We started school yesterday and started to incorporate the iPad. She loves it. Of course it's novelty, but I'm going to ride that wave as long as i can. We made good time on lessons, with minimal fuss. We are needing something to help with memorization. We'd love an app to help with that. As well, is there a spelling app out there than you can input your own words? That would make her day!

we have 3 devices under 1 itunes account. This is where the issue lies. We had this issue to start with, but we fixed it. Go to settings, select messages, the chose email receive at and change the email so each device has it's own email. You need to do the same fro Face Time as well. If you use the game Center, you may want to change that too. But you don't do it in settins there. You go to the icon game settins, then click me. You click on the email and add a new one. HTH

Dh and DS17 are playing PS3, dd14 is listening to music on her new iPod, DD12, dd8 and a friend are playing with their new electronics. mom is vegging out on the computer, thinking about a drink of juice and a bed...

I made a few handmades this year. I did several mixed media paintings. One for Sr. at the church, 3 for dd14 friends and one for a niece. I have another one, but it's still under the tree. They were all well received. I did some baking, it was brought to our parish priests, one scolded gently that he didn't need it, and the other was thrilled as they were his favorite kinds. I also sent a care package with a friend of ds17. His family is on hard times and they did do any Christmas baking, so I put together some baked goods to go home with him. He was really excited. Next year is being planned. I have some painting ideas!

Boons - kids got clothing they loved, nana made neat little cosmetic bags for the girls, dd8 is excited about the Blizzard maker she got. The older girls got iPods and the youger girl got an iPad, great hits! Ds17 got a tv...thrilled. and a hockey bag. All gift cards were a hit. I got gift cards to Michael's so i'll be crafting :) as well as gift cards to a favorite clothing store. Busts- Mil got me a triple crock pot, great concept, except they are like fondu pots for size. Not practical. She got me a chair massager... why, I have no idea. Leopard print pj's 2 sizes too small. She got dh hockey gloves that are too small, a matching hockey bag to ds...(They play on the same team and separate teams, it could get confusing and take wrong bags). He got the Star Wars series, and he doesn't like StarWars. my mom got dd8 a gift card to a clothing store that doesn't carry kids clothes. That's ok, we're buying it and she's going shopping for her own gift. Most of gifts I received were a bust. I have lots of exchanges to do. If I can get cash back, I'll save it for an iPad for myself. There's several things, along with the gift cards, I might be very close.

It's interesting how they are at different times. My ds17 is actually quite a joy to be around. We have to tone him down every now and then as he can get a little reactive..lol. He does get moody, but he enjoys being with the family most of the time. He graduates and will be attending trade school in the fall.... I imagine he is saving to move out, so we are trying to acclimate to the changes to come. DD14 loves to be with us as well. She is a huggie girl, she can carry a conversation with adults and younger ones alike. She's very social, and will meet her social needs with all ages. My most troublesome one is dd12. I've been observing her, and she seems to have sensory issues. We watched a movie last night at the theatre, and she watched with her ears plugged. This morning at church, she had to trade places because the person next to her was 'too close'. There was a purse between them. She can often end a great family day with a meltdown. last night she was great, and today, other than the episode with the crowding, she has been fine. We'll see at bedtime. The little one is only 8 so I don't know what she'll be like. Today the kids have alternated between sitting with me, or with dh. The 3 girls have almost been together all day. DS has been rearranging his furniture with his dad. The guys are playing video games and dd14 is being extra eyes. DD12 and dd8 are listening to music and playing games. Mom is ready for bed...lol. soon, I'll be able to sneak to bed.

I ordered an Otterbox from Amazon. It came the next day! It is a hybrid version http://www.amazon.ca/OtterBox-Defender-Hybrid-Case-APL2-IPAD2-D9-E4OTR/dp/B004V9F61O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324768606&sr=8-1 I like that the back, can become the front with being transported, so it has more protection. It's hardy. It didn't come with a screen protector, I picked up a Zagg. It will protect from scratches. I can't wait to see her face int he morning!

I was wondering. I can view the pdf on the ipad no problem. However, none of the links are clickable. Is there a setting or app that I need to do? Thanks :)

Don't beat yourself up! You didn't waste your husbands hard earned money on something you wouldn't be happy with. Period. That is commendable. Yes it's hard when those around you are getting all the toys. BUT.. you can save for it. We picked one up as we had some education funds(we get gov't funding as homeschoolers to get curricula and computer or ipad every 3 years) so dd will have one..... However, after playing with it, i want one, and it's seriously NOT in the budget. So I'm going to have to save for it. There isn't any extra money at the best of times.... so it's going to be clipping coupons for or items, and putting away those pennies saved. Might take a year or longer... but so be it. I want it, I'll earn /save it somehow. You can do it!!! Ask for gift cards from a shop you can buy it from, MIL and FIL are happy to do this for me. That way, it's not cash to be spent on groceries. Look into point program. There are a few that will earn you paypal, or visa gift cards. You can do it!!!

