What a lovely thing to do!!

yep. The Universe in My Hands by Mary Daly You can buy them here.Sacred Heart Books and Gifts | Catholic Books | Catholic Gifts or from her (google for her addy) or from Love2Learn blog (I think). I know Mary (not the political activist M.Daly but the homeschooler) and she is brilliant! I have the highest regard for her- her books on science and diagramming are stellar:001_smile:

Yep, I'm a happy IEW user! Glad it looks like it will be a good fit, Luann! IEW hasn't made Dvd's of any theme-based books so I wouldn't expect one on this. My dd has been able to do it mainly on her own so once your student understands TWSS it should be self-explanatory

Check out IEW's "Language Aquisition Through Poetry Memorization" by Andrew Pudewa.

My dh balances the checkbook- thought ya'll might be happy to know that!:lol: Well, I'll probably be up for it- it's just getting to the library and getting the books back on time. My ability to do that is closely related to my ability to talk coherently about math! oh..and he wants me to add that he teaches the h.s. math around here.

Can't we just square nine and make it 3/3/3?

thanks for the links!

I LOVE this video- isn't it amazing!!

Anyone see this movie by Ben Stein? Interesting flick regarding the secualarization of science, the academy, the media, etc. Whatdidyathink of it?

Of course! It is an awesome program and well worth the money. Make sure that you get the "tips and tricks" CD as well. I think that it is Unit 7 that focuses on creative writing and IEW now has a lesson book specifically geared toward novel writing. My ds did it this summer and loved it.

Hi Luann, My 18 yo dd is using it this year. It does cover all 9 units so there is some repetition. As Andrew P says, don't get stuck on stuff you already know. We've used IEW for several years and both she and I are learning new skills from this book. The check list for lessons 8,9,10 are Presentation: Title, name, date, clearly presented. Mechanics: indent, complete sentences, capitals, punctuation Style Tools: underline dress-ups (1 of each),# sentence openers, no banned wds, topic/clincher rule Rhetoric (frequency- once per composition): did the passage contain a proverb?, correlative conjunction, polysyndeton/asyndeton Sentence Openers: 6 listed- once per para. Dress-ups: 8 listed incluL dual adj, parallelism, and dual strong verbs (once per para). There are 31 lessons total and by the end the kids are using style tools that include lead-in to quotation and triple extension and rhetoric that includes: anthimeria, anadiplosis, metonymy/synecdoche, antimetabole, asterismos, chiasmus; sentence openers, dress-ups, decorations, Introductions and conclusions. Like all of the theme based books it's easy to follow with clear explanations. Source texts include Homer, Livy and Shakespeare with a complete rhetorical analysis of the Gettysburg Address. It's good stuff:) lmk if you want more specifics or have other ?'s

I was an admissions counselor for a grad program years ago but here's the basic scoop. Test scores matter. Get good scores. If you are unsure about testing take a test prep- $ well spent! (IEW has one for under $100 and learning centers usually offer them for big bucks, too). Make up a nice looking transcript, print on nice paper. You can get sample transcripts on -line. We followed a sample to make up my dd's. I would go the traditional route with a transcript (vs. a narrative) unless you are applying to a less traditional school. Contact the admissions counselor at the schools that you are wanting to get into. It is their job to get you there. Schedule an appointment and interview them. Build a relationship. Unless it is a competitive program/school, (and even if it is) they probably have some pull and they will know a boatload about the school/programs, financial aid, etc. Schedule time with financial aid. - this is a whole 'nother ball game but I'm sure that the financial aid counselors would be good to interview, too. Find good solid references. Make sure that they are solid and will speak well and honestly about the student. Practice interveiws before you have one. Reframe weaknesses into strenghts, etc. I would make file folders for each school that will be applyed to with the requirements listed on the outside of the folder and check off as they come in. Have someone proof essays. Be meticulous about spelling and grammar. Don't wait until the last minute to get everything done. Stressful for student and mom! My dd was admitted with honors to 2 schools (and great scholarship- one was an awesome school from academic standpoint) but turned down by her first choice (though she was ambivalent about going and kept putting off getting things in on time, etc). She was later admitted on a full ride (4 yrs) to a school and only applyed after the scholarship was awarded.

Seconding Fay's suggestion to get the "Tips and Tricks" CD!!

Beth, I would recommend getting a jump start on the TWSS without your ds so that you have an idea of what is going on -1 or 2 lessons ahead of her and you should be fine. I'd watch TWSS with your notebook in hand so that you can make notes for yourself. The theme based books are great but you will need to know the TWSS in order to teach her the concept. We've used several theme books and we have really enjoyed them! Hope IEW is a fit for your family. We LOVE it!

Another happy Memoria Press Christian Studies user. We also memorize VP cards and memorize scripture verses in latin and english.

Last night we campaigned! My kids canvassed neighborhoods and then after a short break decided that they wanted to go back and wave signs during rush hour. The opposition moved and a certain chain drug store mgr came out and gave our group bags of candy. They stood out there for 2 1/2 hours and had a blast. I worked the phone bank inside, in the warmth:001_smile: My dh was home writing a response to someone who had questioned some of his political views and writing to the state director of a political party here that he had talked to during the day regarding issues in our state.

I love it!! I bet Andrew P would love to see it, even given his opinions on music! Maybe we should start a Poetry social group?:001_smile:

Mines up, too. We'll be out tomorrow at co-op and campaining- kids idea:001_smile: they are all about this election!

checked out the White & Nerdy with Donny O- roflol!!! thanks for the laugh!:001_smile:

We put builders plastic on the outside of our windows, duct tape (clear) the cracks and leaks on the inside and seal with plastic on the inside. Have you looked at clear sheets of pexiglass? We've used it to double the window in our downstairs bathroom and it doesn't look tacky at all.

grew up in Oh- loved it. Still love it. As an adult I've lived in IN- pretty slow outside of the cities CT- LOVE New England- all of it. CA- LOVE the west coast. I miss the mnts and oceans and being in on the cutting edge of everything. Glad we are not living there with our kids- too much crime, smog and street people. NM- hot, dry, isolated. SD- big, clear skies. Good place for young families and small kids- not so hot for older kids. We love our property and church. I dread the winters but somehow manage to live through them year after year:) Spring and fall here are glorious!

Yes. Our gym membership went by the wayside- ugh! I'm going to check out the small one in town. It seems impossible to work out at home-hats off to you Jennifer. I think mentally I equate working out with brain space- kwim?

For those participating, what are you doing about school? How did you work up the courage and how long have you been thinking about it?

Not if you are my 8 yo ds! He hates coloring but loves art and is quite artistic. My 5 yo dd can color for hours. I think it's a personality thing

My 5 yo was a bird last night. Red leggings, socks and shirt. Blue hooded sweater, black shoes. She wore a beret and we made a beak from yellow cardstock. A masked bandit, a cowboy?