We LOVE BJU's reading program. It's expensive new, but we try to find the non-consumable used. They include everything concerning comprehension such as the various types of discussions questions (found in the TE), comprehension activities in the student workbook, vocabulary, literary lessons (foreshadowing, personification, etc.). They have novels with comprehension and activity guides called Book Links. You should definitely check out the program! Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

I am doing MOH, volume 1 this coming year with my dc, 6th and K. Does anyone know of a good suggested reading list for this time period (Creation to the Resurrection)? I want to add to the program for my dd. She reads well above grade level; however, I don't want material that is too mature. Thanks so much! Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

I taught the 7th grade A Beka Science one year at a co-op. It was very thorough and very detailed. I felt like it was a lot of memorizing, and not much critical thinking. I remember one test covered 200 pages of material, which I think is a lot for 7th grade. I have only taught Apologia Biology and Chemistry at the same co-op, and they definitely had more critical thinking. My dd used SOS this year and will next. It's sort of the same in memorizing, but someone gave them to us for free and she actually like science better than last year (we did unit studies). I want to check out BJU. We'll be making the switch to Apologia or BJU by 8th grade at the latest. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

I have used a lot of textbooks over the past 3 years of homeschooling. I've never tried R&S, though. I'm new to learning about classical education and have done traditional almost completely. My favorite company has been Bob Jones, although I'm using a few others. They are expensive to buy new, but you can find a lot of stuff used. I especially like their Book Links, which are novels including comprehension and activites guides for across the subjects. I will definitely be using BJU for reading/english/math for my dd 6th grade. I'm not using them for reading for my ds (K) because he is all ready reading while it teaches to read more slowly at first that I think he needs. I'm doing Horizon's Phonics K, but he'll be in BJU no later than 2nd grade for reading/english. He's doing BJU 1st grade math this coming year. He's a Math lover, so pretty far ahead. My dd did Alpha Omega's SOS(only starts in 3rd grade) this year for science. She really liked it much better than last year, when I just did unit studies with her. I'm going to use it through middle school, but I want her in text books after that (probably BJU or Apologia). I don't want her on the computer too much. We're doing MOH for history together and Roots and Fruits for vocabulary Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

Oh no! I'm going to do history with my dc next year. I'm doing MOH Volume 1. She'll be 6th and he in K. My best friend is doing the same book next year with hers (dd in 7th, dd in 1st). We plan on getting together to do some fun activities. I hope that will help the younger ones appreciate it more. I also purchased History Pockets of Ancient Civilizations for ds and History Pockets of Ancient Greece and Egypt for dd. Does anyone have suggestions of things I "shouldn't" attempt? Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

Does your state offer a virtual school? Georgia has one that is considered a charter school. You are actually registered as a public school student (as I understand it), but you do it on the computer at home. I'm sure a public school curriculum would not be religious in nature. Amy of GA Darin's wife of 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

Our first trip was in mid-Sept and it was great. The crowds were low, there was still some heat, but not terrible. I think crowds were low because it's not a holiday time and kids all across the country are back in school by then. Don't got the week of Columbus Day. I went once then and the crowds were BAD! We did go once the 2nd week of December to see all the Christmas stuff and that was great, too. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

I was thinking in terms of taking the 3 away from the 6 also. Why not cross out the numbers and replace (above) them with 3 and 10? I always crossed out and changed in borrowing in subtraction, why not do it with this? If a child understands it with manipulatives, maybe they should even help decide the way to write it down. Asking the child to do it their own way can give you a better insight to the way they understand it , also. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has one. http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/SummerReading/ Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

I personally like BJU English. I'm not sure what grade level you would use, but they include a lot of writing projects in their text books. My dd did 5th this year. It had 16 chapters. Eight were on grammar, punctuation, etc. The others were all different types of writing projects (narrative, research report, compare/contrast, poetry, play, etc.). The chapters were set in an alternating arrangement of grammar, writing, grammar, writing, and so on. I'm going to order 6th grade for this coming year (I'm still looking for used first), and I've all ready picked up the 7th grade teacher's edition at a used sale. I'm not familiar with the programs you are considering, but I always have my dd do practice tests before doing the actual tests. It helps me identify things we might not have covered. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

My dh teaches at a public high school here. He says they should come visit there if they want a news story. Our county has one of the highest pregnancy rates in GA. We also have the most section 8 housing in the state, or so we've been told. He teaches 10th grade World History. He is dumbfounded at the number of students that will come up and proudly say, "Have you seen a picture of my baby?". It's an epidemic here. We have such poverty here, that I guess more babies means more economic assistance. It just seems to be acceptable, if not encouraged, in the poorer culture here to have children out of wedlock and at a young age. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

I'm actually starting a vocabulary program this year with both my children and my youngest will be Kindergarten. It's called Roots and Fruits. I'll be starting my 5yo with 1 root a week and my 6th grader with 2(one will be the same has his). I hope to add one per week for each by 2nd semester. It is all included in one book, has a suggested lesson plan for the week, and has several review games. I can't say how it will go yet, but I was searching for things they could do together since there is such a big age difference. It was suggested to me by a friend who used it with a 7 and 4 year old. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

My kids are gone, too. We just went on vacation to Williamsburg, VA, drove over to my in-laws in OH, then back to TN to my parents. My dd stayed in OH (they're bringing her back the 29th), and my ds (for the 1st time ever by himself!) stayed in TN and will be back here in GA on the 25th. I'm not sure quite what to think of it???!!! My husband is a school teacher and off, but is teaching half days next week for a special summer graduation test. So we will at least have some really good time together. It feels really weird, though. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

