Can I play if we are in CC? Or does that not count?

I'm a newbie - we have only been doing this for like a month, so my advice may not be helpful. We had this happen once the second week. I just told the offender that she sounded tired, and needed to go rest on her bed. No books, no story player - just rest. I then helped her through the missed lesson while the others were in dance class that afternoon. She was DEVASTATED to miss dance to finish her schoolwork, so I haven't had an issue since. So far anyway!

Classical Conversations (they sell the Foundations Guide - you don't have to join the group) Memoria Press kindergarten program

I am naturally so lazy, but needless to say that isn't an option as a homeschooling mom. I have a checklist with subjects down the left side, and 5 columns. One column per day. I write one or two words in each box. Today's science said "nervous system". History said "Columbus". DH grabs my checklist and brings it to the dinner table each night, and uses it as conversation starters with the kiddos. On days that not much gets done, he KNOWS. He doesn't say much, but that's embarrassing to me, and so I am more likely to get it done! I have a line at the bottom of the checklist that says "Days # to #. Goal - 15 schooldays per month. Need to finish the <#th> day by the end of <month>." Makes it very obvious when I am falling behind, to both me and DH!

I think have read every early elementary math thread ever posted on this forum! Based on that reading, I ended up deciding that my tentative plan would be: - RightStart A - RightStart B - then move to Singapore or Math Mammoth after RS B Supplements as we have time / hit walls: - Miquon - MEP The math foundation is so so so important. I want to be confident and KNOW that I am doing it right. Everyone talks about the great base that RS gave them. Everyone who has done A & B seems to think they are "can't miss", and years later they rave about the great base RS set for their kids. The love drops off mid-way through Level C, which is why my current plan is to switch after B. Maybe if I was a more confident teacher I would consider starting with Singapore, and coming up with and adding in manipulatives as needed, but I just really like being told EXACTLY which manipulative best explains the theory & doing exactly what it says. You also need to be confident that you are doing everything in the various Singapore books for each level, as well as adding practice on the side. With RS, it is all in ONE book, and it is completely spelled out. I think the programs are probably equivalent as far as how good they are. You may want to decide based on how much hand-holding you want.

MUS Primer was a fail here. Singapore EarlyBird was even worse. We ALL love love love RightStart A! My kids are really GETTING the thinking part of math already - who would have thought that was possible at age 5 & 6??

You are missing the absolute BEST - The Learning Box Preschool! Complete preschool in a box. Teaches the same things most preschool curriculums would, but the part that makes it really stand out is the crafts! EVERYTHING is included. If you need 2 inches of orange yarn on Day 2, 2 inches of yarn are included in the Day 2 baggie! It is SOOOO open and go! (I don't know about you, but crafts are something that I hate and would never have gotten done around here without this program!) Cute crafts that are truly do-able by the kids. My kids can make anything out of paper, scissors & glue due to our Learning Box experience! If you want less formal, more reading, look at Five in a Row (for ages 4+), or Before Five in a Row. Letter of the Week is another academic (and free!) program. It does require you to do more planning / assembly.

I would have to guess based on what they look like / how they have cleaned up so far, that these chairs will last forever. Maybe you could find used?

We are doing Beautiful Feet's "Early American History" this summer. I also have a random selection of anatomy intro type books. That's all I've figured out so far!

Assuming you are talking about your older kids, I would expect them to be able to remember a short list of repetitive chores. I would be tempted to sit down and have a conversation about how they are old enough to remember to make bed, brush teeth, brush hair, and get dressed every morning before coming down, and you expect them to do so. Ask, "now what are the things you need to do tomorrow before you come down?" Then first thing in the morning, "don't forget to do your work before you come down for breakfast. What are the 4 things you need to do?" Then when they come down "what were the 4 things? Did you do all 4?" I would try to refrain from continuing to provide the answers. It's easy for them to just ask rather than think. Transfer that responsibility to them. When they ask, say "I want you to think about it. You were supposed to remember 4 things. What do you think they are?" If they can't remember, ask a younger sibling "can you help NAME remember the things that she needs to do in the mornings?" Somehow, when my olders realize that my youngest knows, they are embarrassed not to know and it is easier to remember! Or you could say "go look at yourself in the mirror and see if you can remember what you forgot. And look at your room as well to see if there is anything you see that needs to be done." I would try to go in with an attitude of working with them rather than "why can't you remember"...

