http://www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com You'll find her advice helpful, I know I have and I understand just what you're saying. :grouphug:

"Stop." Low voice. "Put your hand on your mouth." Wait for obedience. "Now, don't make that sound again." All said very firmly and very low in tone.

Pick this one, don't consider the rest. BTW, I also have one of "those" two year olds and a nursery type setting would just bore her to tears. You actually might find you deeply enjoy the volunteer commitment. I was very surprised how much I love volunteering with the kids. If this is the co-op that fits your family best, then these are going to be the most like-minded moms because they have also chosen this style of co-op among the alternatives. This is relevant because you are going to get to know these families very well. I love our co-op. It's a group of different but similar :D families and your children will become very close and attached to the other children. You'll spend time with the families. This works best when their values and attributes are similar to your own. Sure, it only meets every other week - but this will give you the opportunity to have a couple moms/families at your house on the alternating weeks to get to know them better and make relationships. To me, it's very clear.

Three Little Kittens by Little Golden Books? The kittens that lost their mittens?

:iagree:

DD is 15 and she is pretty much completely in charge of her schedule in time. But, she's also wired to be a very Type A personality. She gets herself up, showered, dressed, and starts school before I've finished my cup of coffee generally speaking. DS is 12. I've set a rule that he must be up, dressed, room clean by 7:30. Once he's moving, he moves at a good pace. He still needs light structure - "What are your plans for today?" "Don't forget X is needed by Wednesday," but he decides if he's going to work on writing first and then math, etc. They both have daily accountability - now whether they NEED it or not, well... So I guess the responsibility I take on vs. the the responsibility they take on has been a gradual shift with less and less on me. We'll see if this continues to hold true or if it's just the two oldest that are this way. ;)

I have a DD like this. She's 15 now. You are going to LOVE high school! DD planned and scheduled all of her own history and lit selections, then broke them down into weekly plans, assigned writing papers to both subjects, and has very carefully adhered to everything she planned from the beginning of the year. Honestly? I did think she'd burn out. She reads from her lists in the evenings, on the weekends.... And yes, she works on Latin for fun too. Just so you know - your best times with her are coming up. Mine is an absolute JOY to have in high school right now - I couldn't possibly be loving it more.

I'm such a cheapskate. I hemmed and hawed for the longest time and thought surely there was nothing so new or informative or wonderful out there that it could be worth the price tag attached to the IEW materials. For co-op last year I was able to use/view all of the DVDs and I bought the binder as well. IEW is fantastic. I bought and used Speech Bootcamp to teach a speech class. I then bought Phonetic Zoo. I have Windows to the World and Elegant Essay on the next list.... :) Worth. Every. Penny.

In theory, Bill, I agree with you. I think real cursive is lovely. Unfortunately I've taught two children cursive and while they certainly put forth effort, it's never as perfect, as lovely, and as readable as it should be. :) Italics. I love italics. I taught two the traditional way. Now I have two working on italics. I'm sold. And I wouldn't steer you wrong. You're the one who turned me onto cold press coffee. :D I owe you.

Oh Julie - isn't it so much fun to take such joy in the littlest ones?!?! (I have a DD like your little one that is now almost three... She began sounding out two sounds together last week!) Enjoy EVERY moment of it. I can't believe how much joy I get out of the littlest ones now... It makes me wonder if I ever really stopped and appreciated the littlest things when my oldest ones were tiny!

:iagree: After having friendliness misconstrued as flirting, long, long ago - about 11 years ago, I tend to work to be distantly friendly rather than friendly. But you can absolutely be JUST being friendly as you would with the UPS man and be utterly construed as flirting, and it was not. Now, generally if it's the man misunderstanding the woman, it's misunderstanding. If it's another woman watching another woman, they are usually dead on if it's flirting or just friendly. Interesting to note, eh?

If the 'sposies don't work, turn to cloth!

I have a very good friend who is very much an unschooler. Honestly? We don't talk much about schooling. We tread lightly on the many things we don't have in common - religion, politics, and schooling... The hot buttons. :D And we focus on what we have in common - food, enjoying our kids, knitting, etc. We both respect the other. Hopefully just not bringing up topics but answering questions as gently and openly and lovingly as possible will do the trick. It will completely depend on the type of person SHE is. If she's a "converter" - and thinks everyone should be an unschooler, there is little you can do. If she's a "different strokes for different folks" kind of a girl then this will be a topic to be mindful of but it won't present a problem. Her calling you to "discuss" something on your blog doesn't sound very promising... However, perhaps if you answer a few questions with the attitude of "this is what works for us" then maybe it will go well?

We don't use a formal spelling program... And there is my biggest debate. DD *absorbed* words. They just popped in her head. We had and attempted to use Spelling Power and Spelling WO with her but it was a pointless waste of time. She simply progressed faster than the workbooks and it was sheer busy work. DS took forever to read, then we had to get a pencil in his hand. ;) Then we began with the same plan - Spelling Workout. Ugh. Then we moved to Phonetic Zoo, but we weren't good at being consistent with it. So right now I'm trying to decide exactly WHICH direction to go in. My littles use Explode the Code and we do a lot of written narration, copywork, and some dictation. As far as vocabulary, Christian and Ana both do Latin and Vocabulary from the Classical Roots. Unfortunately the signature only allows so much and I had to max mine out on children, lol! ;)

He is a sixth grader. He reads GREAT, but spelling... Well, not so much. :glare: Oh, he can write a typical sentence but he has a hard time within his vocabulary. I'd say his spelling is that of a typical 4th/5th grader.

