There's an iPad app for Grammaropolis…not sure how much it gets into identifying verbs, though as we just found it. My kids love the songs though. Might want to check it out and see if it can be of any help. Also…does he study any foreign languages? I know learning French and Latin helped me with English grammar when I was a kid.

So, HSIng DS1 is going so well, that I"m considering switching his younger siblings in January. What do you do about curriculum? I'm OK with Math, as I have Math Mammoth for all grades… but for everything else, I'm kind of at a loss. Do you tend to be that year's grade and start mid-year…. buy that year's grade and start at the beginning…or switch to the next year's grade? I'm hoping to pair up DS1 and DS2 on most things, but DD1 will be more difficult. TIA. :)

We love the cranberry chicken salad that you can get premade at Sam's and Costco. You can also buy ciabatta bread there, a baguette, or a whole host of other nice artisinal breads. Buy some of the spreadable butter, or soften some real butter (hey…it's the holidays)…and spread it on both sides of the bread. It will help protect it from the moisture from the salad. Then put the salad on, really nice romaine lettuce, and fresh tomatoes. Delish. Slice into manageable portions and put one of those fancy toothpicks in it. :) You can also buy frozen spiral sandwiches at both places which are easy-peasy. Costco also sells it's on spiral sandwiches in its prepared area. You can get a whole bunch of turkey and provolone ones for about $10. Living in the South, pimento cheese is quite popular. You could also make a crock-pot full of BBQ chicken or beef to make sandwiches with on the King's Hawaiian Bread or Sister Shubert frozen rolls. If you can find pretzel rolls, there's nothing better than ham or turkey on one of those… spread with butter and mustard, and maybe a pickle.

Growing up, 800 would have been big for me. Heck, 300 would have been big. But then I moved down South, where we have megachurches. 5,000 and 10,000 are not uncommon. So my view has changed a bit. I think it probably really depends on the size of your city/location. I always envied my Catholic friends who had a chance to go on Saturday once or twice, plus numerous times on Sunday. When I grew up, it was either the 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. service period. :)

Oh gosh, when I read it at first, I never thought about that. You're probably right. Poor brave boy. :(

It was a Disney film called "The Apple Dumpling Gang" or something like that. :)

Do you think it's better to do game design one and two first? My son is so excited about the opportunity to possibly design his own Minecraft mod.

Yes, but it's getting better. More and more communities are using GPS monitoring of abusers. That does seem to help. I'll also add that some people say….well, the survivor needs to buy a gun. Having a gun in the home in a DV situation, no matter who owns it, increases the risk of homicide by 500x. This woman was a professional boxer and both she and her husband owned guns. He still shot and stabbed her. http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/10/29/2854511/domestic-violence-gun-background-checks/

I ran across this as part of my job, and when I read she homeschooled, realized she might have friends here…either online or IRL. This happened in Michigan. She also wrote a blog called "Adventures of a Thirfty Mama". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2519884/Ex-Husband-shoots-dead-partner-wrote-popular-housewife-blog-killing-14-year-old-son--leaving-children-orphaned.html She had four kids…the husband killed one of them, along with her, and himself. I work in family violence--and we're seeing this more and more. She had a protection order against him, but it expired. Please, in memory of this Mama and all the others killed, memorize the National Domestic Violence Hotline number. Know it so you can share it with somebody who might need it. 1-800-799-SAFE Domestic Violence is the most comment, but least reported, crime in America. Nobody asks for it… and leaving is the most dangerous time for a woman. It can take on average seven times before a person leaves their abuser partner. These guys are master manipulators… and they harm pets, and threaten loved ones…to keep their partners there. Women are far more likely to be killed by an intimate partner (or ex) than by a stranger. In NYC, 2/3rds of murders of women are committed by intimate partners. Consider joining with other Moms near you next Saturday to demand stricter gun laws. Domestic Violence abusers are supposed to have their guns taken away from them, but it rarely happens. This has been a federal law for some time. http://momsdemandaction.org/no-more-silence/ Keeping her three surviving kids in my prayers, as well as all of the survivors of family violence--and those for whom leaving is far too dangerous.

On a side note, I have Indian and Pakistani friends who do the same thing. The kids' job is to study. Period. However, one Mom admitted to me that she wishes she had given them chores growing up, as they were basically helpless in college. :)

I'll add that I read that Finnish students, even HS students, never have more than 1 hour of homework per night. (I seem to remember reading 30 minutes, but I'm not 100% sure on that.) Compare that to the amount of effort the top countries students spend in cram schools, etc. Or compare that to the amount of work a typical US HS student has. As for Switzerland, the only thing I can add is that when I lived/studied there in college, I was told that the kids all were responsible for cleaning their school. (This was a middle school that my host family's son attended.) Imagine that happening here? Seems to me it would generate at minimum more respect for school property.

