I ordered "Type to Learn 4: Agents of Information" from Hooked on Phonics. This program is designed for Grades K-12. We are only 3 lessons into the program but it is excellent. The price is normally $79.95. It is currently on-sale for $59.95 and I used their coupon code for 40% off. So, it ended up being very affordable. It is easy to install and easy to use. The program offers practice games once the lessons are taught. It has really been a good fit for us.

I am considering switching my boys from R&S Math to MUS and have already completed the placement tests to determine which level to start each one in. However, I am wondering how difficult of a transition it would be to go from R&S math to MUS. I have a Kinder who is currently using R&S 1, a 9 year old who is using R&S 3, and an 11 year old is using R&S 5. None of them have any learning disabilities that we have to work around either. I would love to hear any thoughts about switching between the two curriculums. Thanks!

I also get frustrated with the lack of great books available to us at the library. I just cannot understand how they can only have one or two books covering Christopher Columbus, The Boston Tea party or the signing of the Declaration of Independance, but have 20 book of Pokemon, Dora, Spongebob or Star Wars. It is so frustrating to spend all my time at home instilling the love of good books and then have my kids go to the library and not be able to find one. To find a classic in the children's section is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. For the most part, I put a hold on all the books we are looking for and just pick them up at the front desk. I allow each of my kids to pick out one or two "fluff" books, but they are not allowed to read them during our literature time. We used to spend at least two hours at the library looking for books and reading. Now that we pick up the books and only check out a couple additional ones, we take that extra time and go to the park on libary day. We all agree it is time well spent!:001_smile:

My husband is very involved in the decision for our curriculum. He has even researched some on his own and will have me look through it to see what I think. However, I do the majority of research myself. He has also read every book on Homeschooling that I have. I guess I found a "diamond in the rough" with him.

I do classical writing with my 2 older boys and we typically have the following schedule. Monday and Tuesday - Read the story and complete the model of anaylsis sections. Wednesday - create an outline. Thursday - 1st draft Friday - Revise and turn in completed writing assignment. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday takes about 20-35 minutes. Thursday takes about an hour. Friday the time varies but usually no more than 30-40 minutes. Hope this is helpful.

I had a miscarriage at 11 weeks. I had no bleeding at all. I went in for a regulary checkup and ultrasound and they discovered that the baby had passed away. My body never did miscarry completely. I had to have a DNC performed. I continued to have morning sickness right up until the morning the DNC was performed. This was the saddest day of my life. :crying:

My husband thinks that I am somewhat of a germ freak. However, I have never had a problem at the library because we always wash our hands when we leave the library. I have to make myself not think about how many germs we come in contact with on a daily basis, or it would very well inhibit me from doing anything.

Tardiness drives me nuts. I am not talking about the people who are normally on time, and something comes up. I am talking about the people who are always late. You know the kind... you usually have to lie and tell them a time 30 minutes earlier than the actual starting time of the event. These are also the people that you ask to bring chips or trashbags to the family event or potluck because you know they won't be there on time with the food. When they do finally show up they still have to cook the food items because they had to go to the store to buy them before they came. Then they proceed to say that there were lines at the store and that is why they are late. Everybody knows someone like this. I always wonder why they think their time is more precious than mine. I personally think always being tardy is an insult to the people who are waiting for you. (Sorry to all the tardy people who read this!)

It depends if you are asking about the WTM specifically or not. WTM is what is considered neo-classical not the traditional classical education. This was not for us. IMO if you followed every suggestion in the book, the joy of learning would be drained from you and your child eventually. My children learn math, latin, classical studies, christian studies and the arts. I also include floating subjects that are done one time each week. This model works very well for us. My kids and I are learning so much and are having a great time. We started our homeschooling journey using an eccletic style, but it just seemed that every subject was detached and separate. My husband and I both decided to explore other styles. The classical education intrigued us. We purchased a copy of the WTM and the Latin Centered Curriculum, as well as researched a lot of classical websites. We decided to follow the Latin Centered Curriculum. It works well for us. My children complete their studies each day and we still have time to go to the park, play board games, or just chill out. This has been the least stressful year yet.

Three of my four boys have a chore list. We all work together everyday to get the chores done and the house clean. The boys will complete a chore or two each time they get done with a subject. By the time our school day is ending, the chores are usually done and we enjoy the rest of our day! I could not do it on my own and still have enough energy to get through my day.

