http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/108991-finding-how-to-read-how-to-read-a-book-by-newborn/ I found this old thread which has an email address for MaryAlice Newborn. I'm not sure if it works but it's a place to start. :) HTHs, Sue

My ds16 has really enjoyed the TC Lectures by Prof. Linwood. We are using them as a supplement to Notgrass' World History. :)

A technique my dh taught me years ago when I was frustrated with how the frozen turkey would float in the cold bath and not stay submerged... Place frozen turkey in a large garbage bag, fill bag with cold water and tie at the top removing as much air from bag as possible. Sometimes with a larger turkey (20+lbs), I'll change the water a couple times before it's finally defrosted. This keeps the whole turkey submerged in the water and defrosts quicker than in the fridge. Oh, I do this while turkey is still in wrapper.

"Put a coat on!" "Take Shiloh out." (our dog) "Did you make your bed? Clean your room?" "Have you brushed your teeth?" (this was said more when they were younger)

I'm trying to schedule out the year and noticing that some modules cover more than one unit and some units span 2 modules so...when do you schedule in the cumulative tests?? For example, the first cumulative test (located at the back of Module B's IG) covers units I & II, but Module B ends with 9 lessons into Unit III. Do you give your student the cumulative test right after the Unit II test? Or do you wait until the end of Module B to test them? I guess I'm looking at it and wondering if two tests back to back is a good thing? TIA :001_smile:

:iagree: I, too, have no real desire to eat first thing in the morning but I do understand the importance of doing so. Therefore, I have found a few things that work for me. 1. If I'm in a rush out the door, I grab my coffee and a FiberPlus bar. It's not the greatest breakfast but it's better for me than a donut or poptart. 2. If I'm not in a rush, I usually have my coffee and then a small bowl of cereal. My two favs are Raisin Bran Crunch or Mini Wheats (brown sugar or blueberry). Both are filling and therefore I don't need to eat as much of it.

Thank you to all who responded. I guess I wasn't exactly clear in why I was asking. My brain has been mush lately from a lot going on in our lives and getting focused on the upcoming year has been real hard. My asking 'why' had more to do with 'when he is done, what should he be able to do (practical application) with understanding'. In other words, I do see the benefit of studying algebra and he will be doing videotext algebra this coming year moving on to geometry next year so it's not a 'does he need to do algebra' but more of a 'what skills are we shooting for mastery of and how will he use them in the future'. This struggle with the 'why' of it is more for me. I have a really hard time motivating myself to do things just for the sake of doing them. I need to see the big picture before I can dig into the details. Otherwise, I just get lost in the details and quite honestly, even though things get done and maybe even done well...to me, there is something missing if I don't understand why it was done. Perhaps, if I use an example it will be clearer. When we study grammar, the end goal isn't to identify parts of speech in a sentence but to write well. This I get, it makes sense and satisfies that part of me that needs to know why I need to know what a direct object is and when am I ever going to use this information. Maybe for math (algebra on up), I just need to look at it this way...we study it so that if we desire to go into a math/science oriented field, we are prepared and if not, we have at the least, given our brain a good workout. Finally, this whole thought process really is for my sake. My ds does well in math and likes it so it's not about him not wanting to do it. It's more for me as his teacher/advisor. I don't want my lack of seeing the big picture and therefore my lack of motivation when it gets difficult to affect/influence him. I know that if I understand the end goal, then I can encourage him when needed because I know there will be days when it will get hard and he will look at me and ask, "what is the point?" It is for those days that I want to be ready and prepared to show him the big picture. I'm not sure that I'm even making any sense here because this is still being worked out in my own very tired brain. :001_smile: Again, I want to thank everyone for your input because it really is helping me to work through this.

In years past with my two oldest children, my 'goals' always focused more on what is necessary for graduation (i.e. what boxes need to be checked off for credit to fulfill requirements). This year, actually over just the past few days, my thoughts for my youngest center more on the 'why do we need to study _____ (fill in blank w/class)?' Now, many of you are probably shaking your head in astonishment thinking, 'boy is she late to the game'. And that is what I am feeling. Especially with this child. He has no direction for his future already figured out whereas the two oldest by this age knew what they wanted to do...or at least had an idea. So, here I am, trying to determine what we need to accomplish for each given class/credit in order to fulfill our 'goal' not just to check off a box. In doing this, I began with algebra and quite honestly hit a wall. Why exactly do we need to study algebra? What do we gain from it? How is it used in daily life after high school/college? At the end of our study of algebra, what do we take away with us?? I googled that very question and came across this http://www.mathmedia.com/whystudal.html This article intrigued me and made sense but the last line from it (quoted below) really caught my attention. "There are other disciplines, which will help build a better brain, but curriculum designers have chosen learning algebra as a universal "brain builder" along with preparing those strong left-brain students for careers in math and science." So now I wonder...what other disciplines benefit your brain development like algebra?? And is this the only reason we study it??

