I don't think that sounds like a lot at all. My plan is completely flexible, and will change based on various things happening in our life, but looks something like this: French - started at 4yo, will continue. 1st or 2nd grade - add Spanish. 3rd grade - start Latin 6th grade - if she is doing well in the languages she already has, and wants to, add Greek. (For now, she is a huge language buff, of course by then she could want to focus on something else.) (Somewhere in here we will hopefully be able to drop French as a formal study and maybe do a literature course each year in it) 8th/9th grade - another modern language, DD's choice. (And will hopefully drop Spanish somewhere in here as a language and do lit courses) Also, there is a strong possibility that we will be living overseas sometime in the next 10 years, which would change things up. When she is 8 or so, we may go to a French speaking country for a year so I can teach English, in which case she would go to school there and hopefully become fluent in French. Then sometime between 10-12 yo we may be in Brazil for an extended period of time for me to do my dissertation research, in which case she would hopefully learn Portuguese. As a previous poster mentioned, at some point it becomes less about ability and more about time. We have already begun to make sacrifices for languages, DD would much rather learn French than learn how to read, so we do it.

For French, I really like L'Art de Dire, and am doing it with my 4.5 year old. She had minimal exposure to the language before starting the program and is really enjoying it. It may be a little young for the 8 year old, I'm not sure when the switch to the older program, L'Art de Lire, is. (Just one small note: Expect for shipping to take a LONG time. It took me close to 2 months to recieve the program, and I called the company 3 times with no answer and no response. -sigh-)

Honestly... I couldn't describe the lifeguards at any of the pools we've been too... but I don't take my eyes off DD when we are at a pool. She's still young enough that I need to be right there with her at all times.

This was so cute!

Well... I'm in a similar position. My DD is 4.5, knows all her letter sounds, and can read CVC words (and some other longer words that she's picked up by sight without my instruction). But... she's not in any hurry to really "get it". Anytime I try and get her to read instead of just reading to her, she resists. I put it away. Really, what does it matter if she learns to read now, or at 5, or 6, or even 7? Instead of pushing DD to do something she either isn't ready for or flat out doesn't want to do, we are focusing on the things she loves, like science, French, geography, and art. Eventually DD will want to read. I won't be surprised if she reads French before English. So... that's my suggestion! :D Let it go for awhile. Find out what she DOES want to do. The reading will come, and instead of worrying about what she's not getting, you could spend that time discovering a new interest.

I frequent another message board, for foreign language learners. We actually had a long thread recently about when different countries teach foreign languages. And the answer is... it depends. In other countries you seem to have much more standardization across the country (as compared to the US, where states determine education matters), but different countries don't necessarily learn the same languages at the same time. But, to make (wide, sweeping, over-) generalizations, they start one language when a kid enters school (other than the community language), by 10-11 add another, and by high school add another.

I can only speak for myself. And what I do know is that when I was an unmedicated and out of control bipolar, I wrote *a lot* of poetry, fiction, works of that type, but had a much harder time staying focused and motivated to finish research papers and the historical fiction I love to write (which requires research and methodical writing). Now that I am more in control I find I have a much harder time writing fiction or poetry, but I am better able to do the research required for papers and historical fiction, and stay better motivated to finish those.

It depends. DD (almost 5) does A LOT of crafting on her own. As in, I'm doing my own homework and she drags out the supplies she wants and starts crafting without any input from me. Other times, I'll bring out certain supplies with a vague sense of what I'd like to do in mind, tell her, and then pretty much just sit and watch to see what happens. If I have a very specific craft in mind, I'll take more of a hands on approach to get the result I want. For something like you described, where it'll look cute no matter what happens, I would do nothing more than get out the supplies and tell DD what we were doing. (Of course, she's really good about rinsing out the brush and not mixing colors unless she's trying to make a new color).

Living in the United States, I would think most kids would benefit more from Latin American Spanish. Unless of course they had family from Spain and would actually get to use it. DD will be learning LA Spanish, with an eye towards us living in LA for 6-12 months when she's older.

At first, DD enjoyed it. But it quickly became way too repetitious. Once she learns something, she wants to move on, not click the same word over, and over, and over, and over..... :tongue_smilie: And I didn't like that she could pretty much guess. It didn't feel like she was learning much. Luckily we had gotten it through a free trial, and didn't renew.

Do I ever feel this way? All. the. time. Do I have people I can be "smart" around? Not really. My best friend and I have many, many conversations about religion, politics, philosophy, etc. but, when it comes to literature and history (two of my biggest loves!) she isn't interested. Plus... for the most part, we share very, very similar religious/philosophical beliefs. I love it, but I also enjoy a good debate sometimes. Other than that, I am sort of the oddball among my friends. The strange one with all the books. And on campus... I'm in a weird middle spot. I'm surrounded by 18, 19, 20 year old kids and professors. The other students in my classes are just too young and irresponsible for me to relate with, but the professors (who I have much more in common with) are supposed to be in a position of authority over me, and so the relationship could only go so far.

