We've been tent camping for 7 years. We started at Disney with plenty of family support (camping with young children!). But last year we took our first extended trip by ourselves. We went for two weeks to North Georgia, Pisgah National Forest, and Smokey Mountain National Park. And now we're planning one for this fall to include Niagara Falls and Acadia National Park. Our extended family (DH camped with his family growing up) keeps wondering when we're going to get a camper... but we have to haul too many people and too much equipment as it is! Maybe my tune will change as I get older, but for now we prefer the tent. In fact, we just purchased our first canvas tent. We used it in N GA over spring break and it works well so far! The more common plastic tents are SO HOT in the South. When we camp, we camp to camp - we don't do too much sight-seeing or day trips. It takes a bit of effort to get all 6 of us fed throughout the day, cleaned up, etc... plus my kids are young enough that just exploring the woods and trails nearby are enough for them. My DH LOVES to camp, but for me it's an aquired taste - I never call it a vacation since I'm still doing so many household duties, but it is a nice change of pace and a lot more peaceful and calm (as long as it isn't raining!)

This is what we've done for years - Live of lasts month's pay.

Ecclesiastical here. We're Catholic, so my kids will be hearing and speaking Latin at church (sporadically, we don't have Latin Mass here). I'd like for them (and me) to only worry about one type of pronunciation for the time being. I don't imagine it will be difficult to adjust to classical if/when the time comes.

I used cuisinaire rods in conjunction with MM1. Any base 10 block would help.

Our metal framed Kelty carrier says 5 years old, but I'm sure that would depend on the weight of the kid. It also says as young as 1 yo, but IMO it's WAY to big for a 1 yo. For my mei tei, I haven't used it since my new 3 yo was a new 2 yo. It would probably be okay for a 3 yo if you got the balance right and everyone stays COMFORTABLE the whole time.

There has been discussion recently on the MP boards about the 9th grade placement of PS. There are several homeschoolers who agree that PS is firmly a middle school course, not high school.

My dad would sometimes get on my mom about needing to workout. She would retort that she lifts weights every time she digs around the pots and pans cabinet to make dinner. 😉

Yes, my first thought when I read the OP was that I would be a nun. But, I'd have to have memories of my current life to understand why I'd do that as opposed to being a wife and mother.

When we (thought) we had foundation issues, I googled "structural engineer" and found a firm to call. He did the assessment for a flat fee (maybe $200? Like a home inspection, but he's a PE). He told us our issues weren't really a problem, but he described what would happen if things changed... he and his team would write up the plans and another contracting company (that he recommended) would do the actual work. He said for what we MIGHT need, it'd be around $10K. But we sold that house a year and a half ago. 😛

If fluency is an issue, here's a thing I came across... have him write the alphabet in one lower case string everyday, no model. He can write each letter individual without having to consider a whole word.

I just got this from the library - it's also on Memoria Press's book list for maybe 2nd grade? which is where I first saw it listed. Seems to be a good book on the Saint, but has no ties to how we celebrate Valentine's Day as a cultural holiday. I prefer books that tie in both.... but it was a good book to read and my kids enjoyed it.

This will be my 3rd student in K! I use a strange combo of The Writing Road to Reading (4th ed. Spalding Method) and Phonics Pathways to teach phonograms, reading, and handwriting. Math Mammoth 1 BFSU for science Evan Moor's Beginning Geography Virtues in Practice year 3 for PreK-K A smattering of read alouds from Memoria Press's K list As a family: Bible reading, art study, composer study, poetry, and other stuff I'm sure... during Morning Time

My daughter will start 3rd grade this August. I already have my plan in place, mostly because I know what works for her, but also because Memoria Press has free shipping in February. 😉 Latin : latter 2/3 of Latina Christiana Grammar : FLL 3 Compression : IEW's All Things Fun and Facinating (because it's on MP's 3rd grade list) Spelling : Spelling Workout D Cursive : Pentime 4, mostly because she loves it Math : Math Mammoth 4 Geography : Daily Geography 3 (and 4?), reviewing US States and Capitals MP for Literature, History (Greek Myths), and Science (Mammals) Religion : MP's Christian Studies II, Faith and Life book 3, Virtues in Practice year 3 - Love Fine Arts : Artist/Picture Study, Music Appreciation, Piano lessons Gymnastics

My oldest will start 5th grade in August! We're gonna stick with Memoria Press for most things - it'll be our second year with this curriculum. Latin : latter 2/3 of Latina Christiana Grammar : Grammar for WTM at a slow pace, maybe 2 lessons a week Composition : MP Classical Composition Narrative Spelling : Spelling Workout D Math : Math Mammoth books 5b and 6a MP for Literature, History (Famous Men of Rome), Geography I, and Science (Book of Insects) Religion: MP's Christian Studies II, Faith and Life book 5, Virtues in Practice year 3 - Love Fine Arts: Artist/Picture Study, Music Appreciation, Piano lessons, Cub Scouts : Webelos 2

I haven't done TAN myself, but my friend does and she loves it. I believe it's the Story of Civilization that she's using.

For the book itself, about once a week. In the grade-level curriculum guide, there's a few extras like a poem and a few Bible verses that are listed for study on separate days. You're also supposed to memorize the 15 brightest stars and the constellations of the Zodiac, so in order to do that I have to review those with my son more frequently. Also, once he takes a unit test, I make copies of the main constellation map for that season and have him complete it again about once a week to kept the information fresh.

The teachers guide is basically the same book with the answers written in and tests and their answer keys at the end. I like not having to take the time to double check each answer (DS9 does this independently) with the text. I can just compare the answers to the teacher guide.

I've used FreeTaxUSA for the past 10 years. Our taxes aren't complicated - one income, savings accounts, retirement, basic charitable donations.... but the program is super easy, and I have no reason to try anything else!

Would using some choices from the 2nd grade list make more sense for your son? You can certainly buddy read together. Or break it down into smaller chunks for a slower pace. Thr "right way" is the way that facilitates learning.

Since she is calling you, after a few dead ends, you might ask "Is there anything specific you wanted to tell me about?" If the answer is no, feel free to bring the conversation to an end or else now you know you'll be doing most of the talking the rest of the time. ETA: I sometimes get stumped by the open ended question of "what's new with you?" Um nothing, not really. But I forget an outing we took or that we were sick for 2 weeks.... So ask a specific question. How's your son? How's 'sport' going? How's your mom? What's new at 'group she attends'?

Have you TRIED to print it yet? Just like, sending it to your own printer, just a page a two because sometimes PDFs can be locked from printing.

Thank you, I knew there were posts on this topic already, but I couldn't find them. Guess I'd have to ignore the "week"s and "day"s written into the program anyway! That helps wrap my mind around it, thanks.

DS9 is working through FLL4 this year. We've used the series since 1st grade with level 1, and it is a GREAT fit for him. I looked through the 6 week sample of Grammer for the Well-Trained Mind, and am questioning how I should use it next year. It's definitely a similar (if not the same) format as FLL 3 and 4, so it should be easy to impliment, but the weekly and daily workload is a good deal more. We'll also be studying Latin, so I don't want to overwork him. We're on a roll with grammar, so I want to continue it. My question is if I should do GFTWTM, perhaps at a slower pace (2 lessons a week spread out?)? Or something like Analytical Grammar for a year or so until he can handle the workload better? I do like the spiral review and definitions in FLL, so I don't want to give that up. I guess I'm just looking for suggestions on how to handle this in between stage. Thanks!

I also recommend this book!

I don't know about the prescription issue... but when I ordered my kids' glasses online, it took 3 weeks to process and ship.