Thanks for the birthday wishes!! My children decided we needed the day off school to celebrate my birthday. :)

I do Lively Latin five days a week for 30-45 minutes. Latin Prep my daughter basically does when she chooses, though I do go over memory work with her daily. Both girls also do daily copywork in Latin. Soon, I will alternate the copywork with dictation for my older dd. My plan: Lively Latin I Lively Latin II or Latin Prep I Latin Prep II Latin Prep III So You Really Want to Learn Latin III I'm not sure what we will use after this. Our goal is to be able to read and write well in Latin. The girls will likely take the SAT II test in Latin as well. While we school six days - math and memory work are the only things I really encourage the girls to do all six days.

Kimber - I am completely involved in Lively Latin, but I find it fun and very easy to teach. I do all of the work with dd8. Actually, both girls are doing Lively Latin together. My dd10 feels like she missed out not using this program. The vocabulary is obviously easy for her, but they enjoy doing it together. Latin Prep my dd10 is doing almost completely on her own. I review vocabulary with her daily and look over her work. I think it would be more difficult to teach with no Latin background or with a student that wasn't really self-motivated. That said, I think it is an excellent program!

I am not sure how much writing my 10 yo should be doing. I know what curriculum we will likely use. I do not have any reluctant writers or children complaining about writing etc. But my 10 yo spends more time per day than I would have anticipated, on writing. I want to have reasonable expectations. So I am looking for examples of what different families expect - maybe per week? How many pages or assignments or papers, etc. How much informal vs. formal writing? Do you write in every subject, every week? Do you set an amount of time spent writing each day? Thanks!

We use all five parts of his language arts program: grammar, vocabulary, writing, poetry and practice. I really love this program. If you have any questions just let me know!

Our Plan: PK - Saxon K K - Saxon 1 1 - Saxon 2, Singapore Primary 1 2 - Saxon 3, Singapore Primary 2 3 - Saxon 5/4, Singapore Primary 3 4 - Saxon 6/5, Singapore Primary 4 5 - Saxon 7/6, Singapore Primary 5 6 - Saxon Alg. 1/2, Singapore Primary 6 Non-mathy children: 7 - Saxon Alg. 1, NEM 1 8 - Saxon Alg. 2, NEM 2 9 - Saxon Adv. Math, NEM 3 10 - probably a catch up year 11 - Saxon Calc, NEM 4 12 - U of F Mathy children: 7 through 10 - eimacs - online classes OR Myrtle and Adrian's plan 11 and 12 - U of F We'll see how it goes! :)

We would not consider those sorts of things "chores." We use index cards for chores. Here are the ones my kids are responsible for: Wash dishes (we do not have a dishwasher) Dry dishes Fix Lunch (for everyone) Trash (we do not have trash pick up, so it has to be bagged and driven to the dump - with my husband - twice per week) Mop the kitchen (every other day) Clean the bathroom sink and toilet Clean the tub (twice a week) Mop the bathroom floor (twice a week) Vacuum the house Pick up and mop the porch (weekly) Bathe the toddlers Laundry (Wash, dry, fold and deliver a load) Washing sheets (weekly) ETC.

I have a Senseo and enjoy it. Of course, I put in one pod and push the two cup button. And then I go back and make a 2nd two-cup coffee with the same pod! I am cheap and willing to drink weak coffee to get my money's worth out of one pod. :) But I really like all of the flavors and my kids enjoy making the coffee which is a wonderful thing early in the morning!

We are about an hour west of Gainesville in Lafayette county.

I guess it would depend on where you live. Here in Florida, my kids are outside at least a couple of hours every day all year long. It is hot! They are usually playing in the dirt or the sand or the river. They are very dirty and honestly, usually smelly. Most days, they all have to shower or bathe before dinner.

I have some questions for those using the Teaching Company Audio Downloads. Once you purchase them, are they available to download forever or do you have a certain amount of time in which to download them? Can they only be downloaded one time? Are you able to listen to them from your computer? Are you able to copy them to CD? Or can they only be listened to on something like an ipod? Do you delete them once you have listened to them? Have you had any problems in downloading, sound quality, etc.? What have been the pros and cons of using downloads versus purchasing CD's (other than the cost difference)? Thanks!

I have every chore on an index card along with the time it needs to be done (after breakfast, after lunch, free time, after dinner) and the number of points it is worth (1, 2 or 3.) Harder chores and chores we all dislike have the highest point value. While the kids are eating breakfast I lay out a card for every chore that needs to be done that day. DD8 has to pick eight points worth of chores and dd10 has to pick ten points. Anything left over is what I have to do. I usually leave myself 8-10 points. This has worked really well for us. The kids prefer to choose what they will do each day. As for half-donkey, that is the same as un-done. A chore is either done or un-done. We don't have many issues with work un-done. But not finishing chores would result in a loss of all priviledges - computer, TV, outside time, reading time, karate, co-op, etc.

I really like it. I did not add a writing program, but I do add additional copywork. (I will be adding a writing program in 4th grade.) I also added the Calvert Spelling 3 Cd.

We tend to school January - December so this is the plan for the second half of 2nd and the first half of 3rd grade. Math - Saxon 3, Singapore 2 Latin - Lively Latin Language Arts - FLL 3, Copywork, Calvert Spelling 3, Read Aloud Little House series, Typing, Daily Journal History - Finish World of Columbus and Sons, World of Captain John Smith Classical History - The Story of Greece, D'Aulaires Greek Myths, Greek alphabet Geography - Finish all of Holling C. Hollings books, learn U.S. states, capitals, etc. Science - Oak Meadow's Life Science (with older sister) and Nature Study Informal studies of art, music, literature, math history, Spanish Karate twice a week and a weekly nature study homeschool co-op

Is anyone currently homeschooling in Hawaii, particularly the Big Island? I cannot seem to find any homeschool groups for that island online. I'm just looking for general information - Is it easy to homeschool? Is it expensive to live there? Are the national and state parks accessible and affordable? Are there many public boat ramps? Thanks!

In case no has already said it, you have to go to your email to complete your initial log-in. Otherwise you are still a visitor. After you have completed your log-in the edit avitar button will work. Melissa