Great list. Thank you

WWS is meant to be a 4-5 day a week program. I wouldn't amp it up. It's an intense program as is. I did WWS 1 with my son last year and quit at week 12 because it got more challenging and he needed to step back to get a grasp on mastering a paragraph at a time. We started using IEW again. It's helped create great structure for a basic paragraph. I used the Fables IEW book. You get the teacher manual ebook free wth that IEW book. Now I'm using Writing in Residence, which is a writing and grammar curriculum in one. So far I like it, but we are only on lesson 2. Each lesson section takes a week of activities. It does sound like you need to amp up their math, especially if your daughter wants to go into nursing. Vicki Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Does your group have an annual audit by a professional? How much does it cost? I'm not sure we could afford a professional audit with 10 years of possible bad records. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

We are going to switch banks. I made a proposal in April so we could have transparency and some board members could have view only access allowing them to see who paid for events, etc. The treasurer was mad at me for proposing what I did, or the way I did, I guess. It was a proposal to be voted on, not a demand. Since that proposal, she is awkward to be around. In a fall meeting the other person on the account said the treasurer was going to switch banks and eliminate using PayPal (treasurer didn't state this and she was there) (another suggestion because we require family and friends payments so no fees, which is wrong too, and was pointed out). So she is doing what I proposed, but then nothing was voted on. I sent an email saying all that financial changing needed voted on. She wanted the signer to be the current other person on the account and the president knowing it should be her very quickly said she didn't want that responsibility. SMH I really wish I had called them all out at the meeting, but just sent an email later the next week to but cause drama at the meeting. Anyways, I'm wondering if she is volunteering to change banks to have a fresh start and to hide misappropriations. I want an audit done before anything is closed. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

How do you bond the treasurer to insure a loss? Is this an insurance, it liability insurance for the group? We do not have any tips of liability insurance due to costs. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Hi I'm on a homeschool board as a voting member and officer and we do not do anything right. We have zero oversight or accountability of our finances. Only one person has been the treasurer since the group formed many years ago, and only two people have ever been on the account. The treasurer, and the original president. Bylaws state that the treasurer and president are to be the signers of the checks, but no new president has ever been put on the bank account, taking off the old president. In the years I have been on the board, we have never had monthly budget reports (only this current semester, and the budget reports are not correct and do not give bank statement balances, deposits, etc., just what was spent on specific parties). We have given our treasurer blind trust, and now that questions are being asked, she is putting up a wall. She has never had to answer to anyone. When we wanted to add something new to the budget mid-year, we would just ask the treasurer if we have enough money to do that. We would never ask for financial details or snapshots to make a fully informed decision. This trust was set up by the first president, because she would always say "Let's ask the treasurer". In September at the board meeting, it was asked what the bank balances were. The treasurer was not there, and the other person on the account didn't know. The treasurer never answered the question later. It was asked before another meeting via email to include the bank balances and paypal balances and ins and outs in the budget report. She gave a report, but no balances or PayPal ins and outs, just fees from Paypal the past 6 months. When I sent the minutes to the voting board, I asked the additional info be added, and that email was ignored. All my emails since June hae basically been ignored by the treasurer. The treasurer has all our records on pen and paper. She keeps the records, writes checks and I'm guessing reconciles the bank statement (that question was asked a few weeks ago at who reconciles the statment and where does it go, but again, ignored, and I send my requests to the whole voting board now). I know this is an awful system. I know the president knows this is an awful system. Most of the people on the board are good friends. We hang out for girls nights out, etc. The treasurer is mad at me, fine, whatever, I don't really care, but it is stil her duty to answer questions regarding finances when asked. I feel anger is being pinpointed at me because I'm the squeaky wheel to change things, and they like things the way they are. Our bylaws need changed, I tried to change them at a meeting in April, and it just hasn't been a priority. We have to get our 501c3 reinstatated (that was cancelled in 2011 because we hadn't filed anything in 3 years...rules did change, but I still feel it's the treasurers job to keep up to date on that. We never took the reinstatement to a professional until this year, it was all tried to be reinstated internally by one person (not the president or treasurer). I'm planning on doing a proposal at our next meeting to request oversight and an internal audit and verification of records (we've never done one). So now that I've given you a backstory, here are my questions: -How does your group keep things transparent? -Does your group do internal annual audits? If not, why? -Am I liable as a board member if money is missing? I'm a board member, but not on the secretary of state filings because those aren't filed correctly either. Only the same two people have been listed as board of directors and sometimes the president is put on there. It's supposed to list the whole voting board. -What software or program does your treasurer use? (She keeps everything on paper, there was a flood, I have no idea if she has all her records, or she may say they are lost because she could potentally be hiding something). -What checks and balances does your group have set up to have proper steps to prevent fraud or embezzlement? -Do you do an internal audit every year? If so, is there a committee, how is that done, who conducts it? -Who reconciles the bank statement? -How many signatures are needed on a check? I know we apparently only require one, requiring two would be a hassle since no one lives close to each other for check signing. -What does your monthly budget report look like for your group? I've read that we should have one person keep records, another write checks, another reconcile the statement. I do want to suggest this at the next meeting. I do fear that things won't pass because of loyalties to the treasurer and the dynamics of the voting board, people just want to ignore it and keep friendships and turn a blind eye. Our treasurer handles $30-$40K a year. (Estimates based on things money is collected for, I don't REALLY know). If you are a treasurer of an organization, please PM me, I would like to pick a brain or two. If you have read all this, thank you. I need some support in my endeavor. Thanks.

