Or oldest dd eats them. Seriously, I don't have a clue why she needs a new pencil every single day.

I used several LA programs that used process writing for oldest dd when she was in the elementary grades. Nothing worked.Writing was the one thing about hsing that I considered myself a failure at. It wasn't until I listened to the "Writing Without Fear" cd and read WWE that the reasons why it didn't work made it all so clear to me. It wasn't me and it wasn't her; it's just the way most children are at that age and stage of development. Instead of doing a writing assignment that consists of writing directions for how to play a game, today 3rd grade dd (using WWE 2) was learning how to find the main idea in a narration.Small steps...

of a new nation I believe they disagreed and shouted and probably got angry when others didn't agree completely with them. They were not escorted out by police officers because they raised their voice(s).

I bought it this year for oldest dd to use for her music credit required for jr. high.. I acquired it through Oak Meadow where they schedule it as part of a 2 semester course for high school. The price of the course was expensive but it was because of the cost of the book and the cd set. They also have their own syllabus which is inexpensive and suggests scheduling and assignments but does not give the answers. Oldest dd will be doing it the second half of the year so she hasn't started it yet. I've read a couple of chapters and followed along with the syllabus. I like the course and the book but I'm not sure if dd will. (She's at that difficult to please stage. ) If it works out for her I will have her do the second semester for high school credit next year. I considered using a Teaching Company lecture series but felt that something with a book and syllabus would require her to write and think a bit more than just listening would. She really has no concept of just what a "real" high school level class is like. She was in tears the first day she did her spanish and realized that she couldn't get the day's assignment done in 10-15 minutes and that she would have to take notes and study them.

We may have read some books too or maybe that was the year she did an outside science class too. That was probably our best science year ever. Elmer's (the glue company) also makes some science kits that are cheaper and would tie in well with chemistry. Like the science in a nutshell kits they contain almost all the necessary supplies and even my 13 yo likes to do the expiriments because so far every one has worked the way it was supposed to. Any way, I love the science in a nutshell kits and every year I debate using just those instead of trying to keep finding some miraculous science program that uses any sort of book and sparks a love of science in my children. And then I think of how expensive the kits are and I don't order them. And we have yet another year of my children complaining that they hate the science curriculums we use at home. Except for when we do experiments or they do a science class at the Audubon center. (Sorry about any spelling/grammar errors. It's hard to be accurate when you're holding a sleeping puppy.)

I agree with Christy that it is basically a "true love is forever" kind of thing. My 13 yo dd and I read all 4 books. Dd goes back and re-reads them but she says it's because she likes reading about the family. We balance it out with lots of discussion (initiated by dd) and comparison with Buffy and Sunshine. Although book 4 wrapped up nearly everything in a big happy ending, I was really disappointed with it. The author so took the easy way out by avoiding any real thought-provoking soul searching by Bella about living forever vs. losing her humanity. And I really hope dds never think it's romantic and wonderful when someone tells them that he (or she) can't live without them and wants to be with them forever.

I waited to start teaching oldest dd Latin until she was in 5th grade and by then it was too late. She was highly resistant to it and said she didn't see the point of it all. I'm starting my 3rd grader with it and she doesn't fuss at all. In fact, she asks to do it first.

It's great for the child who doesn't do well with a literature based reading program or if you want to do a reading program to cover all your bases "just in case." Many textbooks tend to be written for a reading level that is lower than the stated grade level it is for. Not Mosdos. In fact, I thought the 5th grade level we used could have been used just as easily for a child a grade level or 2 higher. The teachers manuals contain lots of extra information and are very helpful if you don't have time to read everything right along with your child. I'd say that if you already have a writing and a vocabulary program the workbooks are not necessary. I plan to order the 4th grade books when they are available although I don't think 3rd grade dd will be ready for them. I'm forcing her to use SL's core 3 readers this year and she isn't enjoying them very much but I can't find a reading program that I think would work for us at this grade level.

Someone I know well who has had more than 1 experience in dealing with police officers is of the opinion that no matter what you have or have not actually done, if you are respectful to the officer, they will treat you respectfully. Every time they approach someone they are not exactly sure if that person is a suspect with a weapon or not so they initially treat everyone as though they were. So no, I don't think the president should have commented the way he did. He sets an example for all of us, especially our children.

Someone I know well who has had more than 1 experience in dealing with police officers is of the opinion that no matter what you have or have not actually done, if you are respectful to the officer, they will treat you respectfully. Every time they approach someone they are not exactly sure if that person is a suspect with a weapon or not so they initially treat everyone as though they were. So no, I don't think the president should have commented the way he did. He sets an example for all of us, especially our children.

The big 3 ring circus was exciting but I felt so far away from the action. The small 1 ring under a tent was nice though. You could see what was happening up close, witness the interactions between the trainer and the animals, and it felt like what an old-fashioned circus should be. Frankly though, I liked the human acts better. I'd think it isn't an easy life for any of the performers (human or animal) though I'd like to think that since the animals are part of their livlihood, they'd be as well cared for as possible.

Both dds loved K math. I've used through grade 5 math. I liked all the grades except 5th. We've used the LA;love the grammar but not big a fan of the writing which is typical textbook/grade level type assignments (I've since switched to following WTM/WWE philosophy when it comes to children writing.) The writing rubrics are very nice. Not a big fan of their science. The pictures are nice but the reading level was, I thought, too low for the grade level. Oddly, I didn't (and don't) find it to be as parent intensive as say, Oak Meadow is for the elementary grades.

