How about "Name that number"? http://sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/earlymath/fruitShootNumbersWords.htm

Traveling, museums, book store, movies, fabric or craft store, library, eating in a restaurant, sewing or cooking together.

Poll is coming... How many lefty parents have righty kids and vice-versa?

You are very popular... I had PMed you too!

It's aimed at middle school, but we've used http://www.amazon.com/World-Religions-Gabriel-Arquilevich/dp/1557346240 It's a workbook format, but very informative and easy to use. I've been considering also Galore Park's http://www.galorepark.co.uk/product/textbooks/152/religious-studies-for-today-second-edition.html but I don't know much about it.

:bigear: The books just came out last month, so there probably aren't too many people who are using them yet.

It's secular and I think aimed at mid/older elementary -- maybe 3rd -6th grade?

SOTW wasn't a great fit for us either. We tried with SOTW 1, but I just didn't care for the tone... and how it missed out on topics I think are quite important (Greek philosophers, for instance) and... well... I can't stand the illustrations in it. I am really bothered by them. That said, I think I probably am a little picky. But I know the sorts of books that work well for us, and SOTW just wasn't it.

We also love the Story of Science here. And art history. And the middle ages. And a hundred other interesting topics that deserve some attention. I just try to remind myself that my kids have a lifetime to learn and it's important to stick with what is working until it no longer works. Then change to something else. My older daughter often does Story of Science as bedtime reading. Because we both love it, it's become a special time for us. I read other things with my younger daughter who would *not* appreciate or understand the Story of Science at all. They're totally different kids and I'm glad I can find a little bit of time to do something special with each of them.

I tried to use the textbook and IP unsuccessfully with my younger daughter in SM 2a. We'd done 1b with the textbook and workbook and found it all just too easy. I figured that maybe if we did the textbook and IP, it'd be okay. However, she'd gotten into the routine of doing the textbook together until the little pencil and then doing the corresponding workbook pages on her own. She's a girl who likes routine. Obviously, the IP didn't follow in any way - in fact, it was considerably ahead, which made me wonder why we were bothering with the textbook. And, I'd have to explain how to do each of the novel problems in the IP, so the independent aspect of the workbook wasn't there. Additionally, she disliked the lack of illustrated SM children's heads.. I finally set it aside and just got the workbook.

I liked http://www.amazon.com/Montessori-Science-Angeline-Stoll-Lillard/dp/0195168682

At first I really liked the look of it.... It claims to be an objective, accurate history without denominational influence. I liked it until I came to Volume 5 "The Sword of Islam: Muslim Onslaught", which seems rather unashamedly one-sided:

We have used the student and teacher guides, but often they're aimed at classroom students and teachers. I would have *loved* them when I taught in a PS, but it kind of seems overkill now. We've more or less set them aside and just focus on enjoying Joy Hakim's story. We do end up on a lot of rabbit trails -- more so than other books.

Textbook publishers might disagree because a "program" sells more books than a single book... and often parents and teachers and textbook adoption committees like the idea of using a program. But really, for the most part, they don't build on each other -- though they may be sequenced in a way to avoid gaps and be age appropriate if followed consistently through elementary school. For many of these programs, the authors want to make it accessible to students who are new. It's like starting in the middle of a fiction series. The first few pages orient the new reader and throughout the book, they'll throw hints to remind old readers and introduce new readers to the characters. The one exception I can think of is foreign language. "Book two" is pretty much going to require that you've memorized the vocabulary and been introduced to the grammar of "book one". Oh... and phonics... it would be hard to teach multisyllabic words to someone who hadn't figured out single syllable words, for instance.

Terro! It's a miracle ant solution.

http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/children.aspx

Thank you!!! I went to radio shack and picked up a Sansa Clip for 34$. I found out our library has a subscription to library2go and I successfully downloaded my first audio book. I happily cleaned the kitchen and folded the laundry and cooked dinner all while "reading".

2nd Grade: Math: SM 2a-2b Language Arts: Winning w/ writing 1, Soaring w/ spelling 1, handwriting? Science: Evan Moor Daily Science 2 History: Homemade (using Usborne Sticker World Atlas, Geopuzzles, Library books...) 4th Grade: Math: SM 4a-4b Language Arts: Excavating English, Figuratively Speaking, SWS8, handwriting? Science: Story of Science - Aristotle Leads the Way History: Homemade (Using OUP Europe in the Middle Ages, Primary Sources, movies, Everyday Life in the Middle Ages...) Latin: Lively Latin 2 Logic: Logic Liftoff

I'm guessing it depends on the college. I had lots of community college (and a few university) credits its by the time I graduated from high school and I did not use them. I believe the policy at the time from my college (Reed) was that if they were used for high school graduation (they were), then they couldn't be used for college. Also, the cc credits were a billion times easier than those from the 4 year college I went to, and I kind of agree that they were truly not equivalent. I did know a transfer from a CC who was able to transfer most of her credits in and start as a sophomore. But again, those were taken as a college student, not as a jr. high school or high schooler.

I always start mild and gentle and move towards the heavy stuff. I've cleaned off ink from wood with Comet w/ bleach. Another stain I ended up needing to sand the wood and refinish it. :glare:

I'm not much of a music listener, but I'd like to be able to listen to audiobooks when I go for a run or hike or (in the winter) xc ski. I've never had an Ipod or MP3 player. The list of compatible devices on sites like Audible is making my head spin. What do I want? I'm entirely clueless.

I bought our Miele cannister from a Sew & Vac shop in town. We actually explored the options, found the best price online and then went to the local guy and asked if he could give us the same price. He did. We do have the power brush and I'm glad. We have hardwood downstairs (with a large area rug) and berber carpet upstairs.

I think if it doesn't make sense to you, you probably should go with another choice for math. Math Mammoth, for instance, is inexpensive and (to me, anyway) makes a lot of sense. It's worth it to spend a little bit of money to get something that works for you and your kids.

I am suffering through a bad dog-hair-cut right now too. I can totally commiserate. We have a golden retriever/poodle mix with lovely soft wavy auburn colored fur which my partner decided to shave with a 1/4 in. comb on the razor. Thankfully she left a plume on the tale and some length on the top of the head. She does look like her head and tail belong to a normal dog while her body belongs to some different freakish naked dog. The worst thing about it is that she *likes* it.

Rubber band (if it's a rubber band) or scrunchie (if it's a rubber band covered in lots of fabric).