If your son has kids of his own one day, he may wish he kept those Legos when his kids get into the Lego buying stage. Lol. I have friends that I grew up with and they bought their son a bunch of Lego sets that built a city, had a train, etc. He went off to college and they rebuilt those sets one Christmas. It was so cool. It filled a good area of their living room. I'll tinker with my kids' Lego sets. IMO, Legos are way more fun than a subscription. :-) Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Lego sets are fun for all ages. I'd get him the gift you think he is less likely to buy for himself Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

I snapped a screen shot of My OneNote for my son on what we are doing. I hope it shows up. ;) Some of the things we are close to done with and then I will move into the next level. Saxon Math, Latin roots workbooks, spelling and others. ;)

The first 30 lessons of Saxon tend to be on the easier side, then it gets more challenging. It is not recommended to skip lessons and the program recommends you not skip problems either. My 12 yo is doing 8/7. He was getting too many wrong half way through, so I have him do one lesson over two days. Well that and he just takes forever to do the math lesson sometimes. He got problems wrong because he was being careless, not because he didn't know how to do the problem. Or as the process gets more complex, he forgets how to do something, and I relearn it right with him and sometimes I forget too. ;). 8/7 will definitely get more challenging. I think Saxon is a great program. I've stuck with Saxon from the beginning and it works for us. ;)

My 6th grader is on Saxon 8/7. He has been missing too many questions in his math these past few weeks (really because of silly errors, he can do it) - so I slowed down to do a lesson over 2 days. One day he does the odd questions, the next, the even. My plan is to do Algebra 1/2 in 7th. We have used Saxon the whole way through. It's nice to know that 8/7 seems more like drudgery to others, because I feel the same. I'm taking things slower with my daughter in Saxon. She will be doing 7/6 or 6/5 in 6th grade. :) Vicki

