So I have two spelling curriculums I purchased that won't work. I bought Spelling Power and I just can't wrap my head around it, let alone me teach it to her. She's a 'natural speller' and is more advanced in spelling/reading than writing and comprehension. She likes Spelling Workout, but I'm tired of spending money buying books that aren't challenging enough for her. (Just bought D and a flip through confirms it is too easy.) The buy it and see is getting old fast. I'm wondering if there's some internet or computer based all in one spelling program that can tailor itself to her needs without me needing to purchase multiple levels to find out where she is?

I'm about to start AAS as a remedial tool for my dd. After going through the beginning of the book, I'm starting to wonder if it can be used for my 5 y/o ds for learning to read? He already knows his letters well and we're currently using OPG, but I am thinking AAS may be a better alternative. Anyone done this before?

Thanks everyone. So how can I hear this SWB lit analysis you guys are talking about?

I'm wondering how other families use book lists. I am interested in using the list of Sonlight books for my dds (3rd and 4th grade). From what I researched, some people were saying that the instruction guide wasn't helpful. So, I was wondering if I could just acquire the books and do some study from them. How does one go about doing this? Do you utilize narration exercises? If so, do you have any tips to share?

The girls are 9 and 10, but they are a grade level behind. Yes, they definitely feel okay to voice their opinions on what they want. I'm not sure if the color makes a difference. I think student directed would be good. Is Calvert Math considered more teacher or student directed? I think student directed would be good for my girls because they seem to (especially the 9 y/o) want to get it done once they've got it and they don't want me interfering. Manipulatives don't seem to need to be a great focus for curriculum. BTDT with MUS and don't care for the video aspect.

We've been doing Calvert Math for two years. It's getting more advanced now and I'm finding a lot more difficulty following the TM to help my dds get the more advanced concepts. It's something about the layout that just makes me mind do a literal eyeroll and it's driving me batty! I'm considering switching, but I don't want to since the girls like it. I feel like I'm forcing myself to go with it just for them, but its not helping me help them. I just don't know what to do about it. Does anyone have any advice?

Ok, thanks for the clarification.

I've been looking at Sonlight and I think it'd be a good fit for my girls because they love historical stuff. However, the books don't come with the instruction guide. I'd be adapting it to be used secularly and have read that the IG is very religious. Soooooo....what I'm trying to ask is if it's possible to just use the books? If so, how would I incorporate them into a lesson? Also, are there any alternative suggestions to Sonlight? Experienced hsers, please help!

I just wanted to comment on the comment about arranged marriages. I know it's a common misconception that the woman has no say so in who she marries, but that isn't always the case. I'm Muslim and I choose my husband. Muslims who force their daughters or sons into marriage are involved in sin as this is prohibited from the religion. Forced marriages are purely cultural in origin and have no foundation from the religion. I was 17 when I married my dh and have been married to him for almost 13 years. My guardian (father in my situation) was involved from start to finish and his involvement is mandatory or the marriage isn't valid. I talk to my young dds all the time about their future husbands. When they desire marriage, they should have me and dh's full support.

Thanks for the input Lori. It just seems like they're expected to write sentences about a favorite pet or place they've been and they don't know the rules of capitalization, apostrophes, or other punctuation. Do I just ignore these mistakes? Do I correct them even though they don't know the why behind the mistakes?

We're doing Calvert and I'm not pleased with the level of grammar instruction so I need to supplement. FLL is SO not working for us and neither is Rod and Staff. Could someone give some alternative programs to consider? The dds are in first and second grade. Thanks.

OMG, I had to LOLOLOLOL (hope I didn't disturb the kids) when I read this one. I just had a flashback to my grandmother's bedspread back in the 80's. I do believe it had that same type of ornamentation on it! I'm not usually into first ladies and their dresses, but I'm sorry Mrs. Obama's fashions are just ugly to me, but then again a lot of stuff those big time designers make are typically like this.

Carmen, you're on the right track, but missing a little something. Yes, the thyroid needs D, but more importantly, it needs iodine and your whole body needs iodine more than a hundred pounds of iodine in sea vegetables would be able to get into your body. Women's breasts are the second gland in line to uptake the iodine in the body and that's why there's so much fibrocystic breast disease and cancer, and so on. Also, some sea vegetables are known to be contaminated with arsenic. It's just like how your body needs more C than an orange a day grown on depleted soils will get you so supplementing is necessary. Also, another way to get the Vitamin D without risking sun exposure is to use one of those indoor light machines. I don't have any specific links to share, but just google 'vitamin D light machine' or something of that nature and I'm sure something will come up.

It's automatic and no special download is necessary.

