Colleen, thanks so much for your detailed clarification. You paid better attention than I did. :) Caroline, thank you for helping, especially with the rest of the R&S info that I apparently missed. :) That was an awesome conference. I definitely learned more at that conference than all the previous generic homeschool conferences I've attended over the years. I left feeling more confident than ever but I guess I did get overwhelmed with taking notes and missed quite a bit. I look forward to SWB putting the outlines up online so I can flesh out my notes. After looking at every secular writing program mentioned on these boards, I have yet to find something that would fit DS. Maybe I need to ask if R&S can been modified to be used secularly?

It's funny that my notes are so different! I guess we all hear things differently when we're trying to take quick notes. :) My notes say *not* to do the R&S writing assignments, just to use that for grammar? I guess that won't work for us anyway since we only use secular materials (GWG). We're doing only one outline and one narrative, both from history, per week. I don't remember hearing SWB talk about the response papers. Was that discussed in her literature seminar? I'm so confused now. I wonder if I spaced out during the lectures and what else I missed?! LOL

I haven't read the new WTM (still waiting for it thru ILL) yet, but I read the previous version last year and I did attend the WTM conference in VA. I need some clarification on SWB's middle school writing recommendations. From what I understand, we should be doing grammar with diagramming, outlining, and written narratives. We also still do copywork, dictation, and spelling. Is this covering everything? After looking at various writing programs, WTM seems so "light." Not that I'm complaining because DS definitely is not academically-oriented, so light is just right for him. :) But now I wonder if we're missing something important? Or maybe I'm just interpreting WTM wrong?

Tina, I can sympathize. It's very frustrating to have a "non-academic" child. 12yo DS was a late reader (fluent just before age 10), and has despised any and all schoolwork since he was 5yo, no matter how fun and creative I try to make it. He's just not interested. He is open to listening to audio books in the car and for the past two years will read by himself before bedtime. He is now doing MUS Delta (4th grade), AAS 2 (but his spelling remains atrocious) and GWG 6 (the only grade level book he does). The only writing I require is half page narratives from history, copywork and dictation, and we're just beginning outlining. I try to keep it light because most of it is difficult for him and constant repetition is necessary. The CAT test put him about 1.5 years behind so not too bad given all his struggles. We made the decision to NOT officially declare him "held back" a year as this would discourage him further and cause some social issues. It really doesn't matter for homeschoolers, IMO. He won't "graduate" until he's ready, academically and emotionally, to attend community college. This has been very hard for me to understand because I am very left-brain, language-oriented. School was easy for me and I don't ever remember ever not knowing how to read fluently. Reading the WTM boards can make me very depressed, seeing what other 6th graders can do. One thing that has helped is reading about right brain learners, especially on this site: http://applestars.homeschooljournal.net/an-introduction-to-the-creative-right-brained-learner/ Your daughter's creative bent as a dancer may fit this profile. Just a thought. Pam K.

But born and raised in the northeast. Homeschooling in much more popular here in NC than in Mass. I love everything about my new adopted home state, especially the weather. :)

A beautiful baby boy, a beautiful name (that was my grandfather's name), and a beautiful homebirth on a very special day!!! Congratulations:thumbup1: to all of you.

I am no help but I have sympathy. DD just turned 8 and still confuses vowel sounds occasionally. She's doing much better since we started All About Spelling because it teaches phonics explicitly. I'm not familiar with OPG-does that book teach explicit phonics? DD's reading is still slow, but as long as she continues to improve I try not to worry too much. Others on this board may disagree and choose more aggressive intervention at the same age. But DS was a late reader and DH and his brothers all had dyslexia. I actually just printed out the Abecedarian Placement assessment just to get an idea of where she is now. The ladies on the Special Needs board highly recommend this program. Maybe you could ask on that board too? HTH a little....

slightly expressed extravert moderately expressed intuitive personality moderately expressed thinking personality moderately expressed judging personality Hmmm...off to read more about this....

But mostly because of finances. I've already vented on another thread about how few books I can actually find in our two local county libraries. I do the best I can with available substitutes and what I have on hand from past purchases. I do buy books for certain important subjects like humanism, evolution, and global warming. I think we do just fine, and I'm not sure I could find more room for bookshelves in our house anyway. :)

I thought I'd add Rebecca Rupp's Home Learning Year by Year book. This has been a very helpful resource, especially for book lists, over the years.

