My dd prefers ETC, not sure why. She has used the primers and is almost finished with book 1.

Very neat! Thanks for sharing - I'm working out our geography "Countries and Cultures" plan for next year and this will work great with that! Thank you!

I'm surprised they never called and asked you why you hadn't cashed it. But I like to keep my bank account balanced :rolleyes: I'm weird that way.

You can download a copy of the book online. Just look for the little PDF icon.

If you can get the older version of Emma (made in the '70's I think) from your library it is worth watching. I enjoyed it (though without Jeremy Northam I'm not sure how!)

Thanks for this! Will be using it for sure!

I felt the same way about Deconstructing Penguins and I was left with the feeling that they really didn't lay out the formula for "here is how to do this" (which is why I read the book in the first place! I wanted someone to lay it out for me). But I went back through the book and made an outline of the steps they went through in their book analysis. I'd be willing to send it to anyone who wants it. Another thing to remember - their method only works with books that have an obvious antagonist and protagonist (not all books do!)

When you log in there is a little "remember me" box beside the place where you put your name. Check that box and you will stay logged in.

Corn Chowder Just made this today with some leftover baked potatoes. Snip up six slices of bacon with some kitchen shears and throw into a pot. Cook until nice and crispy on about medium heat. Take out, but leave drippings. Add one chopped up onion to pot and cook until softened. Add about 2 cups of chicken stock and turn up the heat to scrape up the bottom "crusties". Add two cans of cream style corn and a few large handfuls of frozen corn (or a can). Chop up the baked potatoes (minus the skins) and throw in the pot. Stir and turn the heat down. Let cook for about 15 minutes to heat through then add the bacon, about 2 cups of milk and lots of salt and pepper. Yummy!

I'm in the "doing my own thing" camp. I looked at GtG and a different program but I decided to just do my own thing. I've got a great public library here so I'm in the middle of planning our "Cultural Tour of the World" :D

Here is a link to enchanted learning. Good website for printable worksheets and coloring pages.

I have seen Phonics Pathways but decided to go with OPG. I prefer the layout of OPG and that it covers so much more material. The one thing I don't like about OPG is the font size for the child's reading portion. I find it to be too small, but we compensate that by using a white board or the computer.

Thank you! I think my dd will enjoy this. Thanks for sharing!

Like they said - it is ALL in the habits. Start small - pick something that really bugs you and focus on changing that over a month's time. I like Flylady as well but don't stick to her methods (and I hate all those emails), but I took what I could use from her method. I have checklists - one for morning and one for evening. I don't do things in the same order every day but everything must be completed before any "fun" stuff (like coming on here!). My morning checklist - make bed, shower and dress, swipe bathroom, do a load of laundry, feed family, unload dishwasher, 5 minutes cleaning a "hot spot" (pile of papers on my desk or table, etc). That's it. Nothing that will kill me - but by doing these things (especially the bathroom, laundry, dishwasher, and hot spot) my house is not as cluttered. Evening checklist -lay out clothes for tomorrow for me and dd, make sure kitchen is clean (I hate going into a messy kitchen in the morning), pick up any toys laying around (dd's job), and if floor is messy - quick swiffer. Once a week we take one hour to change bedding (gets washed and put back on the bed that day), dust, wipe down mirrors, vacuum, change all the trash. Sure, vacuuming could be done more often, but once a week keeps it manageable. Sorry this got so long - but it CAN be done. Start small and change one thing at a time.

Here are some activities - Pre-reading Activities

I was very good - no pickpocketing or robbing dead bodies! Scored 1050 and met Dickens.

I LOVED Jem and the Holograms when I was a kid.

3-year diploma from a small Christian college - I'm 12 credits from finishing my degree in pastoral theology (with no plans to finish) I am hoping (fingers are crossed) that I will be able to go back to school (correspondence) and get a degree in English Literature.

We also do ours at lunch time (dh takes the lead on this as the spiritual head of our home). We wanted to make it a natural part of our day and not have it as another part of our homeschool "schedule". So we alternate reading a Bible story and a child's doctrine book during lunch. Some days we are out and don't get to it, but more often then not, it is just a natural part of the day now - which is exactly what I wanted it to be. :)

I'm reading this right now too - I'm enjoying it, but there have been a few places where I've wanted to shake Fanny and say "Put your foot down and stand up for yourself already!!!" :p

We had a very science-filled week here in the Sunny Patch. Though it isn't very sunny right now - with a few feet of snow on the ground! Oh, I can't wait for some "green"!!

I never knew that! Must go play now. . .

Kingfisher First Picture Atlas

I've got a list of games linked from my blog - just scroll through the sidebar and you will find them.

I tried the link but I just get an error message. Would love to see this if you could repost it. Thank you! SORRY - I just tried it again and it worked!