I remember Susan Wise Bauer saying in a lecture that until about 4th grade, you will need to be pretty much right there for your child to do their school work. It doesn't mean they can't do it, it means they likely won't. But they do need a lot of instruction and hand holding until about 4th grade. My oldest who is in 6th became pretty independent in about 4th grade. My daughter is in 2nd grade. She can do her math worksheets independently after I explain a few things. She is doing Saxon 2. I'm moving slower with her than I did my son. She can probably do 3. She will be on 3 before the year is out. I can give her some English worksheets, explain a few things, and she can do it. Also Critical Thinking workbooks - Building Thinking Skills - she can do that on her own. Copywork too. But again, I have to be right there for her to actually do the work. If I leave and ask her to do it, it won't happen. She will get there one day, but I think it's asking a lot to expect an 8yo to do work independently out of sight. Some can do it, but for most, it's not developmentally appropriate. I wish it were! :) My 9yo is a challenge and needs all hands on attention, and it would be so nice if I could give her work like I give my 6th grader, here's your stack, bye. :)

We have our co-op at a Buddhist Temple. Some of the classes have their own classroom. We don't have enough individual classrooms for all classes to have their own space, so some classes have to share the banquet hall. Usually science or art-the messes are easier to clean in there. It gets loud and can be distracting, but learning was/is still done in there. It's unconventional, but so is homeschooling. On Mondays we have a BizTown class at someone's house that can house 70 students. I subbed last week. A few have their own closed space, but it's pretty much just groups in open spaces. It is distracting at first, but I found it easy to drown out once we get going. I know CC is different than some co-ops because they (CC) make the parents stay in the room to learn with the children. So it makes it hard to connect with other moms with the lack of time given to socialize. With that said...and I know you aren't going back...I have found (from many moves) that it takes a good year in any new situation to comfortably acclimate. It's natural for those who know each other to hang together. If a new person approaches a group I am in, I welcome it, but I don't search out new people because I have my set friends. If my friends aren't there, then I will talk to whomever. I just do what is easy because I don't have to search out new friends. Others may be like that. They likely aren't trying to ignore newbies, they are doing what is comfortable. I find the newbies join together and become friends. Or people become friends with parents of kids their kids play with. When I was in co-op, there were some moms that would just join the group of moms sitting and talking. It was welcomed and I made new friends every year. We have families that come to our park days and get upset their children didn't make a BFF by the second week. My kids have been going to park day for years, see the same kids all.the.time, and they still get shy and won't go talk to someone new...or someone they see all the time. It takes time to feel comfortable with new people and new situations. You have to go out of your comfort zone at the start of new situations. Don't be afraid to approach a set group and introduce yourself. My kids are getting better at approaching friends/acquaintances. And we have been active in this group for 5 years. I can only help them so much. They are on their own at park day. ;) I have never looked into CC, but I have issues with requiring me to stay in the classroom. And I like to work at my own pace. In our co-op money was not reimbursed, but it also is not high cost. They would lose maybe $30-$40 a child for supply fees plus a $15/annual family fee that goes to the Temple as a love offering. I'm sorry it didn't work for you. I hope the new co-op works great for you. I can't believe you were able to join a co-op in Sept. Ours is all set/scheduled by July. ;)

