I always prevalent my kids' played in a situation like that. I can't worry about the cross contamination issues. So I just make them plates and set them aside before everyone else serves themselves. And I sometimes bring separate food for them that we don't share - because our specialty food is expensive! I don't really care if that's polite or not. I so hate pot lucks and I try to avoid them whenever possible. Food allergies are no fun!

This is what I'm waiting for! We tried Hake this past year and didn't love it. We've tried Fix It in the past but it sometimes felt like it jumped around or something. I'm not sure. We didn't love it either. I like the looks of JAG but I've never been clear on exactly what to purchase and how long it will take us to cover the material. I'm hoping that ALL is what we're looking for.

We moved from Texas to Indiana. The laws here are very similar. All I have to do is track our school days to make sure we have a minimum of 180 days. I don't turn it in to anyone though. I just have to keep that in our records. The cost of living up here is good and the museums are surprisingly good. And the parks are really nice where we live. I'm actually really liking it here.

No. Mine had a live person come on and ask me questions about my computer. Then I just blew the whistle at them.

I was getting those calls all the time. Sometimes up to 12 times a day. It was miserable. I have an emergency whistle and I started blowing that into the phone when they called. No calls for more than six months now.

Thanks for telling me about the videos. I'll have to check those out! I was thinking about the CD's for our homeschool and we would review them together after lunch. I don't know. I want to be more consistent with memory work and I'd like it to be all planned out for me. Schedule

I really like it too! I think my kids would love it and maybe we could actually be more consistent with memory work. Schedule

Has anyone used their products before? Here's a link Claritas Classical Academy I love the idea of Classical Conversations but joining a group is not a good fit for my family right now. (And it's not in the budget anyway...) But I would love to add more memory work into our day. I toyed with the idea of just using CC materials at home. But this program looks really neat and their maps look really beautiful. Please share your thoughts!!!

I know!! Hurry, hurry, hurry! I want it now!

Thanks!!!

I'm planning out my reading list for next year. I have some historical fiction, some cultural focused books, some modern fiction, some poetry and some classics....But I wanted a few more things to round out my list. I need a few biography or autobiography ideas I also need a couple non fiction books that would be fun to add in I would also love some suggestions for picture books. I would love to discuss various themes using longer picture books. So.....help me out please!!!

I use Right Start and I love it. My hubby is a finance professor and I was terrified to teach math because I'm not good at me (and he's SO good at it) RS has made it easy for me. I currently have 4 kids in various levels and it's not super time intensive. The oldest play games with the youngers and I have a much better idea of what I'm teaching so it's easier for me now. RS has given them a wonderful foundation for understanding math. It has been pretty near perfect at my house. I'm so glad I found it several years ago. So RS gets my vote of the options you listed.

I would not skip personally. Level 3 is a huge jump up from 2 and my kids found it really challenging. I did 3 in 4th grade with my kids. It was tough!! So, I would recommend doing 3 and not skipping it.

Ok. I'm still in planning stages but I'll jump in: Bible: CAP New Testament 2 Logic: Thinking Toolbox and maybe some books from mindware. My dd loves logic workbooks. Poetry: I want to try the one from CAP I think Vocabulary: word roots from critical thinking press (maybe) Lit: Lightning Literature with tons of other books Spelling: AAS 5 and probably 6 Grammar: I want the new program from Well-Trained Mind!! I can't find a middle school grammar I like. Writing: WWS 1 Math: RS F It comes out this year! Yay! And finish RS G (yes, I'm a little out of order on my math stuff) Science: BJU 6 streaming (and maybe read Tiners astronomy because my dd loves astronomy) History: No Clue!!! Tempted to use something from master books. Maybe with lots of book choices from ToG Latin: CAP L4C B Spanish: Galore Park 2 Piano lessons and swim team and AHG and awana and golf And I so wish I could add art! I looked at creating a masterpiece and it looked so fun! Sigh. But I don't get to art very often.

Ok. She tested into 7/6 because she mad quite a few silly mistakes. I'm thinking I'd rather have her do that level to build her confidence and help her focus. So, they now have these new homeschool editions....what's the difference between those and the old textbooks?

Thanks for all the thoughts! That's a lot to read through. She finishing the placement test for Saxon today so I'll see what that tells me. I had no idea there was a different author for 7/6 and 8/7. I'm going to have to really think about this. I was planning to eventually use Jacobs for algebra and geometry but I really feel my dd needs another year of arithmetic before we dive in. I want her to have a great foundation. This is a tough decision!!

I just printed off the placement test! Thanks! Schedule

Ok I need some wonderful ideas from all the amazing hive members! Math! Oh math! I don't know what to do about my oldest child and math. Background: We've used RS math from A all the way up through G. She has done very well with it and I've really enjoyed it. Now I'm looking into what to do next. However, I don't feel she's ready for pre-algebra. I think she needs more help and explicit instruction in multiplying and dividing fractions, percents, decimals, ratios, and there are probably other things that I can't think of at the moment. She's using Mastering Essential Math Skills right now alongside RS G and that's what has made me realize that she is not very comfortable with many of these concepts toward the end of the book. I looked at Saxon 8/7 and glanced through the table of contents. It looked like it covered much of what she needs help with. But it's so different from RS that I wasn't sure it would really resonate with her. I looked at the Keys To series and they look great but she needs more topics than just fractions and decimals. There are other concepts that she struggles with as well. So here's my question: Use Saxon 8/7 OR Use something else to get her solid with fractions and decimals before jumping into pre-algebra - if so, what do you recommend for a child who is not very mathy?? OR Go into a pre-algebra program and hope that she'll survive. Are some of those topics taught in some of the pre-algebra programs? (I clearly need to read through the table of contents of those). She'll be in 6th grade and I don't know that she's ready for algebra and I don't want to rush her and make her frustrated.

So we had family photos taken and I have the digital copies of the photos with permission to have copies printed. I would like to order some various sizes to give to family members. And I might want to have a canvas or two. Where should I order these? I haven't been impressed with the quality of shutter fly in the past. So, that one is out. I need something that has good quality with a decent price. Thoughts please!!

Thanks! I got it all changed. Goodness! The survey software has been a little challenging for me to figure out. Ugh! Schedule

That one wasn't showing the words on the phone view. I edited it to where the words should show now. It's about whether you consider yourself spontaneous or more of a planner. Schedule

How odd! I'll check into that. If you turn your phone sideways it should give you a scroll option. You can move a slider to see the other options. Oh, I can get it to slide with my phone upright as well. So try sliding your finger across the list and you'll see more options. Schedule

Yes you can! That is such an awesome museum!! The new circus exhibit is fun. My kids enjoy the lyra rings (I think that's what they are called).

So I redid my homeschool blog. It's so much prettier now. And I know there is a rule about self-promotion....so, don't go read it ok! I'm not promoting my blog. I just have a favor to ask: As a small part of my new blog I'm going to be conducting some homeschool research in collaboration with my hubby (PhD) and I've created my first survey. It's short, I promise! I'd love for you to go take my survey if you have a few moments. I'll be sharing the results soon. What I have so far has been really interesting and fun to read through. Anyway, I'll probably be posting monthly surveys on this specific survey page if you'd like to bookmark it. Survey Link

Mine arrives tomorrow! I'll have to let you know my thoughts after we start using it. I'm pretty excited! I know my son really needs it. Not sure about my daughter. Her reading has really taken off so we'll see how it helps her.