We have used HO level 2 for Ancients and Middle ages. Ancients was a bit weak in that I didn't realize I would still need to put in some effort to tweak it to our needs. That and I didn't realized dd despised coloring someone elses work and would hate the pockets. For the middle ages I didn't get the coloring book. She prefers to draw her own pictures. I have also added a couple of books. I don't buy the package. I get what I can from RR (that is also where I get HO) and then the rest from amazon since my library isn't so hot.

Just wanted you to know that you are not alone. I just got finished with the testing for my ds who is getting very close to eight. He had problems very similar to what you describe. My son has significant delays in decoding, encoding and automaticity. We have begun using reading reflex just in the last two weeks. He likes it because he thinks it is fun. They are bit game like and after a year of work or as he likes to put it "torture" this is helping. Our eye doctor has also gotten me some stuff to work on automaticity. I am using some of it. I did use the tests in RR just so I could see it for myself. We are finding a bit of progress now but I don't think that truly it will be great until we have more automaticity going for him. It is hard to read when you have to stop and think what each sound is.

Are there any health code or regulations that govern childcare food for that many children that we have to think about before suggesting?

Well if it is a senior moment I have been having them since I was thirty. I invariably "lose" presents if I buy them too early. I always think I will just put it here so the kids or whoever won't find it and promptly forget. Every year we have one lost egg as the Easter bunny forgets to draw a map. Right now I know I have a wordly wise I would love to be using for dd who finished her R&S to early and I wasn't prepared. I know I have it but I have searched the school room and can't find it anywhere. Maybe my WW has run off with your life of Fred!

I love Ikea and have shopping there for years. Where we live now Ikea is two and a half hours away and yes I have made the Ikea trips. Something to note also is if your heart is set on a very specific item the check their computer to see if they have it in stock. If they do call and see if they can hold it for you even if you have to pay for it and go down for it and then return wouold be better than getting there and them not having it. Yes I have learned this the hard way. Ds has an ikea bed, I bought his sheets at there and I do need to get more of his sheets next time we go but since I usually have to sets per bed it is ok.

What we are doing as dd is young is we are doing tt to get our feet wet. She has done algI and will do alg II and then Geometry before the end of eighth. Then we are going to test to determine if we need a harder round of alg II or if we are going to precal before we start doing some college classes. She is getting a lot out of TT. I don't know if it is enough which is why we test. Dd does better with a conversational style teaching. We started with Saxon and she hated it. She hated the dive cd's and the repetition. So for now this is what works best for us.

I might look at that too. I am just not sure where to go, kwim? Everyone has different opinions and I am worried about getting it from manipulative to paper especially with the vision issue but at the same time I don't want to over do the written with his writing issues beginning to show signs of improvement. For now, until I figure out what to do, we are working on automaticity. Well as soon as I finish reading the book the eye dr gave me so I know how to use the workbook. Then I will have to figure out how to place him in anything. He gets the concepts of math easily but seeing an equation blows him away. Hopefully some training will help with this. The things I do know about his learning style is he loves video based with lots of color and hands on activities. He also loves audio work. We just need to overcome his print phobia! Melissa

DS 18 is taking a class at the cc where they had to take a personality quiz. It was on line so he was able to show me his type. Man it was freakily like him. But the kicker was they listed famous real and fictional characters that his personality is like. One of them actually was Eeyore! He is generally closed emotionally not prone to outburst at all. So I guess he really is an Eeyore.

Good to know they will be at our conference this year. We love his voice on SOTW. I will have to budget him in as well!

He is seven.

Also would most of the Henty books work? Thanks

I am looking for books that are above his level and are entertaining enough for both of us. I am wanting them to be something we can discuss. Do you have any suggestions? Also where is the best place to buy as my libraries selection isn't to hot? We are getting ready to start Beric of Briton.

Oh dear, it appears I need to relearn math too. Is this way better? It seems to me like more steps than to just have the facts. Will this really work better with DS with dyslexia? I am not saying I won't, I am just saying it seems so far from how I taught the older two before they had it ps. Maybe it is just to me that this seems harder.

Peroxide will be at your drug or grocery store. Right by the rubbing alcohol.

Then I will just go by progress. We do history and science as fun add on and so that school doesn't have to be something we dread. He does love audio books but we haven't had any lately as our library isn't that good for audio books. But with convention coming I am hoping to pick some up for him.

How about a recycling bin instead of a basket? Maybe you could put in some or organic seed for a garden as well. I a craft show on DIY once I saw them making aprons out recycled grocery bags. Fun recycled items might add a touch of whimsy.

Thank you Claire. That is exactly what I needed to hear. I am a planner/list maker by nature. Although I am flexible I like to have my preliminary list. I needed what you said so that I can say to myself, this is my list. I did actually throw out the goals I had had for each year for him so I can't quit feeling like I am getting farther and farther behind. Do I need to have any yearly goals at this point or just let it be what it becomes? How will I know what good progress is? I know right now for me his handwriting improvements and what we are doing in RR are big improvements to me but perhaps aren't all that great of progress as to what is to be expected. thank you so much for your Patience through all of my questions.

We are using TT with my daughter. She is younger (barely 12) and starting their alg II. (She loves the conversational style). What our plan is to do TT through Geometry to get through middle school. Then when she is a freshman she will do a more in depth Alg II (maybe will test to see if she needs a repeat) then we will head to precal. As to ease of learning it is definitely there. Dd is doing remarkably well. She loves the cd because he has a "fun" voice so math sounds fun.

Exactly what I was wondering. Well that and what kind of birds go to a premade nest.

Ok not from experience (still trying to figure out how limber you have to be to get your nose there:eek:) but I wondering if since it is buried if moisture isn't an issue. Since bacteria likes warm moist maybe drying more or adding some cornstarch might help. Is it sore like you have a scratch that is infected. Ok honestly these were all shots in the dark but you were so open in asking I had to try.

Well I am not one to talk since my was installed today but I do love my new KitchenAid. It is whisper quiet and super roomy. Oh and I love the adjustable shelves. My mom has one that she has had for a while (a few years I think) and she says it is the best she ever has had. I hate washing dishes too.

I am sitting here tonight looking at DD's curriculum plans for next year. Already done, she excited and for the most part I am too. Then I look at DS's and it says SOTW3 with CD's. I feel so stuck because I don't know what to plan for with him. We are doing RR and I am trying to decide on math for him. But if we finish RR and he is beginning to read ( and yes I know I am banking on a lot) then what do I do. Will I need a special spelling and grammar lesson too? His Dad keeps asking if I have any sort of tallies as to costs for him but I don't know what to do. I feel like right now I am operating in free fall clinging to RR because that is what there is. He also listening and coloring to SOTW2 cd's. We do fun experiments for science. I just feel really disjointed. Can you share what to expect and what you moved on to after RR? I don't want to overwhelm but I don't want him without a challenge either or he will look for something challenging and I will end up with a dismantled toaster! Thanks in advance for any help or just plain reassurance you can send my way! Melissa

Oh cool. I didn't know. I was just wishing last night that there was a way to make my list less willy nilly. This will be cool.

Thanks, I think I will go with C. I had read all of their info but still couldn't decide. Hopefully, just to be sure I will be able to rifle through B and C at our state convention since IEW has a booth.

I am thinking of using some of these as a spring board for Ds who will be eight. I am wondering how these are. Ds has other issues going on that need to be addressed more so science will probably be a bit light this coming year. As he loves science I don't want to cut it out, I just want it to be not so formal. I am trying to see if these would be fun. TIA Melissa