I have a general idea of k-12 (my oldest is K now). I know I want to do a 4yr history/science rotation with all 3 of my dc. I know I want to start ds#1 6mo "early" in 1st grade and ds#2 6mo "late" b/c they are 3yrs apart and I'd like to start both in Ancients if possible...dd is in the middle. I know I have SWR and Miquon math for k-3 for each dc at their own pace. I'd also like to do certain AO literature selections at their individual age level. ...and that's about all I know:lol: I just planned out 6wks of readings for K. I'd like to keep planning out 6wk chunks at a time. I'm hoping it will be enough that it keeps me organized and motivated but not so much that I waste my time planning too far in advance.

Miquon is another to look at. It's flexible - concept/manipulative based and the teacher's books have some good insight into how kids learn math.

:hurray: Wonderful!

I haven't read that story, but it's on the list for next year. Hmmm...I might need to be prepared for a conversation, huh? I agree with others that the fact that an Ethiopian was described as being black and a Leopard getting black spots from his fingers isn't racist in and of itself. I wonder if other passages made the man to seem inferior? If so, that would greatly bother me too! If the man's color was mentioned in a manner that is "matter of fact", I think it's fine - like describing someones hair red like fire, yellow like the sun...kwim. What a great time to disect a story and talk about how words effect people! btw - We read Seven Little Sisters ... by Jane Andrews and there is a story of a Chinese girl and it describes how they wrapped their feet. Dh had a knee-jerk reaction to that story (he is Asian). *I* don't think that the story was presented in a racist manner, but dh didn't like hearing it. So, I understand if your boys don't like the story, even if it isn't technically racist.:grouphug:

Better to know the danger, than not. Better to not have the danger at all, but that isn't going to happen in this world! :grouphug: Keep praying, and teaching your dc, and keeping them close.

I found it free and picked it up. It's secular, if that makes a difference.

Lots and lots of books, and shelving to put them on. Quality art supplies, science equipment, computer/printer/etc....if your dc has a special interest or talent I'd spend extra $ there. I'll take an ugly French housekeeper too! :lol:

How about adding in some gross motor letter practice? I keep colored sand in a 9x13 Gladware oven dish. It's the perfect size to practice writing with a finger - shake to erase - cover with the lid - stack in a cabinet. My dc like to just play in it too, but my original intent was letter formation practice:tongue_smilie:

We are doing INformal math in K. We count, play with math manipulatives, practice writing the numerals, etc. After looking through 4 math programs, I decided to start Miquon for 1st grade and keep K informal. If your dc is learning well with what you are doing now, don't change it. Expand it, but don't change it. I have never taught addition/subtraction, but ds has picked it up through real life and play. It's now a matter of giving him a symbol to communicate what he knows. I think many early math programs frustrate kids by giving the symbol first and/or artificially. I tried Horizons K and Saxon K and got "deer in the headlights" looks from him. He was motivated to finish the Horizon's page, but didn't care if he understood the material. When he's dealing with pieces of candy, days until a special event, time until nap is over, how many more bites of veggies....that boy CARES about understanding his math LOL:lol: I do think as his ability to write improves and the symbols become 2nd nature to him, he will love math. Keeping K informal is about not squelching that love before it blooms:001_smile:

I'm in trouble!!! I have two books...well *I* don't have them....I turned them in, and the library says I have them:glare: One book, I even took to the counter, told the librarian that my dd took off the sticker....and evidently she didn't take the time to clear it off my account (Grrrr!) The other book I returned a long time ago, but I am too non-confrontational to go to the library and ask about it:001_huh: I have to go soon, we need books for ds! "I'M INNOCENT, I TELL YOU - INNOCENT!!!":tongue_smilie:

:DWonderful!!!!

This is how I do it. I do 2 1/2 cups warm water, 1/3 cup honey, 1/3 cup oil Add 6-7 cups of flour. I use about 6 cups white whole wheat, and 1 cup white BREAD flour (bread flour has dough conditioners in it;)). Add 2 1/2 tsp salt MIX Then add yeast. KNEAD. If kneading by hand, work it out:lol: The dough should not be too sticky, if it is add flour. I am about ready to chuck my breadmaker through the wall, so I have no advice there:tongue_smilie: I don't think my bread maker kneads well enough for ww bread dough b/c it makes white bread/pizza crust just fine:001_huh:

I am highly sensitive to noise. TV, repetitive tapping, out of tune music, etc. Having sensitive ears can be a good thing! Whether or not he has serious sensory issues (beyond just being sensitive to sound), maybe get him in some music training;) The same quirk that makes loud noises intolerable, may be a gift.

