This will be our fourth year of Latin. Not sure what we'll use yet....still winding up LFC "C". I do have Henle on hand. Julie

I respectfully disagree with all of the previous posters. The Right Start math program is outstanding, and the games book is not anywhere near the same as the full program. Please try Right Start "B" for your first grader. My 10-year-old has gone through the whole program (he started with "B", which goes through most of "A" just at a faster pace) and it has been the best curriculum of any in our homeschool career. He still sees "7" as five with two. He doesn't have to count his cards when he plays cards! (I believe he sees the five as three and two, but I'm not sure on that.) But I guess my response is predictable. We are RS users who supplement with Singapore! Julie

My favorites are "How to Raise a Happy, Unspoiled Child" and "The First Three Years of Life." Both are by Burton White. I can't say how thankful I am that I found them when my son was a baby. They are not inconsistent with attachment parenting, so don't let the "unspoiled" in the title fool you. I also enjoyed the books by Dr. Sears. Julie

I liked the book "Backtalk: 4 Steps to Ending Rude Behavior" http://www.amazon.com/Backtalk-Steps-Ending-Rude-Behavior/dp/068484124X/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top/175-7410060-3660907 It is a very simple method (and basically similar to the methods posted here). Step #4 is essential: disengage from struggle with the backtalker. Good luck! Julie

I don't necessarily think Latin has to be first, but I wouldn't start the two languages at the same time. Elementary Greek is written very clearly and simply -- we love it! But like someone else said, it will be much easier if the child has done two years of Latin. OR, Latin will be much easier if the child has done two years of Elementary Greek. The whole idea of "cases" and how they add a ton of meaning to each noun will not be new when the child learns the second language. And the cases perform the same function, at least in the beginning levels. For example, the genitive is used to show possession in both Greek and Latin. We did Elementary Greek Book One and Latin for Children Primer C at the same time and it worked out very well. My son loved the "art" aspect of Greek. Since forming the letters uses the right side of the brain and figuring out which words to use (which case, singular or plural, which verb form)utilizes the left side, it is a wonderful whole-brain experience. Have fun! You have time, you have lots of time. (Yeah, I ignored everybody who told me that too.) Julie

I just wanted to add that this is the way Right Start teaches math too. My son never did memorize the addition/subtraction facts. He just does stuff like this in his head. Well, he sees the abacus --- for 8 +5, he would see 8 combined with 2 of the 5 to make 10 (all the same color on the abacus), plus three leftover on the top. Don't know if this makes any sense, but it doesn't matter because I just wanted to make the point that it is pretty much the same philosophy. I was impressed recently because my son used the Right Start method of really figuring stuff out, really understanding it, to multiply fractions. I was tempted to teach him the algorithm, but he can do it without it. Dr. Cotter would have been very irked if I had taught him the algorithm without really understanding it. Julie

at the time I saw it, your post was right next to the one about pouring syrup on one's pancakes. LOL!

:lol::lol::lol: And then I saw the text in WHITE. You do know that text in white is uh, invisible, don't you? Anyway, this is the most clever post I've seen in a very, very long time. And somehow it's not even offensive (right Ravin?) Julie

Nothing! Yay. Less than 800 sq. ft. house (no garage), on a big lot for "downtown." It's actually two lots, but the lots are teeny around here so that isn't saying much. I think property taxes are around $2,000/year, but I'm not sure. I paid $1,000 extra every month whenever I could. It added up over the years. Once I paid $10,000 extra when I got an inheritance. That sure helped! ETA: Ooooh, I'm a "forager bee." Do those really exist? Julie

Low serotonin levels (the cause of depression in many people) allows less REM sleep. This is because serotonin is manufactured during the day, when we're awake, but at night it is metabolized into melatonin, which makes us sleepy and immobilizes our muscles so that we don't walk around when we dream. If our brains aren't working right and we have insufficient serotonin (depression), we also have insufficient melotonin (insomnia). But if it's any comfort, I feel better mood-wise when I get less sleep. I can't work this out logically --- I guess it's because serotonin is only manufactured when it's light and one is awake. So here in Alaska we need the light therapy to help our brains make sufficient serotonin. Best of luck (or not -- I just read the other thread!!)-- she will feel better soon. Julie

