we got one a couple of years ago, and it makes the best meatloaf, yes, meatloaf I have ever tasted, moist, non-greasy :001_smile:

We are using R & S 2nd grade, I find the blossom and Bees essential to the program, they patterns are in the back if you want to make your own, but to me it was worth buying. The drills are in the workbook as part of the lessons, not seperate book in 2nd. We use the blacklines, but not necessary, if your child doesn't need extra practice.

We are finally in the groove :001_smile: I dropped 2nd grade CLE LA, and Math for R & S English and Math, dropped All About Spelling(dh hated the tiles!) for R & S Spelling. We kept CLE Reading and MFW Adventures and things are good now, no complaints from the kids or me :D

I have a son who turned 8 at the end of June, and I held him back in 2nd this year, best decision I ever made, he is maturing and thriving, reading is taking off, he just was not ready for third grade work maturity issue, not academic issue) We also held him back in 2nd grade at church in Sunday School and other activities and he is just doing great! I say hold him back, you won't regret it.;)

we did "b" has a "belly" and "d" has a "derriere" they would giggle and they never forgot!!:)

thanks for posting, is this current though, at the top it says January???? I thought they were through for the summer? This man tries this every year, we need to be vigilant to see it doesn't happen. I believe this bill died and we won't have to worry about it again till next year when he tries again. :tongue_smilie:

We are going back to Rod & Staff..LOVE IT, sticking with it. :)

I got mine at Classroom Direct. The four feet one, I Love it!!

we are waiting for Lost, January won't come fast enough :) we also like CSI Miami, not sure when it starts??

I posted on a board on the wall a list of "A" chores "B" chores and "C" chores.. then I took a sticky note for each child's name and put one on each list. then everyday I rotate the sticky note so that no one has to do the same chores all the time here's my list" "A" Chores clean bedroom trash(kitchen) fold and put away own laundry sweep living room and dining room clear dinner table empty dishwasher dust "B" Chores clean bedroom load dishwasher wash sink dishes fold and put away own laundry trash(bedrooms and laundry room) asst. in the supper meal and set table clean their bathroom "C" Chores Clean bedroom fold and put away own laundry sweep kitchen and bathrooms dry and put away sink dishes vaccum laundry room and kitchen rugs trash(bathrooms) straighten "their" kitchen cabinet(has their special cups, dishes and snacks) and holds the gladware

One of our "traditions" is we go out to lunch and shopping on the first day of Public school, we get some funny looks and even some comments:D but we smile and celebrate the fact that we have the freedom to choose our own way of education.

we are six weeks in and I have already dropped CLE Math 2 and gone back to Rod and Staff and the kids are doing great, CLE Spiral method just did not work for either of them. We also dropped CLE LA (we are doing PLL). We kept CLE Reading.

we just got a new puppy (yellow lab) and named her Trixie Belle. your puppy is too cute :001_smile:

I get Homeschool Enrichment and I really like it, it is Christian based. I have subscribed to The Old Schoolhouse in the past, but I actually like Homeschool Enrichment better, so I dropped TOS.:)

I just subscribed recently, the $20 yearly fee is worth it to me, tons of stuff. :001_smile:

I tried a couple of electric ones and battery operated, hated all of them, finally just got the 99 cent individiual ones that each child keeps in their own school box and they work fine and I don't have to fool with it.

I am selling my CLE grade 2 math and going back to Rod and Staff, for the same reasons previous posters mentioned. Ds hated the spiral approach, it frustrated him, and I too agree that they introduce some concepts (abstract) that are way too early for their concrete minds. I did try using 1st grade CLE and then switched to Rod and Staff and ds thrived in R & S CLE moved too fast for him. That being said, we really like their reading. It was a little advanced, so I went back to the 1st grade 2nd semester reader and he is doing really well with it. The language Arts is good, but I discovered some of the same things being taught in the reading workbook, so I didn't think it necessary to do the same thing twice. We went to PLL (scheduled in MFW) and we started All about Spelling which I really like and did not need the spelling part of CLE LA either. The 2nd grade Bible is good but as a personal preference on my part, I did not like some of the stories and activities such as reading about Job and then drawing boils all over his skin on the picture.:tongue_smilie: Even though it is biblically accurate, I just didn't like it. I do think CLE is a great academic program, most of it just wasn't for us.

I just bit the bullet and bought 2 sets, they are at different levels in knowing the phonograms, and it is just easier to keep up with their own box, otherwise I would have to go through and write down where each one is after the lesson. Too much trouble. :D

1.) How many kids do you have and what are their ages? We have 3 children, all domestic adoption the girls are special needs. There ages are 17 and 11 for the girls and 8 for ds 2.) What is your favorite food? Seafood (especially shrimp, fish, clams and crab cakes) 3.) What is your favorite movie? To Kill a Mocking Bird 4.) Coke, Pepsi or neither? neither, prefer Diet Rite Cherry Cola 5.) What is your favorite book? To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee 6.) What is your least favorite household job? Folding the laundry, can wash and dry all day 7.) What is your favorite season? the fall 8.) What is your favorite sport? not really into sports, but enjoy the Olympics 9.) What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving 10.) What is your least favorite store you have to shop in? Wal-mart

I get up at 6am and have time for myself for 30 min. get the kids up at 6:30 and we eat breakfast, from 7-8am the kids get dressed, make beds and do their daily chores. We start schooling between 8 and 8:15 and we go straight through until 11 am(dh comes home for lunch everyday). We school 4 days a week, dh is off on Tuesdays. If we have not finished our work we continue after lunch for about 30 min. to an hour, but most days we are finished. We always make sure that the main subjects are done first, then we do the rest. The afternoons are for their nature studies, computer time, free time, etc. here is what we are using: Christian Light for Math, Reading All About Spelling HWT cursive I Can Do All Things Art First Language Lessons My Father's World Adventures (sometimes we wait until the afternoon to do an activity or craft)

if you don't have a microwave in the room, there is usually one in the lobby. We have done "Amish supper". popcorn, apple slices and cheddar cheese slices.

Our school name is Ada's Life Education House and our motto is: "Non Scholae, sed Vitae Discimus" We learn not for school, but for life. each of the kids first initials spells out Ada which means noble, we are training them in all aspects of there lives and our home is the center of our education.

I just bought the cheap packs of magnet strips at wal-mart in the craft section (88 cents per pack) and they are working great so far.:)

no, I bought magetic strips and cut and stuck to the back of the tiles, you can also buy the magnets from AAS. :)

I wanted to share the magnet board my dh made for my kids to use with the All About Spelling program, he used galvanized metal (there are 2 sheets back to back) he painted them and them made a frame on wheels, I have 2 kids using the program, so one can sit on each side of it and use their tiles. I think it turned out great!