Just keep reading to your child. Exposure to great literature will give your little one a jump start to loving to read. If your child developes a love of books, a love to read will naturally follow when the time is right.

My 10 year old son read all five books within a month. I was amazed. I bought the first one for him, to try and encourage him to read more. He is a very reluctant reader. I told him that I would buy him the next book in the series every time he finished a book. I had no idea I was going to have to buy the whole series within a month. Especially since the last one isn't even out in softback yet. I had to pay for the hardback edition. It was the happiest unexpected expense I have had in a long time.

I had a great public school experience. I always was on the A or B honor roll through Junior High. Once I began high school I joined the cheerleading squad and became less and less interested in learning anything. I still maintained a B average but never applied myself or even tried. It wasn't until I left high school that I discovered how little I had actually learned. I couldn't believe that I was on the B honor roll without it even being a challenge. Something wasn't right. Once I discovered the Classical Education, I realized just how little I knew. I was never even taught to learn on my own. I chose to homeschool my kids, so I could provide them with the education I never received.

I am using the following for my kinder son. Rod & Staff Math Hooked on Phonics Learn to read system SRA Phonics 1 Workbook for phonics reinforcement Memoria Press Copybook I Lots and Lots of books including read-alouds, independent readers for him, science and history books.

It works great for us. They have added so many additional activities lately. They have printable handwriting worksheets and a section for writing sentences and paragraphs using the spelling words.

My first child had his cord wrapped around his neck twice. After many hours of labor, the baby was not doing well. Everytime I had a contraction his heart rate would drop off, because my body was naturally pushing him down, causing the cord to strangle him. I was rushed for an emergency C-Section because his heart rate kept dropping. He turned out perfectly fine once he was born. No health problems.

I recently went to a Memoria Press Conference. Cheryl Lowe answered this questions specifically. She stated that for 5th grades and up, Latina Christiana would be a great place to start. After completion of this course, you could go on to First Form Latin. We are almost done with Prima Latina and will be starting Latina Christiana I in a couple of months. Here is a sample of of our week. Monday - watch DVD lesson. Complete some of the bookwork. Tuesday - review all vocabulary words and latin sayings learned. Complete bookwork Wednesday - review all vocabulary words and latin sayings. Copy vocabulary, latin saying, and or prayer or song in copybook. Thursday - review game, additional worksheets, etc. We basically do latin 4 days a week. This could be spread out to 5 days a week if necessary. I would recommend the study of latin to be at least 4 days a week though. A lot of review is needed. It is definitely not a "one-day-a-week" course. Hopefully this helps.

I use Memoria Press Prima Latina for my boys. We are really enjoying the DVD lessons and are learning alot. This is a very basic introductory course. We will be beginning Latina Christiana I in a couple of months. This will introduce us to a more complex Latin course. I really enjoy the layout of Memoria Press products.

My kinder is all boy and could not sit still for anything. There are times when he just snuggles with me on the couch during a read aloud and then there are times that I have him go draw while I am reading. I find it very difficult to read when someone is jumping up and down, fidgeting, rubbing hands together, etc. Drawing helps helps both of us be able to concentrate more on the book. I always ask comprehension questions after I get done reading a story. He does well regardless if he is sitting next to me or drawing.

Thank you for passing along this great info!

I simply tell others that I am providing the kind of education that the great minds in history would be proud of. I am not providing the kind of education that is narrow and limiting to a certain field like ps offers.

Red is 1st grade.

This is one of those things that has been passed down through the years. I would laugh it off. In some areas, you are TP'd if you are well liked. So you may have a right to be offended if you don't get TP'd. Ha!

My family and I just went to a wake last night. My boys asked me the same question. They all shared their ideas of why they thought that word was used. None of them really had the right answer, but it was interesting to hear their discussions.

I get a lot of positive responses from people. Believe it or not, I have had many positive comments come from people who are involved in the publc school system in one way or another. They mostly say things like "that is the way to go now", " I knew your kids were too well mannered or behaved to be in public school". I find those comments very interesting everytime I hear them. Of course, I hear some negative, but very rarely. Most of the time, the negative comments are from people who have no idea what homeschooling is all about.