I actually wasn't sold on cursive either and started ds7 with print. He begged to learn it when he started 1st grade and I agreed. We haven't looked back. His reversal and spacing issues were resolved immediately. That sand box looks very cool. I made a salt box out of a cut-down shoe box so it is always ready but I really like that one you found. The WISE guide would be very useful with WRTR IMHO. I needed SWR because I didn't understand how to implement Spalding despite reading WRTR many times. If you know how you want to implement it then you wouldn't need SWR. The WISE guide reorganizes the Extended Ayers List a bit (maintaining the integrity), provides sentences for each word, and gives ideas for enrichments to practice spelling words or include grammar/writing lessons. Very useful to me. I would wait until you digest WRTR before buying it though. You might decide you don't need it. It sounds like you all are on your way. I learned with my boys that you can't stop an early reader. My 5yo learned about 30 phonograms from his brother and was off and running before 3yo. He's just now learning to write at age 5. Once he can write well enough, we'll start the spelling lists at the beginning. He can already spell the first few lists orally but I think it will be good for him writing-wise to start easy. He'll still get the reinforcement of learning the rules formally and mastering all 70 phonograms during those early lists. He'll also have the benefit of getting the hang of dictation before the words get challenging. My oldest was an early reader too but not on the level of his brother so we took SWR a bit slower during Kindergarten. One day, the fluency switch clicked-on and he was good to go. I'm going to check out those apps you mentioned for my 3rd ds. He's asking to read but isn't anywhere near reading developmentally. It's more of a "being like my big brothers" type of thing. Maybe some fun preschool apps will appease him. My 5yo is using a few handwriting apps and loves to practice on the iPad.

I don't thnk your ds is atypical...at least not in my house. :D. Both of my school age boys were early readers with average/slightly below average FMS. SWR has worked great for us but I don't start the writing/spellng portion til they are 5yo. Two things have worked really well for us: 1. Salt box and 2. Cursive. Not sure where we'd be without those two things.

Not an Odyssey. When we were expecting our third and upgrading to a used minivan, I looked at all kinds of back seats and the Odyssey's was the smallest. It *might* fit 3 Radians but nothing else. We ended up getting one because we wouldn't run into that problem for awhile and I love it but if we were to have another dc, we'd have to get a different minivan or a van. The experts on Carseat.org might be able to match your seats with a minivan.

I'm doing Ancients right now with my new 7yo using SL Core B (CHOW) and he loves it. He kept asking for more history chapters so we started supplementing with SOTW 1 for fun. I agree with what others have said: don't worry about what they're retaining. It's just for exposure. We are doing a timeline but it's more so ds can see how it all fits together. I'm focusing more on him learning where the countries are/were located and that borders change over time. My 5yo is also having fun listening in. He'll retain even less but can tell you where Egypt is located and loves Greek mythology.

Our small (~200 people) church does background checks for anyone who works with kids from Sunday school to VBS. I'm pretty sure it's mandated by the denomination (Foursquare). No, it isn't offensive. Honestly, I can't imagine why it would be. We're just trying to protect the children. We've been members of churches w/o background checks in the past and I'm sure glad our current one does. I'd hope that any church would have other security measures in place beside background checks and we'd probably decide on a case-by-case basis.

We use the US Ed: Textbook Workbook HIG CWP (OOP version)

:iagree: I used SWR to teach my two oldest to read. To be fair, ds5 took off with his reading after listening in on his brother's phonogram drills before he turned 3yo but ds7 learned to read as a product of the full SWR program.

We always knew we were going to homeschool but I considered us actually homeschooling the day ds7 started Kindergarten.

I've had 4 boys in 6 years and don't think of myself as a mom of many. In my head, 6+ qualifies. However, people at Costco, evidently, disagree. I get a lot of comments about the size and gender make-up of my family when we're out and about.

Our church charges $10/person. That includes a t-shirt. We charge only to cover some of the costs. We couldn't put it on if we didn't and it's an important ministry for us. VBS-hopping is very popular here but we don't mind. The more we get to share with the kids, the better. We actually ask to the kids to invite friends (at no charge, of course) and challenge them to get to a certain number each year by the end of the week. If they invite enough friends, my dh (who has been the main character since we moved here) gets a pie in the face or something similar.

It's called the Hidden Secrets to Language Success. http://www.bhibooks.net/catalog/item/4154895/8078900.htm I'm waiting for my hs coffers to fill again so I can buy the DVD and The Alpha List.

It wasn't hard at all for me to understand and implement. I listened to the advice and made my own logbook right away. That was the most useful thing I did. It took a couple of evenings and we were off and running. I make my own schedules at the beginning of each year tailored to each dc and it's open-and -go from that point. We are in our third year and I'm still very happy with the program. I've used it as my sole phonics and spelling programs for my two oldest and am just starting spelling with my K'er. It is very teacher intensive but the foundation it builds is worth it for me. Wanda has a DVD out now that would make the process even easier. I am planning on buying it but haven't gotten my hands on it yet. Supposedly it contains a lot of the information taught in the seminar.

