It's a very lightly fictionalized version of the real town of Mankato (Since the OP may not know that). You can visit and tour the real childhood homes of Maud and her best friend Bick (the real-life inspirations for Betsy and Tacy).

If you have girls, the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace is wonderful. Boys might like it, but it is more of a girl-interest sort of a series since the main characters are all girls. The Birchbark House book itself doesn't take place in MN, but the author is from MN. The later books in that series do take place in MN though.

I think maybe this has something to do with it. If there is an "arms race" of more and more people taking private sports lessons/coaching to improve at team sports, making it harder and harder to earn a spot on a team unless you do it, it starts pricing out those who could afford it, especially if the only opportunities to play said-sport are in competitive or try-out type situations. People who can't afford it perhaps resent those who can. It's not like if your kid gets cut from the baseball team that it's easy to just throw together another team to play. And you can't really do it alone. We aren't really competitive with sports in our family, so the thought of private sports lessons for that purpose never crossed my mind, and I would never personally look down on anyone who is doing it. But I can understand why someone might feel like it was creating unfair advantage. While I totally agree that music has competitive opportunities, anyone and everyone can learn to play piano, guitar, or another instrument of choice (regardless of anyone else's skill or what type of lessons they take). That's a big difference over team sports. Even traditional band/orchestra instruments can be learned and enjoyed without a group (I don't have time to join a community band, but I do enjoy pulling out my flute and playing just for myself every now and then). Unlike team sports, private lessons are about the only sensible way to learn individual instruments like piano (maybe some group classes exist, but that doesn't seem common), and they are available at all price points. A sweet retired lady down the street whom DD's friend takes piano from, as well as the stay-at-home mom (former full time music teacher) looking to make extra cash whom DD takes guitar from, both charge $15 per 30 minute lesson. The music store DD used to take lessons at, and a number of studios we called, charge $25 per 30 minute lesson. Lessons at the conservatory or high-level music school or with a professor or with a professional musician are at higher price points. Something for everyone. I am assuming that private sports coaching has fewer price-point options and ends up being out of range for more people who are also paying sports fees to play. I also totally agree with the others that a lack of recreational sports opportunities for kids with limited finances or experience is very unfortunate. I'm glad that's not the case in my community and it seems like there are plenty of opportunities to casually try sports at a variety of ages and price points as well.

I think some people just often confuse similar names. My husband does stuff like this all the time (call someone a different name with the same letter, or a different name that sounds similar). My name is a bit hard to pronounce correctly, and even people I have known for a long time will slip and use a more common or easy to pronounce K name instead of the correct name on occasion.

I actually used Science in the Beginning concurrently with a co-op class while I was doing SITAW at home with my kids. I liked Science in the Beginning better in the sense that there was more depth to each topic before moving on. Multiple lessons in a row are on the same basic topic, so it feels more like a few unit studies on various topics rather than a jumble of lessons on various subjects. We still had some of the problems with Science in the Beginning that some lessons weren't seasonally appropriate for us and some demos weren't practical for co-op...but since we only met twice a month, I wasn't planning on doing every lesson and I even changed around the order a bit.

I think it might (I assume you mean just reading and not doing experiments) -- but if you wanted it to "match up", you would have some time periods of history where you would be doing a LOT of reading on SITAW, and some time periods where you would be doing none at all. The earliest is Thales (625 BC). There are a lot between 400-120ish BC, a few from AD 20-200, Two lessons that fall around 500AD, then nothing again until 1175 AD. At the end there are about 21 lessons featuring Leonardo DaVinci (A few of those 21 don't actually involve him, but they fall between lessons featuring him). Those are the lessons we skipped, because...I just couldn't do 21 lessons about Leo when we were still in in Roman times for history. We might go back and read them and at least do a few of the experiments when we finally make it to that time in our history studies (not until next spring!).

