We've been thinking about getting rid of our college student furniture and maybe put some in storage. We are going to have a relocation specialist so I'm sure we'll get more ideas about what we should bring. I need to look at a map and figure out where all the fun tourist stuff is. I'm so excited for the warm weather! It is supposed to snow here later today.

So my husband just accepted a job offer to work in Mexico City for a year, starting in January. We're very excited. I tried looking up homeschooling laws for Mexico and it sounds like we should be fine. DS's birthday is in November, so he'll be 5 most of the time we're there. I would love if anyone has ideas of what we should do to get ready and what fun things we should do while we're there.

My homeschooling blog is public and I try to avoid names, locations, etc. Our family blog is private. We still want people to read it so we also created a "blog feed" blog. Whenever we post something on our private blog, we also post on the public one just saying there's a new post today.

I am using RS A with my 4yo and we love it. He loves all the games and different activities. I like having everything planned out for me. You need to make copies occasionally. I ordered the starter kit and then got a few extra items I was interested in. I haven't used any of them yet, although I know the coins and the scale are used in a future lesson. I am thinking about getting an extra abacus though. That's enough rambling from me, HTH!

Thanks, that's kind of what I was thinking about the tapes. I don't know if our tape player is even working so we'll probably just skip those.

I found the box sets 3-5 (like this) at a library booksale. ($.10 each!!!) I can figure out what to do with the workbooks and readers, but am wondering how you use the flashcards and audio cassettes. Thanks!

I haven't seen this before. Thanks!!

You can also just get activities to go along with the abacus. http://activitiesforlearning.com/activitiesforalabacus.aspx HTH!

Since Mr. Darcy is winning, this seems like a totally accurate, useful poll to me.

:lol: I have a blog because I think it is fun and I like reading other blogs for ideas. I don't care if other posters have a blog or not though. I might remember a poster better from their siggy but it's not a requirement.

I'm referring to using ETC (the workbooks) as a phonics/reading program. I have seen some people say they use it as their phonics program, while others say they use it for only as a supplement, as it is not a complete program. That is a good point about being able to adapt the pace. We just recently began using ETC because I felt like DS needed more practice in some areas. We have used a lot of different things, including Progressive Phonics, an old set of McOmber phonics readers, Elizabeth's (from the board) concentration game, library books and other stuff I've found on the internet. I guess what I am wondering is what a boxed phonics curriculum has that I might not.

Bumping...of course, I love people agreeing with me, but I'd still love to hear from those who don't!

...what is it missing? I have seen this mentioned several times and am wondering what I am missing out on. I am actually using several other things in combination with ETC but I don't want to miss anything important/helpful.

I got to week 8 of the program this spring, but then I moved, and got sick. I still want to finish and do a 5K. It was tough, but I did it! I can run faster than my 4yo now without dying for breath :001_smile:

:iagree:

:iagree:I definitely think preparing to be a productive adult is the top priority. I did get my (incredibly marketable) BS in psychology before having kids, but haven't worked since. I do worry about that occasionally. Thanks for that source, Diana.

Diane, I'm also LDS and have always heard the divorce rate is higher than that. Do you have a source? I agree about the Mormons marrying young though :001_smile: I moved out and went to college at 17 (almost 18) and got married at 18 (almost 19). I think my parents did a good job preparing me to live on my own for the most part. I could do basic cooking, cleaning, and get along with people. I think it might have been nice to have more work experience. I didn't have a job in high school, but got a job in college. It would have been nice to have more practice with depositing paychecks, banking, etc. We've been married for 6 years now, and I think I picked a good husband :)

http://www.chasingcheerios.blogspot.com http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com

There was a thread kind of like this a while back: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294123 DS loves stuff like this too.

Thanks, maybe I will just order 4-6 and then tweak from there. DH will be excited for more curriculum, I'm sure. :)

I had been going through Progressive Phonics with DS pretty quickly until we got to long vowels and then I felt like he needed more practice. I ordered ETC Book 3 and DS has really liked it. Now I am trying to decide if I should follow Progressive Phonics in order and switch around the ETC books or the other way around. I think I remember reading that a lot of people skip book 4 and then do that one at the end, but does it matter if you do the other books out of order?

:iagree: Another vote for Oxo!

Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians series by Brandon Sanderson

I just got a rotary one. It works fairly well, but it's just not as satisfying as the guillotine cutters! I'm not sure how it will do with cutting through multiple sheets. I would have liked a guillotine one, but DH was worried about the kids.

Yay for boxes!:hurray: