Thank you so much ladies for the replies and links. You have made my morning 🙂

Hello everyone, I was wondering if someone can direct me to a lesson plan or unit study about the Nile River. I would be using it for elementary and maybe even Junior High. Thank you!

:bigear: :lurk5:

I've been out of the loop for a while what does CC stand for? Thanks! Michelle

Hi all, Does anyone know of any particular curriculum or resource(s) that teach about explorers and exploration? Thanks! Michelle

Thanks so much for the responses thus far. I really do appreciate the input. I think taking a couple of classes might be a good idea just to try it out. What I wouldn't want happening though is for her to be on top of the outside classes and then leave what we do at home to the side. In the end I guess it really does depend on the student and how they will handle it. Back to square one :glare: but with a little more clarity.

My oldest will be entering HS this fall. As much as I hate to admit it I have a hard time getting her to finish her work or showing and drive for working through assignments until they're finished. My husband says she has no motivation. She does understand things fairly quickly and picks up concepts with out a problem, but she drags her feet with school work. Her sister, who is not as quick, seems to have more desire and discipline to finish her work. I have thought at times that the work may be too easy, so I have come up with more challenging material, but that is then met with groans. I have also asked her if she wants to go to school and she has said she does not want to, so I feel very confused at times. Anyway the reason I'm posting is to get some insight from those who have used online schools or accreditation services. Has this helped your child be more enthusiastic about finishing their work? Did it change their attitude? I have the option of enrolling her, but we really could do much better with keeping he money in our pockets. I wouldn't even really be doing it so much for the accreditation, but more for her to be held accountable by someone other than myself. When I think about it that way I think it's rediculous to spend so much money if those are my reasons. So please, I need the advice of those who have been there.

I'm still looking around at whats available for my soon to be high schooler. I flip flop between thinking I can do this myself and wanting my dd to have to be accountable to someone else. The whole "accreditation" issue haunts me too. Anyhow I was looking at Oak Meadow and I'm really drawn to the curriculum as a whole. OM carries a hefty price tag though, I would be willing to try it out for one year. K12 is something we may be able to use through the state. I have read mixed reviews about it. I have also read many negative things when K12 is used through the state. I do realize that both are really different, but I think they seem to be something we could use. I would really like to hear the experiences anyone has had with either curriculum and if you solely used one or the other. I was hoping to use just one curriculum for all of the classes. Thanks, M

Lanny, Julie, and Cat woman thanks so much for your response. Its strange you still haven't heard anything from them after so long. Im still mulling over everything here. Sometimes I think I want to do things myself others I feel like I want that "accreditation" and someone else over my dd's head. From what I have read though it can turn out to be a good thing or a disaster. I'm looking at other places to now. Hoping I can pick some someone's brain about them :) Thanks, Michelle

I have been MIA for a long time on the boards. My oldest is finally HS age and I was looking in to University of Nebraska's high school program. Has anyone used it? If so what is your opinion? I am also looking at Keystone. Thanks!

I haven't come on to the boards for quite some time and I just found this thread. Tomorrow I actually have an appointment to see my MW, strange. I had my four daughters at home (last was a waterbirth) with Cara Muhlhahn she's a wonderful MW. Many women I know have had her as well. She had been already involved in midwifery/obstetrics for more than 20 years before she participated in the documentary. Since the documentary she has been referred to as a "celebrity MW" like she became a MW during or after the movie, nonsense. We're planning on or fifth and I'm actually off to see her tomorrow for an appointment.:001_smile: Oh and BTW since having my first daughter back in 1999 it seems that the MW's (and home birthing ones at that) in the tri-state (NY) have tripled. Michelle

I did the 30 day shred religiously for 30 days. I recall the shaking muscles and having to lay down after some sessions from literally feeling like I was going to throw up or collapse. I did not lose any weight and maybe just lost inches (I am not an over weight person and have always kept an exercise routine, maybe that has something to do with it). I did feel stronger in the end than when I first started. About 3 weeks into it I started to notice my knees were cracking a lot. I have been exercising for about 15 years so I am pretty familiar with proper form. 1.5 years later if I place my hand on my right knee and flex it, back and forth, I can feel it crack and crunch, this was a result of the 30 day shred. If I were given the chance to go back and do it all over, I would not do it and I do not recommend this workout to friends. I don't believe that it gives enough rest in between days. I went back to doing my pilates with Jennifer Kries and have been ok with that. Whatever you decide....Happy training!

It was our first day today too. It got started off a little slow. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better ;) Michelle

I ran in to the same dilemma. What I have decided to do is just file paper work and being that I will be saving time with not having to run around and get paper work I will just quickly look over the (already made) file on the weekend and get the manipulatives or supplies at that time. I wanted to have every single thing organized with my files, but I felt I was going to burn myself out. I'm ok with this an not beating myself up over it. The fact that I am almost done filing 32 weeks for 4 kids is enough to make me feel good. Hang in there! Michelle

I have a friend who has her kids in P.S. and she wants to cover certain topics she feels they don't have a good grasp on. Her eldest will be entering 6th grade and is still having problems with fractions and most likely anything that comes after that too. Which math curriculum or books can I suggest that she can use with her children to get the most out of before school starts again in September? Thanks, Michelle

