That does help. So silly? You'd think they'd make the books friendly to parents with several children, not where the teacher editions are outdated before the next kid can use them?

Anyone out there using Abeka??? We have the math lesson plans and test key from our first child. I need to order the workbooks for our second child to go with these for this year. Of course they've revised the editions since then. I called the company and they said the new workbooks will not match up with the old 1st grade curriculum and test and speed drills key? Are they just wanting me to order new books or can I really not use the old with the new? If its just a tiny bit off we can tweak it, I just hate buying new books if we don't really need to. Anyone have a clue??? Mandi

We will be doing another year with Abeka Math and this year our oldest will be using Abeka's 3rd Grade Arithmetic books. At this level do they still really need the teacher lesson plans too? I was looking at just getting the student book and Teacher Key and possibly the Test and Speed Drills book with the Key? If you did not use the lesson plans with this book did your child just self teach using the student workbooks? Is that asking too much of an 8 year old? She does well in math but I didn't want to overwhelm her. Thanks! Mandi

So looking at Phonics Pathways, would teaching my 1st grader: OPGTR, Phonics Pathways, and AAS 1 be an overkill? I mean am I going to confuse her between the three? Does each teach the phonic rules in a different manner or would it be just like review for her when we learn the rules for a second or third time as we come across them in each curriculum?

This last year I had our kindergartener do Abeka k5 for her phonics program. I really loved it for our first girl (typical driven first born) but for our second she's more of a hands-on, less focused kinda kid. Which is fine but I'm just not sure what to do for next year with her. She really stuggled/got frustrated with Abeka phonics because of the work sheets. She would do great 1 on 1 with the lessons, but then couldn't keep focus to do her worksheets on her own. So we are starting 1st grade with her reading basic phonics books that "follow the rules". Not only do I not know what to do for first grade phonics, but we are starting SOTW and Apologia Science with her this year and I'm afraid she'll get behind or frustrated with her other subjects because of her reading level? I love SOTW and want to do it but the reading list they suggest would be mostly me reading to her a this level? So with all that said....what should I do about phonics with her? I really want something that is best for a child who has a short attention span/has trouble focusing. I was looking at OPGTR because of the lack of worksheets and the one on one teaching? Any curriculum choices or over all tips would be so helpful! Thanks!!! Mandi

Those look wonderful!! Thank you so much! Headed to Target in a bit so I'll keep my eye out for them.

Can I ask where you got the folders with 8 pockets insides of them? I saw someone else online using something like that but had no clue where they were from. Thanks!!

Great ideas!! Always looking for places to stash the book hoard!

Did you just use regular sized freezer bags or extra large ones? Also did the bags seem to hold up all year? Thanks!!

So I need some help! My mind is spinning! We did the workboxes last year with our girls and absolutely loved it! This Summer we moved rooms around to make room for a new baby and ended up switching out rooms for our homeschool room. It's in a better location now but a smaller room. So it's a bit tight with all our magazine holders for 3 kids' workboxes as is and I really could use that space to store our evergrowing book collection. So I've been looking around online and of course there are lots of ideas on how others have adapted this system and not used shoe boxes or magazine boxes (like us). Has anyone done this and liked it? What did you use for your workboxes/folders/drawers and where did you get them? We have a 3rd grader, 1st grader, and preschooler who will be doing boxes next year. I'd also love to have maybe 4 small boxes for "organized play" for our 2 year old during school. Any ideas???

:bigear:

I think your letter sounds great but I also agree withthe suggestions above. Our entire family is gluten free and after doing it for 3 years most of our friends who would invite our kids or fmaily to a party/get to gether know we are gluten free. We always bring our own food/snack to events. We have an amazing children's church teacher who has gone out of her way to only have gluten free snacks for the class to make sure my kids (especially the 2 yr old) dosen't accidently get ahold of someone else's snack. She mostly does things like apple slices and such that are naturally gluten free. Another idea for a birthday party is that I will make up gluten free cupcakes and freeze them. Then when the kids have a party of a special event I will pull out the number we need and just thaw and frost those. This way I have a gluten free dessert for them to take somewhere on short notice. If I don't have any in the freezer sometimes I'll let the kids stop on the way to the party and get a candy bar at the store to take to the party for "cake time". It's not cake but seeing how they never get to pick a candy bar at the store it's still pretty special.

Totally agree! Our family is all gluten free with celiac running crazy through the family tree. It is hard to diagnose bc it shows up with different symptoms with different people, but the most common symptoms are bowl issues and fatigue. No matter what it ends up being I'd definitely get it checked out.

Oooh I'll check out amazon for pouches. Thanks!!

LOVE that store!! Very dangerous for the OCD!!