We are 2/3 through our first year, doing Year 2 Middle Ages. I bought the Companion but I don't like it. The info is waaaayyy too detailed for elementary age kids, and I don't think I'd like it for olders either, since the chapters consist of just a bunch of boxes of random facts without any narrative connection. But that's just me. Love the family guide - would use it to plan all grade levels. Nice to coordinate between multiple grades. We use SOTW 2 (according to the BP schedule) and use the SOTW activity guide for our maps, coloring pages, and extra activities. It just tied in more nicely for me, since that book is our main history reading. Also, I think the SOTW handouts are more nicely done than BP's. For additional reading we use the BP-suggested titles and timing. Many of the BP readers overlap with those suggested by SOTW and also VP. What I wish the program included? Memory work. There are writing assignments included for upper grades, but you have to buy the cool history.

FWIW they have an oregon trail app that came out a few years ago for the iPhone - my older daughter really enjoyed it at the time. I know you said you're looking for paper, but this one...no set up :-)

A wise woman I know with six advised me that the biggest difference between having 3 and 4 is that you have a little extra laundry. She was right! Even if your kids are fairly closely spaced, like mine, by the time you get to your fourth, the older one(s) are able to help out.

Really? I loved it. Only satisfactory ending they could've given IMO. I had been thinking for a while that they were going to kill off Betty, nowhere else for her character to go, but I thought it was just going to be a car accident or something. Way better to do it like this, let her do it on her own terms, and some smallish reconciliation with Sally. Despite her many issues, I always kind of liked Betty. Sally has actually been one of my favorite characters this season. You feel like she's going to turn out all right in spite of everything. I really liked that they gave Don, Peggy, and Pete optimistic endings.

I realize I'm not required to, but for oldest DD I was thinking about keeping basic grades for her courses next year (she will be in 3rd grade). I don't really know why, I don't have a particularly compelling reason, just more along the lines of wanting to give her some sense of being accountable. Do you all keep grades at this age? Why or why not? If so, how do you structure the grading? TIA!

Dave Ramsey has helped us tremendously - even if you don't go for his personal beliefs, read Total Money Makeover. He walks you through the steps on what to prioritize. You can read the gist of it on his website. The first thing will be to make your budget. Then he has seven Baby Steps to get things on track. First you do 1, then 2, etc. If you're already doing half the stuff, then you know where to pick up. He helps you see The Big Picture IMO.

We started IEW this year with my 2nd grader. She is somewhat advanced in her reading/language skills already, and we basically "dabbled" this year, only doing the first 4 units from the video. DD took well to it. I think she was ready for it. The first units are easy for younger kids to grasp, and Andrew Pudewa says in the videos, don't be overly attentive to correcting their spelling and grammar when they first begin writing - so I don't think the fact that they're learning grammar should be a deterrent to using the system. That being said, was it necessary to start this young? Absolutely not. But DD was reeeallly getting tired of the whole dictation/narration thing, and for us it was a fun way to build a little bit more of an activity around some passages we were reading in history and science.

We read the original Old English when I was in high school and it was not that difficult at all if you read it out loud. We were also required to memorize the prologue. Studied it 3 separate times as a lit major and they always had us include (1) Wife of Bath, (2) Knight, (3) Nun's Priest, and (4) Miller. Those are still only ones I recall. Wife of Bath is probably most famous and according to my profs, relevant literature-wise.

I actually think that he has a very good sense of humor and is quick to make fun of himself. On several of these movies he plays the self-centered celebrity. And Naked & Afraid? Anyone? Am I the only one who saw that? And laughed hysterically? :-)

Yes. Ever since Freaks and Geeks I have seen everything Judd Apatow has done. But this is my kind of humor. Team America is way worse - props to the Alamo Drafthouse for that - but I guess now they don't get to show that either. Grow a backbone, executives. It's not like you didn't know that NK was going to be offended before. Nothing has changed. Anything the hackers "have" on you is going to surface either way.

Let us know when we can get it!!

Hi, welcome! :-)

Just chiming in to say, when I was at college (big party school) I was very involved in sorority and spent quite a lot of time with fraternities and one in particular, including "little sisters." It was a very positive experience and all the guys I knew were upstanding gentlemanly types, treated women with respect, considered their female friends as true sisters and would never stand for such abominable behavior. Never. Not to say it doesn't happen, not at all, but please do not condemn the entire "Greek" community. For many people it is truly about close-knit community and service.

Somebody's baby. My heart breaks.

Saw that Zulily has CC stuff on there at good prices, if anyone is looking!