just search on the internet. Allrecipes.com has great recipes. I love the yeast roll recipes that use the dough cycle!

Actually I am not what you would call religious but am using it on rec from another HSer. I am hoping that it will help enlighten me and bring me back to feeling more in touch with my religious roots-KWIM?

This reminds me of my DS who announced that there were "no more good books to read" after he finished reading all the Beverly Cleary books he had. None? He must be in a very small library.:D

I was more alarmed by the "oh well" attitude of the parents. I hate when parents fall back on, "Well what can you do about it" and accept crap as a standard.

Thank you for that! Is there anything on there that a 5th grader boy might use?

I have just this week pulled my DS from school and will not be sending the 2 girls back next year. (oldest DS is in HS and loves it and the DS I just pulled will go on to middle school next year). Anyway here are the comments I am getting and I want to answer with well thought out answers. 1. You aren't going to get all weird now are you? 2. Your kids will not be able to adjust to classrooms after being home with you. 3. Your kids will not have any social skills and be weird. 4. They won't get into colleges. 5. They won't get enough exposure to the "real" world. Thanks for your help.

True. My kids are in public right now(with the exception of the one I just pulled) and I felt very defeated and unable to get what I wanted. At one point I thought perhaps going in everyday and being involved in their classes would change the problems but why do all that work when I can keep them here and educate them better for the same amount of effort. Now I have to tell you that as a mom to 6 I was just beginning to see the light at the end of the "tunnel" with the thought of getting the youngest in preschool in 2 years. FREEDOM!!! FINALLY!!! Now I have swung around and basically committed myself to 11 more years of being home everyday or more if they don't go to middle school public. My friends are stunned that I would do this.

Oh that's normal! Of all my 6 the only one that spoke that early was DS #1 and he knew his dang colors at 15 months!! My little guy just grunts, shakes his head no, waves bye, and does all the "tricks" that his siblings taught him. He was also running by 10 months which was new for me too. Don't stress b/c soon enough you will be looking for tape!!

Wow! Thanks!!

I have to agree with PPs. My 3 yr old is very loud and has some strange issues with wearing his soccer jersey:confused: and his art smock at preschool but he is capable of being quiet. It does sound like he maybe has something else going on.

I just don't know what to think about these things because I feel like we really don't get the real information. I vaccinate on the regular schedule and believe that it is not the vaccine that "causes" autism but there is some link there they haven't discovered.

Yeah that. I did go to a cute dog themed party where they requested dog supplies for the local shelter. THat was cool IMHO.

My DD will be home next year for 5th grade and I will need a program that will help her catch up on what she isn't getting this year and will interest her. She is a slow reader which only makes it worse. Any ideas at ones I can start looking at?

Okay this is not academic related but here goes: DS(14) says yesterday that he has the most fun grandmother in the world...except of course the grandmother his kids will get! That is a huge compliment for me from my HS freshman!

I really love the open ended idea with Tinker Toys but that there are instructions as well. My kids really enjoy all building toys and even my 14 yo DS will sit and make Lego stuff with his younger brothers(dont tell him I said that). The trios have been wonderful for the 3yo ds and the quality is great.

I am trying the 65 program with my DS who I just yanked out of school(very long story). He is in 5th and tested for 65. He is a self starter and picks up things very quickly so I think this method will fit him. He would not have the patience for the spiraling b/c he is like me and just wants to learn it and do it most times. I look forward to commenting on the Saxon math and grammar threads in the future since we will be using both. The choices are astounding!

My DH got me a treadmill and positioned it downstairs so that I can see the projection TV. I pop in a movie and 2 miles fly by!!

There was a time that I could read a novel in 3 days....I think it was 3 kids ago! I just don't find time to read but am going to make it a point to sit with my DS now that he will be homeschooled and "model" what I am teaching. I also plan on reading aloud to him a lot as well. Now finding books for an 11 yr old boy.....

that looks like a fun filler for those days I need to regroup or even the summer!!

I am thinking I may try this one and see how it goes! thanks for the input!

My DS will begin homeschooling tomorrow and the first thing I want to change is his TERRIBLE handwriting. He forms all of his letter from the bottom up and it is just impossible to read and his cursive...well nonexistent. Any suggestions?

Yes he will go to middle school. He really looks forward to it changing classes and harder work will keep him interested. This elementary school is just short of a jail and LOVING ENVIRONMENT is not at all what they are about.

I didnt see an intro page so I picked here-hope that is right. My name is Kristen and I am a mom to 6 and I am pulling DS out of 5th grade. We switched schools last year, under redistricting, and have been miserable. I also have a 9th grade boy who loves HS and is fine where he is, a 4th and Kdg who will finish up the year, and a 3 yo and 15 month old. I taught 1st and 4th grade in the public setting for 6 years and hold a masters in ed. so the teaching part is not what scares me. Being thorough with an wide open plate does-KWIM? Here is my plan for the remainder of the year if you want to give me your thoughts: Saxon 65 math(tested him yesterday) saxon reading/language 5 A beka history 4(using this level b/c it will be more what he does in 6th and 5th was not at all what they are using) Science will be using a variety of literature to hit on topics to incorporate reading(his nemesis) and writing. Wordly wise and a spelling book I got(although he is an amazing speller) he plays travel soccer and is finishing Weblos 2 and rolling to Boy Scouts this month. I will also be getting him together with the local group for a weekly PE class when it warms up. I do live in VA(Fauquier county) and will be using the HEAV.org site as well as joining HSLDA. I am more stressed about next year and making sure that I cover all bases with my younger kids. They will transition into middle school in 6th grade as I really like our middle school and HS. (isn't it usually the opposite?)