Some of the brands generally most recommended and relatively easy to find are: Orijen Wellness all of the Natura brands which include: Innova California Naturals Evo Taste of the Wild There are more, but those are generally easy to find. My dog eats California Natural, our three cats are eating Wellness. Wellness is pretty rich, and my dog had some tummy trouble on it, but after switching to CA Natural, he's great. Michelle T

"Making of a Knight"? Michelle T

Perfect for kids who need a more visual way to understand paragraph writing. I have used the Four Square method with my DS several times. I am just looking into IEW, I so rarely hear of people NOT liking it. I'd love to hear what about it didn't work for you/DD? I so hear you about dropping what doesn't work, yet feeling bad about wasting money. I've done it so many times. Michelle T

Does anyone use IEW for the writing structure, but not follow (or only minimally follow) the directions for adding dress-ups? And if one was to use the SWI, directed to the student, would it be possible to minimize the dress-up requirements, or are they too integral to the assignments? Michelle T

I like wrapping with a variety of paper, it looks nicer under the tree. I just use a sharpie marker to write the "for" and "from" on each gift. Works just fine for us! Michelle T

From the description in Rainbow Resource, Imitation in Writing bases writing assignments on key word outlines. Is it similar to IEW? Can someone familiar with both (or just with Imitation in Writing) explain the difference? Michelle T

It is extremely useful if you like living books for history. Sure, you could compile the lists yourself, but you would spend many hours doing so, and for the price of the book, your time is worth more. Michelle T

I need to use a spine and add in my own selections because DS has rather complex learning issues and no complete program works quite right. But I would say that a complete, structured history program would be great for someone who doesn't have time to plan, isn't comfortable about choosing books, doesn't have a good library handy, has multiple children, or for whatever reason isn't able to do her own planning. Michelle T

those are our "dessert" nights. We just had fresh made chocolate chip cookies, mmmmm! In actuality, dessert often happens more frequently than those two nights. Michelle T

I know there are Mosdos users here on the board! Please answer a question for me! I just purchased a used copy of Mosdos Coral. I did not get the teacher's guide, or workbook, just student book. How do you schedule this? One lesson per week, I'm assuming. The reading selections are longer than I expected, do you have your child read it in one sitting? And then how long for questions and writing assignments? I would love to see how you schedule this curriculum. Also, is the workbook worth having? Would it give extra writing assignments, or is it just vocabulary? And how do you schedule it along with the student book? TIA! Michelle T

:iagree::iagree::iagree: Michelle T

She should look for this book at her library or bookstore. If the husband is unwilling to make any effort, go to counseling, or get medical evaluation for low testosterone levels, then my assumption is that he is gay or having an affair. Michelle T

Congratulations on your new family member! I don't know about the shots, but there are low cost clinics that should be able to give all necessary vacs for a much better price than the regular vet. Michelle T

I owned, but long ago sold, the Animal Observatory nutshell. I do remember for sure that you need a fish tank. Bugs will be collected, a variety of types. I can't remember if there was a small mammal (like hampster) lesson, possibly. It definitely requires some small animals/fish on hand, and a source of bugs for collection, as well as getting outside to observe birds, etc. I have emailed Delta Education and asked for the specific list of included lessons in a nutshell, and they have sent it to me. Ask them for the supply list and lesson list for Animal Observatory. I've used a few of the anatomy nutshells, and liked them a lot. It's been a few years though, so my memory is fuzzy now.

Secular world history curriculum. Michelle T

no, it doesn't matter. To you personally, it might matter a great deal. Michelle T

I had never heard of this site until reading this thread. I think it is totally bizarre, and would tend to think it is a joke, but apparently enough of you have seen it to know it is for real. I can't imagine their business is very good. Most affairs happen because two people are around each other at work or wherever, and get to know each other. Or else a one-night stand, where opportunity presents itself right then and there. I truly doubt (although I'm pretty naive, so maybe wrong) that many people would go through an "affair service" to find someone to cheat with. It is quite disgusting, but I wouldn't take it as a sign of society at large. I am absolutely confident that the vast majority of people, of whatever religious or non -religious stripe, would find this site bizarre, disgusting and wrong. Michelle T

I used to be hooked on regular Mt Dew. It's one of the highest caffeine content sodas, so that is of course why your head hurts. If you aren't giving it up due to caffeine, you might want to drink tea or coffee in its place. Michelle T

My DS loves to have friends spend the night, and loves sleeping over at their homes. They stay up late, joke around, make videos, play games, run around the yard, eat pizza and snacks, just generally have fun. I liked sleepovers as a girl. The only "bad" thing that ever happened to me at a sleepover was catching chicken pox. I also spent a couple weeks at a sleep away camp one summer, and that was fun too. Michelle T

I thought that was typical in residential neighborhoods. Michelle T

Ugh! I carefully cut up veggies, meat, and piled it all into my Crock Pot this morning to make a nice potful of Burgundy Beef. Turned it on to "low" and walked away for the day. Just now I looked at the pot and realized I FORGOT TO PLUG IT IN! So all this raw meat and veggies in burgundy sauce has been sitting at room temperature for nine hours. What do you think? Would you cook it tomorrow and eat? Or is it a lost cause? Michelle T, cringing to admit that this is not the first time she has turned the Crock Pot ON without plugging it IN, but it is the first time she did not realize until that night.

Without Ritalin, my 13 year old DS is absolutely unable to focus at all. Just a whirling dervish of activity. He takes meds Monday through Thursday, which are our school days. Other things that help, in no particular order: protein, especially at breakfast physical activity big rubber exercise ball to sit on and bounce constant reminders from me to focus a fairly consistent schedule/routine no long breaks, such as summer off. I take three weeks off in December, and that is the longest break of the year. We school year round, which I highly recommend for ADD kids. As for curriculum, IN GENERAL, ADD kids do well with a lot of hands-on activities to keep them interested and focused. I stress the "in general", because there are exceptions to everything, and my own DS is one. He also has fairly severe LD's, including visual/spatial issues, and hates anything hands-on with a passion. Understanding and accepting that some days are better than others, and we do occasionally have a day that is so ADD that I know learning is not going to happen, and give DS the day off. My DH also has ADHD, so it's just a way of life around here. Michelle T

I don't think a child would delay walking or speaking clearly due to being stubborn. Nor do I think "forgetting" simple words or sounds would be due to laziness or stubborness. I would look into an evaluation for motor issues and LD. Michelle T

If she is outgoing and has good people skills, then sales might be a good field for her. Or perhaps something in a trade, such as cook/chef, hotel management/work, massage therapist. My DH never went to college, also has ADHD and LD's, and does quite well in sales. I fully expect our DS will not be able to handle college either, and we will be pondering your same question in a few years. Michelle T

The Fix-It book is exactly the same as Grammar With A Giggle, as far as I could see. Grammar With A Giggle has volumes for different ages, and can be found at Amazon. Michelle T