We began using TGS after our vbs wrapped up this summer. We've completed one unit (we started in the middle to reinforce what the children had been hearing at VBS). So far, it's been wonderful. When I brought out the book this morning my son jumped up and exclaimed "ooh, my favorite book!" This has never happened before and we've used a couple of very popular bible studies already. I love the easygoing pace, the allusions to Legos, and the plethora of activities. I love that whole passages of scripture are studied each week instead of one verse. I love that this study helps me tell my son who Jesus is and why I love Him so. I can't wait for next week's lesson and next year's book. For those of you considering the book for older children, each lesson is introduced with a "note to parents" which I think could be used to bring the lesson up to their level.

Would somebody please explain the scanner and quality paper to me. I think I have an idea but I am not sure. I need a good laugh today. You could scan money and print much more.

:bigear:

:iagree: Also, Reception isn't intended for everyday use. You could follow the program and play mathy games on alternate days.

Another "other" for MEP!

I use the Bento app for iPod touch as my homeschool planner, but I'm sure there's something better out there.

I saw someone mentioned couponmom's site. She also has a book I found at my library. She details an overall strategy for lowering your food budget of which coupons are just a part. Reading about an overall strategy in book form has been more helpful than getting bits and pieces of good advice from the Internet. Despite her blog name, Couponmom doesn't hesitate to let you know for what items you should give up on coupons and head to Costco.

I'm looking for the same thing. These will hang over my living room sofa, so I'd like them to be handsome. I love the look of the vintage ones on eBay, but not the price. I might buy a couple of the national geographic classic maps from maps.com.

I painted the back of the glass of two 11 x 17 picture frames. I use dry erase markers to put the current month on one and the next month on the other. I like how the painted glass looks, but I think I'll try slipping a fabric printed with squares behind the glass next time. The monthly calendars are hung next to two larger frames that I painted with magnetizing paint and chalkboard paint. The week's activities go on the chalkboard.

I thought since it was a soap rather than a detergent, you shouldn't use it if you have hard water. I stopped using it after I read that somewhere. Can't wait to introduce my ants to the good doctor, though.

I wouldn't be homeschooling either. I always thought homeschoolers were just running away from bad schools or bad influences. I live within walking distance of some of the best schools in a great school district. Reading TWTM, however, convinced me to walk away from good enough and strive for something better.

Thanks, Jen. The mommy-made book is on my list, but I didn't know about the other book. Paula, I've been very careful to refer to the rods as toys. I made a big production of it when they arrived in the mail. Ds spread them around the table for about ten minutes but hasn't touched them since. Of course dd who has yet to meet a choking hazzard she doesn't love, wants them badly.

My Miquon materials are all here and I've read the Notes and some of the diary, lab annotations, and orange and red workbooks. I don't think my ds will be ready to dive into the orange book, so we're going to spend some time playing with the rods and other games/activities to get him ready. I've found many suggestions for play here and elsewhere. My plan is to list all of the games in order of difficulty. Then five days a week, spend an allotted amount of time trying the games. If he doesn't like a game or doesn't get it, we will try something else or return to one he likes. I was thinking of using music as a cue that it's game time. I know it sounds like I'm sucking the joy out of math play, but if I don't have some sort of plan, math will get lost in the shuffle or I'll play the games I'm familiar with over and over again. I'd love to hear how you decide what miquon or miquonesqe activities you'll attempt for the day. After all, I ordered miquon because of you. :)

I'm nervous I won't be able to teach miquon, as well, but I got tired of my indecision and ordered all the teachers manuals, the rods, and the first two workbooks. Can't wait until it's all here so I can try it out. I'm sure I'll be right back here with a bunch of q's. Hopefully the toughest part will be keeping his sister from eating the rods.

Orange book on backorder. Grrrr.

Inspiring! Thanks for posting!

Just wanted to second the suggestion to start with a zero sum budget and cash envelopes. It's my job to calculate the budget each month and it was tough the first several months. It's easier now, though, and makes the rest of the baby steps possible. You can really see God's provision for your family through the budget process.

Wow. Thank you all for your thoughtful responses. I've read so many of your posts in other threads and I really appreciate that you have taken the time to show another newbie the ropes. I think I'm still leaning towards Miquon. There just doesn't seem to be any reason not to try it this summer. It won't have a script, but I think I'll get by with annotations and the diary.

Looks like Miquon is suggested for first graders. Should I begin when he is older? I really like the suggestions in posts here and in WTM to teach math literacy through play and daily living, but I have utterly failed with that approach. I crave a program that tells me that if we complete X activity on X days this week ds's little mind will have been sufficiently exposed and stretched in such a way that he will be ready to study math when the time comes.

:willy_nilly: I'm lost. My head hurts. I was all set to order Saxon K for ds today, but after reading more posts here (my new favorite hobby), I'm thinking about Miquon. From what I gather, these curricula are on opposite ends of the spectrum? So yes, my head is spinning. If I tell you what I know about me and my ds will you point me in the right direction? My ds will be five at the end of August. He'll begin K with Classical Conversations about that time. He's begun working through 100 EL. (He's on lesson 18). He's wiggly and protests when I say it's time for his reading lesson, but if I have to deal with the baby in the middle of a lesson, he'll sound out words to himself while he waits for me to return. He was in a Montessori preschool when he was 3. He refuses to do something when he's afraid he'll do it wrong. I am new to homeschooling. I have learned that even though I am a laid back Type B minus personality, I do well with a scripted, short lesson everyday approach like 100EL. So for math, I can't follow the suggestions to just play lots of board games because I'll treat them as optional and I'll rarely make time for them. I'd like to begin math when the weather turns brutal here (late June) so we have something to do when we're hiding from mosquitos and heat stroke and so that our daily math and reading lessons are routine when it's time to begin CC. Can you help us?

Ah, now it makes sense. Thank you all.

I think I've decided on Saxon math k for my ds, but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to buy. Saxon website has teacher manual, meeting book, and manipulatives. Posts on for sale forum also mention workbooks part one and two. What do I need?

I'm a newbie and though I have a feeling that replying to old posts is not the way to go, I would love to hear an update on your year of Kindergarten at Classical Conversations. Was it what you had hoped? Did you have time for all the memory work and phonics and math?

We're considering Classical Conversations for K next year as well. Ds will be a young Ker, but he loved the class we observed and I loved the community and the accountability.