[DD just got IDed for nonexistent GATE program - a little rant and a question]

I'm in CA too, and this doesn't surprise me! I'm glad to homeschool. I'm not sure they really care about challenging the kids nowdays. Its more like just getting them to go to school so they can keep the doors open kind of an education.

[BJU Math Elementary Math Users]

We are switching to bju this year from abeka(at least I think). I too was wondering how much of the teachers guide I would use. I haven't ordered the teachers guide yet since I have yet to find a used copy of the 3rd edition tg! It sure is expensive! DD will be doing 5th grade.

[Do you 'coach' your kids through testing?]

No I do not say a thing. Although sometimes I would like to when I know she knows something but I keep a straight face.

[When's your last day of school before summer break?]

We've been off for 2wks! loving it!! We will probably take off until mid july or beginning of august.

[Handwriting/letter formation programs...]

I liked abeka handwriting for K.. they have manuscript and cursive. DD did manuscript.

[CLE Algebra is here!]

very cool! We used CLE for 1st and 2nd grade. Interested to hear how it is for algebra!

[So.... what would you do?]

Don't do Abeka 4th Language. DD did abeka k-3 and we liked it but when it came to 4th it was soo much repetition! Plus they kinda threw all the rules out at once which made things confusing!This year we are switching to BJU 5th grade and we already received it and I love what I see! Not soo much review that dd will get overwhelmed. I love that it has alternating writing chapters.

[Typing program]

For younger kids my dd-7 has typing instructor for kids, she likes it but I would think older kids would be bored with it. Mavis beacon for the older kids is what I would use. We've never used the regular typing instructor.

[Weird non-food phobias]

COTTON BALLS!!!! Yuck.... every time I read that my skin crawls!,, I can't stand the feel of them.

[How fast is too fast?]

I let my DD who is 7 go at her own pace. Even if that means going way beyond grade level. She's been doing pre algebra and taught herself algebra to my amazement. She should hit algebra by 8 and I know she is more than ready since she showed me she can already figure it out. I'm just really working on cementing the basics first.

[How old were you when you first got married?]

I was 20! Its been 10yrs!

[At what age would you let your dd]

I agree with the others,as soon as it bothered her.

[Only because I haven't seen a thread with kilts...]

pics please..lol

[Look what I made this morning...]

very nice!

[What's the going rate for a small apartment where you live?]

here its about 750 a month for a one bedroom. No amenities.

[The Bubble known as our neighborhood has been popped]

how weird! It would freak me out a bit too.

[If you've ever been so sad/despondent/emotionally upset that you could not eat...]

hugs, I can't eat when stressed either. Its normal for some ppl. It will get better.

[I got checked out by a teenage boy!!!]

lol that happened to me a few weeks back. I'm 30. Except the kid made a remark.. I told my hubby I still have it...lol

[It's a little hard to be cranky when...]

just wait until she throws out her multiplication facts faster than you can think. Its kind of embarrasing for me..lol

[Tips for new homeschooling mom....]

We started out with abeka which is great for advanced learners. K-3 I loved abeka.Christian light education is good too.

[It's a little hard to be cranky when...]

lol that's how it goes. My DD is small for her age and ppl ask her if she knows her alphabet yet. She gives them the strangest look! Lol. Oh and if I ask her to add or subtract anything she gives me the whole this is so boring line. Even multiplication and division is too easy. These kids act like we ask them to torture them..lol..

[Um. I am a psychotherapist. And I have a job to prove it!]

congrats!

[Will these go stale? "Graduation" caps out of Reece's cups and choc squares]

Cute idea!

[Grammar help please]

We used cle and abeka so far. DD is pretty solid in her grammar from these. We are switching to bju next year because she needs more writing instruction. I have the abeka language A book DD did half but got bored because its so repetitive. Its good if you need lots of review.

[What grammar program do you LOVE for grades 1-4?]

i love abeka up until 3rd. We are switching to bju because abeka 4 looked really repetitive. I have bju writing and grammar for next year I'm already loving it! DD hasn't used it so I can't say how good it is.