Well each year is definately different, and they are a Christian conference, but their website has a listing of speakers and topics and usually are good at describing the workshops. So some years have a more classical mix than others..I think they try to vary a bit year to year for those coming again & again...They also now have vender workshops which are put on by the vendors selling specific cirriculums..which maybe what the TOG one mentioned above was..That for me was good when I was exploring IEW because my questions were specifically about the cirriculum I was interested in and so were the answers. Each speaker comes from their own perspective and there is a variety..You can also buy Cd's of workshops missed if there are two back to back & you want to hear both...The vendor hall is the best in the New England area...I'm sure new York is much larger but I've been to NH,ME & the Ma Boxborough and nothing beats it......Usually there's conference specials & free shipping on anything not in stock...I am in NH and hate paying the sales tax...but if you want to get a hands on look..chances are it will be there....For me I recall seeing more & more Classical approach presented recently..but I haven't studied the upcoming workshops too well this year... J'Marie

JessicainMD..We haul books too.. we have a dining/school table tht we eat all three meals at...Yikes ..Don't get PB&J on your Math!!! or can we find room to eat dinner here? LOL

Thanks Jessica I love your timeline, and the shoe pocket for art supplies..I think maybe if I took my teacup collection down I could replace it with chapter books! That was a great use of space visable yet out of touch!! We use TOg too so it was great to see how you set up your stuff..Do you use primary lang lessons in place of the write source books? Thanks again you guys aregreat & fast at responding..I am envious of those with everything in one space... J'Marie

Thanks Jenny...the many books resemble my stash..we have 9 floor to ceiling book shelves..that need major weeding..but I store them downstairs in our "old" schoolroom.we find we school upstairs in the living/kitchen/dining area..thus my reason for seeking ideas on organizing..and integrating school/home/home/school...while maintianing some order..thanks again j'marie

Thanks Judomom..for the fast response. I love the yellow color & the clothes pin idea. BTW why do you love your copier so much? I have an HP I DO NOT like, and will be in the market for a new one soon..so I'd love to know your pros & cons....I am considering putting a white erase board up but "technically" it's my dinning area..so I am afraid to commit to it being permanantly installed. thanks J'Marie

Wow, Wendy if he is writing one paragraph/article completely/rewritten/corrected etc. that with the other writing sounds sufficient. We do one or two IEW articles and every so often more formal reports. My 5th grade dd loves to write and does alot of other nonassigned writing...but it sounds like that your doing a fair amount j'marie

My son (8yrs old0 is taking suzuki violin lessons, but would also love to fiddle. We drive over 40 miles for lessons..and frankly with baby seven coming..we can't afford the gas..Anybody have recommendations for dvds that we could use to continue his studies? It doesn't have to be Suzuki..but i think he needs the visual, not just a book..Thanks j'marie

Yes, this is great thanks. My son is just doing a coop class "the guts of it" all about the human body this will add to it, Thanks

I'd love to see some ideas for organizing my HS areas/room. Anyone have pitcures posted somewhere? My google searches haven't been too successful. thanks j'marie

I was a preschool teacher until I had my first child, then a SAHM as soon as I gave birth...then onto HS'ing ....now those first two seem like part-time jobs compared to being a HSM (Homeschool Mom) Yeah! 11 years "officially" hsing and atleast 19 more to go...wow! j'marie

We have both Josh and KQ for TOG..I like the Josh's becuase it's not cirriculum specific & I can use my copy machine which is cheaper per copy..the KQ I have to use the comp's printer.... j'marie

Gosh I have friends of varying ages, sometimes I realize i am closer to their childrens age than their or vs versa.... j'marie

I don't/won't expect my children to move out just because they hit a certian age or finish so much schooling. It is so wasteful (especially in New England, Nan:) to get your own place just because..why not save and (if like us) live on a modest income, be able to give your children such a blessing of saving so they can adviod living in debt. I know on crown.org they suggest having a grown child take over one certain bill, as their own bill. Of course if living with you enables your children to continue to be children and not be responsible, then in a sense you'd be disadvantaging them for the "real world". but if they are working, con't schooling, or helping in the home and being responsible not burdensome then this is like it use to be with extended families...oh those were the days..Plus in our family there is going to be atleast a 17 year spread between first & last.If my older ones rush out the door, their younger siblings will be like "strangers" not siblings...I think it's great. j'marie

Jean, what a blessing! That is definatelt a reason to celebrate...WOW J'marie

Has anyone used Notgrass EWH as a spine for a four year classical study? -Using it in the first half (two years or anyway) and if so how? and what has worked for you. Thanks

I agree its very comprehensive, but definately chronological. As I've compared all three (and a few others) there tends to be minor date differences where an author put someone before, someone else. Often due to preference,unknown dates or why they are putting them there...ex in the period there invention was made vs the year they were born. basically where the person/events biggest impact in history is, and that varies slightly with each cirriculum. definately learn to pick & choose with TOG..if you need to check everything off...you'll go crazy. Pick your favorites, or the stuffed geared lower your D's will miss at the R level. Then the next time around you'll have a chance to do what you missed..

We figured out driving 20 miles each way to our sons violin lessons costs more than the lessons themselves!

Our van costs about $100 to fill, and we only get 8-10miles per gallon..yikes we are hibernating this summer. Maybe we'll get to church. My husband is going to try to cycle(bike) to work. he likes to but we are in a slightly mountainous area for NH. j'marie

If you have no success with disposable liners. Try fleece ones they are good for "messies" because it rolls off easier when rinsing in the tiolet (or just plopping out). You can easily make them with any fleece fron JAf and cut to desired shape, we do an hour-glass shape. HTH J'marie

How well do the homedepot boards clean up? Do you find dry erase vs wet erase work better, and can you just erase it with a regular eraser(chalkboard type)? some of my real dry eraseboards are "fussy"? Thanks

Yes put them in water if they float they are bad, sinkers are good, shells are good but only if finely crushed,,if they get the taste for egg they'll start eating them... j'marie

Thanks Nan this is great I haven't read TWEM, only TWTM but I really need help with the socratic method. Thanks again j'marie

Yes the IEW goasl is that writing should not be a separtae subject it should be integrated, so as long as your not adding extra writing. better to get a 2 for 1 deal! j'marie

The TWSS in my opinion is definately worth it, it teaches so much more than the SWI (which we love but if budget is tight this is what I'd skip) Also Our TWSS came with some sample cd's for all three levels and they were basically the older SWI's..the video, was not as smooth transitionally, and clothes older..that's it. They must have updated the videos fixed a few kinks and now give copies of the old away with the TWSS. Your child can enjoy the adult ones too (mine do) He is a great teacher and fun for kids...It comes with a "dishwasher" moneyback garantee--return it if not satisfied even if you run it thru the dishwasher..they'll give you your money back.

Our geogrpahy is intergarted with our history, but we also have a cool free cd from Knowledge quest called Globalmania- learn geography in 7months it's internet linked & covers the continents etc...