I have a 4th grader, but we were tired of WWE and didn't want to continue with the same format in WWE4. We are doing Treasured Conversations followed by The Most Wonderful Writing Lessons Ever. Since the first 8 weeks of TC are mostly grammar, we went through them very quickly (we're also doing FLL4 as our main grammar). My dd is a reluctant writer, and I have seen her writing abilities grow by leaps and bounds with TC. I would highly recommend it for learning to organize ideas into a coherent paragraph. Lana

I'm currently teaching an "Animals in Classical Music" class for K/1. We meet once a week for an hour, for 12 weeks. We started out by learning the basics of music: rhythm, pitch, tempo, and dynamic. Next we discussed the various parts of the orchestra and listened to segments of classical music that prominently featured that particular instrument family. Then we started Carnival of the Animals, listening to 2-4 parts a week, reading a book that related, and making a musical instrument craft or an animal craft. We finished by watching the Looney Tunes version of Carnival. Now we are beginning Peter and the Wolf, and making paper bag puppets of each character so that the students will be able to perform their own version for their parents. At the end of this session, we will watch the Disney version. The last week will focus on other classical pieces inspired by animals - Flight of the Bumblebees, Walking the Dog by Gershwin, Baby Elephant Walk by Mancini, and several others. So far it seems to be a great hit. I have had several parents tell me how much their child is enjoying the class. I'm glad it has turned out so well! Lana

My first was Harmonia Sheree, born on September 1st. 2nd was Lana Ireta, born on November something. My mom saved them, including the original boxes, and now the dolls belong to my daughters. Lana

The Jenks Aquarium is neat. Philbrook Museum or Gilcrease Museum if you're into art Tulsa Oilers hockey at the BOK Center There might be a good concert at the Brady Theater or Cain's Ballroom. Route 66 Marathon is the weekend before Thanksgiving. I'm in OKC, so not terribly familiar with Tulsa. Lana

Could they replace the window at their own expense and deduct it from the next month's rent? Lana

Kids' laundry gets sorted as follows: - Gentle cycle (church dresses, things that need to line dry, etc.) - Jammies, socks, undies, things that need to be washed in warm water - Colors (cold water) - Jeans if there's enough for a load, otherwise they get thrown in the with the colors DH's and my laundry: - Exercise wear - Jeans - Socks/undies/whites to be washed in warm - Colors (cold water) - Delicates and my shirts which I line dry Everything else - Load of sheets/blankets - Towels (hot water) Lana

Check out Keith Lancaster's Praise and Harmony. It is 4 part a capella harmony and I just love it! Lana

My parents just did the Durango-Silverton railroad. They said it would be better to do the train one-way and take the bus back. It was a very long day. Lana

Has anyone made the Spettekaka recipe from SOTW Volume 3, Chapter 9? I was wondering if it was any good or if we should make the Swedish Apple Cake instead. Lana

I have 2 year old beef in my deep freeze that tastes and looks fine. It's been frozen since it was butchered, wrapped in freezer paper. No signs of freezer burn yet! Lana

Yes, I accidentally left dd in the car when she was about 5 months old. I had planned to drop her and older dd at my parents' house while I went to the post office. Baby fell asleep on the way over, so I just took her on to the post office with me. I ran in, bought my stamps from the automated machine, and didn't even realize I'd left her in the car until I returned and saw the car seat in the back seat. Fortunately, it was only about 5 minutes or so, she was still asleep, and the weather was very mild so the car was still a comfortable temperature inside. I sat in the parking lot and cried for a while before I could pull myself together. I was so mad at myself for doing something so potentially dangerous! Lana

Change shoes every 8 weeks? That's crazy! Most running stores tell you to get new shoes every 300-500 miles. Even during marathon training season, a pair of running shoes lasts my dh 4 months. It sounds like tendinitis to me. Have you tried icing after a run? Does ibuprofen help the pain? Lana