LOL... I am predicting conflict. The big girls asked for ipod touches. And the little one is going to be after it big time. So dh and I discussed, and decided to get her an iPad after reading on how it might work within homeschool and have her fun games like the big girls will have on the iPods.... they big girls have netbooks, so this kinda evens the playing field. in less than 24hours.. I'm seeing that I would love one too. So I can see the older girls wanting them too..lol. They will need to wait a couple more years though... momma however has a b'day coming...wonder what daddy would say:lol:

ok, I am SO absolutely excited! We picked up the iPad last night. I can barely leave it alone :) I added teh dropbox, and then purchased notability. It is SO cool. I am not worried about the book marks, as she is little and we can simply import the needed pages for her school work. So if it's page 64 and 65... then that is all we need to import. Anyone know how to change the names of the files though? Is it possible? Or does it remain simply the original title? I can see a lot of fun happening! Handwriting practice with the stylus, more of the unit studies will be completed now, since we'd only need to print out anything crafty. I think we need a 2nd one!

Ok, so here I am testing the new iPad out and trying to get what I feel dd8 will need for school, and some super cool apps to play with Christmas morning. I have so far....dropbox and notability. What do you feel are your must haves. This is to be primarily dd8's iPad, as her sisters dominate the net books. I will only be using it in relation to getting her work on it. We want educational as well as pure entertainment value. Maximize it's use and potential. ( did I mention how cool this is??? It's going on my b'day wishlist!!!)

Thank you for that! I have been debating what size to get. I go in about 2 hours to purchase one...So I can rule out the 16 for sure, dh says just get the 64 and be done with it, it's only $100 more for double the space... I wish I'd known more about the ipads before getting new laptops..lol. Live and learn. I'd love to know what he did!!!

this is very exciting! I'm picking up a iPad this evening :) for dd8. Yes, spoiled girl. This is going to be so fun! I have several Unit studies that we simply haven't done because of all of the printing. As a homeschooling family we generate so much paper. I'm seeing this as a way to reduce some of it. We have several things we can quit printing and just do on the iPad. She is going to be so excited..lol. I know I am.

This year we did away with my dinosaur desktop.So we are working with 1 laptop and the girls share a netbook for word processing. As a result I did way with the huge table we had, to a much much smaller one. Now I'm looking around. We only have 2 walls, one has a high bookshelf and a low one, and a window. The other has lights. The other 2 'sides' are open to other rooms, with NO walls. When we started homeschooling, it was an emergency situation, and a temp one. That was April 2010. We're still here. It's time to make the learning area that... a learning area. I have resisted turning it into a 'school' room, but know what? It'll look better that way. It is in the corner, to the east the eating area and kitchen, to the south the livingroom/daycare room. So... What can I do to claim the area? Make it for the kids? It can spill some into the living room, reading is done on couches, etc. But nothing is stored there, as it becomes open game for the little ones. I'm not thinking outside to box here, and would love ideas. What are absolute essentials? what we have: computers/3-in-1 printer comb binder small laminator, math manipulatives, art supplies binders galore small personal white boards 3ft white board, cork board easel(sits in livingroom, so littles can color too) a microscope is on it's way. dictionaries, encyclopedias(different room but easily accessed) I don't think we're in need of any items, more so a creative way to store it all neatly in an easily maintained fashion. the space is approx 9ft x 10ft, open to 2 other rooms, so it's not a box. I want to love the space, but it's just tooo toooo cluttered yet... working on it.

That is difficult. We don't have a room that is separate. I home school 2 of girls, we use the main area of the house as i also have a 2,3 and 4 yo in the home as well. Distractions will happen. No matter where you are. dd12 finds the kids very distracting, the dogs very distracting. Dogs go outside or are kenneled in the morning. She ends up working in her room for the morning. Does less focused work down stairs. DD7 is often as you described your son. not always, but it's been improving. I have worked with the little ones and dd7 that when I turn some music(spa type or classical) on, it means school work for dd7, and quiet play for the others. It isn't ideal. It is hard when you are little to play quietly. BUT, they also figured out that if they are quiet(-ish), that we soon get to go outside and play or craft. It didn't take long to figure it out. The audio helps dd7 focus. I don't take long with her lessons, my part is quick. Some things we only do 1 or 2 times a week, ie science we do up to 2 hours of experiments every other week. Music, we do once a week, and she gets to practice daily at her whimsy. History we do one day, and mapping work another. I don't expect miracles in learning this way, but at this age, with short attention spans, I don't push my luck. We get to everything though the week, but the day is still short. Locally, I've heard from other parents who have similar attention issues, they do something physical with their boys. Older ones do heavy yard work, chopping wood, stacking wood. Others do a physical workout. I know one family that runs together, I think they are up to 2 miles. Come in shower, eat, and get to work. Some how that use of physical energy, helps the mind to focus more. I hope you find a solution that works for you. I am still learning as I go.