We used about three-quarters of it this past year. I wanted to love it so much, and we just didn't. I thought I would be okay with the fact it jumped around a lot in terms of topics, but it felt really disjointed. We did a few days of chemistry-related topics, only to jump to a day about an astronomy topic followed by an anatomy topic. I didn't want a science book covering the same topic all year, but switching topics every couple of lessons was a bit much -- there was no time to dive deeper into a subject before we were on to something else. Some of the experiments/demos felt like a lot of work or mess to make a small point. At the end of some experiments I wished we would have just watched a youtube video instead. ;-) Some of the experiments also hit at bad times for us seasonally (sorry, but we aren't going to go outside on a -20 Minnesota winter day to pull a wagon while someone sits inside throwing a ball. That's even assuming I have a wagon in the first place, which I don't!). My kids thought the readings about the different scientists were interesting and had fun with some of the demos, but I am not sure they retained a lot. Near the end of the year we dropped it and we did Ellen McHenry's the Elements. I think they retained more from a couple months out of that than they did all the rest of the year with SITAW.

I probably wouldn't make a kid go under those circumstances -- but I would have a discussion about the times its okay/not okay to back out on a commitment. Even as adults, sometimes we need to back out on something, and it is important to discern when it will and won't be okay. I run a VBS at my church, as a volunteer. I guess I would rather a kid not come if they really don't want to be there. It is supposed to be fun...a kid who really doesn't want to be there might end up making things difficult for the volunteers. Not saying your daughter specifically would do that...but...I have seen one or two kids with kind of a "bad attitude" about being there and it can be hard for volunteers to handle. I guess I will also join the ranks of those who are surprised at the charge though...we run our VBS at a cost of five or six bucks per kid. It's not a huge church, but we get 80-100 kids. We don't charge, as the church can absorb that level of total cost as a part of the education budget. It is not a super over-the-top VBS though. Just some really basic decorations, cheap curriculum, quick and easy snacks and low-cost crafts. Most of the super fun about it is brought by the creativity of the volunteers who bring it alive.

I am not sure why other people would not consider using Essentials as primarily a spelling program. Other than the remedial reading aspect for an older student or one who is not reading well, I think the spelling portion is its greatest strength. It might be "overkill" though if a child is a natural speller. I purchased essentials to use with my with my DD starting when she was 8. It was absolutely a great tool for her. But it is not a "one purchase and done" product for all kids. Some kids might go through Essentials once (or maybe twice with the advanced lists), and then just be ready for Word root/vocab study after that. My DD needed other kinds of practice and reinforcement. I did also use Essentials with a six year old -- my DS who is now 8. We were in a different position though, and we didn't finish it before moving on to other things. We did the Beta test of Foundations when he was in Kindergarten, and Foundations D was not out yet. We did a slow pace of the first 25 lessons of Essentials as a review and as new spelling words (we didn't do the grammar portion). I decided to use Spelling Plus/Dictation Resource book though with him this year, still using LoE methods. I will use Essentials most likely with my DS who is currently 6 when he is 7 (so, 2nd grade) after doing Foundations D for 1st grade. Foundations is definitely more fun for a younger student. If you went that route, you could skip A (just make sure he knows all the sounds of of the 26 letters - not just short sounds). The student has been exposed to all the phonograms (and most rules) at the end of C, so you wouldn't have to buy D if you weren't using it for reading. One Essentials teacher manual + 1 Essentials workbook is $93 vs. Foundations B and C teacher manuals plus workbooks for B and C totals $108. Really not that much different in price. Those are the only absolutely essential items for either program (You can make game cards, flash cards, etc for either one). I honestly don't think you'll feel "done" with buying spelling books after just doing 1 year of Essentials anyway. Plus, if you did Foundations (and you could absolutely skip activities that were for reading practice only if you wanted to), YOU would know how to teach the rules/phonograms by the LoE method and you could apply that method to any other program or spelling list if you wanted to do it. On the other hand, if a "one and done" purchase is important to you that will take you through spelling for many years using a rules - and - phonograms approach, Writing Road to Reading, Spell to Write and Read and How to Teach Spelling are three programs to consider. If you are not sold on a rules-and-phonograms approach, I am really liking Spelling Plus/Dictation Resource Book (by Susan C. Anthony) -- Though as I said, I am applying LoE methods to that program. That has multiple years of instruction as well. If you aren't sold on the rules-and-phonograms approach to spelling at all, then yeah...maybe any old workbook program as pp suggested would make you just as happy for a lower price. I want to give all my kids a foundation in the rules and phonograms, so I will use those sorts of spelling programs for at least a year or two with them whether they "need" it or not.