Definitely use AAS without the tiles. My oldest hated the tiles. I quit using it with him after book 2 because I thought it was expensive as we would go through a few books a year. I am using AAS with my two younger, and will eventually have all the books. I got lucky and bought the tiles and cards up to level 7 from someone whose son was done using AAS. I have found a few of the levels in the used section of the homeschool store. Since I have the manipulatives, I only need the book...so the program got a little cheaper. I will stick with it because it's easy. My daughter doesn't like to use the tiles now - she is in 2nd. My 9yo son, I will always make him use the tiles because he is special needs and I think the tiles help him a lot. If your children hate using the tiles for AAS, I say give them up. Maybe just use them for certain lessons for visuals. I have my oldest use Spectrum Spelling workbooks because I like how the lessons make them use the words in various ways (fill in the story with the correct spelling words, use them in ABC topic, etc.) - something AAS doesn't have. Understanding grammar and making it all connect is something that happens when they reach the logic stage. I was in the Homeschool Store in my town once and a worker there made a statement how grammar was logic based...and it really does make sense. It's something that times time to comprehend...just like math and reading. When the children are able to apply what they have learned on a regular basis, it starts to make sense to them. I am a fan of FLL, but it can get boring. I love it because she makes you memorize all the info for parts of speech. This totally helps when they hit the logic stage and diagram more. Knowing all the helping verbs and prepositions makes doing the work that much easier. I use Saxon Grammar...which is Hake. A lesson has 30 questions, a few vocabulary words, and has a few diagramming sentences at the end of each lesson. It's dry (I won't lie) and takes my son some time to do the lessons (but he's slow at doing all of his work), so we only do it 2 or 3 days a week. I think it starts in grade 4. I think it's a solid program. It's spiral, so I think it helps my son retain the information pretty well. The vocabulary words are not easy words. I forget what some of them mean and have to look them up. 5 or 6 questions in each lesson have to do with previous lesson's vocabulary words. The other days, I use Wordly Wise, and then a bunch of Critical Thinking books. I love Reading Detective. It helps with reading comprehension. He uses Language Mechanics and Word Roots. I have friends who just use Critical Thinking books for the grammar books. Our homeschool store has a nice selection of Critical Thinking workbooks in the used section. I use quite a few of them for my kids. IEW is good for writing. You can buy the Fairy Tales one for like $30, and then they give you the teacher's manual in eBook for free. So then you can see if you like the program without a lot of investment. I like IEW, but I'm ADD about writing as well as Grammar. I have used W&R, and I do like it, but I'm using WWS for my son now, and that is pretty intense, so IEW is on hold for right now, but I do really like it. And IEW improved the teacher book the student book for the Fairy Tale one (and a few others I believe, but not sure of which ones) to make it that much more user friendly-explains things better. I think that book is twice as thick as it used to be. You will get 20 answers, and they will all be different. :) Good luck! Vicki

Does he have to copy all problems? Is he allowed to write on the worksheet? I know some moms reuse curriculum and don't let their kids write on the workbook. My son does have to copy some problems, but if he can do it in his head and answer, or use the small space on the worksheet, I'm fine with that. He's in 8/7 now, and more work is required. He writes his answers on the worksheet, and circles the answers. Work is done on graph paper. His issue is usually copying the answer and making a 9 a 4 when transferring the answer. Sometimes he just has a few errors. We also use the graph paper notebook. We write a bunch of formulas on the front/back of the notebook so he can reference them for problems. ;)

I have 3 the same ages - 7, 9 & 11. It's challenging because the 9yo is special needs and the 7yo has surpassed him. She can work well on her own, but basically if she's in the room with me (for schoolwork). But I have learned I just can't do lessons together with any of them in the same room because I get interrupted too much, and then it just takes longer to do their lessons. The 9yo is so easily distracted, that I get frustrated when he is on a roll and then gets distracted by one of the other two. Even reading - he needs to be alone. Our house is so open that talking in another room can be a distraction. Then he interrupts a lot if he's in the same room with the others. He might just be playing with his cars, but he makes noise. I am able to do science, history and art together with them. It's the math and language arts I need to do one on one. If my 9yo was not special needs, I would be able to do more things together, but he throws me for a loop. I don't medicate him. I just work through the issues. I have decided that I will do one on one with the oldest first - give him his work for the day, and then he will be fine. Then I will work with the 9yo, then the 7yo. In the afternoons I will do work together. I need to get the 9yo one on one early in the day. :) It is def. challenging. Good luck. :) Vicki

Thermography is not covered by insurance. My husband's work has alternative care coverage and will reimburse 60%. It was $175, but you have to go back in 3 months for another picture/shot so they can see if there is any change. Then you go once a year.

