You might want to check out http://www.excellenceinwriting.com Institute for Excellence in Writing for some of their courses like Elegant Essay, etc.

I'm interested to see your reader's theater books as I am teaching a co-op class this January. Laure:001_smile:

We are considering getting Rosetta Stone version 3 homeschool edition for French. I am wondering what the workbook is like for this program. I love the RS approach but I also know that language needs written practice, grammar, etc. I'm curious how many pages of workbook written exercises there are per lesson, etc. Thanks, Laure:001_smile:

My daughter (6) loves dot-to-dot pages and I've printed lots of them off the internet and we've bought books of those pages also. It's sometimes hard to find something that is challenging but not too much, but my main concern is all the wasted paper and how quickly she can go through them. It doesn't seem worth the time to print when she can be finished much faster than that with a page. Any ideas of how to make this fun activity less paper-draining? Laure

There are zoo 3 quizzes at http://www.groups.yahoo.com in the Apologia Elementary Science group. Look for Elem_Apologia_Science in the group search. Join and you'll have access to the files for the quizzes, vocabulary lists, lesson schedules, etc.

thanks for your suggestions. Now, we'll find something. Laure

Do you have a geoboard activities book your kids have really enjoyed? How have you used the geoboard outside of just an assignment or two in a math curriculum? I'm looking for something that would be a 2nd or 3rd grader level. I've googled this and not found much. Thanks, Laure

Our kids ds13, dd10, and dd8 like Trail Guide to World Geography. We have enjoyed the notebooks, daily questions, mapping, etc. We have enjoyed checking out videos from the library like Passport to Europe--after those my kids all wanted to go to Europe for a vacation--not happening, but we'd love it. We just finished watching some National Geographic videos on Africa that I use to supplement our daily drills and other readings to go along with the program. http://www.geomatters.com I also used a book last year called Geography from A to Z by Jack Knowlton to help the kids learn geography terms. We hope to use Trail Guide to U.S. Geography next year. Laure

I'm going to check into the programs and methods suggested. I really appreciate other mom's feedback. Thanks! Laure

I tried working with my ds13 with a couple of different Latin curricula when he was 8 or 9 and then again when he was 10 but unfortunately, he felt like it was a drudgery--probably my fault. We finally scrapped it and got English from the Roots Up and bought a couple of the Rummy Roots games. Our kids have really enjoyed that and learned a lot of the roots. We've had it for a couple of years and it's great. Here are two websites with flash card and matching interactive activities. http://www.memorare.com/education/engroots.html http://quizlet.com/18070/100-greek-a...s-flash-cards/ Laure:001_smile:

I tried working with my ds13 when he was 8 or 9 and then again when he was 10 but unfortunately, he felt like it was a drudgery--probably my fault. We finally scrapped it and got English from the Roots Up and bought a couple of the Rummy Roots games. Our kids have really enjoyed that and learned a lot of the roots. We've had it for a couple of years and it's great. Here are two websites with flash card and matching interactive activities. http://www.memorare.com/education/engroots.html http://quizlet.com/18070/100-greek-and-latin-word-roots-flash-cards/

Lori, This is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing! Laure:001_smile:

I love the ideas jejilly listed. We'll have to try those. Our kids-ds13, dd 10, and dd8-enjoy EFTRU (well the dd8, not as much:glare:). We use the flash cards to review previously learned roots; we play rummy roots some days; some days I write roots we've learned on a white board and the kids write the meaning on paper to check their recall. I made bingo boards with roots on the boards and the English meaning on cards. There is also a great site at http://www.memorare.com/education/engroots.html where the kids can review the roots with flash cards, play a matching game or take a quiz. We do one or more of these activities once a week and have been a for a couple of years. It's a great program, :iagree:but it's nice to "flesh it out" as you mentioned.

Our dd8 has dyslexia and vision issues and struggles to remember phonics and math concepts, but she is improving and making some progress. She has never been on grade level. My favorite phrase is "There are no clocks in the garden." (Ester Rasband) I frequently think of this--everything does grow at its own pace. How fortunate our children are to have mothers who are willing to recognize this and not push them past their natural growth rate, search for the best curriculum to fit their needs, work with them one-on-one, etc. Where would they be if they did not have their moms to do this. Another good one is "By endurance, we conquer." (Ernest Shackleton) Keep at it. Laure

I don't have the exact title. But several years ago, we purchased a science workbook from Wal-mart or Sam's Club that had a section on human anatomy. The instructions required that you get butcher paper and have each child lie on it and have their outline drawn. They can then, add their hair, facial features. Then you study each body system and the workbook had drawings of lungs, heart, kidneys, stomach, etc. for the kids to color, cut out and put in place on their body. Our children loved it. I hope to find it again. Laure

