* I wanted to go back to nursing school b/c there is an AAS program in my little hometown. I have many of the pre-reqs, but not the sciences. I took the A&P sequence last fall and spring of this year while homeschooling and proceeding through a l-o-n-g, emotional divorce. Happily, I was able to score A's in both classes, but it was not easy and I certainly had some *moments*. I would not recommend taking more than one class per semester with all your other committments, and certainly not more than one class while taking A&P. Can it be done? Certainly, but it may be a lengthy process. I'm sure if this is your desire, if would be well worth it in the end. Nurses seem to have no problem getting jobs. I'm taking time off now, because my ultimate goal is to continue homeschooling my children and focusing on them. Best wishes.

so we are planning to use R&S grade 7 for my 6th and 8th graders. There is someone here who uses it with her 9th grader and stated that they do a weeks worth of lessons in one sitting; granted she is older, but it must not be too time consuming and R&S certainly is affordable. We're just coming off years of using SWR, so we will continue using the spelling rule cards from that program.

to be so late in responding. Life gets too busy and I forget to come back...can you imagine? I'm still going round about what to do for next year. I've bookmarked the cookbook you mentioned and will go check out your fabulous read!

Did you dd find the Chalkdust explanations too long? My dd dreaded the pre-algebra explanations when we tried it last year. The lectures were so long! Where can I see samples Of McDougall-Littell? I know I spelled that wrong - should have quoted you. Thank you both for responding! Sorry for my delay.

It seems it would likely suit us best to continue with R&S; somehow it also seems to be *completing* the elementary years for us. I didn't realize CLE would send a free sample. I will ask for one when I order the girls reading for next year; that is an excellent suggestion. Ellie, we are planning to use R&S Spelling Grade 7 next year. This is where vocabulary kicks in and from the samples it seems this will fit the bill for spelling and vocabulary for both girls. Most helpful ladies, thank you.

We're using CLE for math and are very pleased. I'm interested in using CLE for LA as well, but have one hesitation. I'm concerned that the explanations aren't as thorough as those found in R&S. I know dd would love the workbook approach, but I'm undecided about switching from R&S to CLE for LA in 8th grade. Can you set my fears to rest or should I finish out elementary/jr. high with R&S? After all, we've come this far with R&S. DD simply prefers the workbook format, but would go either way. I love the R&S teacher manuals. FWIW I would still be using a separate spelling program as dd needs more spelling work. Thanks!

reading the links from Mich elle's post and posted in the wrong thread! Our plan is to finish CLE and as much of 8 as we can before fall, than it's onto algebra 1. I have found that CLE has so much review in each lesson that my student often only needs to complete the new concept for every lesson and the review section every OTHER lesson. This is making for a much snappier progression through CLE 7. She's still scoring high on the quizzes and test so we're good. I do want to use 810 with her, which is the budgeting unit, so we'll definitely cover that before next fall. Programs like Videotext incorporate pre-algebra into their program and I'm confident we'll have adequate understanding (pre-algebra) from CLE 7 that the transition to most algebra programs will be uneventful. We're still undecided, but thinking seriously about Jacobs with Dr. Callahan.

as much of 8 as we can cover before next fall, then onto algebra 1. Programs like Videotext actually incorporate pre-algebra. I'm fairly confident we'll be fine moving to algebra 1 from CLE 7, and a little of 8. We're still undecided, but considering Jacobs and Dr. Callahan.

We did find the lessons too long with pre-algebra. I suppose I somehow think/thought Algebra I might be better. *I* really appreciate Mr. Mosley's clear explanations and the fact that we could stay with one math supplier through high school. Sigh... Thanks!

Both programs looks very interesting. I like the idea of using Potter's School for Runkle's; not sure if it would hold the interest of my 6th grader. Pros and cons, please.

Our schedule is not firmed up yet, but this is the direction we're leaning... Math - Algebra 1 ????? English - Rod and Staff Grade 8 Writing - IEW 2nd half of Continuation Course B Spelling/Vocab - R&S Grade 7 Reading - CLE Grade 8 Geography - Runkle's or Around the World in 180 Days Science - Apologia Physical Science, although Homeschool Science Academy looks appealing Continue...violin, piano, voice P.E. - various

Have you used it? Liked it? Would you recommend it?

I'm interested in using Chalkdust Basic Math for my rising 6th grader. However, the reviews say this is not a complete course because geometry, area, volume and integers are not covered. However, They are covered in pre-algegra, which seems to review the same concepts at a deeper level. I'm wondering if anyone skipped Basic Math and went straight to Pre-algebra with their 6th grader? I don't know that CD will work for us, b/c the lectures are long, but I aim to try out the demo on her and see how it goes. She is an older 6th grader and generally does very well in math. Thoughts?

not our school name, but my girlfriend's. She has two girls and two boys. The boys decided to name their school the "Git 'er done" school and the girls went for "Hippie Chicks". She said that would have been okay except they didn't even spell it right! We still laugh and laugh over these redneck names...guess you had to be there!

We love it for "extra" and testing.

I'll have to google it. I've also heard Grammar with a Giggle offers some editing practice? I have no idea, but I'm going to check it out too.

there's the key. Actually, referencing the English Handbook works for me. I, too, have the R&S handbook and have only used it a few times. Thanks for sharing that.

807 looks like it teaches the research paper and I actually liked the way it was presented. I really like your idea of teaching 801-808 3 days per week to leave more time for writing. We've been doing this with R&S - narrowed it down to 3 days a week; much more doable for us. Now that you point of the differences in the approach, teaching/excercise, teaching/exercise vs. all teaching then exercises, I clearly see that difference between CLE and R&S. I guess my only "hang-up", if you will, is that I'm so secure in the method and explanations provided with R&S. I think I'll just resolve my own insecurities and order 801 and 802. I've got to place an order for math anyway. It looks like we could also easily skim or skip the spelling and penmanship exercises. While I have you...have you done any editing exercises? I. I've looked at IEW's Fix-it! but it doesn't seem to get good reviews and maybe is a little more than what we're looking for. The perfect solution would be CLE taking out the penmanship exercises in the upper grades and adding editing/proofreading practice. Can't believe they didn't ask me! HA! I'd just like to add some exercises here and there, not spend a full year editing...any recs? What about Editor-in-Chief? Thank you for taking time to clarify all this for me. I'm especially glad you mentioned 809 and 810 are review.

I have been formulating a similar plan in my head...dd is 7th and just beginning LU 709. I was planning to skip 801 and get as far into the 800 series as possible by the end of the school year, maybe some over summer. Often we do two lessons per day. There is so much review that usually we just do the new concept from one lesson and then the new concept and review from the next lesson. I can guage how well they are doing by working with them, quizzes, and end of LU tests. Thank you for posting about CLE 800 and congrats to your dd who finished today...yeah! pizza tonight, eh?

As we've discussed I'm leaning toward using CLE LA next year. Here's my question: We're long-time R&S users and I appreciate the explanations R&S offers, particularly as we approach grade 8. Do you feel CLE offers adequate explanations? This is the only negative remark I've heard about CLE. I've compared the S&S, they are similar in many regards, although R&S seems to emphasize writing more in grade 8. We're happy with IEW and wouldn't be using most of the writing instruction in R&S. My dd will need spelling beyond CLE so the inclusion of spelling is not a substantial draw, although any additional spelling emphasis is a bonus. Dd has indicated that she prefers the workbook format of CLE and we've had an excellent experience with CLE math. Are the diagramming instructions clear? Are the teacher manuals helpful or necessary? Thanks!