My paternal g'ma: Birdell Gwendolyn (she was very proud of the Gwendolyn), her sisters were Leonora, Mary, and Thelma. My maternal g'ma: Genela (no middle name), her sisters were: Lola Frances, Mary, and Callie Lois. A few days before my dd, Caroline, was born, my ancestry-searching cousin called to tell of her findings. We had a great-great grandmother who was named Emily Caroline. (We knew her initials from her tombstone, but she had been called Bill:confused:; so we didn't know what the initials stood for). Anyway, I was pleased because we had already decided on Caroline because I loved the name; the family connection was an added bonus. A few months later, my mom went to the cemetery. This Emily Caroline died on August 9, 1899. My Caroline was born on the same day!! (several years later, of course). Later, when I started doing more ancestry research of my own, I found another paternal grandmother and a great-aunt named Emily Caroline. I might have used that had I known. My Caroline has my middle name, which is Melissa - also another great-grandmother's name. Sorry for the novel but I love discussing names:blush5: Melissa

Congratulations! Melissa

I don't have as many books as you - just @ 1200. It keeps me from buying duplicate books. You can also categorize your books: SOTW I, for instance for all of the books that I used with it. I don't have the scanner thing, I just entered ISBN #s. It did take a while, but I took my time. HTH, Melissa

Wow! I could have written this post!! This is exactly how dh & I are. We also usually save up our occassion presents for tax refund time so we don't feel guilty about spending. In my family, pre DH, we told each other what we wanted for birthdays or Christmas. In fact, my db and I would buy ourselves what we wanted (within the set spending limit), and we'd bring our own gifts to the get-together. This same brother always wanted people to get what they really wanted. When my dd was @ 3, he was buying her a stuffed bear. He called me from the aisle at Toys R Us asking me which one she would want. He was describing them, etc. I told him to pick the one he thought she would like, but he insisted I tell him which one I would choose. He passed away a few years ago, and I really miss him! I got teary just writing that:crying: I've enjoyed reading the stories! Melissa

This is the method I use as well. When I reallly gear up to do a lot of freezer cooking, I wouldn't have enough pans to use if I didn't do this. HTH, Melissa

I am so relieved to see this thread! Other than the moving part, I could have written the original post. I have been mainly lurking here for @ five years, but I seldom post. I always feel like a lot of my posts would only be a ditto to something someone else had already posted. (Although I'm sure she said it more eloquently than I):) It's nice to know I'm in good company:D Melissa

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a sensitive smeller.:001_smile: After reading this, though, maybe I'll try again! Melissa

I agree. Sell now. I'm working on only keeping the really good trade books (versus curriculum). HTH, Melissa

Jeri, The idea of me explaining how to do anything to do with computers is very laughable:lol: , but I'll try: You need a microphone. Some monitors have them built in. Our newer monitor does not; so I bought one from Wal-Mart. It looks like something a pilot would wear: with headphones and a wire that comes down to your mouth. It cost less than $20. In Real Player, (I imagine we downloaded this; I'm sure we didn't spend much money on it) under tools, there is a place to click called 'record with mic'. I just click on this button. There is a chance to name whatever you are recording. I read each poem, verse, song three times in a row. Then I set up a playlist for each of my children with the appropriate poem, verse, song, etc. I have burned them on cds before, but now they just listen to their lists from the computer. I hope this helps. I'm sure someone on here can explain this better than I. I got the idea originally from Katherine a few years back. HTH, Melissa

We all enjoy it. To save money, I only bought the book. I photocopied the charts for each child. Each child has his/her own notebook with the charts at the beginnning. Behind the charts is a copy of the poems. I have them copy the poems for copywork. (Not daily; just once to get their copy in their notebooks - although we do use them for copywork sometimes after the fact.) I didn't want to purchase the CD, because of money. So, I recorded the poems on our computer, and the kids each have a playlist of his/her poems. I also add scripture and ambleside-ish work as well. This has worked for us pretty well this year. We aren't as far along as I'd like to be, but they do know the passages well that we have done so far. HTH, Melissa

I would send a plant to your sil's house. I love the peace lily that I received after my brother died from cancer. I work extra hard at making sure it stays alive. :001_smile: My brother was also in his forties with three children, and we live in GA; so I felt I had to respond. It's been five years, but I miss him every day. I'll be praying for your sil and family. HTH, Melissa

Thanks Julie!:thumbup: Melissa

I agree. I also live in GA, and taught in two counties before "retiring" to have children and then, consequently, homeschool. The teachers can have their children go to any school within the school system of the school in which they teach They are responsible for transportation. They can't, however, go to a school that is not in their system (Unless that is where they live). It also is not a courtesy provided through the teachers' organizations, but through the school systems. It truly is a perk to teaching, but not a big enough of one to persuade me to go back to the classroom. LOL