So glad to know I'm not the only grown up wanting a version of DIY.org for adults. :-) I think that would be super fun too!

Welcome to the forum! There are some past threads on this very topic, so if you don't get a ton of responses, a good way to find them is on google using a site search, like this: logic of English essentials site:forums.welltrainedmind.com. That will get you a lot of threads about LOE and lots of people have discussed this previously. Besides the teacher's manual, the other item that I find absolutely essential is the basic phonogram flash cards. I have used those quite a bit with all three kids that I have taught with the LOE methods. Some people make their own, but it is nice to just buy them. If you want to do the Grammar/composition exercises you definitely need the workbook. If you are doing spelling only, you could possibly skip the workbook but it is nice and simple just to have it. A lot of the other items are pretty optional: The game cards are nice if you like card games, but we find we rarely use them. (We like pencil and paper games or active games better). The games book is ok, but I found myself just repeating game suggestions that were in the text more than pulling out the game book. Spelling journal was a flop for my oldest, and I haven't tried it with the others. That is something you could make on your own, also. I never use my grammar flash cards. You don't need the advanced phonogram cards until you' ve been through Essentials once and learned the basic phonograms. The other item I use all the time is the Quick Reference Card. Unless you already know the rules and phonograms yourself, if is super convenient to have all the rules and phonograms in one easy to use spot with out having to flip to the right page in the manual.

With the way our travel plans are working out for our vacation later this summer, we need to stay overnight one night in Las Vegas (the whole family) before continuing on to our next stop. Most of our vacation is camping, so I want this night to be someplace with a really fun pool and maybe some other fun kid-friendly attractions. There are a couple things we might like to see briefly on the strip (I have a kid who is dying to see M&M World, for example), so I was thinking for time efficiency we might like to be near the strip to see those things. Neither DH or I plan to gamble. It doesn't need to be a super cheap place, but I don't want to spend hundreds either. I've never been to Vegas so I have no personal experience to work from. I'm trying to figure out the most "family friendly" and fun option. I could definitely be talked out of being close to the strip. I asked a couple of friends where we should stay, and all I got out of them was "Not circus circus". Yet, when I google for "family friendly hotels in Vegas", that place is always on the list, so it makes me distrust those lists...LOL. So, Hive Travel Agent, where should we stay?

They turned out pretty well and my crew liked them. The 3.5 yr old was a bit iffy on it and essentially ate a bun and a few bites of meat...but there isn't much unusual about him eating like thst...LOL

My kids love it! My DD11 uses it a lot. I am hoping to incorporate the science skills more directly into our schooling next yesr, but I haven't quite decided on the best way to do that.

Cube steak sandwiches: The Marlboro Man sandwich from Pioneer Woman (some of the done in the "MM sandwich done the PW woman way" style). http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/01/the-mm-sandwich-pw-style/ I've never tried this before, but I got a great deal on cube steak the other day so I am going to give it a whirl.

