Do any of you utilize graphic novels in your homeschooling? We are doing a world lit class next year, and there are some pretty intimidating (length-wise) novels on the list. I was thinking about using The Complete Don Quixote which is a graphic novel of the classic. It has gotten some pretty decent reviews, and I thought the different format might be a nice change of pace. Here is a link to the book I am looking at... http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15842699-the-complete-don-quixote Has anyone used this? Thoughts? Thanks, :) Beachy

Enjoy your time in CC. It really can be a great program, and the community aspect, for parents as well as the children, has been a life line at times. It was so nice to be able to share in our victories and our struggles. There is nothing wrong with making CC your spine. You do need to use a good math program though. Also, I did not emphasize the 1st semester math memory work. I don't like skip counting because I feel it stalled both of my girls, so we worked on our multiplication tables instead. SOTW is a great resource, and some wonderful mom has, I'm sure, already posted chapters to match each week. In fact, I'm certain you can also find science resources on CC Connected as well. However, if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't worry so much about that. We would read it for sure, but I would also spend more time on copy work. Instead of memorizing Latin declensions and conjugations, I would've done a more rounded latin program. I would've done more copy work, and focused more on memorizing great poems and speeches. I would've started a literature program earlier than I did. Essentials is a wonderful program, but I wouldn't have waited until then to start a formal study of grammar. Truly, enjoy your time in CC. We did. The criticisms here though are legit. I always said I would take homeschooling one year at a time, and that was a mistake. It can be easy to simply trust that CC has done all the leg work. To believe that as long as you follow the program everything will be okay. For some, that is the case. It wasn't for us though. One other thing I would do differently is not wait until the summer before my daughter's 9th grade year to research what credits colleges are expecting their incoming freshmen to have. I feel as though she is playing catch-up. Fortunately, she is a bright girl, and I know she'll be fine, and I am thankful for the opportunity to better prepare my younger daughter who does tend to struggle. Good luck to you in this new adventure. Cycle 3 is a lot of fun. :) Beachy

Hard isn't bad. Its just hard. :) Beachy

I'm using OneNote on my Mac as well. In fact, I have put it on all our Macs. So far, so good. There are some things I can't do or I should say can't figure out. I am not computer savvy. Many of the tutorials I see show different screens, prompts, etc. For example, I don't see my different notebooks down the left side of my screen. They are in a drop down menu on the top left. I also don't get the drawing tool that I see on the tutorials, so I can't draw on my notes. Things like that. Again though, some of this may be user error. Even with my lack of computer skills though, I have been able to make schedules and check lists, link online resources, etc. I am also currently in my free trial period with Olly, but I really haven't even gone back to it since I got OneNote up and running. Good luck, :) Beachy

This was my oldest daughter's tutor as well. Unfortunately, the tutor's way of organization really did not work for my dd. Her Challenge B tutor left it up to the students, so we went with a different notebook for each subject instead of one big binder. Anyway, each tutor is different, so you may want to ask first. :) Beachy

My oldest is beginning high school, and we have decided to do Physics first. After talking with a scientist and a couple of doctor friends, this makes sense. My doctor friend said that chemistry and biology will both be much richer with a better understanding of physics. In fact, they also did the physics first tract with their own children. Like Mike mentioned, too much emphasis on math just drowns out the science. :) Beachy

Someone posted this link on another board... https://www.tenmarks.com Your child would first do an assessment, and it then goes from there. There are videos to watch if you get stuck, and it is free during the summer. Our entire family is using it to shore up our math skills before moving on. :) Beachy

I could have written this post. I have 2. My oldest has always loved to read. In fact, we had to make a rule that she was not allowed to walk and read at the same time. She would get so caught up in the book that she'd walk right into the wall. My youngest ...... the complete opposite. Her mantra is "Books rot the brain." Same parents. Same environment. Same routine. One loves books and one simply doesn't. :) Beachy

Kelly, I'm going to use EiL for my oldest (9th). However, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my youngest (7th). I'm intrigued by your post because it sounds like what you did would work for us. However, I must be really tired or something because I can't, for the life of me, figure out what LL7 and LL8 stands for. I quick search doesn't help and they aren't on the abbreviations page. So.... what is LL? I think I need to look into it. :) Thanks, :) Beachy

