I tend to be a bit too honest for my own good at times ;) but I think I would have mentioned somthing by now. But a better measure, as other posters have said is to have your husband, as head of the household do it. It's time for them to get the message that you are a busy homeschooling family that needs to get back to work. He can do it gently as to not embarass them, but it should be done. JMHO Hang in there!:grouphug:

I joined the group and am also bumping this up in hopes for some ideas. Thanks ladies!:auto:

It is very hard to find Petite dresses period. But I'm sure you have found that to be true already. I recently attended a wedding and needed a formal dress. I'm 5'2 (barely) and finding a dress was a nightmare. I ended up wearing a cocktail dress that I bought about 10 years ago. :tongue_smilie: Some of the places that I've had luck: Talbots (expensive), Elder-Beerman (find a good sale), Macy's (find a good sale) and Penny's (did you try the catalog? Sometimes you can order (online too) a petite version of what is in the store. I usually have to have things altered. I wish you lots of luck. :001_smile:

:lurk5:

Have you looked at Living Learning Science? This might be something that you would like. I don't have the link but you can google it. That is how I found it when I was looking for it. :001_smile:

Are any of you going to the Midwest HS Convention in Ohio? Have you found a hotel that is near the convention that isn't $100.00 per night? Thanks!

Christine, I always wondered about this when my children were younger as well. You are a busy mom and I truly believe that your ministry is in your home. I consulted with older women in the church about it and they also told me that was where my ministry was. You are homeschooling your children and teaching them God's Word. I also believe strongly in developing friendships wherever I go. As you grow and develop in the Word of God, you should be becoming more like Christ. Living as an a example for Christ and being a true friend, there are many opportunities to share your relationship and the gospel with those friends. You can do that as you raise your family. It is not going out and finding someone to target and convert. It's finding someone that is missing a relationship in their life and sharing with them how you developed yours. I think perhaps you may be making it too hard. JMHO. I understand your conviction because I've been there. But as mothers, especially homeschooling mothers, we already have a ministry. But if you live your life, putting Christ first, everythings else (even homeschooling) will fall into place! :001_smile: I hope that this helps some and not added to the confusion of the many posts here.

I had to use this approach with the oldest because of her LD. She just couldn't learn phonics. We even went to three specialists/therapists. She did learn to read this way, but couldn't get beyond a certain point. I don't want my son stuck this way. He did learn to sight read with the ring approach at school this year, but I have started teaching him phonics with Phonics Pathways. He's doing OK, but likes the color and variation of textbooks/workbooks and readers. He needs continuous spiral review. I do think MCP would be a poor choice as well for him. I did use it and liked it for my other children, but he likes MUS.

X-Post from K-8 Forum Curricula Questions about 1st Grade DS (HF Autism, ADHD) We are brining our son home from PS next year and I want to make sure that he continues with his love of learning and encourage a challenging education without frustrating him. He is on the Autism scale but high-functioning. Most of his problems are speach/language related. He is also ADHD, but is on Meditate and has improved leaps and bounds over the year. He loves school and I afterschool him as much as he can tolerate and wants. I'm really torn as to what to use next year because in Pre-school/Kindergarten before he entered school, he really struggled with HOD and WinterPromise. Recently, he's been doing amazing and it's like windows of understanding have flooded opened. His speech has improved dramatically as well. He is a visual learner and learns from the whole to the parts approach. Unfortunately in school, they have taught him beginning reading by sight word and I've taught him beginning phonics, but that has confused him some. I will teach pure phonics over the summer. Here are some of my choices: 1. Calvert (because of their strong foundation) Math U See 2. MyFather's World 1st Grade 3. Put together my own: Phonics Pathways Math U See Beta AAS Lots of Reading using the lists in Teaching Your Child to Read Using Children's Books Geography - Evan Moore beginning Geography workbooks and children's globe Lots of Geography Puzzles Evan Moore monthly thematic pockets Leading Little Ones to God I also looked at Rod and Staff Reading and Math and they looked really good. He loves their workbooks and that's what we use for afterschooling. However, I need straight and forward for reading/phonics without diatrical markings. AND... Open to suggestions. Thank you in advance for any help ladies!

We are brining our son home from PS next year and I want to make sure that he continues with his love of learning and encourage a challenging education without frustrating him. He is on the Autism scale but high-functioning. Most of his problems are speach/language related. He is also ADHD, but is on Meditate and has improved leaps and bounds over the year. He loves school and I afterschool him as much as he can tolerate and wants. I'm really torn as to what to use next year because in Pre-school/Kindergarten before he entered school, he really struggled with HOD and WinterPromise. Recently, he's been doing amazing and it's like windows of understanding have flooded opened. His speech has improved dramatically as well. He is a visual learner and learns from the whole to the parts approach. Unfortunately in school, they have taught him beginning reading by sight word and I've taught him beginning phonics, but that has confused him some. I will teach pure phonics over the summer. Here are some of my choices: 1. Calvert (because of their strong foundation) Math U See 2. MyFather's World 1st Grade 3. Put together my own: Phonics Pathways Math U See Beta AAS Lots of Reading using the lists in Teaching Your Child to Read Using Children's Books Geography - Evan Moore beginning Geography workbooks and children's globe Lots of Geography Puzzles Evan Moore monthly thematic pockets Leading Little Ones to God I also looked at Rod and Staff Reading and Math and they looked really good. He loves their workbooks and that's what we use for afterschooling. However, I need straight and forward for reading/phonics without diatrical markings. AND... Open to suggestions. Thank you in advance for any help ladies!