Ok, I'll bite. :-) I wouldn't say we are "addicted" around here, but it's something everyone enjoys and is a frequent choice during screen time around here. My kids get some fun screen time most days-- about 30-60 minutes-- and they are pretty free to chose how to spend it (or to not do it at all, which is sometimes the case for DD -- she gets busier with other things she would rather do). Lately the younger boys have been picking Netflix cartoons more often than Minecraft. So, here are things we like about Minecraft: Open ended (not just "one thing" you have to do or one goal) You can fight "monsters" or not -- your choice based on settings There is always something new to create or discover (new worlds or new places you haven't visited) So many options to create things (buildings, circuits w/redstone, statues, etc) Co-operative play instead of competitive -- either opening to LAN within the house between different computers, or we also play on a friend's private server Even the little guy (age 3.5) can play on the iPad. With mods, even more possibilities and options (DS8 loves Pixelmon...a mod that turns minecraft in to a Pokemon game) It's just a game. I wouldn't say we've found it especially educational (maybe tangentially -- knowing how many blocks it will take to build a particular structure or problem solving to figure out why a redstone circuit doesn't work). The graphics aren't "supposed" to be good. That is what is kind of endearing about it to some people -- the challenge of how much you can create with just a bunch of blocks. I actually do prefer my kids playing minecraft over TV or some more "mindless" video games though in some ways, because it does use way more brain power to build things in minecraft than to just mindless shoot at aliens or veg out in front of a cartoon. I will say the PC version is way more full-featured than the pocket edition (for iPad, etc). It looks better and there is more to do. Here is why I like it personally and sometimes chose it for my evening "wind down and relax time." When I was growing up and playing Super Mario Brothers on the Nintendo (you know, that original grey Nintendo from the 80s). I liked the concept but always wished there wasn't just one path. And I wanted to go explore what was down those "other" tunnels -- not just the ones that led to the "right" place. Things got better as the game systems got better, but what I didn't like about all the video games I tried is that they were tied to following a pretty fixed path (even if maybe there were a few options on the way) -- no exploring, and you always had to fight the bad guys. Or some games were about creating but not exploring. Some games were a a little bit about exploring, but to complete one particular goal (like solving a puzzle). I always wanted a game where I could do whatever I wanted too -- maybe explore, maybe create, maybe fight a monster (uh, not that very often!) -- whatever I felt like that day. I didn't want someone else to dictate the goal. When I discovered Minecraft, I felt like someone had created the game I had been dreaming of since childhood. But I know that's not what everyone wants out of a video game -- some people love the challenge of finishing a game and completing a goal. Some people just want to challenge their skill on a puzzle or their skill of shooting aliens out of the sky. I like relaxing by building a new building, or exploring a cave, or setting out over the landscape looking for something new! Relaxing with any kind of video game is not everyone's cuppa, and that's cool too. I haven't played in a couple months, as I have been getting back into blogging more, reading a couple good books, and watching a lot of Dr. Who episodes. :coolgleamA:

Wow...it is really hard to think of movies without some aspect of either! What about "bad guys" dying? I was thinking about The Incredibles. I can't remember if the bad guy actually dies. Any amount of "romance" is just Mr. and Mrs. incredible and they're already married? Unless i am forgetting something. My kids like Turbo, Kung Fu Panda, and Madagascar (and sequels) a lot...I don't remember a lot of romance (except maybe a little bit of silly romance...not main story kind of romance) or major character death in either of those movies (maybe bad guys/minor characters die?)...but I have to admit sometimes I am not paying close attention to what is going on in movies like that as they aren't really my style.

Pre-paid phones are fine for no data...just making calls with a smart phone and accessing the internet on wi-fi. We've been really happy with T-mobile's prepaid options.

My 11 year old daughter now has a smart phone...but it is a pre-paid phone without cell data (it doesn't even work with the particular prepaid set up we have). She can get on the Internet on wifi, but her home internet use has proved very trustworthy, so I am not too concerned. I would have been fine with her having a non-smartphone...but all the "old" phones in our house that still work are now smartphones thanks to DH really liking to upgrade to nice phones. So other than a new SIM card and some minutes, it was "free" to give it to her. If she breaks it or loses it...well, a life experience and we have more old phones around the house. The next old phone may just not be quite as nice if it were to happen before DH upgrades again. We have no home phone any more and she is now old enough both to stay home alone, and is of accepted babysitting age in our state. Neighbors have already been asking her to babysit (which she will once she takes a class). Few people have home phones these days so I am sure these neighbors will expect her to show up with a phone if she is going to watch their kid. None of my kids have really ever run into any problems with their searches, as others have said. Searching for "cute summer crafts" and "Pokemon coloring pages" is pretty safe. :-)

