Besides baking, I use it to make pizza dough. My kids' absolute favorite meal is when I make the dough and give them each a piece, then they can each create their own pizza. It's also a hit when they have friends over.

My son did TT Algebra 1 last year (when he was in 7th grade) and scored advanced on the state testing. The only problem I found with it was that it didn't cover the quadratic equation, which I went over with him. I did notice that the Algebra 1 book has been revised this year and does cover that. He is doing TT Geometry this year and I have been pleased with it.

Last weekend we went to the beach. I think it's the first time I've been to the beach, without a jacket on, in January! I've also been noticing the poppies growing along the road.

DD 11 - dyslexia Math - Teaching Textbooks 6 Barton Level 6 Winston Grammar Word Roots Vocabulary Goes to school 2 days a week for History and Science Other activities: Awana, Taekwondo, Horseback riding

You'll definitely want to get the new version of Algebra 1. My son did the older version last year (only the book, he doesn't like the CDs) and right before state testing I realized that it didn't cover the quadratic equation! For the week before the test I had to cover that with him, and he said there were a few questions about it on the test (he did still manage to get an advanced score on the test). I saw that with the new version coming out this year that they do cover the quadratic equation.

I've had a friend hint at having me homeschool her son, but he has educational/behavioral issues and there's no way I would bring him into my home to disrupt my children's education. The only time I seriously considered homeschooling other children was a few years ago when the teachers in our school district went on strike the month before school ended. There was talk of them shutting the schools down for the rest of the school year. I told a friend that she was welcome to send her daughters to my house during that time, so at least they could learn something the last month of school. It helped that they were the same age as my children, so they could just do the same lessons my children were doing. I didn't end up doing that because the strike lasted only a few days.

My son also does not like the CDs so I am only going to be using the book for him for Geometry this year (he didn't use the CDs for Algebra). That makes it much more cost effective.

I just received my STAR test results today and my son who did the TT Algebra 1 scored Advanced. I'm happy with the program.

This year we were horrified when we saw the practice STAR test books (the California standardized test). The problems were so difficult it was apparent that they were way above grade level. We haven't received our results back yet, but the actual test had to be easier than the practice book! (I have a science degree and had a difficult time answering many of the science questions in the 5th grade book. This was almost college level material!)

My children like the workbooks better than the CDs. My son did the Algebra only in the workbook.

I took my son to the orthodontist this morning and asked why they weren't doing the Herbst appliance with him. They said that they will do it if the overbite is severe enough. Fortunately, my son's overbite is not too bad and can be corrected easily with just elastics. They said the appliances can be uncomfortable, so they try to avoid it if they can. They take it on a case by case basis for each patient.

When I talk to the orthodontist, I'll let you know (it was the assistant who told me this).

I hear you! I used Writing Stands last year (5th and 7th grade) and was not thrilled with it at all. I'm going to try Bravewriter this year. I hear very good things about it. Unfortunately, since I haven't used it yet, I can't tell you what it is like.

They haven't told me exactly what the procedure is, but they will be using elastics instead (which is what I thought they used to do before the Herbst appliance!). My son probably won't get it done for another month or two.

My son got his braces on at the beginning of the year. They were going to put a Herbst appliance in to correct his overbite. At his last appointment, I asked them when they were going to put it in. I was informed that our orthodontist no longer uses the Herbst appliance and uses a different method to correct overbites now.