I see most people have already posted what I think also. As a biology and chemistry major, AP biology, AP chemistry, and AP calculus were just warm ups for my actual core courses. (I did use Campbell's Biology for both High school and Biology 101 and 102 for majors.) Actually, AP calculus did more to hurt my math than help it. AP english got me out of 1 (of 2) semesters of english. But I think the placement test were what helped more than my AP scores. AP US history didn't count at all because I needed a world history and some other history other than US. All that said, I'm torturing my high school junior with the same AP course I was tortured with. :lol:

They planned while the kids were at "specials." i.e. PE, art, music, computer lab. My question is what are the elementary teachers now doing during those times? (Asked by a former teacher who planned during specials and had 1 hour and 30 minutes a day.)

Thanks. Back in 2003, we never thought he would ever be a "success" story. I used to listen to the recordings at The Talking Place and just cry. Nowadays, when he talking nonstop for hours...that I used to rejoice when he would put 2 and 3 words together. The lesson I learned from my son is...Don't ever let anyone else decide how far you will go and how successful you will be.

Let me give some encouragement...my now 11 year old was diagnosed at age 2 with Profound Verbal Apraxia, Aphasia, Global Dyspraxia and hypotonia, Auditory processing disorder, and sensory processing disorder. He was untestable in speech productions (could make no sounds on command) but was at age 6.5 in receptive language. A few years later he was also diagnosed with dyslexia....and Asperger's. He's always been homeschooled with our doctor's and the school system's encouragement even. Fast forward to now. He's in 6th grade and using Calvert with no problems. I love hearing him read Swiss Family Robinson out loud. His speech is wonderful but he still has a lisp and trouble with vocalic "r's." He still a toe-walker....who know if that will resolve. He still has 5 hours of Speech/OT a week and is gaining skills every month. He's a Boy Scout. (First Class) He plays baseball and soccer. He rides a bike and reads for fun. All things that we were told that he would never do when first diagnosed. So there is hope, no matter what the doctors and therapists say. If we had just accepted their prognosis, our son would have never made the progress that he has. We just worked at his level and for many years, I wrote things for him until his physical skills caught up to his mental skills. For early speech, we used Easy Does it Apraxia at therapy and at home. PROMPT was not an option for a tactile sensitive child who could not stand having his face touched. We used Hooked on Phonics with Explode the code and then Abecedarian. (I used Sing, Spell, Read, and Write with my older 2 but it was too much writing for my 3rd) But the Fast ForWord program at speech has been the one that made the biggest improvement For math, MCP math had great workbooks with lots of space. It's paced a little accelerated than Saxon. (I use Saxon for my "jock" and he complains about the lack of space.) Rod and Staff Spelling and English have been winners. No distractions and lots of repetition and practice. (Plus phonics instruction through at least 6th grade.) SOTW for history and lots of coloring practice. And Handwriting without tears with the quad grips for the pencils. (School stores have them.)

I don't mind the state we live in (TX) but I sure as heck wouldn't have chosen this particular city. It is just so alien for me. I do try to find the good in it. The mountains are beautiful in the morning sun. The jackrabbits are entertaining. The people are friendly to me even if many do not share that experience. The drivers are insane but fortunately, everything is so crammed together that you never have to drive far. I can get Mexican bottled Coca-cola...that's a big plus. We have a great Boy Scout troop and I like my house. But I am looking forward to next move and hope it's not to a smaller town in a bigger desert.

2 months, in a safe place with no one shooting at him and he can still call home when he wants to? No problem at all.:D But I'm used to my husband working long hours and being gone 1/4 of the year ever year...not counting deployments. I just use the time to work on the stuff I want to do. I knit a lot. I hang out with friends. I rearrange the house. I read at night. We take trips on the weekend and go to the museums and odd little places. The time goes by faster than you think. Just don't spend the two month moping and being lonely. Go out and make sone fun! update: Oops...I just read some of the other posts. Sorry, if I made any one feel inferior to not be lucky enough to be married to a serviceman. :lol: Those dress uniforms more than make up for any time apart.:001_wub:

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We had multiple ability groups in one classroom all through my elementary school days. I never had a write in workbook or even worksheets even though I remember that some of my classmates did. Even in 1st grade, I remember copying math problems and spelling words. I love the comments about people not remembering the mimeograph machines. I last used one in 1993 when I was teaching middle school!