We are Christian and creationist, but that doesn't mean that we long for something different for high-school science. We too are looking for something that pulls together Language Arts for a complete program in high-school.

We used them one year exclusively. Depending on what level you are at, you are getting literature, history or science and writing. My kids enjoyed the projects that we made too. We enjoyed them. The upper level ones look enjoyable too for the history. If you add some reading, you could have a nice course.

Yes. Join the Yahoo group. It gives a list of the books used for each group also a list of choices for grammar, vocab, writing, etc. You can also ask questions. We are the beta testers this year, but they are now finalizing it for the "for sale" version and will the cleaned up version posted soon as to what it will include and look like. I'm sure the price will be similiar to what we are paying, just on CD instead of receiving monthly downloads. And cleaned up. Definately try the yahoo group. Maggie is on there as well as the people on her staff.

Yes, I'm in the states. Won't mention where. The only reason for sending him was that he needed special services. He gets even less education because he gets speech and OT services during the day! Yea, movie day...my other son is in the 7th grade..they do that there too. Amazing! The concepts he is learning now are the ones that I already taught him last year. I keep telling the teacher that he already learned that.... She then will write in her notes.."C" is so proud of what he learned today. Geesh.

You are going to need something visual. I think Alphaphonics is confusing with its markings. While most children can learn these and move on, the super visual Aspie gets hung up on the markings and forgets the letters he is sounding out. We use phonics pathways and I combine it with phonics cards from Dianne Craft.org. to make it more visual for him. He combines the cards to make the word. We also use a whiteboard. I additionally use magnetic letters. Anything to make it visually remberable and tactile helps. I suspect that SSWR does the same thing. You may still need to add some visual aspects. Aspie children are very visual and learn through pictures. You may want to go to Diannecraft.org and read up about Phonics instruction on her site. She is very informative about special needs. I may have spelled her name wrong. I'm not sure if there is one "n" or two. Good luck.

Dianne Craft, Starfall.com, Joyce Herzog, Ruth Beechick Pathway Phonics, MUS, Rod and Staff Preschool Workbook Series

It can be used through high-school. There are different activities at the end of the lesson for different age groups. Early/Jr. High/High School. He will be fine. Especially if you add some of the recommended reading books suggested at the end of the book. I'm using it now with my 9th grader along with the Literature program Illuminations written by Maggie Hogan of Bright Ideas Press. Together it makes for a really rich classic program that includes History, Geography, Bible, Grammar,CopyWork,Vocabulary, Spelling (if needed), Writing, Literature (you could choose from the middle school or high-school choices since he's right on the fence, but the high-school courses are pretty meaty).

I saw the post about BIP and Illuminations. We are using that this year and while I think it's a great option for some, I don't necessarily think it would be a great fit for an Aspie. My son is an Aspie and I think that the workload would overwhelm him. He too is bright but if your son is already bulking at schoolwork, this may just be too much for him. Your going to want something light. Have you seen the curriculum boxes that Timberdoodle has put together? I looked at the 1st grade kit and it looks pretty much spot-on for my son. I'm just a bit hesitant about the history since it's not very visual. Have you tried SOS? A lot of Aspie families have found great success with that. Especially if he has been enjoying his computer a lot. Maybe you could introduce one subject at a time? Just a few thoughts. Good luck to you. I know it's a lot to deal with.