Over years, I've found that what you are saying is often the difference between the 3 hour schedule and the 7 hour schedule. We don't count DD's piano or DS' guitar as "music" and they often read books on composers or watch a documentary and we don't count that as school. Free writing and/or journaling isn't "school" - it's life. Nature walks & study isn't really school, is it? It's life. We don't count the breeding of rabbits, or the study of the catepillar, or the identifying of leaves & plants as "school" in our tally. My kids don't even really think of reading history as "school." In all truth, they see their formal writing assignments, spine reading, math, and grammar as the only "school" they do. Often when you see someone list 7-8 hours, this will include piano, journaling, creative writing, nature study, personal interest projects, etc. And when you see someone's schedule that says 3 hours each day, there are usually a lot of things going on that their particular family simply doesn't count.... Discussions, narrations, memorization, and more.

Can I vote for neither? I taught my first two print and then cursive. My next two are learning italics and then will just join. Happy sigh. I'm loving it!

DS' (6th grade) 7AM - Wake up call Dressed and/or showered, room clean by 7:30 Breakfast Clean-up Bible Time (we try to be consistent on this one.) School *This is a bit random because he and his sister work out who is going to do what on the computer. Approximately 45 minutes for math Approximately 1-2 hours of reading lit & history assignments About an hour of being outside just to RUN around and do his rabbit chores We try to do Grammar in just before lunch. Lunch Clean-up Latin with his sister If he hasn't done grammar with me yet, this is when he does it. Writing and/or Speech assignments Reading (and leftover lit or free reading) 3:30-4:00 School is over. Currently we aren't doing spelling or vocabulary but we're beginning when I settle on something. That slides into the morning slot. As far as science, he studies plants... It's kind of his "thing." We haven't done formal science with him but he does do vocabulary and experiments with Ana when she does her Apologia Biology. He also does science in co-op and we review his notes throughout the week. My day? My day is just pure juggle. 5:00 AM - Wake up with DH. 5:30 AM - Coffee with said DH. :) 6:00 AM - I TRY to be showered and spend my hour or so on the computer at this point. 7:00 - Big kids wake-up call 7:30-8:00 - Dress Little People Breakfast (one of the Big Three prepares breakfast every AM.) Clean-up Bible Time School My part of school in the AM is this: -Talk to Ana & okay her gameplan for the day -Talk to CJ, find out when grammar is fitting in for him so I can block it off (30 minutes) -Grammar with Elizabeth (30 minutes) & she'll do spelling & handwriting on her own -Rebecca does handwriting/copywork on her own -They'll do history &/or their reading assignment together w/narration to me later. -Preschool readings, songs, or activities, etc. with Littles (30-60 minutes) -Send them outside -Some kind of discussion with Ana as to what she's been working on, reading, writing, etc. all AM, just a touch base kind of a deal -Heat up a cup of tea. Somehow I NEVER drink it though. It will be reheated at least once more in the afternoon. Sigh. -Change Baby 2-3 times -TRY to get phonics lessons with little three, rarely succeed -30 min of Leap Frog or Veggie Tales or whatever for Littles -Switch Laundry 2-3 times Lunch Clean-up (Ideally) Naptime -Rotate between the three nappers (6yo, 4yo, almost 3yo) and do phonics/reading lesson -Grammar with Christian if it hasn't already been done -Grammar/Writing Instruction with Ana -Assessment for what big kids need to work on or have accomplished so far. -Writing with Rebecca & Elizabeth -Switch laundry 1-2 times - Free Time - I usually get about an hour-ish? After naptime: Little Kids outside Big Kids finish up Sort Laundry & everyone puts it away. By 4:00-5:00 we're prepping dinner and the house is clean or in the process of being so. :)

True story. And I spent almost two weeks in a Trendelenburg position in a hospital with magnesium sulfate. If it's previa, there would be nothing they could do other than diagnose it. At 15 weeks it's highly likely it would move and so just knowing it exists isn't useful. If the bleeding has stopped then it isn't hemorrahging. It's incredibly overwhelming to be so helpless, I do understand. We had one super preemie (26 weeks) and we've had previa twice (once complete) and our pregnancies are, at best, medical tapdancing every time. The truth? At 15 weeks there is nothing you can do. You should always be seen though if you have bright red bleeding in moderate or heavy amounts. Even when baby is viable there is little they can do for spotting. After viability if you are showing threat of preterm labor they can give you an Fetal Fibronectin test to put your mind at ease - if it's negative the chances of you laboring in the next couple of weeks is extremely rare. At 18-20 weeks if you are showing threat of possible labor, they can begin giving you weekly progesterone shots. How they tell IS a vaginal ultrasound. They'll measure cervical length (which is entirely different than dilation, etc.) If the length is less than 2-2.5 you are at high risk for preterm labor and progesterone could be called for.... I have surgery with each pregnancy followed by bi-weekly ultrasounds to gauge cervical length from weeks 16-32. Do watch those back aches. Back aches coupled with spotting is a concern. True there is nothing they can do at 15 weeks, but it is certainly something to be aware of and especially once you get to around 23-24 weeks.

