I found a tutorial on how to do "scrapbook" pages with Google Picasa (free). It looks like it could be pretty easily translated into portfolio stuff. It's here: http://blog.persnicketyprints.com/p/picasa.html. Looks like a tamed down, quicker version of scrapping. I downloaded free paper last night. I think I'm going to try some form of this. I just need to research simple layouts to use although Picasa does have "mosaics" which will do the layout for you based upon how many pictures or papers you use with your collage. Then I have to either scan or take pictures of the work. Hmmm. Still hoping for other ideas/links/thoughts! Thanks!

I do think you separate by subject so that you can see progression in their work. So you would have a few samples of handwriting from the beginning, middle, and end of the year to see the change more easily. So right now I have a tab per subject and the work behind it. But it's boring! I want something more like a combined yearbook/portfolio/keepsake that will satisfy the "portfolio review" at the end of the year, but also be interesting enough for the kids to want to "review" as well. I also want it easy as I'm not a scrapbooker. I like to use shutterfly books or picaboo books, but I also don't want it to spend that kind of money so I'd rather do something on paper in a compact way. A three ring binder would be okay, but I hate how they store if they aren't full (the angles and all), that's why I'd rather comb bind it or put it in a more compact binder with plastic page protectors on pretty paper somehow. Something creative for this art-challenged engineer! Thanks in advance. :bigear:

I'm trying to get ideas to make better portfolios for my children...kind of a cross between a portfolio and a keepsake for our school year. Right now my portfolios are BORING!!! Tabs by subject with a bunch of papers in them. I have taken some pictures, but they aren't in there. I did come across something similar to what I am interested in here: http://www.heidi-strawser.com/2010/08/homeschool-portfolio-1-2-3.html. But I need more input! Does anyone have ideas/suggestions/links to more portfolios like this one? I'd love to read more blogs with pictures showing their portfolios. Thanks! Cyndi

Full disclosure: In actuality, the school room is a wreck...I just shoved aside the papers and such to get a good picture. Also, we attached the shelves to the wall with toggle bolts and they are SUPER sturdy. I have no worries about them falling on the children...even if they were to climb up the shelves it wouldn't budge. ;)

I think the problem is that you don't have any storage furniture. I could never bring myself to get rid of Legos no matter how many we had! I have 4 boys and we LOVE Legos. Having said that, confining them to their room would be great if possible. If you did move out the legos, I would get a coffee table that was full for storage...or maybe add baskets to what you have and put a cute chalkboard tag on them like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=chalkboard+tag+on+basket&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1600&bih=750&tbm=isch&tbnid=58sEQ1DXFzulZM:&imgrefurl=http://touristoflife.me/2010/11/28/7-ideas-for-reusable-chalkboard-anything-tags/&docid=CuYoFUhx4u6JbM&imgurl=http://nanhann.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/chalkboard-recycle-tag.jpg&w=3872&h=2592&ei=0knJT-LyNeHn0QGoxYCQAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=343&sig=101419806855151313137&page=2&tbnh=131&tbnw=180&start=33&ndsp=42&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:33,i:174&tx=88&ty=60 Can you expand the size of piece of furniture that your TV is sitting on. It looks small, but maybe that's all the room you have. Something that has more enclosed space once again, like a dresser or a console or something. What about putting bookshelves behind your couch, like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bookshelves+behind+couch&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1600&bih=750&tbm=isch&tbnid=7ecU393jK30OpM:&imgrefurl=http://blackwhiteyellow.blogspot.com/2010/11/bookshelves-behind-sofa.html&docid=-he1AdrUMR2l3M&imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gQMChxMH7_Q/TGmAnCv5PvI/AAAAAAAAUdQ/hlpBy1sQh_Q/s1600/loving%252Bliving%252Bsmall%252Bliving%252Broom.jpg&w=1152&h=864&ei=x0fJT-GyOqnk0QHan-yRAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=176&vpy=144&dur=112&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=133&ty=72&sig=101419806855151313137&page=1&tbnh=123&tbnw=171&start=0&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:73 or this: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=couch+in+front+of+bookcases&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1600&bih=750&tbm=isch&tbnid=qQCOH_7HB5TfTM:&imgrefurl=http://designmanifest.blogspot.com/2011/03/shelving-and-art-of-display.html&docid=c_LSAVcwj4N4QM&imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmdNrXs-Rhk/TZESjJWpytI/AAAAAAAAOHw/yVuG3LNsLk0/s1600/sofa%252Bin%252Bfront%252Bof%252Bbookcase%252Bhola%252Bmag%252Bvia%252Bfull%252Bhouse.jpg&w=421&h=600&ei=JUnJT4-4HMHu0gHt1pSEAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=375&vpy=115&dur=327&hovh=268&hovw=188&tx=93&ty=119&sig=101419806855151313137&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=99&start=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:75 You could even leave a small hallway behind the couch so that you can get to all of the bookcase space. It looks like you could reasonable move your couch closer to your TV. I agree to get rid of secretary. Although a nice piece, it isn't functional for you. I have the expedit and I stacked 2 of them on top of each other (see attachment). I do like the rolling cart idea as well, though, if you have some place for that. HTH! :D

HomeschoolBuyersCoop.org 25% off? https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/reading-eggs/?c=1 HTH.

