My 14 year old daughter started at 12 playing trumpet with braces. It never bothered her. She just got them off about six months to find that her embouchure is developed incorrectly. But she never complained about pain.

We just decided these would start off our summer readings. One of the wonderful things about reading aloud to the kids is being able to talk about things on their levels and adjusting what we read (skipping over parts, using different language when needed, putting in clarifications), yet they get to hear the language and story in its original form. I think in general the stories have been "tamed," but the lessons and beauty in them also have been neutralized.

I'm generally all for doing as much as possible as a family, but my oldest doesn't appreciate the rest of us "hi-jacking" his scripture study. So we have "Gospel Study" with the younger ones during school hours, have family scripture study in the evening and encourage the older ones to do their own scripture study.

My older daughter began reading through those when she was 8 and read as fast as I could manage to get them for her. Like has been mentioned, they aren't great literature, but the historical settings are well-incorporated. With the older books, we were able to go through the supplemental books along with the readers which better helped create the world in which the girls lived and able to further discuss some of the issues that arose in those eras. However, my younger daughter, now 11, tried reading them but still has no interest whatsoever in trying again.

My older daughter began reading through those when she was 8 and read as fast as I could manage to get them for her. Like has been mentioned, they aren't great literature, but the historical settings are well-incorporated. With the older books, we were able to go through the supplemental books along with the readers which better helped create the world in which the girls lived and able to further discuss some of the issues that arose in those eras. However, my younger daughter, now 11, tried reading them but still has no interest whatsoever in trying again.

My dd11 has had Julie for 3 years now. She doesn't play with her a lot, but we haven't had any issues with the hair or anything like that, if that's what you're wondering.

I have a David Enoch and a John, which are known, but we've never run into other children with these names. I really wanted to name our third son Josiah, but it didn't fit.

chicken w/eggs and rice spaghetti cheesy potato chowder tacos homemade pizza

chicken w/eggs and rice spaghetti cheesy potato chowder tacos homemade pizza

Hi, Mabel! Welcome! I am impressed that you have decided to help your son through homeschool. I don't know if I can help you or not, but my mother is Chinese and I have had Chinese exchange students, so I understand a little about your struggles. The advice I would give to a friend in the United States would be very different in that I would say let him not do anything for a while and regain his love of learning and his natural curiosity. There are many options for participating in sports, scouts, theater or many other things. I do not think it is so easy for you in China to do that. Perhaps you can give him have smaller assignments and then let him play or have a project of something that he wants to do (woodworking, origami, music). As he begins to be more in control of himself, you can increase his responsibilities gradually and I think he will begin to perform better in school. The Chinese are hard workers and competition can be fierce, but I think that it can be overwhelming to some children. Fortunately, he has you to watch out for him and help him get his feet back under him. I think this will help him be successful more than in any other way. Warm regards, Elaine

The ward I'm in now has relaxed over the last year or so making it okay for FB or a txt to "count." In the past, I've explained my situation and invited my visiting "teachees" to my house. In other wards, we've exchanged babysitting while other moms go. It does throw a loop in the whole homeschooling thing, but I've tried to take the attitude that I want my kids to see that it's so important that we would interrupt school to do it.

Thanks! My Ds16 needs to read some books in European languages for his European Language and Culture Club at school. This site is perfect!

Thanks! I don't know where else you could find coloring pages of French historical figures!

The thing that I've most consistently used with all my kids is the Gospel Art Kit. We just do a picture a day. Either I tell the story in my own words or read from the back of the picture. Then I have my child narrate it and we hang it up in one of those nifty changeable frames from Church Distribution. We've also used scripture readers. I also have a Bible Stories book (non-LDS) from when I was a kid that I use. I have to skip or adjust some ideas to match my own beliefs, but I like that it goes through every book of the Old Testament; I've learned tons. Occasionally, I'll do a lesson from one of the Primary manuals. If you can find them, there's also "Teaching from the Scripture Readers" and "Teaching the Topics" that are no longer published, but can often be found in ward libraries (and checked out in most cases).

Thanks! I'll let you know what I decide on.