Just wanted to add that if you have a really really bad case, there are Rx ovicides out there (meaning they kill the nits (eggs) as well). They are very expensive...and you have to go through your pediatrician... but I wish I had known about them before shaving my head last year when the entire family got infected. (My hair is extremely thick and was long...so the normal OTC stuff wasn't working and Nit-combing was nearly impossible.) I did go to a dermatologist, and he never mentioned them, just suggested Nix which is only about 44% effective. The prescription ones are far more effective in the 85-90% range. One is Natroba. Sam's Club has the cheapest price, especially if you're a Sam's Plus member. Only $130-something compared to over $200 elsewhere. The bottle is big enough for two treatments, if needed. The other ovicide is Ovide. Smaller bottle, but smaller price. Not sure if it's as effective.

As somebody who is using Math in Focus, just wanted to add that you can buy the textbooks used on Amazon for very cheap! Usually less than $10. Then I buy a new workbook through CBD--which makes the whole program much cheaper. You can also sign up for free virtual sampling with Harcourt Brace which gives you access to all the levels, books, as well as Teacher's Guides (to check answers). I think we spend around 15 minutes each day for a lesson (4th grade), and then DS spends 15-30 minutes doing problems. DD loves the Math in Focus 1st grade books and does them on her own. Takes very little time at that age...maybe 15 minutes? I think Saxon is completely scripted, so that might work as well.

Don't forget the Roald Dahl books. So many great ones. Also, Rudyard Kipling's "Just So" or "Jungle Book" "My Side of the Mountain" Oh...and one of my favorites in 6th grade was "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (Great film too!) I've also heard a lot of good things about Holling C. Holling's "Paddle the Sea"

We bought it, but didn't really like it. It doesn't cover all of the multiplication facts, and honestly I found more useful stuff for free on youtube.

K12 Reader has completely free spelling, reading comprehension, etc. http://www.k12reader.com/first-grade-spelling-words/ Depending on what you have available, an iPad App like the spelling ones Reading Eggs has...or using SpellingCity might work. http://readingeggs.com/beta/about/levels/spelling http://www.spellingcity.com/sample-spelling-lists.html DD is in first grade, and although she reads quite well, she's not 100% comfortable being on her own for anything workbook-y...like math. She always wants to check in with me to make sure she understands what they want. Her spelling lists so far have been phonics based... so mop, stop, cop, pop, etc.

Maybe not as high-brow, but when we started, we used a lot of Shel Silverstein poems. :) Also the old Goop stuff. The kids still recite them, and love them. :) Our kids also memorize Qur'an. Now, I don't speak much Arabic (other than food and some numbers), and my kids don't know much either. Yet, they were able to memorize many many surahs (chapters) in classical Arabic...in a language they don't understand. After I realized that, I decided maybe we should set the bar higher when looking at stuff in English. I just bought the book "How to Teach Your Child Shakespeare"...so we may be drawing from that. We're also doing some Rumi, States and Capitals, and US Presidents this year. We're slowly working our way through the 99 Names of God in Arabic. I'd like to also have them memorize stuff from DH's culture (Egyptian)...but I need to figure out what. I was thinking of something related to Maat and the 42 Negative Confessions...but I'm not sure if that's something we'll tackle now or later.

DS1 hated writing, which is one of the reasons I picked Right Start A for him when he was in Kindy. It was a fun program for him. BUT, I don't think you need to go out and spend $100 on it. Kindy math is pretty basic. Counting to 20. Addition facts up to 10. Calendar stuff. Basic subtraction. Shapes. Patterns. Yes, it's all repeated in 1st grade. I think you can "play" math and be just fine.