Thanks for the kids running website. My ds wants to start and I didn't know how to do it. I've never been able to eat before working out no matter what the workout even before my last pg when I was in the best shape since college. Guess that'll change when I get to my long training runs for the 1/2 marathon, right? Hydration plays a big factor in how my runs go, I've noticed. Good idea to mention it. I start Week 8 of C25K on Tuesday. My dh assures me I can do it. I'll be heading to bed early tomorrow night.

Where is that article? I'd be interested to read it.

All of my workout clothes are on a shelf in my closet so I don't really set them out and I keep my iPod and water bottle on the kitchen counter to grab as I head out. No breakfast for me. I can't eat beforebI workout. I do have a Muscle Milk as soon as I get in the door and a small meal within in 30 mins.

We're in 3B of the US Ed. and I'm very happy with it. I haven't had a reason to switch. While I've heard that the SE HIG is better, I do like the UsEd. HIG and find it quite helpful.

Yes, don't feel bad repeating a week. It is a guide, not magic. I recently went through a mini running crisis during week 6. I just couldn't finish day 2. My dh told me to slow down but keep running. He was right and I'm headed out to finish week 7 in a few minutes. Whoohoo! A foam roller is a foam cylinder that is used to "iron out" muscles and fascia. My dh works at a company that specializes in rapid injury recovery and the docs swear by them. They are a great inexpensive tool that's keeping me injury-free. I'm guessing you can buy them at an athletic store. Our gym has a whilte one which is softer. We have a black professional grade one at home. My SIL also has them at the gym she runs so they are out there. Definitely hit a running store and get fitted. Once you know the kind of shoe that's best for you, you can look for deals online the next time you need a pair. I am not a morning person either. I have had to instill a little discipline, turn off the tv at night and go to bed earlier. At least I have more leeway on Saturday when dh is home. I do have so much more energy now that I'm running and getting in better shape. I also clamped down on my eating habits which has helped too. That is tough as my dMIL is visiting and just made 6 dozen chocolate chip cookies. My boys are 7, 5, 2.5, and 3 mos and I'm getting it done so it's possible. I'm definitely no stronger or motivated than anyone on here. I just want to feel better, be healthier, and look nice for my dh. C25K is only 25 minutes 3 days/week at first. I'm REALLY slow so the 2.5 miles runs I've done this week take me about 40 mins when you add in 10 mins of warmup and cool down. I'll probably have to carve out an hour when I get to 3 miles Monday after next. It is good to hear that it gets easier as the dc get older, though :)

I wonder if this depends on the kid. My ds didn't have much trouble with that chapter. We followed the HIG and used the base 10 blocks to see what was going on. After some practice, he got the concept and was off and running. I liked how it was explained between the textbook and HIG.

Yeah!! The runs will get better. I started out where you are about 9 weeks ago and I ran 2.5 miles yesterday. It was easier than those first few runs. I was in the worst shape of my life after this last pregnancy. Just don't be afraid to repeat weeks if you need to. I've repeated 2 different weeks along the way and glad I did. I don't have advice about stretching. My knees were hurting a bit until they got used to me running. It worked itself out by week 5. Losing 15 lbs so far surely helps. I use a foam roller after I'm done with my run.

I'm on week 7 of C25K! Yeah! I have to workout early after dh worksout and before he heads to work. I am NOT an early morning person but it is worth it to have some time to myself and lose e baby weight. After I finish C25K, I'll start training for the half marathon I'm running in Nov. I don't even like running but the me time and sense of accomplishment is worth it. A good website for C25K is http://www.coolrunning.com.

:iagree: We've had great success with rules based spelling to fill in phonics gaps for my early readers. I bought LA K when my oldest was in K but the readers were way too easy and the writing too hard. SWR fit us perfectly. However, it sounds like your dd could definitely benefit from OGPTR since she's still in the beginning stages of reading.

I'd say math. However, reading and lit are a very important component for us.

:iagree: Same experience here. ETA: We're in 3B. I think that if you have a student who 'gets' the concepts easily, it isn't very teacher intensive. The only concept that has required more out me of thus far was introducing long division. I didn't need to study the HIG any more than normal, just needed to work with mainpulatives and pictures more until he could see what was going on. Now that he's got it, the lessons have gone back to normal. Unfortunately, I don't know if 5A/B will be any different yet.

I haven't read all of the other replies yet but It would be tough for me to commit. I had two of my four babies at or before 37 weeks and the other two came right at 38 weeks. There's no way I'd miss my sis's wedding and I'd be in it if she wanted me to be whether I looked good or not (I fit in the beached whale category of late pregnant women). However, she'd have to deal with the possibility of me upstaging her by going into labor during the ceremony or not showing up if the baby's already arrived. If travelling were involved, no way.

Some of our friends went through this and we recently had a scare. It was a false alarm for us but I still did a lot of drying and baking. Since it is already hot, you can put non-dryable times like books, hampers, toys, etc. In black plastic trash bags and let them bake in the sun. Heating the house is very effective but the most expensive option. Chemicals and steam are what many companies will use and cost less. Many companies will give you a six month warranty. Every company we contacted said you had to treat the whole house or it just isn't going to work. Yes, it's an expensive pain! So sorry you have to go through all of this! :iagree: They can hide anywhere and love clutter. Our friends found the biggest clusters hid underneath the carpet edge under the bed.