See this link for more information: http://www.bbb.org/us/SitePage.aspx?site=70&id=78852e83-4c10-44db-a846-8aeddde96045&ctl09_gc1_s_rgNewsChangePage=15&art=5218 I think if it was from the Federal Government (U.S. Treasury), they would enclose a statement as to why they are sending it to you. And usually they DON'T send you money, they ask for more! Please be careful. And for SURE don't spend the "money" once you have deposited it, or you will find yourselves overdrawn once the bank realizes it is not good. This may take a while, so be sure to wait a few weeks at least. If I were you, I wouldn't even bother to deposit it. Julie

They overuse the present progressive terribly. It should only be used to emphasize that something is happening right now. Otherwise, the present tense should be used. Hope this makes sense...

So at least you won't be as cold as we were! I like the idea of staying in Larkspur and saving a few $$, but be sure to get a ferry schedule so you don't waste time waiting for the ferry. If you do want to stay in SF, we very much liked the Argonaut. It is a Kimpton Hotel, so join the Kimpton Honors club before you book (no charge) and you will get a room upgrade. But don't reserve the lowest grade of room, because you might get it and they really, really small. So I would suggest splurging on a bay view room if you can. We had a view of the Golden Gate bridge and were only about 20 yards from the terminus of the cable car. We were also within walking distance of Greens Restaurant, which is spendy but very good. And there is a really good restaurant across the street (towards the water, not towards Ghirardelli Square) at which we ate numerous times. It has an Italian name and the food and service are wonderful. Check my review at tripadvisor.com. I'm "mamayogini" there. If your 11yo is coming with you, he might like Zeum. It is a children's museum that is high tech. We didn't know about it, but the doorman at the Argonaut told us to check it out. It was my son's favorite part of the trip. The Academy of Sciences was not open yet when we were there, but there is a wonderful view of the whole area from the top floor of the DeYoung Museum which is right next door to that. If the weather had been nicer, we would have rented bikes and ridden to Tiburon, like someone else suggested. There is a very interesting little museum right at the bottom of the G G Bridge..... you just walk along the waterfront from the hotel, or take a cab if the weather is really rainy. It is called Fort Point Historic Park: http://www.nps.gov/fopo/ It was closed when we got there, but it still intrigued us. We watched the surfers instead. All of this is quite near the Exploratorium, which is OK but not one of the best science museums in the country. We also went to Muir Woods, which is kind of wierd for Alaskans to do but there is a lot of interesting historical information there. That is on the Marin County side of the G G Bridge. That's all I can remember.... have fun! Oh, I just remembered one more way cool thing about the Argonaut Hotel. A branch of the Maritime Museum is located in the lobby! I hope it wasn't just while the real museum was being renovated, which it was when we were there. So if your dh wanted to sleep late, your kids could go to the Maritime Museum and hang out reading way cool books and looking at displays! Julie

Well, we haven't done RS Geometry yet but we did do B, C, D, and E. I just want to add in responsexto the person who said that Level E doesn't have enough division practice..... Oh my word. It has lots!!! It is just spread throughout the program, and there is plenty in the final ten lessons. Level E does not pretend to be a full decimals and fractions program. Dr. Cotter has just not completed such a book yet. I admit that I was puzzled over the long division method in RS, but my child did not seem to be puzzled. I did love the way it taught short division, though.

Math: Singapore 5 (with CWP 4), Life of Fred Decimals and Percents, possibly take a look at RS Geometry. Ds loves geometry, and the Right Start program. LATIN: Really open to advice here. Finishing LFC Primer C now (we homeschool year-round). Possibly Henle (I own this) or Latin Prep 2 ??? Advice appreciated on this. Will continue with Lingua Latina -- Familia Romana. HISTORY: Finish SOTW 4, and possibly begin some sort of ancients study based on suggestions in Latin-Centered Curriculum. Mostly because I really want to do the IEW Ancients book. GRAMMAR: Finish GWG 5 (this summer), either move to GWG 6 or R&S 6. I've never bought R & S before, but I looked at samples online and am intrigued by its rigor. LITERATURE: will muddle along with WTM's help. WRITING: CW Homer, but also IEW Ancients in case we get fed up with Homer. MUSIC: violin lessons, orchestra, chamber ensemble ART: occasional art classes at the local art center SCIENCE: The Elements and also Carbon Chemistry. Same author -- I can look it up if you are curious. P.E.: mostly karate and some skiing. He does yoga when I insist, like when he is stressing out about something. SPELLING: Scripps Spelling Bee study, and possibly continue with Spelling Workout G? That's all I can think of --- he does a lot of Lego Robotics, but probably no competition next year. Julie

