Does anyone have a version/narrator that they love for this? My kids both read it but it was so much fun that we would like to listen to it on audio. Thanks!

I have paid plenty of library fines during the past few years. The most humiliating thing about it is that when you pay your fines at our library, they print a receipt for you that lists every book with the title, author, and amount of fine etc. It prints on a dot matrix type printer that can be heard all over our small library and I always end up with a very lengthy receipt. My kids always lift it up gleefully to see if it is taller than I am! I call it the public list of my transgressions.

Thanks everyone for all of the good ideas and support. I really appreciate it a lot.

Here is the background to my question: I had asthma as a child which was serious enough to require hospitalizations. When I reached age 12 or so the asthma decreased and I no longer needed to go to the doctor or be hospitalized for it. As an adult I have used an inhaler when I have colds but not much other than that unless I encounter specific allergen. For example if I am raking moldy leaves, I immediately smell the mold and have symptoms. Last fall, after remodeling our house, my asthma has bothered me so much that I have generally been using my inhaler around the clock. I have tried taking Claritin and also Zyrtec which both helped initially, enough that I only had to use the inhaler once or twice a day. The allergy meds no longer seem to be working and I am back to using my inhaler around the clock -- including waking up during the night to use it. I have scheduled an appointment with my doctor for next week. I have delayed it this long because I felt that it must be something related to our house remodel, since the start up of my symptoms coincided so closely with it; however, I can't think of anything that it could be. During the remodel, we had a gas fireplace removed, removed old carpeting and installed tile and hardwood floors, and added a new furnace, appliances and countertop. We have also changed the furnace filter and my husband vacuumed the vents. My husband thinks that I may have become allergic to our chocolate lab that we have had for 4 years, but I don't think so. And I don't want it to be. Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing my symptoms? I am guessing that my doctor is going to put me on steroids, but I would really like to try and solve this and eliminate the cause if possible. Thanks for reading this! I would appreciate any ideas or experiences that you have had.

I am wondering too!

Thanks everyone for the information on this program. Purchasing the other books is definitely expensive, but it sounds like it is worth it if I am going to use the program. Love the idea of possibly getting some of them cheaper by getting the old version.

I am thinking of using the My Pals curriculum as part of our science curriculum for 6th grade. It is workbook based but the HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) book in particular focuses on the 3 higher order skills. There is a page after each unit that shows which skills are used in each question. I am planning on supplementing these books with living books and student-led interests as well as science camp and a science fair if I can find one in our area. I am also planning several field trips. I did not have a very good education in science and feel that it is my weakest area, so I feel that as a teacher, I need support to do a good job with my kids in science. Has anyone here used My Pals? While I would not classify my kids as gifted, I would classify them as advanced based on standardized testing, abilities etc and I do not want to let them down in this area. While I don't want to overestimate their skills, I don't want to underestimate them either, so I am looking for a balance. I would appreciate any insights! Thanks.

Does she watch the videos in Spanish, or is there a separate Spanish section?

Thanks for the information. I finally had a chance to look at these -- looks like a fun supplement!

Has anyone here read it? I saw it advertised in the Scientific American magazine and wondered if it is worth reading? Especially would it be appropriate and beneficial for middle school. It doesn't have many reviews on Amazon,but the ad in Scientific American in somewhat intriguing. Kirkus says "An excellent introduction to the basics of Western physics" and The Physics Teacher says "Should be read by young and old. You will love it".

I would like to try using what there is of ALL too. I can only find the first 160 pages though.

We have done 3 lessons so far -- just fitting it in where we can. We are having fun with it. As Crimson Wife mentioned, it is a change of pace from WWS which is fun. I am looking forward to the poetry section.

I download a free sample of the book on my kindle. When I am ready to read it , I start with the sample and then buy or borrow depending on my needs

We liked the Anthony Andrews one. I think SWB even mentions it in the SOTW AG as one of her favorites.

It is what it is I can't stand that one!

If it helps, tell her someone else (me) thinks she needs to have it done. It is easy and worth it.

Can anyone recommend an online human body course for middle school? I am an accountant and shy away from anything remotely medical so I would like my kids to learn about this from someone else!

I am going to get mine on Ebay. The one that I am going to bid on comes with 25 slides. Did you decide to get one?

Love SOTW!

We all liked the Dvds for LC. After Prima Latina and LC1 we switched to First Form and we prefer the LC instructor and DVDs

I used Rewards with one of my sons -- a friend of mine who is a teacher loaned it to me. I actually just used the student book so I probably didn't get quite as much out of it as I could have but we went through the entire student book and it was excellent. It really helped my son. I think that it would be worth it even if you could just afford the student book. I don't know of any comparable programs although I haven't looked. I have often thought that Rewards would be good for homeschoolers, but I have never seen it mentioned other than in this thread.

Loving this thread! I have puts load of the recommended books on hold at the library and some on my Amazon wishlist. Right now I am really wanting to supplement our science with living books, so this has been great.

I am wondering if I should offer to go with her. Is that what people do? Or do people normally go by themselves? Also, I would appreciate any other tips you have on helping her with this. She has chronic leukemia and has oral chemo for a couple of years, but this is her 1st IV round. Thanks.

I was planning on "doing" biology according to the lists and recommendations in WTM but as I am looking up the kits (e.g. Carnivorious Creations Terrarium Kit, Slinky Bug Hunt Kit and Smithsonian Bio Dome Habitat) they are getting terrible reviews. Not lukewarm but actually numerous negative reviews. What has been your experience with these kits and what are the best 5th grade science recommendations that you have used from the WTM. I would like to stick to WTM as much as possible if it makes sense for us. Thanks.

and one of the places that is a high priority for us is China. I have never been there but I would really like to take my kids there from a homeschooling standpoint as well from a "world citizen" standpoint, if that makes sense. I am thinking that the maximum time there would be 3 weeks and we would probably go in 2014. That said, what would be a good language program for learning a few basics for getting around? And also, what would be a doable itinerary based on our goals? I know this is a REALLY broad question.:001_smile: We are planning on a 3 month trip to France next year so are trying to work on French at the moment but as I said, I am working on a travel master plan. We have so many places that we want to go, but need to make a plan so that we are achieving our goals and not wandering around, so to speak.