Thanks for the replies! We tried Xtramath.org. My #2 did fine with it but he did want me to type the answers. #1 still had real issues with it. Even though it isn't obviously timed...he was stressed out. I had to force him to do it and type for him as well. He liked the monster game that was suggested. :D Aurelia - Can you tell me a little more about two plus two does not equal five. Is it a "plan" for you to follow? Is there a lot of timed stuff in there? Or is it games or different methods for you to use with her? Just practice? Would love something that kept track of their progress for me. Has anyone used Sonlight Flashmaster? Any comments on that? Thanks!

For some reason I feel inept at ensuring math facts are solidified. We do MUS and they are progressing well, but I think they need to be faster and have their facts memorized and MUS doesn't seem to focus on the memorizing portion so much. So I have a couple of questions: 1. Is there a book someone suggests on how to teach math facts? Or a process I can follow? I just don't know that I'm doing it right. I don't feel like I have a plan. (E.g. Keep working on the same 50 problems/day until they can do it under 3 minutes.) Has anyone ever read Two Plus Two Does Not Equal Five, by Greenwald? Would this help me? 2. It would be great if they could practice their addition/subtraction facts with something electronic. They love electronics and we don't use any for school so it would be a special treat. The problem is that both of them stress out when a timer is involved and they melt down. Here are some things I have found. Any other suggestions/reviews/input? - Reflex Math Fact Fluency - internet based service - Twist and Shout addition by leap frog - http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-708431400054-Twist-Shout-Addition/dp/B00005BYPZ/ref=sr_1_51?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1338357581&sr=1-51 - Sonlight Flashmaster - Any app for an Android device? 3. Does anyone have a skip counting CD that they actually like? We got the MUS one but it's just blah. :confused: Thanks for your help!

I know this is kind of silly, but I am stumped as to how to teach math facts. My kids can add and subtract well but it's not so quick that I can tell they can answer without even thinking. So, do we just drill? A worksheet of ones for a week, then twos, then threes? Is there a great program online? Any thoughts about http://www.Reflexmath.com? What about number sense? Do flashcards for 6 minutes a day starting with ones and working up? Just let them play a particular online game a lot? An app? If so, what do you like? Is there a particular curriculum that is good at spelling this out rather than assume you'll do this on your own? I feel like I've got to get a handle on this now or I'll cripple them forever. :scared: Thanks!

Loving HOD, but not quite got the schedule down. It isn't flowing smoothly yet. I have 2 boys doing Beyond. I loose one kid when I focus on the other one. Going to try something new today. I'm going to work with one for 30 minutes, then the other for 20 minutes (reading, spelling, grammar), then follow up with all the combined teaching (history, Bible, rotating box, storytime, etc.) If you have 2 kids in one of the lower guides, how do you do it?

What do you do with the extra words listed? So you dictate the sentence and then dictate each word after that? I don't understand the extra words. Thanks!

This is our second year with HOD and we plan to use it all the way. Love how it is planned and put together. Love the layout of the manual. :D

100% happy with HOD. Loved it last year. Loving it again this year. :D What I'm not happy about is balancing the extras. :confused: This year we are trying Karate & Art on Wednesday mornings, and a coop on every other Friday. We also have Football and may do Children's Choir and Awana type stuff. That's too much. Trying to work on what the right combination of extra curriculars.

I used LHFHG last year with my ds5 and ds6.5 (K and 1st grade). They both loved Reddy Fox, but it took quite a few weeks for the younger one to get into it. I think, at first, he only liked it because his older brother did. He really couldn't answer the questions until quite a ways in. It was definitely a learning curve (for both of them) to listen and answer questions. I agree with the others...hold it until 1st grade and try again then. I've heard great things about MFW K! =)

We're starting too. Hope it goes well for you! Sounds like a great day!

Have you taken a look at Heart of Dakota? They let you choose your own math and phonics. You can easily sub out whatever portion you need to, but it would still provide the structure and the schedule that it sounds like you are looking for. She also has lots of hands on learning...the author has 4 boys so she knows boys! She covers all the necessary subjects for first grade, IMHO. Examples of the substituting would be that she suggests Singapore. You could use that, or we substitute Math U See. Also, she has a spelling list. We did her list last year. This year we are going to substitute AAS so that we can try rules-based spelling. I have seen a few ladies on the HOD forums that also speak of having children on the spectrum. You could post a message on their board and see what they have to say. My oldest did Little Hearts for 1st grade and then whatever math and LA was appropriate for his particular level. I hope that makes sense. So easy on mommy to follow. It was my first year HSing and it went great. She tells you the "key idea" which you can say to your kids or you can use your own wording if you like. It's all spelled out for you and it is SO open and go! Check it out! :D

Just a quick question. About how long does it take to do RSO Life? :confused: If I plan for 45 minutes is that about right? Too much? I plan on doing it 2 times a week so I will complete a unit in about a week. (Some units will take 2 weeks.) Thanks!

We will be doing level 1 with ds7.5 and ds6. My plan is to do both separately, but I expect the 7 year old will go quickly through level 1 so that will leave the cards for little brother to use exclusively.

That looks awesome! Makes me wished I did workboxes!:D

Thanks for the heads up! I've never heard of these. Looks like fun! =)

I need a picture of this!!! Did you buy rails and install them in the Expedit bookshelf? How did you "install" them into the Expedit? :confused: Sounds like a great idea and big money saver! Thanks!

Hey! We're doing the same thing as you this year! Fun. You could do Beyond with the younger and Preparing with the older. You could start the older half speed if you think she is borderline. I agree that back to back guides is certainly doable, but could be boring and leads one to believe maybe there is a way to combine them. I do like that you have your younger in Beyond right where they place. That will make for a great year for that one. HTH.