This sounds like an interesting way to get some exercise. I like the idea of having a plan. Is there a website where I can check it out? Thanks! P.S. I know I would be huffing and puffing, too....but it might be worth a try!

Wow! Thanks for sharing that!

My boys have fine motor issues and struggle with handwriting. Their brains move much faster than their little hands can write their thoughts. I require them to do their absolute best when doing their actual handwriting practice books. But for all other subjects, I just need it to be readable by me. Plus, we incorporate a lot of dictation in our schoolwork....meaning they dictate their answers and write them. Or we just do the work orally. It has made for happier days.

My kids enjoyed this book at that age: Usborne Science Activities Vol. 1 http://www.amazon.com/Usborne-Book-Science-Activities-Vol/dp/0746006985 Each two-page spread is an investigative experiment using easily found things around the house.

LOVE the organization!! someday....maybe.....now I'm dreaming!

I admit I didn't read ALL the posts, but I read pages and pages of them to get an idea of how filing would work. I devised a system and spent 3 weeks getting everything prepared. This is our second week of school and I feel so great about how it is all going! Thank you all for such wonderful ideas and great inspiration! You have changed my school for the better!!

Some free ones we've done over the years: Police station Petco Krispy Kreme Donuts local PBS television station

Thanks for sharing this! I really like the visual cue as to how long a particular subject might take. I often find myself scheduling too much in a day. But if I would take the time to really think about how long each subject really takes, then I could plan appropriately. I, too, am anxious to hear a few more details on how you will actually use this.

Teen Challenge. Christian Drug Rehab for teens and adults. http://www.teenchallengeusa.com/

We started a biography on Columbus recently. It's not the most exciting thing to read, so I was slightly dreading reading it out loud today because I figured my ds would object. When he saw me grab it, he said, "Yes! I've been waiting for that one!" Just goes to show we never really know what will get our kids excited!

So sorry! (((((hugs))))) I'll be praying for you and your family and for safe travel for all.

I don't think I saw "Robots" listed. And a more recent one my guys like is "Meet the Robinsons." Shorter cartoon videos that my guys love are "Rescue Heroes" and "Adventures in Odyssey."

I'm using Draw Squad with my seven year old. We just do a couple of the drawings in one sitting to keep him interested and not frustrated. There are several drawings to each lesson. We finish a lesson in roughly 3 sittings. He is really enjoying it. I've also used the Come Look With Me series of books for art appreciation. Each two-page spread has a full color picture of a fine art painting and a little information on the artist and gentle questions to get the child thinking about the painting. I'm planning on starting a Charlotte Mason style of art appreciation in which you select 6 paintings by the same artist and hang one up at a time. Tell the child who painted it, and give some info about the artist. Then every week or so put up a new painting by the same artist. Supposedly the child can start to identify artists after getting to know six of their paintings. For music I am playing a c.d. of one composer in the background as we do school. I tell him who the composer is, and once in a while I point out some aspect of the music. Right now we are doing Mozart. I plan on playing that same c.d. for a while before introducing another composer. Later I hope to do a more formal music study (including learning an instrument), but for now I'm just going for exposure to good music. One nice side effect is that the classical music sets a calm mood for the home. Since I've been doing this there have been fewer outbursts from either kid!:) I think there are probably some great art programs out there for your older son, but unfortunately I don't have much experience with that age yet. If he's had no instruction in drawing, he would probably enjoy Draw Squad. It's a fun book. He could move through it much faster (at the actual pace recommended by the book) than my seven year old can. And even though they are cartoonish drawings, the program teaches shading, contour, 3-dimensions, etc. While at the same time it's done in a fun way that allows the student to feel proud of what he's drawn.

