My son was verbal from a very young age. (I only mention this because it is what prevents most very young people from "telling us" about their past lives.) He used to talk about "a long time ago, when I was your sister." I never really linked up my views on abortion with my Buddhist views, so your post is very interesting to me. I just thought I would add that very young people usually have more knowledge of previous lives than we might think. If you ever get a chance to hear Hiroshi Motoyama speak, or even to read his book, "Karma and Reincarnation," I highly recommend it. He speaks of the "causes and conditions" that need to come about in order to unite a soul with parents. Usually there is some strong prior bond between the soul and one of the parents (sibling, spouse, friend). Thanks for sharing your views with us. Julie

If it was music appreciation that you dropped, I was wondering if you have seen (or were already using) a wonderful book called "Story of the Orchestra" by Robert Levine. I can't keep my son from reading it and listening to the CD! Now, if you are talking tuba lessons, can't help. Sorry! Julie

I have one suggestion (do I get points for simplicity?): get exercising. Be accountable to an early-morning exercise buddy (or 8:00 p.m. if that's the only time you can get away) and do it. Every day, or every other day, but no less frequently. Once you get over the shock of beginning, it will do so much for your mood, your outlook on life, and your energy level. I won't get into the whole depression topic. I just wanted to suggest something that would help right now. Just be glad this is the 21st century. I have been taking anti-depression medication since being hospitalized in 1980, and the only meds available back then made you so groggy and lethargic. I was no longer suicidal, but only because I didn't have enough energy to formulate a plan. Not to joke about suicide, of course. I just wanted to say that we should count our blessings that we live in a century in which depression is treatable. Our great-grandparents didn't have such options. Oops, guess I'm getting "into" it. But one more important thing. Many people have to experience three or four different prescriptions before finding a medicine that helps them. Depression comes in all forms and is caused by imbalances in more than one brain chemical. Serotonin is not the cause for everyone. (It is often a factor, though, which is why serotonin uptake inhibitors are so popular. These were not available when I was younger.) And some advice for you NOW: when you are worried about something, try to stick with just that one thing. Be worried about your son learning math. Don't let the laundry and "what are we going to have for dinner" come into your brain and trespass. We get overwhelmed and reactive (that's a Buddhist thing, sorry). Try to just do one thing. Even saying it out loud helps: "I'm sorry you don't have a clean shirt, honey. I'm doing dishes right now. We'll talk about laundry later." Don't let it all cave in on you! Peace & hugs, Julie

I['ve] never: ~been to Kentucky (but I know some nice folks who live there!) ~been asked, "will you marry me?" ~imagined that I would be a parent, much less a homeschooling one! I never wanted to have children. Not once did the desire or thought ever enter my mind, and it actually sounded kinda awful to me. From the "outside," parenting seemed noisy, chaotic, stressful. Smelly. But once my son found me, I knew that he would be my best friend. All together now, "Aaaaw." Julie

I don't schedule Singapore; I just use it when we need a break from Right Start. That way we don't have to take a break from math completely. I like Challenging Word Problems, but Intensive Practice just seems wierd to me. (True confessions: it stumped me completely.) I have the Home Instructor's Gude this year which helps tremendously. While I schedule "math", I must confess that I don't schedule which lesson is done which day. As long as we do something productive mathematically, I'm good. It usually takes us 12 months to finish each school year, but we take lots of breaks (1 or 2 weeks at a time). OK, that was completely unhelpful. Sorry! Julie

Again, I chose poor words when I said "school hours." I didn't mean brick-and-mortar school hours. I meant the hours that YOUR FAMILY has chosen for school. Whatever works for you is great. I do know people that don't leave time for any school. They obviously don't manage their time well. We do not base our "school" on the local school district's schedule. We take days off, weeks off, and school most of the summer because that's when my husband works every day (including weekends). So we don't take "summer vacations." I guess I am such a homeschooler that "school hours" has come to mean the hours that we are in our house homeschooling! I am just learning to keep those sacred and not be distracted by the priorities of others outside our homeschool. Julie

