I had struggling readers. We used a bunch of different learn to read programs, but Master Reader was the favorite among my girls. I think they liked doing the lessons on the computer. Plus it was very easy for them to do by themselves freeing me up for something else. It wasn't my first pick, but it ended up being the best fit my our family. Both my girls read very well, so no complaints. AL

Thanks for some ideas. I will look up all the books mentioned. I was thinking of other interests of my daughter, and I remembered she has been into wolves a lot lately. Are there any good series with wolves? Maybe she would like something different. Any book series your 12 year old really liked, add it here. Thanks, AL

Looking for a book series about cats for my 12 year old daughter. She has already read Warrior Cats. Need something else. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, AL

I looking at buying osmo for the iPad. It's not curriculum really but at least it is learning games. Does anyone know any sales for this? Thanks AL

Use a timer. How many math problems can you get done in two minutes? Then come back again between other subjects and do it again. Each time change the amount of time up a bit, but keep it low at first like under five minutes. This worked wonders for my slow-poke daughter. We used a sticker chart and she would get a star for focusing and working hard. When it was full we took a day off from math, her least favorite subject. AL

PAC Anatomy and Physiology

One of my daughter hated any kind of copywork and she was a horrible speller as well. I taught her to say the letters a few at a time to herself before coping the word. By breaking it up into parts and writing a part at a time, has helped her not to get so upset. So if the word she was copying happened to be fraction, then she would say the letters f-r-a-c and then write down those. Then she would say t-i-o-n and write the rest of the word. Sometimes she has to repeat the letters over a few times before writing them, but overall this has helped quite well. AL

My kids and I have been using the learn Math Fast System and are really enjoying it. I was wondering if there is anything similar for LA? The LMF can easily be taken on the road, all that is needed is the book and a pencil. I also like how they cover many grades in just a few volumes. The complete set covers all the way to 12th grade. And of course the best part is no grade levels. So these are the things I am looking for in a LA program. Any suggestions? Thanks, AL

Both my kids enjoyed Sumdog. You can sign up for a free account, and they have a free app. AL

Thanks. That was just the kind of information I was looking for about the movie. AL

I read this as a read aloud with my girls recently. Both of my kids want to go and see the movie. The movie is rated PG-13. What is in it? Why is it rated PG-13? I am not worried about my oldest, but my youngest just turned eleven. Has anyone seen the movie? Is it like the book or very different? Does it have an ok ending? Any thing else that might bother an eleven year old? Thanks, AL

I've noticed this too. We are doing rotating blocks of history science and geography this year, instead of each subject all year long. I like how having fewer subjects each day gives you more time to focus on the subjects you are doing. AL

My girls and I love Bravewriter! When I was first reading the Writer's Jungle, I found it overwhelming trying to fit it all together. So, I started just adding in one thing a week, until we were fully up and running. First we picked a day for our Poetry Teatime. We kept doing that each week, then we picked a day for doing Freewrites. Worked on doing both of those each week. Then we added in something else. After a while we were doing the Bravewriter Lifestyle. I also get the writing tip of the day in my email. I read them, mention it to my girls, and if it is something that sparks an interest we do it, otherwise we don't. Just recently we got a writing tip to make a list of ways to destroy something. As soon as I told my girls about it, they were grabbing their pencils. I find if I think of Bravewriter as a Lifestyle, it helps me. First I don't feel as overwhelmed about it because we have lots more time than just school hours. And second, it doesn't have to be a strict schedule of do this than that. I think about the things we want in our lifestyle and do them when we are able. A lot of things that are mentioned, are pretty easy to add in, or maybe you are already doing them. We were already watching movies, all we had to do was talk about them more. My kids liked to play games, so we bought a few that played with words. I found reading the Writer's Jungle with articles on the website under Bravewriter Lifestyle helped me to put it all together better. AL

I agree! AL

Love the idea of taking a break when there is a math struggle. I need to try this with my oldest. AL

We are relaxed, mostly following CM ideas. I finally finished our plan for a basic schedule this year. I have found with my kids if we do schoolwork longer than three hours, everything falls apart. My kids blossom with lots of free time. So here is our plan. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday our schedule will be 30 mins math, 60 mins LA (we use Bravewriter), 60 mins from our booklist, then 30 mins either science, history, geography. We are going to try rotating science, history, and geography in a block of four to six weeks. (We'll see how that works.) On Wednesday our schedule will be 60 mins math, 30 mins LA, 30 mins Spanish, 30 mins art, 30 min music. Our plan is to start school after we walk our dogs in the morning, that way we can be done by lunch. This schedule gives my kids most afternoons off. Our weekly schedule also includes library, and sewing class. My kids also are part of a monthly Lego club. Over the years we have relaxed a little more. When we first started homeschooling, way back when I pulled my kids out of ps, I was always trying to "catch them up", but it always ended in tears. As we have relaxed more, my kids learn more. I am less stressed and so are they. AL

Both my kids love to read, so take this with a grain of salt, but at our house we let bedtime go. My kids have a basic bedtime, but once they are ready for bed, they can keep their lights on as long as they want as long as they are reading. So most nights they are in bed between 8-9 pm, but they stay up an hour or longer reading. My oldest will usually finish whatever book she is reading. My other daughter likes to read until she get sleepy, then shuts out her light. We started doing this before they could read. They thought it was great just to look at books (pictures) and not go to bed. Once they started reading (both my kids were late readers 11 & 10) they just took off. AL

With both of my kids, I have noticed that when they have more free time they both will bring what they have been learning in our school into their play. AL

Everyone's family will be different. But I think just having some time every day that your kids are free to do what they want really helps. If kids are doing school work most of the day, then have other classes, when do they just have time to be kids? Also having free time gives them time to chew on in their minds what they have been learning. AL

I think that this is a good point. Kids need different things at different times. It makes me think of the ebb and flow of the tide. Sometimes there is a lot, when the tide is in, and then there are times when it is just a little, when the tide is out. The rhythms in nature can really teach us a lot.AL

I have also noticed this, if we ease back into all our subjects things transition smoothly. AL

I agree. I also think when we plan for less we have more time to be relaxed. It like a cluttered house, it makes me feel crazy inside. But when I get rid of the clutter, and there is more empty space I relax inside. AL

I like your idea of Much not Many. I think many people think Less is More means that you don't have to do anything. AL

[quote name="coffeegal" post="5874235" timestamp=" Too much schoolwork and it eats the available juice for the day. They finish, sit, and veg. Too little and their imaginations aren't sparked. They'll sit around and veg as well. The right amount and it's amazing what they do. :001_smile: I think the Less is More works in my house because, when we do too much the kids don't have any free time just to be kids. I also feel stressed out trying to get it all done. My stress level effects my kids. I agree that the right amount and it is amazing what they do. AL

Thanks for linking to the sample schedule. I was looking for something simple, but still gets the basic done. I'm finding that we get more done/learned when we keep it simple. AL