Thanks everybody. As an FYI, Math in Focus is the same as My Pals are Here (Marshall Cavendish). Just the US version under license to Harcourt Brace. Says so right in the beginning of the books. "Primary Mathematics" is published by Federal Publications, which is not the same as the Ministry of Education. Both Federal and Marshall Cavendash are owned by Times Publishing Group. Federal actually goes by Marshall Cavendish International. So, implying that "Primary" is somehow "more official" is misleading. "Formerly known as Federal Publications, Marshall Cavendish Internatinal (Singapore) offers an extensive range of quality materials in print and multimedia formats that address the needs of learners at every stage of their education. As a leading educational publisher, our vision is to offer educators and learners exciting, relevant and effective solutions that stimulatre the mind, move the heart, and ignite the passion to learn."

I give pre-tests of the words in a spelling list, and then we just work on the ones DS doesn't know that week. If he misspells a word in his writing, I'll have him write it three times. Depending on my mood, I sometimes have him look up the word in a dictionary (he's in 4th grade) or I provide the correct spelling. If I keep seeing the same word misspelled over and over again, we add it to an index card he keeps near him of words he tends to misspell, so that he can check it himself while writing.

So, I saw the Singapore Math Extra Practice books at Costco yesterday. You get both the A & B book for around $11 and change. (This is what they look like: http://www.amazon.com/Singapore-Math-Practice-Level-Recommended/dp/0768239923/ref=pd_sim_b_4) DS is doing Math in Focus 4th grade, so I'm assuming I'd just buy the 4A and 4B pack, right? ('Cause the way they are labeled is a grade behind...so 4A and 4B they recommend for 5th graders.) Thanks In Advance. :)

She's beautiful. :) I like Sula, but you might want to wait until meeting her until you choose a name... something may click then. We didn't have most of our kids names decided until they were kicking us out of the hospital. :)

She seemed rather proud of that, and then when I asked her is she knew what that meant, she said "really pretty." I have to admit I'm a little disturbed by the language choice. The thought of anybody finding my 6 year old "hot" is disturbing...even if they are peers. Is it a generation gap? Are the boys using the word without knowing its connotation regarding sexiness? Am I just an over-reacting Mom? Ugh. She's six. She's not supposed to be hot or even want to be hot for quite awhile still (I hope). I'm trying to withhold my impulse to say "we'll be homeschooling you as well starting Monday" as she needs the speech-therapy provided by the school.

Oh what fun, I'd always wanted to pick up some Turkish. :)

I'm actually thinking of adding it for this year (4th grade). I came across the Beautiful Feet Geography through Literature course and I think DS would really enjoy it and it would fit in well with what we're studying this year. DS2 learned all the states and capitals when he was in a PK3 Montessori class, but I seem to remember that it was 4th grade when we learned them back when I was a kid. My goal is to have a focus on geography once per four years... so sometime during Middle School, we'll do a more intensive World Geography. Then in high school, we'll do it again. But, it comes up all the time in history, literature, etc. So, we keep maps handy... and the kids love "Stack the States" and "Stack the Countries." I think in 2nd grade we talked about a compass rose, longitude/latitude, how to read a map, etc.

I was psyched when I saw it for $9.99, but this is too good to pass up. Thanks!

Don't be so sure. I did horrible in science in high school. Had to take a chemistry class in college, did fine. Then suddenly, I got very interested in science and went back and did a post-bac pre-med program. Got As in everything--even Organic and Physics. Never would have guessed that possible. Key was interest and better teachers. :) Because of that, I want my kids to like science. To be scientifically curious. Not sure where you live, but you might want to see if there are any science museums or co-ops that offer homeschooling classes...especially labs. I think it would be very hard to recreate a chemistry or physics lab at home. As for math, programs are so different...and it will also depend on your comfort level teaching. What have your kids been using so far? How have they done?

We are looking forward to doing this (DH is Egyptian.) We're going to name him Pharoah Farkhah (Egypitan Arabic for chicken.)

