Well, today I've only had a diet coke with caffeine (about 2:30 this afternoon at a restaurant). I normally have coffee in the morning. We use the 1/2 caffeine kind, don't make it strong, and I have about 1.5 cups first thing. Usually, I don't have any other caffeine at all. We don't keep any soda in our house, just water, juice, and milk.

I am not sure what palpitations are? I thought that was a racing heart rate. As far as blood pressure, I checked it in a store the other day (can't remember if I could feel my heart beat strong then or not), and it was 124/76. I had a physical last August and all my blood work was good. I was having some feelings with my heart then (this happens while I'm asleep and I wake up feeling it). He checked my thyroid and it was okay. My cholesterol was only 147. He said my heart sounded good, but he didn't do any tests on it. It has come and gone since then. I feel like it's been more often the last 2 weeks. I do not feel like I'm sick. I generally have good energy all day long. I don't ever get sick with colds or viruses, either.

What can make you become more aware and feel your heart beat? I've been much more aware of it in the last few months, especially the last few weeks. I got my husband to check it earlier this week and it was only 80. I just felt like it was strong and rapid, checked it and it's 90. I don't think those numbers are considered high since I saw normal anywhere from 60-100. I've never had a slow heart rate to my knowledge, I'm 20-30 pounds overweight, and don't get regular exercise. When I do exercise I get a little winded at first, but then once I get past it with good breathing, I feel like I could go a long time. I have some reflux issues because the valve at the top of my stomach is weakened quite a bit (take zantac as needed). I am in some stress right now (going to work doing taxes and been doing a lot of training outside the home; homeschooling the kids; staff at church with a few stressful changes very recently). I also have been having irregular periods the last year or so (starting early mostly). I'll be 42 next month. Is this just part of perimenopause? Thanks in advance!!

This is our 4th year, but I didn't know anything about classical education until I found this board last Spring. I'm trying to read and learn this year to see how I can implement more classical methods for the future.

Praying for you and them. I'm so sorry.

Our length of time varies a little, but my 6th dd usually goes 10-2 with a lunch break. Some days she's done in 2 hours. That time doesn't include reading that she does independently. She is ALWAYS reading. She is very independent on her work and doesn't need much instruction in many skills, though. For example, showing her once how to do a new math concept is usually enough for her to do the whole lesson on her own.

My dd has wanted more independence as well. Something that I've been doing for the past couple of months is I give her a list of what needs to be done for the whole week. We sit down and have a "meeting" to discuss our families schedule (which days have appointments out of the house, field trips, etc.). She decides which assignments to do which days. She has especially liked feeling that she is in control of that. I don't include history on her list because that is the only subject I have our kids doing together because of the age difference. We do this during and just after lunch. While the kids are eating, I read to them. Afterwards, we do any activities/discussion. As she starts her day, I look at anything that might need "teaching" like a new math topic. We cover those quickly, then she goes and does her work. She does come and ask me if she has questions. When she's done with everything, we come back together, check answers and discuss anything I wanted to with her. My dd is almost 12, so this may be more independence than you want, but it has been great for us.

What is iridology and is it useful? I have been having perimenopause symptoms and a friend referred me to an herb shop that offers iridology. Can anyone offer experience or advice about this? Thanks!

Here's what we have, and we love them! One is from a series called "Blow Up! Junior Science". The book title is "The Human Body". It's published by McRae Books. This book covers all the systems of the body. Each section has an overview, the pages that open up to more details. It even covers reproduction and cells (great diagram of a cell!). The other is called "The Incredible Human Body Flip Charts". We have a very large version, but I've seen smaller versions as well. It's published by Tormont Books. This has the clear pages that overlay and show you how the body is layered from outside in. It has other pages as well with great diagrams and labeling of all the systems. For the Kindergarten child, we have another great book. It's called "The Human Body" by Stacy Savran and published by Kidsbooks, Inc. This is a great book to introduce kids to how their body works. It has pictures of kids doing the things it's talking about and some good diagrams.

If you are wanting her to work on reading at a higher level but concerned about length, how about letting her continue to read the books that she likes, but use a higher grade level reading curriculum? BJU has a great reading program (IMHO). It covers so many literary concepts (i.e. personification, plot, foreshadowing, etc.). The stories in the readers are short and include a variety of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc. It is pricey, but you may could find some good deals this time of year.

I plan some, but not all. For school, I have Horizons readers (for K ds) that came with the curriculum. I also have the K Abeka readers and Bob Books. We get easy readers from the library, but I just glance through and find them when we're there. For 6th dd, I've put together historical reading lists from lists I've found on here. She also has BJU reader. Reading for fun is a different story. We pick out books at the library, or try to find books we've had recommended to us. I also have a book called "The Book Tree" by Elizabeth McCallum and Jane Scott. It is a Christian reference for literature. It has recommended reading for Preschool through High School.

Here's what we're having: Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread Quessadillas with trimmings (sour cream, pico de gallo, quacamole, etc.) Breakfast (Biscuits, Gravy, Eggs, Bacon, Fruit) White Chicken Chili, Cornbread Garlic Chicken Tenders, Broccoli, Carrots, Rice

As far as school goes, I'm ready. I've got the next 4 weeks of lesson plans completed. I'm going to work this year in a tax office, so my life is about to get crazy! :willy_nilly: I don't know if I'm ready for that or not. The busiest part will be the next 2 months, so I keep thinking I can survive anything for 2 months. Maybe I should go ahead and do the next 4 weeks as well, you think?

