[Math]

We have been using ABeka for the last 5 years. We are moving on to Teaching Textbooks in the fall.

[Quality supplies]

I buy for the whole family to use, but I also buy 1 or 2 backups in case any get lost or broken.

[old]

My boys have enjoyed Johnny Tremain, Chronicles of Narnia, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Just So Stories and about anything else I get. They just love audiobooks.We want to get Peter Pan and the Jungle Book next.

[Drawing for a 6 year old]

At his age, I would just purchase How to Draw books. One of my sons' favorites is How to Draw Dinosaurs.

[Workbook for SOTW 2.... shall I?]

I used them for our first grader this year and wished that I would have had them 3 years earlier when my oldest completed STOW 1. I would love to see workbook pages for STOW 2 and would gladly use them.

[Favorite science experiment books for elementary school?]

We have enjoyed going through Adventures with Atoms and Molecules and Physics Experiments for Children. Most of the experiments use simple materials found around the home.

[Survive Dickens' London!]

Scored 650 and met Mr. Dickens. Pickpocketing was kind of fun.

[Wow! The response time for the board is no longer sluggish!]

It has been excruciatingly slow for me today. I normally pull up a threads in a second and I have had to wait minutes at a time today.

[as a kid what was your favorite animated show?]

The Flintstones. I had to watch it everyday.

[How many times per week do you do the following subjects:]

We do Grammar and Writing Daily. We work on History, Science, Geography, and Bible four days a week.

[OK, which phonics/reading program do I want?]

Happy Phonics. It was designed by a Homeschool Mom for her wiggly and energetic son who couldn't sit long enough for workbooks. It has lots of games and puzzles. You can also use it along with Explode the Code Primers. http://www.lovetolearn.net/catalog/category/detail/Phonics/10

[Computer sound question...]

I know this sounds silly, but have you tried rebooting your computer. Our HP lost its sound on two seperate occasions. Sound restore didn't work for us either, but rebooting did.

[Experience with hypoallergenic dogs?]

The Bichon Frise is a hypoallergenic dog and they are a wonderful breed of dog as well.

[How can we fix this sentence?]

One day the soldiers found and captured us separately. ??

[What week of the homeschooling year are you on?]

We are on Week 25 only 11 more to go.

[So, why do YOU homeschool?]

We started homeschooling because our oldest son began reading books at four and we felt sending him to Kindergarten would be a big waste of time.

 

We continue to homeschool because I love it. I love having my children close by each day. I love teaching and I enjoy being a part of their learning environment.

[Atlas for a Preschooler]

Try the Beginner World Atlas by Rand McNally. You can find it at geomatters.com.

[Please post what you will be teaching....]

Latin, Math, and Reading everyday. A weekly Science or History Project.

[Favorite Mother Goose Rhymes Book]

The Real Mother Goose by Blanche Fish Wright. We have had four or five differnt Mother Goose books and this is the one we like best. You can find it on Amazon.

[For those of you who can see the lunar eclipse Wed. pm...]

I can't decide who is having more fun watching this eclipse my husband or my children. I keep hearing "You have to come see." No, this isn't one of my children talking this is my dh. We have also been able to view Saturn's rings tonight through binoculars. We will all have so much fun with our Science notebooks tomorrow.

[Help me think of ideas for my 3 & 5 yo]

I purchased large plastic counting buttons and made a hole in the top of a coffee canister. My three year old loves to push the buttons through the top of the canister.

 

We also use Shape Lacing Cards, Leap Frog Alphabet Magnets, and of course loads of paper for her to cut up.

[Where do I buy owl pellets for dissection?]

I use the Home Science Catalog www.hometrainingtools.com or you can also try Home Science Tools www.homesciencetools.com.

[What do you tell people who ask why you homeschool?]

I am asked this question often and I always answer that we homeschool because it is the best education that we can give our children. I have learned that I do not to care what response I get or what they think of me. I have met people that think our decision is wonderful and people who think we have completely lost our mind (if we had one to begin with).

 

I am not sure there is a graceful way to tell someone you homeschool. We all homeschool for different reasons and teach in ways that fit our family best. So just tell them the reason you homeschool and if the response is ugly, move down to the other end of the park bench and take comfort in knowing that you are doing what is best for your family.

[Share your favorite part of your day today...]

When my reluctant reader grabbed a book as soon as his father came home and asked to read to him. He did so well and proceeded to read two stories to me.

[Why do kids hit a wall with division?]

My oldest child's favorite subject was Math until he hit division. All of a sudden we had tears and confusion and at times Mommy lost her patience. We stopped math for a while to work on Multiplication Facts workbooks and Division workbooks (which we bought at our local Wal-Mart and K-Mart). I also made up division and multiplication card games. He loved this. This worked well and he was soon back to Math as usual.