As the mother of a child with diabetes, I just want to point out that type 1 diabetes is NEVER really in complete control. We work with a team of experts and do our best, but on any given day our daughter's blood sugars can range from the 50s to the 300s (or higher). I think if you looked at the meter of any type 1 diabetic, you would see a huge range of numbers. It is not always about control either--as OP pointed out, she may have tested her child right after eating for some reason, which would likely be a high number. From OP's post, it sounds like she is on top of things, so I really would not jump to the conclusion that she has poor control. There are just so many factors going in to control of type 1 (not just carbs eaten, but protein/fat count in the food, how much exercise has been done, growth spurts, low-grade viruses, colds, and countless other factors).

Do you know any good blogs for BFSU? Trying to decide whether to go with this or REAL Science Odyssey.

We love it. DD is always excited to do this curriculum. So many engaging activities :001_smile:

I added in the free silly stories at progressivephonics.com when my daughter was learning to read, as a supplement to ETC.

Moving Beyond the Page Level 5-7 is my suggestion. I am using Level 6-8 and do very little planning. I'm planning to get Level 5-7 for my 4.5 yo to start in the fall. They just updated their 5-7 curriculum too.

Would the school let him attend half-day for K, then bring him home completely for first? This worked for us. The mystery of school was defused, my daughter met some new friends in our community, and was only in school for 2.5 hours per day that year.

I've found secularhomeschool.com to be a great board that fits your description. Have you checked it out? Most people use curriculum or create their own lessons but are pretty relaxed and homeschool for similar reasons to yours.

I agree. I find it hard to celebrate these warm days when I know they are the result of global warming, which is terribly frightening. I worry for my kids.

How are come and was phonetic? English is full of riddles and exceptions. You have to learn and memorize words like that. I am not saying don't teach phonics, but of course teach kids the exceptions. Phonics is only one part of being a strong reader. I really don't understand the aversion to knowing sight words around here. Phonics is not everything.

IMO, you should be teaching sight words. Some words cannot be sounded out phonetically, including some very common words such as have, are, some, was, come, etc. A child must master these in order to read fluently.

My daughter is very into the "Katie Kazoo-Switcheroo" series right now.

For kindergarten, we did Five in a Row, Explode the Code books 1 and 2, and just read and got outside a lot! Good luck with your search!

Motivation is huge. I wouldn't want to read about a fat cat on a mat either. Try reading him an easy but really exciting book, then excuse yourself at a good part and leave the room. Maybe he'll push through that hurdle!

Try taking a break and/or supplementing with the free funny stories at progressivephonics.com! My dd loved these when she was learning to read. FWIW, I ditched a phonics program (we were using Phonics Pathways) after about a month. My daughter ended up just being motivated to learn on her own after we read her a chapter of the book and said good night. She would turn the light on and work her way through the book because she just wanted to know what happened next. Now she is a completely fluent reader, and we just do phonics practice through ETC. I may be a minority here on this topic, but imo most young kids don't need a lot of phonics drill. It can, as you say, kill their natural love for stories and books.

Yes, you do have to get the harmonicas! Also get bars of cheap soap and let kids "whittle" them with butter knives! I hope the temperatures allow for a lot of outside time right now where you live.

I would definitely not use LOF as a standalone program. We tried Apples, and I didn't really care for it even as a supplemental program.

Moving Beyond the Page is an all-inclusive curriculum (except math/phonics) and secular. I don't think they have grade 9 though (yet). http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/curriculum6to8.asp

No way--any mold on bread and the whole loaf is bad. Cheese, I would cut off the mold and eat, but not bread!

My Father's Dragon and the other two in the trilogy!

I am using 6-8 with my first grader and plan to get 5-7 for my son next year. We had been doing FIAR, and still do a little bit, but MBTP has taken center stage around here. It keeps dd's interest, and it requires almost no planning--FIAR was getting a bit overwhelming for me. I'm very happy with it!

We started using Moving Beyond the Page this year and love it. It is a complete curriculum other than phonics and math, and it is literature and project-based. I barely plan at all, other than to skim to see what supplies we may need (never anything hard to get) and to maybe pick up some go-alongs from the library. My dd6 is always happy to do MBTP, and she is learning a lot. ETA: It is a secular program.

I use Math Mammoth and ETC with FIAR. ETC served as handwriting practice too. We also bring in various things from time to time to shake it up, like Lollipop Logic and Winning With Writing.

Ha! I don't know. I find it cozy. I don't know how people can live in the south. I hate being hot, and air conditioning makes me feel sick.

I will be using Moving Beyond the Page 7-9 with my second grader next year. Good luck in your search!

You could take a lot of analogies and apply them to why letting children make mistakes in their writing is a sound idea. A child learning to ride a bike should ride perfectly right away, and never wobble or fall down? Or learning to draw should make perfect lines right away? Or learning an instrument should sound like an expert from the beginning? I just do not agree that a child learning to write should have perfect spelling and grammar at all times. Learning to write well is a gradual process.