Hi Kristina, Personally, I feel I'm evolving continually as a teacher and curriculum chooser. My kids did go a few years to ps, and one thing I do know is, that is the type of education I would rather them not have right now. That said, homeschooling seems to me to be a total process that grows and gets better as YOU grow. For me, homeschooling has taken a lot of research, hours pouring over the incredible amount of info from other members on this forum, and just basic hit and miss (sometimes expensive misses). It is constantly evolving. However, there are definitely times when I look up from the books and say to myself, "This isn't exactly what I wanted when we started homeschooling". Either I find I'm trying to cram too much stuff into their heads or too many things into the day and it's just not fun anymore. I want learning to be something they love for a lifetime and for there to be joy, excitement and laughter along with the learning. If our homeschooling isn't going that way, then I know it's time for ANOTHER reevaluation. Just sitting with a cup of coffee and making a set of goals for the direction you want to take in your homeschooling journey helps. Unfortunately, you also have to accept that there will be bumps in that road, decisions at every crossroad and that we aren't Superwomen. We do have limitations and we will make mistakes, but if we love those babies with all our hearts, they will be better off than having society raise them. Good luck in your journey! Leslie

Bummer for this to be happening at 42. I'm 47 and have had some hormonal swings in the past few years, but to me, 42 does seem early. I recently dealt with a fibroid that was causing my periods to be weird. I'm assuming they checked for that when you had your u/s?

I am ADD and the book I look for when I'm feeling like a little bit of encouragement is "Homeschooling: Take a Deep Breath - You Can Do This!" by Terri Lynn Bittner. She is ADD herself and she writes as if she were a wise friend giving you advice and encouragement. I also like Carol Barnier's books "How to Get YOur Child Off the Refrigerator and On to Learning" and "If I'm Diapering a Watermelon Then Where'd I Put the Baby?" Laughter seems to help when I need that little extra boost. It's nice to know I'm not the only one out there who's decided to buck the system. Kinda like coming on this board - what a shot of encouragement everytime I log in!

Times Tales! After months of trying to learn her facts, my daughter learned her times tables in one day. We review every once in a while and a year later she still has no problem remembering them. (I even used them to help me remember a few I have always had a hard time recalling). www.timestales.com

My son will be using Chalkdust next year for Algebra I in 8th grade. He's used Chalkdust for the past two years and I love the continuity. I'm sorry I can't tell you how your son's background in Singapore will fit with the Chalkdust series. I can only can tell you that my son has enjoyed CD and has done well with it up to this point. Hope all goes well with your decision.

Certainly not historically acurate, but I could watch "Princess Bride" over and over again. "Twhoo Wuv is wut bwings us togeder today"

I am probably the last person who should be answering you on this if you're watching your pennies. I used to be a flight attendant and geography is a passion of mine. We incorporate it into everything we do and are currently doing a three year, around the world study. We're in Europe right now and Rick Steves is practically a part of the family. I DVR all of his shows. I have older kids (11 & 13) and we use the Trial Guide to World Geography as our foundation, but I supplement with so many other sources I would have to start another thread. The kids have put together beautiful notebooks that are getting bigger and bigger. Geography can be an absolute blast if not done in a boring, dry fashion. If you do decide on the Trail Guide to World Geography, it would be nice to have an atlas for them. As mentioned earlier, Rand McNally has inexpensive "Schoolhouse" World Atlas'. They have an intermediate for ages 9+ and one for the younger ones, also. We found that a good World Cookbook is fun to have on hand although you can get them from the library or look some recipes up on the internet. We also have enjoyed "Geography through Art", but once again you can get books like this from the library. My library also has a series called "How to Draw Sights and Symbols of (name of country)". It's an awesome way to get that art done! Good luck in what ever you decide for geography! There's so much available out there that doesn't cost a thing.

The Foothills of the Rockies are rocking tonight! I love the sound of the rain and the thunder. Drink up little bulbs and flowering trees - bring on the springtime. Our family took our final ski runs of the season at Arapahoe Basin last Friday and I'm ready to put away the winter coats. Camping, hiking and mountain biking - here we come!!

We are an ADHD family (except for poor dh) and we just do not function without a big breakfast every day. The ideal day for us begins with "Mommy's Mess" - Saute chopped onions, bell peppers, garlic for a moment then throw in crumbled chicken apple sausage to brown. Cover with shredded hashbrown potatoes, spritz lightly with canola oil spray and press down hard. Turn in big chunks with a spatula and keep pressing until the hash browns get nice and crispy on the edges. Throw in chopped fresh tomatoes, then pour a mixture of beaten eggs and a dash of milk over the top, turn in chunks again until done, top with a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese and plate it up. (This goes really fast if I remember to chop the veggies the night before). Whole grain toast with all fruit jam, fresh fruit or better yet - a smoothie with frozen mango, papaya, strawberries, fresh banana, dash of coconut cream, yogurt, orange/mango juice, ground flaxseed, and a nice helping of soy protein powder. Yum! This meal and a quick bike ride or dog walk before math does wonders for how our day progresses from there. I find we get triple the amount of work done with a much better attitude if we have a good breakfast and some fresh air. Amazingly, I personally seem to be able to keep my weight in check better eating like this than when I was eating just cereal in the morning (or it could also have been stopping by the Starbuck's every morning on my way to work.)

