I agree. Take some time off, but play a few of the math games daily.

I find that tops that have rouching around the midriff tend to minimize my belly. (I think that is the term for it!) Also, I think tops that are more slim fitting (but not tight!) help. HTH! Ellen

Here's what I learned: 1st Day: A dividing of light from darkness brings forth Heaven and a formless, water-covered Earth, then Light 2nd Day: A dividing of the waters above from the waters below to create the Firmament of Heaven 3rd Day: A dividing of the waters under the heavens to form dry land; then grass, herbs, and fruit trees 4th Day: Sun, Moon and Stars 5th Day: Creatures of the waters and of the air 6th Day: Creatures of the land, then Man Another way to think of it: You can remember the Order of Creation by thinking of the first three days as says in which God spent creating forms and frameworks by dividing the elements, and the last three days as the days He spent creating things to fill those forms created by dividing the elements, e.g.: Day 1 Light Day 4 specific forms of light in the Sun, Moon, and Stars Day 2 the Firmament/waters Day 5 birds to fill the firmament, and fish to fill the waters Day 3 dry land Day 6 land animals and man I'm wondering if it varies depending on the translation used. HTH. Ellen

We were doing trial and error as I didn't get how to use the bar graph properly. Thanks so much! Ellen

How would you explain this problem to a third grader: The sum of two numbers is 1000. The difference between them is 400. Find the larger number. Thanks! Ellen

Just to clarify, this is not something taught by the Catholic church & I've never met a Catholic who believed this. :) Ellen

from http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/possessives.htm: When a possessive noun is followed by an appositive, a word that renames or explains that noun, the apostrophe +s is added to the appositive, not to the noun. When this happens, we drop the comma that would normally follow the appositive phrase. We must get Joe Bidwell, the family attorney's signature. Create such constructions with caution, however, as you might end up writing something that looks silly: I wrecked my best friend, Bob's car. You're frequently better off using the "of-genitive" form, writing something like "We must get the signature of Joe Bidwell, the family attorney" and "I wrecked the car of my best friend, Bob." HTH. ellen

"We hear occasionally from the lips of the uneducated drownded as the past tense of drown, itself frequently pronounced by the same persons as drownd. We properly consider its use as an evidence of illiteracy." However, check out this interesting history of the word: http://books.google.com/books?id=2yJusP0vrdgC&pg=PA373&lpg=PA373&dq=drownded+dictionary&source=web&ots=nYsSjiDZY4&sig=usontqvbLcK_6ZAjRY4xC8z1ZXM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result :) Ellen

We are working in 2B Intensive Practice -- Take the Challenge Pg 12-13. The problem is a triangle where you have to fill in the number at each of the vertices so that the sum of two adjacent vertices equals the number written along the line. (Hope that makes sense) Anyway, dd believes it is absolutely too difficult for her. The math is easy enough for her. It is simply a matter of her taking the time to try different numbers. Directions say to use the "guess and check" method. However, there is a pattern. The sums are 429, 430, 431. Is there a gentle way to help her "see" how to solve these problems, or should I simply let her sit and realize that sometimes you just have to keep pluggin' away at something till you find what works? Thanks so much! Ellen

The Catholic church does not teach that people who commit suicide automatically go to Hell. The Church does teach that suicide is a serious sin. As far as Hell goes, the Church teaches that we cannot know for sure that a particular individual is in Hell. That judgement is reserved to God. The Church, while recognizing the existence of Hell, holds out the hope of salvation for, and prays for the salvation of each individual. Thus, as someone else commented, we will only know where Judas is once we ourselves are dead. HTH Ellen

In those rare moments when I don't want coffee, I'll drink hot water, nothing added. I picked it up from an ancient nun who learned to drink it when she was serving in Africa :001_smile: Ellen