I would never suggest going to the grocery store when the rest of the world does if you don't have to! I was typing fast and shouldn't have used the phrase "during school hours." That is a loaded phrase and you obviously reacted to that. What I meant was, in the morning I wouldn't say, "OK, I have to do the grocery shopping and fix the broken screen door and do at LEAST four loads of laundry. And if we get to some math or Latin, even better!" It should be the other way around. Let the laundry pile up until some time when the homeschooled child is not schooling. Now, if you have not PLANNED to do any school that day, that is a different story. I don't care whether you school at midnight on Saturday night or 7:00 a.m. on Tuesdays. What I was addressing is families that just don't get around to it. Other posters have addressed this pretty well. Everyone has such different schedules that it is hard to word this so that it makes sense. YOU know how many hours each day it takes you to finish what you call "one week" of school. I have no idea what "Week 14" means because my schedule doesn't work that way. You know what I mean? I guess what I was saying is that I DO put just as much work, planning and effort into homeschooling as I have into any of my paid, full-time jobs. What I keep reminding myself of is that the public school teacher doesn't leave to do errands until the kids are at recess (or they're done for the day). And even more pertinent to our home, she doesn't answer the phone! Because it is her/his job. Those kids. It's about them, and they need our time, our effort, our very best work so they can grow up to do their very best work. I hope that clears up my message a little. Julie

And I worry for those children whose "teachers" do not consider it to be their primary job. I know lots of them, sadly. (What I mean here is that for some folks, schooling comes (if at all!) after all the other family necessities/activities like grocery shopping, gardening, home maintenance. I think grocery shopping should be done outside of school hours, unless the child is actively involved with it somehow and it really is a learning activity. Perhaps others disagree. I also know families in which one or more children have such major needs (disabilities or emotional challenges) that it seriously interferes with the education of other "home-schooled" children in the family. You can guess why I put "homeschooled" in quotes here. Julie

I would encourage you to at least look at Right Start "D." Many of the things you have heard on this board is that the program spends a lot of time on multiplication. Well, that isn't strictly true; it just appears that way. What it spends a lot of time on is multiples. Same thing, you say? Not really. After a child has worked through RS "D", she can look at a number and instantly say whether "7" is a factor of it. Does it use that language? No, and that's why many parents believe that it spends "too much time" on multiplication. I will confess that I said EXACTLY the same thing ("when are we going to move on?") and then a huge lightbulb went off. Remember in algebra when you had to simplify by factoring out as much as you can first? A child who has completed RS "D" can do that very quickly and easily. Just my opinion -- I'm in a hurry so I might appear too blunt. Sorry! I can also speak to the Singapore issue because I use those books too. The transition you mention would work well. I have all these books, though, and would recommend the Teacher Guide if you don't have it. We are starting Singapore 4A now (along with Right Start "E"), so if you have any questions about how those compare, let me have 'em. By the way, I am completely puzzled by the comments that RS "E" doesn't have "enough" work with fractions, percents and decimals. Ds has been adding and subtracting fractions (proper and improper) for weeks now. Perhaps people don't see "worksheets" in this program and think it's not covered? Dunno. Julie

We have done Right Start since my son was a young 6yo. We also started with "B". I do think Right Start is one of the more advanced math programs out there, and that there are a lot of very challenging questions in there. Don't sweat every single question, particularly if YOU don't get it! The program really promotes mastery, and they use a lot of different ways to "get there." So IMO, you don't need to be proficient in every single "way" to "get there." My son is now 9 and in RS "E." Very challenging! Just as a comparison, he can whip through Singapore Math but RS makes him really think. Hope that helps a bit. There are a few spots in RS "B" that you might want to stop and play the suggested games for a while. A lot of folks take 12 or 15 months to get through "B." We did! Have fun, Julie

Two words. Two words that have never been a part of my world before. Two words that will cause a little shudder to cascade down your spine, and the hair to stand up on the back of your neck. (Scroll way down, so those who don't have the stomach for it don't have to read it.) Back fat. 'Nuff said. (Caught a mirrored glimpse of the back of my hormonally bloated body getting into the shower...) Julie

Babysitter (only because my mom made me babysit the neighbor kid) Charged the other kids for driving them to school! Jack-in-the Box Cashier insurance clerk showed slides during lectures in graduate school contemporary art auctioneer in NYC (oh, the glamour!)--I got to meet Steve Martin because he collects contemporary art word processor at insurance firm (before PC's) art sales accounting clerk for Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI legal secretary for HUGE medical malpractice firm librarian in a small town domestic violence counselor - in a "safe home" tour bus driver/guide in Alaska (Princess Tours) court clerk (civil matters, including domestic violence restraining orders) medical coder Oh my, I'm sure there are more. Can you tell that I had to move many, many times due to military transfers! This all makes me tired. I like homeschooling much better. I am also the treasurer of our local nonprofit yoga center and the secretary of our Buddhist center. Those jobs keep me hopping. Julie