My ds18 is also very linguistic and began struggling with math around 8th grade. I was using saxon. So I bought Systematic Mathematics and started him at the beginning. By the end of his 9th grade year, he was 'getting it' and had caught up to where he should have been. Surprisingly, I tried one of the LoF books with him and he didn't care for it. hmm. Each child is really unique in what works best for him/her at any given time. He did use TT for geometry and didn't really care for that one as well. But, I'm wondering if had more to do with him not really enjoying math as much as the curriculum?? He would much rather be buried in a mountain of good literature or writing the next great novel than spend one iota of time calculating anything! His checkbook is evidence of that. :lol: I know, given time and trial/error you too will find the right fit for your daughter. :001_smile:

I use leftover cooked rice. I parboil the peppers for 5min. I never precook the ground beef but I do use 93% lean and they've never turned out greasy. I also top the peppers with a tomato sauce before baking for an hour. :001_smile: Oh, I also have a digital meat thermometer so I can temp the peppers to know that the beef is really done.

:iagree:I keep telling my dh that I want one of these. We get the meat truck, magazine kids (college age), lawn care, replacement window, college kids painting, etc...you get the point. I'm sooooo tired of being nice to them. How many times do I have to say, "I am NOT interested." And they always come at a time when dh is at work. It's like they know women are an easier sell. Just the other day, I opened the door to another young man with clipboard in hand. Our conversation went like this: Me: Yes? Young man: Hi, how are you today? Me: Fine, I'm not interested. Young man: Oh, (pause) you must get a lot of people knocking on your door. Me: Yes. Goodbye. (closed door went back to making dinner) Now, ask anyone who knows me, I'm not usually short with people but I've about had it with the door to door sales people taking up my time.

:iagree:I had to google them both and read just enough to 'get' the joke...now my head hurts.

That is exactly what I was thinking! :lol: I didn't go to kindergarten even though there was one not too far from our house. I started first grade in the late sixties at age 5 and turned 6 a couple months later. I also remember by 2nd grade being in an independent reading group where we worked our own way through the SRA phonics program.

Just a question, because I'm curious...if we aren't supposed to resell the curriculum, how can a library?

Thank you for that first link! It looks fantastic! And you just reminded me that I have the Globalmania downloaded somewhere in my files...off to revisit my geography plans. :D

Hi, My ds15 tried going to the local high school last year as well and made it through 2 weeks. He, too, hated it and wanted to come home...which he did. It made for an interesting weekend with me scrambling to figure out what he would do. Luckily, I hadn't sold all our curriculum from the two oldest yet so I had some things to start with.:001_smile: My son is a visual/auditory learner as well and I have implemented a few video/dvd courses this year. One of them is Teaching Co.'s World History lectures by Linwood Thompson and I will also have him read Notgrass' Exploring World History. Just a thought for your son. Then again, I came very close to ordering BJU's History and English dvd courses. Cost was the deciding factor for me since I got the TC dvd's and Notgrass book used and cheap.:D

Then count me in too! My dd has left the house and I'm left with 2 teen boys, the 'male that produced said offspring', AND a male dog. My dd recently visited for 10 days and it was soooooo sweet to have another female in the house. :D

I like your idea of alternating days of reading and discussion. I'm actually looking forward to doing this with my son.

Thank you, Sue! Reading through those two previous threads gave me a little better insight into how CT works. I actually just pulled out both Bk 1 & 2 to see what the dreaded Ch 2 was all about. ;) Made me chuckle because although I just scanned through them, some of the info was familiar to me from my older son working thru Intro to Logic and then TL 1 & 2. I may just have older son help us through those chapters.

I purchased Critical Thinking Bk 1 & 2 with the intention of working through them with my ds15. I've just briefly scanned the books and was wondering what the best way to schedule this would be??? I am definitely a 'check the box' kind of gal but after looking through the books I can already see this isn't a 'read this and answer these questions' kind of book. So, should I just schedule a time (or times) each week to sit with my son and slowly pick away at it?? Has anyone used this? If you have used this, what did you find worked best? TIA,

The paypal thread got me thinking about what it was like 15+ years ago when I began this homeschool journey. Money was tight so purchasing all our curriculum new wasn't an option; but local curriculum sales only happened once a year...usually in May, so if you missed it...well, too bad. Then, my dh bought us a computer and forums like this and Vegsource opened a whole new world to me. Not only did I find encouragement and direction but, I could find used curriculum year round! Yay!! However, paypal didn't yet exist so in order to make a purchase one had to actually send a check or MO, wait for the check to arrive at it's destination, then wait for the check to clear and THEN you would wait for media mail to deliver your treasured package. This whole process could take weeks! Ah, the good ol' days :D

Me too! I figure if someone doesn't want to accept cc paypal as an option to purchase an item, then I'll find it elsewhere.

I would agree with all pp's and just add one thing... even when the hour is dark, and my heart is breaking and I've pleaded with Him for relief and answers to prayer and still I don't yet see it...I don't desire to turn my back and walk away. I love Him because I KNOW He first loved me.

I had to chuckle when I read this. Both my boys groan when I mention wanting to watch P&P (BBC version). Lately, my ds15 has been trying to get me to watch The Dark Knight Rises. I stopped wanting to watch Batman movies after Batman Returns. They are too dark for me and just really bother me. I'm sensitive I guess. So my ds15 made the mistake of saying that he would watch P&P if I would watch Dark Knight Rises. I have to admit, I'm tempted if only to get him to watch my favorite movie! I think we're both having second thoughts, though.

Don't feel bad, Rachel. I first read Pride and Prejudice after seeing the movie version with Keira Knightley. I was 43. I've since watched the BBC version. It's sooooo much better!