For the personal interests of my kids, DH, and myself: history. DH and I both have big interests in history, and we ended up with a couple of small history geeks. We tend to gravitate toward historic sites for field trips and such. So everything tends to relate to history -- geography, literature, fine arts, even writing to a degree (easier to get a reluctant writer to write about something she likes, like a favorite historic era). History is the "hook" at our house. However, in terms of skills, I feel that decent reading and basic math skills are also important. Whatever history, science, art, etc. you don't know, you can learn about as an adult -- if you've learned to read. And everyone needs some basic math skills. I do feel that most people will indeed learn reasonable reading and math computation skills through real life, though, so I don't necessarily spend gobs more time on them than on other things. I have one child for whom foreign languages are a huge draw (and I am the same way, actually). Right now, she still needs practice and exposure in the basics of history, science, math, etc., but eventually, I can see her minimizing some subjects in order to focus more on languages. She may not need to take calculus, for instance. Otoh, another child seems to be math-oriented, so maybe he'll take only basic history and languages and will want challenging math courses. There *are* only so many hours in the day. ETA: I would like music or art to be bigger focuses, but they're not really mine or DH's strong suits, and finances are preventing outside instruction in them right now. So we do do a bit, and I do feel that our children have had more exposure to artists and composers than we did, but I wouldn't say that they drive our school days. Nor do sports; we focus more on what I would call "life fitness" -- hiking, walks, swimming, bike-riding, just generally being active and happy outside. I would eventually like them to learn the basics of team sports and such, but in the long run, if they have positive feelings and can fall back on individual fitness activities, I am okay with that. And science is a whole different ballgame. I hate most science stuff. DH is definitely good at nurturing their interest in science-y things, and they do know a lot about the natural world (DD knows FAR more about plants than I do -- largely due to her interest in history, so that she has learned how plants were used medicinally and such). I do feel that I've compensated fairly well for my lack of interest in science, so that I've passed on better to my children. :)

I've been using workboxes for over a year, and as long as I actually fill them the night before, they work beautifully! Ours are color-coded (and this year, labeled) for each child, so they can easily tell which ones they still need to do. It also helps me to see what I haven't assigned for the next day yet. Of course, this year it is going to present a small problem. My 10yo has 5 individual workboxes to my 7yo's 4 (10yo has foreign language, and we do several subjects together as a family, so those have their own boxes), but my 3yo only has one workbox (and only because he asked to do "koolwork" too). He saw the stack the other day and scowled at me because HE wants lots of "koolwork" like his big sister. LOL! When I don't fill the boxes, schoolwork doesn't flow nicely, and I default to workbooks and not many projects. It's well worth the extra time taken to fill them each night.

Kids' workspaces -- each has a pencil box with pencils/crayons/pens, scissors, glue/tape, erasers, and pencil sharpener. Their daily workboxes get stacked next to their workspaces. DD also has a big dictionary next to her workspace. Each child has a clipboard at his/her workspace as well. Surface of my big desk -- good pencil sharpener, workboxes when the kids are finished with them, computer monitor, inbox for stuff I need to check, crate with books that are for this year but not being used that day plus reference materials. They do work that needs my attention while sitting at my desk. My big binder sits on my desk too; it has papers we'll be using at some point, my lesson plans, and the calendar so I can check off days (per our state's reporting requirement). Drawers of my desk -- other office supplies (3-hole punch, index cards, etc.), notebook paper, math and other manipulatives, stationery, nice art supplies (good watercolors, etc.), computer games/cords. Entertainment center next to my desk -- printer, printer paper, DVDs, extra folders, big crate with bars for hanging folders for finished work (labeled by kid by month) and a folder for anything related to our co-op/support group. Cabinet against wall -- general art supplies that they can use at will, music CDs. History and science books for free reading -- box in the schoolroom. Read-alouds -- some are in the kitchen (Bible, poetry), and there's generally one next to my rocking chair for bedtime. If it's something we read during the school day, it's in the crate with the other books.

I use these from The Container Store: http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10008430&N=&Ntt=plastic+mesh+basket Inexpensive, easily stackable, a 3x5 card fits nicely on them as a label (tied on with color-coded yarn), and they hold most books and even 3-ring binders flat.

