We always start our new year off w/ a fun day, we're doing Ancient History this year, So I'm making a cardboard Pyramid we can sit in to do our reading! and I try and decorate it to excite us all! We also do a very lite first week, to get a routine going! And Tomorrow is a new day! Don't try and do everything. kim

My 11 yod has to take math slow, we also use Math u see, We just do Math year round, w/ some breaks here and there, usually in July. kim

For my first grader last year we used "Happy Scribe" you can pick the topic you want them to copy http://www.happyscribecopybooks.com/ http://www.thehomeschoolshop.com/sh-happyscribe.htm There are free samples you can look at kim

God and the History of Art is very good http://www.millerpadsandpaper.com/SearchResults.aspx? We used this and I've saved it to use again kim

I agree w/ Des, kim

I agree, and have never taught It , our second son went to college, and has never needed it either! We use Easy Grammar, and it has them mark the parts of speech, which has worked well for our kids kim

I forgot she also loves all Marguerite Henry Books http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/marguerite-henry/ This link shows you all her books kim

My daughter collected and read most of the Pony Pal books kim

I've always used "The Book of the Centuries" a heavy duty Ring Binder; it lasted all my kids all through gradeschool. I looked, and couldn't find it available? But I bought mine on Ebay used kim

It looks great! Now keeping that way! that's usually the problem at our home. kim

There's been a lot of questions ask about preferred Grammar, so I thought a poll would be easier to see what is the preferred. kim

Easy Grammar Rod and Staff Shurley English Abeka Winston First Language Lessons Simply Grammar Jensen's Grammar BJU other

I agree w/ Deece, I always spent K-1st w/ American History and It's celebrations and milestones. Then Move onto your schedule kim

I switched to MUS after 54, I just couldn't do it! If it ain't workin, change it! kim

I've really, really enjoyed this thread! I've been trying to get over this obsession, but it really gives me the "heeby-jeebies" okay are you ready for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HATE, AND IT DISGUST ME :ack2: to find any type of hair in our bathroom! any kind! I keep a loaded swiffer by the door , and I have to sweep it before I walk on the floor, It's a small room, So I can stand on my carpet and swiffer most of it, so I can place my bare feet on the floor, and I refuse to enter the other bathrooms, because of hair that could be on the floor! yuk! My husband laughs every evening, when I go into our mstr bth, and swiffer the floor before peeing! He will actually run in there and rub the hair on his chest and laugh:lol: at me, it's quite funny , Now I've officially embarrassed:blushing: myself! but everyone else took the plunge , so i joined in! kim

My son, Luke has this!!! He told me, " Mom, if this is all the better you can fold my laundry don't bother!" he then proceeded to show me how to fold each tshirt so it would fit 4 to a shelf?" Talk about compulsive behavior, but his room is very, organized!" and yes he now folds all his own laundry! kim

My mom's closet is like this also! kim

I thought I had found all these kind of sites, but this one is new to me, thanks so ,so much kim

For my youngest K-1st grade I made a chart w/ pictures to represent each subject, and he was responsible for putting a sticker on the square under the day completed, and he turned it in on Friday for a reward. My daughter, ( and I'll add my son for 2nd grade this year) , I have used the clock notepads and made a time-chart of her day; 9:00-9:30 Bible 9:30-10:30 Math 10:30-11:30 All Language arts Noon Lunch and Chores 1:00-2:00 History 2:00-2:30/ MTW Projects T TH SCience The Time chart helps keep them on task. I make a copy of the weekly lesson plans for her to check off This year I'm implementing also the TOG idea of having them plan their assignments each week w/ my guidance. I'll probably just tell my son what to write on his assignment chart, but I'm going to allow my daughter to plan out her week since she'll be in 6th grade this year. I have all the assignments for the week already mapped out, but she'll decide what & how much each day. kim

Aug. 4th for us, we started the first part of august the last 10 years, It's so hot here in Aug. and So nice in May, so we are done at the end of April in time for the beautiful spring, and all my flower planting kim

i've noticed the same thing w/ mathusee! If I can buy new for the same price, why buy used? I don't get it, maybe people get caught up in the bidding. kim

I personally like to keep all writing, reading, & history at the same time period. So I think it would be very confusing to jump back and forth, But Every family is different! I like to do Themes!! kim

I have used this several times, I really liked it, it helped me learn all the phonic rules. My 6 yos loved listening to all the phonic songs and stories, it helped him remember the rules and the story tells the reason the rules are needed. I have no more little ones coming up, so I won't get a chance to use it again, but if I did I would use it again! kim

I agree w/ a lot of what has already been said, We've used Spelling Power for over 10 years! And we customized it to our family, using the quick start guide! We use the activity cards about half the time, if I think the student needs the phonic rule reinforced! so as you can see, I definitely have gotten my money's worth! kim