Thankfully, she hasn't started her period yet! For In The Great White North: I don't know how to quote several people in the same reply, but I do have some soap with tea tree oil in it. I purchased it from a friend who makes soap. For Frontier Mom: She actually is in a similar situation of wearing flip-flops a lot, and now going to lots of socks and shoes. We'll give the tea tree oil soap and keeping them dry a try. If it doesn't help, we'll go to the doctor. Thanks again for all the help!

My dd is having trouble with skin peeling all around the bottom of her toes and foot just below her toes.She says it doesn't itch. Does anyone know what this could be? I asked her if her feet sweat, and she said they do in her Sunday shoes, but that's the only day she wears them usually. Thanks in advance for any help!

My dd was in 2nd grade in a Christian school that used it. I started homeschooling in 3rd, and didn't use the whole BJU program at home until 4th grade. It's very expensive and didn't know very many resources for finding it used. I did use their book links for 3rd grade. I think it is a great program and that the worksheets cover things I might not think to on my own. That aspect of a reading program is what I really like about using reading curriculum, not just reading and discussing. My dd isn't the workbook lover that my ds is, but I think it's all right if some of their school work is a little mundane. We all have things in life that we have to do and don't like. That's just the way it is. I feel that if we, as homeschoolers, continually let the child's likes and dislikes decide the curriculum it won't be what's best for them. We don't let them only eat the food they like do we? I have to make mine eat some vegetables! It's just a thought. We used the full program for 5th last year. On my dd's ITBS tests at the end of last year she scored top 1% overall in reading and end of high school grade level. I'm not using it this year, simply because I could never get a good deal on it, and she's doing a ton of extra reading with our Mystery of History. I've all ready purchased 2nd grade for my son whose in Kindergarten, and will use it all the way through with him. I'm always checking ebay and other places for good deals on it. I'm looking for 7th grade literature for next year for her.

We are using Positive Action for Christ this year. They have regular year long curricula for K-6th, then move into individual studies or various kinds and lengths for upper middle and high school. Each week has character traits to cover with them, also. My K ds really likes it. The workbooks are colorful and engaging. He loves workbooks, though. My dd doesn't, but she doesn't like workbooks. I feel part of why she doesn't like it is she's having to move in to more thought provoking questions instead of just straight, simple answers. She really gets upset when she doesn't know something or get answers right, so I feel that she thinks she'll be wrong. I'm wavering on continuing it. I've thought about putting the workbook aside and just read and discuss it. I really like the topics for her (i.e. finding God's will, resisting temptation, being filled with the Spirit, and a study of Christ and Revelations). I also have her reading sections of the bible with our history (MOH, Vol 1.).

I like the idea of Fridays totally free for that stuff. If I can manage to get everything in during 4 days, I think I'll try to do that as well. There's so much I want to do, yet don't get to it. We're on staff at our church so I have outside responsibilities. I feel like the older I get (I'm 41), the worse I am at time management, too. Thanks for suggesting it!

You can throw up with strep. I wouldn't waste anytime on getting him to the doctor. They will do a throat swab. Has he ever had that done? I don't remember noticing what age he is, but the procedure, although quick, can be quite unnerving. I think strep left untreated can lead to more serious conditions that can cause heart problems later in life. Sore throats are an automatic trip to the doctor here, that is if not gone fairly quickly.

Sometimes I do a modification of this, doing chunks of a small number of subjects a day. I like it because it's less to prepare for a day. The kids have never complained. I always start off every subject each day, but before long I'm back to chunks. It makes the age difference in mine seem more manageable. It also helps with our varied outside activity schedule. We go to boys/girls clubs 1 Friday a month, 4-H 1 Thursday a month, and usually a few outings with our homeschool groups. We belong to two different groups. I wanted more options and have friends in both. This week (Field Trip Thursday, Clubs on Friday) Son: Lots of math on Mon-Wed; History Mon-Wed; Phonics/Reading Every day; Lots of Science Friday Daughter: Finish Election Project display board today; History Mon-Wed; Lots of Math on Tues-Wed; Reading every day; Lots of Science on Wed - Fri; Lots of English Tues - Wed

My ds likes to rub a mole on my collar bone. He doesn't have to do it anymore to actually fall asleep, but he still does it sometimes. He even does it in the day. He'll just come sit in my lap, hug me and rub it. He loves the feel of my neck, also, because he says it's warm. He loves skin and touch so much that I'm afraid we're going to have to move to the mountains when he's a teenager!!!