I know several tutors who tutor in lieu of paying tuition. Of course, depending on the size of your community, number of children you have in the program, etc, it may not cover the entire amount. In that case, tutors simply made up the difference. I think it is up to each individual director though. Yes, tutors get 60% of tuition costs, but the class sizes are averaged. In other words, a tutor with a class of 4 will be paid the same as a tutor with a class of 8. At least it is averaged at our community. We love CC. However, as my students have gotten older, I have longed for a 2 day program. I wish CC would consider something like that. We love the CC materials and have used them over and over, so that cost doesn't bather me as much. :) Beachy

You're right. Paleo has started to emcompass so many things. I have friends who say they are Paleo plus dairy, so I sometimes forget that strict paleo does not include dairy. I was focused more on the low carb part. Sorry. :) Beachy

Probably too late now, but next time you can make some oopsie bread.... http://caloriecount.about.com/oopsie-bread-12-recipe-r197782

We're in Brevard County, and yes, FLVS is great. As a previous poster said, you can pick and choose which classes to take, so it is virtual school a la cart. Many students enrolled in the regular public schools will even take classes through FLVS on top of their regular classwork. There is also the K-12 program that is now called FLVS FT (full time). It used to be called Connections Academy. In order to enroll in it, your student must have been enrolled for a full year in a Florida public school -- at least that was the rule a couple of years ago. http://www.connectionsacademy.com/florida-virtual-school/home.aspx About the specific schools you mentioned....... I am not familiar with them and will ask a few friends. I'm beachside, and our schools are very good. The schools in Vierra/Suntree area are generally thought of as good schools. The others around Melbourne itself are hit or miss. Another group to check out is the Yahoo group... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brevardhomeschool/ Good luck. I am happy to answer any questions I can. :) Beachy

LSU should be proud of the game they played tonight. I know I am proud to be a Tiger!! I will say though...... I love Les Miles and I'm glad he played an aggressive game (until that final drive anyway), but I really didn't understand some of his calls. :) Beachy

I've currently lost a little more than the weight of the average 2 yo, so I guess maybe a largish 2 yo. LOL!! Anyway, when it is all said and done, I hope to be down a little more than the World's Largest Ball of Tape. I'm eating LCHF, btw. :) Beachy

My girls love their AG dolls. They have held up very well. My youngest (10) is a huge AG fan. She brings one of her dolls on all our trips and even to church every week. (A friend who attends also brings her doll.) She uses her dolls to make stop motion videos and uploads them to YouTube. She is not really one to take care of her toys, but the AG dolls are different. She takes exceptional care of them. QVC has had some pretty good deals the past few years for Christmas. They probably will again. :) Beachy

It is not a big deal here. Dh travels for a living, so he is often gone anyway. It means we seldom celebrate on the actual day anyway. Dh did miss one of the girls' birthdays because he went on a golfing trip with some friends. He doesn't get to do that much (twice in the 17 years we've been married), so I was happy he had the chance to go. Truth is right now I don't remember which birthday or which dd was celebrating. :) Beachy

I used to coupon quite a bit. However, our lifestyle has since changed, and I just don't find the savings worth the effort anymore. The cost of the Sunday paper is outrageous now, and I don't want to order the coupons I need. I also don't want to spend the time surfing the web and printing coupons either. Occassionally, I will, but not on a regular basis. Mainly though, like others have said, we no longer eat those foods -- at least not on a regular basis. Certainly not enough to stock pile them. Also, a few years ago I went on a big decluttering kick. I donated most of my stock pile, and I loved having roomy closets and nothing under the bed. Seriously, I felt like I had so much stuff that I couldn't find anything when I needed/wanted it, and would often have to go out and buy it anyway. Ugh!! Nothing like hoarders, but too much for me. Also, this may sound strange, but I really felt in my heart that God was wanting to show me that He would provide for the family. I was really stressing and finding it difficult to "let go" in case we needed it one day. It was a real lesson for me, and gave me peace to get rid of our excess stuff. (Not to say that it is wrong to stockpile to excess. It was just wrong for ME to do it.) :) Beachy

I have been LCHF for almost 3 months, so that means I have had no grains or sugars (even natural ones like honey and fruit). I am down over 25 lbs. Now, I have had some planned cheats -- birthdays and family trips, but have gotten right back on track. It has been very easy and even enjoyable. Personally, I stopped sugar and grains cold turkey. I had terrible headaches and withdrawals for 3 or 4 days. By the end of the week, I was feeling great. I will start adding in carbs and sugars as I get closer to goal, but I will start with veggie-based carbs and sugars from fruit and honey. I don't know if grains will ever be part of my regular diet again, and I know refined white sugar will be a "blue moon" type food. Good luck to you whichever approach you decide to take. Oh, BTW, I did the clean eating thing. I made my own protein bars, and did whole grains, brown rice, fruit, etc, and I ended up at my highest all time weight. I continued it because I was eating so clean and healthy that I was sure the weight would start coming off soon. It never did. For me and my n=1 experiment, grains are not my friend. :) Beachy

