I must start by saying that I have only read your original post but none of the comments yet. I felt I needed to send you a quick reply. It seems like way too much work daily...for any elementary student, regardless of how bright they may be. I love that you have looked into so many resources and maybe you can buy them all but I don't recommend teaching all of them on a weekly basis. My advice, at the end of the day your child needs to be happy. He doesn't have to LOVE every subject, but if he ends up hating the time spent sitting and doing endless hours of school work then that would just be sad :( We spend anywhere from 2 hours to 4 hours per day doing school work at home. There are many breaks for each child because I teach to them and they are in different grades. We use Noeo and love it! But we don't follow it to the letter and at this time my children are not required to produce copious amounts of writing for science. We also use SOTW 1 and I love it! They like it :) We use the worksheets in the AG but rarely do any extra work. We also use First Language Lessons 1 and like it. That is a very quick part of the day...10-15 max. I have wanted to get some Mind Benders books for the kids to work on in the car or at restaurants.

April is typically a cool, wet month here in Chicago! Layers and some rain gear would be a good idea. Millennium Park and the Bean is pretty cool. Navy Pier is fun with lots of different activities. All of the museums are fantastic. Check the theater schedules. Have fun!

We use Logic of English, WWE, and FLL. Love them all!

My daughter just finished the first Earlybird K book and we have started the second. The first was very easy for her but it seems like the second will be more challenging (we have been on break for 2 weeks so I can't comment past the first lesson) I let her work at her own pace and there were days when it was so easy that she flew through 10 pages or more. I haven't considered skipping any lessons because I want her to have a solid foundation. I also haven't considered another program because my son is doing well with upper levels of SM. We use Singapore Math Standards Edition ordered from www.singaporemath.com If the Earlybird is just too easy but you like the method order the 1A workbook and give it a try...it can't hurt :001_smile:

We only use the workbook even though I have both. I like the open and go aspect of the program when the workbook is used.

That is where I purchase mine as well.

Thanks!

We focus most heavily on reading, reading comp, and math. Sadly, I do not spend as much time on science as I want too.

I voted Banana's because my son like to wear jeans or shorts and nothing else...seriously does not like to wear shirts :) My daughter usually stays in her PJ's until after lunch. I change out my PJ's after I shower. Some days that is first thing in the morning. Most days it is after lunch.

:iagree: That is exactly what I have to say about the CMA, too. My kids liked it and we got to see Winter perform (along with 3 other presentations). That was in 2009 and things are probably different now so definitely call ahead. Also, I do not see how you could possibly spend more than 2 hours total in the facility...there is not that much to do and see!

Logic of English covers all of the LA material you mentioned and is formatted in an easy to use workbook style. Each lesson has anywhere from 5-10+ activities to complete in the workbook. It is open and go but you have to sit with the children and instruct them.... There is a cursive handwriting workbook you can order as well (it is totally separate and we love it!) We use LOE here but mostly for the reading/phonics/spelling aspect of each lesson. We are using WWE & FLL to build a solid foundation in grammar. We have only used a few of the grammar lessons in LOE so far...not because they aren't good but because I prefer the approach of WWE & FLL...it builds and reinforces at better (slower) pace for us.

Yes, the LOE Cursive Handwriting workbook is a stand-alone program. We use it and love it! We did not buy anything to enhance it (like the indivual sand tiles) just the actual workbook itself. We do use LOE as our primary reading/phonics program but they are independent of each other. Good luck finding the best cursive program for your family :001_smile:

Our church has donated through them before and this year I purchased a family of ducks as a *gift* for a family of 5 that we are close friends with. Obviously, they don't get the ducks but they receive a card from WV with our Christmas greetings, etc...on it. I believe this is a trust worthy organization and I hope that the five ducks help a family in need somewhere!

This is our first year homeschooling and we struck out with Apologia...too dry. We are currently using Noeo Science: Biology 1 and enjoying it very much.

We are using Logic of English right now. My son *learned* how to read in PS (K-1st) My daughter is learning from me. I have the regular LOE program and the Kindergarten Beta Test version. Both are working very well for us.

This is our first year homeschooling (K & 2nd) my favorite: LOE their favorite: Singapore Math

LOE didn't mention the word boor :) but, yes I do pronounce it the same way as the 3 others they do mention (floor, door, poor) ^^^This makes perfect sense to me and is exactly why I believe LOE teaches the long o sound for these words :)

Well, I thought the same thing when I came across it last week using our LOE curriculum. If I am just saying the 3 words that use this oo phonogram with the long o sound...floor, door & poor...I would not accentuate the long o rather it would sound like or. I think the pronunciation of these 3 words can vary greatly depending on ones accent. We are from the midwest. I am not too concerned about my kids learning memorizing these words as a long o sound, though, as it seems to be the easiest category for them to land in.

I always bring my kids with me and no one has ever given me strange looks. Now that was before I had school aged children...so I suspect I may get a few remarks regarding the fact that they are not in school today :001_smile: Looking forward to it, though, I can't wait to vote!

This is our first year HS'ing after 2 years in the PS system. I didn't know how/when to plan breaks so I just decided to follow the school district calendar for now. I do plan on schooling through June and then taking July off completely before starting again August 1st.

If she wants to go I would let her. She is dressing up and hanging out with her family on Halloween! I have never even given it a second thought when a teenager has come to my door on Halloween. Have fun :001_smile:

:001_smile: I am JFJ in IL and def not you! Weird how close those names are :confused: I picked the initials of my nickname and obviously tacked on my state.

My kids and I enjoyed the various videos about the upcoming election...thought I would share :001_smile: http://magazines.scholastic.com/election-2012

That article really rubs me the wrong way! This is what I would have posted but didn't because I don't want to register... I was a Stay at Home Mom for 6 years...now I am a Home Educating Mother to my two wonderful children. I am very offended by this article and the authors opinion of me. I did not and do not "embrace motherhood as my primary and most important identity" in order to obtain "power" I put my family first because I want to and we can afford it. I do believe that it is a luxury that many cannot afford. I also know that not every woman wants to follow the same path as me and that is fine, too! There is so much more I could say but it isn't worth my time. This woman claims to be a feminist :glare:

That is the second question people ask me when they find out I am homeschooling the kids. What I usually say now is: I plan to continue homeschooling until it no longer works for us...I have no idea when that will be :001_smile: Just for the record, the first question I get asked is some version of the standard "How are you socializing your kids?" What I usually say now is: Well, for starters he/she is here at soccer/basketball/choir talking and playing with your child right now :tongue_smilie: not to mention church, everyday errands, visits to the animal shelter, library, neighborhood friends, blah, blah, blah....