Thanks, Pam, that's a really good point about liking it. :) She saw me looking at a few books yesterday and said in a *hopeful* voice, "So, can I do MUS for Algebra 2?" And she might like something else too, but coming off the extreme frustration of the past 2 years using Glencoe (a fine program, just not well suited for self-teaching), it's wonderful to see her not loathing math. :) Pam, I'm not sure what MUS levels your kids use, but do you see any problem jumping in to Alg 2 without having done MUS Alg 1? Thanks for the encouragement! :)

My DD is using MUS geometry this summer (1st time with MUS) after struggling through a poor geometry program last year and not completing it. She really likes the arrangement of MUS with the DVD, lessons, etc., and wants to continue with it for Algebra II. But I've read that it's "light" and such. Maybe that's not a terrible thing, and maybe I could supplement with LoF or Lial's Intermediate Algebra (both of which I own). I was going to have her use Lial's, but now that she actually LIKES something, I'm afraid to change! lol Let's say she starts MUS Alg 2 in a couple of weeks.... HOW do I supplement? (Or is it even necessary??) Maybe I could use some assessment from Lial's as we go along? I know that TT Alg2 has some typical Alg2 topics pushed into the TT precalc book -- is MUS like that too? I've tried comparing content listings from various books, but am finding it hard to compare. Also, has anyone's kids gone from MUS Alg 2 into Chalkdust Precalc? I ask because we own CD precalc for another DD and so that would be convenient. :)

Test results on Crayola's dry-erase crayons (I just posted this on another thread, but thought it might be useful here): I tested the new dry-erase crayons and this time left them on for 24hrs+. ALL of the "crayon" colors erased beautifully from my white board with no hint of color left behind. I used a paper towel to erase. The areas that were colored in more obviously took a little more pressure to remove, but still no trace of color left on the board. :hurray: $2.99 for a box of 8 colors at Target -- maybe cheaper elsewhere, but I'm satisfied even at that price. Has a built-in sharpener on the back of the box (probably good so it's exclusively for those crayons only), and a little "mitt" for erasing... but a paper towel works just fine too.

Follow-up report on Crayola dry erase crayons: I tested the new dry-erase crayons again and this time left them on for 24hrs+. ALL of the "crayon" colors erased beautifully from my white board with no hint of color left behind. I used a paper towel to erase. The areas that were colored in more obviously took a little more pressure to remove, but still no trace of color left on the board. :hurray:

Follow-up report on Crayola dry erase crayons: After 24hrs+, ALL of the "crayon" colors erased beautifully from my white board with no hint of color left behind. I used a paper towel to erase. The areas that were colored in more obviously took a little more pressure to remove, but still no trace of color left on the board. :hurray: Thank you so much for all the thoughts shared on the handwriting (and other subjects). Oh, and while I totally agree that a pencil would be ideal, I would have to actually order more books right now for them to get started if I treat them as consumable. I am trying to avoid doing that, at least for a time here, hence the dry erase / page protector questions. And since they can also readily use the HWT paper (with pencil), I think I will endeavor to have them work with both equally. Thanks, everyone!

Thanks for the ideas so far, ladies -- I appreciate the specifics you shared! So (showing my ignorance) what do you DO in Chinatown and Little Italy? My DDs are huge fans of Korean pop music (and all things Korean) -- I know there's a "Korea-town" somewhere, but I don't understand what that really means. lol Also, someone offlist suggested Greenwich Village when I said they wanted to do some shopping. But I didn't specify clothes shopping, so does Greenwich Village seem a good choice (in general and for clothes)? Where would be good places to shop for clothes? They love the look of K-pop (Korean) bands. ;)

Any ideas (for older teens) to see/do while in NYC for a few days? Broadway play is already on the list. :) Thanks!

Well, since we just got the today I can't be sure. But I left them on for maybe 2-3 hours and they wiped off fine. (Better than one of the dry erase markers I had on at the same time.) I think I'll test them out tomorrow for a longer period, now that you say that.

My older kids were more natural spellers, I think, but I found that copywork at 2nd grade was adequate work (and not very time consuming), as well as addressing spelling at the point of need. You can get copywork from any number of sources, often for free. I did end up buying Spelling Wisdom from Simply Charlotte Mason as it was a timesaver for me to just have it all there and ready to go. Dictation (where the child prepares for the passage by reading over it, studying words they may not be certain about, then writing it while you dictate the passage) was also very useful, but I don't think we did it until they were a bit older than your 2nd grader.

I've used the Spelling Wisdom copywork e-books from Simply Charlotte Mason and like them. They have American and British (spelling) versions, and the books are available in hard copy or e-book format.

I just bought dry erase Crayola crayons today at Target for $2.99/box of 8 colors. No stench issues. Not sure if you'd love the crayons for older kids, but I must say I like them! (They were in the back of the store where the big back-to-school supplies section is located.) Personally, the dust from chalkboards drive me crazy and I would have tactile issues having to hold chalk all the time, too. But that's just my preference. You could find a dry erase board that's magnetic, too, if that feature is important to you. Good luck finding the right fit for your family! :)

$2.99 at Target (not a sale price) for a set of 8 colors -- box had a built-in sharpener on the back and it included a soft little "mitt" for wiping off. The mitt is totally unnecessary of course as a napkin or paper towel would suffice, but it does fit in the box and is nice and reusable. :) I found it in the back of the store in the special section where all the back-to-school supplies are at. Not sure if it's something they normally carry at other times of the year.