I attended another college in carolina but had friends at College of Charleston. They loved the school. I was always a bit envious of the smaller more cozy campus and the close proximity to water. However, the palmetto bugs there are insane!

At my father's funeral, eight years ago today, I wore an all black dress suit complete with black hose and dress shoes. In the deep south, it is still very hot in early september. I was miserable anyway so I didn't mind being hot to pay proper respects to my father. Usually, I wear a black print dress or suit to funerals and I always dress up. I want the family to know that I thought enough to not only take time to come but also to take time look nice for them. I don't care what other people wear though.

Ours is named Maya. We are looking for another to rescue and will name her Millie.

I redshirted my 11 year old (mid summer birthday) with our school's blessing. He's always been homeschooled but recieved speech and occupational therapy through the school system. He does have developmental delays and issues with motor and social skills but he also had a IQ score of 126 at age 4. I also redshirted his younger brother (another mid summer birthday) because the boy is a born jock with no interest in academics at all. He does, however, throw the most perfect spiral on a football that you've ever seen. (The other Dad's are quite vocal in their jealousy.) I have a late summer birthday and was always the youngest person in my class. I knot that my emotional immaturity was the reason for a lot of my bad decisions. I don't know how my parents let me go off to college a week after my 18th birthday. There was no question of my academic abilities but its a small wonder that I didn't get into far more trouble than I did in high school and college.

As is "Y'all'll know some trouble is y'all keep tossing that ball around in here." Said by me today to my four sons.

We are leaning heavily towards Omaha/Bellevue also. I certainly need a change of pace from where we currently are. Anywhere more green would be appreciated. My only concern is the cold. I wanted Hawaii but my dear husband points out how far I drive to do stuff here...not really an option to drive to more entertainment on a small island.

Odd....we have those two places on our list to move. Are you or your spouse in the military? A 24?

Too soon here in the southwest. (very south, very west) It's triple digits and won't be in the 80's until the beginning of October. The very few leaves that are here don't even change colors. They just die and fall off around Thanksgiving. I decorate for halloween and then for thanksgiving. Then take everything down to decorate for christmas.

Mine know the National Anthem from the years playing baseball. It was played at every game. The pledge was learned as Cub Scout requirements and that gets said at least weekly. They can even open milk cartons thanks to summer camp which also took care of the raising hands and standing in line business. However, I just discovered that my 9 year old can not spell either of his middle names and he struggles with our last name. How in the heck did this happen. At least he can spell his full first name.

I took my husband's last name and not only that, I bucked the southern tradition of using your maiden name as a new middle name. I liked my original middle name because my father chose it for me...so I kept it with my new last name.

I do. Especially with my Clarks. (I didn't buy a second set of red mules and I lament that every winter.) I will also buy the same shoe in different colors.

I don't have anything to compare it to but my oldest used the Saxon Teacher with Geometry. We've used it for Alg 2 also and I've already purchased it for Advanced math. He enjoys the tutor on those CD's.

Not to worry you unnecessarily, but at 4 weeks my oldest son was diagnosed with pyloric stenosis and had to have surgery. He was happy and gaining some weight but he vomited *far* after every feeding. If it is truly projectile vomiting, I would recommend a visit to the doctor. If its just a lot of vomit, it could be a reflux issue like my 3rd son. Either way, a visit to the doctor would be prudent.

We live on an army post and our kids play just like you described. The only difference is that we have parks and common areas on each street. The kids also walk to the shopette and the 13+ can walk to the pool, library, and movie theatre. The kids just roam about but they will check in if they change areas.

That's my philosophy also. Just about every problem in a family boils down to selfishness. "I want what I want and I'll do whatever I can to get it." :angry: I think abuse is the ultimate form of selfishness.

:iagree: but its is hard to be happy for him when he's in Hawaii and you're stuck at home with 4 littles because one is nursing. I still lament my lost trip to Hawaii. Then there are the trips TO po'dunk that I have gone to to see him.

For me, it's been easier with more children. Maybe it's because the older ones could help. I guess it's just what we're used to.