I am using Town with my 5th grader this year, our first year using MCT. I agree that you don't want to skip CE1 before studying CE2. The poetry is too advanced for us at the Town level, so I am going backwards and will use the Island's Poetry book with both my 3rd and 5th grader. Right now all poetry has been put to the side, but when I pick it back up I plan to accelerate through Music of the Hemispheres and Building Poetry in one year. We are moving up to the next MCT level in the rest of the books, so I hope we will eventually catch up the poetry portion.

I have the same problem with my 11yo dd. Justise's pants fit ok on her. I had a friend recommend buying junior's size 00 instead of girl's 12's. Justise's pants have skinny legs but a bubble bottom. I have not tried the 00's yet.

BTW, how do you post something with the original poster's name in it? I have only figured out how to quote someone (copy/paste), not attribute the quote to them.

Mine do have chores - chickens, dogs, cats; clean glass on back doors; sweep; dust; vacuum; pick up their bathroom, bedroom, and playroom. I don't let them mess with cleaning chemicals yet and if they mopped, I would have to replace my flooring regularly. :001_huh: That would be REALLY DEEP cleaning! :) And also part of our spring cleaning routine. This is so TOTALLY me! I have to have the "pity party" or "venting session" and then go on with what I needed to do in the first place. And after subbing today, although my bathrooms are still pretty clean from last night, I now have stuff out in EVERY room. And more work to grade. And a few lessons to teach (or save until Monday since Monday starts ps's spring break.) And... :glare: MIL is not going to judge my house, although her cleanliness standards are much higher than mine. Thanks for the responses!

My dh does a bit more in the house, but less outside. Housework NEVER ends. :glare:

We are neighbors! :) I can't handle the mess. I had to throw a pity party. Then, after dinner hit my brain, my dds and I quickly cleaned the house. I can't handle dust and dog hair! Plus, the picking up part was already done. It's not perfect. I will save perfection until next week when MIL's visit is closer. I was called into sub tomorrow, so I could not let the house even sit until tomorrow. Sat is yard work and Sunday prep day. So... off to grade school work, prep for tomorrow's lessons, pack lunch, etc... Even spring break won't be a break - ps spring break, I will still be hs; hs spring break I will hopefully be subbing. Can't let them coincide because of MIL's visit and fair. When is summer? Ugh. Thanks for all the responses - esp the ones letting me off the hook!

SheldonAll day everyday. I am cleaning up, picking up, wiping up, putting up and washing up nearly all day long. I do that, too - picking up CONSTANTLY! But not scrubbing toilets and floors. I have tried this approach, but there is something to say about having everything clean at once. Usually my family helps, too, but we now have a commitment (that I am currently skipping out on) on Thursday nights. I have something everyday/evening except Sat and Mon, and Mondays are for catching up from the weekend. Sat is for yard work, paperwork, etc. Dh is a pastor, and it seems like we NEVER get a day off. Plus, going to Walmart is a 40 min drive one way, so running errands takes half a day. You are a wonderful person! Thank you! :)

There are 42 chapters in STOW 3 and 42 tests. Usually, there are only 36 weeks in a school year. If you use the tests, do you use all of them? How do you schedule them? How do you compensate for the extra 6 chapters? I am currently using the tests and book with my 5th grade dd. I usually double up 6 times a year and allow for open book tests. I did that last year with STOW 2, too. This year (2012) has had some major challenges in it for my family. I am having to back off on some things to find some "down" time. I want to finish STOW 3 this year, so we can move on to STOW 4 next year. I have thought about backing off on the testing and just letting her listen to the STOW 3 cds, read pages from UBWH and KWH, and complete the mapwork. We are on Ch. 32, so I would not be testing the last 10 chapters. BTW, I am not in a state where I have to report grades. Thanks!

This is my first time trying to post a poll, so I hope it works! My desire for answers to this poll is serious. I currently clean my house weekly - dusting, mopping, scrubbing bathrooms and kitchen with bleach, etc. every Thursday every week. My plate is overly filled right now, and I need to let some things "go." Is it necessary to deeply clean a house every week, or is a little less often fine? Basically... I think I just want to permission to let the dirt sit in my house for a little while and clean it next week - just in time for MIL's visit and Easter. Thanks!

I second Republic of Tea! Cinnamon Cardamon Ginger Peach Peppermint Ginseng Just order their catalog, and they will send you a sample every month.

