Bumping up because I was coming here to ask the same question. I noticed they use a lot of curriculum I really don't know much about. For example, for 4th grade - language arts is a combo between "Language Lessons for the Elementary Child" and Evan-Moore's Daily 6-Traits of Writing. Im just wondering how complete people have found their packages - how thorough?

I would like to get the readers with AAS level 2, however I saw there were two units of readers. Do I need both or will just one do?

:iagree::iagree: I can't express how silly it is that people actually thing Harry Potter promotes witchcraft. They obviously haven't taken the time to actually read the Harry Potter books before judging them. We are a proud Harry Potter reading household - all kids all ages. And we're still Christian. ;) There is zero obsession with witch craft or casting spells in this house. I've even read all the books - three times. :)

So sorry you've had to go through this too. :( I can totally relate. My first I was too young and unmarried, my second was still too young and not married yet (but got married a couple months after I found out I was PG), my third was too many children....same with my fourth and fifth. Never any joy in telling the grandparents about pregnancies in this house. :(:grouphug:

The Cathy Duffy book was like my Bible when I first started homeschooling. ;) I even checked it out twice when I change curriculum later too. I'd totally buy it, but definitely in print. There are lots of charts with tiny lettering.

I saw a blurb on this program in a homeschooling boys yahoo group email. I would like to know more about it! I don't know anything about Far Above Rubies either. The reviews I'm seeing is that its pretty comprehensive and maybe just a math and grammar program need to be added. So can anyone who uses this or knows anything about this program (BITM) tell me more about it? What is it exactly? What subjects does it cover? Will it cover all grade levels? Where do you even order it? lol Thanks! EDITED to add - Oops after researching it some more, I see its a high school program? My oldest will be in 7th grade in the fall, so I still have some time before then I guess.

I also wanted to chime in with my little story. When I started dating again, I only had one child at the time and he was 2 yrs old. When my ex found out that I was dating he called and would leave nasty messages on my answering machine. My soon-to-be husband (although we weren't engaged yet) heard the message one time. Thankfully it didn't scare him off. ;) It was a pretty bad message too (calling me names, making threats and so on). It fizzled out. He (the ex) just wasn't use to me dating yet. He still thought maybe there was a chance for him and me to work things out. Uggh no. Lonnnnng story there. He was only like that for the first few months that I was dating. Then he backed off and never said a word about it again. He did, however, get pretty upset when his son started calling my DH dad...but what did he expect? He (the ex) wasn't a parent or participating in my son's life at all. So maybe mine was a bit different because my ex is a dead beat and didn't really participate much in our lives. We only had to deal with him on a few nasty occasions. If this is the first occurance I would give it time. Let the guy know how uncomfortable that made you feel. I know it wasn't his fault, but he should know that you don't feel comfortable dealing with a crazy ex in the situation. ;) Maybe he can at least talk to his ex and see if she'd be willing to voice her concerns in private where the kids can't hear?

Thanks for the ideas! My concern is that I won't get everything covered that I wanted to if I don't have a lesson plan. With the math, English, spelling, etc. I can just do the next lesson. I like the examples the previous poster gave of a general lesson plan such as "do next lesson" or "15 minutes of piano" and so on. That's similar to what I have now, but I use Homeschool Tracker and its TOO much. lol But I also want to stay on track with projects, and be able to plan ahead with what books to read to introduce a new subject (specifically like doing SOTW..I feel we could do so much better at that). Also, I could include field trips certain times of the year to make sure they get done. So I think the lesson here is to NOT do daily lesson plans. lol But I do like the idea of keeping it general. I also like the idea of keeping an annual plan of certain projects I want to do, the scope and sequence of what I want to cover that year. Also, doing the more specific plans (such as book schedule for SOTW and so on..) perhaps a month at a time in advance. Thanks!

Okay trying to post again (like my fifth time trying to post this since last night!) How many of you do a daily lesson plan for the whole year? Or maybe quarterly? How do you do lesson plans if not? And any tips or even examples you can give me? The biggest draw to Sonlight I had was the lesson guides and what to do each day. I feel like this first year of homeschooling for us had been pretty disorganized. We started out good but fizzled out somewhere throughout this year. Now I use Homeschool Tracker and just have their assignments (very general) to do each day and print it out for them to check off. However its just like "do circled pages in Explode the Code" or "do a spelling lesson" its not specific. Because of this I feel like we aren't getting as much done, and are missing some of the fun activities I wanted to do because I'm not prepared. I'm just curious how you all do lesson plans. Thanks!

I haven't tried today, but yesterday I couldnt post a new post either. I can reply, but not start a new thread.

I follow this blog. She has some great ideas! I'm actually planning on getting the either just Expedition Earth or both for next year or the years following. I think it looks like she did a very thorough job. She is seriously THE super mom. lol

I was told by another homeschool mom today again about how great Sonlight's readers are. Since reading is our area of weakness (curriculum wise) I thought I'd look into it. My 12 yr old is a reading machine and its hard to get him books that challenge him. Also, he reads them so fast that I'd like a reading program that really has him think about what he's reading, answer comprehension questions, etc. I didn't see where Sonlight has the reading study guides for the older levels though. They seem to stop after the 4-5th grade level? Is that really the case?

