Do you have a photo?

BTW, FWIW, and maybe it's just a mental thing with me as this is our first year of HSing, but I believe that the very fact that I AM certified makes this whole home education harder for me. It's the way I WANTED to teach, guaranteed, but never could. For someone who was chosen from hundreds of first year teachers for the First Year Teacher of the Year award for a very large school district, you would never know it. I second guess myself left and right! Hoping to mature in that area and gain confidence, it's just CRAZY!

Based on my experience as a certified teacher with years of classroom experience in Texas--- the home of standardized testing, I really do believe, for the MOST part, that the teachers are just doing the absolute best they can in the given situation. I am not giving the PS system a free pass, but boy, I remember what it was like having at LEAST 45 bosses! WHEW, don't miss THOSE days! I did see 1-2 teachers who were doing the students a disservice IMHO, but from what I observed it was definitely NOT the norm. There are many great things I learned in my teacher training geared to bring out the best in the kids and have them learn to their potential. Sadly, in my experience, as the years wore on and testing became the focus instead of learning, much of the thrill of teaching, and learning dwindled. I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to teach my children, and I daresay that even though I might have X degrees, I STILL learn right alongside them. I think that the question about being certified and HSing is more targeted at the idea that if you're not certified you don't know all there is to know and therefore are not qualified. Well, I will NEVER know it all, about anything, here on earth. For that matter, the longer I live the more I realize I do NOT know! Look at all we do without credentials? Um...it's called life and OTJ training!? While it sounds arrogant to believe that only those who are certified are qualified, I believe that the comment comes more from ignorance. Not to interject religion, but as my pastor says "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called!" I love that and claim that. Just an example. I serve in our church as a layperson in a role for which there is a "certification". I am not however certified, nor do I claim to be. I am basically self taught in this area. I do NOT know everything there is to know about the area in which I serve, and i make that incredibly clear, yet my service is greatly appreciated, and no one else will step up and do it. True, not many would be "qualified" to do it, but I am not truly able in as much as I am available! Since I am not certified in this area, should I not step up and serve when no one else will? Then NO ONE is helped! The more I do it, the more I learn. Just my .02. I think typically when people ask questions like this, they really haven't put 1/2 as much thought into the question as we do/have.

I believe this sounds like SUCH an ignorant question, but how much HWT paper comes in their ream? I know typically it is 500 sheets? Also, I will be teaching my DD5 and DS 8 cursive, which is the best paper to buy for each (space wise (wide, narrow, etc. there are so many choices)? Thanks!

This is so interesting, b/c their sale is usually in July. When I called last week to see if they carried an item she knew NOTHING about the 20% off sale. Now, to convince DH it is GOOD to shop for school supplies on my 40th bday! Does anyone know if it's only in store or also good online?

Where did you get your huge, tall white bookcases please?

Can you guys tell me where oh where you are getting these awesome tall huge bookcases? I desperately need some, reasonably priced, I HOPE you don't tell me your hubbies made them! :001_huh:

I PMed you a free shipping code for CBD good through tomorrow on orders of $35 or more.

Where/how do you have this done & how much does it cost? Thanks! Also in TX.

Great idea, thanks for sharing!

BTW if anyone could post pictures, that'd be AWESOME! Hm...I guess I AM visual! Thanks!:lol:

We have a fourth bedroom (long story) approximately 12' X 16' that is mainly a climate controlled storage room and occasional place for guests. I realized finally that we HS everyday and only have visitors once in a...well, who knows? In this room we currently have: 4 drawer filing cabinet floor lamp folding card table with 4 chairs between the bed & wall daybed a narrow 4 shelf bookcase short 3 drawer chest 4 ft. long foldable table (the think sturdy type) crafty stuff (scrapping stuff, wrapping paper, sewing machine) junk, junk, oh and did I mention, junk? Oh I meant to say "stuff" 1 window on 1/3 of the wall 1 two door closet So, it has finally donned on me that this room is really being wasted. This was our first year to HS and we have pretty much schooled at the table and on the couch. This is fine, however, I feel we actually need more structure. DS would absolutely tell you that we HS ALL DAY but we do not. It is more throughout the day, and I am hoping that having a dedicated room would help us stay more focused, on track, and get done sooner. Plus I am going to really start bringing in DD4, and would love wall space not only for a word wall, but also maps, etc. I want and need a space that works FOR me/us. What suggestions do you have for me? I figure this is a great summer project and have been looking on Craigslist for student desks. Do you use individual desks or a sturdy table with chair? DD is 4 and DS is 8. If you use desks, if I could get one with storage beside or underneath is that the best kind so that they can keep their materials in their desk? I have also seen desks with the attached chairs that have storage underneath the desk top, is that better? I think the writing surface is slanted though? Thanks for any help you can give me, you can see I am completely at a loss. I am NOT spatial nor can I look at a room and "see" how everything should be. Also, do you have your own desk? :confused:

