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!

I'm jumping in just to listen and read what every one else has to say. I so need to improve in this area. My dh and dd are so laid back and don't seem to mind that things are a mess. My ds has little tendencies for neatness in just a few areas, but still doesn't mind a mess, either. I think that has allowed me to become too lax about it all.

My suggestions were just things I came up with on my own. What I meant about cards was to make a set of 3 for every doubles you want her to memorize: 3 cards: 1, 1, and 2 for 1+1=2 3 cards: 2, 2, and 4 for 2+2=4 3 cards: 3, 3, and 6 for 3+3=6 etc. I was suggesting something like concentration. Instead of trying to match 2 pairs, you turn over 3 at a time to try and make the equation. If you turned over a 1 and a 1 and a 2, then you get to keep that set because it adds up correctly. Does that make sense? When I suggested hiding the cards, I meant the same cards and see how many she can find, then make the sets that go together and see how many sets she found. With the dice, my son learned a lot of adding sums just by us playing board games that involved dice. He LOVES board games and plays many well beyond his years and we just help with any reading he can't do. You could just take a pair of dice and take turns rolling. Have her add up the roll (even if she has to count) of both dice together (ex. 3 and 4 make 7) and you keep score for both of you. You can determine a preset number to reach and the first on there wins. You could even double the score when you roll doubles since that is what she's focusing on learning right now. Games always make learning fun. I do believe there is a time for place for more traditional school work, and don't feel bad for wanting her to do some. Just find the kind of school work that you both can live with.

As far as memorizing the doubles facts, I don't know why a young program would have you do that. If you want her to do it, though, turn it into a game. Put the individual numbers on cards (for example, 2 cards with a 2 and 1 card with a 4), then play memory matching games with 3 cards. Use dice and have her start adding the rolls, some will be doubles. My son learned a lot about adding that way. You could keep score and see who reaches 100 first. Take the numbers cards and hide them in a room. Have her see how many matching groups she can find. I don't have mine write his name on every paper, but that's just not a big deal to me. None of his papers included a place for the date on each one. I know kids balk at having to do things in school that seems senseless to them. We all did it, too. My ds has things that he doesn't want to do, but I have a chart for him to receive smiley faces in each subject. If he does what's required with a good attitude, then he gets the stickers. If he gets all smiley faces in a day, then that day he gets to do a video game. Does she have some privilige that will really motivate her to keep a good attitude? It has worked wonders with my ds. He realizes that priviliges have to be earned. I try to tell my kids that we all have to do things we don't like, but that is just part of life, and it will be easier if we just accept it and try to have fun with it. My dd doesn't like math. I've told her that she doesn't know what God will call her to do in her future, so school is to get her ready for whatever that is. Even if God doesn't have her do something in a math related field, if He wants her to go to college, she has to do well enough on her entrance exams to get in to wherever that place might be; therefore, math is necessary.

I made flash cards with words like hop and hope on front and back. I would have him say the short side, then the long vowel side. I also found a reproducible board game at the library that was squares containing silent e words. To move forward you had to say the word with the silent e, then cover the e and say the word using the short vowel. It has really helped my son. These are some of the cards I made: hop/hope can/cane cap/cape kit/kite sit/site rob/robe tub/tube cub/cube pal/pale I hope this idea helps.

Here's what I do. I take a week in the summer (my dh is home since he's a school teacher), and I dig through my books looking at how many weeks it will take, noting special areas on interest of projects. etc. I get a basic plan for the year, then for each semester. I do the semesters on a spreadsheet that has columns for each subject and rows for each week. I list page numbers or chapter numbers in the blocks. During the year I plan, on paper, a month at a time. I just list the subjects and what things to cover that month with more detail than my semester sheet. Each Sunday afternoon or night I enter that week's assignments in Homeschool Tracker. I print out a weekly sheet for my ds that I keep and check off. I was printing one out daily or weekly for my dd, but she didn't like that it alphabetizes the list. Now I write out on paper her whole week's assignments, then she sets her schedule of what days she does which work. She has really enjoyed it, and it has motivated her a lot. I list them by subject and grouping (page numbers, etc.), then she puts the day of the week out to the right with a box around it. She checks them off when done. She and I always talk about what's coming up that week outside of the house (club meetings, field trips, etc.), so she knows which days to put more of the work on. I'm not at home so I can't include any of my documents. Sorry! Merry Christmas!

