Here, we are both quiet! I talk more than he does, but we still have quiet times. We went out-of-town last weekend, and, while we talked quite a bit, there were many times when it was just quiet in the car. Once, I asked him what he was thinking about, and it was just the directions to where we were going - LOL! A couple of times, I wondered if I should try to fill the quiet spots, but I decided that he probably doesn't notice them. I like the suggestion to talk to your dh before picking up the iPad or book -- good advice! It sounds like you're on the way to finding a happy medium.

Our kids will all stay home, but they are taking many online classes at The Potter's School. Their Classical Track has been a great fit for our oldest! We may try to have her take a couple of classes at cc.

Here are some of ours: ~ Funnix 2 after 100EL -- dd loves the stories, very effective (ds loved it when he was that age too!) ~ The Potter's School Classical Track for dd-9th grade -- love, love the biblical worldview training and discussions, writing instruction, reading, etc. ~ Potter's School classes for ds-7th grade. High quality classes and we accomplish much more with the accountability. ~ Scripture memory ~ passages in the mornings with all the kids. ~ Dd-9th loved and faithfully used her Dayrunner planner (columns for each day)

Thanks! I'll keep looking for a used copy. :) I just missed one!

Thanks!! I'm on their email list now!

Just checking before I buy. :) Is there anything that compares to Linguistic Development Through Poetry that I should also consider? If you've used it or tried it, what did you think?

Growing up attending an elementary school that used ACE paces, my first reaction is to repel workbooks! However, after reading about CLE here, and giving their math a try first, I'm sold on them (CLE's, that is -- no other workbook company)! The math is a strong, traditional program. My kids love the convenience of writing in a workbook instead of having to recopy problems to paper, and they are motivated by finishing a workbook and getting a new one after a test! I like their flash card system in the younger levels, and then the mastery drills for memorizing and keeping formulas, conversions, etc. fresh as they get older. After a successful year with CLE Math, we gave their LA a try. It seems like a workbook version of R&S -- both are strong, contain diagramming, etc. Another plus for me is that the CLE LA includes spelling & penmanship, along with the grammar. I much prefer having these 3 combined instead of having separate books or programs for each! We've always used a separate composition curriculum, even with all our years with R&S grammar. Overall, I think they are more similar than different, so choose the format you prefer -- workbook or text. We've tried CLE reading too & consider it a good program. When I used it for my older kids, it ended up getting dropped part way through the year because I was really adding it on top of plenty of literature. However, I think it will work well to use with my 2nd grader next year. HTH some!

Thanks, everyone! Your responses have helped! I would rather buy from this farm because I like them, but I will definitely keep asking around!

Also, do you know when the next trip through TX will be?

Thank you for this information! The site doesn't have a way to contact them with questions. Do you know of a way? (If we bought less, such as a "variety pack," we could skip buying a freezer for the garage too!)

We're CSA members at a local farm for produce, and they have 3 grass-fed cows (3/4 Angus & 1/4 Brahma) that they are offering. They are grass-fed their whole lives and are never given antibiotics or hormones. The farmer plants specific grasses for them, etc. So....what do we need to know? I've been googling and reading, but these are mostly written by sellers. If we're used to grocery store beef, what changes will we notice? Also, for comparison, what does grass-fed end up costing you per pound for the beef you take home? He thought this would come out to about $7 a pound in the end (to buy one side). I wonder if this is higher than in other states -- Texas had a drought last year.

This will be our first garage freezer. It seems like an upright would be more convenient -- less floor space and food wouldn't get as buried & forgotten. What has your experience been? Also, what features do you recommend? This would be for a garage in Texas. :) Do you recommend a specific model or brand?

For those who are giving it a try, what do you think?