All of my kids have been in occupational therapy for minor issues for years. Several years back, on separate occasions two different therapists recommended that we invest in Stokke Tripp Trapp chairs. I took one look at the price, and never looked again. Until last winter, when we HAD to replace the kids' booster seats, and given that these chairs had been recommended by several other moms and repeatedly by the therapists, we bought them. BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT! In fact, I was so happy with them that I bought two more for the piano! :) My kids' handwriting dramatically improved overnight once they had both the correct height, as well as a footstool at the correct height. DRAMATICALLY. They are also able to sit comfortably for much longer periods of time. They used to be squirmy after 15 minutes - we couldn't even get through a meal. Now, they can easily sit for an hour and actually focus. My only regret is not buying them several years back!

I've barely been at this for a month, so take my advice with a grain of salt. We start off with the essentials and do them in the same order each day. Religion, circle time (calendar, memory work, etc.), Phonics, Handwriting, & Math. After that, I have a list of subjects that I rotate through. Ideally, I would get through all the rest every day, but that has only happened once. So I usually just pick up at the place on the list where I left off the day before. So the other subjects get hit maybe 3 times a week rather than 5. (If I did all the "other" in the same order every day starting at the top of the list, I would always get to some, and never get to the ones at the end of the list.) I don't have the list in front of me, but this is somewhat accurate. - History - Science - Piano - Starfall - Sonlight - Lollipop Logic So if on Monday I did the essentials, then History, Science, Piano, and Starfall, then on Tuesday, I would do the essentials then Sonlight, Lollipop Logic, History, and Science, then on Wed I would do the essentials then start Piano, Starfall, etc. I usually just keep going through the list each day to the point that the troops start losing interest.

We still go to the Episcopal church when visiting my parents (maybe 4 times a year?). I actually get choked up and teary taking communion there now. It just feels so different from the teeny plastic cup of juice and Saltine that you take in the pew at the Presby church once every few months. I hear you, I really do. I MISS the Episcopal church so much! But my kids need this for now, and that's more important than my needs at this point. I really encourage you to figure out what is most important in THIS SEASON of your life. It's like homeschooling - you don't have to decide what you are doing for the whole rest of your life right now. Just decide what to do for the next year. And any time your kids are out of town, you can go by yourself to the Episcopal church! :)

I grew up in a very formal Episcopalian church. It's where my heart is, and where I would like to be. Unfortunately, our local Episcopal church is tiny, and my kids would have been the only ones. Because of that, we have recently become members of the local Presbyterian church. It's not what is right for *me*, but it is perfect for my kids. This church's youth programs are amazing. I see the kids who are graduating and coming back afterward, and they are the kids I want my kids to be associating with, so this is where we are for now. Time enough to go back to the Episcopal church after the kiddos are grown. You may have to look around and find a church that is right for your kids and whose beliefs are close enough, and go there temporarily.

A LOOOOOT of cheap copy paper for drawing on, printing coloring pages, etc. WASHABLE crayons The biggest magnetic dry erase board you can find, with WASHABLE markers Foam/magnetic letters short fat pencils WASHABLE glue & stuff to glue on (sequins, goggly eyes, yarn, etc.) BLUNT (kiddie) scissors

I'm an "other" - we use RightStart. MEP worksheets here and there as we have time. I want to love Miquon as I know it can add a LOT of depth in an age-appropriate way, but it is getting dusty b/c I can't manage to wrap my head around implementation.

That was exactly my thought! Maybe they could come for a visit for a week or something. I wouldn't phrase it as "come and learn how to do it", but rather "let's do something fun for us and the kids - come visit - bring your school stuff & we'll school together in the morning then have fun in the afternoons".