What did Hunter do before Latin Prep 2? My ds finished Latin for Children Primers A, B & C and we might do Henle next year but we aren't sure. Primer C got pretty hairy towards the end....there seems to be an annoying leap to much more challenging stuff, like all of a sudden they are translating English into Latin??? Anyway, I'll have to remember that your son studies violin and Latin too. My son just won the local concerto competition in his division -- woohoo! Almost all of the competitors were homeschoolers, which did not go unnoticed by the judges. Thanks, Julie

My favorite book for kids is "A Pebble For My Pocket" by Thich Nhat Hahn. It is written directly to the child, but the tone is as one peer to another, like a confidante or mentor might talk to the youth. My favorite part is when he talks about how statues of bodhisattvas are sometimes shown as having many arms because they can do a thousand things at one time. Then he suggests that "perhaps your mom is a bodhisattva...she can take care of you , cook, do her job, run errands.... Moms and dads often have more than two arms if you look closely." the book offers lots of helpful strategies to the children, like what to do when they get angry. I really wish we had a children's program near us. Best wishes, and be sure to let me know if you're going to a Buddhist family camp and I'll meet you there! Julie

My suggestion is that she do GWG 5 for fourth grade. That's what my son did. Actually, he also did FLL 1/2, then GWG 3 for third grade, then GWG 5 for fifth grade. He loves diagramming, and GWG teaches that. We are thinking of Rod & Staff 6 for next year, though. Haven't decided for sure yet. We are not Christian, so that's a factor. But R&S seems to be more character-based than spiritual, from what I've seen. Julie

Edited: I was going to tell you how to accent Yoo-wen-is but now I realize that I have no idea. YOO-we-nis?

If you don't respond to the friend request, they can't ask again. If you hit the "ignore" button, I'm not sure but I still don't think they can ask again. So in other words, they can't "ask repeatedly." Hope that helps a little. What I THOUGHT you were going to ask is if you ignore your friends in real life if you do Facebook. And yes, you do. Because you feel like you told them something, but you didn't. Julie

I would second the suggestions of Henry and Mudge as well as Mr. Putter and Tabby. I even saved them for grandchildren because they were so well-loved. I wanted to add that I saved the first book that made my son cry. I knew he would want to keep it, and to tell the story to his children. It is out of print (grrr), but is called Toohy and Wood by Mary Elise Monsell. He was six years old. If you are a Buddhist, it is especially hilarious. But no matter one's persuasion, it is a very sweet book about finding one's home. Julie

I would add Susan Pope Osborne's Tales from the Odyssey. She is the same author as the Magic Treehouse books, but for some reason these books are in a league of their own. http://www.marypopeosborne.com/work11.htm There are six books, as I recall. Enjoy! Julie

Can you find a little more in your budget? Because when they revamped the Primer A videos, they made them better. They added extra explanations about tricky grammar concepts, and they slowed down the chants a little. I hope you can find a few more $$ in your budget (or sell some old curricula), because the DVD is a lot of fun. Julie

I am in the 45-50 age range (48 or so). Lookie at what a perfect curve we have made in the distribution! I haven't ever taken statistics in school, but I'm sure that is called something!

I can't have my mother take care of my ds because she doesn't discipline at all. In fact, when I correct him about something (or remind him to say thank you, or whatever) she says RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM, "Oh, he is fine. He is doing nothing wrong." Or, "He did say thank you." Well, I am right there and he took the gift and ran, he did not say thank you. I was raised with no discipline, and it is not a gift. But I do emphathize with you and if I were you, I would no longer ask (or allow) them to watch your dc. They need consistent "parenting" that is not contradictory. JMHO. Best wishes! Julie