He is doing Core 6 now, so we're taking a year between 6 and 7 to study up on geography and cultures of the eastern hemisphere a bit. He is going to be 12 this spring though. I might feel differently about doing Core 5 if he were much older. I had originally decided not to do 5 at all then changed my mind. I just can't bear the thought of him not reading at least most of those books. We will be modifying it a bit though. Core 7 is plenty for gr 9, and I am not planning on using all the high school cores. Probably just 100 and 300 with lit selections from 200, 400 and 530 added in for free reading time over grades 10 - 12 (since he'll be a sixteen year old senior). If he wants to, we'll do 400, but honestly I'd rather he take government and economics at the community college where more group discussion can take place. He's the sort who'd love that.

Yes, it's from Bugs Bunny. "Classic" children's cartoons are important for cultural literacy you know ;) Yes, they are. Really! :) Darla

This is sometimes the only way to turn left in a busy intersection with no left arrow. You just put yourself in the way while the light's green, and go when it turns red. It's totally legal even if it does seem obnoxious. If you pull up far enough, the car behind you gets to go too.

I have a sore throat and had to go grocery shopping just today. I did leave the kids home (no babies here). We still have to have food and I don't think most people have someone willing to do their shopping for them. I would think people expect public places to be germy. After all, you're contagious before you even feel ill aren't you? I don't go optional places though or into someone's home. I do also warn my mother when one of us is sick (She's in her 70's.).

I went back and got another for our second shower. I do remember having a heck of a time finding it. They are in a weird place and you might have to ask. They were in the $10 range and have held up very well. One has a hole but that's my fault. I bleached it and that's not good for it and quite unnecessary.

You may be surprised. I financed a couple of my Bernina's in the $40 - $50 month range. Most dealers offer financing. They'd go out of business if they didn't. Some of those machines are thousands of dollars. :eek: I can see from the link it's a brother. Their higher end machines aren't too bad (but do NOT buy one from Walmart). This one looks pretty good. I personally am not nuts about the idea of an embroidery machine for a newbie though. Too many features can be intimidating. I like a sewing only machine for everyday sewing especially clothing. It just seems to be able to tolerate differences in fabrics better (in my experience). Do let us know what you get (and what you make first)! Darla

... do not buy a machine from HSN. Do go to a local dealer and get a Husqvarna Viking, Janome or a Bernina. Not only will you get a better machine, you will get dealer support. They will also truly appreciate your business. What kind of sewing do you see yourself doing? Clothing? Quilts? I'm a pretty good enabler if I know what type of supplies you'll be needing to accumulate :D

Yes, the flu is not something to be messed with these days--for anyone. An aunt of mine died last week right after being visited by someone who was sick. She had cancer, and had just had a chemo treatment. This was not her first go-round with cancer and everyone knew the drill. Darla

Never ever. What a maroon! :glare: Unless they have a flashing green arrow traffic signal of course (in which case you'd have a red light). Oh, and people driving small cars should really drive more defensively because in the event that you are uncertain, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way. Darla

? Yep! She will hand me something and immediately say "Now don't throw this out" so she knows it's clutter (to me) and does it anyway. One example was a horribly disfigured horse pen/pencil holder figurine thingy. It looked like it had a broken leg and I found it disturbing. She said "This was your father's." My dad hated that kind of stuff. I distinctly remember her trying to give it to me once before. Oh, and it still had the garage sale sticker on it. :001_huh: We do have the advantage of a rambunctious Siberian Husky in the house. It's amazing how many things she breaks. :D I have a special section on the bookshelf for (odd) books she brings over and, whether she knows it or not, some do occasionally disappear (If they exceed their allowed space, one or two of them go.). It's almost always something none of us would ever read. I just wish she'd come over for a cup of coffee empty handed more often. Or bring cake ;) Darla

...and I'll be done with it soon. I don't have enough posts to list it, but if you pm me we can work something out. It is just a schedule with a few activity suggestions (which I mostly found "young" for my 5 yo). It is from 2008 right before they added three more little science books. It's not the most current one but the one before that. It doesn't have scheduling for: What's Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew?, How Do You Lift a Lion? and How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World Looking at this core today, it looks like it's in the middle of another re-do. It's including 2 new storybooks now (also not in my schedule). I guess so many are using it for K, they made it into a K core complete with K language arts. Anyway, pm me if interested in this guide. I'd be happy to trade it for a book just to get it off my shelf.