Fiction: Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon by Jorge Amado. Nonfiction: Born in Blood and Fire. Both books reflect my recently discovered passion for Latin American history.

uhm. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that you definitely can NOT color white chips with the Wilton jars.... One batch of chocolate ruined. The cake balls ended up being a bust anyway, proving that I am just not meant to bake!! :glare:

I actually considered doing both of these things. But... I need to have a plan. Our lives are too busy right now to be rearranging things. And DD is just 4 (well, as she says, almost 5!), and even though she has an amazing memory, I feel like it would be a big leap to make. Maybe next year when we start SOTW we can do Little Passports as a fun supplement/reminder of what we've learned this year... :tongue_smilie:

Thank you both!!! :D Ended up getting over 30 books out from the library for the next month, and had to narrow the original list. :tongue_smilie:

We are headed out of town for the next month or so, and stopped at the library to pick up the books we'll need. Of course, I remembered to grab one list and forgot the second list. Does anyone have handy the teacher's guide for Elemental Science - Intro to Science? I have the main books, I just need to know what the first 4 chapters are about so I can grab some supplement books. One chapter is on... melting? Then density.... :confused: Thanks so much!! :D

Depends on my mood, and the attitude of the person saying it. I often get people telling me they couldn't do it, meaning they really couldn't handle the responsibility of educating their children. If I'm in a good mood, I say (very graciously) "Well, it really isn't for everyone". If I'm in a bad mood, or someone says it meaning they couldn't handle being around their children all the time I say something along the lines of "Probably not". lol. I try to avoid saying that... but sometimes it just slips out... :glare:

I don't sneak snacks in, for a variety of reasons. While I am trying to teach my daughter to think for herself, (and sometimes that means not following arbitrary rules just because they are there), I don't think this is a ridiculous rule. Movie theaters are a business, and need to make money somehow. Besides, we only go to the movies once or twice a year, and half the fun is the buttery, unhealthy popcorn, the cheesy gooey nachos, the huge vat of soda, and yummy chocolate candy. (Yes... we go all out. :D We eat healthy most of the time.... one or two nights a year of unhealthiness won't hurt. lol)

Well... DD is a long, long way from grown, and I hope to have more children (and not for another... 10 years!!) so this isn't an issue for me for a lifetime. But, I imagine I'll be spending the holiday with my children. Eventually I hope to move permanantly to another country, probably Brazil or another South American country, so I guess I'll fly home and visit. (Or fly them out to visit me! :D) But.... who really knows. I have at least 14 years until I have to worry about that, most likely longer.

It looks like a really great program. I just wish there was some way to pick what country you get each month. We are doing GTG, if I could coordinate Little Passports with that I would definitely sign up!

Hm. Well, my main reason for homeschooling is academic. Homeschooling was always on my radar, but when DD reached 3 and I started looking into preschools I realized no where would be able to meet her needs. She is at least a little advanced in all subjects, but is a typical 4 year old socially/physically. The only school in my area that would be acceptable is a private Christian school, but since I'm a single mother, there is no money in the budget for that. Homeschooling it is! :D As we've spent more time at home learning together, we have both come to really love it. She may or may not go to kindergarten for a year while I finish up my degree, but if she does, she'll be back home the next year.

Well, for the first half of the year I'll be saving for a trip. I'm hoping to do a study abroad trip to Brazil over the summer to start learning Portuguese and get some in-country experience in the country I'd like to study in graduate school. It is almost 7,000 dollars though, but I'm hoping to get some scholarships... For the second half of the year I'll be saving for.... Christmas. :tongue_smilie: 2012 I'll start saving up for a big move we'll be making in the summer of 2013. Not sure where we are going yet, but chances are it'll be far away and to a place with higher living expenses than where we are now. One of these days I'll actually get together a savings account...

On a daily basis I am wading through difficult non-fiction historical works.... occasionally it is nice to pick up a book that involves absolutely no thinking and just zone out while envisioning a world where happily-ever-after actually happens! :D

I am the queen of procrastination. Seriously. Friends and family seriously question my ability to maintain a 4.0 AND homeschool DD... because it seems I am unable to do anything at any time other than the last minute. Quite ridiculous. I've bought exactly two gifts. One for Christmas, and one for DDs birthday 3 weeks later. Not sure what else I'm going to be able to afford really.

There's a children's version of Marley and Me??? Oooh... I'm excited now. :D (For my daughter of course..)