My ds is 5 and will be 6 in May. We've been doing "school" since he was 2. I started homeschooling his sister when she was in 3rd grade. He kept asking to do school too, so we started then. He is in Kindergarten this year. We do Mystery of History together. We do this along with a friend who homeschools, and we get together for special events. We've watched movies together, field trips, special food and craft days, and even our own Olympics. This has been the most fun part of our schooling this year, but the book part of it is really above his head. It's been good exposure for him, though. I still am trying to study some of the social studies stuff he would get in regular Kindergarten. We use Positive Action for Christ Bible Curriculum. It's designed for school, but we've been able to make it work. He enjoys it and usually wants that first. He does Horizons Phonics combined with other readers (Bob Books, A Beka, library). We've done 2 lessons a week with lots of other reading, but we're stepping it up to 4 this semester. He's reading well, and trying more and more to read things out and about. I've used Horizons Math this year because it was given to me. He did an easy Kindergarten program last year, so we did Horizons K program the first semester (2 lessons a day), and I'll be doing the 1st grade program this semester the same way. I don't require him to do something twice that appears on both lessons that day. For science, I've done some unit studies, along with some first grade Alpha Omega lifepacs that I was given. Handwriting has been the most difficult thing for him. The Horizons had tons of it in the earlier lessons (some of why we did fewer each week), and I didn't make him do it all. I found skill development books by Mead at Wal-mart that he likes. One is stencil drawing. He never liked to draw ANYTHING before this book. I think he likes this because a stencil makes things look like they are supposed to. The other book by Mead is a cutting skills book. Monday he'll be starting two handwriting books by the same company. One is Capital Letter Stories and the other is lowercase Letter Stories. The time frame varies but, I would say that his school work takes about 1.5 to 2 hours a day.

Rice Pudding!!!!! :D

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I read an article that dates have elemental flourine and can actually reverse early tooth decay. Of course, they have natural sugar and some products in the store add sugar, so you'd have to be careful about that.

I'm going to bed soon, so I thought I'd go ahead and post my ideas. If you want a reward system, I would make a list of privileges that he really cares about (computer or video game time, etc.) so you can think about what rewards to use. I use Homeschool Tracker, a free computer program for tracking assignments and grades. It allows you to print off assignment sheets as well as report cards. Why not do a point system to earn time on those privileges? He could earn points for turning in his work, completed and neat, by a certain time of day. He could then earn more points for getting certain percentages of his work right. You could print out a report card at the end of every week, and have a different reward for every A. My dd is laid back, but does care about her grades. I'm not sure how that happened. She has had problems with motivation on time, though. I used to print her a daily assignment sheet, but she didn't like that it alphabetized the list. She wanted to pick the order. Now I write out her assignments for the week on one piece of paper. We sit down together and discuss any outside of the house activities that week and which days. She decides which things to do which day. It has really motivated her because she feels in control. She has become so much more independent. We do history together, so she doesn't get to decide on that subject. I hope you find something that works for you. Playstation is a big motivator for my ds.

I have a question about the readers that go along with each workbook of the Horizons K Phonics program. Is the student supposed to be able to read the whole story by themselves? They seem to get to a high reading level fairly quickly. My ds has finished only through Lesson 40 (there are 160) because I've been using some supplemental things (Bob Books, A Beka K Readers, etc.). I felt that the program moved very fast. He can read many words in the stories, but definitely needs help. I'm not sure what I want to do next year. If I don't finish the whole program, will he be missing something if I switch for first grade? It seems so advanced that I'm thinking any other 1st grade program would probably be like review in the beginning. I like BJU reading, but I've only seen it 2nd grade and up. Has anyone else started Horizons then switched? If so, what did you go to for phonics in the early elementary grades?

Is the problem that he isn't motivated to do his work well (missing 2 or 20 doesn't matter), finishing in a timely manner (diligent, focused, etc), or both?

We are all electric. We have a house of about 1850 sq. feet. We keep the thermostat around 70, but we play with it based on how the house feels. We will probably spend $150-200 for electricity and water (they are on the same bill) during the winter months. Last year January was the highest.

I have a K ds that handwriting started off a big issue. I really didn't realize how much writing was in Horizons Phonics before I chose it. I also picked a handwriting program, so it was A LOT. I've backed off and as long as he writes some every school day, I don't make him do it all. When he really started giving me problems I also implemented a sticker chart for a good attitude toward school. He received a smiley face sticker for each subject that he did with a good attitude and completed all required. I was very clear that it was not about it being perfect. He loves our Playstation, so if he received all smiley faces for a day, he got to do a game afterwards. I don't even have to do the stickers anymore. What privileges does she enjoy that might motivate her? I believe some things are privileges and should be earned, though. I've tried to study some things he would do in regular Kindergarten. In September we did a lapbook on apples and Johnny Appleseed. We've also done lapbooks for Spanish and an "All About Me" one. Have you ever tried lapbooking? If your dd is crafty, she might like it. Here's some links to get you started if you need them. http://www.squidoo.com/lapbooking http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/lapbooks.htm http://www.homeschoolshare.com/ I hope this helps!

Thanks for the ideas! Any others will be appreciated!

I'm starting Jump In writing program with my dd. We're also going to have some days for the winter with our homeschool group where we meet at the local civic center. We'll use the gym for some PE type games and then bring educational board games to play in a classroom. We'll follow up with lunch, everyone bringing their own. I'm going to work for a tax office, so I'll be leaving some evenings and some on the weekends. That will be a big change for our family because I'll be leaving before supper is cooked. My dd has been learning a few meals before the holidays. My sister got her Personal Trainer Cooking for her DS so between that and what my dh can do, I think they'll be fine.

Do any of you celebrate the 100th day of school like they do in Kindergarten classes? If so, what ideas work especially well with kids at home? I would like to do this with my ds, but not sure how to make it work with just him and his big sister. Our 100th day is scheduled to fall January 16th, so I do have some time to plan if there are ideas that require that. I would appreciate any advice!