OH! lol I didn't even think about it THAT way! :blushing: That makes a lot more sense.... ;)

Just found dry erase crayola crayons at Target today! I bought a box to try and I think they will be another good option for my littles. There's also a built-in sharpener on the box. It has a bit more texture when you write on a page protector, so I think it won't accidently rub off quite as easily as a marker. We're still use the fine point markers, but I think the durability of the crayons will be a great tool as well. So excited that this will work! Thank you for all the replies! :)

Over the summer I have thought a LOT about college transcripts and what will "look good" on a college transcript for my rising junior DDs, and I've felt rather confused and frustrated. I realized this week that for the first time in homeschooling I am trying to figure out how to best "teach to the test" for these girls, and I don't like it. We've always tried to facilitate a high quality education, rooted in classic literature and the truth. We have strong feelings about the original intent of the "founding fathers" and the Constitution and are very often not politically correct. Now I find myself trying to figure out how to help get them prepared for AP exams and prepare a transcript that looks "just right." One of the schools one DD is strongly considering is one that states that "extra consideration will be given to students who enroll in AP courses and take AP exams" and I figured that would be even more true for homeschoolers so that was a driving force for me, too. But as I suggested to my DDs that they could take the world history AP exam (we already have an "approved" textbook because I was sick of so-called world history books being predominantly Euro-world history), they felt like while the textbook is fine and they use it, they really weren't comfortable with the APWH option because they don't want to have to focus so much on "their" (AP test writers) interpretation of history. And I realized that they are right. I don't want that either. My dh suggested that maybe we need to have more faith that all will work out one way or another. We have felt very strongly about pursuing the educational path that we have for past years; why should we forsake that now for the final two years? Isn't it more important to focus on teaching correct principles, etc., and trust that it will all work out? And maybe I'm making too big a deal out of this. It just seems like to really present strongly in a typical, traditional high school sense, we'd need to conform to all of that. <sigh>

How old are her kids? Is this really everything they have for toys?? And what are wooden romper stompers? Does she rotate, or is this it? I've done the rotating, etc. But they KNOW they can ask to rotate and the toys are still there, so I'm not sure that's helping with a simplified view of life, or with being grateful for less.

Thanks AprilMay for your comments, too. Have tried that vanishing ink on page protectors? I'm wondering if it really would disappear on that material. Neat idea! :)

Great replies, and thank you for including specifics about the thin tip and they type of PPs you use. I think I'm ready to go ahead and do it! :)

So how long, do you think?

Oh, this brings back memories!! A few years ago we lived in a house like this -- 850 sq ft or so for the 4 of us. Then we had a baby, then another. Finally we moved after much deliberation. Our only table was a folding table that we took out for a meal or for work/play, and folded up when not in use. When we moved to our current we were astounded at the space (relatively speaking)... but it is filled now. <sigh> Yes, a part of me longs for simpler days, like when were newly married and had nothing and were so happy. lol Thanks for stirring up the memories! I hope this will inspire me.

Here!

I just started a thread about simplified living in general, but am hoping for some specific ideas on all the kids' stuff. A part of me thinks they could be just as happy (or happier) with quite a bit less than what they have. Less is more, is what I'm thinking. My dh has suggested we get rid of almost everything and just keep (as an example) duplos/legos and something else. But don't keep duplos AND wooden blocks AND dishes AND play kitchen AND dress-up AND the fisher-price farm/people AND Build-a-Bear dress up clothes (for the bears) AND ... you get the point. The problem is while a part of me agrees with this in theory, I'm afraid to do it. And I have emotional attachment to everything. And I can justify keeping everything -- I'm really good at that. lol And then of course there's the rationalization that this or that is "educational" and so of course we must keep it. And hence the clutter in my home. It's really not THAT bad, especially for 7 people, but I want so much more from life (and LESS clutter!). It's not like the kids don't like the toys -- otherwise that would be easy. But they certainly don't need to own everything they like, I realize. I know it's probably not a good comparison, but I look at kids in days of old (like Little House, lol) and they were happy and grateful for the few (or one!) toy they had. And it was fine. We don't live in that day and age, but this seems excessive... and we're not even "that bad" compared to many I know. Same thing goes for kids' books and DVDs. Any ideas? My kids are 1, 4, 6, 15, 16.

I HEAR YOU!!! I totally feel for you. My plan is to keep a few select toys for future use. Maybe you could have a defined box (or two) and limit yourself to that as a max. If your kids are older and you're just thinking grandkids, I would do something similar with books. Pick the ones that have special memories for them or a nice little selection for visitors; designate a certain amount of space and limit yourself to that. But I am very interested to hear others' opinions!

I have dreams of truly simplified living -- like the zenhabits site and such. A home without clutter, just stuff we love and use. You know, peaceful happy family times all day long. lol But seriously, if anyone here has seriously tried to move toward simplified living, I'm curious to hear what it might look like when children are very much in the picture! Our 5 kids are ages 1-16, and I wonder how possible it is. I am starting a separate thread on kids' toys. ;) Thank you in advance for comments + ideas!

OK, anyone have experience reusing workbook pages (like HWT) with a page protector and a marker? I'm considering doing it for handwriting (HWT) and RightStart math, and possibly a vocab book for my high schoolers. Thoughts?? Would you use a dry-erase marker, or an overhead vis-a-vis marker (wipes with water), or something else? For handwriting, I really don't like workbooks, but recognize that it might be of value for these particular 2 children. However, I also have some of the HWT special paper, so I figure they could do some workbook practice (with the markers??), then their regular writing on the HWT paper with pencils. Do you think that would work? The handwriting is what I'm most concerned with, as I do want them to have good mechanics, etc. Thank you for any and all comments! :)