I have something for you to keep in mind if you continue homeschool. I taught Saxon Algebra 2 and Saxon Advanced Math at a coop. In the Algebra 2 there only 2-3 separate practice problems per lesson. In Advance Math there were none separate from the lesson itself. There were may 3-4 in the actual lessons. For almost all of my students, it wasn't sufficient. Some were students who had gone through Saxon completely. The author also told students information that other textbooks do not. For example, he said it was fine to leave negative exponents in your final answer. I asked a friend who is a high school math teacher, if the rule saying that's a no-no had changed, and she said no. I ended up so many times presenting the Saxon way in class, then the way I was taught (over 20 years ago), and they always understood the "old" way better. I'm sorry I'm not familiar enough with Algebra 1/2 and 1 to help you there. Before I taught at the co-op, I had planned on switching my dd to Saxon since I had heard so many good things about it. I will never have either of my kids do it now.

I hope this doesn't count as a political thread, because it isn't about sides. It's about our country. :patriot: I just read a picture book to my 5 year old ds, and was about to cry for concern for our country. It is "Castaway Cats" by Lisa Wheeler. Fifteen cats are shipwrecked and end up on a deserted island. They start trying to build a boat to leave the island. Each one wants to do it "their way". They end up all fighting and getting hurt. They realize how foolish they are and they have to work together. They sit around the fire and organize a plan. The next day they are thoughtful, helpful, each one doing his share, each one working until the boat is finished. Then they are sad to leave each other because some have been strays and now love the kittens. They all decide to stay on the island, making it home. Now they are a family. So how do we get all of America to read one book?:grouphug:

I'm jumping in to listen. I'm not sure I have any recommendations, but eager to hear what others say. I have been looking at Jump In and wondered if you thought it might help me. I have a book that I've just used a little because I don't have the teacher book, but it seems good to me. I've considered getting it. It's by Zaner-Bloser and called Strategies for Writiers. We use BJU English, which has 8 writing assignments for this year. I have a dd who is a reluctant writer when it comes to assignments. She struggles with choosing topics when it is up to her. She can write; however, I struggle with how to really grade it. I always think it's too short. She follows the directions in the book, but that's all. This is also a child, who seems to have trouble speaking her thoughts also. She's quiet and doesn't go around talking about how she feels. She has moments that she'll open up to me, especially if she and I get to do something "just us". However, she spent this past summer writing some histories of imaginary countries, and scripts of books she'd read. She wants to be a movie producer! I hope you find something great!

I read the blog, and understand your concern, especially with the 25%. Can I ask, was this timed? Was it with visual manipulatives, or straight mental math? If it was straight mental, it may be that she simply hasn't memorized her addition facts well enough. Allowing her to skip sections of the assignments could be a source of that. It's hard to say without knowing what you actually skip. The more you do something, the better your brain will remember it. I would suggest taking a week or two off of the books, and just practice facts. Does she do well with flash cards? When I realized my dd wasn't getting the multiplication tables well enough this is what I did. We sat down and took a whole set of flash cards. I held them up, in random order, and if she didn't know the answer in like 2 seconds, I set it aside. I took the pile of cards she didn't know and that's what we practiced. I typed up quizzes over just those also. This was last year, and the rest of the year was easier as well as this year. Long division is her nemesis. Since you aren't a math person, I would think you need a program that helps you understand it very well. If it teaches you to understand, then you'll be better prepared to teach your own kids. Perhaps, you should get the program you are considering and go through it by yourself first. If you are learning the same day as she, then that could get frustrating. Is your husband a math person? Could he help you both? I use my dh quite a bit when it comes to history because that's his major. He teaches world and US history in public school. I hope you find what works for you!

My 11 yo dd is really addicted to Star Wars. She's read almost all of the kids' series books. She's seen all the movies. She has several light sabers and uses them regularly. She loves the Clone Wars series. She draws Jedi all the time. Her dream is to work with George Lucas someday (she wants to be a movie producer now!). She has plans for Episode 7-9, and writes a lot of it down. I guess, once your hooked, your hooked. Thankfully, we all like Star Wars, but she is the biggest fan. Someday, when he's a teen and you can't get him to have any conversation, you may long for the days of these about Star Wars. I will say, that she has learned a lot through the books. Every time something bad happens to someone, it's because of anger, hate, fear, and rebellion against authority. Maybe it will make him a better person??!! May the force be with you!