I didn't read the replies but a great place to donate your books to is the Book Samaritan. They give free homeschool books to families in need. When we first started homeschooling I didnt have the money for books, so I wrote them to see if we could get at least some of the books on our list. They sent me a box full of different curriculum I had asked for, and some I hadn't. It was great. The only thing they ask is that people do NOT resell the curriculum they are given. They are to give it away to someone else or back to the Book Samaritan. I have some Math-U-See curricula that I'm going to give away actually because I got it from the Book Samaritan and am not using it anymore. I just want to be sure that who I give it to really needs it and won't resell it.

I have five boys, no girls. I could always use a girls' nights out. I think any mom could. I was a bit sad reading your post though, because it reminds me of what I don't have. :( As a mom of all boys, I try hard to daily remind myself of the positives. ;) I don't like to dwell on what I could have or don't have. I have five healthy children so I think that counts as being quite blessed. :) That said, we're trying to get PG again and really hoping for a girl. We'll be happy with any baby God gives us. However we (me?) really hopes for a daughter. At least one. I need one other person in this house on my side. lol

An update... The Dr.'s office called back and moved my appt up to last Friday. So rather then waiting a week between ultrasounds now, I only had three days difference. I really wish I could have waited that week or longer. I think if things have not changed or had shown that there was no longer a sac a week or two later then I would feel most assured that everything was ended. However, they did the ultrasound just three days later. The sac was still there, still the same size (the OB didn't measure the sac though- he just said it looked to be the same size). It looked nice and round and clear, with no blood in it, etc. There was a lot of blood and some clots in my uterus however. Also the ultrasound this time didn't pick up on anything in the sac at all where three days before it showed a clear yoke and fetal pole measuring under 6 weeks. I went to misdiagnosedmiscarriage.com, which I don't think I ever should have. Because so many women on that page have had early ultrasounds that only found a sac and nothing else and ended up to have healthy babies in later ultrasounds. The most usual reason is because of a tilted or retroverted (?) uterus that makes ultrasound detection hard when its so early. Even under 8 weeks is considered too early to diagnose a blighted ovum, or empty sac if you have a tilted uterus supposedly. I do know that a few pregnancies ago my OB told me that my uterus was tilted. I don't know if that's just something you're born with or if it changes with time and pregnancies. Anyway, I've had (TMI) lots of bleeding that alternates from heavy flow for a couple hours to moderate or even light flow the rest of the time. One day where I had lots of cramping for a couple hours. And (more TMI) a few blood clots, which the OB examined in the Dr. office and said I was indeed seeing just blood clots. I don't know what to think. Well I mean I know its 99% likely over. I just keep hanging on to these rare, uncommon stories of situations just like mine that somehow turned out fine to the Dr's surprise and disbelief. My pregnancy symptoms are the same. The "bOOks" (I assume that's Hive talk for "lady lumps" lol) are still sore and tingly throughout the day and I've had more nauseousness this weekend then I did before all of this happened. Anyway, that's my update. I'm just waiting to finish m/c so that we can TTC again soon, hopefully next month.

Apparently I wouldn't be considered a real Christian anyway in the eyes of those types of people. So I have nothing to worry about. ;) I consider myself a Christian in my heart and in God's eyes. That's all that matters. Harry Potter AND Twilight fan signing in..

Thanks all :) The Dr. thought it was ectopic, but the ultrasound showed the baby to be in the "right" place. I still am having symptoms today, mostly the sore and tingly "ladies". ;) I even woke up twice last night from them hurting. I've never had much nausea this PG, just some upset stomach after I eat sometimes. I still am getting that too, but its pretty mild.

I announced that we were expecting number six a couple weeks ago, but now it seems that isn't meant to be. :( I had a tiny bit of spotting two days ago along with one sharp pain in my ovary area. The Dr. wasn't concerned about the spotting so much as he was the pain. So they fit me in to do an ultrasound. The spotting had never returned after that one incident the day before so I wasn't overly concerned. I hadn't been having any cramping. Unfortunately the ultrasound showed a tiny baby, about a week less then I should be. Although I know that ultrasound machines can been +/- 5 days off which would still put me in an acceptable range for okay. However the Dr. said he still would have expected a heartbeat. According to my dates (I was charting my cycles so I know when I ovulated and when I got my first positive preg. test) I should be just over 7 weeks (like 7 weeks and 1 or 2 days). The u/s showed a little embryo just under 6 weeks. The Dr. also said he would have expected to see a heartbeat. Although just under 6 weeks seems like a gray area for seeing a heartbeat or not, its so very early. The Dr. said he wasn't very optimistic. Then my spotting returned a few hours after my appt. and turned into red bleeding. It still wasn't a great deal - I'd call it light. This morning the red bleeding has stopped once again and I haven't had any cramping still yet. Has anyone gone through such a thing and it turned out okay? I found a whole message board of stories like this, and even more bleak, and a week or two later the baby was found with a heartbeat and bigger. I really don't have much hope that things are okay, and am just waiting to miscarry. But I was just curious if anyone else had experienced such a thing. *Update posted on fourth page*

The independent work that my 1st grader does is EtC, his math workbook after I give him instruction (we use Math in Focus), handwriting without tears, his journal..and I think that's about it? We read together, do spelling and English together (we use FLL and WWE for English/Grammar).

