We make banana boats. Take a banana (peeling still on), and from the inside curve, cut a wedge, including peeling and a wedge of the banana. Take out that piece, put chocolate chips in there, put the wedge back in, and wrap in foil. Put in the coals for a few minutes to melt the chocolate chips, but not too long or it will get too mushy. Eat it out of the peel with a spoon. We like these better than s'mores because they are not quite as sweet. You can also take an apple, cut in half, and core it. Take a mixture of butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar (you can mix these together beforehand for the number of people/apples you have), and spoon it into the hole. Put the apple back together, wrap in foil, and put in the coals until baked soft. Hope this helps!

Last year, I used Homeschool Skedtrack for my boys' records and assignment sheets (grades 5 and 2). This year, for grades 6 and 3, I am thinking about simply using a student planner for each of them, because we will be traveling some, and will not always have online access available. I want something where I have room to write in their assignments for each day, make a "books read" list, have a page for resources, etc. What are your favorites and why?

Thanks! Our oldest graduated from there last year, and our second is a senior there this year. They have both loved their U of A experience. However, because we live overseas most of the time, our two freshmen haven't had a chance to spend time on campus. Therefore, it was great to see them so comfortable with their choice to go there (earlier on, there were other universities in the running). Our time there made the campus less overwhelming as they were already learning their way around, and they thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere. They are very ready, and though I am going to miss them like crazy, it did my heart good to see them so excited about getting started.

Went to U of Alabama parent orientation this week. I guess it had a few less-than-interesting moments, but I enjoyed it and felt it was well done. I was especially impressed by the student workers, both the Avanti team and the Parent Ambassadors. But the main thing I want to say? I LOVE being on a college campus! And it was just confirmation for my girls (twins) that this is where they belong, so well worth it. I think I am a little jealous.

Thanks for posting this. We are keeping our eyes on this program for our younger children, since #3 and 4 (twins) are starting as freshman at U of A this fall.

I had a 7yo and a 4yo when my twins were born. We just used Calvert 1st and then 2nd grade (all in a box), and it usually took about 1 1/2 hours a day. Low stress, and lots easier than trying to get everybody here and there. If you concentrate on reading and math, then just do reading aloud when you can, you will be fine. Getting the basics down is the most important thing the first few years, anyway, and that doesn't have to take a whole lot of time. Get a cabinet to hold art and craft supplies as well, and let her at it! It was harder when the twins were 2yo, and I was homeschooling the two older ones. But all went much easier when I cuddled them and read to them before we started schoolwork with the olders. It is doable, and much easier than trying to fit your family to an outside school schedule.

"FOCUS!" for anytime it is needed, especially those moments when we are getting sidetracked by discussion during school hours. "I am not your entertainment chairman." in response to "I'm bored."

Banana Boats. Take a banana (with peeling still on) for each child, and in the curve of the banana, cut a wedge out. The wedge will have the peeling still on it. Put chocolate chips in the hole, put the wedge back in, and wrap in aluminum foil. Place in the coals for about 5 minutes, until the chocolate is melted. Eat the banana and chocolate out of the peeling with a spoon.

I haven't read all the replies, so forgive me if I repeat. It is a very good idea to get a bachelor's degree in an unrelated and practical field, both for the broadening of experience as well as in case he needs to be bivocational at some point, especially when starting out. Then he can help support himself with that degree while working on an M.Div. It gives him something to fall back on if things go badly with the economy, or if the ministry position changes, or any number of unexpected happenings. Ministry positions can be unpredictable. I wish my husband had had better advice on that--he was told to get a B.S. in psychology, which is practically useless. The M.Div. degree is a rich and deeply satisfying degree, and you really learn so much. You "can" learn those things on your own, but really, it is a wonderful course of study, and the environment is intellectually and spiritually stimulating, not to mention the lifelong friendships you make.

I love that my twin 18yo girls come and jump on my bed, and talk to me about everything. They were homeschooled through 9th, and now attend a small Christian school. They are so, so sweet, help me with dinner even though they are now busy with homework and other activities. When they get stressed and are irritable with me, they then apologize quickly. I love it that they are not too grown up to play "adventure" wildly with their little brothers (11 and 8) or similar pretend games with the children whom they babysit (who adore them). I love to read their sweet notes to their older siblings on facebook. I love seeing the beautiful young women they are becoming, and I love seeing them make good choices in relationships. I have been pre-grieving their going to college next year, because I am going to miss them incredibly. This week has been especially difficult for me in this way, because we have had the most precious conversations these last two weeks.

Thank you for this. Very helpful and timely for me.

Seen at a local zoo: Giraffe Restroom

Thanks, all! I'm still listening if anyone else wants to chime in with additional information or insights. . .

Where/how would you say WWS fits in with this description?

Would you consider it "complete" for using as a one-year stint? (This is for 6th grade.) I am not quite ready to do WWS next year, but am looking for a rather different approach that will make him more aware of the use of words in his sentences, and that will encourage him to play around with them more. I think Killgallon sounds like what I want. However, if I go with Classical Composition, I am looking at it as more of a "now and into the future" program.

I am still on the fence about next year's writing curriculum. I plan to eventually use WWS, probably the next year. Anyway, how do Killgallon (Middle Grades) and Classical Composition compare? Do they essentially reach the same goal? TIA

Okay, so this has nothing to do with your question, but my eyes played with the post title, and I saw "Whining with Writing." And yes, we do have experience with that. :D

This is what I use: http://www.music123.com/Orchestral-Strings/Accessories-for-Orchestral-Strings/Bows-Rosin/Rosin/Violin-Viola-General-Purpose-Rosin/Violin-Viola-Cello-Rosin.site7sku470996000000000.sku But I have no idea whether it has lead or not. That never even occurred to me as a possibility.

About the Christian Studies books--we have not done any of these, but the boys have always had Bible stories read to them, so they are very familiar with them. Would it be better to just do CS IV with the older one (younger isn't quite ready for much writing), or start them both with CS I and just help the younger? I am not crazy about filling up our schedule with too much bookwork, so keep going back and forth on this as well.

Thanks so much for the info, ladies! What about Classical Composition? I keep going back and forth over it. I've been planning to do Killgallon (sp?) next year, and WWS1 after that. I do not really want to purchase three sets (of Classical Comp) this year to "get him caught up" in that series, due to cost. I've looked at the samples, but it is hard for me to make a good judgment from the samples. Just not sure, and I am so, so, so tired of buying things that do not work for us. For history, I'm thinking I will do the 3rd and 4th SOTW next year, as my 5th grader really loves the series and can't wait to get to WWII, his particular interest. But I can add in the American studies, as my kids haven't had any American history, and we, too, are on the other side of the world. :001_smile: (It's a wonder we don't run into each other over here!) I'm thinking we'll do some copybooks, and the lit guides for the older one. Younger one is still working on reading skills, and is doing well with Pathway Readers w/ workbooks, so I'm not messing with that until he has more fluency. Then the next year, I will move into more MP materials. We'll start FF Latin next fall with the older, who has used GSWL this year.

Reading these posts really makes me sad. I was spanked, but I was not abused. My parents did not lose control, did not spank excessively--and it was effective for me. It made me mad, but it was effective. They did not abuse me emotionally or verbally, either. The only thing was that I felt like my mom was not encouraging enough, but she apologized when I was a teenager, saying that they did not have a lot of the parenting books/helps when we were small (60's), and she thought she was helping us strive to achieve, rather than making us feel we couldn't ever be quite good enough. Her apology cleared the hurt, and we have had a close relationship for many years now. I guess I have taken that blessing for granted.

Rosie, that was good advice. I guess in my OP, I should have specified more what I am looking for. I have older kids, but this is for my two young boys, ages 11 and 8, 5th and 2nd grades, respectively. I am not too concerned about placing the 5th grader (for next year). But the 2nd grader is more my concern. He is a little behind in the LA area, though is handling FLL2 just fine. I have him in WWE1 this year. His reading is more very early 2nd grade, and writing is probably about the same, though he usually narrates orally fairly well. I won't be going full MP, at least not yet, but am trying to get a good idea of what to order that will not have to sit on the shelf for a couple of years (once I open it up and see it is unreasonable to expect for him).

Thanks, all! This gives me some clearer guidelines. I would love to go with a curriculum package, but it seems like too much writing (physically) for my boys, and since we haven't used their materials from the start, we will have to piecemeal anyway in some areas. You've given me the information I needed to help me decide what to order.

bumping. Anyone??:bigear:

I've read a lot of posts/comments about First Form Latin, so I don't really need feedback about that. But so many of their products look very appealing to me. If you have used Memoria Press curriculum, what have you used, and what did you like or not like about it? This includes composition, history, copywork, lit guides, various science, etc. TIA