We celebrate with a Three King's Cake -- the Hispanic version so there is a baby Jesus hidden inside. We also follow the tradition of putting shoes filled with straw out on the eve. In the morning, the Wise Man have left chocolate coins and a small toy in the shoe. If you have a nativity scene, you can make a small crown to go on the infant Jesus. There is also the tradition of writing the initials of the three Kings above the doorways of your home as a means of asking for a blessing from God (for this year, it would be written: 20 + C + M + B + 09). The following prayer can be said: "Bless, O Lord, Almighty God, this home, that in it there may be health, chastity, strength of victory, humility, goodness, and industry, a fullness of law and the action of graces through God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that this blessing may remain on this home and on those who frequent it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen." We also do the tradition of lighting a large white candle each evening from Christmas till Twelth Night and praying for loved ones. We begin with the following: "Then be ye glad, good people, This night of all the year, And light ye up your candles: His Star is shining near." Hope your family is blessed during this Christmas season:) ellen

A friend bought it for her children last Christmas, and they never play with it. Now you have one for, one against so we've been no help!;) Ellen

My dd(8) is an awful speller. Now, granted, I have not been consistent about doing a spelling program with her. She does read at least three hours a day. For the past three weeks, we have been working on the spelling of the days of the week & the months. I tested her on Friday & she failed. We have been studying by having her look at the word, spell it aloud, copy the word, and then write the word from memory. Any suggestions as to how to study/ good programs? Thanks! Ellen

No one asked for my fish taco recipe:tongue_smilie:, but I tried this one from Epicurious this summer and loved it! http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/FISH-TACO-PLATTER-233703 You have to make the pickled onions, baja cream, & tomatillo salsa. Sooo good! Anyway, I really posted to second the request for the recipe for Morroccan lamb. Thank you! Ellen

They tasted a little more "wild" to me. (If that makes any sense.) :001_smile:Ellen

A bit more on original sin from a Catholic perspective: Original sin is seen as more of a lack of grace (God's life in your soul). When Adam & Eve sinned, that was what was lost; hence they were unable to "pass" that gift onto their children. Thus, original sin is not anything for which an infant is guilty. However, we also have a fallen nature because we lack God's grace. This makes it more difficult to choose the good. Thus, children must be helped to grow in virtues, etc. (This would contradict Rousseau's idea of childhood.) HTH helps to clarify. :001_smile: Ellen

Too funny:lol: And I like Palin, too.

I found the following: A how to video on youtube: And this place sells kits: http://www.gravelart.com/ Enjoy! Ellen

We really like them as well. Initial set-up is time consuming, but well worth it. The instructor's guide is defintely needed. ellen

I don't have any helpful advice, but I will pray for you and your son. Ellen

We're members of the museum, but this will be our first experience in the classroom. What session are you doing? Would you like to meet for lunch? Ellen

I'm not familiar with Writing Tales, but... I used to do research reports with my third graders. It was hard work for them but they were able to do it. We began with how to write a paragraph (topic sentence and at least three supporting sentences). Then they learned how to write a three point essay (topic paragraph, three supporting paragraphs, conclusion). They then learned how to do research (this included how to find books at the library, how to keep a working bibliography, how to take research notes on notecards). Finally, they learned how to write the paper. I think the previous posts were right when they said to be specific in your expectations and break it down into manageable steps. I was very specific as to what was required at each point. I also provided them with specific topics as learning to select a topic and determining what to cover is a difficult skill with which even high school and college students struggle. I gave them the overall theme of the paper, as well as what each supporting paragraph should be about. HTH Ellen

Anyone want to share their thoughts? I "feel" like we should teach the classical pronunciation, primarily because a teacher whom I respect told me that I shold. However, the argument that the only place they will actually pronounce Latin would be singing in Church makes a lot of sense to me. That being said, we really don't sing in Latin very often. Any thoughts? Is it true that, having learned classical, it is easy to pick up the ecclesiastical pronunciation? Thanks for your thouhts. Ellen

It is possible to make your own. (I'm pretty sure there is a page in the text with a picture of it which you can copy & cut out). But I'm with Gail. I like nice wooden manipulatives. I think it especially makes a difference for measuring & comparing. (Paper manipulatives at our house tend to wrinkle and curl!) I would get it. LN