I posted this question not too long ago LOL!!!:lol: My ds is 5, with fm delay, and we have been working on cursive formation and tracing. He didn't even draw stick people, let alone letters just a few weeks ago. One day he just started writing in all CAPS, (after all the work we had done in cursive:tongue_smilie:). I don't discourage the print caps, but I am still teaching cursive. I have been also teaching the print caps as they come along, just so he will do them correctly. I have gone round and round about dong HWOT which starts with caps. I decided to order Abeka K5 cursive, and we'll see how that goes when it gets here. My thinking: He is picking up print on his own with very little guidance from me, and he will not want to spend oodles of time on handwriting in 2-3rd grades (just a guess LOL), so we will purpose to learn cursive now and let the printing come as it will. Also, he already knows the formations for cursive from the work we have been doing, so why switch? This is just my opinion, and an untested one at that:tongue_smilie:, but I thought I'd share.

My dc are 5, 3, and 2. I am sypathizing with you!:grouphug: Relax! Read aloud - you can do that lying down, snuggled up together;) Play outside - bring a bottle of water for yourself, and a sippy for each dc. Eat as many snacks and meals outside as possible - no sweeping;) Keep some fun workbooks and colorbooks for the dc in the kitchen, and bring them out when you are cooking/cleaning in there - My ds5 LOVES Kumon books, and I grab good color books from the dollar store for the other 2 dc. LeapFrog DVD's are WONDERFUL! I try to stay away from tv during the day, but I make an exception for these. Keep other areas of life as simple as possible. Just say "NO" to what ever you need to say no to! If all you do until baby is 3-6mo is *read, play outside, color while Mommy is cooking, and learn to pick my toys* you will be in GREAT shape! Your oldest is not even really K age yet. Many moms keep those Sept b-days home an extra year - esp for boys. So, no pressure! Just enjoy your kids (in between naps:tongue_smilie:)

My family planned a family vacation 6wks pp with my 3rd dc, and I just HAD to go b/c everyone wanted to see my dc....not me LOL....the dc.:lol: Swimming, boating, etc.etc....shorts and swimsuits....6 WEEKS pp:001_huh: ...atleast there were very few pics....of me.....we got some great shots of the dc , of course!:tongue_smilie: Go! Enjoy yourself!:001_smile:

Perhaps just the HSers could go then??? PTL!!! that you are making a full recovery!!!

I would get a nice rice cooker if I could!

:grouphug: Praying for a happy resolution to this for you! Maybe keep a written log. Document every incident that gives you cause for concern and compare what the kids are learning at school to what you *would* be teaching at home. Document the dc's relationships to each other, note changes in behavior and attitude. Dh may need to SEE the results of ps vs hs. Do not shelter him from seeing the effects on the kids or you. When they come home repeating trash - send them to Daddy. When they come home with 100 pages of busy work...erm...homework - send them to Daddy. You get the picture - It sounds like he hasn't really looked at this at all through the perspective of you and your dc. I believe in Biblical submission, but a dh is WISE to make decisions with his wife - esp in the area of child-raising! To take the word of a friend over his wife is foolish imho, but you probably already know that:confused: This is NOT the same as saying "God told me to......" "John Doe told me to......." has a very different ring:glare:

I don't think utilizing a class offered at a school is compromising your decision to HS - you are still making the choices for your own dc. Is the class going to be a damaging influence via the other kids in the class???? idk, but one class is probably not enough time to have a huge influence - depending on the dc. *I* would do it in a heartbeat! I'm a bit jealous:tongue_smilie:

I am :lol::lol::lol::lol: over here!!! My ds5 stood on a chair in a restaurant to loudly point out to everyone that the man 3 tables was down was smoking, and that's a BAD habit!

I *try* to designate days to certain chores. If I get the daily dishes done and the floors swept I am happy these days. I do 2 loads of laundry per day - small machine. One in the morning and one at night. Friday, I do all sheets/bedding/stuffed animals. I have trouble carving time out on a daily basis for chores that aren't urgent kwim.

My ds was 15 mo before he took his first steps, and when he started walking he walked with one foot pointed out. That lasted about a week - I made a Dr appt b/c of it, and then he just stopped doing it the day before the appt:tongue_smilie: After that his walking took off. He is still clumsy, and has chubby little legs which I think contributes to the toeing out and clumsiness but no other issues. I was advised not to let him sit in the *w* position.

I freeze in Mason jars. I cool them in the fridge for several hours first - leave tons of headroom, and I've never had any problems.

Funny story: my dd was 2yo when she learned her letter sounds (thanks LeapFrog;)) Dh was playing with her pointing to her saying "Ella" then to himself saying "Daddy"....he wanted her to say "Ella and Daddy". Well, she pointed to his college t-shirt and said /c/ /o/ /l/ /l/ ....saying the sounds of the letters on his shirt. he was :ohmy:!!! :lol: Let your 2yo pick what he will. My 3yo demands school-time attention, so I oblige as long as she is enjoying it - when her mind begins to wander we put it away for the day.