The Visually Learn "X" books are great. BTW, you can get this and lightbox for 10 bucks right now at Adobe. :) Just saying.

Every Y is different. I work for a set of Y's that are part of an association. You join one and can go to all of them. However, we have no fees for classes and sports (except swimming). We have included everything in the membership but after school and camp weeks are not. Some are better than others. You will be exposed to Christian principles, prayer, and the like because it is clearly a Christian organization. You can participate in the sports as a non-member and pay a fee. Keep this in mind if you only want the kids to play. Check the recreation center for your community too.

Perhaps.

Geesh ... lice are nasty. BTW, so are bed bugs! Had them both. Gross. Disgusting. Yes unclean! I don't care if they carry disease or not because I don't want them no matter what. We have had them twice a year sometimes because some mother won't take the time to comb the dang hair. It's not just hygiene; it's lazy moms too. Lice combs are not that expensive either, and they are the best defense and treatment. It is not a money thing - don't buy that pack of smokes or bottle of water and you will have the money to buy a stupid comb. Don't even get me started. It just ticks me off.

:grouphug:

I've done this. Example of Discovery to Civil War ... 1. Early European contact with indigenous population 2. Reasons for colonization of America 3. Define, compare, and contrast political, religious, and social institutions that emerged in the English colonies and the effect 4. Characteristics of the colonies: southern, middle, and New England 5. Compare the colonial claims and the expansion of European power 6. Impact of significant colonial figures, John Smith, William Penn, Anne Hutchison, etc. 7. Understand the European struggle for control of North America and the Native American involvement 8. Evaluate the opportunities of European immigrants, free and indentured 9. Explain the development of mercantilism and the trans-Atlantic trade 10. Describe the Middle Passage, growth of the African population, and African culture 11. Trace the arrival of Africans in the European colonies and slave importation 12. Analyze circumstances that affected the colonies, e.g. the Stamp Act, the early Navigation Acts, Townshend Acts, Sugar Act, Declaratory Act, Coercive Acts, Tea Act, etc. 13. Explain the causes, key events, and outcomes of the French Revolution, as well as apply to the American Revolution 14. Analyze the effects of the Napoleonic Wars, including the Congress of Vienna 15. Define revolutionary movements in the mid-1800s 16. Analyze the Seven Years War and apply to English imperial policy following the Treaty of Paris 17. Chronologically document the outbreak of armed conflict between the American colonies and England 18. Analyze the political, ideological, religious, and economic origins of the Revolution 19. Reconstruct arguments and explain the derived decisions for independence 20. Explain and understand the content and intellectual origins of the Declaration of Independence, look for and explain contradiction (slavery), was it justification for American independence 21. Compare and contrast the Declaration of Independence with the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen 22. Impact of significant key figures that impacted the cause and victory of the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James Madison, etc. 23. Understand the factors affecting the course of the war and the contributions that led to the victory 24. Impact of the American Revolution on politics, economy, and society 25. Show and describe the events of the American Revolution 26. Constitutional Convention 27. Understand the creation and ratification of the Constitution 28. Evaluate the Bill of Rights and the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 29. Understand the development of the Supreme Court, power, and significance (John Marshall) 30. Define, explain, compare and contrast the development and function of the first American party system 31. Effects of relationships with external countries/nations and Native Americans from territorial expansion and exploration 32. The War of 1812 33. Monroe Doctrine 34. Jacksonian era, compare and contrast the policies toward Native Americans and analyze the impact of the removal and resettlement of some of the tribes 35. Industrial Revolution a. technological developments that revolutionized land and water transportation b. evaluate the factory system c. urbanization d. impact on the United States 36. Immigration and Slavery a. Haitian Revolution and the end of the Atlantic slave trade b. Demand for slaves and the cotton gin c. Effect of slavery on capitalism and values d. Plantation system e. Identify the African response to slavery 37. Westward movement a. Trace the growth of the enation b. the Gold Rush c. Lewis and Clark d. the Oregon Trail e. Wounded Knee f. the American Old West (key figures, social climate, etc.) g. reality of life on the frontier h. Mormons 38. Understand the ideology of the Manifest Destiny 39. Define the changes in the political environment, Democrats, Whigs, “Know-Nothingâ€, etc. a. U.S. Bank re-charter b. Andrew Jackson c. Missouri Compromise d. Tariff policy e. slavery f. Abolitionist Movement g. Second Great Awakening h. Transcendentalism 40. Compare the north, south and west Keep in mind that this was middle school for us too. I did add some detail as we went, but for the most part. I assigned a "number".

Elementary Diagramming, in the WTM :)

They weren't. Dumb.

