When we went a couple of years ago to Hatteras the places we went to were: Currituck Lighthouse Wildlife Center in Currituck Jockey's Ridge Wright Brothers Museum and Memorial Bodie Island Lighthouse Hatteras Lighthouse Frisco Native American Museum (Private museum, but I highly recommend it to learn about the Native tribes that used the islands for hunting and fishing grounds) Ocracoke Lighthouse Lost Colony National Park Roanoke Aquarium Most of the National Parks in the area participate in the Junior Ranger program which my kids enjoyed participating in and earning the badge. Have a great time. We are hoping to go back again in a couple of years. Amy

Here is mine. We are leaving tomorrow for a soccer tournament. I gave more detail about using T4L which was asked about last week. Hope everyone has a good weekend!! Amy

Mine is up for the week. We've made some pretty big changes for the time being. Ended up having a really good week!

Since we came back from Spring Break I've been trying Time4Learning out with my children. Leading up to Spring Break, I and the kids were getting really burnt out and seemed to be getting no where. I kept working on our schedule and could not seem to find a way to have one-on-one time with all four at the amount they 'seemed' to need. The last two weeks have been wonderful. The two oldest are using T4L for grammar/LA and Math review, and are doing great. They are re-covering some material and learning some new things, actually seem to be retaining it from day-to-day. DD10 is thrilled to be doing comparable work with her ps friends and getting graded on it. Not to mention, we have discovered that dd10 and dd7 really can work independently and don't need me to sit there for moral support on every single page. I also moved dd10 to TT5 and she LOVES the program. We are still doing SOTW, WWE and Science together, but are actually having time to do more projects with those!! Because everyone has their computer time independently, I've actually been able to sit down and and do individual work with the kids with no interruptions. My bathrooms have been cleaned and clean clothes are folded and put away by the end of the day. Since the trial is coming to an end, my mom has offered to pay for our T4L membership. And, I'm really considering taking her up on it. I would like to use it in conjunction with our History/Science rotation and the literature lists I pull from Ambleside (I lean CM/Classical in approach), but I know that computer-learning isn't especially compatible with those philosophies. I'm just feeling a bit of guilt at making this change. I love the CM/Neo-Classical philosophies, but the changes have been so dramatic...especially since I was just about ready to throw the towel in on homeschooling my oldest after this year. Please be gentle. :001_smile: Amy

Mine is finally up. We had an off week with trying to come back from a two-week Spring Break and our older dog passing away in the middle of the week. For what was going on I feel pretty good about our week. Amy

I can't answer the telescope one as we have not made it yet, but it is pretty small. I think the idea is to learn how a telescope is put together - it says in the book that it does not magnify as well as a real one. The solar system model are solid styrofoam balls that need to be painted (paint & brushes included). There is also a sticker map of the solar system for the child to take stickers and make a poster of the solar system. Activities/Experiments: Why don't we see stars during the day? How to turn a regular flashlight to a night-vision flashlight. Make a constellation box What do you need to make a telescope? Do you think sunlight can make colors change? Why is the moon so bright when it does not give off its own light? Phases of the moon. How do we know on Earth when a solar eclipse occurs? Does Uranus take longer to orbit the sun than Earth does? Solar system mobile Everything for the activities is included except batteries. The activity book is also filled with lots of little bits of information just like one finds in MSB books. I got it just as a fun add-in. I already had a solar system model for the kids to make, we have our own telescope and there are lots of space activities that I culled from library books - this just looked fun and was inexpensive...and I have been pleased with it. It is probably too easy for my 10 yr old, but perfect for the younger two. Hope this helps. Amy

I am using it with my 5, 7 and 10 year-olds currently. So far I really like it. It comes with everything you need for the projects, except the batteries for the flashlight. We've only done a few of the experiments as they match up with what we are studying and we have not focused on stars & constellations yet. The projects can be as simple or as complex as you need so that my 5 yr old and 10 yr old can both get something out of the activity. For me it has been a nice way to include my 5 yr old in her sisters' science and I am looking at more of the Magic School Bus Science boxes to use next year with physics. Amy