This year (as it is every year) it's followed by literature for oldest dd who loves to read. Although dh thinks I should get Rosetta Stone for her this year and that won't be cheap. So far this year, it's latin for younger dd. I don't usually spend as much on her since I can re-use many of the materials that I used with her older sister.

Some days w don't start off with a plan. Some days we don't do anything schoolish at all. But there are more days that we do use our books and textbooks and workbooks. We are eclectic; it works for us. I know unschoolers who are appalled that we use books and do certain subjects nearly every day. I know people who do school at home complete with textbooks from the school and 5-6 hours a day of schoolwork who think we are strange because we don't. And I think it's because people can't fit us into 1 group or the other that they often feel uncomfortable around us.

Actually it's only 1 room that really is. And an outbuilding. We are doing some work on the house this summer and the dumpster will be here tomorrow. We plan to get rid of as much as possible now.

then I realized it was as Merry said. My dd's math scope and sequence didn't match what was on the test. I hesitate to blame low test scores completely on the curriculum though. I believe that textbooks are probably best when it comes to covering what you need to know for the test but it won't bring the scores up excessively if the subject is one that a child struggles with. FWIW, my dd used BJUP English and scored in the top 10 percentile for that portion of her test. And sometimes it can just be a child having an off day or, as my dd did this last time, getting bored and tired of test taking but continuing on just to get it over with. My own cynicism about tests has recently grown as I realized that our state tests required in the ps are published by McGraw-Hill. Not that they are a terrible company for any reason but they are text book publishers and they do have an interest in persuading schools to buy their materials so the children will do well on the required tests. Interestingly, even before I found that out, I tested dd through Hewitt. After seeing some of her scores I considered using material they recommend because I thought, briefly, that the material should cover what was on the test. Then I came to my senses and remembered it wasn't just all about the test.

It ended up costing about the same amount either way. My problem is that I seldom use a complete core as written (I use SL). It doesn't pay if I buy the full core and then have to buy other books to replace the ones I won't use. I really wish they would leave the bible portion out of the upper level cores as they do the lower levels.

If you have to work during the day, an older child should be able to work independently most of the day. Although you could have the child do the work in the evening or whenever you are home. Sometimes shift work makes it easier to hs during the more traditional school hours. My 13 yo prefers to work independently. My almost 8yo can do at least half of her daily work independently. My 13 yo needs weekly monitoring to make sure she is doing all her work. My youngest needs daily supervision. On days when I am unable to work with her, her dad is available to assist.

I do know too many people who have felt that they've missed out on things in life and when they attempted to make up for it later it hasn't turned out well. I've seen lives and families ruined. For most of us life isn't the stuff of great deeds and legends, it's the little seemingly boring moments and days. But it's all those little moments that matter more, in the end, I think. It's all those forgotten people through the ages who just kept on slogging through their boring days that have kept civilization going.

My grandfather (who in some ways was more like a dad to me than my biological dad) told me once that he'd come home from work to find that my grandmother was always starting projects without telling him and how much he hated it. It was the only complaint I ever heard him make about her. Anyway, I don't like to redecorate. I'm more than willing to leave that up to dh.

I was surprised at how advanced it seemed compared to the reading level of many textbooks for the same grade. I though I could have easily used it into 6th grade and even 7th. They are written to be used in schools so yes, they would work in a group setting. The TM isn't necessary but it contains a lot of background information. I like it because it saved me time spent reading all the stories and figuring out the answers to the questions on my own. But I've also heard of people just using the student book. The workbooks really aren't necessary unless you need a vocabulary program or you want writing assignments like those used in schools.

I've ordered tons of things over the years. I've never had any issues with anything that arrived via UPS or Fedex. Everything has always been well packaged. (Things sent via regular mail is a totally different matter though). When I've had issues with things that needed to be sent back no one has ever given me a problem. When I've had to deal with people in customer service they have always been wonderful and I've gotten off the phone feeling like "Wow, this person was so nice, I'll happily do business with them again." I guess I just wanted to let anyone who provides customer service know that I appreciate it. Thanks!

He's written numerous books about Native Americans set in historical times and I believe, some non-fiction as well.

Using both at the same time would be unnecessary. IMO, Jamestown is better for the child who prefers or needs their literature in small bites. For the child who struggles with LL, who maybe isn't ready for longer writing assignments, who needs a bit more hand-holding when it comes to reading comprehension. It isn't a bad program. It didn't excite me. For the money, it did the job but I wasn't so thrilled with it that I'll use it again. If I'm going to use a textbook for a literature program (and Jamestown is a textbook) I'll use Mosdos instead.

It doesn't teach proof reading marks. I'm not fully convinced that it really teaches dd anything other than to read and observe closely. She thinks she knows everything she needs to know about grammar and this works well to point out that she isn't an expert yet. She's using it with LL8. I initially thought it would be enough grammar but I'm not really convinced it is Although maybe for some children it would be. So I'm thinking I need to add some sort of other grammar program. Just in case. There are lines so the child can rewrite the paragraph although dd just writes what is wrong with the mistakes she finds. I go over the answers before she does the assignment to write out, for example, how many errors in spelling, capitalization, or usage there are. It reminds me of a puzzle to be solved and for the child who likes that sort of challenge, this might work very well.( I think dd finds it frustrating.)There is a grammar guide included in the book. Dd, reading over my shoulder, says "It's kind of boring". The paragraphs we've come across so far are the typical ones you might find in a school textbook or workbook.