I'm thinking of offering a class in our small co-op, but have no idea where to start. I have no background or expertise (other than in my degree, marketing), and I feel a little overwhelmed at trying to put something together on my own. We have a small co-op with about 10 kids ranging in age from 6 to 13, so I'd like something that could appeal to all ages. We already have a science class and an art/art-history. Is there a place that would sell some sort of curriculum to get me started? Thanks!

We use SOTW with SL history - they actually go well together for us and are more of a supplement to SOTW. It really doesn't add more time, and I follow the SL loosely, which makes it easier for us.

I just joined the group, too! I'm starting a new project of cowboy booties and I have a feeling I'll need help from the "pros".

We love, love, love the Lego games - Lego Star Wars & Lego Indiana Jones. There isn't any violence other than the Lego people falling apart. And, there's a Lego Harry Potter coming out in March! We also enjoy Pinball & Mini Golf.

It's been a few years since we used it, but I believe RightStart level A dealt with some of these issues, too.

Yes, we did FLL in 2nd and did both 1 & 2 in that year. Dd loved it!

Guess we're the only ones who don't like them. Dh prefers Bluehost - GREAT service & low price, too.

I think I'd contact them through their online form first. It's my understanding that some people have just returned unopened packages before and Amazon can (and sometimes will) charge you for the return shipping. I'd go through customer service first so it can be noted in your account.

I just made homemade crackers with Gruyere cheese for Christmas - I couldn't eat them, but everyone LOVED them. I served them with a crab dip and spinach & artichoke dip. For NYE we are doing homemade eggrolls and Monterey rice.

We use Sonlight and science and the read-alouds were dd's favorite! We did SL's history and waited til 1st to do SOTW, and that worked well for us. We also did a Field Trip Journal where she'd write (or dictate sometimes) where we went and what she liked about it, along with drawing a picture. Sometimes I'd buy postcards and have her write on those. We also did Flat Stanley in K, and she loved it.

I loved this one, too! Thanks for the thread, it's always fun to get new ideas for books (though I seem to be lacking the time to read them lately).

I'm also going GF in a few days. I have Eosinophilic Esophagitis and a bunch of adult-onset food allergies, and am hoping this helps a bit. Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone know the best source of gluten-free flours? I can't do Bob's Red Mill b/c I have dairy, egg & onion allergies and some of his stuff has potential for cross-contamination.

Fage Greek Yogurt is the favorite around here.

My dh has a BA in English. He's a software engineer and doesn't work at all in his degree, but he does use it as an excuse to make up his own grammatical rules and spelling - he says his degree allows him to do that :lol:

BS in Marketing here. I used it for about 4 yrs before dd was born, then became f/t sahm. I do some consulting gigs when I can find them, and use my marketing skills for volunteer work. Honestly, I miss it. Marketing is what feeds my soul. I doubt I'll ever be able to get back into it full time because of the 18 yr "sabbatical" I'm taking, and that makes me sad. (Not that being a mom and homeschooling isn't rewarding or fulfilling)

We have EA Active and love it. Dd loves to see if she can do better than me and go faster. Also, Dance Dance Revolution, while not an actual "exercise" game, is fantastic for getting your heart rate up! It's super fun, too.

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

No, not the oatmeal :tongue_smilie: We're studying the 1700's and 8.5 yr old dd is really interested in the Quakers. Any suggestions for age-appropriate books on them? She's also interested in the Puritans, but not as much as Quakers. Thanks!

THANK YOU for the Chore Wars link! I'd never heard of it before and I love it! Too funny!

Thanks, I'll check it out!

:lurk5:

My only suggestion would be to let him flip through cookbooks and pick out something he would like to make & eat a few nights a week. Maybe if he has a say in what is for dinner, he would eat it? My 8 yr old dd loves to select recipes to eat and help make dinner.

We got and LOVE: Presto Change-o Scrambled States 10 Days in Europe and not board games, but card games: Frog Juice Loot

My dh has been dying to see this while I'm not so sure about it. But with all these glowing reviews, maybe I'll give it a go!

For math, we use RightStart and love it. We use AAS for spelling, and I don't really find it teacher-intensive. It is scripted, but the part I struggle with is all the rules. I'm a natural speller, it's always been easy for me. Dd 8 yrs is not, and while she does "get" the rules in AAS, she has a difficult time applying them when writing outside of our spelling time. I keep struggling with whether this is normal and I should just keep helping her along, or whether this just isn't the program for her and we should switch. Anyway, that's just my experience with it.