I'm looking at my schedule for next year where I'll have 3 school-aged and 1 pre-schooler. I'm considering using the Audio CD for SOTW4 for the two oldest to listen to, but I was wondering if it took away from the experience of teaching history? Of course I'll still be having other read alouds, but it could be one less thing off my plate KWIM. If you have used the audio CDs did you like them? Why/Why not? Thanks!! Amy

Thank you for this link, I know where I'll be today. ;) Good thing it is Spring Break. Amy

Yes, we can park it in our side yard. 75% of our neighbors have campers or RVs... I want to thank everybody for replying. I'm saving the replies for things to think about when DH and I discuss it tonight. I think both of us are leaning towards taking it. It is just that the offer was such a surprise to us and we had never really considered it before. Another question, is a pop-up camper something that I alone could handle say when I took it to my parent's. Could I handle the set up and take down without having to be extremely strong? Amy

Our family has been offered a pop-up camper trailer for free from a friend. Of course it needs some minor repairs that DH can handle or things we can live without (non working propane frig). We can't decide whether to take it or not. Cons 1. We'll have to have a hitch and electrical harness added to the van, but the van can pull the trailer. 2. We are very busy in the spring and fall with weekend sports and such, and DH works a second job April through September. 3. We'll have to pay the title transfer fees and $75 trailer registration (not really a con...just is what it is) Pros 1. DH and I grew up in camping families and always wanted to share it with the children, but because of back problems he doesn't do well sleeping on the ground. 2. We live minutes from a couple state and national parks that have nice campgrounds - quick camping trips would be very possible. 3. We can use it when we visit my family as neither my father or mother have enough space for all of us to visit at one time - but are willing to let us set it up in their yards. 4. We were already considering a fall trip though either VA or the Smokey Mountains this fall...and this would make it much more possible since we could pay campground fees instead of hotel rooms for 6. Yes my pros out list the cons, but we are concerned that it may end up a dusty lawn ornament with the way our schedules are. Would those in the Hive mind take a freebie like this? Thanks Amy

Thank you so much!! I really think that I am going to give it a try. We've loved doing nature studies (CM style) all these years, but dd10 wants more. It says that it is written at three levels ages 6-12, so I can do it with all the girls. Amy

I really want to focus on incorporating more nature study into our schooling. We spend a lot of time 'studying' different types of nature and exploring in the local parks, but I want a more developed program. My oldest dd really loves nature and is a naturalist at heart. Has anyone used the Kamana Naturalist Study for kids put out by Wilderness Awareness School? I heard about it through one of David Albert's homeschooling books. Thanks Amy

Our weekly report is up. It was Spring Break, but quite educational. Amy

Mine is up. We have a few things to wrap up today and then we are taking a two-week Spring Break!!

Mine is posted here. It was neither exciting, nor very fun. Amy

Every so often I play "What If" in my mind. Recently I was doing this thinking 'What if our society collapsed would I still be able to provide my children with a decent, basic education with what is on our shelves?' (Not that I believe this would happen) I really think that I could do it with the reference/book materials I have on hand, except for high school math. I don't have any general math reference book for that level. Any suggestions for a basic math text or reference book that covers pre-algebra through advance math? Something I could keep an eye out for at the used book stores. *I don't plan to provide my kids with only a general/basic education, but if anything were to happen it would be nice to have.* Amy

I'm a first year Girl Scout Leader for my daughters junior troop. My husband and I have already decided that I will not continue being a troop leader after this year as it has been too much stress on our already busy household. Our troop started out very small with a core group of 5 girls. These girls are great and were very focused on what they would like to accomplish this year and goal setting for the next few years in Juniors. Since Christmas break the council has added 5 more girls to our troop. The new girls have fit in very well socially, maybe even too well. As, it has become social time for everybody. My co-leader and I are very frustrated at constantly having to stop meetings to remind the girls to respect each other and us. We can't leave pencils or anything on the table as they play with them like 8-year-old boys would. Some of the original girls are upset that goals are not being met because everything takes so much longer to do now. The girls just want to act very, very silly about everything. We have sent notes to parents listing expectations and the troops goals. But, we don't really have any consequences. We've normally relied on positive reinforcement of troop beads. So, if you are a troop leader or have been one are their any suggestions for managing the group dynamics to get me through the next two-and-a-half months? I've got to go to the eye doctor, but will be :bigear: when I get home. TIA Amy