I really wanted to use this book, suggested by TWTM. I couldn't find it through interlibrary loan. I checked Amazon and found it as a bargain book! This means it might have a mark or dent or something. They have the hardcover book for $6.99. I received it today and it just had a tiny dent on the spine. No big deal to me! Thought I'd pass this on in case anyone else was in the same boat. http://www.amazon.com/Librarian-Who-Measured-Earth/dp/B00126VVBS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202847212&sr=8-1

Which level MUS are you using? Please take to heart what other posters have said. You don't have to do every page of MUS. You have them work until they get it and then you move on. The MUS people recommend not skipping the review pages (usually the D, E, and F pages) because they review everything learned so far. Some days we completely skip the basic pages (A, B, C) after watching the video for the lesson. If my son gets it, I move him on. Other lessons he gets so well I just give him the test and we move on to the next lesson. He only uses the blocks when he watches the video lessons. Then he usually gets the new concept and doesn't need the blocks. I'v decided to stick with MUS because I can really see how it will help him understand higher math. It is fascinating to have a MUS rep show you higher math using their program. I finally get it, like I never did in school. Also, my son can't stand the repition of other programs. We've tried BJU and Horizons. The short and sweet, but thorough, lessons of MUS have fit us well. Another thing to keep in mind is that the first couple of years of homeschooling are real learning experiences for you, the teacher. It's impossible to know what will work until you get in the trenches and try something. Eventually, you will figure out what works. It may very well be completely different than what you first start out with, but that's okay. Just keep an open mind, stay flexible, and try not to freak out! You are not a failure because you might have picked something that isn't working. View each roadblock as a chance to get to know your son's learning style even better. Yes, it can be expensive in the beginning because you might change curriculums, and it can be incredibly frustrating! But that will get better. Eventually you'll figure it out and it will be easier and cheaper! Hang in there!

We visited there last fall when hubby had to go for business. We went to the zoo. It was small, but cute: http://www.blankparkzoo.com/ And we went to the Botanical center.: http://www.botanicalcenter.com/ My boys really enjoyed the botanical center, which surprised me. You can check out a backpack at the front desk and it has activity sheets and scavenger hunt pages. At the time my boys were 6 and 3. It's a friendly city to visit. We enjoyed ourselves.

Honestly, I've learned to not be so uptight about my schedule. I'm a serious "box-checker." If I scheduled X-number of things to cover in the day, and I didn't get them all done, I would stress out! Now, I've learned to schedule the basic necessities, and then add in the extras "on the fly." It has made me much more relaxed and patient. We are still getting lots done, but we move at a more natural, organic pace.

If the speakers sounded interesting to me, I think I'd go. I would have to leave my checkbook, credit card or whatever at home to help avoid temptation. I would take notes of any books that looked interesting so if I had a chance in the future to purchase something, I'd know what interested me. Plus, I always have fun helping my friends spend their money! LOL :D

This is a GREAT idea! I try to make notes, etc., each year, but LOVE your idea of having all the past years' notes in the same book. I'm going to try this! Woo-hoo! My first rep...and all I had to do was be myself! Thanks! :D

You might want to take an empty tote bag or backpack, too. Books get heavy and cumbersome to carry! I see a lot of moms actually bringing carry-on size suitcases with handles and wheels or those crates with handles and wheels if they are planning on buying a lot! Some conventions offer a package check station where they will store your bags for you while you shop.

I'm with Lisa. I like to give my business to the vendors in person whenever possible. Even if they don't offer a discount there, I've found that it is cheaper to get it at the convention because I don't have to pay shipping. Plus you get that lovely immediate gratification! :D The main advantage I find to going to the convention is seeing the curriculum in person. A lot of times I have my heart set on something that I've only seen online. When I actually get to thumb through it in person, I sometimes see it just won't work for us. Then I usually find something I've never heard of that will work perfectly. Have fun at your convention! I love them!

Great thread! I'm posting so I can subscribe to it. Thanks for all the suggestions.

I hope it's okay that I downloaded these files, too! I've been wondering how to do this myself. Thanks for all the hard work!

That's awesome! I'd say you are at a real advantage here! Half the work of teaching reading is done already.

I have the blocks, but didn't really use them a whole lot. I was talking to the MUS rep last spring at convention, and she said that if you don't use the blocks, they call that "Math you almost saw!" Thought that was funny. But, then she did point out that it is helpful if the student knows HOW to use the blocks because they actually help with understanding of higher math. I was surprised the blocks were still used in the higher levels, but she showed me something that I NEVER understood in highschool. When she explained it with the blocks I finally understood it. Of course, I have terrible number memory so I can't even remember what the type of problem was! But I was impressed! I generally make sure the blocks are out when we watch a new video lesson. But, my son usually doesn't use them for his workbook pages. I like the idea of just making your own out of colored paper! Or perhaps you can find some on ebay?