Not to hijack but..... Where would I start if I know nothing about either but want to learn? I'd love to take a class or have someone IRL show me because that's how I learn best but those aren't really options right now. I am left-handed but do a lot with my right so I don't know how to even start to learn what would work for me.

Did you get the TM? If so, maybe do some orally from that LU? I am only in Reading 300 so that may not apply to 500 but we had to do that as the set we bought was missing 301. Worked out fine in our case.

Did anyone help? If not, I can.

Thanks all. There are some good ideas here. I will list everything out for dh and he can narrow it down for me. I appreciate the help!

DH no longer has access to a fridge or a microwave at work for his lunch. I need ideas on things he can take that don't need to be kept very cold (he takes a mesh backpack with an ice pack but it doesn't keep things cold for long) and don't need heated. He can't take things in a thermos either. He works in security so it all has to be "seen". Any ideas?

Pay off bills/house to free up money each month for classes, field trips, etc.

I asked this a long time ago but never really got an answer. If you use a timeline notebook/binder (self-printed or otherwise), how do you add more pages in if you need more space in a time period? Do you print front and back or front only? Just trying to understand the logistics of adding pages. I am planning on printing my own pages but not sure how to date them and what to do if I need more. The program we are using is doing ancient history by geographical region instead of chronological so we will be going back and adding to the timeline as we go through the lessons.

I am looking for a resource/reference book for me to have on hand to help explain spelling rules and such when my boys ask me why a word is spelled the way it is, why you change letters when adding suffixes, etc. I can spell fairly well myself but can't explain the "why" or the rule.

Berta, do you have a link for the Student Log Book? mommyfaithe, is there a specific planner you use with the days down the side?

I'm looking for a planner with the days numbered (Day 1, Day 2, etc) instead of Mon, Tues, Wed for the week. Doesn't matter if it's something I print myself or even just pictures of some but just needing inspiration for planning this way for a change. Doing the days of the week and then missing a day throws me off so much. So wanting to try something different.

bump

I am combining my older two for history and science. We are using textbooks with the plan to flesh out topics of interest. I am trying to figure out the pros/cons or if it makes any difference to how I schedule these 2 subjects. The typical schedules of both subjects every day or alternating days (MWF/TR) don't seem to work for us. So I am thinking of these two options - 1. Doing one semester of each, daily lessons. Or 2. Alternating units with daily lessons. So I would do a unit of science and then do a couple chapters of history. I have figured out how many pages would need to be done each day to get it done in a year and we will have some cushion. I just don't know if one option is better than the other for any reason. Any advice?

I've seen some people recommend some good math videos on Netflix but can't find the name or what to look for. Can anyone help? :-) Thanks.

What topic do you want to study? I was looking for ancient/world/geography. I decided to use BJU 6th for my 10 and 7 years olds together. I plan on using it as a read-aloud, asking some questions, doing some of the fun things, and adding in books on topics of interest. History is one area we haven't done well at all. I want to keep my kids together on the content subjects. I debated all the same publishers that you are and am so thankful I got to look at them at convention. Out of those 4 choices, BJU was tops with Abeka second. BJU (at least this grade) seemed so much more interesting and engaging. But..... we haven't used it yet. :-)

Yes. They just added it yesterday. This is what I had requested. I didn't ask this specifically but I think this sample for 3rd will be similar for the other grades. They are wonderful at answering questions if you want to confirm that.

I *believe* you are correct - no test answers. CLP does their own tests. I have not used these though so I may be wrong.

I have contacted them about putting up some samples of 3rd grade. They said they were in the process of getting some up but the gentleman that takes care of that was at a conference at that time and they said it would be a couple weeks. I will follow up with them since the samples aren't up yet. I had looked at them at conference but couldn't remember the specifics. It wasn't a TM where the student page was reproduced. It is more of an answer key but I think there are some basic instructions when it comes to the writing instructions. But I can't be sure which is why I asked for samples.

And this is what I am struggling with. I've been in "teacher" mode so long and so hard, I'm afraid I don't know how to be in "mom" only mode anymore. But thank you for the advice. I try to let them play, especially when they are getting along. I know I don't want to put them in school. I just want to be a better mom.

With circumstances that have come up over the years due to life, I am in a funk of constant "school on the brain". If we aren't actually doing lessons then I am trying to figure out what to use next, why isn't something working, looking for "something". I heard SWB talk last week at Cincy in her burnout session and she commented on being "Mom" over being "teacher". I don't know what that looks like anymore. We are so far behind where we should be. I don't mean comparing to PS students. I mean where *we* should be. My oldest should be (and could be) doing so much more than he is. I should have introduced so many more things to him already - basic things like history and science, arts and music. All the fun things. Instead, it's a fight over doing a few math problems or writing 2 sentences or doing 1 grammar worksheet - things that should take all of 5 minutes take hours. Add in the fights over chores and I'm done. If I could sum up our school years so far I would describe them as one big fight over any schoolwork which equals failure on my part because we don't get ANYTHING done. There is not much fun or smiles in our school anymore. I want to be their mom. I just want to enjoy my kids. I know I could take some time off but we've already taken too much time here and there over the years. I want some time where I don't have to fight with them over doing school. Time that I don't have to worry about their academics and if what I am at least attempting to do is working. I want some help but..... sending them to PS is not an option we want to consider. Finances are a big hindrance or I would get some classes on DVD. What does it mean to you to be "mom" vs "teacher"? How do you cope with balancing the two? Any advice or help you can offer? I really wish I could get away for a couple days and while I'm gone someone would come clean my house top to bottom and leave behind the curriculum that would work for our family all set up and ready to go. :-)

I did this and got a reply. Still haven't decided if I want to go but it helps. Thanks.

Just a bump for the week-end.

I am going to Cincy and am looking at going to the session by Laura House, an IEW rep, on writing across curric. I am wondering if it's a session of "this is how you can do this and, oh, by the way, we have a product that can help" type of session. Or if it's more of a "this is our product and this is how you use our product to write across curric". Make sense? Anyone know? I would love to get some inspiration and help but don't want to listen to a sales pitch when I could get that in the booth. Especially when I am only there for the day and need to make the most of my time. Thanks.

I may not have explained my question enough - Todd Wilson isn't going to be at Cincy. The session I wanted to hear from Martin was changed to a different topic. If you were to spend money to order one of the sessions from one of the speakers, which would you choose? I really need some encouragement in battling the "lies" I hear.

Heading to Cincy this month and was looking forward to hear the session by Kirk Martin about homeschooling moms comparing and measuring up. But they changed that session to one on marriage. :-( I was thinking about getting a cd from them on that but then I remembered Todd Wilson does the "Lies Homeschool Moms Believe". Has anyone heard them both? If I were to spend the money on one which one do I want? I've never heard either one of them speak. The description of the Martin one is exactly what I needed to hear right now. And the Wilson one looks good too.

I think I found it but it looks like they changed it so access to those sessions are members only. Oh, well.