Mine are outside trying to build a fire pit (daddy's idea). We are waiting for daddy to get home from work so that I can take the oldest to the doctor. She has developed a nasty case of poison ivy on her face. We got history reading, phonics/spelling and grammar done before I called it a day. I'll be taking the reading/narration to do while we wait at the doctor's and after the doctor we'll try to get math lessons done with dd10 & dd7.

I enjoy reading everyone's weekly reviews, so I thought I would add mine to the list. Thanks so much for this thread. Amy

Thanks I will try this. I talked with her this evening on the way to soccer and she wants to keep trying with Elizabeth B's phonics lessons. She feels like she is getting a lot out of them and wants to at least finish the whole series. We talked about starting with the Blue-back speller also. The only thing she seems to struggle with are all the vowel combinations for long vowel sounds. She doesn't have troubles with any other phonetic lessons. I really think she gets stuck somewhere processing all the rules in her head while she is trying to sound them out. Plus, she is impulsive in her responses. I've looked at Barton's and the other Orton-Gillingham methods and she is so anti-manipulatives I couldn't use them. And, I didn't say she wasn't reading....it has been a long struggle but she does read independently books such as: Pochantas and the Stranger, A Lion to Guard Us, The Cabin Faced West, George the Drummer Boy, and Daniel Boone. She read those last semester and was able to complete decent, complete oral narrations for them. She comprehends what she is reading, but it is mainly through sight words an context. She just finds reading slow and frustrating. I'm trying to find ways to help her read better and easier. We've had her eyes checked for tracking issues, and she is fine. Thanks for the help.

No, not dyslexic. Very VSL though.

We've tried: 100EZ, OPGTR, HOP, Phonics Pathways, Reading Reflex, Reading Rescue 1-2-3, Homemade phonics cards & activities, and she is currently going through Elizabeth B's online phonics lessons. She has completed through lesson 12 of Elizabeth's program and was doing fine until the long vowel spellings began. She can do the lesson online, but when we review it together she can't recognize that 'meet' and 'met' are not the same word (for example). I'm thinking that I need to put aside the online program for a little while and go through the paper lessons to slow them down at this point. She HATES manipulatives so I've learned to stay away from them. Amy

Since my 10 year old was five I have been working on phonics with her trying a multitude of approaches/curriculum to get her reading, even those designed for dyslexics. Yet, she comes to a complete halt every time we hit long vowel rules. We can go over the rules and go through a lesson, everything is fine. Then we do an application activity and she cannot apply the rule. I feel like crying and she does cry out of frustration. She does read now (mainly because she has memorized words and rhythm), but it is difficult for her and tiring. She gets very interested in reading certain books, but stops after a couple of pages into it because it looks to difficult. Case in point: She asked me to get a copy of 'Time Cat' after doing a narration in WWE. I had to request it from the library and wait. For three days she asked me if the library had called. Picked it up last night, she flipped through it and put it aside. I don't know what we need. Her younger sisters are learning to read so much more easily, which is making it even tougher on her. We've had her eyes checked (tracking issues and everything), and besides needing reading glasses for an astigmatism, everything is fine. I'm frustrated, she is frustrated. She is very perceptive and smart other than her reading/spelling and I am just so afraid that I am failing her somehow. Amy

I had this same virus back in January. Google Antivirus2010 and lots of helps are out there for the steps to download it. It actually confuses your anti-virus programs so that it will not see the virus though it is still there. And, it locked me out of all my pdfs...I was in tears thinking about how much of my childrens' curriculum I might have lost. Through the directions I downloaded Malwarebytes Anti-Malware program and ran it in Safe Mode. It took awhile and was a HUGE pain, and I am pretty computer literate. But, everything came back up once I followed the directions online. Good Luck! Amy