I disagree with taking a year off. Why should your daughter's education be put on hold because you have an active 3 year old? If she's interested and ready, then I say don't put it off. My son was 2 when I started homeschooling our dd in 3rd grade. He was active, but I was pretty strict that when I was doing school with his sister he had to play in his room or he could watch a little Playhouse Disney or Nick jr for some of the time. He soon wanted to do school, too. He knew that to get to be at the table with us he had to do school. I also saved the stuff that was harder to do with him around until his nap time. If he doesn't take naps, could he have a rest time on his bed for 30 minutes where he has to lay down, but can look at books or take a toy or two? I started off with hands on manipulatives, which he didn't care for, so I picked up a workbook at the grocery story (same/different, etc.) and he loved them. We did just those kind of things that year. For his 3 year old homeschooling, we did Handwriting without Tears Get Ready for School book and Learning Resources Game Board Book for Preschool, along with things I found on the internet. I read to him, of course, too. For Pre-K, we did A Beka reading for K4 and a Kindergarten math program. We also read lots of books from the library, fiction and non-fiction. Some say don't start workbooks early, but I started both of mine at 2, and they were both reading at 4 and are doing very well academically. My dd tested last year at 12th grade 3rd month overall on her ITBS, and she was in 5th. I say don't start too late. I know several mothers who didn't start doing any type of school with their sons until Kindergarten and now they regret it because since they had been able to play all day for so long, now they don't want to sit for any school.

Thanks! That link has quite a few that look good.

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Does anyone have party finger food recipes that could be made a day ahead of time? We have a party to give this week. I've been taking a tax class this week to work this tax season, and we now have to attend class the day of the party. HELP????

My 5yo ds is a picky eater. I've also noticed, though, that he has a very keen sense of smell. I believe that might be why. I've always had the rule that they had to taste everything, but I don't make them eat more if they don't like it. I believe that the older they get, the more they can make themselves eat just because they should. We're getting to that point with him, but I just have to make judgments on the situation. I made a cheese vegetable soup that was a mild and pleasant flavor, and I even picked out the peas, leaving potatoes, corn, and carrots. He said at first he didn't like it, but we told him he had to taste it again. He ended up eating the whole bowl because we said he had to do so. I won't make him eat the stuff that has strong flavors or is spicy, though. The main entree for supper is my hardest thing to decide. He likes so few meals that we really do. I often end up fixing for us three, then giving him something else (a sandwich, leftovers, etc.). As far as vegetables go, he really eats fresh far better than cooked. We keep a lot of tomatoes, cucumbers, and baby carrots in the house. He will only eat cucumber if the skin is off and we add a little salt. He'll eat baby carrots, but only with a certain store brand ranch dressing. He loves corn and will eat potatoes. He like tomatoes with green onion in it. He will eat lots of fruits. I've gotten out of the habit the last couple of weeks because of holiday stuff, but I do a chart for fruits/vegetables. If they eat 5 small servings a day, they get dessert after supper. Would that motivate yours?

Our church sponsors an elementary school here that has 97% of the kids at or below the poverty level. Every year our church provides shoe box Christmas gifts for every student (over 450). We always buy several boxes worth of presents, but me and my children also volunteer to help do shopping for the people who just want to donate money. We are hoping to actually get to go to the school and help hand out gifts this year. They say some kids open up right away, but many put them under their desks without opening them. When our church members asked why, they told them the children wanted to take them home so they'd have something to open on Christmas day. I want my kids to get to actually see it.

745 including property taxes and insurance. 4.5 year old home; 1850 sq ft.; 3 bdrm, 2 bath, bonus, 2 car garage, 1/2 acre lot; 45 minutes from Atlanta We did put 20% down, though, that was from the sale of our last home.

