Can anyone offer me any guidance on where I can learn to create a podcast? I know how to download them, but how does one make them? Thanks so much in advance!

My DD is 6yo and has had a Leapster for a while. I asked around here before buying one, and it got rave reviews (do a search for "leapster" on the board here and a bunch of stuff will likely come up). It's a pretty good gizmo. Perhaps starfall.com would be helpful? Is your 5yo doing any reading yet? If so, maybe go to homeschoolbuyersco-op.org and look into Explode the Code online? Our 6yo likes to hang out at nickjr.com and pbskids.org to play games too. HTH!

We are at the point in Saxon Math 1 where we are about to do the lesson on liquid measures... gallon, pint, quart, etc. I don't have all of these containers easily handy around the house and don't much feel like chasing them down. (i know... bad homeschool mom) Anyone know of any websites/visuals on-line that might be handy? TIA!!!

MamaBear, That is too funny! I say that because on the first day of school here in Chicago (sept 8), which is when DD1 would have started K if we'd opted to send her, we were asked, "no school today?" while out on an errand in the neighborhood. It did give me that "official" feeling! :D

Illinois doesn't require notification. In fact, the law is deleriously, wonderfully lax. The compulsory attendance age is 7yo, but DD1 would have started K this year if we'd signed on. So I say we're officially homeschooling. Did that make sense? It's late. I'm a bit punchy. ;)

I haven't read all of the replies, so forgive any repetitions here... Come to my block in Chicago! There's a Catholic church two blocks due south of me. And if that one doesn't suit you, there's a lovely on in the neighborhood due west of me and the one due south of me.;) And the homeschooling laws in IL are waaaay laid-back. Nothing to file, report, send in. And if anyone notices that DD1 is not in school, it's up to Chicago Public Schools to pursue any questioning about it. So we assume that it will never, ever happen!

perhaps this helps??? fast forward to 3:45. it's not terribly, ummm, "dainty" but it made me laugh. and their stories are supposed to be based on real stories told my moms. and i would have handed you paper towels and a kind word, too. all the while saying things like, "huh, this is usually *my* kid, so i know where you're coming from..."

Well, this give me a direction to check out. Thank you! Looks promising!

I'm hoping some of you might be able to help me. I am in search of a table for the room where we will mainly homeschool. I'm hoping for about 18" high (so we can sit on cushions and won't need chairs) and long enough for me to work with 6yo DD1 while her little sister scribbles away too. And the kicker -- I want it to fold up. Our homeschool room serves a lot of other purposes, so I want to be able to put it away. Suggestions? My hunt so far as been fruitless. Thanks in advance!!

If it helps, we use Carbonite.com. $50 a year, it's always there, we never have to think about it. Just a thought! :001_smile:

Here in the city, it's considered a "free speech issue." http://www.wgntv.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3175359 I live in a neighborhood with various adult shops, but there is no way that kids can get into them. However, I can't take my kids with me to look for a book outside of the kids' section out of concern that they will see something that would otherwise only be available in one of these adult shops. I use the Chicago Public Library website. I order what I want, wait for it to come in, go to the front desk, check it out, then get the hell out of there.

If you can get over to Delmar on the Central West End, you could check out Fitz's. They brew their own root beer there, so it's fun to go for a root beer float and watch the assembly line. (the regular food is kinda "meh.") There's also an Ethiopian place whose name completely escapes me at the moment, but that I know that I've enjoyed. Don't forget to have toasted ravioli! (a local delicacy) (i'm a st. louis native who doesn't get downtown nearly enough anymore...)

The Frank Lloyd Wright thing is a good idea -- I think Oak Park is where most of his stuff is. The DD's & I had a fun day at the Brookfield Zoo today, our first time there. If you want to check out the lakefront, perhaps go to Northwestern University in Evanston and meander the campus. It's quite pretty along the Lake. Have fun!

5 1/2 yo DD1 has been using Rosetta Stone, which I would recommend. Perhaps it would be worth it to try just Level 1 -- I think there's a money-back guarantee. Also, check out Language Stars (languagestars.com) on Elston. DD1 has been going there a few years now, and we plan to start 2 1/2 yo DD2 there in September. You can call to arrange a free preview class. Hope that helps!

Our gym has an amazing child care facility, which we utilize a lot. The DD's love it there; I love having two hours to work out and shower in peace. One of the gals who has been working there for the last few years and who knows my kids well has opted to move to Texas. Her last day is Friday. People who are moving don't generally need more stuff to move. But I'm hoping to do something for her. Suggestions?