My dd is one totally prone to tears over every frustration, be it school, chores, games.... this has made the school day very easy :) Since we're starting school again in a few weeks, I'll re-implement the system, and by October, it should be second nature to get the behaviors I want from her.

I haven't asked her to do more than one a day. And some days, she hasn't completed, the only thing I can think of is she might do some in her free time.

How long should this take to complete? We're into the 4th book since receiving it in April. I don't think we've done more than one lesson a day and we've had holiday days where we didn't do school. I'm not sure, I was thinking 3 weeks per unit, but some how it isn't taking that.

I wanted to share this. I found it buried in another thread for preschool. I want to create 'preschool' next year for those little people I care for. http://www.activitybags.com have ebooks for preschool activity bags. You can use them to create swaps with local ladies. So that was great. $15 for the book, a little time with some local ladies, we'll have various activities for the little people here. BUT, the real find was their science ebooks! I was so excited! 25 experiments in each book. I have nearly everything in the house, I have maybe a $6 investment on things to purchase. I can now look for library books to round it out! Voila! Science as recommended by WTM, kinda. If it leads to more books and more experiments, we're doing awesome! There is only one experiment I'm not sure about as I've never seen those particular seeds, but I have never looked for it either. I am currently setting up a swap for the preschool, and when that is done, I'll do a swap for science :) We're really excited for this! I'm now curious about the math games too.

There are possibly a few factors. I lean toward puberty, however, there could be other factors. How is her hair? Is she experience higher than usual hair loss? Are her nails brittle and ridged? Hypothyroidism is something that comes with brain fog and fatigue. It isn't typically tested for, so you'd need to ask. I was diagnosed young, this is why I mention it. Also, perhaps more common is iron deficiency anemia. Both of these can be tested with a simple blood test and both are fairly simple to treat :) Good luck! I have one doing the same thing..lol. So I'd think puberty.

Try Canada, or at least western Canada. We do get the odd weather warning, but usually it's nothing, or a small tornado in a field. We had one major one 20 years ago or so here. Nothing since. We do get cold and snow, but nothing terrible by our standards..lol. No ice storms, no hurricanes, no shutdowns because the city is ill prepared for weather.

I go right in and speak to a manager. I have them put aside boxes for bleach. They are square, they put out a lot(the boxes only hold the 4 bottles), and due to the weight they are very strong. I can usually get up to 10 a day. If they can let me know when I can pick up I make sure to there, and grab them. They have never given me a hard time for it.

I am finishing my first year of homeschooling. Little did I know how much space we'd require! I have culled several times, but only a year into it, the only culling is as we complete work, I can put some books away. I do go through paper routinely and minimize it. But books are books! I don't want to get rid of them when I have a little one going through the ranks. I was looking at buying shelves, but there was nothing used that I could find at the Goodwill. I had already repurposed the one flexible shelf to house our encyclopedias(love them!). Look at new ones, they were out of my budget. I was getting a little frustrated, then a post came through our local 'earthcycle' much like freecycle, for 2 small shelves. I said, well, free is good and if they were in semi decent condition they'd work. WELL, they were LIKE new, and they are nice deep shelves, 18" with floating shelves. They fit along the back wall beside the big shelf nicely, leaving me access to the plug in AND being so deep it provides a work surface for paper cutter, laminator, hole punch, and a few magazine boxes. It looks tidy, it freed up space on the big shelf so it doesn't look so cluttered. My desk is tidier too! Just when I was giving up to living out of bins, this came through. Total cost? The gas to drive literally 8 blocks to pick up. Makes me very happy!

We are currently going through CLE reading. I love many aspects about it, vocabulary, dictionary respellings, comprehension, but the worldview presented is very different from our own. We will finish the program, I don't have a huge issue with it. I went in knowing that it would be biased toward their beliefs but is much heavier than in their LA program. As I read ahead of dd7, I am seeing more and more I have to discuss about our family pov. I would love to continue a reading program with dd7. She is a good little reader, but this has really helped her gain more insight of what she is reading. Is there something similar out there? Secular or Catholic or Christian.