Has anyone used this new program from rfwp? Do you like it? What ages are your dc that are using it? How are the Art Practice Pads? My dds have completed half-way through Atelier 4. Do you think they would be ready for this program?

Closetmaid Cubeicals are similar to IKEA's Expedit shelves. The shelves are great because I have my books separated by subject, year, SL cores, reference materials and current year's extra stuff. I also use milk crates - one for each dd's books and another one for teacher's manuals. I bought a 9-drawer buffet at a yard sale. It holds all of our art supplies. Our science supplies are in a plastic 7-drawer tower. I have two filing cabinets for paper work and extra materials. I use a color system for subjects. Since I only have 2 dd's, I don't have to worry about whose work is whose. Blue is for all LA, turquoise for Spelling, green for science, purple for history, red for latin, pink for handwriting, yellow for math, black for MCT's stuff. Completed work goes in a corresponding 3-ring binder. Their names are on the outside of their binders. I bought plastic divided buckets from the dollar store for pencils, erasers, etc. Each dd has a basket from Hobby Lobby for extra papers that only they need. From these forums, I found the idea of separating loose schoolwork/tests/quizzes in hanging files kept in a milkcrate. I love that! I can also store flashcards and timeline figures in the files. I am like you; you my schoolroom has to be neat, or I can't function! :001_smile:

I get stomach aches, too. I used to be able to eat them cooked, but not anymore. I do think, though, your reaction was extreme. Maybe you caught something else. My stomach aches only last for a day.

Does anyone know where I can buy the student practice books from Evan Moor for their "Daily" series besides the Evan Moor website and Rainbow Resource. Rainbow Resource has had them in the past, but they now say they are unavailable. I am really hoping for a better deal than paying full price from EM's site. Thanks!

I would like more information, too. Are you answering questions online, or actually talking to the students via something like Skype. Can you answer questions anytime you have available free time, or only during preset hours. For example, say I had not prearranged to be available on Monday evening at all, but my plans were cancelled and I am now free. Can I log in and tutor?

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I do these things all the time! I have actually wondered if I have a brain tumor! I have been through culture shock a few too many times, have kids, live with constant stress (mostly self-induced), and probably have ADD. I figure with that combo my brain is mush. :001_smile: I am forever mixing up the pieces of furniture. Blah! Oh, and I will make a statement and then completely forget what I just said. Yikes!

This. http://www.amazon.com/Unscented-Beeswax-Moisturizer-1oz-jar/dp/B002PDI8FO/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1325310170&sr=1-4 I used to live in AK with a very drying woodstove. You use this stuff at night. It is too heavy to use during the day, but the effects will last all day. I put cotton gloves over it, too.

I am in the market for some clothes for a few ps kids. Normally, I would buy Lands End, Children's Place, or Gymboree for my own (and only on clearance). Since we are hsers, I am not "in" with what is fashionable at school. Is Old Navy still ok? I don't want to buy A&F. The kids range in age from 5 - 12, girls and boys. I can't ask the parents for help. Any suggestions?

Classroom Direct is offering free shipping - any size order. Usually you have to spend $50 to get free shipping, but not now through Friday. I order a lot of art and office supplies through them. They have reams of handwriting paper and graph paper. If you use Atelier art, they have powdered tempera paint for level 4.

Did you anyone on here order something from Pampered Chef through a Cyber Monday online party with an independent consultant whose initials are TF? I am having trouble with this situation, but I don't want to tell the whole story on here unless someone else is having trouble, too. I would hate to ruin a person's reputation by my impatience/frustration. Please PM me if you are possibly dealing with the same person.

Thank you! I got it! I think it will be perfect! She loves to cook, and I have been invited to a couple of Thanksgiving dinners at their house. Thank you for the other ideas, too. I will keep them in mind for future anniversaries!

Republic of Tea: Ginger Peach Black Tea - my new love since Cyber Monday Cardamon Cinnamon Tea Ginseng Peppermint tea Request a catalog at www.republicoftea.com. They have been sending samples with their catalogs for the past year.

Thanks! I will look for the lasanga/salad set. He doesn't wear suits, so a tie tack would be wasted on him. Thanks for the ideas, though.

:bigear:

Today is 82 out of 180. If the next two weeks go well, we will finish half of almost everything. Yay!