What have you used and what is your favorite planner for yourself, as a homeschooling mom? I ordered The Well-Planned Day planner this month at a discount (CBD has them discounted) to see if I would want it for next year. There's so much to like -- columns for each day, monthly articles, space for the week's meal plan, report cards in the back, if you like that sort of thing. However, what surprised me is that the line spacing is too wide for me!! It's a deal-breaker! How weird is that?! As a result of the wide lines, the planner has 22 less lines per column than the planner my dd uses -- twenty-two less lines per day! Here's the planner my high schooler uses. It's currently my top choice, but I'd love to compare it to your favorites! :bigear:

I didn't make it all the way through the thread, but I wanted to mentioned that, if you have a Mardel store, they have 20% off sales a couple times a year -- I'm thinking there's one in July. So, I definitely consider this when I'm looking at used prices, assuming Mardel carries the item, that is!

I like this...a lot! Thanks!

We've received 3 graduation invitations for kids we've known their whole lives. We're not really close to the kids, but we've either known the parents (church) or, in one case, we are good friends with the parents. I want to send cash. How much do you send? (Or, should I consider a gift card? They aren't as flexible as cash. :D )

TPS is Christian, but they focus on beliefs that are widely accepted for Christians, instead of a particular denomination. We appreciate that and their comittment to strong academics. They do use Apologia science texts as the basis for their science classes (although they write their own tests, have high standards for formal lab reports, etc.) Your best bet would be to get your hands on an Apologia Chemistry text. Perhaps a local Mardel store would carry it?

How about The Potter's School? My dd has taken Physical Science and, currently, Biology there, and she'll be taking Chemistry next year! http://www.pottersschool.org/h?id=913474#science

Thanks for your replies! I'll look into these! I'm due for my annual re-read (relevant sections) of TWTM, and I'll be sure to read the grammar science section too. :)

So...I've been thinking about what curricula and what methods have worked best for us over the years and why. Here are some of the things I've listed so far. I prefer: ~ To research subjects individually (so all-in-one everything-on-one-page programs don't usually work for us -- there's always something I don't care for, such as MFW's science with CTG.) ~ To open and do the next lesson for math & LA. ~ To use a combined workbook or program for LA instead of individual books for grammar, spelling, & handwriting. (Like CLE LA -- any others I should consider?) ~ Some framework, but I don't like someone to tell me what to do each and every day in every book. (I also make a meal plan for the week, but I don't assign meals to specific days -- just choose one from the list each afternoon.) ~ Something "living" for history that is easy to implement. History texts: yawn! (One of my favorite years was The Story of the Ancient World + Victor's Journey Through the Bible -- basically the same order so bookmark both, open, and go. Extra reading for bonus, but not dependent on it.) ~ Curricula that doesn't depend on my studying every week so that I can teach or discuss with my child. I hate the pressure of everything being dependent on me, and I end up not having enough time some weeks. Also, whatever I schedule first thing in the morning, right after Bible, gets done. Best to schedule something important but not necessarily essential. The "essential" subjects will get done later, but after Bible is the best time to include something like memorization, foreign language, etc. Anyway.... What have you learned about yourself over the years and how does that affect your curricula choices? :bigear:

If you find one, will you let me know? :) I'd like to consider it for ds next year for 8th as an alternative to our custom Excel planner. I'm considering buying one of these bubble planners for myself too! I'm going to try The Well-Planned Day for the last few weeks of the year first. CBD has them cheap right now!

What is your favorite science program or plan for 2nd grade? :) I've homeschooled for about 10 years, but I mostly have Apologia around the house. With the older kids, I was always thinking of both for combining, but now I can use something that is ideal for just 2nd grade! :) What do you like?

My dd loves this Day Runner planner from Office Depot! She loves the vertical columns for each day and the fact that the times are omitted. (The usual spots for times are perfect for writing names of subjects.) She writes everything out for the week and then highlights in pink to check the items off! http://www.dayrunner.com/dayrunnerstore/mwv/product/Bubbles-Academic-Weekly-Monthly-Planner/767-905A?pageSize=9&rootCatId=Planners_12&goToPage=1&catId=cat100014&prodId=767-905A

The Potter's School offers an online study skills class in the summer from about the last week of June through the first week of August (twice a week). My dd took it last summer and found it beneficial. In any case, I thought the text they used was very good! How to Study in College by Walter Pauk. It's very expensive new, but the class used older editions. Ours is the 8th edition, and I think I paid around $15. I hope that helps!