What I would miss the most is a tie between coffee and peanut butter! I don't think I could live without either one! My nephew has to eat gluten-free. My sister called all the local grocery store's headquarters and many of them sent lists to her of their store-brand items that were gluten-free even though the label didn't read so. Wal-Mart lists gluten-free on their Great Value brand stuff when it is. Buying these items has really helped her save money. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

Is this it? I use this a lot. http://www.printfree.com/Calendars.htm Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

I definitely believe there are fun ways to learn these things, without it being labor intensive. We are doing standardized testing every other year with our kids (GA requires every 3), so we know economics, government, etc. are all included. We want to expose them to these topics for that, and it helps them understand the world as it is today. I am preparing them that there is no way we can cover "everything" on the test, but I don't want them to have a bad experience either, if we can prepare and help avoid it. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

I am just starting to learn more about the "keeper at home" concept. I feel that it is more than just the "how" of keeping a home, but the right attitudes in it, including being the support for your husband that he needs, parenting, etc. I think the people who teach this are trying to reclaim something lost in the minds of women, that it is okay to be home. I feel that the attitude from all my teachers was "you can have it all, career, family, home". But no one said how stressful it can be to have all that. I see the many moms in my church who work and kids are in school. I here them complain about how little time there is for housework and cooking, the tons of homework the kids have, etc. I'm grateful I am home and we are homeschooling. My mother was not good at keeping our home. Other than cooking and laundry, she really didn't do much else. She didn't take much time either. Of course, I didn't have much example to follow. I lived with my grandparents when I got out of college (apartment in their basement), and I learned more of my cooking and even car care during that time. I feel that there is also an atmosphere that women should choose to do this rather than academics, that there are clearly defined roles for men and women. I worked before having kids, and only part-time educational things since (tutoring, co-op classes, etc.). I'm glad I have my math degree, because it has afforded us good extra income while I've been home. I'm telling my dd to pray and ask what God would have her do. I am also telling her to keep in mind that she may have kids some day and want to be home with them. There's nothing wrong with asking Him to give her a desire to do something that she could also do from home. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

What is a junket tablet and where do you get them? Thanks for all these ideas. I really appreciate you all taking the time to respond. We will definitely be giving the machine some use this summer! Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

I want to join in, too! I did weight watchers before I started homeschooling and got to my goal weight. Since I started hs 3 years ago, I've gained it all back, plus a little more. I need to lose 25 lbs, but I might make it more so that I have a safety zone. I turned 40 during this time and that's when it got bad. I don't want to diet, I just want to change how I eat and get exercise. I did the points with WW. I just figured out how to eat what I wanted, not any healthier. My goal is eating more raw food, more whole grains, more beans and nuts and water, while eating less sweets and processed foods. I got an exercise bike, an indoor trampoline, and resistance bands. I asked for help with what to do and how often on another thread and someone recommended http://www.sparkpeople.com. It's a free website with meal tracking, fitness videos, etc. We actually leave for vacation on Sunday, so I don't think I'll look at joining that until I get back. I'm going to really try, even on vacation, to watch what I'm eating. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

We usually have ice cream (low fat most of the time). We also keep ready to bake cookies on hand. I feel like that way we can make just what we need without a whole batch needing baking, or a whole bag that's open and tempting. The kids get dessert after supper if they've eaten 3 whole grains and at least 5 fruits/veggies that day. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

We thought we were moving in the middle of treatment, then didn't. I had all ready asked the orthodontist about it. He said that there is a formula that all orthodontists use to help work it out. We thought we might again and haven't yet(dd is only in retainer at night now). He said he would help us find one if we did move. He made it seem like it isn't any big deal at all. I'd talk to you orthodontist and see what he says. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

We've been on break for the same amount of time and so far, so good. Both my kids are good at entertaining themselves, though. They are 6 years apart, so I think that helped some. Our dd had all those years to be used to being alone. I started hs her in 3rd grade, and ds learned then to spend some time alone as well. They also play pretty well together. Do they have friends come over any? We have a few from our neighborhood and we had 4 over yesterday afternoon for a few hours. Why not get together and make a list of fun days of things to do together? If they are involved in the process, they'll probably enjoy it much more. We go on vacation next week, but have started a list for when we get back. I posted this also on the summer school thread. My dh is a public school teacher, so he'll be here, too. We have so far: Dad cooks a gourmet meal Picnics at all the area state parks Scavenger Hunt Star Wars marathon Kids cook all day Board Game marathon ( or even the same game all day to see who wins like Yahtzee). Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

We just got a new homemade ice cream machine. Would anyone be willing to share recipes? Thanks! Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

We won't be doing summer "school". Reading happens year round, but that's it for us. Our summer is short (only 2 months) because dh teaches at a public school and he starts back July 28th. Now my 5 yo may want to do school because he LOVES workbooks, but we'll only do it if he asks. Since Dad is home, we try to spend our time planning fun days here and out. We're working on a list of special days for when we get back from vacation. (Dad cooks a gourmet meal, picnics at nearby state parks, Star Wars marathon, Kids cook all day, scavenger hunt, etc.). There will be days of just stay home and relax, too. I need the break from it, even if they don't! I guess summer was relaxing and fun for me, although I loved school, so I want my kids to have that as well. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds

Do you do any social studies? I plan on covering things like community helpers, holidays, beginning map skills, etc. I'm new to learning about classical education, and there seems to be so much emphasis on history, that I've wondered where the rest of social studies fits in. Amy of GA Darin's wife for 17 years 11yo dd 5yo ds