I want to go to Kristine's school!

Your daughter is a gem. Way to go, Mom! I'm tearing up, because I would have felt just as you did. Thankful for resolution for you both.

I would go with FIAR for sure. I got B4FIAR when my kids were 2 and 4 and wasn't as impressed with it. The curriculum was SO simple it just didn't seem necessary at that age. Pick some of the titles from the booklist (Jessie Bear is a favorite here!) and that's enough, IMO. You're little ones will still enjoy being alongside for the FIAR titles, but I doubt your older ones would enjoy or benefit from B4FIAR. We love the FIAR book selections--enjoy!

Well, I'd say she is a "leader" simply because people are following. I don't think it is presumptuous for her to say that in the least. As to whether she's "right" or not? With her ideas and her methodology, I presume? I don't think there is a simple answer to that. Like you, I read the book and appreciated some thoughts, but disagreed with others. I also feel the freedom to emphasize different things in our home given the specific and unique gifts and needs of our family members. Overall the book had a few helpful ideas, but it wasn't a love connection for me either. Somehow I don't think I was the intended audience, though. She seemed to be writing to those unfamiliar with classical education. Am I alone in thinking that?

While I tend to agree that memorizing "isolated facts" is a waste of time, I do not generally see this being the bulk of CC Memory Work. For instance, we memorized Latin Noun Declensions last year and, though my children had no context for the sounds they were learning to familiar tunes, their Latin studies this year have been a breeze thanks to the foundation that was laid last year. Our history studies make SO much more sense thanks to the framework they have memorized in the form of CC's history timeline. My children are naturally curious about Science, so we tend to read more about the science facts that are memorized each week which aids in memory and retention. Our English memory work (lists of prepositions, linking verbs, helping verbs, pronouns, parts of speech, etc.) has been incredibly useful in their understanding of Language Arts. We are learning lots of Geography which just keeps building on itself as we encounter those memorized places in other readings. At times I disagree with the emphasis of something in the memory work or it doesn't seem like my children will be able to make sense of it well enough to retain it for the future, but I am free to place my own spin on it as my children's teacher. Overall, the CC Memory Work has been a benefit to my children, though it is certainly not an education in itself. Just to clarify, CC does not simply repeat skip counting every year. By third grade the students are memorizing multiplication facts and are not allowed to rely on skip-counting. Also included in the memory work are some common geometric formulas, metric conversions, and four mathematical properties.

I tried to reply with multi-quotes and messed it up... Trying again!

I don't know how literally she wanted us to take that quote. She has suggested that "'innumeracy' is as significant a problem as illiteracy in America." Perhaps that is her larger point? Maybe she was just trying to be somewhat provocative with her wording to challenge the reader to reconsider the priority he/she places on math? I don't know. Clearly, too much of anything can be problematic, though, so my hunch is that she herself could think of scenarios that could qualify as too much math (otherwise I presume that math would be all she does with her younger children; it is not). She has an engineering background, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that she is burdened for the state of math/science education. While I generally agree that math is certainly important and valuable for all students, I also see value in honoring a child's God-given bent. We do plenty of math in our home, but there is more to life!

I see. Thanks for clarifying!

I've had 2 tests in 2 different pregnancies that didn't appear positive until after the 10 minute mark. I always ended up really being pregnant, but I had just taken the tests too early. Evaporation lines are NOT colored, but clear or "textured". Did you use a blue-dyed or pink-dyed test? I've heard of problems with the blue-dyed tests and would recommend sticking with pink dye only. If you were using a pink-dyed test and you saw a faint pink line at some point, it is likely that it WAS picking up traces of HCG in your urine meaning that you are pregnant, but only time will tell if that baby is "sticking". :grouphug: Let us know when you find out. Can't wait to hear!

Yep. DD was a Shettles attempt. All the boys were what Shettles would predict as well, though we weren't trying. Now pregnant with our 5th and hoping/praying for more pink, but blue would be a blessing, too. This time our cut-off didn't end up being quite as long (only 2 days), but we also added calcium/magnesium supplements and cranberry tablets to lower my pH. We should find out in 3 weeks if that did the trick. ;)

Bookmarks would be appreciated my me. :) I tend to not appreciate display items that collect dust and may or may not be attractive (is that harsh?). We navigate toward consumable food items for the above reason. My boys have enjoyed making homemade granola as gifts (the recipients enjoyed this as well) and hot cocoa "cones." Instructions for both of these things can be found on the Family Fun website, I believe.

I have one of these as well! He is also seven. Strangely his birth was perhaps the only thing he ever did quickly. But...he gets it from me! And I'm equally at a loss as to how to help him (and myself). I think this is a personality issue and goes along with, among other things, being detail-oriented. Although it is trying, at times it is also a gift! This child typically does things WELL. Oftentimes this child thinks deeply and weighs all sides of a problem/solution. In our case, others have remarked since his early childhood that he can focus and stick with something for longer than would be expected of a child his age. Other times, dawdling occurs simply out of habit. I never realized how trying I must have been on my parents/teachers until dealing with my own Poky Little Puppy! Someone else already mentioned that it helps when the child can take ownership and experience the consequences him(her)self. That has been the case with me. Please bear in mind that this child likely does not possess the innate tools to know how/when to hustle and will probably need guidance to help develop better habits. Teach this child how to prioritize (among other things). Sometimes it seems that everything must be done perfectly, but, in reality, there's not time for that. I know that I have floundered many times and experienced difficult consequences due to my own slowness. How I could have benefited from a patient and wise guide to help me navigate this weakness rather than just being left to figure it out on my own. Now...if I could just be that patient and wise guide for my own son!

