Hi, I am debating about teaching the 5th/6th grade Language Arts class next school year for my son's co-op. The co-op class would meet three times a week for 1 hour each time. Currently, I am looking around at all the curriculums, but have no idea what would work best. Any suggestions? Thanks, Mommieeeee

My family belongs to a large co-op. We have chosen to go with Teaching Textbooks this year. We do not use the CD's we just use the textbooks. This past weekend the group of moms got together for a co-op meeting. There seems to be the group consensus that Teaching Textbooks is not up to the level that other textbooks are. The Algebra 2 teacher (parent) said that she feels that the book is more on the level of Algebra 1. I am the pre-algebra teacher and I feel that at times it moves too slowly. I can fully teach the lesson in about 5 minutes and the kids get it. Another complaint/concern was that there was not enough problems given for the lesson that was being taught. That the problem sets were review of the past lessons, and often too easy. My daughter is completing Teaching Textbooks 7 and has asked to do Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra over the summer so that she can join the Algebra class in September. I think that she can do the TT7 over the summer. As the teacher and knowing her capabilities, it should be a piece of cake. All this being said is this the views that you hold about Teaching Textbooks? We are thinking of changing curriculums for Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2. What are your suggestions? Throw them all out there. I need to research good math programs so that we can change next year. Any help and suggestions is much appreciated.

San Francisco Bay Area, East Bay specifically. Lots to do here, but don't love all the people (its a little crowded for me).

Was it recipematcher.com ? When I hit the link for recipematch.com it came up as a blog. I am interested in this site too. I love the idea of new recipes using things we have already! :)

Ours is $20 per child up to 3 children and then $15 per child thereafter. Our county charges each child, for insurance, registration, etc. $12 a child. We provide the record book cover and some other minor things. We get a little extra for the rental of the building we use, the little things like copies, mailing, etc. In addition each project lets you know what the fee will be, if any, will be charged when you sign up. For example an art project was $10 a year. I teach a recycling project where we recycle things and make art/useful things that is free. HTH, Mommieeeee

We have one on our kitchen table. I covered it with a clear table cloth. Because of the clear plastic (to protect the map) it is easier to wipe off the table. I killed two birds with one stone. Lunch and dinner time is really fun. We sometimes trade seats so that we can look at other parts of the "world."

Yes! Both of my kids like to lean on the chair that I am sitting on to look over my shoulder. It drives me absolutely crazy! It has now become one of my pet peeves!

I am the director. We are using Group's PowerLab. Our VBS is getting so large that I like that Group makes it a little easier on the planner (me!).

Yes, please do tell where to get dough enhancer. Also, what the heck is it? I know that you don't put it on the dough to make it look pretty...

I have made the realization that for my family's health, I need to make more things from scratch. I am in the process of trying some bread from the book that PlaidDad recommended, Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a Day. Of course, I used whole wheat flour, as that is all my dh can have, so it came out a little doughy. Every time I make bread and used whole wheat flour, it never comes out right. I SO want this to work. Can anyone hold my hand and direct me through Whole Wheat Bread Baking 101?

My response for nights such as that was "Wow, the tooth fairy tried to get in your room, but it was messy and she couldn't get through. You know that the tooth fairy doesn't come to messy rooms!" Luckily (in this situation) my ds room is messy more often than not, so it always worked. So, I would get a cleaned room, along with a days delay for me. See, messy rooms do benefit mom!

I let them choose. I figure it is hair and it can be cut. In my kids case, usually 2 weeks later as it grows so fast. I let my son wear a mohawk for about 6 months, last year when he was 8/9 years old. He loved the attention that it brought him. Not negative attention, but "Wow!" At 10, I would let him choose.

One more question, Does this book have lots of pictures? When it comes to cooking and baking, especially bread, I need pictures! I am very much a visual learner, then kinesthetic...

How funny! Actually I had a WTB and you responded and I purchased from you. You were the only one who had what I needed it seemed. I understand your frustration. The same thing happened to me before too. I do PM or email also (which is what you did for me). I figure that I will pass the item along to someone else if they don't respond.

It says that you can make a weeks dough and store it in the refrigerator and then just pull out what you need and bake. Have you tried this yet? I would be really interested in this book if someone I knew tried this and it worked. I looked at the link and read the excerpts. But, I can't figure out if it allows you to use wheat flour or not. Can you tell me if it does? Or are the recipes white flour specific? (I just don't like how all bread recipes taste when they are made for white flour and wheat flour is substituted.) Looks like a great book!

