I also like the fact that it has a Geography section with a list of books by various regions and countries. This book can be as much or as little as you'd like it to be. You could plan your whole curriculum or you could just use by looking up a few extra books on a subject. Good luck,

I had a lot of these episodes with my last pregnancy just last year around those same weeks. Lying down on your left side, drink something sugary or eat graham crackers. At my non-stress tests, when he wouldn't move, they'd use a buzzer/vibrator type thing (yeah it sounds bad... ;) ) but I don't remember when that type of thing would start working. However, if she's not feeling right, I'd go straight to the hospital and have them check. They can relieve your anxiety in just a few minutes or get a start on any issues right away and at 23 weeks, you'd want to get started right away. Good luck,

I have on my DVR the Slave Narratives. I think its an HBO show. I'm not sure how old your kids are OR if you'd find it appropriate, but I've watched it (a long time ago) and it really left a huge impression on me. Both of mine (ds14 & dd11) will watch this in the next month or two as we hit that subject. Here is the link on Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Unchained_Memories_Slave_Narratives/60026512?trkid=2361637 Good luck finding what works for you,

I also appreciate the update. I've been wondering about the comparison of the programs and which would work for you.

I've had a huge success with these items and my ds14 has had a huge success as well: NeoStrata-Lotion-Plus-AHA-15 They also have a gel form that might work better for you. Though both my son and I do well on this even though it is lotion and we both have oily skin. This is the one that really helps the acne the most. Salicylic-Acid-Peel We use this one several times a week. I don't usually wash it off anymore as my skin is used to it. I also don't use it everyday as it will cause your skin to peel. I use plain Apricot Scrub in the morning in the shower and at night I use Phisoderm PH Anti-Blemish Gel Wash: http://www.amazon.com/pHisoderm-Anti-Blemish-Facial-Wash-Balanced/dp/B001ET704A/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1310007491&sr=8-6 Good luck - I hope you find what works for you,

:bigear:

:lol:

Keep it simple....don't get caught up in too many cool books. Ask me how I know. :001_smile: If I could do it over again (oh wait, I can --- that's why I had another :tongue_smilie: ) I would only use these: Children Around the World The Animal Atlas and a World Map If you wanted, Children Around the World has stickers, stories and celebrations. I might add the One Small Square series depending on the kid(s). Have Fun,

Thank you ladies. I thought that was the case, but wanted to make sure. The Nurse Practitioner was sooo young - you'd think she'd know better - we are seeing the doc from now on anyway as the NP just wasn't my style. It's sooo hard to find a doc you love....

I noticed several ladies saying that they've had issues with their intact boys at the ped's office. We just had a baby boy in December and we did not have him circumsized (actually no on even asked us). However, my 14 year old son *is* circumsized. I'm not really sure how to take care of my intact son and at his 6 month well exam, the Nurse Practitioner asked us if we "were working at it"? I still don't know what exactly I was supposed to be "working at". :confused: I didn't think we were supposed to do anything for a while. Anyway, can anyone please point me in the right direction of taking care of him please and making sure they know what they are doing at the ped's office? Thanks,

For the early years, keep it simple. Actually, I recommend that for all years. Check out AmblesideOnline for how they do their music and art appreciation or if you'd like something more laid out, check out Harmony Fine Arts. I'd also recommend just getting books from the library and reading them and just listening to lots of different music/looking at lots of art. The Story of the Orchestra, A Child's Introduction to the Ballet, How Does the Show Go On - An Introduction to the Theater, Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series, plus the Come Look With Me that you are using. Oh, and another wonderful resource is Classics for Kids. Good luck,

My kids have liked anything IMAX or National Geographic and they have some great science documentaries, even history. We love the Young People's Concerts by Leonard Bernstein. Also biographies are great, though you might want to make sure they are ok first. I have a huge list of things in my queue but those stand out to me. If they like NASA or space, there are some great ones there too. Let me know if you want more exact names.

I've used both and I like both but my preference is BF. BF is, IMO, simpler, yet just as thorough, if not more thorough in that less is more. It also leaves room to add in other books you may wish to add from Sonlight or any other curriculum. For our family, Sonlight feels like going to a buffet and eating too much. You come away stuffed and your not quite sure what you ate exactly. This is if you take it as scheduled. When we slow down the schedule, we really enjoy it more. This where BF feels better - you aren't stuffed and you feel like you had a quality meal and can add some dessert even if you like (more books from other sources). Silly analogy, but you get my point. :) Hope it helps. As always, everyone's mileage varies...

My top three are First Language Lessons, Rod and Staff English and CLE Language Arts (in that order). We have settled now on R&S English but we've used all three. R&S is more mastery, in that you work on nouns for several lessons, then verbs, then adjectives, etc. with oral review all along. CLE is more spiral in that you learn a little something new each day and then move on while having review as well each day. CLE also includes spelling (not the greatest IMO) and handwriting (which I do like). I feel more than sure that *everything* will be covered with R&S or CLE - just each in their own way. Hope that helps,

I'm starting this with my kids this fall. I'm not sure how it could be used for your entire language arts, but maybe I'm missing something as well. It's basically only going over a new "root" each day or week and its derivatives. I don't think it will take long at all each day and, if I recall correctly, the author doesn't think so either. The longest part for mine will be copying the root and the derivatives - which I intend to have them do instead of using the flashcards. I'd love to know how she's actually using it for her entire language arts, unless she just uses this and doesn't worry about grammar, spelling, writing, etc. at that age range.

I'm sorry, I'm not there yet myself, so I don't know which level. I would think Level 800 but maybe 700 is enough. We are coming from even further behind, but since my son has delays, I'm just happy he's getting it at the moment. :) It's quite easy to throw in two lessons a day, but I don't do it all the time, just 2-3 days a week. If it helps for planning, there are 16 lessons in each LightUnit. You could also go through the summer maybe? Would you have finished R&S 8 by 9th?