As someone who has two babies die as a result of miscarriages, let me say "thank you." Thank you for caring and being wise enough to ask for direction. You are already doing wonderfully! I have two words for you, love her (and her family). Let me preface all this by saying, everyone is unique. I will just tell you what I have learned based on my personal experiences. I will PM you, however, I just wanted to encourage you for recognizing her loss. It is just that. Every woman, and man handles it differently, so while there is no pat answer, love really helps us heal. I have lost two babies now. During the times when you find yourself wanting to say something to her and can't find the words to say, I BEG you to simply tell her "I love you and I am so sorry. I am here for you." I know that many people who love me completely, unknowingly said things that were hurtful, and I know that was not there intention. They simply didn't seek out advice, like you have, and had never had any experience with this at all. They simply wanted to say something, wished they could "do something" so unfortunately they said things such as: It was for the best, there was probably something wrong with the baby (this might have been the hardest thing, a life is a life and is to be cherished) But look, you have a son... You can try again... I won't bother to list all the things NOT to say, I just encourage you to love her. There are several written resources that might be an encouragement to her, I will try to find links and PM them to you. I was able to attend a local support group called M.E.N.D. They have several chapters, but not one in NC, I see :-(. We experienced our losses in 2005 and again this January. The first week of February my best friend, a mom of 7 also experienced her first miscarriage. Some things I encouraged her to do that helped us were: Give the baby a name (it helps with the grieving process and I believe helps solidify the fact that you lost a baby, which can be especially difficult when the baby was never held or seen outside the womb). Regardless of whether the gender of the baby was known, some moms just have a feeling and go with that, others choose gender neutral names. I bought & put together a box for my friend. It was a pretty keepsake box, in which I included a journal (she chose to name her unborn daughter Faith so I was able to find a journal with that name on it), a pen, she also put cards she had received (either congratulatory when they found out they were expecting or sympathy), the ultrasound picture if one was taken, etc. For my friend I also found a small pretty item that had encouraging words as a token of our friendship. I also included a card from myself sharing my heart. My friend is also planning on having her children make a "memorial" to place in their backyard as the entire family knew. Similar to a mosaic tile/stepping stone in remembrance of her. I have a James Avery charm bracelet, and my husband purchased a charm that represented a child and put the date that we learned the baby died on it. This was precious to me as I have charms for my two living children on it too. Be available. Not necessarily to do anything, but just to be AROUND. It helps us to know that there is someone we can call to come over or be with if we just feel like we need to cry, want to talk or just don't want to be alone, it can be a confusing time. Sometimes, for me, most of the time, with all those hormones and feelings raging, honestly, I didn't even know WHAT I wanted or needed. It's nice to know that someone understands and is just there for you, when even YOU don't know what you need. Reminder her frequently that you're there for her. I encourage you to mark this date on your calendar for NEXT year. One of the most powerful things that someone did for me, MEND, was have one flower in a bud vase delivered to me on the day/anniversary of my baby's death (the date we learned we miscarried). I was so moved that someone remembered and I was not alone, even though one year later I was "doing" well. It helps confirm that the loss is real, not to sound bizarre but justifiable, in a way, for lack of better words. Trust me, a mom never forgets, so please don't ignore it. The grief is so close to the surface for us, but especially when we already have children we have to get it together on the outside, which can cause us to be more fragile on the inside. Do not worry about "reminding" us of our loss, we never forget, KWIM? Actually, sometimes it helps us and encourages us to know that others have not forgotten. Ironically there have been several "shows" on the radio this week regarding this topic. I will try to find them and link back, you could listen to them yourself, and I am sure they suggest lots of resources that would be an encouragement. I believe one was on Focus on the Family, and perhaps the other was on Family Talk? Blessings, and I am so sorry for her loss, but am so grateful she has someone like you in her life.

Really? I thought beginning in Core 3, they were directly related to the readers? Hm...I have never seen them myself, but was considering purchasing them myself after reading all these posts, but hate to buy them sight unseen? The person did specify that they were for the "advanced readers"? I wonder why it would make a difference then? Perhaps it is an earlier copyright date? Just thinking out loud.

Oops, wait! I tried it three more times, and it finally worked! Thanks! Odd though...

Hmm...nothing opens up enough for me to save anything? I receive an error (Expected dict object?) pop up window and the original screen is blank? I tried your suggestion, and while I was able to save it, Adobe told me error in reading it/unable to open it?

I am trying to order my remaining school items, but am unsure which level to get for WWE. I have seen various posts here and searched the boards, but the one link I dfound was no longer valid? Thank you!

Help please, GWG?

Thanks!

I too was unable to find any who liked using it and we did NOT use it this past year (our first yr. to HS and used Core 1&2). So we are going to start WWE & FLL in the Fall, along with Spelling Power, I hope this will help round us out :-).

:grouphug: I am SO grateful that she has wonderful friends such as yourself. Thank you for being a blessing to her at this unbelievable time. I know it means more to her than words can ever say. I am SO sorry.

I am just curious, about how long do you believe FLL & WWE take, on average, daily? Thanks! Going to begin in the Fall.

We have these as back ups for the grandparents cars and LOVE them! DS is 8.

Forgive me, but is AAS All About Spelling?