Okay, I'm just now getting around to recording my audio tracks. Just to confirm, I read the rules, then dictate the words, right? A separate track has the words spelled out. There aren't any sentences using the spelling words or anything else I need to say, is there?

I don't have it, but I checked out the sample. It looked pretty meaty to me. The sample is available on the Pandia Press website.

I like the Time Timer linked above. We have the 8" model, but the Time Timer Plus looks awesome! My only gripes with the original Time Timer are the low volume of the ending tone and the delicate nature of the red overlay. It looks like the Time Timer Plus solves both those issues. I want one!

Yes, I did FFL1 with both my older kids at once, who were in 3rd and K at the time. My then three-year-old also participated in the oral parts (a toddler reciting "The Caterpillar" is just about the cutest thing ever, btw.) My kids enjoyed it, but it moves *very* slowly. I would just go straight to their usual grade level in FLL. The higher levels of FLL go over all the same material that is covered in 1 and 2, only more quickly. I would put a rising third grader into FLL3 and a rising fourth grader into FLL4, even if you think it is a weak area for them. There isn't that much writing, and the grammar goes pretty slowly. If you plan to do FLL through the summer into the school year, you will have more than enough time to do extra review as necessary. It probably won't be necessary, however, because review is built into the program. The only thing that might hold you back is if any of your students cannot read on grade level.

We usually only do the workbook reviews here. My kids and I have a deal that if they miss fewer than 1-3 answers, depending on the total number of problems, on the workbook review, they don't have to do the textbook practices or reviews. This usually means they pay better attention to their work, and we skip the textbook stuff. Ocassionally, they have an off day and have to do some of the review in the textbook, but it's rare.

I'm considering switching my oldest to Phonetic Zoo for spelling, but I'm having a hard time swallowing the price. It seems very expensive for a bunch of word lists, the zoo rule cards, a few pages of instructions, the lecture DVD, and audio CDs reading the lists. I'm wondering about the content of the audio CDs. Are the CDs really just simple audio tracks of the spelling lists being read? Is there much other content on the CDs? I've heard that the lists are read in two different voices, but, otherwise, is that it? If that's the main attraction of getting the CDs (rather than the economy version without the audio CDs), is there any reason I can't just dictate the lists using my phone or computer to record the audio? Recording my own audio would be fairly quick and painless, much cheaper, and would preserve the independent aspect of the program that so many appreciate. Am I missing out on anything else about the program if I get the economy version?

My oldest sometimes indicates she hates homeschooling. She mostly says this when she's upset about other things or is in conflict with me, so I don't think these statements are reflective of her whole attitude towards homeschooling. Having said that, I do think she will want to at least try school at some point. My issue is that public school is NOT an option for us, so the other option is private school. I want to make the best decision for her irrespective of financial considerations, but I know the prospect of a tuition bill in the thousands weighs on my mind. I also worry that if I send her, my other kids will clamor to go as well. Another issue is that I won't appreciate being tied down to the school schedule and all the school demands on my time while I'm still homeschooling my younger kids. I'm afraid I'm considering the school/homeschool question more from my point of view than hers, and I'm not sure how to get past that.

Thanks for replying. I don't mind the kids seeing each other's webcams, but the other information bothers me. I am interested to hear what others think. I'd like to e-mail the teacher soon, before the next class, to discuss the issue.

How much of your child's personal information is visible to other students in the classroom? My 10-year-old daughter is taking a class online this year. The class is run by an individual, independent teacher using conferencing software that allows the students to see each other's webcam videos. The kids all log into the class as guests, so there are no passwords or named accounts. The teacher has requested that each child sign in using their full names. He then asks them for their locations and ages. It is unlikely that anyone who is not supposed to be viewing the class would be, but I don't really like my daughter having to give her full name and location. I understand this is one way the teacher makes sure that only students who are supposed to be in a given class are. As long as I am supervising her, I am sure the risk in putting this information out there is relatively low, but it just seems like "Internet Safety 101" not to give out so much identifying information. The teacher already has all her information; I don't see why it needs to be confirmed each time. Would you be comfortable with this? Should I ask the teacher to set up some other kind of system, so that this is not necessary? Am I overreacting?

Just to give a little more information, I check their jobs and let them know where they may have missed some dirt. When they feel they are done, they ask me to check and I'll let them know, for example, that the table is a little sticky in a certain area or that there is still food on the floor by the wall or whatever.

My two oldest children, 10- and 7-year-old girls, are responsible to clean up the dining room after breakfast and dinner. One child wipes down the high chair, sweeps, and does any spot wiping/mopping necessary on the wood floor. The other child wipes down the coated tablecloth and does another small task of my choice (such as cleaning the candle tray, cleaning the dining room window, wiping food off the dining room walls, etc.). They switch duties at dinner, so each child does all the jobs once per day. I have high standards, meaning that I expect the table, high chair, and floor to be really clean to help us avoid issues with ants, etc. Is this age appropriate? My feeling is that these jobs are age appropriate, yet I feel the need to check, since I have no end of problems getting them to complete these chores. Even when they are generally obedient and/or when there are clear consequences for non-completion of these tasks, I still have major issues getting them to do these things.

I can't remember specific years of high school either. I remember reading the following sometime during high school: Heart of Darkness Jane Eyre The Odyssey Oedipus Rex Medea Wuthering Heights Romeo and Juliet The Scarlet Letter Hamlet Our Town I'm sure I forgetting many of the assigned books, but that's what I can remember at the moment.

Yes, I've nursed through four pregnancies now. At the beginning of my most recent pregnancy, I was still nursing two kids (then 3-year-old ds and 1-year-old dd). I eventually weaned ds a few days before his fourth birthday, but kept on nursing his younger sister. I guess you just have to keep an eye on your baby girl and make up the calories with more food, milk, or formula if you think she's not getting enough breastmilk. Will she take a bottle, if necessary? Eventually she'll get the hang of a cup and eat more food.

I like the Amazon gift certificate idea! We were just talking about Amazon at my last appointment, because apparently Amazon employee insurance covers homebirths one hundred percent. Amazon has everything, so it's perfect. It's not the most personal gift, but I'm not good at that anyway. I'd rather get something really practical than something personal that sits around collecting dust.

I would like to get gifts for my midwives. My primary midwife has attended me during two homebirths now, but she is closing her practice and moving overseas to do missionary work. I imagine she will probably be getting rid of many of her belongings in the process of the move, or at least putting them into storage and only taking those things that will be immediately useful in her new work. She has a partner midwife and an apprentice who also attended one of my births and were helpful to me. Her partner will probably also be moving soon after the practice closes, but not overseas or in another situation that would necessitate minimalism. I have no idea what to get them. Most gifts I've thought of would not be useful enough to deserve a portion of anyone's baggage allowance. I don't want to get food or restaurant gift certificates. I'm not coming up with any other options.