I find the trend among doctors to refuse care for children, because their parents have exercised their legal right to choose which vaccines and when, very disturbing. It is coercion in a horrible form. For states to deny insurance would certainly be a far cry worse. It is legal to weigh the benefits/risks of vaccines for your child and choose. I find it immoral and unconstitutional to consider taking away that right. I find it immoral and unconstitutional to coerce parents in this manner to vaccinate their children with every vaccine on the schedule in the time frame of the 'recommended' schedule and every vaccine they will be adding to the schedule in the future. To state that doctors make no money off of vaccines is misleading. A doctor certainly charges for each and every office visit, sometimes quite a ridiculous amount imo. I've lived in several different states and this varies greatly by area. A child vaccinated on schedule is at the doctor's office way more frequently than would otherwise be necessary. So, yes, they are making money off of giving vaccines, quite a sum. For spending less than 5 minutes with my child, and then sending nurses in to do the jabs, I've had doctor's charge over $300. Less than 5 minutes = more than $300 x all day long. Yes, I think they are certainly making money off vaccines. No matter how I feel about vaccines, or what I am choosing for my family in regards to vaccination, I can not get behind the movement to take away a parent's right to choose and I certainly can not get behind the methods of coercion currently being placed on parents who are choosing to select which vaccines they want for their child, or to delay vaccines until they feel comfortable with them, or not choosing vaccinations for their child at all as a conscious decision.

I also know I teenaged girl who was previously healthy that suffered health problems after this vaccine and her doctor and family believe the vaccine caused them.

I've put together a weekly working binder for each child this year. At the front is 5 pages Mon-Fri of daily plans. The plans spell out exactly what each child is to accomplish on their own and a list of subjects they will be doing with me that day, as well as a reminder of any long term project and to complete their chore cards. Next there are five colored dividers labeled Math, Grammar, Spanish, Maps(for History), and Homework. They'll be able to use their main binder for most of their work. They each have two other binders to work from devoted to a whole subject-Geography and Literature. The rest of the papers I will need to keep filling the weekly binder are in binders. I thought it would be easier on us all to not have them pulling 10 different binders of the shelves each day and flipping through to find their space. The Geography binders hold work for the entire year. To make it easier for them to find their place I've put a blank colored piece of paper inside a sheet protector for the to use as a 'bookmark'. The Literature binders have several sections and as I ran out of dividers I put labeled colored paper into sheet protectors to serve as dividers. I also had color sticky tape tags I put on them just because they stick out better that way I think. :)

As long as they don't mind being interrupted in their play, I say let them play! :) If they do mind being interrupted that is a whole other story. Then I would try to mesh the subjects as much as possible. My kids are currently 4th and 6th, so I'm right there with you. As far as the one on one, but separate curriculum, you could still do LA (for example) together. Have both sons seated at the table. Address the younger son first, teach him how to complete his work, then address the older son and teach him how to complete his work. This will serve as review for the older son and you will standby for questions or helping. If the curriculum doesn't lend itself to this I would really try to combine them if their ability levels are at all close. If neither of those things will work you could still have both boys seated at the table and combine their lessons by staggering the instruction and questions (think First Language Lessons), section the lesson off into parts and do first one boy, then the other, and repeat until it is all covered. Both boys would still probably gain from two levels of instruction intertwined.

I like the idea of having a quarterly binder, I may have to try that. Thanks!

momoflaw- I hope SL works out for you. :) I think writing out your own schedule and incorporating SL is a good idea! This will be my first year (using it secularly) and I bought used. It did come with the binder and numbered tabs, which is really nice. It is Core 100, Lit and History only, and I decided to stretch it out for two years due to my children's ages. I divided the Core into two big binders and added quite a bit of Lit and Lit study guides. I didn't write out my own for daily like pp suggested (good idea!) but I did write out plans for the rest of the subjects separately. I have one binder with our weekly plans for the whole year that does include the Lit plans, the SL binder for History, a third binder which is my working teacher's guide, and a fourth binder with just a week's worth of SL in it, including the Lit and History guides I'll need. I keep plans for the week we're on and other papers I'll need for the week in the teacher's guide, such as Lit guides and lesson plans for Science and Math. The kids' also have a weekly binder with their papers for the week. I really will only need the two binders for daily use. I haven't used the systen though, so we'll see how I like it! I am having the warm fuzzy feeling. :)