This is not always the case actually. My DH has a cousin who knew this girl from childhood and the two families decided at some point when they were in their teens it would be a good match. Well that was the talk the day of the wedding how it was arranged and a love marriage at the same time. I guess it can't get any better for them ;) M

I'm married to a Pakistani (and the two cultures are very similar and the "love marriage" concept is the same in both). It basically means, "Were you arranged? Or did you marry because you (and your dh) chose each other?" Desi (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) cultures are very similar regardless of their religion. My DH has a lot of his relatives who were arranged and they seem, well, happy lol..As far as I know even though the marriages are arranged the couple marry willingly and because they want to. The two will meet and talk (how many times and how they interact with each other depends on the people involved). Even though they exist I have never known of a marriage where the two were forced in to it. In Islam a marriage is not valid with out the girls consent so if she's forced in to it it's not valid, but like I said I know it happens I have just never seen it happen. I believe after observing these marriages for many years that arranged/love marriages have an equal chance at working out. I mean there are many people who date, court or what have you and then get married to find out that things will not work out in the long run. In either marriage it takes two people to make things work when there are problems and in this sense they're not much different. The only difference I see is that with arranged marriages because the families are involved the couple have some where to go to if they are having problems to work things out, but at the same time they will feel the pressure from those who arranged them (family usually) if they want to part ways. I have found though that if they truly want to end the marriage no one can stop them and the families who were involved in the arrangement eventually get over it. Wow! That got long winded. Michelle

But, I think if I had more time to do it I would be happier. I really try and squeeze in 20-40 minutes 4 or more times a week. I mainly do Jeniffer Kries' Pilates, Donna Richardson's 3 Day Rotation (these two I have had for about 10 years) and I've tried Jillian Michael's 30 day Shred. The Shred got me strong in a months time, but I did not lose all the weight it claims to shred. I'm not over weight but I wish I was about 15 pounds lighter. I exercise mainly for health reason because I am hypothyroid and feel I function sooo much better when I exercise regularly. This is probably more than you people needed to know. lol Michelle

<<So yeah, I GET some planning, but what I am scratching my head about is the 12 weeks of planning in advance, or even the WHOLE school year planned. I know PS teachers have to do this.....but why do you do it?>> I am not the most: <<...organized, and even known as "anal about organization" by certain family members.>> I used to be better, but after having 4 kids close together, starting and running a business with my DH and family problems that come and go I don't have the mental capacity to: <<...have alot of plans in my head. For example, I know in my head which subjects we will do every day, and which we will do a few times a week. That gets incorporated into my weekly plan that I input on Sunday nights.>> It's just not happening. When my girls were 6 and under things were different, but now we're doing grades 6, 4 , 3 and 1. So to juggle this for me is a big deal. This past year did not go so well because I insisted I could still keep it all in my head. I love to homeschool and will do so I will be using Calvert this year for the same reason that I need a year to regroup and really get back on track and I need things spoon fed to me I guess. And even though Calvert is already planned out I-am-still-making-folders. Why? Because I think I need that visual system of what needs to be done next right in my face. So those are my reasons. When I read the title of your post I giggled because like you I would wonder why people do things (in any area of life) I've stopped doing this because when I start asking and wonder "why would anyone want/need to do x, y, z" life has a funny way of showing me "why" I hope you can continue with your mental planning and organizing. I give you props...I really do :) Michelle

I was looking around and came across this. It's called "Lesson Planner Advanced" they have a demo for download. I've already set my mind to try out a filing type system for the coming year but maybe this can do for now. Michelle

How long does it take to schedule 36 weeks? I have 4 girls that I will be planning for and wanted to get and idea. Thanks, Michelle

Wow! This thread has grown so much. I had came by a couple of days ago and was intrigued by the whole idea now I think I'm hooked. I wanted to know if anyone thinks I could pull this system off with a curriculum like Calvert? We are using it this year along with FLL level 4 and singapore math. Since everything is laid out in Calvert would it just be a matter of breaking the weeks work in to folders? Thoughts? TIA Michelle

We will be going back to Calvert this year (I need a break!), but we will continue with FLL level 4 and world history together. Michelle

Although this is not answering the original question I would like to put my .02 in. As a Muslim we believe that Abraham took Hajar, who we believe was his second wife, to the land of Mecca along with their son Ismael because of Sara's jealousy. He would visit them from time to time. After some time when Ismael was older we believe that Abraham received a message from God to build a house of worship with his son Ismael, the Kaba in Mecca. No where in Islamic history, that I have seen or learned, does it say that there was "ancestral hatred" towards Israel, nor any talk of inheritance. As Muslims we love all the Prophets. We also believe that it was Ismael that Abraham was to sacrifice and not Isaac. Any hatred that the Palestinian people (Christian or Muslim) currently have may be due to the oppression they face daily and the occupation of lands where they once resided, but that's another story (which BTW I do not wish to entertain :) ). Michelle

I think she decided to be a nerd again because she saw that not everyone thinks that being smart/nerd is a bad thing. It just so happened that the one to express it was this guy. It also helped that she thought his inventions were cool ;) I think the dad needed the voice/thought box because he was used to talking to his son in analogies and his son could never understand him. The father even said at the end, while wearing the box, that even though his words don't come out right (to his son anyway) he just means that he loves him. M