Thank you so much! I'm so art-challenged. I avoid it way too much! I think this will help me get some projects done.

I was wondering if this is something I should be concerned about or not. My ds (5) cannot stand to use kid scissors. He says they hurt his hand and are too hard. He always wants to use my large scissors. I have been letting him, although, I think dealing the the actual cutting would be better with smaller, in length, blades. He doesn't seem to have the best of fine motor skills yet, but I've been told boys develop that later. My dh says he still doesn't have good fine motor skills, and I know there are things I can do easier than him. Any thoughts? Should I just keep letting him use larger, or make him use the kid kind? Thanks in advance!!!

Thanks! 2 padawans I have. Like them they will. May the force be with you!

Our thrift store has tons of children's books. They have 2 days a week that you can purchase 26 books for about $8.00.

Thanks! Great idea. He is learning about coins now. She all ready has a checking and savings account (our bank allows kids to have checking because of a special savings that requires monthly transfers), but she might could learn more of how they actually operate at the branch, as well as about loans and credit.

I think there is a museum of the Uncle Remus stories somewhere east of us. That's a great idea! Best of all, we just got back from Disneyworld a couple of weeks ago, and we loved Splash Mountain which is based on those stories. I'll have to ask around about any other authors. Thanks!

I would like to ask all of you for some field trip ideas. I would like to spend a whole week doing field trips, one subject a day. I thought it would be fun to try and do this. I all ready have some things over the next few weeks that would count for science and social studies/history. I need some ideas for math, literature, and English, or another subject that would fit better. My dd will be studying using library type resources in her language arts soon, so we could do a day at the library. It might be a good introduction for my ds (K), but I am open to better ideas. Since my kids are 6 years apart, they aren't studying the same things in these subjects. I'll be open to any ideas. We live south of Atlanta, but north of Macon. Thanks in advance!

I forgot to recommend Bob Books. They are very short good readers. They come in several sets that advance in skill. I also do themes each month that he would get in Kindergarten. In September we did apples and "all about me". In October, we learned about farms (and went), fire safety, Columbus Day, and Spanish. For November, we're doing government, health, and Thanksgiving. Since we're doing ancient history, I didn't want him to miss out on what other kids his age was learning.

I have a K son that struggles with liking writing, but is enjoying reading. I do sometimes do the writing for him. I try to have him write a few letters or words and numbers a day. I do a chart with small smiley face stickers (because he started balking at doing any writing). If he does each subject with a good attitude, he gets a smiley face. His big love is the playstation. If he has all smiley faces, he gets to do 30 minutes. He can't do that until all his school work is done. If he got all smiley faces for the whole week, he gets extra time on the weekends. I don't think expecting 3 pages a day is too much. My K son does anywhere from 4 (front and back) to 8 or more. Most people aren't born loving to do what's required of them. They have to learn it's part of life and there are rewards for doing what we have to do. Daddy goes to work, so we get to eat and have a place to live. Mommy washes clothes, so we don't have to wear things that are dirty. I believe we should offer them things that they love in learning and try to help with their learning style, but we should also push them beyond just what they like. If life is always easy for them, how will they learn to function later? Does he like to do things on the computer? I know http://www.starfall.com has reading and phonics games and books online. There are probably lots more you could find through google. Could you keep a chart of words he's learned to read and give some small prize for every 5 new words? I'd get an indoor trampoline as well. He could practice things on a dry erase board while jumping. I hope this helps. Keep on going! It will work.

I love them!! My dd can do them, but my ds loves them like me. I have found Veggie Tale and Sponge Bob books for kids at Wal-mart. They are small (4x4) and use stickers. It was a great introduction for my son. I have a kids book called More Super Sudoku for Kids that uses numbers, letters, and shapes. They start off 4x4 and move gradually up to the 9x9. I'm not sure where I got this book. I can't really remember...sorry. It's by Modern Publishing.

Thanks for the ideas so far. Keep them coming! I love the idea of theming them with the manger, sky, and winter. I'm getting excited and think this is going to be fun!

Would any of you be willing to share simple carnival game ideas? I teach a group of kids at church (4-6) and am thinking about having a Christmas carnival for our Christmas party. I would probably also invite the 2-3 year old class as well. I won't have much of a budget, so I'll probably be asking parents for candy and prize donations. I have a blow-up bouncer of my own that is perfect for the age of 6 and under. Our sanctuary is pretty big if the church will let me have it in there. Thanks in advance for any ideas!