My dd8 has dyslexia and some vision issues we're working on with a VT (vision therapist). We are using Math-u-See, Beta level (Gr.2). She does okay with it. She is progressing with remembering addition facts, but she really has to think about many of them, and the ones she has to "think" about varies from day to day. Subtraction takes longer. She's struggled with place value and we're playing some games to try to help with that. I keep wondering if we're missing something, a better program that would help her catch up a little faster. I've looked at Shiller, but the reviews make me skeptical that that would help her. (I had also considered it for her sister who is 4.) Any suggestions? Laure

Postum, a grain beverage, especially in the winter or hot chocolate occasionally. Once in a while I drink juice, but not a lot of that. I rarely drink pop and never alcohol. My husband teases me that I am a purist. I just have always, even when i was a kid, preferred the taste of plain water to anything else. Laure

:iagree: I would list it as fast as you can type it up. Because our kids work at their own pace, some finish up materials from the previous year, etc. I think most stuff that is really worthwhile will sell. Anything that doesn't sell quickly may take re-listing in a few places--swap board on here, vegsource, etc. Good luck. I look forward to seeing what all you have that I just may want. Laure

We just got the Wii Fit last weekend. It's very fun but it can really give you some sore muscles. I was surprised by that. Our whole family has felt it. I have been doing do a few aerobic exercises--I really like the step aerobics, as it is slow enough for me, most of the time:001_huh:. Anyway, I also do some yoga everyday and some balance too. I stink at the strength training but in time, I hope to rotate that into the mix. It's great to have so many different activities to try. We enjoy the competition. It was great to beat my ds13's score on some things. He's now surpassed me. Laure

I have had a relentless cough and the pulmonologist told me to take Benedryl in the morning and night and Zyrtec in the morning. He did say you have to get used to the Benedryl during the day to keep from being so tired. It's not a big deal. He also says that the new protocol says that Benedryl is the best antihistamine on the market. Laure

I just learned about All about Spelling (AAS). We have used Spelling Power for years and my 10yo daughter has done pretty well with that, but she misspells words when she writes that I am really surprised to see misspelled. We are buying AAS for my younger 8yod who has trouble with spelling/reading/phonics and has some dyslexic tendencies. However, I am buying an extra materials packet for the 10yo because she just doesn't know the spelling rules and we're going to start from the beginning, level 1, but go much faster with the 10yo, of course. It has an Orton-Gillingham approach, multisensory, and covers the spelling rules. http://www.all-about-spelling.com/ I hope this is helpful. Laure

My 13 ds used Teaching Textbooks Algebra I last year and loved it. We bought Algebra II and he's doing well with that too. I'm not sure what is shallow about the higher math Teaching Textbooks. I do understand that their younger math is about a year behind other math curriculum in terms of what's covered. IMHO, Laure:001_smile:

I would love some ideas for favorite audiobooks--either radio theatre or unabridged audiobooks. We have and love the radio theatre of The Chronicles of Narnia & Little Women. My 13 yo son has listened to Huckleberry Finn, unabridged countless times. I'm looking for more classics or classic-worthy audiobooks to add to our collection. What are your favorites? Thanks, Laure

What are your favorite kids magazines? I'm looking for ideas for the kids for Christmas. I have a dd10 who loves cooking, art, soccer, history. Another dd8 who is dyslexic but making progress and loves art activities and short stories (thinking about Highlights for her). I have a ds13 who loves sports (thinking about Sports Illustrated Kids--the real Sports Illustrated, I think, has a lot of ads that are too mature for my taste). I have a dd4 who would just love to have something like everybody else. I would love your input on these ideas and your favorites. Thanks, Laure

I just wanted to rave about the Get Set For School preschool program that Handwriting Without Tears sells. No, I don't work for or get anything from them. Just a mom who has found a program that is working so well. I wish I had had all of this stuff when my first ones were this age. I especially wish I had had this for my now 8yo dyslexic daughter. I wonder if using this at 3-4 years old would have helped her be further down the path to reading than she is now. I am using it with my 4 yo daughter and she is just loving it. We have the CD and sing the little songs. We have the letter cards and I made our own letter pieces from cardstock and laminated. I put the letter cards in page protectors rather than laminating those. We have the workbook, the stamp and see screen, and the roll-a-dough. It's not very expensive (I know that's relative) and is just so wonderful. She's learning some letters and having a blast with Mom. Laure