I'll be teaching a US Geography class to 4/5 graders next semester at our co-op. I need to order atlases for the group, but I'm overwhelmed at the choices. Do you have a favorite you'd recommend? I'm looking for something that can be found pretty easily, so no out-of-print titles. I want the basic info such as statehood date, capital, general geography, flag, nickname, etc. but I would also like there to be a few interesting facts included. Any US atlases you like and would recommend for the late elementary age? Lana

Our co-op is parent-led, which means parents are either teaching or assisting several times during the year, so we don't have to pay teachers. We have a yearly membership fee of $12. Co-op fees are based on the class, and generally just cover supplies. PE is $5 for the whole year. Most of the classes are in the $10-20 range for 12 weeks. The preschool classes are slightly more expensive due to the sheer amount of consumable supplies they go through, including the snack. High school classes are also a little more expensive because they typically use books that each student needs. I haven't found any co-ops local to me that are cheaper! Lana

I think my 4th grader would be able to decode and read all those words, but I don't think she'd grasp the meaning. I would expect an 8th grader to understand most of it. Lana

Both of my kids (7 and 9) have struggled with FLL's definitions. I have learned to simplify the definition as much as possible and practice each rule before requiring it to be memorized. The rule you mentioned was especially difficult for them to memorize, although they had no trouble demonstrating that they understood the concept. Give it time. She'll see that definition again and again, and eventually it will sink in or she'll learn to put it in her own words. Lana

Have you been on antibiotics lately? I'd guess C. Diff if you have. Lana

Have him wash with Hibiclens for a week or two. I've had MRSA a few times and I was told to use this. If he does start showing signs of an infection (pimple-looking things that rapidly get bigger/swollen/redder etc. Start putting a drop of oil of oregano on the spot twice a day and do hot compresses several times a day. Both of my girls and I have fought MRSA and this works for us. Lana

My 4th grader (9, almost 10) is doing: FLL 4 Treasured Conversations (doing the grammar portion at a rapid pace) Most Wonderful Writing Lessons Ever (when we finish TC) R&S Spelling 4 CLE Math 4 A Reason for Handwriting D (I think this will be the last year for handwriting...planning to introduce keyboarding in 5th grade.) SOTW 3 Elemental Science Grammar Stage Chemistry ETC Book 8 Latin for Children Primer A BSGFAA Lana

Here's the table of contents for book 4: Lesson 1 - Compound words Lesson 2 - Common endings: -ful, -ing, -st, -ed, -ness Lesson 3 - Syllable division between double consonants Lesson 4 - Syllable division between different consonants Lesson 5 - Review Lesson 6 - Open and closed syllables Lesson 7 - Syllable division with open syllables Lesson 8 - Syllable division with closed syllables Lesson 9 - Syllable division with syllables ending in -y Lesson 10 - Syllable division with syllables ending in -le Lesson 11 - Vowel digraph syllables: ai, ay, ea, ee, oa, ow Lesson 12 - Syllable division with three-syllable words My almost 8 year old, 2nd grader is working in this book right now. Lana

I generally hate the quality of Walmart clothes, but their workout great is actually pretty good! I like the Avia brand. They have shirts in loose or fitted styles and pants in short/average/long length. They have the tighter spandex pants, or looser yoga type pants. And the shirts are long enough to cover my behind! Lana

I'm a member of the church of Christ, which would fall under the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement according to your link. Lana

I'm planning to use it with my 4th great this year. I'm thinking it will take us about 2 and a half months to get through, doing it 4 days a week. Lana

4th grader - FLL 4 and Treasured Conversations. We'll hurry through the grammar portion of TC to get to the writing section. 2nd grader - FLL 2 and some Evan-Moor Language Fundamentals worksheets. Lana

The problem with this is that those who have no debt at all do not have a credit score. Why should they have to pay higher insurance rates just because they choose not to carry debt? I suppose if you have no other debts, you should have plenty of money for higher insurance costs, but it just doesn't seem fair! :) Lana