Gold Star for you today! DH has confronted bullies before. We were in a convenience store in our neighborhood once when he waited behind a guy who -- sorry to say it -- was clearly not from our neck of the woods. The guy was verbally berating the clerk, who was very nervous. DH told him to knock it off, that we don't do that around here. Bad Man threatened him. DH -- all 5'9" of him -- just looked him in the eye and said, "gee, i'm shaking." Bad Man stomped out of the store and screeched away in his car. Never saw him again. Bullies often (sadly, not always) will back down if you just call them on it. Good for you for standing up for a child!!

That's fantastic! Those are wonderful moments, aren't they? Enjoy!

After 17 years in the Chicago system, DH was thrilled when I floated the idea and was immediately behind it for reasons related to both academics and values. Because especially in the computer age, we don't really need a brick and mortar school anymore. Because I took 5.5yo DD1 to be tested for Chicago's gifted schools just for grins and because it was a free test. She scored in the 99.7 %-ile. She's obviously doing just fine under my tutelage. And she didn't get into either school that I listed on the form anyway. Because she could start Kindergarten in September, but has been doing at least 1st grade work for about six months. In other words, we neither want nor need the schools here.;)

Check into the museum's websites... many have Free Days if you're looking to save a few dollars. Actually, it can be a lot of dollars. The admission fees are getting out of hand at a few places. But all of the ideas here are great. We've thawed out and are looking good here in Chicago. C'mon up!

I worked at a Huntington for about a year as a part-time tutor. If I remember correctly, they asked what your concerns were, how the student's grades were, etc. They gave an assessment test of some kind that showed strengths and weakenesses, then created a program to work on the weaknesses. Each session for the student was about an hour and a half, and they asked for two sessions a week. Smaller kids got one on one attention, older kids shared a tutor. And I think that each student had to do part of the session working on reading exercises and part of the session doing math exercises. They were strongly discouraged to bring their own homework. Hope that helps!

Thank you SOOOO much, everyone! I really do appreciate it! I've put "Up" on the Netflix reserve queue and will look into it once it's on DVD. If nothing else, then *I'll* get to see it. ;)

I just realized that I posted this on the Curriculum Board and not on the General Board! Help a girl out, Admin?? Sincere apologies.

Can I take my 5 1/2 yo DD1 to see it? Allow me to expand... we had to take her out of Wall-E because she was screaming and crying in terror. I let her watch Charlotte's Web, completely forgetting about Charlotte dying at the end. When I heard her sobbing, I slapped my forehead and ran back to comfort her. Bad Mom Moment. And we had read the book a month or so earlier. Lots of crying over Charlotte's death, which I had forgotten about before even reading the book. Yes, I'm a dork. We recently read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which she loved. So I got the (1971) movie, previewed it and found only one part to fast-forward (the freaky boat ride through the tunnel). Other than that, I figured she'd be fine. No. She was creeped out by Charlie and Grandpa Joe floating to the fan (so NOT in the book). And she sobbed at the end. When she finally collected herself enough, she managed to tell me that she thought that Wonka should have kept the factory. So if I take her to see "Up," will I just be piling on? Or should I blow it off until she's a little less sensitive? Thanks in advance!!

I was trying to get a new teaching career off the ground when I got pregnant with DD1. She was born in September, thus killing anyone hiring me for that school year. DH stayed home for four months, while I took over his classes as a sub. Then we traded back. I started looking for a full-time teaching job, but was not fully satisfied with our child-care options. So one day as I was on the computer looking at job-search sites, I told DH, "I'm going through the motions here, but I don't actually want a job. I'd like to stay home with DD." God love DH -- his immediate response was, "Turn off the computer then. You're done looking." We live right in the city of Chicago, where real estate isn't cheap. He brings home between $60,000-$65,000. We do fine with one car, since DH can take public transit to work. Our investments are our savings. DH is pretty savvy in that arena, so we're doing alright as far as retiring someday. And we have enough liquid assets saved up to live for about 8 months. (however, DH has been a Chicago Public Schools teacher for 17 years, so it's not like he's getting fired -- we call it the *Blank* You Money, in case he needs to walk away) I hope that this helps with any perspective in this decision. Good luck to you!

I see it once in a while. But I also live in a neck of the woods nicknamed "Boys' Town." Today I saw Steve (aka: "Cathy") wearing bright red toenail polish. And heels. And a short denim skirt. And pink sunglasses and bright lipstick. Carrying a purse. I see men getting pedi's at the nail salon now and then. It doesn't bother me much. Too many men have nasty, gnarly feet. I'm *trying* to persuade DH to try it, but he's not having it. A friend's DH does it once in a while. He started doing it when my friend was sick with a brain tumor, and her medication didn't allow her to drive. So as long as he was taking her to the nail salon, he sat in the chair next to her (but he skipped the polish). Interesting thread!