Thank you for the replies. I can see how using both may be redundant but he gleans so much from both. Sometimes the information gets in and sticks different ways. KWIM? I was looking at the price for AAS3 and it's only $40. I think I'll just give it a go and if it gets to be too much as PR progresses I can drop it. Really I can!!! Thank you all..

I love the BeachBody DVD's. I myself do the Insanity program and have been in the best shape of my life. I bought the kids club DVD and my kids do it from time to time. It's a fun hip-hop type program. There are clips so you can make sure it's right for you. http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/specialty_programs/fit_kids_club.do

I started using AAS last year with my son. We are in level 2 step 22. It has been wonderful and helped me to discover the method that works for him. I started using PR1 3 months ago. I really like it because it moves at a faster pace, his brain gets the wacky marking system and I love the review. I am in my 12th week using PR and it's working really well for my son. I have been using both for the past 3 months basically because I spent the money on AAS and I wanted to finish it but now that I am nearing the end of AAS I am finding many things I like about it that I would prefer not to get away from. Does anyone else use both?

I feel the same way about Victoria's Secret displays as well....

I had a carpet guy come to give an estimate. He wouldn't show me samples because my husband wasn't there and this was a "decision we needed to make together". I tried to explain that my husband couldn't care less about the color carpet I chose. Needless to say we found a different company. I would do the same thing. Especially if he hung up on you without explaining his reasons for needing your husband there. That's just rude.

I heard of a celebrity who just named their kid Stella Luna I think it's kind of pretty but after a bat? Also, one of the Penn and Teller guys named their kids some crazy a?& name. I can't remember what it is though. I ahve also heard the names Malachi and Damian. I just can't help but think of horror movies when I hear those names.

We are in the same place. We started book 4 and are loosing steam with it. I don't know about the later books but what we have done for a change of pace is to do ETC online.

I saw a highway sign the other day that said "Expect Miner Delays" made me giggle....

We are in the same boat. Maybe it is only a homeschooling myth this whole sitting at a table attentively without fighting or making burping noises. hmmmm.... I have a 4 and 7 year old and it is difficult for us as well. Our goal this summer is to get a circle time routine going so that when we start back in with a full school schedule it will go smoothly. Do you think 2 months will be enough?? I don't know if I will last that long. We are going to learn the days of the week!!! In order!! and the difference between yesterday and today!!!! We are starting small with low expectations:) Keep us updated about your circle time experiment.....

WOW! You are amazing. I just ordered Sensational Strategies for my 4 year old. I can't wait to check it out. I also just received PR and I am starting with my 7 year old this coming week. Junping in with both feet on this method. I have a question for you about MUS though. Why is it you move over to Singapore after Betawith your 2nd grader? Just curious. Have all you kids been through Phonics Road? Have you had any reading issues...ever.

Is it worth the money? I found one thread that states it is pricey for what you get. I am looking to use it with my 4 year old. Has anyone used it?

I am in NH, but they had a press conference in Lowell, Ma which confirmed 2 cases, 2 siblings who had just returned from Mexico last weekend after break. They said one of the boys had gone to the emergency room but was never admitted. I think they had just swabbed him and sent him home with meds. The boys are doing fine and are expected to be back at school maybe Monday. I just found it nice to hear more specifics about what was going on with at least one case. I don't know if that helps anyone. I know Maine is confirmed now and I think CT. They are saying around here that no one has been admitted to the hospital. I wonder if once you get the flu can you get it again? They just don't seem to know much about it right now, or they aren't sharing.

I have been using a book by Scholastic called "Shoe Box Math Learning Centers". I think I bought it on Amazon. It takes some time to set up depending on how elaborate you want to get with laminating and coloring but the kids like being able to grab a game they can play anytime. I didn't use cardboard shoeboxes either. I went to Wal-mart and bought plastic shoe drawers that stack. My kids also like Roll n' Add. They make a Roll n' Multiply too that is a lot of fun

I am interested in hearing what others have done as well. We are just starting the second half of HS with my son. I have been using ETC all along as well. I was planning on using SL LA next year with him. I think level 1. His reading may be a little more advanced than LA1 but like you were saying you kind of miss out on all the other stuff with Headsprout. I am kind of at a loss as to what to do myself.

My son is 5 and will be 6 in March. He likes his workbook stuff (ETC, MUS, HWT,SSRW) but he even gets tired of doing it. We "take breaks" by doing something different. With the cooler weather we are visiting the library more, his phonics lessons are through Headsprout right now and we are using "The Learning Box" for fun stuff that he and his younger brother can do together and taking some hikes. I look at it as eating the same food for dinner every night. Gets a little boring. I find, at least with my son, that mixing it up keeps it more interesting for him and me. By the way "The Tale of Despereaux" movie is coming out in November. We just finished the book and my son was really into it. Very into the whole castle/knights thing. Going to the movies is a fun field trip!!

My oldest learned to write that way in PS. The problem for her was that she never liked to write in cursive so when she would print she always had that curl at the end of every letter. Her "L" in particular stood out for me. I think it makes sense if you expect your child to write in cursive always.

I think it is important to bring enough food for at least a full day. Rain gear and change of clothes. Headlamp. I think a flint is a good idea as well. I go into it thinking "Am I prepared to spend the night, food and clothing wise, in case something should happen". My first aid kit consists of whistle, fire stick with petroleum soaked cotton balls, glow sticks, moleskin, ibuprofen, emergency blankets for all, sam splint, bandaids and burn ointment. Bear spray would be appropriate and bells depending on where you live. I also believe that a GPS and/or compass are only good if you know how to use them. A refresher course in map and compass every few years is a good idea and always let people know where you are headed and when you will be back.

I used the response book. I can see the financial benefit of using a binder and lined paper. That would absolutely work just as well. I however struggle everyday to keep papers in order so having the nifty little workbook worked well for me.

I have a 2 year old (soon to be 3 in Oct.) and a 5 year old in K this year. I like to have something for him to do while I am busy with the older one. He loves the crafy type stuff. All the cutting and "gluey" as he calls it. I have been using Berry Best Preschool for him. I don't have to plan or think about different craft activities. We don't use it everyday so a months worth of activities lasts longer for us. It's great because when he says "Mom, I want to do school too" I just whip out a day for him. http://www.berrybestcurriculum.com/

We put up a cork board but I didn't want to stick things directly to the wall. We had a sheet of very thin backer board? not sure what it is called but you can buy it at home depot. We covered it with the little squares of cork and then put over that a layer of felt to make it look pretty and keep little fingers from digging at the cork. We bolted it to the wall. It would be easier to patch holes than scrape cork off the walls.

My child goes to an ATA studio as well. They like it because they practice with weapons and they sparr. Mixes it up a bit. They also have quite a few tournaments and other activities. You can be involved as much as you like. He goes 3-4 times a week. We sometimes stop for other seasonal sports but he loves it. I love it because it is a year round sport. I think they vary a bit from studio to studio.

I'm in. Jennifer

A man my husband works with was driving to a job site in Boston when he possibly cut someone off. Not sure the specifics of who was in the wrong while driving but there was some yelling back and forth and the other guy gets out of his truck with a steel pipe and tried to whack his friend in the head but Joe had put up his forearm and the guy struck his arm. Shattered his arm and he had to have surgery.

It seems crazy doesn't it. I live in NH and it is all over the news. Now the principal is saying the whole "pact" was a hoax. Pact or not they have a lot of pregnant girls. Regardless of how you feel about sex ed and contraceptives in the schools, it seems strange for those 2 faculty members to resign over it. It wouldn't have mattered if they had a bowl of condoms on every desk, these girls wanted to get pregnant. I am sure there is much more to the story. I think it is a cop out to blame a movie. If a movie has that much impact on your child there are bigger problems in your family. I think they may have hit on something when talking about broken families. Kind of the same reasons kids gravitate towards gangs. Lack of a strong family connection, a need for a sense of belonging and importance. I think there are a lot of factors but it is a sad situation.

I just checked and I don't think Henry Winkler is dead. Didn't he just testify at John Ritter's trial. I think the FONZ is alive...