I had already experienced a lot (career, travel) and didn't feel "trapped" at home with the baby. Just content and happy to be with the baby and watch the miracle unfold. I'm not saying that younger parents don't feel this way too, it's just that if I had been a 20-something parent I think I would have been anxious to start or resume a career. But at 37, I had found that looking for fulfillment at work (or through accomplishments in general) doesn't work. I suppose it takes many of us a lifetime to realize that. Downside? I assume that pregnancy is easier for young women. But the patience that I brought to parenting is worth the stretched-out ligaments that never quite bounced back..... Julie

that the Alaska reimbursement for homeschooling supplies and "guided instruction" (music lessons, etc.) has nothing to do with taxes. We pay the same federal taxes as everyone else does, and there is no state income tax so that is not at issue here. If I am not mistaken, it is property taxes that go to public schools. We pay them just like those who don't have any children and like those whose children attend them. We get reimbursed (around $1700 per school year, depending on grade level) for books, materials (like maps, microscopes, musical instruments) guided instruction like music lessons (or soccer), etc. Then the materials belong to the homeschooling organization and must be returned after you are finished with them. Except for the music lessons of course -- no way to return those! They do not reimburse for religious materials, but I'm not sure how religious the materials need to be. In other words, would we get reimbursed for Rod & Staff English? I think we would, actually. It will be interesting to see if we get reimbursed for Greek for Children, since all the memory verses are from the Bible. Or we can just have the homeschooling organization order it for us with a purchase order, and then no reimbursement is needed. I think the reason that religious materials are not paid for by the State of Alaska is the same reason that they would not pay our tuition to the local Christian school (or Hebrew school if we had one). The Montessori school here in our town is a public school, however, because they chose to be. I realize that many Montessori schools are private so that they have more freedom. (Our Montessori school is always at odds with the public school administrators, so I'm sure they wish they were private. They just didn't have the money to rent or buy a space.) Obviously I have no problem getting money from the state for my homeschooling supplies. They do not PAY me for being the teacher, so I figure I am still $40,000 in the hole. I haven't homeschooled in any other state, so I can only speak to Alaska. I do understand with my conversation with Tammy (Tamy?) of Growing with Grammar that we have a rare situation here. (She had never paid much attention to their receipts at GWG because most people don't need to use them for reimbursement purposes.) Sorry so wordy. Julie

I second the recommendation of Lee's book. It is quite the eye-opener. Julie

LOL here! Funny how my son's violin is WAY too heavy for him to carry the five blocks to violin lesson, but any new Lego purchase, no matter how many pieces or how big the box, can be carried for miles. Or how HUNGRY and TIRED and (yawn) SLEEPY he can be during violin practice....then ten minutes later (with no snack in between) he is happily playing Legos or Spore. No yawning, no mention of food or sleep. Sigh. Oh, and a story that isn't all that relevant. I used to volunteer at the gym childcare in exchange for membership. One day a parent drops her 2yo off in the childcare and says, "I am SO tired. She was up all night with the stomach flu." Ummmm, okey dokie. Julie

Yes, I would also suggest just starting "B" in 1st grade (though since you already have "A", perhaps start that in January or February). The reason why it would work is that "B" incorporates all of "A", just at a faster pace. Since she's a young "k"-er, why not start kindergarten in January and consider her a preschooler now? UNLESSSSS..... Is there a possibility that it's too easy for her? I couldn't tell from your post. If not, see previous paragraph. :) No point quitting RS if she's not ready for any math program yet. RS "A" is very gentle. OK so I've never seen it -- but my son started "B" in the spring of his K year and the first part was extremely gentle. One more tip about "A" - the child is not expected to succeed at EVERY task. The reason why there are so many different ways to "see" a number (taps, tally sticks, fingers, beads) is that there are so many different types of children. Auditory learners will respond to the taps, but many children can't identify a number that way. Have fun with your 5yo. Julie

My son and I totaled our vehicle two years ago, and we were basically uninjured as well. But we were knocked around pretty bad and my son slept a lot the first couple of days. (We rolled the car into a snowbank and ended up upside down hanging from our seatbelts.) She (dd) may want to talk about it a lot, so please give her the space to do that. I know you will. My son kept asking, "Wasn't that scary?" for a long time afterwards. He was really sore. It gave us both a new appreciation for the short time that we have together here. Best wishes to your family. You are special friends on this message board -- to all of us. Julie

I love the Minimus CD. I think it is essential to the program, and the pronunciation is wonderful on them. (They do classical pronunciation.) I was especially impressed by the children's pronunciation. You can hear the cat (Vibrissa) and the mouse (Minimus?) on the CD. Wow, it was almost two years ago and I still remember: "Minimus sum. Mus sum." The quality of the CD was fine -- perhaps the reviewer on Amazon had a bootleg copy? If it is just one reviewer, don't worry about it. Don't worry if you can't afford the teacher's book. It is useful in that it has extra grammar exercises and just extra info in general. But it would still be fun without it. Without the CD? Not so much. Oops, forgot to say this is just my opinion!!!! Julie

Wow, Linear B! I think you get some sort of prize for that.....and if someone ever makes an annoying comment to you at a party or something, you can start talking about Linear B.....that can be our new "pass the bean dip!" My son loves languages and I won't be the least bit surprised if he eventually branches out to Hebrew and Arabic.

I really appreciate all the responses and am encouraged. I am looking forward to our journey with Greek. Julie

Enjoy your little one, and congratulations to big sister and dad as well! Doesn't it make you think that maybe they were just enjoying themselves so much in there that they didn't want to come out? No waiting for meals, no lack of cuddling, no being away from mom. ;) Mine did the same thing (3 weeks late), and he was 10 pounds. Just lazy, I think! He still likes to sleep late now that he's nine...... We are all so happy for you, OhE. Julie

We started Elementary Greek this year, which both my son and I love. After he has finished his Greek for the day, he even asks if he can do another lesson! So what is the problem, you ask? I cannot help but overthink things. Admittedly, I should have done this "overthinking" a little while ago. I chose Elementary Greek because it appeared to be the most successful/ popular program out there for the grammar stage. My son and I would have preferred to study Ancient Greek instead of Koine. I glossed over that minor detail with him, but sure enough on the first day he asked about it. He was disappointed that he was learning NEITHER Ancient Greek or modern Greek. But (see first paragraph), he loves this program we are doing. We are not Christian. It doesn't bother us, though, that all of our memory verses are from the Bible ....anything to learn Greek! (It helps that in "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch," Bowditch teaches himself Latin and French with grammar books and with Bibles in those languages.) The introduction to EG says that Koine is a simpler version of Greek than Ancient Greek. It also says that it was the "universal language" of the marketplace around the time the NT was written. So here's the million dollar question: will it be a nuisance for my son to learn Ancient Greek later? Should I stop Greek after EG Year One and wait until later so we can do Ancient Greek instead of Koine? I guess what I'm asking is, how different is it? I see that TWTM recommends Athenaze for Ancient Greek in the logic stage. Do you agree or do you prefer a different program for Ancient Greek? Thanks in advance for all of you Classicists who have read this far..... Edited to add: I went to the Latin-Centered Curriculum forum and someone there said that it would be fairly easy to transition from Koine to Attic Greek at a later time. So if you agree with that, no need to respond to this! Julie

As I recall, they build the review right into the lessons. In "C", every fourth lesson or so is a review of the previous three lessons. Did you check in your book to see if the next lesson is a review lesson? If it is, your child will ace it! :001_smile: I think what's challenging for some of us perfectionists is that with LFC, you have to be content with not knowing some stuff. For example, when you learn a new noun, you learn two forms of it. It is NOT the singular and plural, it is the nominative and the genitive. And there are really, really, good reasons for learning the genitive of every noun (corpus, corporis instead of simply "corpus.") But you don't know that yet --- or a lot of other things. It takes a lot of trust that everything you are memorizing will come in very handy later! By the way, I believe the new DVD for Primer A has more explanation than the old ones. So you might want to make sure you have the latest edition of the Primer A DVD. Or maybe that's the problem! Perhaps so many people were asking "why" that they added more detailed grammar explanations to the first few chapters. Anyway, hang in there and it will prove fruitful in the long run! Julie

Latin for Children (Primer A) is geared exactly for this grade/age. My son loves it. I would suggest getting the activity book and history reader as well. (And the DVD's -- those are my son's favorite part! And the chant CD....heck get everything!) We are in LFC "C" now and are supplementing with Linga Latina: Familia Romana for more practice reading. I know some folks use Lingua Latina by itself, but it is nice to be able to say, "See why they are using the genitive there? How do we translate it when it's in the genitive?" You could pick up all the Latin without having done a program with LFC first, but it's just easier. And the story (in Lingua Latina) is getting a little more interesting as we go along.... Latin for Children includes both pronunciations in their program (eccelesiastical and classical). The differences are not huge and I wouldn't let that influence your decision of which Latin program to choose. Your neighbor is not going to correct your Latin pronunciation..... Julie