I'm so sorry, mama -- :grouphug:. So glad he is okay! My DD had a similar thing happen last summer. She'd reacted to bee stings with hives before, but last summer, she actually swelled up, so I took her to the ER. Definitely the right choice! We have a pair of epi-pens for her now, and they go everywhere she goes. She was skittish about playing outside for a while, which I think is probably a normal reaction, but we've assured her that she's okay, we know how to use the epi-pens, she has only had swelling (no breathing trouble) as of yet, etc., and she's totally safe to be outside. We are extra cautious about things that could attract bees, like sugary drinks and such, but basically, we let her live her life with as little fear as possible. I have considered a medical alert bracelet for her and might get one at some point if she starts doing camps or the like, when neither DH or I are with her. For co-op, I have alerted the group, and I've stated that she's allowed to do whatever she wants to do. I'm on the premises for co-op, but I have also offered to teach anyone else how to use the epi-pens. The only people who have ever had her with DH or me present are her two sets of grandparents, and I've shown them how to use the epi-pens. Everyone knows to use the first epi-pen, call 911, and then use the second one after 15 minutes if it's needed. Don't worry too much, mama. Yes, you should be cautious, but try not to let it interfere too much with living. :grouphug:

The best thing we did when we moved here was to work like dogs. Within the first month, we had 90% of the stuff unpacked. (Five-and-a-half years later, we still have 90% of the stuff unpacked.)

I didn't do any of those things. Partly from a strong moral stance, but partly because I didn't want to disappoint my parents, and also partly because I didn't want to do anything to jeopardize my future plans. I really don't want my kids to have premarital sex, but I'd probably be most angry about drugs. I would prefer them not to drink alcohol until they're of legal age, but I also think there's a huge difference between a sip or two and serious drinking.

I can't really say what I would do for sure (putting my big kids in school and getting a job wouldn't really net me anything because I'd have to pay gas and daycare for my two little guys, so it's all theoretical), but in theory, at your kids' ages, it might be worth it to try school for a year if you can work and save up. I kind of feel like one year of sacrifice would be doable. I think. I really hate the idea of putting my kids in school, but maybe with a specific goal in mind, it would be worth it.

IDK about the Bushmans, but we have an outdoor furnace that burns wood and heats water, which then heats air inside the house. It also has an attachment that lets it heat the water in our hot water heater too, so that reduces electricity costs there, since it doesn't add any more electricity to the small amount needed to run the furnace anyway.

Low income means low tax bracket, plus EIC, plus several children who are a $1,000 tax credit each (as well as an exemption for each), plus mortgage interest/real estate tax deduction -- yeah, you can reduce your withholding to zero for the federal and still get a bunch back. And even in states with flat rates, at a certain point of income vs. dependents, you may qualify for tax forgiveness and get a portion of your state income taxes back too.

DD did very well on the CAT last year; she was well above grade level for most things, right on grade level for others. That is completely what I expected; her scores did not surprise me at all. When she takes it again next year (we don't have to test in 4th grade here), I would expect that she will get more correct on certain parts of the test, but that may put her right at grade level again.

Thank you -- I totally agree. Show me how to barter when your husband is already gone 60 hours a week, holding on to the job he is still blessed to have, plus spending time to mow the grass and maintain the furnace (which reduces heating costs), and he still has to sleep sometime, to say nothing of seeing his children and wife sometimes; there's just no more time for him to barter work for things.

Aww, I understand that. My parents just canceled their landline, as they use their cells almost exclusively. If I hadn't already been calling their cells for years, I'd feel a twinge about the landline. . . I used to spend hours on that landline when DH was away at college. :)

A lot of that, we've already done. Some of it, we can't. It's not easy to get out of a mortgage, which also means we only have so low we can reduce our gas (commuting) and utility costs. (Plus, things like the chest freezer, fridge, washing machine, etc. cost what they cost; they're not optional items.) We learned the hard way about lowering our auto insurance coverage to liability only. Less than three months after we canceled comp/collision insurance on an older but good condition paid-for vehicle, a freak accident killed it. Was definitely not worth the couple hundred we saved, since we ended up having to replace that vehicle when we had a fourth baby. Food is hard. Yes, I *could* cut back on our food budget, and I have in the past couple of years; we used to eat more organic, more grass-fed meat, stuff like that. I could cut down even more, going to beans, rice, and heavy grains, but that affects our health, so I'm not thrilled about that prospect. It's tricky to balance current needs with future concerns (like paying for expensive medicines because of what we do now).

I'd check to see if reading is difficult for her. My 10yo DD does best if she has an index card to put under each line, and she's easily turned off if the print is too small, or if the lines are too crowded. I have also heard that colored sheets can be helpful in reading.