:drool:

I have the phonetic zoo cards and am debating whether or not to order the CDs or to just order another program. DS can memorize rules, but truly hates spelling. He's a math whiz and he's just wired that way. Or I could go with spelling power and orally quiz him, but frankly? WELL, if we're going to be honest I'm doubtful if it will actually get DONE. Might as well be honest about it........ I have good intentions but spelling seems to continually get pushed to the side. Thoughts? I'm debating between pairings... Things I'm considering: Rod & Staff Spelling Megawords AVKO's Sequential Spelling w/ DVD ABC's and All Their Tricks Ordering the CDs for Phonetic Zoo Help? Is there a particular pairing that would create a strong alliance?

My DD used it through elementary (2-6) and is very strong in the language arts area. But, she too is an avid reader, so I couldn't tell you which served the greater purpose. In grades 3-8 we had to take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills a couple of times and she always scored in the high 90s. We took a needed break from Rod & Staff English in grades 7 & 8 and we've just picked up 8 again now in her 9th grade year. I'm loving the older levels!!!!!! Rod & Staff is inexpensive, it truly teaches grammar, it also has some great writing explanation/teaching in the older levels. It's thorough and it's non-consumable. It pretty much is the perfect grammar curriculum, even if a bit overzealous in application... Just choose to do half of it orally! ;)

Well for ME it would be a non-issue. At 35w5d, I'd be 3-4 days away from giving birth. :glare: For YOU - wow, that's close. I'd give tentative positives if it's something you REALLY want to do and let them know this is VERY subject to change and that it will really depend on how you're feeling the day before.... The truth? The amusement park DRIVE isn't so bad, it's the hours and hours of walking through the park. As for the wedding, the sitting wouldn't be so bad, but wow... two days before your due date? :001_huh: I can really see how you'd want to make it to both though. We REALLY want to go to the OCEAN conference on June 24th. It's the day I turn 36 weeks. I haven't made it past 36w4d in the last three pregnancies, and each has gotten shorter. My perinatologist says he doesn't think we'll make it to 35 this time. My DD was thoughtful enough to point out there are plenty of hospitals around, so I guess that's an option for you too - stop on the way, have a baby, lol. :lol: But, you know, I don't think anyone would fault you for saying you really couldn't make it to an event you'd have to travel to just two days before your due date if you had to travel!

Loving the lists but DD is reading over my shoulder and saying, "WHERE is Peter Pan?! What about Peter Pan?" :D Her lists for 4th, 5th, 6th grade are here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3338449-anajoy-rusticgirl?shelf=5th-grade But the top favorites are: Wizard of Oz My Side of the Mountain (for boys) Peter Pan Swiss Family Robinson Narnia Books Little House in Big Woods & Farmer Boy but they're a series so I'm counting them as one. The Borrowers (that's HER vote, not mine) Black Ships Before Troy Calico Captive Redwall :) We're reading Carry On Mr. Bowditch right now as a family so I have high hopes!

Three years ago. Year 7 for us homeschooling. I had a 5yo, a 3yo, a 2yo, and a baby and we were living in town. There were stresses - trying to run an at home business while teaching an 11yo and a barely reading 8yo, medical bills, etc. It was just an overwhelming year. It was the year I decided I simply could NOT follow TWTM and plan everything myself and tried to go to Sonlight and that just made everything worse because I wasn't thrilled with it. Nothing was really working the way I wanted it to work... My oldest was fairly self sufficient, but the 8/9yo absolutely was not. Because of his late start in reading (wasn't reading remotely up to par until 9-9.5) all instructions, etc. had to be explained, much had to be delayed, a lot of reading aloud, etc. My 3yo had food/behavioural issues... And I was running a business that was taking a good 30 hours a week between labels, online things, prepare shipping, making product, etc. No, it wasn't a great year. To be overwhelmed and feel like you're falling short in so many areas all at once - not a good thing. We quit the business. We moved out in the country. The 8/9yo reads beautifully. We took soy away from DD. (And later found out it was also wheat, eggs, and nuts.) The little ones grew older. DD took complete charge of her own education and goes insanely above & beyond. That non reader can now not only read, but write, and he's good at math. Still working on spelling, lol, but he is very independent of his mama. The 5yo became 8yo and can read and do school work quite well with interaction with Mama. The 3yo taught herself, with minimal phonics instruction, to read when she just turned 5yo and she is now reading at about a 4th/5th grade level. That took a LOT of weight off. The move to the country definitely took the edge off of that 2yo's energy level. :) The baby is now 4. God must have known I needed a REALLY easy one right about then because she's just sweetness in a jar. And a 2yo & 1yo have joined us with the new baby coming in June. And I'm not half so overwhelmed as I was THAT year. Just goes to show you - keep on keepin' on. Things are constantly changing. :)