LOL, your kids too? This thread brings back memories. My mom got them an old VHS tape called Trials of Life and my kids played the tape till it broke down or maybe they broke the VCR first and the VCR broke the tape? They literally memorized the whole tape including the narration, music in the background and the sounds the animals made! I can hear my kids imitating the thick British accent in my head now, lol.

Just another note, my tiny explanation of iodine barely scratches the surface and its way deeper than that. If the OP or anyone else would like any reputably sourced info on iodine supping, feel free to PM me.

I think it's hard because the odds are stacked against the masses in their quest to be healthy. Most people are spinning their wheels and thinking they're being healthy, but in actuality the answers to many illnesses are too simplistic to be profitable. Believe it or not, the powers that be in health/nutrition in this country aren't out for the masses to be healthy because people wouldn't need/require the services of health care providers. If you really want to lessen your odds against cancer, research iodine supplementation. Start your journey with the book by Dr. Brownstein called Iodine: Why you need it and why you can't live without it. The newest edition is available on his website at drbrownstein.com. He and some other doctors apart of 'The Iodine Project' are researching this vital nutrient and its various uses in the body of which apoptosis (programed cell death) is a major function. (No cell death = cancer). Heavily flouridated population plus bromide used in many whole grain organic foods and environment = iodine displacement in the tissues where its needed. He and his colleagues have had much success in treating people with many different health problems. I stumbled upon it after dealing with my own personal health challenges of which allopathic medicine doesn't know anything about. BTW, there's still mass ignorance in the medical community about iodine and how much we require due to faulty research done decades ago. This short article explains how this came to be: http://cypress.he.net/~bigmacnc/drflechas/IOD4.htm To put it bluntly, iodine is cheap and easy to use and cannot be pantented. Iodine used to be the primary 'medicene' used by doctors in the early 20th century before big pharma took over the health care system of this country.

In my dh's experience, when he had constant signal problems, it was the phone that was the problem and not the towers and/or lack of enough of them in the area (we were in NJ at the time). He would call me several times and I eventually would stop answering the phone because when I picked it up I heard nothing. My SIL schooled us on the fact that some cell providers tend to give you refurbished phones apart of their special promotions and when you have problems with it, you take it back to the store and they give you another of the same model or a different one that is still refurbished. These phones tend to have manufacturing flaws that just can't be repaired. Sometimes you keep going through this same cycle over and over usually until you upgrade to a better quality phone. After dh ditched that phone, he had no problems again. He had a friend that literally had several phones that had horrible signal problems. I think he fell into the refurbished trap.

I have the Brother DCP 7020 also and I really love it. It was about $200 on Amazon. I did many comparisons with other models by scanning the reviews with a fine tooth comb. I'm really happy with my purchase. One thing to do if you get it is to ONLY use it with the USB cable. The scanner will not work at all with the serial cable and it takes an extremely long time for the info to travel through to the machine when using it as a printer. I figured this one out myself after dealing with the clueless customer service. Another thing is that you have to buy the USB cable yourself. I just happened to have one lying around.

OMG. I can't believe this age is right around the corner. I wasn't even thinking about it because I've never been 'hormonal' except for the brief PPD stint after rapidly weaning my dd several years ago. Thanks for the reminder to be on the lookout as I think I may not be as sensitive a mommy as I should.

Thanks for the responses. CalicoKat, you described my dds to a tee! Its nice to know that my kids aren't the only ones that love to tear into stuff. I admit that I think with our other curriculum, I wasn't as stringent about keeping them in tip top shape since a lot of it was used or consumable, but now with all those shiny new books, I was getting nervous. I'll check into the metal cabinet thing. I REALLY wanted us to move into a 4br so we could have a dedicated classroom, but it just didn't work out. I was wondering what alternatives there were for kids like this.

Thank your dh so much for the instructions! They were perfect. The hard drive was right where he said it was. I always find it so cool when I do my own computer stuff with instructions from kind folks on the net.

I am thrilled that we were able to get the Calvert curriculum and those boxes of curriculum are so alluring to the girls (7 and 8) and my toddler. I plan on participating in the exchange program. I admit that my children aren't the best at keeping their books in decent condition. I'm afraid that they'll do stuff to them when we're not doing school since they are in love with reading any new things that come in the house. I was wondering if any other parents have kids like mine and lock up their books? If so, what do you use?

We're moving and I want to remove my hard drive from the computer before giving or throwing it out. I have no idea where it is or what it looks like. Here's a pic below. Can someone give me at least some idea where it is and how to take it out?

My dd is a pretty good reader, but I'm not sure exactly what'd be challenging enough for her, but not too difficult. The book list in WTM seems to have too many levels together and hard for me to distinguish them all. I have Swiss family Robinson (Wyss version), but some of the vocabulary is a bit too advanced for her. I don't want her to lose interest. Should I stick with it and help her with all the words? I'm not sure what would be a good fit.