We love "I Love Lucy" and "Star Trek". Recently though, we've gotten into old westerns like "Maverick", "Gunsmoke" and "Wild, Wild West". I think it was watching Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life" during the Christmas vacation. It reminded me of the old western movies he played in and made me want to share some of the shows with the kids. Not a true classic, but one my 13 year old son loves, is "MacGyver". The Mythbuster guys also love "MacGyver" and mention this show a lot.

Hi Everyone, I just checked in and noticed that this discussion had been "revived" (as Sue in St Pete stated)! I thought I'd give everyone an update. We did decided to use MUS for my 4th gr. daughter's math program this year. We started with MUS Gamma and it was exactly what she needed. She loved the videos and I could see her confidence growing each day. After the first month, we were using the manipulatives less and less and she was flying. She just "got it" and I added supplementation from other texts. She started MUS Delta in Feb. and has had no problem in understanding the division at all. Thank you all for your input! She enjoys math and has confidence in her abilities. I believe MUS was a large part of this.

I used this same exact book as the spine for my 4th gr. daughter this year. I like this series, but tend to supplement like crazy. I used the Spectrum 4th gr. Math workbook, some MUS multiplication the first part of the year and Key to Fractions toward the end of the year, plus an old book I LOVE called Kids Are Consumers Too! by Addison-Wesley. Definitely like the Sadlier-Oxford supplements online, also. I feel this is a very good spine and that I'm covering what I need to cover. There were times, though, that I did feel that additional explanation was needed.

Thank you, thank you! I have spent hours today scouring the IEW website and Yahoo groups info (as well as this forum), and I completely missed the lesson plans. I had read that there were lesson plans but couldn't find them. It's blatant now that you've directed me there. I've been feeling the pressure of needing to move my 6th grader faster and I think a fresh start with a plan will do it. Thank you for help!

Could some of the IEW veterans please give me some advice for this year? I hate to say it, but I'm one of those people who got "stuck" last year right around Unit II and just couldn't get past it. DD9 and DS11 liked the writing, but I dropped the ball and drove them silly with the outlining. This year, we really need to crack down on writing and it is my main focus for my ds especially. I have TWSS and SWI-A, but I am considering one of the theme-based studies to help us get back into the groove and over the hump. The question is: Would the Myths, Fables and Fairy Tales be too "young" for my 6th gr. son? He loves fantasy, but is a very strong reader and I don't want it to be babyish. Unfortunately, we're just about starting from the beginning since he has always struggled with writing. (I would also like something my dd10 would feel comfortable with since she doesn't write well either). I would love for them to have something they enjoy and are successful with. My other option is to work with the TWSS and SWI-A in the beginning of the year, using writing from our curriculum and then starting with the Medieval based lessons after Christmas. It will coincide with our history at this point. (The fear then is whether this will be too advanced for my dd.) I would love to hear some advice from those who have been there before. I'm really stuck on this one. Thank you!

We start on Tuesday and after an eventful last couple of weeks (dd10 broke her wrist, of course it's the one she writes with), I'm looking forward to starting school and getting onto a schedule. I was thinking of taking a couple of days next week and "easing" into the schedule. Did any of you start with just a few subjects and then add subjects as the week progressed? Did it help at all? Or does it just drag out settling into a routine?

I have a big bulletin board on the wall above my computer. At the bottom, we pin invitations or upcoming co-op announcements. Art they want to display goes on one side and I usually get some interesting poster from the teacher supply about something we're studying for the other side. The one we have up right now is of the Food Pyramid. I also put up index cards with Spanish words we're learning for the week. Our church has weekly Bible verses for the kids to memorize, so those go up, as well as, a monthly virture that I print out and put up. I love the bulletin board and even have borders I change out each month (if I remember).

UUUgggg! The decisions. I have no answer for you because I can't figure it out myself, I can only tell you what we ultimately decided. I took 7 years of French in school - still can't speak it worth a flip, but can read well and understand if they speak s-l-o-w-l-y. I love French - it's so beautiful to me. I started Rosetta Stone French Version 2 last year with kids DS11 & DD9. They liked it, but my Rosetta Stone had issues and I never got it working well - we just limped along. So this year, my DH - a Californian- said that he thought for practicality sake, the kids should learn Spanish and as much as I'm kicking and screaming going into this - I agree. So I bit the bullet and bought Rosetta Stone Spanish Version 3 Level 1. I have to say that I'm very impressed. They have done a very good job with this version vs. version 2. So we're learning Spanish this year. I still haven't given up on French and ultimately want the kids to learn both languages and hopefully more. Short story here - We were thinking of putting the kids in a Core Knowledge Charter School this year. At a parent meeting, the Principal said that the school teaches Spanish. I asked if they had any plans to add French any time in the future. Without looking at me (who asked the question) she says "I would caution all of you to not waste your children's time on irrelevant languages." WHAT!!! Since when has English and Spanish become the only languages in the World? Did I miss something? Needless to day, we decided to homeschool again.

