We are in Fairfax county and have submitted the CAT for the last two years, no problem. We got it from Seton -- very fast & efficient. Good luck!

Thanks, Rockermom!

We recently bought some English books from Galore Park -- while I wound up purchasing the correct levels (I think) for my kids based on the sample pages, I admit I am confused about the testing levels/ISEB stages listed for many of the Galore Park books. Does anyone know the approx. grade levels (US) or ages that correspond to the various testing levels (Key Stages) in Britain? Thanks!

Oh...and one more thing. I noticed some people mentioned the Holocaust Museum. It is VERY well done and VERY moving/emotional. BUT, not really for a 5 and 8 yo. They have a kids' section that tells the Holocaust from the perspective of a young boy. That is fine, if you prepare them. It is sad, but they do a good job of keeping it on a kid level. But I tried to take my 11 yo through the adult portion of the museum and wound up having her close her eyes for most of it. Even though she is very mature and has read Anne Frank, understands the events of the time, it was too much in many rooms. I have been to Auschwitz in Poland and I still found many of the exhibits emotionally overwhelming. Just an fyi. I think it is something worth seeing, just be prepared to go through the museum separately, while the other parent stays with the kids.

We live just outside of DC and have kids around the ages of your dds. We moved here two years ago and we have really been doing the area up since we got here. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me. A few notes: As far as tours of the White House -- you need to schedule those in advance with your congressman/woman's or senator's office. You usually need a couple of months notice to get the reservations. IMO, not worth the effort. It is no longer a "tour" with a guide, just a walk through, with very little information. (Unless it has changed since Obama took office, but I think he has been busy with other things. lol) I second skipping the Capitol tour -- we just did that and it is a bit dry for the younger crowd. My kids love the National Gallery of Art (the only Leonardo da Vinci in the Western hemisphere), the Air & Space, Natural History and the American History Museums on the Mall. The Archives is pretty cool, too (especially if they have seen National Treasure movie lol). One a lot of people miss that is really nice is the National Portrait Gallery -- all the presidents' portraits are there and they have a children's scavenger hunt in the American art wing. Oh, and if you are here before March 22, the West Gallery of the National Gallery of Art has an exhibit on Pompeii that my kids enjoyed -- they have a really nice activity booklet for the kids that takes them on a scavenger hunt of the exhibit. Lots of Roman gods and such. The zoo is a good day trip, but if it is nice out, it can get really crowded. I guess it depends where you are coming from -- I think zoos in some of the other big cities are just as nice and if you have to choose between a zoo and a historical site, I would say go with the history. If it is warm enough you have to walk the stretch from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol. Really nice. And my kids loved the ride to the top of the Washington Monument -- but you have to get tickets for it. Free, but you need them. Mount Vernon is a lot of fun, but farther outside the city. If you have a car, it is worth the drive, though. Hope that helps!

We have some of the Harry Potter science kits -- the kids liked them. The Hogwarts School thing sounds great. I just signed up to join the group. :) Thanks!

Ah ha! Luna -- you are a gem! That is the one I was thinking about. I thought it was a "P" -- I was searching Paradise, Pearson...but it was Perfection. Thank you!!

I once found a language arts/reading comprehension workbook for the Harry Potter books. It was by some obscure publisher, and I could not find them for sale anywhere else except on their website. When we had to get a new computer, I lost all my favorites and now I can't find it. I know Scholastic does a reading guide, but this was a workbook, with activities to go along with the reading (kind of along the lines of Novel Units). Do this ring a bell with any of you? Or do you know of any other such books? My kids are into reading (and rereading in some cases) Harry Potter right now and I need a nice way to throw some more learning in. :) Thanks!

I tried to encourage my dd (8) to do the more educational games (My French Tutor, Brainage) and, while she does enjoy them and will do them from time to time, her favorite, hands down, is the High School Musical 3 game. She also likes Kit (American Girl) and Harry Potter (I think she has the Order of the Phoenix). Merry Christmas!

How comfortable do you feel with the program? I have been looking into the program and it looks comprehensive, but I don't believe the author has a language arts background (unlike the woman who does AG, for example). I just want to make sure that everything is accurate and it is complete. I am looking for my 1st & 4th-graders. Thanks!

After two years of an ecclectic/WTM approach, we did Calvert for 3, 4 & 5 with one dd and last year we did 3 & 6 w/ both dds at the same time. We liked it. I think Calvert is a good, solid program. I was not thrilled with their grammar program (any year), but we supplemented. My dds both liked it. We are going a different route this year for a multitude of reasons, but would go back to it if need be. We really liked grade 6 -- thelesson manual is written to the student and my dd loved that. :)

Good luck!! Come on, Baby! Here's hoping you are holding your little baby bundle in your arms soon! :grouphug:

I have to agree. A few threads out there today were my first taste of "disagreement" on these boards and I have to say that I was surprised (given the emotional issue) how well people hashed out their ideas and thoughts. There were a few who took it a bit harder than others, but overall, it is heartening to know that you can be a part of the hive, no matter your stand on certain issues. Ok, we do rock. :001_smile:

Don't take this the wrong way -- I DO NOT think any baby, regardless of health, gestation age, whatever, should be but in a dirty linen closet. And I am not commenting on the procedure that put them in such a position. They should be treated with dignity and grace. But, that said, I don't believe the video was talking about babies that are well enough/old enough to be put up for adoption. I believe the nurse said most live only a few minutes. I think even that baby should be held and shown care. But, my earlier point was that the video uses propaganda and strong images (full term baby being left in a room alone) to give the impression that is what you mention is actually happening.

Well said. There is a lot to look at in the coming months.

This practice scares me,and I want to look into this further, to find out more -- how he voted, what he voted for, etc. How McCain voted. But I will admit that the video lost a bit of credibility for me with their reinactment -- the babies they showed are obviousy full term babies. While leaving any baby out to die like that, regardless of term, is just sickening, it is not an accurate picture to show that Obama supports what was shown. I am not saying that I support such legislation, or even what he voted for (once I determine what that actually was), I just tend to be sceptical of such youtube videos on the internet -- you never know who is telling the truth -- it is like the campaign ads on tv. The group that put out the video is nohussein.com (obvious emphasis on the hussein part of his name) -- so they are very anti-Obama.

It was great yesterday. My husband had to work, so we dropped him off at 10:30 and planned on just going to one museum and then head home. We wound up staying all day and taking him home at 9:00 pm! We wen to the Air and Space Museum, ate at the Art Gallery, did schoolwork (to get a head start on this week, as we have a lot to do) by the fountain across from the Archives, walked the Mall, did the merry-go-round, at dinner (ok, so it was a pricey day! lol), then after we picked up dh, we couldn't resist a last minute stop at the Lincoln Memorial. The sun was setting and it was SO pretty! The Wash. Monument reflecting on the pool. Really did seem like a vacation! We don't know how long we will be here, so we throw days like that in when we can. :001_smile:

I am not sure what is going on in your life right now, but I wish you strength. Please don't feel that all hope is lost -- with any situation, homeschooling included, it is what you have built into the child's foundation that is most important. Your girls are not wonderful just because they were homeschooled. As their parents, you have taught them well and now you have to trust that that is enough. I was not homeschooled. Yes, I made mistakes, but we all do. Did I make them because I was sent to school? I don't think so. If the situation arises where we can no longer homeschool our kids, as sad as I would be to close the chapter, I would have to trust that they have the skills (in heart and mind) to succeed. It would be hard, yes. But it is the parental involvement in a child's life that can make all the difference -- good or bad, depending on the parent. By caring so very much, you have shown yourself to be one of the good ones. :) Just love them and help them thrive.

You will have a blast! DC is very manageable. I found that to be so, even with 4 kids. We moved to VA last year and just yesterday we played tourist (which we still are!) and spent the whole day in the city. (We live about 15 miles from DC). If you have any specific questions, I can try to help! Have fun!

Where in VA are you moving? :001_smile: Or did I miss that? Good luck! I moved to VA from HI last year, 28 weeks pg. Arrived in an ice storm. Fun. lol

Oh, and to answer your other questions -- I don't use the Besherelle books now -- my kids are not old enough, or that far in their French studies, to need them yet. But I used them quite a bit in grad school. :001_smile:

I believe (but don't quote me) that they are the same book. There is the Bescherelle Complete Guide to Conjugating 12,000 French Verbs (in English) and then the French version of the same book, L'Art de Conjuguer (which is essentially an updated version of the 1980s book La Conjugaison 12000 Verbes and the 1990s book La Conjugaison Pour Tous). It is basically a resource for all the various (and sometimes difficult) conjugations of French verbs -- very complete.

:drool: WOW!!! GEORGEOUS!! I will say it...I am jealous! :tongue_smilie:

My d 11 used Calvert 6 this past year. Between two of my dc, we have used Calvert 3 through 6, and I think Calvert gets better and more in depth after 4. I think 6 is a solid program. It covers quite a bit and some of the lessons are quite intensive. I did not really like the grammar program, nor did my dd. I would probably supplement with something else if I had to do it over. It is very text-book heavy, but it gives a good overview in History and Science. Geography covers a lot of countries that you don't normally study. She liked the books they read, which included Phantom Tollbooth and King Arthur legends. The ATS tests -- I didn't think they were worth it, to be honest. They are expensive and I just did not find the teacher comments to be all that constructive. No more than I could do, for sure. I would give more, I think. It is little more than a correcting service in many ways. You can get the tests and answers and correct it yourself for less money. And, it forces you to know what they are doing. :) There is a tendency to let the Lesson Manual do the work. Oh, and in 6th, it is written to the student, not the parent. Hope that helps, some. PM me if you have specific questions.

I think maybe I am just going to do the same - a few pages a day. Maybe 1 or 2 since she is younger and has had no Latin yet. Thanks!