I am a mother to one that is graduating this year and here to say that you DO NOT get that time back. EVER. I had a house full of littles back in the 90's. I was raising/homeschooling babies/toddlers/preschoolers, all six under the age of seven at time. I was so focused on daily needs and school, school, school, that we didn't do fun. When the foster children left, we were in a routine that we pretty much stuck to. About the only extra thing we did was make Christmas cookies and ornaments for the neighbors. Now, my older homeschooled children: 19,16 and 13 are in their high-school years and there is no time in their schedules to play. I regret it terribly. Yes, we did make trips to zoo once in awhile on the weekend or a historical village. But that was about it. Now I'm planning for my 1st grade son who I am hoping to pull from PS. His days will include fun and lots of it. If you are afraid of losing precious educational time. Let us consider what goes on in a typical public school classroom. This is in the city...not the suburbs, there may be a difference. 9:00 arrive at school, remove outer garments, attendance, calm down 9:30 breakfast (yes, breakfast provided by the state) 10:00 Calendar time 10:30 Gym or Art 11:00 Music or Singing in class 12:00 Activity boxes 12:30 lunch 1:00 rest time (yep!) 1:30 Reading 2:00 Centers 2:30 Math 3:00 Home Within those 1/2 hour blocks, if the child finishes his worksheets or time with the teacher, he can play or lay down with a blanket . some days (usually once a week, the whole school watches a movie in the gym with popcorn and everything). Then his classroom has movie days in the class where they watch TV shows a couple of days a week and sometimes a moive. I didn't add recess which comes after lunch and in the afternoon. I also didn't add all of the times that classes are interrupted with disruptive students. In my son's class, it's about every 15-20 minutes (I've sat in). If you get in a solid 1 1/2 -2 hours at the most with your K-3rd that is way more than a public school child is going to get in a classroom. You would not believe the interruptions, silly things that they learn not pertaining to education, and disruptions. Then with class of kids, you always have someone soiling themselves, throwing up, etc. That takes time to clean up, phone parents and find clean clothes. Its a circus. What I'm saying is take the great curricula, but choose what's important and don't overdo it. They aren't young very long. Then choose some fun things to do with your child to enjoy the day. Play some playdough, make a mud pie. Climb a tree. As for the mom that mentioned not having money. We've never had much and still don't. If you look around, there are many things out there you can do. Ask your child what he/she would like to do. Cook something, make a tent. Borrow one of Ed Emberly's books and see what you can draw. Make your own flannelgraph figures and have your children tell you a story. There are a ton of books at the libary about things to do. Plant a garden. The library will have info about what's going on in town over the summer. Go to a metropark and read under a tree. Swing as high as you can. It's not so much what you do, it's that you are doing it together. You are making memories. I hope that helps.

I have been homeschooling since 1993 and have used just about every curricula there is in hopes to find the "right" one to make sure that my kids came out "smart". Children are gifts from God and each one is created with special gifts and talents and each one is smart in a special way. NOT always in intelligence. Over the years, I have found out that each one has one or more learning disabilities and have had to adjust for that. While my expectations for a couple of them have clearly had to change, I have found that they do have gifts in other areas and have fostered those gifts. But to the average person, they may not seem "smart". We have used some of the more rigorous materials and yet if you spoke to my children, you probably would not know that. So curriculum and intellegence don't always line up. My goal has been to teach them to think the best that they can and to not be fooled by the secular world. We want them to be able to read and understand the Bible and to be able to function in the real world on their own. Finding and moving toward a career goal whether that includes college or not is key. And if marriage and children is the goal, a back-up career is still expected, even if for the short-term.

Mamma Bear, There are quite a few of us with more than one challenging child and it is a rough road but can be done. All but one of my children are facing some sort of issue from mild (mild ADD) to severe (severe CP,MR,seizure disorder, developmental delay). Like you, in the beginning, I tried to do it all. Eventually, the stress of having my severely challenging child home all day became too much. All of his appointments, the therapy I had to do at home with him, his feedings and his comfort needs (he wants to be held or sat with or comforted all day) was just too much with homeschooling the others. And this was before our Aspie son was even born. We eventually put him into the public school system. Luckily, he has been very small and we were able to keep him in the elementary school until he was 14. We started with a couple of hours at a time and then moved to a couple of days at a time. I too was concerned with his immune system, but believe it or not, this has improved his system and he is one of the healthiest children in our home. He received the flu and pnemonia shot every year. It really gives me a break from his care throughout the day and then I can focus on giving him the love he needs when he gets home. He always came home with the smell of perfume in his hair and lipstick on his cheek and I knew that he was getting plenty of love from his teachers. They have all kept in touch over the years. Unfortunately, I'd have to say that Jr. High isn't going as great. I'm going to see how it goes next year and if it's not better, I'll have to bring him home. They rarely get him out of his wheelchair and now that he can use a gait trainer, they haven't used one once. They won't get him a communication device and the elementary school did all of the work last year. I think his teacher has given up. Maybe. We'll see. One year at a time. They do amazing things though for preschool and elementary school and may get your son to do things that you may not have thought possible. Plus, you get the much needed time to teach your other children without the constant interruption. Then when he gets home, you can give him love and snuggle time. :001_smile: I wish you much luck in your decision. No matter what you do, it will not be an easy decision.

This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness are by Frank Peretti. Bondage Breaker :iagree: Make sure to pray with and for your daughter daily and to cover your family in prayer during this time. The opposition will NOT want you to learn about how he operates or how to fight him. Blessings, Candace

My daughter went through a book on choosing careers by Larry Burkett last year. The 2nd half of the book is on Trade schools, apprenticeships and the like. Megan is currently finishing up her apprenticeship for a cleaning service business. Her senior project will to be to set up her own cleaning business. The apprenticeship has helped her tremendously and we got a lot of the ideas and forms from the book above. I can't remember the name of it but it was by Larry Burkett and was something like Choosing a Career. Blessings, Candace

I am so sorry for you and your family. I will be praying for you. :grouphug: