:)

On the search page, at the bottom of "Search in forum(s)" it says "Also search in child forums." Are there child forums on these boards? My son was just asking today if there was anywhere for him to talk to homeschool kids like I talk to homeschool moms. TIA Anne.

TIA Anne.

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1467936

In the evaluation of Writing With Ease 4, it says that the student should be able to take dictation exercises of around 25 - 30 words. Then it gives a dictation for evaluation purposes that is 61 words long. Can anyone explain why this is? My son, who is 10, has a great deal of trouble remembering the dictations. He can do the narrations and summaries beautifully, but it's very difficult for him to remember long passages. Ideas anyone?? Anne.

I haven't been on these boards for a very long time. But something this morning was telling me to come check them out. This is what I came back for. Lovely. Thanks you MFS.

We are using Singapore NEM 1 for Grade 7 - we just started it after Christmas. My son is doing all right with it, but it is a bit of a slog, and we are going very slowly. It takes us two days to do each lesson. I'm thinking of changing to Discovering Mathematics, but I am nervous because it's not recommended in TWTM. Any thoughts? TIA Anne.

We had a snowsuit from Land's End that we loved. It went through several kids. It was worth the investment.

I was just thinking it would be fun to do something around the fall equinox. Any ideas? TIA, Anne.

is a Canadian author who wrote some for children - Owls in the Family, the Dog who Wouldn't Be. Never Cry Wolf was written for adults, but is very funny, and they made a very funny movie of it too, in the 1980s, I think.

Thank you so much everyone! I am overwhelmed by your responses. I have saved every one of them. It's somehow very comforting to know I have a lifetime (literally!) of funny reading ahead of me. With much gratitude, Anne.

Well believe it or not, I (from Saskatchewan) actually own two Footrot Flats books. And I have enjoyed them. Anne.

Yes! I read it over the summer. So funny. anne.

I have read #1 Ladies Detective Agency series and LOVED it. Thanks for the other recommendations. Anne

A little voice in my head is telling me to STOP TAKING LIFE SO SERIOUSLY and to LIGHTEN UP FOR GOODNESS SAKE. :D So, since my main form of entertainment is reading, what's the funniest book you've ever read? Children's book recommendations would be fine, but I am mostly looking for things to read myself. Thanks so much, Anne.

Peter Dennis reading Winnie the Pooh has been listened to every day for 7 years at our house :-) Also, The Wind in the Willows Farmer Boy - or any of the Little House series Dr. Dolittle Anything read by Jim Weiss (sp?) Just So Stories The Tales of Beatrix Potter Classical Kids series - Beethoven Lives Upstairs etc. We also spend a lot of time listening to BBC 7 - Big Toe Books which you can get online. They read children's stories on the radio. Awesome.

I once heard a speaker say (in response to a question about how much handwriting to force boys to do) that there are two types of handwriting in men - very messy, or else the little block letters that draftsmen and engineers use. But, he said, you still have to teach boys to read and write cursive letters, because they will need to be able to read notes from their wives. :-) My 10 yo son does dictation and copywork each 2x/wk in cursive. Everything else is on the computer (he started a good typing tutor program when he was 8) except where it's not practical - like diagraming sentences or something like that. IMHO there are more important things to stress about. Anne.

In the Well Trained Mind, the series Critical Thinking in United States History, is recommended for third and fourth year Logic stage history. I am wondering if anyone has found anything similar to this for Canadian history? The series looks awesome, but I don't want to spend that much time on American history. Any suggestions? TIA Anne.

I find that if we have had to many "treats" around here - too many desserts, too much screen time etc. - it leads to whining about which desserts, which movies, which treat next. So I cut waaaay back, and we get back to very basic living for a while. Anne

If I am short on time for myself, I have nothing left to give my husband. An afternoon or evening by myself recharges me, and I'm ready again. Anne.

Magnets! I just recently discovered this. I'm not even sure why I had magnets in my pocket, but two little boys ages 3 and 6 played with them for an hour at the hockey rink. Anne.

Get the original! We watched it a few months ago, and my kids are still singing, "If I could talk with the animals, walk with the animals.... :-) Anne

Marble Run was a huge hit this Christmas with my 3.5 yo and 6.5 yo sons. I had fun with it too :-)

Well, Saskatchewan, obviously :-) (Hi, Julia!)

Hello everyone: We homeschool 3 boys (9, 6, and 3) in a very small town in Saskatchewan, Canada. I have limited access to other homeschoolers, so I enjoy reading all of your posts, althought I don't often have time to post and participate more fully. My husband found TWTM when we first began researching homeschooling (gasp!) 6 years ago. Our approach has been to try the suggested curriculum first, and if it's not working out, start looking for other things. This has saved us a lot of time, and we are quite happy with our curriculum choices. We are a pretty normal, struggling family. My oldest boy can't get enough hockey, my middle boy is into dance, and my baby would just like to be older. Personally, I like reading and am working my way though Jane Austen this winter. I like movies - we have Bringing Up Baby ready to watch this weekend with the boys. And I volunteer on our local library board. Thank you everyone for the time you put into these boards, for the information and inspiration you share. Anne.