:bigear:

We do not allow names at all on clothing or backpacks. HOWEVER, we do allow it on uniforms. I make sure the kids are aware they have their uniform on and THAT is why people will use their name. The children are will me, Dad or their coach and team. They remove uniforms as soon as possible. I actually own an embroidery machine and before putting names on ANYTHING for another child, I let the parent know what WE do for our children.

OH MY GOODNESS... started to buy one to watch but low and behold our libraries have all 11! Thank you for the suggestion!

Struggled here with my DD. Same story. Also eight. We were talked to about text size. Kindle really does help. However, so did just KEEP exposing her to other chapter books. Last summer she read her FIRST chapter book. This year she has read several a month. Still not into reading as much as the rest of us, but at least she has found her passion for reading. So, again. YES adjustable text size on eReader. Keep going to the library to be other books. I see she is already reading Junie B, but the statement still bares repeating, at this point do not look down at ANY reading. Applaud all reading!

It is my younger daughter about to pass her brother in math, yet struggled with reading and now still struggles some with spelling. Great in comprehension. Crazy thing is that DS is not behind in math... so she is REALLY pushing. It is her gift!

If you and your family have been enjoying this tv series but are not finished with it, you may want to PLAN some time quickly. Just turned it on today and found that it is going to be removed from the play list on May 15!

Netflix lists Liberty Kids as coming off their playables on 15 MAY!!!

We started with SWIA and then used a history IEW, my children asked if there are more videos of Andrew. We are now doing SICCA. I believe they enjoy his upbeat attitude and humor as well as having me HELP them rather than teaching them.

I agree with sticking with the poem regardless of the actual month, but do not miss the chance to allow the child(ren) to share the poem in September.

What an exciting feeling! I pray that it is and they can have a friendship that last from now on!

This is a really neat film on copy right law. Not sure it will help you, but it does have some good information and can be fun to watch

I could see my son saying this in a few years. Right now it is, "when I get married I am going to buy a house near yours, so I can still see you a lot" :-)

I know you ordered already but... I use PR, I think it works well for my daughter, but neither of us love it. We got on the reading/spelling boat too early for PAL... However, I have several friends using PAL and do so at my recommendation. PAL is an amazing program. All three families that I know VERY well using it are thrilled... One has two daughters learning together from it. All four children 5-7 are loving the program and begging for more. The seven year old is on the 3rd phonics program and come into with distrust and lack on enthusiasm for anything to do with reading, spelling or writing. Now, BEGGING for more! I honestly would suggest you try it. I know you can get the rest of what you need without ordering more of AAS, not sure if you are SET on AAR, but please check this out. I make NOTHING for recommending PAL... I just know it works and as someone who has taught reading to classroom students for 12 years, this program is TOPS! I nearly dumped PR for my DD when PAL came out, but she was already starting with yr two, doing VERY well and has a big brother who was completing Bridge and getting ready to start Latin Road... she wanted to follow in his footsteps. Plus, she had already gleamed a lot of IEW from sitting in and doing assignments with brother! Regardless, best of luck!

In our society, RIGHT here in our own neighborhoods, there are children hurting and a parent or even both parents, other adults sitting back feeling powerless to do anything. This feeling exists without the "troopers" ready to force the adult into submission. Why is it so hard to believe that these adults would feel completely powerless to protect their children... especially after 73 years of Hunger Games. I challenge those of you who do not understand how it is possible for those adults to do NOTHING for their children, too look at our WORLD and tell me you see ONLY adults protecting their children the way YOU would. Tell me there is NOT fear of those in higher power. Take a look at homeschooling, not those who do, but those who don't. Those who want to and will not, because they are afraid of the laws and rules that surround homeschooling. Even when they are disappointed by what their children are learning in public schools, academically and emotionally. People feel like they MUST send their children to school, like their hands are tied. Katniss says she will not have children. I believe this is her way of fighting the Capital, they put children between ages 12 and 18 into the Hunger Games and she says she will NOT have children. Not only will she not bare the agony of seeing them at the reaping or worse in the games, but she will not ALLOW the capital to have that control over her. It is also possible, that in this make believe world people do fight. Gale and Katniss discuss leaving... in the book they meet some who have left their district. However, those who may fight have not baring on the story from the point of view it is being told. It does not matter if other parents hid their children and refuse to allow them to attend the reaping, because they are not Katniss, she is who Hunger Games are about. The movie does not discuss District 13 and what happened to it for fighting. This clearly has an impact on how the citizens respond and react to the capital. Those who see the movie and have not read the book will miss this HUGE conection. My DD is only 8 and has not read the books. She said she would NEVER fight for her life in the games, she would just die instead. We discussed how the capital would deal with that and my son said, "what if they made me suffer because you would not fight? What if they started to kill your friends, if you did not fight? What if you found EVERYONE you know would die, if you did not fight? Would you be willing to just die, if that means the capital would kill everyone else? " Also, I discussed that winning means money and money means food and comfort for your family. With my son (who read the book), I discussed that Katniss was the provider for her family. Without her she was concerned they would starve. If she wins, she would not HAVE to hunt for them, but could provide for them, lavishly. We discussed how not only could she save them, but she could make their lives better. Then we discussed rather her life would be better... He immediately said it would not, because she would have the rest of her life to remember all the terrible things that she did. Money cannot fix that. I am glad that my son has read this book, giving us an avenue to discuss these things and more. I look forward to my daughter also reading them