We've done Right Start A&B, some Saxon, Math Mammoth, and Math in Focus. Right now, we're finishing up MM 4A and MIF4A too. Honestly, I think the level of instruction is perfectly fine for my 4th grader. I don't wish for more. In Math in Focus, while I think the do a good job explaining, because we didn't use their bar models before…it sometimes hurts us. I can't always figure out how they're thinking. But with the MM stuff, she's very clear and I don't have trouble. Place value is covered every single year (at least until fourth grade), in every single program I've used. If your DC doesn't get it this time…don't fret. It will be covered again….and again….and again. ;) You can make your own cards to play "Go to the Dump" or "Corners" for first grade. There are videos on youtube on how to play them. Go to the Dump: Corners:

My 10 year old would love this, but he has no computer programming experience at all. I'm watching it, though.

I voted "no." Finland still does extremely well compared to other European countries… only Switzerland and the Netherlands outranked them. Plus, they still have the smallest difference between high performing and low performing students. That means something, to me. I think this article is better. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25187997 Finland is #6 in reading in the world. Their students are 5th in science. They are the only non-Asian country in the top 5 anywhere. It's not like they fell to US-level performance. ;)

This whole thread…jell-o, rice krispies, sugar cookies…has made me hungry. Biology was never this tasty when I was a student. :)

Waldorf Essentials is having a sale…going on now through Dec 20th. 25% off everything. Code is HOLIDAY www.waldorfessentials.com

Starting to slowly think about next year. Does anybody have any recommendations for science programs? Right now, we're using Galore Park Junior which I like…but don't love. We augment it with lots of Bill Nye and Magic Schoolbus videos.

I seem to remember studying grammar only once really in-depth in middle school. I think it was seventh grade. I think it was enough. :)

We use it similarly. I don't necessarily choose two pages….just kind of take a look…and see what feels right. I have him read it and do it independently, although if it seems to be taking a long time or he needs help, he knows to ask. We also used Math in Focus which required a lot of teaching on my part. MM is much easier--and I honestly think it's working just as well for him.

Sounds like an interesting home school science project.... http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-identify-new-antibiotics-at-home-with-the-iliad-project

My Mom was a professional ballerina in NYC and taught at both university and her own school for 50+ years. Danseurs were always always valued. You don't need a separate class, just a good one. And please please ask about training/qualifications, etc. Bad dance training, especially early out, can be nearly impossible to overcome. I don't know where you are, but I would try calling your nearest university dance department and ask them if they know of schools in the area that have programs for boys. Also if there are any actual dance companies near you, shoot them an email and ask for recommendations. They might be aware of programs you are unaware of. Another option is to look for summer camp opportunities. I'm assuming Dance Magazine and others would list those.

Thanks everybody. I don't know if anybody would hire her for retail as I think she was picked up for shoplifting. Who knows, perhaps that makes her a good candidate for security? ;) I think that would also be an issue in terms of being bonded. Yes, the motivation factor will be difficult. She keeps coming back to the boyfriend and his mother she's lived with since she was 14. She's only twenty. I would like to hope that there could be a better life for her, but she needs to believe that too. Her father telling her she's destined to be a hooker for most of her life hasn't been much help. :(

I got a deal through LivingSocial or Groupon (can't remember which). They tend to come up quite a bit..or at least did when I was using it. :)

Honestly, I've never lived in the same state as her, and have only spent limited time with her. She's pretty, and like many girls her age, likes fashion/hair/make-up, which is why I thought about cosmetology school. I know that when she was in high school it was a special school for troubled kids--and I honestly can't say how well she reads, or what skills she has. I know she's worked as a waitress and cleaning homes from time to time.

No idea where to post this. My niece probably grew up with the world's worst parents. She moved out of her home to live with a bf at 14 (his Mom took her in)… and has been in and out of jail the past few weeks. (In for two weeks, released for good behavior, back in again.) My parents have always tried to help her, but unfortunately it didn't make up for her parents. She does not have her HS diploma or GED. We're trying to encourage her to work on that. Am also looking at ideas for vocational training that she might be able to do…. both with and without a GED. I've thought of cosmetology school/esthetician/manicurist. Having been a massage therapist, I don't think that's a good fit for her…plus the work isn't steady enough. Any other ideas? TIA. :)