:iagree: I love GSWL!

I've not made a non-stretchy wrap, but I asked a few friends who have. One woman has a linen blend wrap that she made, and several people recommended Osnaburg fabric, which is available at JoAnn Fabrics. I know people have used a bedsheet in a pinch. I think the trick is that it needs to be a woven for support, but it should ideally have a bit of "give" to it.

I don't like sci fi much either, but I do like crime drama. My great discovery was that Crossing Jordan is now on Netflix (great show even if you don't like murder stuff), so I just signed up for Netflix. I also like Rizzoli & Isles a lot. DH and I have been working through the X-Files and Lone Gunmen series (even though I'm not much into the sci fi aspect), and our other favorites are The Office, Parks and Recreation, Raising Hope, Community, and Arrested Development. I also enjoyed the brief Women's Murder Club and Lipstick Jungle. DH and I watched Malcolm in the Middle and Scrubs sporadically when they were on, so maybe we'll check out those in full. I remember Ally McBeal being mildly funny when it was on, and we watched some of that. Burn Notice and Downton Abbey are on my to-try list.

Oh, he looks like fun! So sweet and beautiful! I'm sure the big girls are all going nuts for him. :)

I like the idea of starting with CHOW, but also, you might see if your son has any time periods he's learned a bit about and is interested in. I'm of the opinion that helping kids to love history is more important than covering everything.

Next year, I'll have a 5th grader, a 2nd grader, a young 4yo pre-Ker, and a toddler, so we're somewhat similar to your household, OP. My plan is to start with the oldest, because the middle two are joined at the hip, so they can play together while I work with DD on math, WWE, memory work, and Latin/French (alternating days). Then I can send her to do her independent work, while I do math, WWE, reading, and memory work with my 2nd grader. During that time, I can probably also set the 4yo up with some independent learning activities, and he should be happy for a while while I've got his buddy. (I can also send DD to play with the two little guys, but she tends to be easily distracted, so I hate to suggest anything that will take her away from her work and thus make it take longer.) Things are dependent upon what Tiny Brother (the baby) needs; I tend to read history when he's nursing, so things are flexible, but I like if the big kids get their "work with Mom" stuff done before we do history. History's the favorite, and especially if there are projects involved, I like saving the best for last. I'm also hoping to have some time to work with the 4yo, because he has asked to "do maff" and to learn to read (we'll see; I'm not sure he's really ready, but if he's asking, I'll try 100 EZ Lessons with him since it worked well for DS1). Fridays will be catch-up days for anything not completed earlier in the week, science, music, and games day (dawdling has been an issue for our oldest child, so I want to make it a point to play more games and thus show her how completing her work -- aka Just Doing It -- benefits her).

I know I am like a broken record, but truly, this is one of my favorite products ever: Getting Started With Latin. Gentle, but informative, humorous without being overly silly or cutesy (the humor is subtle, like the sentences translate to things like "we are poets but we never carry writing tablets," which appealed to my daughter, who doesn't do cutesy), and the book is inexpensive for the amount it actually covers ($18 or so on amazon, and I think about $10 for the Kindle version). Plus you can download the mp3s for free, which is helpful for pronunciation. Oh, and it can all be done orally, so no extra paper generated, and it appeals to the pencil-allergic. With the mp3s, it's even possible to do it in the car. We started it with DD when she was just over 9. I seriously think GSWL is a wonder product. :)

Subbing -- thanks for the great suggestions! I am determined to do the chicken mummy this year, whether my kids want to or not. I want homeschooling mama street cred for doing it, LOL.

It is a Canadian company, I think, but the French looked like the same French I learned in high school, so I think it's geared toward American students. If you get the package, either by actual package (shipping is pretty high) or by download, you get mp3s that have the pronunciation.

That was my guess, since you were asking about Farmer Boy specifically. :) The earlier books in the series will probably be more interesting to boys as well, since, as a PP mentioned, Pa does a ton of cool stuff, plus there's a lot of travel and adventure and building and all. I personally really enjoyed the ones from Little Town on the Prairie onward, but those are more geared toward womanhood, so while there's a lot of good history in them, they're probably not going to hook boys. And thanks for bringing this up too! The LH books are favorites of mine, as well as DD's, but DS1 probably doesn't remember Farmer Boy, and DS2 will probably love it. We enjoyed Cherry Jones's audio version of some of the later books; I'll have to see if our library has Farmer Boy too.