[but he is a master at creating characters with rich *minds*. He's got this odd stream-of-consciousness thing going with so many of his characters that is totally believeable--I always catch myself saying, "People DO think like this! We DO have weird thoughts and imaginings and mental tangents like that!" I have thought this same thing while reading his books! That said, our children will not be able to read them (if they choose) until they are 17 or 18. I don't think that all people can handle the imagery or should even try. I was not a Christian when I began reading King as a young teen and think I should have waited. Now, as a Christian, I have no qualms about putting down one of his stories if it's too much and there are a few of his books I will not revisit but keep for nostalgia. :) I would also agree with this. I read them younger than this, and I grew up in a Christian home. However, my mom never monitored this kind of entertainment. My dd, 14, has not shown an interest, but I would rather she wait until 17 or 18. The Stand stayed with me for a long time after reading. The mini-series is not a bad retelling. It comes on the Sci-Fi channel fairly often. It's a very thought-provoking story. HTH, Melissa

Bev, How did you become accredited? Was it just for your homeschool, or do you run a center? I read the guidelines for accreditation, and I wasn't sure how it worked for an individual at home. Thanks for any information, Melissa

Country Girl, After reading that your dh was wanting the testing atmosphere, I wouldn't recommend Sylvan. Of course all of the centers are run differently, but, at ours, we give the student as long as he needs to complete the test. (We are able to give two scores: one timed, one untimed.) We also allow the student to bring a snack and take frequent breaks. It wouldn't really be the same type of setting as a test given at school. Colleen, Thanks for the kind words. :) HTH, Melissa

A question for you about the CAT...I know they only administer the Reading and Math portions (not the science etc.) but do they administer all the subtests for those sections? No, they only give the comprehension and vocabulary for the reading. The math given is computation and concepts/application, which, I think, is all of the math. Have you thought about giving the CAT yourself? I know there are places where you can send off for the test, give it, and then send the test back to be scored. I am planning on doing that this year for my dc. (GA requires a standardized test every three years.) I don't know exactly where to find this, but I know it's available. I was going to ask for specifics from the hive when it was closer to time. HTH, Melissa

Country Girl, If you decide to go ahead with testing at Sylvan, keep these things in mind: 1. The kindergarten/first grade (Beginning Reading Program) test is not what you would want. This test is not the greatest in my opinion. It tests recognizing a letter, writing a letter, and knowing its sound all in one fell swoop. This could account for those who were told their child needed instruction below their current level. If there is a good Director of Education at the Sylvan, he/she would not actually have the student start at the beginning if they were already reading - maybe just throw a lot of handwriting practice in with a higher level of reading. 2. You would need to ask for the CAT at grade level. This would give you an indication, based on grade-level, where your son is performing. It would depend on each Sylvan, I suppose, whether they would do this. I know at the Sylvan where I work, we have worked with homeschoolers who want to give their husbands or in-laws an indication of how well their child is doing. 3. Sylvan is a business. Obviously, it wants you to use its services. I'm sure some Sylvan Centers will push the sales tactics more than others. Someone posted about how long it would take to get a child to grade-level. Just FYI and because I feel a bit defensive, Sylvan's "formula" is that it takes thirty-six hours to complete a grade level. Each question on the CAT is broken down by skills taught by Sylvan. So, if a student misses several questions on adding three-digit numbers with regrouping, that's what we would teach. The math program is set up to fill in those gaps the student doesn't master. (We see a lot of growth in our math program). 4. Sylvan, or any other "tutoring/learning center", serves a purpose. Many parents don't know how to work with their children, or they don't understand the material themselves. I am a certified teacher, with a Master's degree, who homeschools, but I still see the need for some students to have extra help. Regardless of my choices for my family (homeschooling), I still hope and pray that other parents do what they can to make sure that their children reach their full potential. 5. As far as any accelerated learning, Sylvan is not really the best choice. It does have a fairly good speed reading course, but that's not recommended until middle school, at least. Good luck with your decision, Melissa

We skipped level 7 of R&S; went to 8 for pre-algebra; then the first four Keys to Algebra books. From there to Jacob's Algebra. It's been a smooth transition. HTH, Melissa

I work at Sylvan. The tests they give are: the California Achievement Test (CAT), the Gray Oral Reading Test (GORT), and a Sylvan-made test that checks phonics skills by having the student read made-up words to see if they decode correctly. (Schools in our area give a similar test, but I don't know the name). These tests would be if your student was coming in for reading. The vocabulary and comprehension would be the only parts of the CAT that would be given. For math, the calculations and concepts and applications would be the only parts of the CAT given. There would also be a timed basic math facts given. We have had a few homeschooled children who would just take the CAT's four parts that are given at Sylvan for their parents to gauge their progress. (There are other parts of the CAT: Social Studies, Science, Spelling, but Sylvan is not set up to give those parts.) It would depend on each individual center whether or not to do this. Some centers you would still have to listen to a sales pitch. HTH, Melissa

No, I've never joined. Besides hsing my four kids, I've had to work part-time, and I never felt like I could commit to joining anything extra (other than church). We may look into some of their high school courses for next year, though. My oldest will be in 9th grade. Gulp! :eek: Where in N. Ga did you move? My mother grew up in Demorest, and she bought her childhood home. I love going up there, but I don't get up there as much as I'd like.

Rebecca, I love Carrollton! I lived at Woodland Christian Camp many summers while in high school and college. I thought your avatar may be a picture taken at Woodland? Small world, Melissa

Hey Milseain, I grew up in Forest Park. My parents still live there. Whereabouts do you live? I live in Sharpsburg. In between Peachtree City and Newnan on the southside of Atlanta. Fun thread. Melissa