Have you considered thermography in place of a mammogram. Neither can detect cancer, but both can show the possibility of it to get further testing. Only biopsies can detect cancer. Ultrasounds will give more detail if something is found on either. Thermography shows blood flow and can show estrogen imbalance. It is touted to show cancer (possibility for) before a mammogram would, and can show at a smaller size than a mammogram. Google it and decide for yourself. Just another painless option. ;) Vicki

I like FLL. I used 1-3 and part of 4 with my oldest. I'm not going to lie, sometimes I just got bored with it (3 & 4). Also, I felt he needed help in certain areas, so I would supplement with something else that would give more exercise. I do like the gentle intro to diagramming. If you don't have older kids, you may not see the benefit in diagramming, but it helps tremendously in piecing things together and figuring things out. FLL is a great way to introduce it. My oldest is in 5th grade, and I am using Hake Grammar...aka Saxon Grammar. You know, at first he hated it, but he actually likes it now, and he GETS it. It's spiral just like the math program. They get two vocabulary words with each lesson. The vocabulary words are more difficult words. They need to remember them because they show up in other lessons. I have started making my oldest write the vocab words on an index card so he can easily refer to it if it comes up. It serves a dual purpose of copy work and organization. Hake has diagramming, but you need to have some diagramming background to do it. The lesson always has 3 questions/sentences they have to diagram in each lesson. Lesson 82 & my son is finally diagramming with accuracy. He is actually enjoying grammar, and doing FLL has helped tremendously in doing this grammar program because of the memorization of all the parts of speech. Hake/Saxon - many have a love/hate relationship with it (same with the math program...people love it or hate it). I think it's a solid program. It has 30 questions every day, and I make my child do every.single.one. It takes him a while sometimes, but it has improved his grammar skills tremendously over this school year. I did buy the Rod & Staff grammar. It's ok. I prefer Saxon, especially because it's secular. :) I do give some Rod & Staff lessons if something needs to be enforced. Now WWE, I quit midway through 3. I think it's a good program too, but I would just get bored with it, as would he. I would use the skills taught in WWE in other lessons - science, history, etc. I have bought WWS 1 to use with him over the summer, or the beginning of fall. I also like the CAP Writing & Rhetoric. It's pretty gentle - at least the first book that we are almost done with. It's very teacher intensive. I have used one of the supplement IEW books with him as well. They all teach different skills. Apparently I'm ADD when it comes to using a writing program. And I do love FLL & WWE because they are scripted. You know, sometimes it's nice to not have to put extra thought into teaching a lesson. :) Vicki

I have 3 children that I homeschool. A 5th grader, 1st grader and somewhere between K-2nd grader who is 3rd grade age, but special needs. I give my 5th grader a lesson that will take him some time to do and then work with the 2 minions. I do a lot of work with them together, and all of the work is 1 on 1. It is pretty much a given that your child will need you right there to do work until about 4th grade. I can give my first grader a sheet to copy for writing, and she will do it without any help. For my special needs boy, I need to sit there and make dots for the start of each letter, and make sure he stays within the lines, which is very challenging for him. I could never say "do this" and expect it to be done, it would be asking too much for his ability. They do math at the same time, but my 1st grader can do a lot of it without one on one help, but I am right there beside her doing 1 on 1 with my special needs child, so she gets help as needed. When 5th grader finishes first lesson, I give them a break and do another lesson with him and then get back to the minions. Sometimes I do let my special needs child play while I work with the other two. He plays with cars or Legos or jumps, or does something. Playing is still learning. It's just not structured learning. Does your 3rd grader have anxiety? Does he have problems reading or anything? My friend just found out that her 5th grader has problems seeing...he sees double when reading long - like he would see double about a foot away, as most people see double when something is really close to them. He needs glasses while reading. She had no clue, and doing an eye chart likely wouldn't have caught that. Maybe ask your 3rd grader what he wants to learn about. Go to the library and get some books, and try to do other subjects around learning about that subject. Then maybe he will act more excited since he had a choice about the matter. Also worksheets aren't for everyone. It's like coloring, some kids just don't like it. Worksheets are easy to give though. If you put your 3rd grader in school, you will just have a different set of problems. Homework, and you will likely spend just as much time doing that as he will be tired from school and then have to do some more. My special needs child was in school until last year. My plan was to always pull him at some point. There are days I want to send him back, my days would be so much easier, but he is my problem, and I know being home is best for him. His teachers would give him homework and he would have a serious meltdown. So I told his teachers we wouldn't be doing homework. I didn't care if he got an F in homework. He is in elementary school and an F doesn't matter at that age. Plus schools don't really give F's anymore, but that's a whole other subject. :) I hope you find some answers to help him. :)