Have you watched the free videos by Maria Miller-the author of Math Mammoth? They really helped me alot. I recommend watching the strategies for addition and subtraction, as well as the teaching multiplication video. I know she isn't to multiplication yet, but you may find the method helpful. I tweaked the method slightly and it helped my children tremendously when it came to memorizing the facts. This is one area where consistent practice is definitely key, even after we think they 'got it'. After she is showing proficiency maybe incorporate 2 board problems a day or 3-5 minutes with Math dice, or something short and sweet. Use it or lose it is so true! :)

Thanks for all the replies! I'll be checking out the links, games, and books. :) jlcejb6- They are 9 and 11.

I didn't name ours for a long while. After having my third child we evolved into Three Blessings Homeschool. :)

I would like to incorporate State studies into our school year. :) I did buy some colorful, low cost, pdf copywork pages with info about each state, but after printing 4 states I've realized I just can't afford to use this right now. I'm not sure how to proceed with this idea. I did find a free 5 page state report that is black and white that I'd be okay with printing, though with two kids that is still a lot of ink. Also after googling States I only found one decent site with info for filling out the reports. It is a little busy for my taste, but usable. Does anyone have any wonderful cheap/free ideas for State studies? Links, books I may find at the library, etc? Thanks! I thought about using the copywork pages on the computer for the kids to read and use for filing out most of the report. It has a lot of pages that would have to be sifted through though.

Yes, I paid already. I'm not sure what the refund policy is, but I'll be sure to find out. Thanks :) I would really like him to try it out. I bet he likes it!

I lost 15 lbs by using sparkpeople.com to keep track of my calories. it motivated me to eat healthier and make better choices. This was after gaining 20 lbs in one year, then exercising like a mad person using Jari Love dvds from the library for two+ months with no weight loss at all (though my shape did change and I felt healthier!). I even stopped exercising because I've had health issues for the past few months and still lost the 15 lbs by cutting my calories to 1600 a day, which is still a good amount to be able to be healthy and get a good amount of vitamins and good stuff your body needs.

My nine year old ds wanted to try fencing this year, so I signed him up to start in September. A week after I signed him up he said he changed his mind. I'd really like him to go ahead and try it out for the experience. His concerns are that he isn't 'fit', it may be too physical or rough, he may get hurt. He is a sensitive guy and cries fairly easily. He does not like rough housing and has been known to puke from too much running about or tickling. I assured him the instructor would be there to keep him safe and that it wasn't wrestling, so no struggling, body contact, flooring type of thing. However I've never seen fencing and I'm wondering if someone could please let us know what to really expect. I'd like to help him feel more comfortable with this. I think he may really like it given the chance. Thanks!

I would personally try to stretch it out two years as well. :)

Haha- I definitely own more Math curricula than shoes. Ummm, might have just as much to do with me being a Plain Jane though, idk, lol.

Singapore, Math Mammoth, Miquon, Life of Fred, also have MEP printed out.

I have on my computer- Math Mammoth (from Currclick) MEP Math (free) Miquon (from Currclick) Inquiry in Action Science (free) Chemistry for Middle School (free) 50 States copywork and Human Body copywork (publisher Homeschool Bits at Currclick) First Language Lessons Story of The World 1 & 2 activity pages lots of Literature Study Guides (free) Glencoe has lots, but also search google for what you need Homeschool in the Woods Timeline Figures (on disc)

Hi- do you have a working link to the Foresman's Grammar? I wanted to download the pdfs but the link I had doesn't work anymore. Thanks!

