[Very important poll!]

Hellman's Olive Oil

[What do you LOVE for teaching your child to read?]

I start off with Hooked on Phonics so they get to reading books right away, then I move on to Sing, Spell, Read and Write. SSRW is where the magic happens. I know lots of people think it is too pricey, but I think it is awesome! My two oldest have been able to read pretty much anything by the end of the first grade program!

[s/o of "what's the big deal" thread]

Saxon 1, 2, & 3 - (Yes, the early years) :001_smile:

 

 

Sing, Spell, Read & Write - gets a bad rap for being too expensive but my girls are such strong readers when they finish this program.

[If you choose to homeschool with the classical method and are almost done...]

:lurk5: :bigear:

[Obese mom in pregnancy = Child with Autism???]

I'm curious about this too. I was obese with 2 of 3 of my pregnancies and overweight with the other. Never have gestational diabetes or high blood pressure with any of the pregnancies. No autism here.

 

 

ETA: My husband was over 40 with all 3 children and we had fertility treatments to get pregnant with our first child.

[Space, Aviation, and Marine Science Camps!]

Thanks for the information!

[S/O - What do you prefer to be called? How do your children address adults?]

Another one from the South and I prefer my children to address adults by Mr/Miss First Name and prefer to be addressed the same. It is a Southern thang and I like it. :001_smile:

[Morning Exercise: What To Eat Before?]

I don't eat anything before I exercise in the morning. I need to get out the door quickly and get back before my husband leaves for work. I quickly drink 16-20 ounces of water right before and walk out the door. When I get back I have coffee, more water, an egg and banana. I started off doing the C25K plan this way in September and now run 3 miles 4 days a week and walk 4 miles 2 days.

 

Just some background info - I started off over 40 lbs overweight, over 40 and am NOT a morning person. Now it is my favorite time to exercise. :001_smile:

 

This works for me. You just have to find out what works best for your body.

[If you could do anything today, all day, just YOU, alone..]

I'd be on a beach with a fabulous book and a cabana boy to make sure I don't need anything.

 

:iagree:

 

For me, he would have to deliver lattes. :D

[Largest library late fee you have paid?]

The most I have paid is 27.50 and that was a couple of weeks ago. I love the library so much, probably too much, that I don't mind paying fees. Between 3 different libraries, one of which is an hour away, I have about 100+ books checked out at one time.

[NASA G.I.R.L.S mentorship for girls]

Thank you!!! My daughter is not eligible until next year but she would love it. Looks like a great program.

[My sister says: Get a ticket $$ Mega Millions]

If I won I would I have the nicest library :D

 

:iagree:

 

I would also buy a permanent building for the homeschool groups in our town so the sports teams and coops don't have to move from one church to the next all the time.

[We got our Sonlight catalog in the mail]

oh my is that so totally true.

 

TRUST US WE KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU.

 

Yes, this would more accurately describe how I felt.

 

I tried looking at the new catalog yesterday. I saw several new book titles and, of course, didn't have a clue what they were about. They probably are really good books but I don't want to go online to look at every description.

 

I will now stop trying to beat a dead horse. :D

[Creative and engaging HSing with a math/science/tech twist (Warning: STEM)]

 

I also try to plan out an engineer-type study every year. We have studied bridge construction and architecture in the past. I had planned on doing electronics this year, but DS ran off and started studying it himself. :lol:

 

 

I was wondering if you could share more about what you did. My 9 yr old daughter loves this stuff but I am at a loss on how to help her.

 

TIA!

[We got our Sonlight catalog in the mail]

I'm bitter too. :toetap05: Last year's catalog looks like new and I'm not even looking forward to getting this years at all.

 

I flipped through it and without the book descriptions, it's really lost it's appeal to me. Just a lot of blah, blah, blah.

 

:iagree:

 

I am just still so, so sad about them taking out the book descriptions. I guess, for me, the focus on the descriptions represented their love of books. Now the catalog represents just another curriculum.

 

Also, what finally made me turn away from Sonlight was when so many voiced their opinion, like myself, about the descriptions, I just felt ignored.

[Kid's book club]

The Cricket in Times Square

Gooney Bird Greene

The Year of Miss Agnes

[Creative and engaging HSing with a math/science/tech twist (Warning: STEM)]

Watching and listening. :D

[ROLL CALL: Relaxed Peeps check-in]

 

 

Alte Veste was a name I picked because of an incredibly fond memory from my childhood. In 6th grade, I attended a DoD school in Germany and had the most incredible teacher. Every Friday, he would take us on an all-day field trip to a nearby park on a big hill called Alte Veste. We hiked there and back. We played, ate, and studied in the fresh air among the trees. At the beginning of the year, we each picked a quiet spot of our very own to reflect, have quiet time, write poetry, etc. We each picked a single tree to follow through the year. The year was magical. To this day, nothing compares to that educational experience. When I first considered homeschooling, my thoughts immediately went to my experience at Alte Veste and how much I wanted that for my kids.

 

 

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

 

Regarding the highlighted, I am totally going to do that with my children! :D

[I just wanted to post my thoughts on The Hungar Games as well as a friends]

I think what disturbs people about these books is that they are not such a stretch of the imagination.

 

:iagree:

[Poll - Cell phone owners only; iPhone or no?]

I put other because I don't have an IPhone but I would LOVE to have one. It's the monthly fee that keeps me from getting one.

 

:iagree:

[Anyone else driving themselves crazy with decisions???]

Science? Science? Science?

 

I have a daughter who is advanced in science and need a program that will challenge her. She wants one that is "mechanical"? And lots and lots of experiments, yet she loves everything about animals. Ugh!

 

The research is fun but exhausting.

 

Don't even get me started on math, grammar, writing, etc.

 

Tis' the season! :D

[Only 10 more lbs to go until that elephant's you-know-what!]

Congratulations!!! You have worked hard and should be very proud!! :party:

[What is the best way to find cheap flights?]

I personally have had great success with priceline.com. Of course, it was last minute (two days before flight), but I got the flight for half price. Prices were going for around $700-800 and I got a seat for $350. Also, it only had one connection. Don't look at the prices they have to offer but click on the link that gives you the option of you picking how much you want to pay. The only catch is that you have to pay before you know exact times about the flight. But it will tell you how many connections before you book.

 

I also used hotwire.com this past weekend for a hotel room. Booked same day as stay and got a NICE room at a NICE hotel for $73 including tax.

[What's your favorite item at Trader Joe's?]

Almond butter with roasted flaxseeds

Large chocolate bars

Peach salsa

B grade maple syrup

Sweet potato chips

[Do you buy your curriculum new or used?]

I like to buy used if I can look at it first. So I usually purchase used through local homeschool groups. I prefer to buy new because then I know I have everything I need. I don't like having an item missing here and there. It bugs me. :) There is also a great local homeschool library we borrow from often!