My kiddos turned 6 in April, and we are just starting as well. I tried both phonics and math previously, but they just weren't ready. We try to get to the 4 R's each day - Religion - Leading Little Ones to God - Reading - Ordinary Parent's Guide to Reading - 'Riting - Handwriting Without Tears - 'Rithmetic - RightStart Level A I have a LOT of other stuff that we sometimes get to and sometimes don't. As long as they get the 4 Rs, and I read aloud some, it counts! :) I printed off a few book lists (Ambleside Online, Five in a Row, etc.) to select from. I don't know where you live, but different states have different requirements. Here I have to document 180 days, and show what I did each day. I have an Excel spreadsheet grid printed with subjects/curriculum listed down the side, and five columns of boxes. Then I label each column with the date, and just put "Lesson 42" or whatever in the appropriate box. As long as the main 4 have something written, I count it for the state. (Not that they care about religion, but I always do that first anyway.) It also gives me a place to record everything else that they don't care about, but DH & I do. My goal is to get a minimum of 15 days instruction (3 weeks of 5 days each) of days that count each month. We have been ahead so far, but that gives us wiggle room when the weather cools off to have some park days! At dinnertime each night, we make a point to tell Daddy about everything we learned. Great review for the kiddos, and makes sure that Daddy knows we actually did something during the day! It doesn't have to be a point by point recap - one of my kids last night told about making a Viking ship out of playdough. (They play with playdough during our history readalouds - keeps the hands busy and out of trouble!)

I thought the same thing! Seriously??? I cannot believe that they are SOOO specific! Our groups have SOFs, but they are really general "we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" type things. Pretty much every Christian would be fine with them. And non-Christians are welcome to join, but are not to be leaders.

Just annoyed. I don't really understand how she can blame homeschooling for my kids having a out-of-character episode of bad behavior when we have only been doing it for a few weeks, and when the other kids haven't been in school anyway! She's just SOOO anti-homeschooling. We were so close previously, and this has driven such a wedge between us.

My kids have now been homeschooled for THREE WEEKS. They were in church preschool through Memorial Day. Oh, and we do numerous meetups, dance & gymnastic lessons, etc. every week. I was venting to my mother about my kids misbehaving at a kids' ice cream social / park playdate. ‎"Well, you have to know that homeschooling is causing them to be socially stunted. They are just STARVED for the company of other kids!" Seriously? Oh, by the way, this is the same person who is constantly harping on me about having the kids "overscheduled" - choir, gymnastics, swimming, AWANA, dance, & soccer. Yeah, we stay busy - otherwise Mommy goes insane! We still have plenty of time at home for free play & lessons & playdates! So here is my question, so I will understand better how it works. We have only been out of school for 6 weeks, so the same amount of time as everyone else who is in traditional schooling. Are ALL children who don't school year-round in a public/private school socially stunted? Or is it just those whose moms intersperse some summer learning with their playdates and other activities? Because other than that, our life isn't any different from anyone else's yet!! I am so lonely. I'm a pariah among the mainstream due to having triplets and being a homeschooler. I'm conservative by general standards, but too liberal for most of the homeschoolers. Sorry - had to vent!!! I'll quit feeling sorry for myself and go back to being productive now...

I am definitely having those feelings, and I don't even have any other choice! I have two kids who are in time-intensive therapy to correct double-vision, and we either can do therapy or full-time public school. So clearly I *have* to homeschool. I was thinking about homeschooling anyway, but ended up having the decision taken out of my hands due to therapy needs. We live in a GREAT school district. 97% of high school graduates go on to further education (most 4 yr colleges, but some 2 yr). Highest test scores in the state. The area is very middle-class - no really rich kids, and no really poor kids, which eliminates some of the problems associated with those demographics. Small town, so not much crime, and small school district, so administrators are in touch with the schools. Smaller class sizes than the norm, kindergarten teachers have an assistant teacher, and many of the other teachers have a future teacher shadowing them, so more adults around than most. Schools teach lots of extras - Spanish, computers, etc. I honestly haven't heard anything of consequence that people disliked about our local school system. My son is starved for friends. We don't get invited to a lot of things, and people tell me openly "adding your 4 just adds a lot of kids". They always comment about how good my kids are, but they are nervous about whether or not is OK to invite one and not the others. (It is, by the way!) And my son is more calm & gentle than most boys, and so he struggles some anyway. His CC class next year only has one other boy in it, and the other child is wild. So he will be lonely again. He has one foot that turns in that makes him trip a lot, so he is not very athletic, and sports are what all the other boys are involved in. So that situation really worries me.

Thank you thank you thank you!!

GREAT ideas!!!

That is probably a lot more likely. I tend to try and do everything in groups for efficiency sake. I would never admit it to my mom (who really disapproves of "overpopulating the world" by having "too many" kids), but my children are not getting as much individual attention as they would like to have. Something I keep meaning to address, but somehow it always ends up on the backburner.