Yes, duh. :tongue_smilie: Wasn't thinking. Take out Hugo, but don't replace him with Thomas Hardy! He's almost unbearable. Yuck. Skip him, and throw in Tolkien or Lewis. Sabrina, you see how hard it is to follow your rules? :) You are a hard taskmaster! :lol:

Sorry, just want to add - same here. One of the Great Benefits of homeschooling! I'm actually learning what I should have learned 25 years ago!

These forms of government assume a view of human nature that does not agree with the Bible. Christianity teaches that humans are born fallen and sinful and even the regenerated have an inclination toward sin and selfishness. A communist system and to a slightly lesser degree, a socialist system only works if people are completely self-motivated to do their very best - for their families and their communities. To work hard and do well regardless of reward or punishment. Unfortunately, humans have a tendancy to do only what is minimally required of them, and if the govt. provides whatever they don't want to provide for themselves or their families (by earning enough or working hard enough), there isn't the motivation to do it yourself. On the other side, a communist government also assumes that those in charge will always make decisions based on what is best for all the people. That doesn't happen either. Related to this is the idea that a central government knows what is best - the best way to feed, educate, house, and occupy it's citizens; and the govt. knows how to "do it better" (they're the experts, aren't they?). Ha.

Since it's such a huge field, I'm going to stick with fiction and (roughly) 19th/20 Centuries. American: To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee The Violent Bear it Away - O'Connor Moby Dick - Melville The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Twain The Great Gatsby - Fitzgerald Grapes of Wrath - Steinbeck British: The Power and the Glory - Greene David Copperfield - Dickens Frankenstein - Shelley Pride and Prejudice - Austen Les Miserable - Hugo Greenmantle - Buchan I feel horribly guilty for excluding Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. And Faulkner. Sorry guys. If I wasn't sticking to the last 2 centuries, I'd have thrown Pilgrim's Progress onto the British list.

1. Plant my garden (very small) with the little sprouts I started from seed a few weeks ago. Zucchini, tomatoes (big and little), lettuce, carrots, herbs, giant sunflowers. 2. Make adjustments to our new chicken tractor/coop. The orange cone isn't keeping them off the nest boxes and they are getting poo in the waterer. I saw 4 of them snuggling up to the orange cone like it was a giant teddy bear. We also need to move one end of the coop because it looks like it just barely goes into our neighbors yard. Technically it doesn't, but it's about 6 inches into the line where he typically mows and he's a bit of a fuss budget. 3. Finalize packing/planning for our short trip to Orlando next week.

I'm trying so hard to get the winter clothes put away, but I just can't find room for it all. I save my girl's clothes (hand-me-downs) and the boys clothes just haven't been sorted beyond sticking all the winter stuff in a box.

Well, isn't this nifty. So I can respond to myself or someone else. I apologize to everyone for responding randomly within threads. I think I've been just clicking on any "respond" button my arrow thingy comes across. It certainly makes things more clear.

Well, I had no idea there were modes. So new to this stuff. If I start experimenting, can I skip cooking dinner? Hee Hee!

It's a little hard for me to rate it, since the foundation of everything we do/think stems from religious/philosophical beliefs. So in a sense, yes, it's the main reason. I want a rigorous education for my kids, which stems from the belief that learning about our world is learning about God, who He is, and who we are in relationship to Him. Originally, though, I started looking into homeschooling because I was pretty sure his teachers would tell us he had ADD or some other disorder, and I wanted something better for him.

:iagree: You will need to grieve. Find a soft shoulder to cry on. (((Hannah)))

I personally feel naked without a seatbelt - my older kids are very diligent about making sure their younger siblings are thoroughly buckled into their carseats, too.

Yuck, Double Yuck, Eeeeewwww. Eeeek. Spiders on the mail. Thanks for your info everyone! We are starting a long "get ready to move" clean-out of the house and garage, which will likely take us the next 2 years. :glare: Wearing garden gloves, socks, and sneakers just make me feel so much safer. I will have to look into that enzyme stuff. I DO have a nice big can of spider spray in case of "emergency".

You could try using it and then supplimenting with lots of reading and video suppliments. Maybe read up on the history of some topics/discoveries/scientists. Your public library might have some decent science videos. I'm not sure how you would divide the subjects, but I'm sure it's doable. My 12yods is using it now, and he is certainly learning as much about physics and chemistry as I did in high school (I wasn't much of a science person, either.)