Maria (MathMammoth) has a gigantic sample on her webpage. They extended the 50% deal at HSBC for another week or so, so if you're going to buy it, it couldn't be more affordable. Math in Focus (Singapore) has free "virtual" sampling online. I think they give you like 6 months to look at it. Because it's a Singapore approach, though, you might end up going back a year--as they approach things differently. Just register as a homeschooler http://forms.hmhco.com/virtualsampling/index.php Also second MEP, as well as going back to the beginning of 5/4. You can also just do a lot of Khan Academy etc. Teaching Textbooks has samples on their webpage as well. Definitely do the placement test before purchasing. One other option is that at least where I live, homeschoolers can request books from the state book depot. Not that I'd want the math curriculum they use, but it's an option. :)

In reading this discussion, it reminded me a bit of the film "Precious." I really did not want to see the film. The topic matter did not attract me. But I did watch it after hearing so much about it. I'm so glad I did. It was an important film to see... a movie I don't think I'll ever forget. There were disturbing sex scenes in the film....as it dealt with incest and rape. And yet, those scenes were necessary I believe to the story. They were not erotic in any way. I can't say I enjoyed the film in the same way I enjoyed say "Strictly Ballroom" or whatever. But I'm very very glad I watched it.

My eldest is that way. Absolutely hates writing with a pencil. We worked a bit with an OT at school, but it really didn't help much. We used a lot of play dough designed to strengthen his hands, etc. Different pencil grips. Nothing really made a difference; however, now that he's moved on to cursive, it seems to be a little better for him. So maybe it was a printing thing? He does love dictating to me...but ask him to write it himself and it's like pulling teeth.

I actually read a lot of erotica in my 20s... the aforementioned Sleeping Beauty Trilogy....lots of Anais Nin..."Tropic of Cancer", etc. I've even read some Marquis de Sade ("Justine.") Although, to be honest, 50 Shades has never interested me. Yes, I really truly do know what graphic detail is. :) Perhaps it's a quantity statement on my part as well. The sex scenes are part of the book, but not the main focus of the book. But then again, it's obvious we have different experiences and this impacts our views. I don't view the book as pornographic, either... but then again, I've read real "erotica" so that no doubt affects my judgement. This is not designed to titilate or arouse anybody. The language in the book is there for a reason...it's to shock you...it's to wake you up...it's not to be erotic. And as an aside, my quote "It's not in graphic detail" refers to Biblical descriptions of incest in our earlier discussion. You said that the Bible wasn't in graphic details, and I agreed with you. You guys have actually inspired me. Am thinking of doing a "Banned Books Year" with my kids when they're older. :)

Also, some parents may find Common Sense Media's review of the book useful. They recommend it for kids 15+. http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-bluest-eye It was also featured a long time ago on Oprah's Book Club. The discussion guide might be useful as well. http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/The-Bluest-Eye-by-Toni-Morrison/3 Here's one question: "Consider Morrison's characterization of Cholly Breedlove. While she clearly condemns his actions, she resists dehumanizing him. If rape of one's daughter is an "unimaginable" crime, can one at least trace the events (and resulting emotions) that made it possible for Cholly to commit this brutal act? Is there a connection between the white hunters' "rape" of Cholly and the sexual aggression he eventually turned on his daughter?"

OK, got curious and went to the Nobel site to see who had won recently. They had this cool "Lord of the Flies" game there. Might be of interest to some: http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/literature/golding/

I'm not sure exactly what brands you're looking for, but I saw a big set of wooden blocks at Sam's Club yesterday. Most likely, they're starting to get Christmas stuff in. Can't remember which brand...may have been Melissa & Doug. If cost is an issue, might be worth checking out. Also, check out Etsy. There are lots of craftsmen and women who do wonderful things.

My DD really loved Reading Eggs. They sent me some email a week or two ago about having a math program as well. I have no idea how they compare to T4L, but it might be worth a look. On a side note, there are usually some codes floating about the Internet that will at minimum give you a one month trial... as well as deals for cheaper subscriptions, etc.