Some we like: National Treasure and National Treasure 2 These are great action/adventures movies that are great. They set out to make a movie for grown ups that kids could watch. Our children loved them. Journey to the Center of the Earth We really liked this adventure also. There are a lot of peril situations. My dh and dd saw it in the movie theater, but he felt that ds should see it at home so those scenes wouldn't be so large and loud. He really wasn't scared at all at home. Sky High This has been out awhile, but we enjoy it still. It is a superhero movie. The Polar Express This is one of our favorites. We've never told our kids Santa was real, or gave presents from him, but this movie almost made me wish we had. All the Pixar movies. I would say Finding Nemo is my all-time favorite.

Does anyone know of a Christmas craft that elementary aged boys would really enjoy? I would prefer something with wood involved, even craft sticks. This is for a meeting with our homeschool group. We'll have about 1.5 hours to complete it. The moms will be there, so it should be something for the whole family, something for their own room, or even a gift for another family member. It would also be great if it had a religious theme. Thanks!

Here's a recipe for apple muffins that is to make for gifts. Muffin Mix: 2 cups self-rising flour 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground clove ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup light brown sugar Topping Mix: ¼ cup light brown sugar 1 tablespoon self-rising flour ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon Fresh Apple Muffins Muffins: Contents of “Mix†bag 1 egg ¾ cup milk ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 apple chopped (about 1 cup) Topping: Contents of “Topping†bag 1 tablespoon butter or margarine Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place muffin mix in medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Fill 12 greased muffin cups ¾ full. Place topping mix and butter in small bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is like coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over tops of mixture in muffin pan. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown.

I realized my 5yo ds was looking at my dd's Limited Too Catalog a couple of months ago, and he acted embarrassed. He says he wants to get married so he can kiss his wife. He is very "touch" oriented in his showing of love to us, especially me. I think we might have to move to a mountain far, far away when he hits puberty! Seriously, I now know we're going to have to be careful with what he sees and teach him carefully about everything in this area. My dh was shown a picture of a naked woman (by neighborhood boys) when he was five and actually had a physical response, if you know what I mean. He still remembers the picture. It's amazing what impacts the brain.

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I visited the school today. I was very pleased with it. The director said right off that they were not a traditional school. They believe in a hands-on approach to learning, not just textbooks and workbooks. The school is at a campground, and he said the kids actually spend a lot of time outdoors. They do not assign homework, except the occasional project or so. He said if we can't get it done in 7 hours then we're not doing something right. Many of the students are former homeschool students, also. They do something called synergy which is each month the entire school studies the same topic. That's about an hour a day, and a good part of Friday mornings. They have chapel every day for 30 minutes. The base pay is good, and I do think we could benefit financially. We're paying the bills, but we haven't been able to put hardly any money in savings besides a little we do have. We've had $550 in extra bills this month from my husband's car and our water heater. I would have the option to be part-time. School is 8-3 Monday -Friday. If I'm part-time, I would teach only 4 subjects Monday-Thursday. My hours would be 7:45-2:15. I'd be able to drop the kids off on Fridays and go get groceries, do errands, etc. The full time base pay was only $2k a year more, but that would mean more to prepare for as well. I didn't get all those details. It's the only private school in town, at this point anyway, that I would even consider for my kids. Please, if you pray, pray that I'll know what to do.

Does anyone attend, or especially lead, Contenders of the Faith/Keepers at Home Clubs? What are your clubs doing for your December or Christmas meeting? I've been asked to lead the December meeting, and I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do. I would like to do something with a Christmas theme, yet would still work toward a pin. We will only be meeting for 1.5 hours. Any suggestions?

My husband is the bread winner also, but he does contribute in other ways. He helps with parenting, and leads our family devotion each night. He teaches public school (world and U.S. history). He isn't involved in history every day, but he has done special unit studies with our dd, but not ds yet. For example, he studied World War 2 in depth with her last year. He isn't involved at all in curriculum decisions. I really wish that he did more, though. He's pretty laid back, and doesn't take initiative on things easily. Maybe I should just ask him to find ways to do more.

Well...I went with the Neiman Marcus cookies. They were delicious and a big hit. I had to take my dh to work early that day, so I actually took her advice and baked them the night before. Thanks! We have another cookie swap (we're in 2 homeschool groups) in a week and a half. Maybe I'll try a different one?