We used to be way overscheduled but now I'm on a mission to limit our out-of-the-house days due to gas prices, as well as the stress of constant running around. Weekdays, I try to only plan 2 (or sometimes 3) days out. These days include playdates, library, field trips, park days, open gym, science museum classes and all errands. So obviously, we can't do all those things every week. Weekends are for hanging out with DH and the neighbors, working around the house, 4H, and church. I go so far as to pencil in "home" on my calendar at least two days per week. I always feel so much calmer when I get that downtime. :chillpill:

This is the perfect day to remember that we are truly *more than* we usually think we are. I can't say it as eloquently as both of you talented writers, but I know I bring my own strengths to each day. Thank you both so much for sharing your inspiring words.

a nice relaxing Mother's Day! Don't we all deserve it? :iagree:

I just requested it from ILL, but I'm third in the queue! I guess it's pretty popular here!

I'd choose to keep forums over blogs. I can read them quickly and enjoy the varied questions and ideas from all different folks in one single forum vs. blogs which represent just one person's experience.

by Eckhart Tolle It's not Christian, but you mentioned you're open to that also. This book has helped me keep an open mind and balanced perspective through both difficult times and everyday events.

After making me chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, DH took the kids to the children's museum for the day. My most favorite thing to do on Mother's Day is have the house to myself!! Other than doing some laundry(never ends!), I'm spending the day reading and surfin' the net- ALONE! Awful, aren't I? :D

I'm printing this out to do together as a family tomorrow. How fun! Thanks!

I'm so sorry this happened to your family. My kiddos were very young when our dog was hit by a car, but they still talk about it to this day. At the time, we got some wonderful books to help us deal with it. It helped get us talking about our feelings afterwards. And we have many pictures to honor his memory. My condolences to all of you.......

Oh, now I feel better after reading some of these posts. DH and I were totally confused by all the hype with this movie. We usually love "dumb comedy" but this one was over the top. Once was definitely enough.:iagree:

Our library system is just as pitiful. I moved south from the northeast and I'm still in shock at how bad the two closest county library systems are. And one of them includes the state capitol! They have almost nothing on evolution, especially in the juvenile section, for example. I would say that I find less than 50% of the books that I need in either of the two local systems. The audio available is minimal and the larger of the two counties has exactly ZERO video. I feel your pain.:tongue_smilie:

After completing level one last month, we're using AAS level 2 with both kids. Both of mine need extra phonics reinforcement, as it has not come naturally for either of them. I'm finding that AAS is all the phonics we need. It's great when one resource covers two subjects- yay! Yes, we spend about 20 minutes per day. Sometimes I spend an extra 10 minutes with my 8yo as it's not easy for her. I do like this program and will continue with it, planning for level 3 in the fall. HTH!

Our indoor cat (our only pet) had fleas last fall and 2 months of Frontline, flea bombs, treating the yard for fleas, and almost daily flea baths did nothing! The only thing that worked and is keeping us flea-less still is applying Advantage every 4-6 wks. Oh and to knock them out initially, the vet gave us a one-time pill to give her while we were waiting for the Advantage to kick in. HTH and good luck! Oh how I HATE fleas. :tongue_smilie:

DS (10yo then) used the new 2007 Reading with Longer Chapter Books (level 2 advanced readers). We were not using a SL core at the time. It was very gentle and he did well with it. He did use Wordly Wise along with it. The grammar in this new LA version is very light so adding grammar is a good idea. LA is not intuitive for my ds either. :) The comprehension activities consist of just occasional ideas for discussing the readers. When I was making the decision, I was able to print out the Schedule for Topics and Skills for each LA level. This would give you a better idea of what is covered than just the samples. Since the site changed I can't seem to find that link anymore. Maybe you could ask on the Sonlight Choosing Forum? I'm glad we used it this past year, but we'll be switching to LLATL next year. It looks as gentle as SL, but more comprehensive. HTH just a little!

We're in NC and the only local stuff I've found is leafy greens and strawberries. Next month will be more goodies. :)