Thanks everyone for the replies! So you're saying that Sonlight, or rather doing several cores, may be too much for me? LOL It seems pretty universal of an answer, so I think I'm going to have to rethink my inks. ;) I do love SOTW. I just never imagined using it as a stand-alone history curriculum. We do the mapwork, narration, and activity if we have time that week. But we dont' do the other reading suggested. I like that idea. I may have to get more involved with SOTW. Thanks!

There has to be a thread somewhere on this, but I searched with the terms and found nothing. :( So both are sprial, right? What is the main difference between CLE and Horizons math? I'm thinking mostly for a younger child, going into 2nd grade and also for my next youngest child starting kindergarten-age in another year or so.

My reasons are: 1) We're having a new baby in the fall. I'm also taking college classes right now, and its hard enough to get materials together, make copies, do schedules/lessons for the next day when I'm up late with schoolwork. I imagine it will be much harder when we have a new baby too. 2) If I'm understanding Sonlight right, its a lot of reading. Two of my boys are struggling readers but getting better. They like to read but just need to do more of it. I think Sonlight would help with this. 3) They love reading about history. I talked about Pompeii ONCE with them and they wanted to draw pictures of volcanoes, make a volcano, and watch YouTube videos about Pompeii. 4) I think it would be easier with a new baby having lined out lesson plans? With the younger ones struggling with reading, my 12 yr old could maybe even help be a reading buddy? So are those correct thoughts? Okay - so what about Core levels. My boys are all in WIDE levels of ability. My 12 year old is advanced border-line gifted. He does great with anything I throw at him. He loves to read and he reads a ton. I want to challenge him, not hold him back. But I also want to have him not miss out on topics covered in previous cores. So I thought I'd start him in Core D (Sonlight's new core lettering system). Which goes up to 11 yrs old, but its year one of Intro to American History. I could get him the advanced readers. My 9 yr old has ADHD and struggles with reading. He's actually improved leaps and bounds this year and is actually grade level now I'm pretty sure. He doesn't like to read as much though, unless its something interesting. He loves art, music, and history. I was thinking of doing Core B+C (goes up to age 9...condensed year one Intro to world history with core C also). My 7 yr old is an emerging reader. He has a desire and love to learn and his reading is getting a lot better. He should be around grade level too, but probably early 1st grade level rather then middle/late of the year as he should be. I was thinking of starting him in Core A (goes up to 7 yr old). Then I have a 4 yr old who I thought would love to get in on the action, and maybe I'd do the 4-5 yr old core for him? He doesn't have any of the basics yet, as I haven't had time to sit down and work with him. I was hoping the Sonlight PreK core would help with this? We'd probably do a different time schedule with him then with his brothers for now. Such as afternoons when his brothers are done with their school. So...thoughts?

It depends on the child. My oldest LOVES to read. It doesn't make sense to reward him. He just naturally reads on his own. However, my 9 yr old struggles a bit more. He's not as excited about reading yet. So to get him excited and hopefully get him to appreciate reading more by doing it more, we try to reward him. There are the Pizza Hut vouchers that we can get (from Pizza Hut's website) to read his goal each month and he gets a free personal size pizza. Also, I've heard of people doing a little reward box of fun items like stickers, erasers, pencils, pens, etc...and when the child reads their weekly goal, they get a prize.

I also wanted to add that while I only have five, its been eye opening how different they all are. I've learned a lot with each new addition. :) For example, when I had my first son - he was great! I thought I totally had the parenting thing down. No fits, no destructive behavior (okay he did color on the wall, once) and he was just easy in every aspect. I laugh about it now, but I remember seeing other parents with their toddlers having huge meltdowns and thinking that they spoiled their children. I saw kids talking back to their parents and thought the parents were just big pushovers....I was about to get a big rude awakening ;) Then along came son number two. He was the complete opposite of my first son. I think he was destructive as soon as he knew how to be. He likes to take things apart and check them out, learn about them. He has crazy energy and will start being destructive if he gets too bored...the list goes on. We have his name scratched into the side of our old mini-van, and in marker on the downstairs wall and bathroom door. AACKK! With the next three boys we did more learning as well. We learned that one discipline may not work as well for one boy as it does another. For example, just threatening to spank our first son would have sent him into hysterics. However, our second son has a behind of steel and laughs when we spank him. So we don't spank him, it doesn't work. The best thing to do is find what works for each child and be consistent. Also supervision is key, but of course with this many kiddos we can't be everywhere at once! lol And rules will still be broken. Kids have to test boundaries to learn. So make them learn from this one. Take away privileges. Take away the video games for sure (that one always gets to my boys LOL). HTH! *hugs* Is is always like this, or was it something that doesn't happen usually?

:iagree: