Has anyone used these? Were they fun for your kids?

next year - just for the science, art, bible work & literature studies. is this strange? I'll use the preschool guide for DD & DS then we'll use the next 2 guides up for my older boys for science activities, art literature and bible work. I will probably choose one or use both guides and plan our science days that way. I'm not sure we would love the history or spelling which we have attempted once before this _ i think i would go crazy trying to keep up with 2 history periods with my boys who are 2.5 yrs apart anyway and we tend to prefer living books. Were' planning to use Truth Quest History and probably a spelling program for DS (8). So I'm planning on using the older HOD guides just for the fun science days. Has anyone resorted to this? i just haven't found a "fun" science curriculum yet. Plus it combines with bible and everything is there for you! I guess, do you think I am nuts to think i am going to be able to go through both guides to create an action plan each week? Instead of just opening and go?

your children are similar in ages to mine. Honestly it seemed like my kids were either on the lowest level in comprehension or not even on the chart for understanding the program. it took a lot of planning for supplies and also trying to aquire the books from the library - then to do the lessons - my kids didn't always want to do what I had planned which was frustrating. I would probably do it with kids in all stages to take more advantage of the work you are actually putting into it to create the settings, etc. Also it seemed like for the younger ages, just letting them explore outside for science, etc. was way more interesting to them and beneficial. i don't know much about the sets. We just had the Vol. 1 and I wanted to love it but.... waiting to hear what others say...

i think the hardest part is that the table we usually use is the kitchen table and we are always eating yet always have stuff on the table. there is minimal storage in there and it always looks cluttered no matter how much organization I have going - because it is an open hutch. and the closet on the "main level" is actually down a small set of stairs, protected by a extra wide gate because it is a 96" wide set of stairs going down to the front door. So just a pain to get to... this house is crazy!! :001_smile: DH agreed to help me work on transitioning our living room to a school room for next year. We are getting another table so will put that and the cabinet in the living room where the toys are as well. (so the littles can play) then I can store everything in the cabinet and it will be streamlined!

I need some help. We can never seem to figure out where to put our supplies for crafts, drawing, etc. We actually have a small homeschool cabinet but I can't figure out the best place for this. Kitchen? (so they can work at the table) downstairs in TV room (to work at the coffee table where it will stay quieter) but then they are always bringing stuff upstairs to use then we have to take it back down to put it away... how do you organize your things? Pics? and what room are these things in? We don't have a homeschool room. but our home is a split level so it seems like things are everywhere... thank you!

this is hopefully an easy question - where do you get notebooks for your child to record history, art or science? I want something where it is blank at the top with a few lines underneath? Is it better to print these and then stick in a 3-ring? THANKS! :)

I think what I meant is it is going to be an ongoing learning process. Since you are really noticing it now, you are just starting to handle it, so i would just keep reminding him or don't expose him to those situations yet. Maybe only attend the ones that you think are extremely important. I wouldn't punish but gently remind - however if it's not even clicking in his mind yet then i would avoid those situations or use them to just keep working on it. :)

Can you allow the discussions sometimes, but not everywhere, or limit it - say at a Doctor's appt? Tell him he can discuss things with the doctor or ask questions, but then you are going to tell him when it is time to stop. Does he understand when you say, OK we need to listen now, we need to stop talking, close our mouths and listen - if he is embarrassed by this can you give him a sign? I don't have an autistic child so sorry if this is way off base. I think it will just take extra teaching as to where you can have discussions/talk and when. Laughing out loud doesn't seem like a problem even in situations that are quiet, but it probably seems to add to the problem in your perspective.

I try to simplify things since I have young ones and we have lots of free programs locally, etc. I have 2 kiddos that are OCD/Anxiety. it was SO MUCH WORK to get them out - then we would get there and no one wanted to participate. They don't want to take classes, like scouts or zoo classes, or be around other kids yet they are bored at home, and my oldest is starting to say he wishes he had friends. So what do I plan for next year & w hat do you suggest I do in the meantime - we have 2-3 weeks until baby is here. Weather is getting nicer here. any ideas! I am talking I am huge right now - don't even want to go to the park or anything we are pretty much homebound for the next 6 weeks or so! THANKS!

Ok, this helps! I will check out that DeMille book for sure! How did you manage to plan all this? i tend to go in cycles of doing regular book-schooling and getting bored, planning lots of activities, then getting overwhelmed and simplifying. but something must be changed. I think we are in a rut. Of course, right now we are expecting baby so everyone is bored - "waiting" in our own way. We've slowed down activities, etc. also it is the end of the year. the boys are VERY bored right now. I do want to continue doing something over the summer, but it will also be a good time to take a break and care for baby & mom... if you can tell me how you planned these things for each child - how you make it all fit together?

Well, I thought ADD was the low-activity type. I had TONS of anxiety issues with DS as a toddler/preschooler, though and didn't know what it was. He is very similar to me in the ADD perspective and similar to my Mom in terms of the OCD. but my mom is diagnosed with bipolar. I have ADD.... I've had depression, in the past, too. i don't know. DS has only been diagnosed first with ODD and now OCD/Anxiety, with a tendency toward ADD> We have not done any meds just diet modification. I totally get where you are though - where your entire day is smoothing over "problems" or issues they have with other siblings - whether it being moderating them or just stopping the fights, etc. Once my DS gets started, he tends to be like that all day. It does take up so much time and my energy, too. Now he is getting older and starting to feel more lonely with homeschooling. Doing more diet modfication help with his moods but i worry that in the long run homeschooling is going to bring him down more. Not sure what to do so looking on here for advice threads.:001_smile: :grouphug:

Our issues seem to be more mental ( think bipolar, etc.) and we know there are blood sugar issues in the family so what helps is keeping the starches low, but having occasional more natural starches like beans and regular corn (not a lot of corn-products that are processed.) you just have to see what works. this is after us doing the diet on & off for 2 years really. And taking about 9 months off during my pregnancy, now going back on where I would like to be once baby is here. It's not an easy transition. the things I find we need stocked are bone broths and plenty of eggs and bananas. We don't do the intro diet right away. i wouldnt recommend mom AND kids doing the intro anyway together - it is hard. We have always allowed GF stuff if there are b-day parties, etc. even while on GAPS, although I try to make as much as I can grain-free for the events. Sugar is another hurdle but i am finding the besst time for the kids to have this (if at all) is afternoon - before playing hard. So a little natural chocolate or something, even peanut M&M's and they do OK. for my kids the problem with the normal foods is that they will have outbursts (DS's are anxiety related - sometimes just crying/sobbing & low energy) from "normal" foods. We'll go to a GAPS based diet and as soon as we add some wheat in - he has a horrible day the next day. So that's how I can tell. rice is tricky too. that is horrible for our blood sugar. But peanuts, beans we seem to be OK - just can't overdo it. So we aren't strict GAPS but stick to the principles as much as possible! If we have to eat out we choose Wendy's and go for the burgers with "no bun". Fries are NOT gluten free from what I know. it's tricky. Chipotle is also a good GF choice! they just use a lot of soybean oil so watch out! So far from just a few days, my toddlers diaper output is better - they aren't impossible to clean like usual (we use cloth) and My DS (5) who tends to just wake up angry/upset most days seems in a better mood already. He does not have the mental issues but just overall well being is better on Gluten free.

We are back on it. things get so bad that I kind of just throw us back into it with whatever we have in the house. then we go grocery shopping the next day. :) already after a day of GAPS combined with a little rice/ice cream I am sleeping 100% better at the end of my pregnancy which is sometimes unheard of. I am really excited to get my energy back before labor starts. I'll try to post our meal list & behavior results for the week! That should help!

one I michele, can I ask how you incorporate all these things? Did you mean that you have some one-on one time with each before lunch (after 3 R's) to do games, etc. or did you rotate this thru the week. Also we have this type of set up for the afternoon: (like you mention) Tips: regular outdoor time - digging in the dirt, collecting frogs, bugs, or rocks, hoppity hop, pulling each other in a wagon, lots of free time space to be a boy Nerf guns, building with a pile of wood and nails, etc. gather all supplies in plastic tub and let the kids go ...and my oldest boys are 8 and 5.. they are bored with this! (above) It gets a little better as the weather warms up, but seems like we are missing something. My 5yo will want to do intensive crafts (indoors) that he can't handle himself. i want them to be able to explore on their own, but he will want to make things out of cardboard that can be used, and then they fall apart and there is much frustration. I'd like to get away from the "craft" mindset, but not sure how to direct them. How did you organize the exhaustive activities list so that you could plan them efficiently, have the materials needed and let the boys know what was available? Mine always seem to want something different than what I have planned... And it seems hard to get this kind of stuff out with DD (3) and a toddler around! (plus a new baby, soon!) Also.. what did you find worked best for your Fridays? structured curric.? Unit studies? thanks!

That sounds like a great book! For us I haven't completely decided if it is grains, gluten or what. but definitely grains. Something with the way grains react in our blood sugar. Any starches seem to cause problems. but at the same time we have to eat a small amount of grains or my boys are CONSTANTLY hungry. i hear over time, this wanes, and you don't need to eat as often in the beginning. For now DH and I are undecided. HE thinks that it is just the amounts of sugars/starches and we don't need to go completely off wheat, grains, etc. but we do need to make sure their meals include good fats. I am not so sure that's all of it. Plus we still have certain things in the house, because DH eats them and that is hard. i tell him trying the diet is hard enough alone! it's so hard to say what it is because i am in the 3rd trimester so of course I am tired all the time, but SOME days I have energy and I do think it is from eating more GAPS style meals on those days. I am undecided at this point. We cut out as much as we can but when it comes to things like b-day parties, and family gatherings it is much harder to restrict my kiddos, even though at one time they were fine with it! i think it was harder on me! :)

this might sound contradictory but can you have him play music on headphones while doing the work? I'm not sure about it but DH prefers to work this way and it actually helps him process faster - so he suggested I try it with DS for math. it "seems" to be working. it might be worth a try - just for one or 2 days. I'd let him choose the music, too. We are using Christian rock, but just meant, something that he likes to listen to. I would have never suggested this until DH mentioned it the other night. it is COMPLETELY opposite of how I prefer to work: in complete silence. :)

thanks! I'm hoping to get more insight from other moms as to how it changed your homeschool day. I have had positive results in the past but as my kids get older I get concerned that DS (now 8) does not seem to be the least bit focused to do ANYTHING at all with his free time. We don't do a whole lot of school time, esp. right now, but it seems that he just sort of sits around and doesn't have a plan to do much of anything. This worries me. i start to think if he was in school maybe he would be coming home with ideas from other kids, etc. on what to do with his spare time. And there woudl definitely be less spare time then! he is a good reader so i try to encourage any time he is found reading to just let him be. and he reads a LOT! thanks so much for any thoughts or positive elements! :)

Someone on here mentioned starting a support thread. So thought i would try. seems like there are a handful of us on here. we are not "on" the diet but have done it successfully before and I am ready to try for it again. NOT being on it is causing more problems for us. I have to say the reason we have apprehension about starting again is the outside family's reactions. MIL and FIL are kind of offended, MIL even cried after we left @ Thanksgiving 2 yrs ago because i had brought some different foods.My side of the family has moved here and they will be here from FL by the time the baby is born, to stay for the summer. (they have a FL home, too) They think it is "great" that now I have "relaxed" about the kids' "diets" and not worrying so much about that anymore. Letting the kids just be kids, etc. However, I can't homeschool like this anymore. I don't feel that just staying "on top" of every single thing they need to or do is helping them at all. LIke I say, DS won't even get out of bed some days. i am unsure how to justify it to family because my kids are NOT autistic. It would be easier if they could see an obvious change. but even my kids "good" behavior they attribute to my child rearing, etc. which is pretty strict. :) anyway, any thoughts would be great!

Ok this is going to sound crazy but I am 3 weeks from due with baby and thinking of going on this diet again. We do GAPS in general but add GF starches where we can, like potatoes & rice with dinners, and also for holidays, etc. ice cream for desserts. I am having so much trouble keeping the house straight - as far as routines and just general well being with my kids that I think we need to do something!1 when i got pregnant we went back to all regular foods after being GAPS and then gluten free. imagine having a houseful of 4 kids plus yourself that seem affected by gluten and/or grains. :confused: I'm going nuts now. DH doesn't seem affected by anything but he's an adult and knows the facts so it;s his choice. but I think i really need to do SOMETHING. the main problems we run into is that my 2nd really has food remorse about giving things up, etc. Plus I worry about trying to control so much and as the kids get older, the expense of the natural/GF foods, etc. ALSO most family thinks we are strange about how the kids "can" eat, etc when we do the diet. MIL even gets offended @ holidays if the kids can't have a certain thing. Maybe i should make a list ahead of time of what they "can" eat. (that she might serve: meat, green beans, ice cream, etc.) it's just that my ADD has gotten so bad with the pregnancy, etc. just trying to do school is such a challenge. DS can't seem to get up in the morning. I have to be on him for EVERY single chore, like brushing teeth, getting to the table, etc. We tried standing at the white board for school but he says he's so tired he can't even stand. I have resorted to GF lunches so far this week, but that's about it, so far. We can't seem to give up breakfast cereal. my kids are SO attached to it. not sure what to do at thi point. I know most people's advice is don't change anything right now. But I want to have more energy for labor and be able to continue with school up until i deliver so when baby is here the only adjusting we have to do in the fall is work him into our schedule, or work around his. LOL also I say the diet is so expensive but we have spent about $1500 last month just stocking the house, with groceries, etc. any support or encouragement?? not sure what to do! thanks! :)

To be more specific I have so much I want to do - but have trouble pieceing different things together and making it work. lapbooks here, science experiments there... perhpas a boxed curriculum is something I need again? I am overwhelmed by the planning of it all.. yet I keep cycling trying to do it!

y'all are 2 funny! We have had HOD before and quit it because we actually got bored... but i am more disciplined now.. I have been thinking about it again. Looking for something that is fun but has the entire list of supplies needed so that I can be ready at the beginning of the year... We are always spending more time looking for something than actually using it... :confused: And I am pretty organized... I actually have LHFHG for DD and DS (20 mos) but DD always says she HATES "doing School". I think she gets it from my older DS who say this from time to time. so.. FUN days ahead! ahem.

And yes, i do have ADD- (not ADHD) a psychologist confirmed it. it was the main reason for my depression a while back. having a label actually HELPS me not attack myself constantly for forgetting, etc.

Chances are if you are a Mom with ADD your kids are similar to you! So I want to know 1. what curriculum you use and b. how you survive? I am constantly FORGETTING where I put everything. I am working on using a desk more, but keep wanting to sit at the kitchen table. We use the kitchen for our homeschool room, too. i can stick to our curricl I have listed below for the basics but we need more stimulation when this stuff is done. and they are done FAST some days. i want time to plan stuff that I see on blogs, and in activity books but never have the right supplies at the right time, or don't have the time I need, etc. what do you use? We WANT fun with minimal planning, but hands-on type learning with curriculum that EXPLAINS why things happen. My kids are just like me: distractable, easily bored, SUPER creative, wanting to do EVERYTHING but not able to stick to any sort of plan... LOVE unit studies, but get overwhelmed easily. TOG is not an option. any moms like this? I am one of them. Please help!!!

When do you allow things like handheld video games from Leapster or Ipod? We have some learning games, some are just random... just wondering! It never seems like a good time. i am starting to let my kids use these if I am schooling one for 1/2 hour. then they can switch. it still seems to breed a lot of discontent. having to stop, etc. But changing it to the weekends doesn't seem like enough. the evenings i would like to be more family/outside time. Ideally i would like my kids to just do activities & books I have planned for them but it seems in this day and age u have to allow some electronic stuff. woudl love to hear... thanks!

thank you! actually I got McGuffey's on a recommendation but the boys don't love it as much as I do. But for now, it is what we have. I will check out the Spaulding! Anything else that is maybe not so much text-booky?