There are a LOT of newer used ones there. Seems the are a popular companion book for college texts. I also found another by the same author (the one with the red cover I had posted a link to). I got both for less than the cost of one of them new. Darla

P 4/5 is not that much. Do consider P 3/4 though. There are no workbooks or schedule at all. With both of these you just cuddle and read. I'd set the DEL books aside for a bit unless she's really good and ready. The rest can be done in 20-30 minutes a day and if you don't get to it, it is totally enough for K. They're just great books to have on the shelf. I will say the instructor guide at that level is only minimally useful though. My little guy always wanted more that they had scheduled. The first day we (accidentally) read 6 weeks of science. I didn't buy the DEL books or any of the LA portion as my little one was already reading. Darla

I have an 8 yo dd who dawdles something awful with math. I have no interest in spending more than 20-30 minutes a day for math at her age. We always go over. It makes no difference if I hover or go find something to keep myself from bugging her. She is not absorbed in the subject either. It's all I can do to keep her focused. Today, I bribed her with jelly beans. It worked. The written part of her math (after the "classwork" part of the lesson) was done in 15 minutes. That's better than I expected. Now I know what she's capable of. :001_smile: I know sometimes *I* just need jelly beans! :D Keep in mind you asked "What do you do", not what should be done ;)

Oooh! Let us know what you think of it. It really looks appealing, and I'm a big fan of books on paper. Kel, I've been sorting and purging too. Must be something in the air! My problem though is actually getting the stuff OUT. As in not in the basement. I don't dare mention to my mom that I'm cleaning either. She'll come over and take stuff to keep me from throwing it away (and eventually bring it back). "I know you didn't really want to get rid of this." :001_huh: Now *that's* a packrat. Someone who's a packrat with OTHER people's things! :lol:

How old will be be in 6th grade? My almost 12 year old is halfway through pre-algebra now. Do you live in a state where those high school math credits will be an issue? Is dual enrollment or early college admission an option? He could theoretically work through 2 years of calculus in high school--but you're likely to need help. Very likely unless you're a math major. No wonder you're thinking about this now. Horizons is rather advanced so he should be very ready for prealgebra after doing gr 6 (if not algebra). Darla

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0521530202/ref=pd_luc_mri?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance If you've seen it, could you comment on the difference? Is it just an updated version? Darla

I am using P 4/5 with my Kindergartener, 1+2 with 3rd grader, Core 6 (independently but I did read it ahead of him and we go over it from time to time) with my 7th grader, and my highschooler is using the history portion of Core 100. That's a little nuts. Hoping to combine a couple kids next year. My oldest will be going to community college in the fall. He's almost certainly done with history (which he hates) - except for what I might be able to sneak in :D Darla

can you have him just read through a US History text? That could be your spine. Then he can do his additional reading on wars to his hearts content. I have American History: A Survey by Alan Brinkley that is a pretty good read (for a textbook). I got lucky and found a hardcover combined volume on eBay for $25. It's great that he does have an interest in really digging deep though. I'd pick something that covers the basics and leaves him time for that. Darla

I'm going to try again. I was able to view and play the files but not save them anywhere. When the cd came out, they were gone. Usually it rips cd's by default so that was weird. Darla

I'd love to know how you did it! I have these and they are great. Can't get them ripped to the computer at all. I'm planning to try with the new laptop but I'd think it'd be harder. There seems to be something on there to prevent that. Darla

Have a peek at The Art of Argument by Classical Academic Press. It's designed for 8th grade and up. You can download nice sized free samples and see if it's what you had in mind. http://www.classicalacademicpress.com/aa.html Darla

Math - Rod and Staff 4th grade (toying with switching to Horizons) English - Rod and Staff 4 Spelling - Rod and Staff 4 (if at all...) Science - Apologia Zoo 2 Handwriting HWT Cursive Success Everything else: Sonlight Core 3, 4 day. We may start piano again and will participate in classes at our co-op. Darla

was an awesome movie, and one everyone should see--but maybe not a 4th grader. I saw it years ago (as an adult) and am still haunted by scenes from that movie. :001_unsure: A better choice would be The Pianist. It still has some haunting scenes (A little boy trying to scramble under a fence gets beaten to death.) but not nearly as graphic as Schindler's List. You cannot see the soldiers on the other side of the fence, but you do see the boy die. Darla

It was out of necessity. If you look at the bed and wonder if the top bunk can fall down, don't buy it. We went to a furniture store and really checked them out. I got a set with removable double rails and it was made by Stanley Furniture. Very very sturdy! A little pricey though... I suggest if you do this, get one with the ladder up the side and not one where they are supposed to climb up the end. Too easy to fall off. Darla