I hesitate to say anything, b/c I am certainly no expert, but I do find it all rather fascinating. And, like someone else already said, it really does remain a debate with many unanswered questions. My personal opinion is that the Bible is TRUE, but I am less sure about my (or others) interpretations of it. God's creation is SO fascinating, though! I love *trying* to wrap my brain around it all. A few of the compelling thoughts regarding the geological column that I've heard recently: *The geological column would NOT have separate sedimentary rock layers if it developed over a long period of time. Why? Bioturbation: living things start to grow in the various layers as they develop and disrupt those layers making the whole thing eventually appear homogeneous (this is witnessed today after local hurricanes or floods). In contrast, the sedimentary rock formations with distinct layers that are seen in the geological column imply that the burial was both deep and rapid (i.e. the result of a catastrophic global flood). *Many layers of the geological column are "bent" or curved in layers implying that the layers were soft and hadn't hardened into rock when they were disturbed (i.e. NOT the result of wind/water erosion over time, but rather the result of mud receding after a global flood). In addition many crystals have been found in these "bent" layers and are completely undisturbed rather than broken or fragmented as one would expect if the rock were hard when the disruption to the layers occurred. *Fragile, detailed fossils of ripples, rain drops, and animal tracks in sedimentary rocks also imply very rapid burial and hardening (otherwise these delicate features would have disappeared due to erosion). *The biological wasteland that resulted after the eruption of Mt. Saint Helens has given many clues as to how the geological formations that we see today likely occurred very rapidly and from a single, global catastrophic event (look up polystrate fossils for instance--so enlightening!). Other interesting topics for further study: *Mitochodrial "Eve"--specifically look up a recent journal article "Calibrating the Mitochondrial Clock" in which scientists studied the rate of mutations and discovered the common female ancestor must have lived around 6000 years ago. *Lack of Tombs (that would be expected if man and his ancestors had been around for hundred of thousands of years)--We find a few tombs of Neanderthal man, for instance, but hardly enough to support thousands of years of his existence before evolving. I've just scratched the surface! The BIG question in my mind regarding a young earth is the whole "speed of light/age of stars" issue. I've never heard a compelling young earth argument to explain this phenomenon. Recently I was told that this is not just a problem for young-earth folk, but old-earth proponents as well though (can't remember the details of why--this is a complex issue that I would like to research more). I hope my own children learn to think deeply about these topics and view all of creation as a declaration of God's glory. Since I do not want them to just accept the first simplistic answer that comes along, I am growing less and less concerned about not having all the right answers to spoon-feed them. I have no doubt that there ARE answers to be found to piece this puzzle together, but the joy is so often in the discovery!

I am friends with the creators of Plan to Eat. :) Glad to hear some of you are appreciating it! The concept is wonderful, but I wasn't sure if I'd really use it all the time, so I, like a previous poster, never made the upfront investment of importing recipes. The recipe sharing feature is a plus. The intuitive layout is well done--so simple and straightforward. Seems like a fair price, IF you really use it.

Wow. I have had very different experiences. We have had our mortgage and several refinances with Wells Fargo for years. Never had a problem. In fact, every time we refinanced the lender was always glad to know that we were with Wells Fargo--it somehow made the process simpler?!? I haven't dealt with them much over the phone, and we always pay on time so maybe I haven't had the opportunity to really put their customer service to the test. As for Citicards, we have had the BEST experiences with them! I have been a cardholder since college and they treat me like royalty. On the rare occasion that we have a late payment, they have ALWAYS been willing to "forgive" the late fee and refund any interest charged as well. We pay the entire balance off every month, and they always note my loyalty and prompt payment history as the reason for these benefits. Just yesterday I called them because our online bill payment program with Chase experienced a glitch back in August which resulted in a late payment. Chase quickly responded to this and credited our bank account with over $100 to cover the late fee and associated interest, but I was charged more interest the next month. Though Chase had already agreed to reimburse us for this as well, I called Citi to make sure this was the last of the interest and before I could even finish asking the question the rep. offered to again "forgive" the additional $60 in interest. It pays to maintain good credit! As for the comment about VA loans...while I can appreciate your experience, that is not always the case either. We have always used VA loans which have allowed us to get a low interest rate with little to no money down. Yes, the VA does have a few costs that MUST be paid by the seller, but these only amount to $650! Savvy sellers/agents will, as a previous poster mentioned, make sure to increase the purchase price to cover this cost. That is what has always happened to us. I don't know all the ins and outs, but, again, if the buyer doesn't have money to cover additional out-of-pocket costs, the purchase price can be increased before agreeing to the offer. I only bring this up because we dealt with people who seemed very fearful of entering into a contract that involved a VA loan when in actuality they would have been dealing with a couple that had excellent credit and who were not asking for anything different than a regular loan might dictate. If someone has poor credit and/or is at the upper limit of their borrowing capacity then it might be a very different story, but that is not exclusive to the VA program. Now, health insurance companies are typically the ones that give me customer service headaches!

