I want to hear more if anyone has some feedback. :-) Also if anyone wants to sell their audio sets... ;-)

I'm having trouble with my 6 and 7 year old boys who are hard to teach. They ae very creative and imaginative and they only want to play. So much of what I have tried hasn't worked. I liked the ideas here - http://www.meetpenny.com/2012/07/mommys-back-to-school-boot-camp/.

Wow! You're an expert on it then. ;-) That's awesome. It looks like it would be helpful. I can't decide if I want to join HEAV or not. If we have extra money I like supporting it. If we don't and I'm joining for the discount then I end up paying $95 instead $79. :-/ I'm in Manassas. Thanks for the help!

This is only my second year truly homeschooling and I've never been to a convention. As I'm trying to see if we can afford it I thought I'd ask all of you if you think its worth it. Has anyone been to this convention? I love homeschooling but the past two years have been a little difficult. This year it was juggling a new baby who apparently doesn't need sleep. That really messed me up. I feel like a need encouragement, ideas, help, you name it. Thoughts anyone?

The two we have are Artistic Pursuits and Child-Size Masterpieces. We haven't been able to use them yet but I've heard good things about them. Reviews here - http://cathyduffyreviews.com/art-music-drama/art-music-drama-index.htm

Thank you! I really prefer lessons with a teacher outside the home but I don't know if its in our budget this year. :-/ Piano Wizard Academy also appeals because of their payment plan and the fact that I can sell it afterward.

Nancy Larson really appeals because of all the visual extras that come with it and because its scripted. I need something that will make them continue to fall in love with Science but that is easy for me to teach. I wish Apologia was scripted because I love their stuff. My perfect Science curriculum would be taught from a biblical standpoint, scripted, visually appealing and heavy on the experiments. I don't think it exists, nor would it be affordable. :-D I'm willing to fork out the money for Nancy Larson if its worth it.

I'm looking at Apologia, Nancy Larson, Real Science 4 Kids and more. My boys love Science and really like fun experiments - digging through owl pellets, exploding stuff etc. I don't want a dry curriculum with dull experiments. I didn't like Sonlight's K Science kit - we found it boring. Help! Tell me what you've loved. I need suggestions. :-)

Anyone? I would love affordable suggestions for piano or even violin.

So glad you brought up spiral amd mastery differences. I didn't even think about that. Thanks! Is it possible to do MUS and TT? We are using MUS right now.

I want my two oldest (6 & 7) to start learning piano this year and I'm searching for a good place to start. Our budget is small but I want them to have a really good experience. 1) I'm curious about Piano Wizard Academy from Sonlight. I haven't heard much feedback about it but I have heard that its vastly different from the cheaper Piano Wizard (drop the Academy) which is closer to being video game-like. 2) A friend sent me a link to MusIQ Homeschool which looks good and is a little more afforadable. 3) If piano lessons on a real piano with a teacher are the very best I do want that. However, we have no piano and I feel like its a waste if my children have nowhere to practice. Plus I still haven't found affordable ones. Any suggestions, feedback on these music curriculums or new ideas is geatly appreciated.

Thank you everyone! This helps. :-)

Has anyone used it for 3rd grade? I keep hearing about how it is great for the higher grades but nothing about 3rd - 5th. Thanks!

Last year my oldest was six Aug 25th and I sent in my letter of intent saying that he would be in K. So I guess I need to show proof of progress based on his age.

So, not one of the smartest things I've ever done... It has been a crazy couple of years and I couldn't remember if K was supposed to be tested at the end of the year. One of my homeschool groups was setting up testing for all of the kids but it started at 1st grade so I asked another Mom if kindergartners had to be tested and she said no. I know, I should have checked up on it on my own. So I sent in my letters of intent and 2 months later was called by someone while we were go e on vacation about showing proof of progress. Then I get a letter in the mail right after saying I need to get this taken care of within 7 days of the date on the letter sent - of course by that time it was 6. At the time my husband was out of town and I had a sick baby. I'm relatively new to Virginia and homeschooling. Help! Showing a portfolio is out of the question - I wasn't that organized last year. What is the fastest way to get this done? Can he take a test online? How would I go about finding a teacher to evaluate him? I tried calling them today and we played phone tag. Any help is appreciated:-)

Really, really great ideas and encouragement - thank you! The reason my ds feels unprepared us because 90% of the 7 yr olds in his class know everything - the songs, the hand motions, answers to the flash cards and so on. They play games with teams and he can't help his team because he doesn't know all of the answers. He is very competitive so he hates feeling behind. :-(

This is our first year trying Classical Conversations and I'm soooo confused. Of course I will be asking my own group questions too but I just feel like I have an endless stream of questions. My 7 year old is frustrated because he isn't able to keep up due to my not preparing him enough. I was told that all I needed was the Foundations handbook but now it really appears as if we need the audio CDs and flash cards. I was told that I could find all of the audio on CC connected and we looked and listened to it but then in the classroom all of the children know different songs that I don't see on the website and can't find. There is SO much information on CC connected that I just feel lost - its great but overwhelming to me right now. Any helpful advice and suggestions are appreciated!

I think we should start with Spanish? :-/ Any advice on what to start with also?

My children have never studied a foreign language and we need to start. My boys are 6 and 7. Awhile back I read reviews and there were so many complaints I wasn't really drawn to any of the programs. :-/ I need something affordable but feel free to suggest expensive programs if they are amazing because I can look for them used. Thanks!

Thank you so much!!! :-)

I got the The Phonics Road level 1 used but its missing the Tool Drill Cards:-( Does anyone know how I can get these?

Yes it was Singapore Earlybird and it had no Instructor's Guide. I would never, never, never let my children know I hate Math! :-) They have no idea. Hopefully they will take after my husband. Thank you for all of the suggestions everyone!

I'm new at homeschooling and didn't know that Singapore needs Math Manipulatives - so we didn't have any and were just doing workbook work:-P My kids don't have any issues learning but they both seem to be slow to enjoying Math which is most likely my fault. I am REALLY bad at Math and have trouble explaining things well in this area. They wren't struggling to learn all of the material but some things were not clicking. Even though we were learning new things they were bored. This year I'm planning on having a tutor come a couple times a month and help us with fun math games, the manipulatives etc - hopefully it will help fill in the gaps a little and I can learn some creativity in this area.

We're trying CC for the first time this year and they suggested Saxon but I keep hearing that it's a program that makes you hate Math. I'm not good at Math myself so I need something that is really easy to teach. My almost 6 and 7 yr old did Singapore K this year and it bombed for us:-/ I need suggestions ASAP! Here are a few I'm wondering about... Saxon Math Mammoth Life of Fred HELP! :-D

Thanks!!! Thank you, that's good to know. I've wondered if my two boys would do ok with just one subscription to share with the Little Passports. Did you get two or do yours share it?