Thanks!!! Are there any suggested flash cards or websites to help them learn?

What math facts are best learned/memorized before starting Saxon 54?

This is a side question: But, what math facts need to be learned before starting Saxon 54?

www.yogaglo.com It's awesome and gives a free 2 week trial.

I use facebook for my news feeds since so many of my interests use facebook. I don't use it to keep up with friends and family.

:001_cool:Yes, I enjoy it because I have some perspective. I was a work-a-holic Mom and THAT is why I stay home. If I had stayed home from the beginning, I would have had doubts. I had to learn the hard way. I am able to work from home so I do make some income. I enjoy it. But, I have learned to set limits because there is only so much energy in a day. I am starting to do more outside activities with my son. It takes me awhile to find the groups I feel most comfortable. Also, there are fewer stay at home Moms so it can be isolating until you connect. It's what you make it. There is nothing I enjoy more than visiting with another Mom WHILE OUR KIDS ARE AROUND. I enjoy that so much.

Vita Mix VS Magic Bullet Thoughts? I have a $12.00 Hamilton Beach from WM but I'm curious if these are better. My cheapie works, but does take awhile to grind things. I also have to grind flax seeds seperately.

www.musiclearningcommunity.com

You sure can. That is what I do. The best bet is to find an MD who works in conjunction with your regular MD. I went to FIVE different MD's who said I presented as normal and gave me scary diagnosis guesses along with crazy tests. Most of which I turned down because it was ridiculous. I stopped it all and took the lab work to a naturopath (www.mariepace.com) Thank goodness I did! She said down I went over my blood work. My MD gave me a 5 minute phone call and said "You are normal." SHE was the one who explained how the ranges are VERY wide. And, regarding my thyroid, she said the range the lab was using was outdated!:001_huh: She guessed adrenal fatigue (MASSIVE year of stress which MD's blew off) and had me tested. Sure enough - my progesterone was low, my cortisol was low too! So..I've been on her NATURAL protocol for 7 weeks and I am truly feeling better. Also, she thinks I may have some thyroid issues but said we need to address the adrenals and progesterone first, get that working and go from there. I believe EVERYONE deserves this kind of health care.:rant: I am not against MD's, but they are trained to treat diseases with pharmaceutical drugs. They are not adept in nutrition and lifestyle preventative measures and that is simply, a fact. Often they are trained on these drugs by pharmaceutical reps. Again, I am not AGAINST Dr.'s but let's face it - I pay them and I am the customer. I have a RIGHT to sixteen opinions if I want it. HA HA:auto: If you want to really see what drugs can do to a person, check out the videos on this site! This site is focused mostly on psychotropic drugs but the money trail to the drug companies...well, you decide. http://www.cchr.org/videos/marketing-of-madness/introduction.html :rant:

I would also consider bringing your tests results to a naturopath and I will tell you why. The ranges MD's use to determine diagnosis are extreme. In other words, you must be far below a wide range to be determined low. However, a naturopath will see where you are on the low side or high side of normal and start preventative measures.

I think the best time is when YOU are ready.:)

Until you find a formal curriculum, you could always use the library for art books. My son is very young, but he loves to draw. I have no idea how to draw so I checked out lots of books on how to draw the simplest things. That makes our drawing time fun. I'm sure there are similiar books for high school students using different kinds of media. Perhaps if your child can see different mediums used in books and trips to the museum, the child can decide the type of art they would like to learn and create. As for music, I think exposure is the best bet so a freebie choice for now could be the classical stations on www.pandora.com or living book on the biographies of famous composers along with some music history books from the library.

You are right, so right. You have not only affected her math journey but I feel confident the lessons learned here will infiltrate her entire life. Beautiful!:)

I would get a second opinion from a natropath, at least to see if you can manage this without drug intervention. Many things can be healed naturally without toxic chemicals in your body. That would be my last resort.

I weaned off using Zevia (check amazon.com)...all natural and gave me my carbonation fix. Now my drink is either water or tea. I mix & match some really fun tea mixes like green tea and mint, etc. I make them a tad sweeter by adding a drop or two of stevia extract flavor "english toffee."

I would keep him away from anything competition or win/lose based. At least for now until he is emotionally strong enough not to take it personally.

:001_smile:I've been home schooling less than a year and between the busyness, having my child with me so it cuts down on shopping/haircut time, and budget constraints now that he is with me I have to say I'm not looking my snazziest. :-) I have noticed a few stares and "Is she letting herself go?" looks. But, so be it. I also realized that some of the most well liked and respected woman I know dress and adorn themselves plainly and simply. Now believe I am ALL FOR looking good! But at this time, it is just not a priority. And the good news is - it does not have to be. I don't feel I'm selling out if I do or if I don't. It's not a political stance. It is just where I am in life right now. I need comfort and ease TO THE MAX. I am curious. What do you mean by your last sentence?

What is the story he is attaching to "wrong?" Are there other words you could use when working with him? Has he ever been humiliated for being wrong? Picked on for lack of knowledge in a social situation? You could also be intentional about modeling for him when you are "wrong" a healthy response that allows you to move on. Perhaps avoiding the word all together.

This is what I started doing. I have sitter come 3 days/week for a couple hours. There were ALREADY wanting $8-$10 per hour. SO...I put an ad on care.com that I would pay $10.00 to watch my child and do light housekeeping. I had six people apply! Of course I check references, stay here while they are here, etc. to make sure but I have had VERY good success with this site. So anyway, back to housekeeping, I have them do vacuuming, dusting, wiping counters, windex mirrors, etc. Then when I ran out of those things I had my sitter do intense dusting - like the tops of the freezer and hall shelves. I am loving it! I get a break AND my house cleaned. I still do the other cleanings, but having clean floors, mirrors, counters, and some folded towels has done WONDERS for my stress level. I hope that gives someone an idea.:)

I feel this way too. It is such a wonderful reward!!

Same for me! I don't have one friend I can say "anything" to but I've come to see that expectation is pretty unrealistic. Truthfully, we all edit our conversations and I've come to see that as simple respect. I share different aspects of myself with different friends. For example, one friend of mine is VERY religious and fearful of anything out of the box. However, she is totally hilarious and we could talk home schooling all day. I love talking to her and I know the safe subjects. It's like that with all my friends and I'm sure they feel the same about me. I even stopped going to therapy because I've had it non-stop since my 20's and finally got to a point where I had grown enough to see that even therapist can only handle certain things. \.

Just FYI from my own observations from our local CSS students (and I'm sure it's not exclusive to CSS) but your child may likely be graded on things such as service hours for religion class and have tests on the mass parts.

My son, 3 1/2, uses the Melissa & Doug puzzle of the states.

I would have them simply sing at home, but quality stuff with good diction. Examples would be music from (I use pandora.com) Fiddler on the Roof, Julie Andrews (SOUND OF MUSIC), and Phantom of the Opera (Sarah Brightman).

I think you should go with your gut! There is no rule that says what method you use must the way it is forever and ever. If you are considering, there must be a reason why you think it would fit for your, specific, particular child, whom you know better than anyone. Unschooling philosophies towards children have TRANSFORMED the way I relate to my son. No matter what we do in the future, I love that I am a partner and mentor to my son. It completely clicked and was exactly what he needed.