My dd hs'ed until grade 4.5. She is doing fine in a little catholic school now and we supplement with Saxon Math after school and in the summer. Her spelling and handwriting is not improving like I would like. I'm looking at Spelling You See American Spirit to supplement with this summer but would love any advice. She's a good but not great reader and I'd say her spelling and handwriting is very poor for a rising 6th grader. Any programs you guys recommend? Thank you!!! Amanda

I am at a complete loss- there is a tween girl that I'd like to take shopping for first bras and fun clothes that fit but she is much bigger than your average 10 year old but not curvy or developed. She is quite stout but not extremely chunky. The 12-14 size at target is long enough but on the snug side. Where do I go? I do not want anything that says husky or something like that. Please help! Thanks!!!!!!

I'm looking for a first grade spanish language math workbook- does anyone know of a good one? Thanks!!!

My difficult to please daughter is doing really well with bookshark 3. We do it verbatim and I'm extremely happy with the scope. It is working wonderfully for us and we couldn't be more pleased. The la is fabulous! My dd did a research report over 3 weeks of step by step instruction that blew her ES's socks off. The science was lacking evolution but we cover that subject a lot for fun. It was fun and it got done and she learned a ton! I don't care for their personal beliefs - buuut, I don't see a heavy enough influence in bookshark to interfere with dd's schooling- when I see bias, which happens in history, from time to time- we talk about it and dd ends up going on a rant about it to some unsuspecting innocent bystander later on... Pretty funny. it's a great, secular, comprehensive program and it's open and go! Yay!

Oh people, I'm afraid you are amateurs! I forgot to replace dd's tooth with a coin from the tooth fairy for 3 days straight! Not only that but she sweetly reminded me each morning that I had forgotten. On the 3rd day, as I was getting mad at her for not getting up she tearfully said... "But mom, I'm waiting for you to do the tooth fairy!" Yep, jerk mom of the universe.

Any good recommendations about 1600-1700 America? My daughter watches pg-13 movies. Thanks!

First day of grade 3 went well. Longer than I thought but we'll find our groove.

Big box o' Bookshark 3 came this week and we start tomorrow! Fingers crossed this will be a good year. Already tweaking from the get go though... The first dictation assignment is too difficult. Will pull from a reader. Don't want her to get discouraged from the start.

So wonderful! Now for higher grades!

Wow! Looks like a few 4th grade booksharkers. I think we will order the 4th grade too... But waiting a month or so... Can't wait! Is there a yahoo group or forum?

Anyone get their box and want to share thoughts?

Nm

I have an iron-willed child too. It's a difficult balance between creating a tyrant and having unnecessary power struggles that may feel important but really don't accomplish anything. In my experience, leaving a 4yo with a personality like you describe, alone in her room while expecting her to comply with a task that has become a power struggle, while tired... Is not going to end positively. Great that it worked but it doesn't sound like a great template for future bedtimes. I understand where you are coming from, I promise. I have died on many a mole hill, trying to fix a "spoiled child" complex. I now try to use my authority to demand polite behavior, proper school work, effort during music practice and other non-negotiables. These skills will help her in her life, the little stuff slides. When I pushed for more obedience, it felt like I was creating one of those mom/daughter relationships where the adult daughter bemoans a childhood of personality conflict and relishes the absence of the mom-ogre in her present life. It's not that I constantly worry about her liking me because goodness knows sometimes she doesn't, but the good times out-weigh the bad. Rethinking a parenting moment that has not gone as planned and changing tactics mid-way, may feel like losing but I try to focus on the long term relationship not the present battle.

I'd like a fun book to read while dd is at camp. Nothing with too much romance and not young adult fiction. I just finished jk rowling's the silkworm and liked that. Any ideas for me? A feminist theme would be welcome. Thanks a million!

We are finishing mp 3rd grade. I liked the drill of r&s as a supplement but it is basically an entire year of math fact review. Dd did Horizon math concurrently and this summer she is doing Beast Academy 3a-d. Next year I think we will transfer to Saxon and do Beast Academy the following summer. I really like Horizons, for the color and incremental advancement but it doesn't have enough review for dd but doing both programs was time consuming. That said, it worked well.