Hi all! Our family has decided to finally make a homeschool motto and wants to translate it into Latin. I'm a little rusty in that subject so could use help with the best words and making sure the endings are correct. Will any of you Latin scholars out there help us get it right?? Motto - "Diligence, Kindness, Love" I can't decide the best word for diligence. Would you pick Diligentia, Studium, or Industria? Kindness - I'm thinking...Humanitas? Love - We want the word for agape/Christian love, so Caritas? Diligentia, Humanitas, Caritas? Studium, Humanitas, Caritas? Industria, Humanitas, Caritas? Any input/corrections appreciated!! Thank you!!

I have a rising 4th and 3rd grader (and two toddlers). We are finishing up Story of the World 2 this year, and we all LOVE the series. We mostly just do the map work, I read the chapter, and they do the coloring pages while I read. We only add in extra activities occasionally, and sometimes pick up topically related library books. Yesterday, I happened upon Sonlight Core D and Core E IGs (2 years of American History) used at the local homeschool store and couldn't resist since I've always wanted to try Sonlight because we. are. readers. AND I've been trying to figure out how to fit in American History, too, so it was like it was just meant to be. (I hope, anyway!) The thought of not continuing on with SOTW 3 and 4 is super sad to me though, and I know my oldest will at least want to listen to the audiobooks if nothing else. I'm just wondering if anyone has paired Sonlight Core D with SOTW 3 and/or Core E with SOTW 4? Has anyone made a schedule matching them up? Or did you just work through both simultaneously? Is it crazy to think we could make it through both?

What other tests do you recommend?

Former elementary school teacher here. Does anyone have experience with how the 1970s-normed CAT test relates to students today? (i.e. do you think the percentiles and grade equivalents still have merit?) I just finished testing my end of 1st and 2nd grade son and daughter to meet the NC homeschool requirement (we took the online timed one by Christian Liberty), but knowing it's the same test I took in elementary school nearly 30 years ago just has me curious. Any insights appreciated!

I'm looking for something for my preschool/K aged kids. Preferably with an audio or video component so they will hear proper pronunciations as I only speak English. What do you think is the best first language to teach? I'm leaning towards Spanish or Latin. Favorite programs? Curriculums? Audio CDs? :bigear: We did Signing Time when they were younger and that was a great format for us.

Awesome! Thank you. :)

We *love* it!! I use it with my just turned 3 yo and my 4.5yo. I've done 3 reviews of it on my blog --> A Pre-Reading Curriculum for Preschool and A Day With All About Reading AND Why I Love All About Reading's Pre-Reading Program for Preschoolers (and this one has a giveaway for a Deluxe package -- which ends tonight!!)

What is your favorite first math curriculum? Why? Thanks! :bigear:

I bought it a little while ago, too, and have been downloading for awhile! :iagree: This is awesome! :)

I'm still figuring it all out, but we are doing or planning to do or dabbling with: AAR Pre-1 and then AAR 1 BFIAR & FIAR Life of Fred - Apples The Verbal Math Lesson The Reading Lesson or Reading Made Easy HWOT - Preschool Story of the World A Child's Geography GrapeVine Bible Studies Raising Rock Stars Preschool and You Can Read (from 1+1+1=1) Usborne Science books (can't remember the exact name of them) BOB Books ....and possibly more, but just b/c I like to experiment. :)

Jabberwocky! I even do parts of it with my 2 and 4 year old and they love it! :)

We got an android tablet with the kids in mind for Christmas. We hated it. Got some iPod touches to try out Apple, and instant love. We have an iPad now, too!

Scholastic usually has sets for cheap, we love BOB books, also check the library....1+1+1=1 also offers some on her blog now I think....

We tried both. For educational apps, definitely go iPad!

We do GrapeVine Stick Figuring Through the Bible (love it!!! there's a link to a review I recently posted on my blog in my siggy if you're interested) We're also doing Fighter Verses. We're doing the Foundation ones right now...

http://www.starfall.com/ is really good, but is on the internet. For reading, you could find a couple of quality book lists and check those books out from the library. If you google a book's title, you'll usually find lots of free printable resources and activity ideas on blogs, etc....

I do calendar time (though not regularly) with my 2 and 4 year old. My oldest has a really good understanding of the days of the week. We sing the days of the week to the Addams family theme song. We sing the months of the year to the Ten Little Indians tune. I also have a regular calendar in my oldest's room which we write important things on, like birthdays, holidays, trips, etc. and we talk about what day they're happening and how long before that day comes, etc.

Karma Wilson's Bear books Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? and others Katy No Pocket Llama Llama books

Thanks for the link, Dustybug! Was just viewing my blog traffic and saw some from here! LOL :)

Definitely interested in more reviews, too. I don't think we're quite ready for it yet but DS is pretty close and it looks really interesting to me. Maybe I'll try that first sample lesson with him from Apples and see how it goes....