I actually ask my kiddos what grade they want to be in that day. Actually, it is in relation to what the activity is and where they are comfortable. My dd was not yet ready for youth group at age 11. According to her age, she would be in the 6th grade. So, I told her for that purpose she was in the 5th grade, so that she would go to the younger class, where she was more comfortable. Last year, when she was the "6th" grade, she was doing a 7th grade math book, so she was telling people she was in the 7th grade. Whatever, I don't really care. She can tell people that she is in the 12th grade. That would be great. I love seeing the reaction of people. A 12 year old in the 12th grade. You just gave me an idea...

You are exactly right! I guess that this was one of the ones that has flown in under the radar, but not purposefully. I thought that it was strange, but now I guess that it isn't. I typically look at how many posts a person has when I look at something a person has to sell. I truly appreciate this system!

I cut and paste the heading at the top of the For Sale Boards: (Paragraph below) For Sale If you're looking to SELL something, post your items here. NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE 50 POSTS IN ORDER TO LIST ITEMS FOR SALE. NO DEALER POSTS. I guess that if you haven't seen it, then others may not be also. This particular poster has posted this for sale within the last week. I know it has been in affect because I saw it when I first joined these boards a few months ago.

I shopping on the for sale board and saw a poster who had 11 posts. I have grown to really appreciate that every poster who posts will have at least 50 posts, so that the person will know who the poster is and we can learn that they are not here just to sell. In fact, I don't even really look on other boards now because I truly appreciate that fact. It is posted very clearly on the top of the page that 50 posts are necessary in order to post on the for sale board. I automatically thought that the boards would block the poster if they didn't have 50 posts. If the board did not block them I guess that I would hope that the the person would not post because that is what the "rules" are. I guess that I am just a rule follower. Am I being ridiculous? Go ahead and tell me. Should I say something?

My response exactly!

You are either going to the shotgun range or singing... hmmmmm

We are going to Portland/Tigard for my nephew's wedding in mid July. We will be staying for approximately 4 days. Can anyone give me fun, educational things to do in the area? We don't mind traveling up to 30 miles away from the area. We will be traveling with my mother and father-in-law, so we don't want things that are too babyish or things that take all day (such as a theme park). Any suggestions are welcome and helpful. :bigear: Thanks!

No, I don't think so. Hopefully someone else will outbid you. If you don't pay, I think that you get negative feedback and you get a certain amount of bad strikes against you and then you get the boot from ebay.

I went back and reread your original post. Just to clarify that the child the child this is happening to is not yours, you are asking for a friend. I understand about finding a school that you like. I would be hesitant to leave also. After rereading, maybe the solution is for the mom to be present when they are out for horse therapy. It was stated that the son sees the pigs when out there, and he also got information from a friend at school. So, to me it reads that she sends the son off to school and isn't with him during these visits to the horse therapy program. Maybe she can be present to make the situation positive? Or to intercept the comments from the other kids and correct (the comments.) You never know what will be said when kids talk whether special needs or not. Kids are kids, they sometimes over exaggerate and sometimes their imaginations go wild. I can understand how the son didn't like it. He could have heard "That piggie is going to be alive and served up for dinner!" Kids can be mean to each other. The best thing, in my opinion, would be for the mom to be present for these situations. Again, just my two cents...I guess that I have given you four cents now!

I have to say that if I was going to be an animal that was being raised for meat, (pig, cow, goat, chicken, etc) I would much rather be raised by a 4-H person than at a farm where there are thousands and they are brought to the slaughterhouse by the masses. The animals that are cared for by 4-Hers almost treat their animals as pets,or close to it. They usually get named. But, that is the cycle of life. These animals were put on the earth to provide food. And the 4-Hers who raise them (at least what I have seen) do it with compassion and care. They genuinely care for these animals. I mean how many pigs do you know get baths? Or good food? Or sunlight? I would guess that these animals are getting this. I would definitely see your point if the therapy horses were next to a slaughterhouse. I wouldn't like that at all. I don't mean to disrespect your view at all. I am just trying to understand better why you don't want the kids to see the pigs. Are they ill-kept? Are you or the other family vegetarians? In my opinion, if I were to show my family food that comes to our table, I would much rather show them 4-H animals than the masses of animals, squeezed together in ill-kept conditions. Just my two cents!