Just curious...what is the big objection to pulling teeth, if necessary? My ortho. tried for four years to adjust my severe overbite w/o pulling teeth, then finally needed to pull four of them. It took a year after that for the other teeth to move into place. I had a small palette, so it needed to be done. My only regret is that it took him four years of braces with no progress to figure this out! I have had no problems with teeth shifting since my braces have been off (15+ years), but I surely would have if my mouth had remained overcrowded. Having the teeth pulled was no big deal.

My original impression of IEW was similar to yours, Lisa. I tended to agree with SWB's assessment of the program and never got overly excited about teaching my kids to write in a sometimes wordy, awkward style. However, we started using the program this year as part of CC's Essentials program (because our need for accountability and an audience for my son's writing trumped my curriculum preference) and what a perfect fit it is for my struggling writer! My oldest DS, despite being an avid reader, typically balked at writing. Oral narrations flowed freely but anything written was arduous for both of us. He is a big-picture thinker who sees no need for the details necessary to produce good writing. With IEW he has felt empowered to make improvements to his bare-bones writing and, among other things, loves to look up strong verbs that take his writing to a whole new level. I am thrilled with his progress and his newfound understanding of the importance of choosing his words carefully. We have discussed and my son understands that the ultimate goal in writing is not to have a paper that includes all of the "dress-ups", but that he is simply learning skills--how to expertly wield an assortment of tools in his writing toolbox. As for the characterization of IEW as a "crutch," I agree that this certainly came across as though it was intended to belittle the program, but, in our case, I would agree that it is a type of crutch that I am thankful to have available for this particular child! If the first several weeks are any indication, the crutch is allowing his writing to develop where other programs, for more intuitive writers, left him floundering. We'll be happy to leave the crutch behind if/when it holds him back (and I think it likely will at some point). In my opinion, home educators are well-served by having IEW as one of many writing program options. I hate to see any program mischaracterized as "all good" or "all bad" and just wanted to offer our experience.

Oops! Don't mean to call anyone out, but I think the card titles are proprietary info. I only know this because in Classical Conversations we use the Veritas cards but are never allowed to publish the lists. That said, we have used their cards this year as our history spine after having memorized the World History timeline in CC last year. We are currently working our way through Explorers to 1815 and, although I purchased the Scholars Lesson Plans and Teacher Manual, the only thing I am using is the cards and books! I spent time this summer lining up lots of books (from Sonlight and Beautiful Feet, in addition to the Veritas selections) and each week the kids and I pick some to explore. This works for us since I have such avid readers. They narrate back (oral or written, depending on age). We are thoroughly enjoying this approach! Juggling the extra plans and papers just seemed like a lot of extra work to me since the meat of our study comes from the books anyway.

I learned this one in 9th grade as well. Amazingly, it stuck!

This will not be much help, but I am interested in hearing how people use The ABCs and All Their Tricks, too. I bought it several months ago and it is just gathering dust. Not sure what to do with it?

I'll be the lone dissenter. If you are going to eventually need 2A for DD anyway, I'd go ahead and buy the textbook. Walk him through the division section so that he can confidently handle 3A. You could do other things to get him ready, but that seems like the easiest option to me.

:grouphug: I know what you mean! I think it would be grand if my kids were eager little learners every morning. And...some days! But then there are the other days... You've already been given some good advice. I'd view it as mostly an attitude problem, a lack of contentment. One of the most helpful things you might do is to model how to have a good attitude yourself--even when YOUR circumstances are challenging or not ideal (i.e. children who don't yet value your sacrifice on their behalf). I go so far as to actually point this out to my kids ("Look how Mommy isn't throwing a fit/pouting/etc. when XYZ isn't going her way/is hard/etc.!") They get the picture. They don't change overnight, but I hope, by God's grace, I am at least laying the groundwork for a life of contentment vs. complaining.

:iagree:

I don't think the textbooks or workbooks are hard at all (unless you struggle to understand it yourself and have a hard time teaching it). It is presented differently, so can take some adjustment if switching from another program, but at level 2 that shouldn't be a problem. We include their "supplemental" books--Intensive Practice and Challenging Word Problems--which I consider to be a critical part of the curriculum. These DO get "intense" and "challenging" at times. ;) But we enjoy tackling them together!

IMO, Singapore is a strong program only with their supplemental books. We use both the Intensive Practice and Challenging Word Problem books at each grade level. I do not see the need to supplement with other programs, though I occasionally give them something that "looks" different to make sure their knowledge can translate. We also dabble in Life of Fred only b/c DS thinks it is so fun!