We've found a few local resources already. Possibly a one day kids camp she might be able to attend, as well as the state archaeologist's website, archaeological society, etc. I have also found a few neat places to visit. The upcoming society meetings I saw on the schedule don't seem particularly kid-friendly (A lecture on native tobacco pipes found in our area, for example), but we're going to keep an eye on it to see what else they schedule.

My DD11 is really fascinated by Archaeology and wants to spend some time studying this topic. i would like to think it might happen this summer when we aren't doing our usual stuff, but the way things are looking with camps/classes, a stack of new fiction books, spending time at the pool and hanging out with friends, I am not banking on it. She's really interested in learning more about what archaeologists do, how they work, how they find sites and how do they study the items they find there. She likes reading about specific finds/sites, but we've been doing that at various points alongside our history studies already. If we don't get to it this summer, I am trying to figure out where in our schedule we would fit it in. I know it doesn't really matter what we "call" it, but for planning purposes and making sure we have a well rounded year, I am trying to figure out if this is more of a science study (looking at dating, excavating methods, search methods, etc) or more of a history/social sciences study (obviously studies of actual cultures/sites is more in line with history)...or enough of both that it really can't be classified as either. I feel like we have a full plate of history plans already for next year and more wiggle room in science...but I don't want to call this "Science" if it isn't really. Or maybe we would just take a few weeks off from both history and science to make room for this study. Any thoughts? Any interesting resources on archaeology to share?

Ok, I am glad this is a venting thread because I need to get this off my chest! It is a small thing, but I am tired of so many people I know posting all these articles about introverts like, "Here's how to treat Introverts" and "Here is why being a stay-at-home parent is so hard for me because I am an introvert." I am pretty extroverted. It makes me feel like they are saying "Treat me like the special snowflake I am because I am an introvert...all you extroverts can just manage life for yourselves." And that staying home with my kids must be so wonderful and refreshing for all the extroverts out there. Right, because it is so "refreshing" to have a kid try to argue with me about why 8x8 should really be 63 because that would make the world a place, and to listen to one DS whine because "my brother took the lego I wanted" and to hear my toddler yell "Give it to me!" five more times because I won't let him eat ice cream for lunch. Great, meaningful conversations. :huh: (And I do mostly love being home with my kids, but I am drained and need real, actual adult conversation to refresh the extroverted part of me at the end of many of my days, just as much as my introverted friends need their alone time at the end of the day to feel refreshed). Ok, I am sure I offended some introvert by posting this, but I just had to vent... :laugh:

It's driving me nuts that you can't combine the build-your-own with the pre-built for the buy-2-get-1. Or that there isn't an option for BYO that includes the mid-priced items but not the highest-price premium options. (I don't need any of the premium items but there is one mid-priced item I really want). They would get me to buy a $25 and a $19 plus a $12 one free if you could combine that way...as it is, I will probably settle for 2 $19s and a cheaper one free, and just go without a few things or buy directly from the publishers.

I have one child very interested in Latin, so we started in 2nd grade (and maybe spend about 10 minutes a day on it). I have another child not interested in Latin, who is dabbling in a modern language (but will also study greek/latin roots). Not sure what will happen with the younger two, but I am more interested in interest-led language learning. I will present to them the idea of learning Latin and if they want to do it, great. Otherwise they can work on a modern language. We are not putting a ton of time at this point into classical or modern languages. We just have other priorities.

My DS6 really enjoyed a Hip Hop dance class this semester. It was an all boys class and very active. Still moving to the music, but a bit more freedom to the dancing than what I think of when I think of the more traditional forms of dance. Maybe a another studio is offering hip hop? (My son got the idea when he saw a break dancing performance...that was all he needed to think that dancing might be really fun!)