Help. We killed two in our yard yesterday. Then my neighbor called and said she has seen many, many in their yard lately and just wanted to let me know - we both have young children and pets. She's not sure yet what they are going to do (call an exterminator or some other remedy) - they seem to be congregating out behind their shed, but have also migrated closer to the houses. (Actually, a couple years ago we found one inside in my kids' toy box nestled among the fluffy stuffed animals.) Now I'm just creeped out. The weather is nice and my kids want to play outside. If you know of ways to get rid of them, I'd love to hear about it. I'm particularly worried about cleaning out their environment behind the shed in case they decide to all head out to our house. Maybe they'll duke it out with the brown recluses and everyone will disappear. Anyone see the movie Arachnophobia? Eeeeww. :tongue_smilie:

Sometimes I look at our prospective 7th grade schedule and feel the need to lie down. Omnibus I Vocabulary from Classical Roots A NEM1/Key to Algebra Rainbow Science year 2 Elements of Style/Roar on the Other Side (poetry) Wheelock's Latin ch.21-40 Traditional Logic I piano, saxophone I think that's it.

I see that Sparknotes.com has one. I use them occassionally.

It may be too late for suggestions, but two of my favorite reads are 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (real correspondance between a NY writer and a used bookstore in London over a period of about 20 or 30 years after WWII - very funny and touching. A quick read.) My other favorite recommendation is The Last Coin by James Blaylock - funny and mysterious; historical, but in a weird way. Also gives an interesting perspective on cats.

Three Cheers for Janice! Hip, Hip, Horray!

Dh has already asked if we can "share". I finished book 1 last night (the "boring" library copy). I love the maps and the little "what's going on here" margin notes. It was a splurge, but one totally encouraged by dh. :lol:

Fantastic and Way To Go!!

Well, yes, I do mean to pry:tongue_smilie: But do you happen to own chickens? Your post brought to mind a poster on Backyard Chickens who spent time sailing and did a great job in getting her town come to the "light" on chickens :). Just wondering. I'm Moselle, on that particular board and there are several other chicken obsessed homeschoolers who spend time on these boards as well. Welcome, at any rate. I don't think you'll find a better homeschooling resource! Edited to add - ...and what a fantastic opportunity for your family! I have often told dh that if his company ever wants volunteers to work for a year or two in their headquarters overseas (in Germany or Japan) that he is most welcome to jump up with his hands waving wildly, shouting "Me! Me! Me!"

Janna, it sounds like you are in the "just keep on keepin' on" stage. You just do the best you can. Dave generally recommends using 401K money if it's the only thing that will save you from bankruptcy. Use a little of the emergency fund if you have to. Congratulations on your new addition - what a blessing a child is, even in the midst of storms! You and dh just keep on holding on to each other. You'll get through it.

As I've been reading, I've thought constantly how much easier it would be if I had some ancient maps! Since I'm entering the "curriculum purchasing" phase, I may just buy this one (library doesn't carry this one.) Julie, you just never can tell what your dh will read for fun...my dh is reading my "$2 used curriculum sale" copy of Lial's Intermediate Algebra before bed. :lol:

Fingers in ears. Don't say that! I've been reading it to prepare for OI and I can't keep the people/places straight either. This is *only* my first attempt, though; 522 pages to go :tongue_smilie: ... I keep telling myself it's of the utmost importance and I did enjoy the part where he explained how horses are afraid of camels and that's how some group defeated some other group. My most pressing question is how "Herodotus" is pronounced. I feel quite certain that if I was confident in my pronunciation, the whole book will just fall into place. :glare: Surely some crazy historian has made a movie? PBS? The BBC? I'm sorry that I am of absolutely no help to you, but I *can* sympathize.

My kids are ds12, dd9, dd5, ds3, dd1 - last year I read Henty's St. George for England and stuck with it, though I dreaded the reading time. Ds nearly cried when I questioned if we should keep on reading - go figure; he loved it. I think we'll spend a couple of days with Mr. Putter and Tabby, maybe read some Winnie-the-Pooh (a must for all ages :)), and then try some others. I want to read Pilgrim's Progress during our summer break, and might try to get the dramatised recording. Thanks for your encouragement - My kids can read those books themselves someday if they really want to, and I will no longer feel guilty about it!