The local public schools will be starting Aug. 24th. We are starting Sept. 6th, just like every other year. :)

I eat gluten free and cheap, lol. Definitely go with a giant pot of chili or vegetable soup. Chili does not even need meat to be delicious and much cheaper without. Buy a big bag of dried kidney beans and same of black beans, cook them and add in diced tomatoes and tomato sauce(I use Dei Fratelli though I'm sure other brands are ok-if they aren't labeled just call them, its easy), some diced peppers and onions, spices (McCormick spices that have a single spice in them are all gluten free), viola! Also I highly recommend buying a bag or two of tortilla chips for topping and maybe sour cream if you're not over budget. Gluten free crackers are expensive and not so good in chili anyway in my opinion. Kroger brand tortilla chips are super cheap and Tostitos are gluten free too. For veggie soup just buy frozen mixed veggies, cook, add diced tomatoes and tomato sauce (again I use Dei Fratelli), diced potatoes(fresh cooked or canned Walmart brand is gluten free), spices (McCormick). And honestly I'd still buy the tortilla chips for topping, but that's just me, lol.

You may be right. It may have been accidental, in which case I wouldn't want to bother them over it. Thanks, I'll just be patient and maybe check later.

I'm disappointed. Like others I went to download this and it says no longer available. And the listed freebie has changed. I hope they do sort this out because I would love to try the product. Not sure how others are having success?

In my opinion I think it would be perfectly fine for you to tactfully share your opinions when you see threads like this. Perhaps it is an inexperienced mother, or a parent feeling pushed by themselves or others to have their child 'perform' and they would benefit from you sharing your opinion. Not necessarily, but I would see no harm in sharing your opinion if you wanted to.

I'd like to share my opinion. I caution against two things, neither of which I am saying anyone is actually doing- 1. Going to an extreme either way. Free play all day with no interactive or directed play and full blown 1st grade workbook/textbook style curriculum for a preschooler. There is a lot of in between there that is just fine. 2. Sitting at home shaking one's head at someone else who either 'uses curriculum' or 'doesn't use curriculum' for a PreKer. I'd like to point out that most all 'curriculum' for preschoolers is play/fun/craft based. It just makes it easier on some moms to be able to spend time playing and initiating interactive and/or directed play to have things spelled out for them. I would think it would be very rare for a mom to take a child between 2-4 and rigorously try to educate them with curriculum that is not play based. My youngest child loves to play. Everything is play to her. She is 3. No matter if she is playing alone with open ended toys, playing with mom, dad, siblings or other children in cooperative style open ended or rule based games like tag, simon says, board and card games, etc, or directed or interactive play/crafts/activities that are based around a learning theme such as letters, numbers, seasons, etc. It is all play to her and she loves to play. She rarely turns down an opportunity to play. My older two were the same way when they were preschool age. They loved to learn. Play was play was play. :) That said I am planning all kinds of things for my youngest this year. She'll have lots of opportunities. Never will she be pushed to do something, but options will be there. Some of this is going to be worksheet style on a preschool level, such as lines to trace or practice cutting on, objects to match or circle, pictures to paste or color in the appropriate spot, that sort of thing. Most of it will be games, being read to, crafts, etc. I doubt she will turn down much of these opportunities. Last school year at age 2 she was part of what the older kids were doing as often as she wanted to be and it will be the same this year. I had made her a backpack full of activities in ziploc baggies. Shapes to glue, stickers to stick, lacing beads, rainbow scratch paper, google eyes and pompoms, buttons to admire, etc. Also a binder with easy matching/sorting file folder type games in sheet protectors. This way she could sit with us as much as she wanted and still have things to play with. This year she will want more diverse activities and challenges. I fully intend to do my best to provide for her! :) And btw I don't care what she retains or doesn't retain from any of this. I do care that she is having fun and growing as a person.

Thanks, I entered! :)