Each math program has its own scope and sequence and they tend to end up at the same place at the end. Compared to R&S, I would think that CLE would save time. My son HATES change. Which is actually why he likes CLE now that we are using it. It is very predictable. Every day is the same routine and he knows exactly how much work to expect. Also, for your son, I don't think its a matter of needing to go in the lower level, but finding where in that level he places. He's probably going to find the earlier light units to much review and the later light units will have more new information for him. I'm basing this on the fact that he scored 84 on the test. He may be able to place further into the 400 level than the beginning. Or, if he takes the test again for the next level, he might surprise you. You know him best; feel free to go with your gut. I can usually tell by the samples or the scope and sequence if I feel he knows the information or not, or, sometimes, I just want him to go over something again that I don't think he's really taken in. You may feel that way with the entire Level 400. Also, know that the first light unit of every level is a review of the previous level. You take a pretest and if you pass, you go on to the next. If you don't pass, it goes over lessons/skills you should know in order to move on through the entire level. I'd start with just one or two light units per child. They do go pretty quickly. My son is VERY behind in math and I have him do two lessons a few days a week now that he's ready for it.

I, too, would put them both in Level 300. If it's only a few things here or there or a majority of just one section (like fractions), then you can easily teach on the fly as they come up in Level 300. There is so much review, I think it will be fine. For your son, I'd look ahead to the next level and just see what you think about the samples. Look at each LightUnit's samples and then you can decide if you think your son should take the next level diagnostic test. Or you could just start in Level 400 and consider anything at the beginning review for him. Good luck; I know its hard to switch programs.

I've seen it discussed alot over on homeschoolreviews.com. Here are a few links that might help: Good luck,

Try Hannah's Helps - its a yahoo group and she made timeline figures for all 4 SoTW books, I think. Here is the link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hannah_hs_helps/ Good luck,

I'm mixed on this. My daughter has a Kindle and I have a Nook Color. We do AmblesideOnline. I love these free books, however, I have found it is hit or miss on the formatting. I used to think this package from Yesterday's Classics was silly; now, I'm not so sure. I'm considering purchasing it myself. *I* can get around in the free books, though its sometimes a pain, but my kids have a little bit harder time (not a ton, but a little). Another site you might want to look at that keeps the pictures in place and, I think, all of the books are $1.99 for Nook, Kindle and a PDF file: http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php Good luck in your decision,

Read-Aloud Books that both my daughter age 8-9 and son 11-12 liked were (the ones with * are favorites): The Birchbark House* Walk the World's Rim Pocahontas and the Strangers The Sign of the Beaver* Roanoke The Lost Colony The Witch of Blackbird Pond* Paddle to the Sea Johnny Tremain* Mr. Revere and I* Childhood of Famous Americans - George Washington Childhood of Famous Americans - Martha Washington Carry On Mr. Bowditch* Fever 1793* (a bit graphic about the sickness) We also loved the Mara Pratt books. Good luck,

I'm using CLE with my dyslexic, learning delayed son and my mathy daughter just started because she liked what she saw my son doing. I've used several math programs over the years. I really liked R&S math but my son couldn't handle the copying of problems. He really likes CLE though especially since its in a workbook format. He also needs the constant review which he gets with CLE. Each lesson is formatted the same way. There are usually 3-4 things to do first, such as count by 4's from 0 to 48 forward and backward, review certain flashcards (they tell you which ones) and do a 1 minute speed drill. I do this with him (and now my daughter too) and I time his speed drill. Then there are 4 pages of math to do. The first page and usually part of the 2nd page are new concepts. I do this "lesson" with him. This all takes about 10 minutes. Then the next section is "We Remember" and he works these problems on his own - usually about 2 pages worth of review. There is more than enough room to do the work even for my son who writes large. We often do two lessons in a day since he's behind but cognitively, he's catching up quite a bit lately. Hope that helps a bit. I'm quite happy with CLE.

I've heard, but not used, that Meaningful Composition is similar to IEW. I've actually bought it but haven't gotten to it yet. It looks good. http://www.tfths.com/comp.php Good luck,

I wish more than anything in the world that I had sought help earlier for my son's OCD. He's always been prone to anxiety and I suspect he's got Aspergers; he is also a preemie (10 weeks early). His anxiety started his first year and got worse from there. He used to tell me when he was around 7 that he couldn't turn his brain off at night time so he could go to sleep. He couldn't stop worrying about things. I just thought it was somewhat normal. Then he started this thing of needing to rub wood (the table, chair, pencils, etc.) but I'm not sure why. That was the first real time I remember a ritual. This would also come and go in phases. I'd be just on the edge of thinking we needed help and then he'd seem somewhat better (though always anxiety ridden). It would then begin again. Puberty was the HUGE catalyst for us though. He started around 11-12. His major ritual right now is washing his hands or using hand sanitzer. We also have a new baby and he is terrified of him. He won't get close, hold or touch the baby or any baby things (germs mostly - but something else I'm not totally understanding as well). He has other smaller rituals and I'm sure some that he doesn't even tell me about. All that to say, YES, please get some extra help on this. I cry frequently over this and regret so much not getting help sooner. You can even look back over my own posts here asking if I could treat this myself and we tried. It just spirals out of control. He's currently on Zoloft and needs to go higher on his meds though I worry greatly about this. We will be beginning therapy next month as well. We are also adding in Inositol but haven't gotten to therapeutic levels yet. Ask away here, as I'm sure we all understand what you are going through. I had to smile several times while reading this thread because I know exactly what each one is talking about. Good luck,