I didn't read all of the posts, but I love Calculadders. I am getting ready to order them again!

I am cheap. I won't guy guides. I will get books from the library. So ... I like Spark Notes http://www.sparknotes.com/ and PInk Monkey http://www.pinkmonkey.com/index2.asp You will never need to buy a guide.

For 7 and 5 ... R&S, Abeka ... I stick pretty close to WTM prior to the release of the PH workbooks. I picked up WTM in the 90's, LOL. I never did get hold of the white KF but I have the red still :)

These types of responses and arguments will only grow as the numbers homeschooling grows. There has been a significant rise in SC even with the new charter schools. Locally, our charter school cannot keep it together or keep administration. We can't seem to keep a superintendent for our ps district either, let alone an iPad. ;)

You need lame jokes and riddles. I will see if I still have some. I used that to practice letters and writing. They will begin to memorize the riddles and jokes to retell others. This starts them remembering what they right write and wanting to read what they right write. We created books out of the copywork last year. I like using history facts too. As they get older, they begin to copy more lengthy materials such as the Gettysburg Address, famous speeches, and Amazing Grace, hymns and Bible passages. We don't just do this in a busy-work sort of way. ETA: I hate auto-correct.

I have done as much as the first few grades too. I do make sure that I get them after third grade though. I have not had a problem at all with bringing them home after doing so either. I did let them go back at least one time of their choosing as they have decided that they want the experience. They come back with more acceptance and vigor too, LOL. So, not an issue IMO.

There are behavioral issues that are not ADD/ADHD. These are things, or behaviors, that they learn or that have developed and never been altered. At 6, I would be very doubtful of a diagnosis. IMO I have a 7 yo that you could say meets most of the criteria above. However, this is in large because she waits for me to be "serious" and make her buckle down. She is loud, exuberant, playful, interactive, etc. She is just very outgoing. Compare her to other children of the same age, and she appears very intelligent, well focused, and on task. Perhaps you should visit the playground before medicating. :)

If you are using my health with me ... I finally did get the next week up and posted with all the links. Hope it helps you! I am trying to get ahead a few weeks so I hope to finish the next section on nutrition and fitness this weekend. Cross your fingers.

I used Scholastic books for the types of writing and specific writing content needs, at a dollar they are cheap and do good. Previously, we used Remedia Publications workbooks - love these too. I use the Write Source books for correct grade level with the Hewitt syllabus, which would include the TM and Skills Practice for each of the handbooks. As well, I switched to Stobaugh for history and literature. I did this primarily for the weekly writing and critical thinking. They are applicable to skill sets needed for college-bound students.

Do you want just keyboard theory? or not ... I like Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory. I will have it in my hands in a few days with the ear training CD. It is important for more than just classical players to learn to recognize the key and transpose or alter a piece. This is what I am using for both guitar and piano players.

https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/OOo3_User_Guides/Calc_Guide/Hyperlinks_and_URLs I think that you are making it more complicated. It is no more than a few quick steps in open office.

My kids said that you are welcome to call today too!

I am just too literal, but ... Table Talk Daily Do Sip Sat

Call my kids. PM me for the number, and I will give it to you because then they will leave me alone long enough to file this year's paperwork! By the time that is all done and you spent hours discussing my personal life with them (including how I passed gas this morning), you will be ready for bed!

I love BJU bio and chem. I have not used the new ones for Earth and Physical Science ... not a bad idea. Gosh, I hate this. I have to decide today!

Yes, we have been working on BJU Algebra 1 this summer a few chapters into it. I like that text. I might just do that. It looks like it will fill what I think she needs as a foundation for environmental science too. I only have 2 days to figure this out. :-/ She wants that silly high school credit for science. Hey, thanks for the feedback. I really needed to sound off someone! Work and lesson planning kinda suck this time of year, LOL.

She will be eighth/ninth grade - she came away from seventh this year. She has done the Elemental Science and Pandia. The PS moved her up a grade. I kept her listed at grade level, but allowed her to go to Honors and Advanced courses with the eighth, ninth, and tenth graders. BTW, found some neat links today ,,,. Natural Science online http://cnx.org/content/m20805/latest/?collection=col11069/1.1 Physical science handouts https://sites.google.com/a/cherrycreekschools.org/rose-science/physical-science-workbooks-handouts Environmental Science with virtual labs ... http://central.wmrhsd.org/faculty_site/facultyPage.asp?pageID=534&facultyID=236 I hope that they help someone. LOL OK, so I just spread it out. Terrible part is that I think she will finish science in about 2 hours a week. :-/ I suck at high school course sciences.