I have two younger children who were late in their development and behind grade level. One has caught up to grade level, but the other one is still about two years behind. I just take it one day at a time with him and keep working steadily.

We have been happy w/VideoText Algebra & VideoText Geometry. It is pricey, but we got it used at 1/5 the original cost. It is a mastery based math program that has great video instruction and graphics, frequent quizzes to check for mastery, and less problems per lesson than typical (10-20). The idea is that if students understand the concept, they don't need to do lots of problems going over the same topics (although there are extra problems available per lesson online if a student needs more practice). Because of the way it is set up, it covers math in a faster way than what is conventional (finishing a year sooner). So for example, the ten modules in VideoText Algebra cover Pre-Algebra and both Algebra I & II & and the six modules in VideoText Geometry cover Geometry, Trig, and Pre-Calculus. If you went with it, the first Module is Pre-algebra. Then Modules 2-5 would be Algebra 1. God bless, Isa

My sons have two years until they take the AP Latin exam. What books have you found helpful or essential to work through (i.e. Excelability in Advanced Latin, Vergil Vocab Cards for AP Selections, Caesar: Selections from his Commentaries, Vergil's Aeneid: Selected Readings, ...)? Thanks, Isa

I've had hypothyrodism for nine years now and my endocrinologist has said that while there is a range for a normal level, he likes to see me right at 1.

I would highly recommend the Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush by Andreas Moritz. It is a natural way to get rid of your gall stones. I have done the flush eight times and it is effective and very inexpensive. He has two versions of this book out. I would not recommend surgery since the gallbladder is essential in producing and storing bile which is used in the digestive process. My mother-in-law had her gallbladder removed years ago, and has really suffered every time she eats. Also, just because you remove your gallbladder doesn't mean that you won't get stones forming elsewhere (i.e. liver). I have known at least four people who have done the flush, and have had great success with it. I wish you well!

I grew up in Ann Arbor, but after getting married lived in Sterling Heights for seven years and am now in the Kalamazoo area.

I grew up in Michigan with my parents speaking Spanish to us all the time, yet I am much more confident in my English. I am fluent in Spanish and can read and write it, but since I never went to school in a Spanish environment and had limited opportunities to speak it, it is just not up to the same level that my English is. I think it's very hard to raise children to be equally proficient in two or more languages. A child is naturally going to spend more time using one language (usually the language of the country they are in). That being said, a child can gain fluency in multiple languages. Does that fluency have to be equal to be beneficial?

I decided to do mainly Memoria Press this year with SOTW 4 read alouds throughout the year. My boys are working on Christian Studies 1, Famous Men of Rome, Latina Christiana 1, and Greek Myths. The Memoria Press books we are doing are geared towards the grammar and early logic stages (grades 3-6). I have been fairly happy with the program and plan to continue Latina Christiana 2 and Christian Studies 2 next year.

Of the math programs I've seen, Professor B Math has the most clear and specific math instruction. It is all scripted, so you know exactly what to say. It also saves time and helps a child achieve mastery by teaching a concept thoroughly. For example, when the concept of place value is taught, it is done so up to the trillions place in a very easy to understand manner. This is unlike most math programs out there that teach place value up to the hundreds one year, then the thousands place the next year, etc... Research has shown it to produce excellent results. The one thing Professor B Math does not cover is a lot of the math outside of arithmetic (i.e. graphs, weights, etc...).

For something a bit different than what was suggested, you could try Miquon. I have used it with three children so far in grades 1-3, and they have all enjoyed it. I haven't used it strictly as is suggested (where the teacher has a lot of interaction with the children). I have basically let my children pick which section they want to work on, and then they only come to me for help. Every so often I do use elements of other math programs to explain concepts to them to make sure they have understood everything. Now Miquon is not scripted, but there are suggestions on how to teach the concepts in the teacher guide. Miquon is a discovery based program that presents concepts in an interesting and different way, so some may not feel comfortable with this approach. I credit Miquon for giving my children confidence in math. They certainly don't view math as boring!

My 8 and 9 year old sons have a big gap inbetween their upper two front teeth which might necessitate braces. At what age would you recommend that they be seen by an orthodontist? I have heard a few people recommend that earlier is better than later, and others that it is better to wait. I am especially interested to hear of any personal experiences within your family or people you know.

It sounds like your daughter is accurate in math, but could use some speed. I would suggest doing 1 minute timings every day with a goal of 60 math facts in 60 seconds. For example, you could start with addition facts up to ten, and then once your daughter gets fluent with those facts move on to a different set of facts. Fluency is the key. Once your daughter achieves the goal of 60 math facts in 60 seconds, you should see a noticeable improvement in how quickly she finishes math.

You could try "God's Design for Science" series. The books correspond to the years in "The Well-Trained Mind", and each chapter is short (it only takes 5-10 minutes to get through). There are optional questions and experiments at the end of the chapters, and you can also supplement with books from the library. It's a quick and effective way to get science done each week.

I would also highly recommend reading out loud and audios. Pick a book that is interesting and will have them asking for more. You can also read a book that has a movie made from it, and that makes for a good reward. The Lord of the Rings series and "Anne of Green Gables" have been hits with my children. A good way to get your children reading is to read out loud and once you get to an exciting part stop. Then in order for your children to find out what happens next, tell them that they'll have to read the next part themselves (you can always read it out loud after they've read it to themselves). If you get your children excited about the stories that books contain, they'll want to read more.

I just wanted to let you know that I had a little baby boy Wednesday, August 6th at 9:40 p.m. We named him Miguel Antonio Pro and he weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. and measured 20 inches long (my biggest yet!). The most amazing thing about it was the way Miguel was delivered. We left the house at 9:15 p.m and got to the hospital at 9:30. Once I arrived on the LDR floor, the nurse at the desk asked me to put on a hospital gown in the bathroom. I went to the bathroom, quickly changed, and then felt an urge to go to the bathroom (or so I thought). Before I knew it, my water broke and I started bleeding. I put my hands down to feel what was going on and felt the baby's head right there! I quickly went to the door, opened it, yelled for help in the hope that a nurse would come to help catch the baby but nobody heard me. I then closed the door, and while standing up I felt the baby coming out. I was able to put one hand on his head and the other around his arm so that he didn't fall on the floor and I could pull him up towards me. Thank God he was O.K.! You can imagine the shock of the nurses and my husband when they heard a baby crying and then saw me. I am recovering quite well and am home now. The children all love their new baby brother.