I haven't read all the responses, so forgive me if I'm just repeating what others have already said. OP, I can say that I am genuinely thrilled with the advances we have made in the diagnosing and treatment of breast cancer. I also know that many of those advances were made because of the heavy push of this pink ribbon campaign. However, I wish other types of cancer also got the same attention. I am a 20+ year cancer survivor (non-Hodgkins lymphoma). My mom, however, battled lymphoma for 8 years before passing away. We were diagnosed within about 6 months of each other. At the time, lymphoma was considered a non-heriditary, male cancer. Just shows there is a lot to still be discovered about other cancers, too. :) Beachy

Wasn't he also the one mainly responsible for the bad investments that caused her to lose most of her tv earnings? Anyway, I just saw the clip of her on Survivor, and now I feel old. She is saying how she plans to down play the fact that she was on a tv show. She feels they will all assume she has money and that would make her a target. That struck me as funny that she can hide that, but I guess all those younger people wouldn't know her from that or that she does national speaking tours, is an author, etc. :) Beachy

My dh has always watched the kids to let me get out of the house. However, he was always reluctant to take them somewhere and leave me at home. He told me once that it was because of the bathroom situation. With 2 girls, he wasn't comfortable letting them go into a restroom alone or with bringing them into the men's room. Now that they are older he does bring them with him if he is going somewhere -- not all the time, but certainly more than before. :) Beachy

Well, here in Florida, I'm sure it is because children die every year from being left in a car. While the majority of those cases are accidents, some have been from parents running in to a store to get something "real quick" and real quick turns into much longer. I know I have gone into a store to get something and have seen a sleeping baby in a car, and unfortunately, that same car (with baby locked inside) is still there when I come out. :) Beachy

My dh is a pilot, so travel just comes with the job. He is gone, on average, 3 or 4 nights a week. He was a pilot when we met, and this has just been our "normal." 1. It isn't difficult at all really. It is just different. The girls have grown up knowing that he is gone part of the week. They know there are times when he won't be home for a birthday or a holiday, so we just celebrate it when he can be home. They really don't mind, and I have pointed out that even their friends often celebrate their birthdays on a weekend even if the actual date is during the week. Other than though, no problems. 2. I'm thinking this question may not apply to us. As a pilot, travel just comes with the job. In order for him to stay home, he would have to quit doing a job he loves and is good at. I don't know under what circumstances we wouldn't consider it. 3. Yes. It is what enables me to stay home and homeschool the girls, and that is something that is important to us. 4. Again, maybe because it is just how we live, it isn't a big deal. He calls often if he is in the country. Not as often if he isn't. We live out lives though. In fact, he likes when we head over to Disney or SeaWorld when he is on a trip because it means he doesn't have to go. LOL!! 5. We are Christians, but I don't understand what our faith has to do with my husband's job. If anything, our faith makes it easier. I know that he is in God's hands and that no matter what happens, we will all be taken care of. I also know my dh is faced with great temptations while he is away, but he made a commitment to me and to God to be faithful. I think it is his faith that enables him to keep that commitment. 6. Basically, we have 2 routines -- one when dh is home and one when he is not. Truth is... we tend to get more accomplished when he is gone. When he is home, we slack up on the school work to go do whatever it is he wants to do. (He is not a homebody and likes to go...) There are times when I've had to make the decision to call a plumber or something eventhough it is something he probably would've been able to fix if he were home. That stuff just comes with the territory. It is hard if one of the kids is sick or if I'm sick, but in those times, I really gain respect and admiration for those women who are raising children all by themselves for whatever reason. That has made me much more compassionate and able to put myself in others' shoes. He also respects and admires my independent streak. He trusts me to make decisions that are best for our family when he is unable to be reached. I get that it may not be ideal for everyone, but it works great for us. :) Beachy

My daughter and I started taking Ishin ryu this past summer, and we are both enjoying it. It is more defensive than anything, and it is close contact. As others have said though, I think visiting several different dojos and getting a feel for the art and the instructors is a really good idea. :) Beachy