Mine's pretty easy to figure out. Up until eight years ago, I had always lived in pretty flat areas of the U.S. Now, I look out my window at breathtaking, majestic mountains. The sunset today was spectacular. I still find it very cool and enjoy all the fun year-round things we can do in them - including teaching and learning. --------------------- Regarding the beautiful name Jane, everytime I hear it, I usually think of a strong person filled with personality and spunk. Other than Jane Eyre and Jane Austen who have already been mentioned, think of some of the other strong people you have a name in common with. Jane Goodall, Jane Russell, Jane Seymour, Jane Curtain, Dick and Jane, Tarzan and Jane, Calamity Jane, Mary Jane's (OK, technically not a person, but beloved just as well). I like the name Jane and certainly don't think it's "plain".

OK, you did say "Money's not an issue, right?" Well, I believe the BEST curriculum would be to actually live what you're studying. I would love to have the money to leave tomorrow (gotta pack), and head to the East Coast - Jamestown, Yorktown, Washington DC and New York. See the things we've been studying about. Then off to Europe, get a Eurail Pass and experience the culture, museums, people, history and food - not to mention the wonderful adventures you have whenever you travel. Hey, if money isn't a problem - why not make it a trip around the world??? (OK, this probably wasn't what you were asking about, but I just had an insanely large cup of coffee and am a little wired. Also, I was a flight attendant in my prekids years and I'm missing the travel.)

Hi Linda, I just happened to see your post about timers. I am ordering two more of the kind I like today since my dh accidently stepped on one. I want to put them in every room since they have a tendency to walk away. We use them for computer time, Wii time, school time, cleaning time and even shower time. I love the timers from the FlyLady website. http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyShop_UTimer.asp I want to get their Ultimate timer this time. Here'e what the website says: "We love our original timer but we have heard your requests for a timer with some different functions. The new Ultimate Timer allows you to have the traditional beeping sound when time runs out AND the option to choose the timer to vibrate instead of the beep. The vibrate option allows for you to use this timer in situations where the traditional beeping sound would be distracting to others. It does make a slight buzzing noise on a low tone. The Ultimate Timer also will count up like a stop watch OR set for a certain time (like 15 minutes perhaps?) and count down. To set your timer to vibrate or beep there is a switch on the back of the timer that you slide over to choose which notification you want. The switch is located on the back of the Timer, top left, just below where the battery goes. The new Ultimate Timer is available to all of you with a little reminder from FlyLady "You can do anything for 15 minutes"!! This handy little timer fits right into the palm of your hand. It comes with a built-in clip (clip it to your pocket), a magnet (stick it to the fridge), a hanger (fits on a lanyard or thread a ribbon through it and wear it around your neck), and a stand (set it up next to your computer hmmmmm). Its simple, sturdy design is just what you need for those 15 minute blessings and missions. The Timer can be set for up to 99 minutes and 59 seconds. A "AAA" battery is also included." Hope you find something you like.

Sorry noone had any ideas for you on this. My son loved these books! Since I was a precocious reader also and read the entire "James Bond" series by the time I was 13 (much to the chagrin of my grandmother), I can't believe I haven't taken the time to read these myself. I love the exotic places these kind of books go to, though. What a great idea it would be to follow along as a geography study. I know that having something already done would be ideal, but since you've already read ahead in the books - would you have time to just put something together yourself? Good luck and have fun!

I jumped into hsing with a 3rd and a 5th grader last year and we started with the Ancients. I started at the beginning for both of them because I wanted continuity. For me, that is one of the (many) reasons we homeschool. I like doing history chronologically so they can see how events lead to other events and they had never had this before. I did add appropriate reading for their levels as mentioned above, and even added some different projects since a lot of the ones in SOTW I were for younger children. We are finishing up the end of book 1 and are looking forward to the Middle Ages! I hope you have fun and learn lots with whatever you decide!

Thank you Mrs. Mungo and everyone else. I'm ordering right now

Mrs. Mungo, Thank you! I think I need to go ahead and order. Did it take you very long to get your order? Also, my dd just broke her right arm last Wed. and will be in a full arm cast for 8-10 wks. Manipulatives sound like a good option since she doesn't write well at all with her left hand.

Thank you all so much for the ideas! I'm just thrilled to be a part of this forum. It's like having a bunch of extremely knowledgeable friends just over the back fence helping me with what I consider the most important job I've ever done.