Does anyone have Scott Foresman Grammar & Writing 1st Grade PDF? The free PDF files are no longer available on the link. They have totally redone the website, and it now says PEARSON rather than Scott Foresman. This was a free PDF file that you could download. I think I have 3rd grade. I used some of the worksheets along with FLL. If you have it, would you please email me at vfnelson2 at gmail dot com Please, pretty please. I have learned that if you see a free resource you just need to download it today because it may be gone tomorrow. :) Thanks. Vicki

If someone in your family works for a company that is enrolled in the Microsoft Home Use Program, you can upgrade or get Microsoft Office 2013 for $9.95 (this includes Mac versions as well). This is the whole shebang. It has every MIcrosoft Office program. There were some very useful upgrades to OneNote, which is why I bit at it. Luckily, my husband's company is enrolled in this. Basically, it is for employees to have the programs on their home computer so they can still work at home off hours. The price is $9.95. You can get a backup CD for $13.99 extra, but you don't need it. Just save the email somewhere and you will have the link and code if you ever need it. You can put it on TWO computers legally. Click the link below and enter a work email of someone in your family to see if you are eligible. They will tell you right away if you are eligible. The last time I did this, it was a few day process. This time it was all instantaneous. http://www.microsofthup.com/hupus/home.aspx?culture=en-US&wmpcode Vicki

Also, OneTastic has a lot of little additions you can add to OneNote (Calendar, cropping, clearing cells, etc). http://www.omeratay.com/onetastic/ Vicki

If someone in your family works for a company that is enrolled in the Microsoft Home Use Program, you can upgrade or get Microsoft Office 2013 for $9.95 (this includes Mac versions as well). This is the whole shebang. It has every MIcrosoft Office program. There were some very useful upgrades to OneNote, which is why I bit at it. Luckily, my husband's company is enrolled in this. Basically, it is for employees to have the programs on their home computer so they can still work at home off hours. The price is $9.95. You can get a backup CD for $13.99 extra, but you don't need it. Just save the email somewhere and you will have the link and code if you ever need it. You can put it on TWO computers legally. Click the link below and enter a work email of someone in your family to see if you are eligible. They will tell you right away if you are eligible. The last time I did this, it was a few day process. This time it was all instantaneous. http://www.microsofthup.com/hupus/home.aspx?culture=en-US&wmpcode OneNote 2013 has some nice Excel integrated upgrades and tables are more user friendly in making (header, coloring, etc). I'm trying to figure out tagging and getting all information on one page, but I can't do it with the link to the tag still intact. I want to tag assignments for dates then make a tag show up on the calendar for all assignments for that date. I can do a summary, but the tag to the assignment disappears when I copy and paste it.

With 6/5, I didn't skip lessons, as much as I combined a few of the first 20-30 lessons. So we would combine a few easy review ones and I would make him do all the problems on one of those pages. I wouldn't really skip or combine lessons past 30. It does get harder, and the questions they are doing on the tests may be easier than some of the questions on the daily exercises. And there are only 20 vs. 30 (and the daily lessons have the review of what they learned...more problems). Maybe give her a whole lesson of problems ever few lessons and see how she does on them rather than just the tests. JMO. ;) I didn't know Saxon said to not skip problems. I don't make my son do all of them. Some days I do, but if there are 2 of the same and I know he knows how to do that problem, then he only does one of those problems vs. 2. Those worksheets take him a while to finish as is. Good luck.