thanks for the fun ideas. we have patty paper but haven't begun to use it yet. these books look like some great additions.

i've loved pinterest so much. i am very visual so having everything i am interested in right there makes it so much easier to find. i've even started going through my paper files and pinning the things i've saved over the years - every martha everyday food recipe is on there. no more papers! if pinterest ever goes under i'm in big trouble. eta: i don't find that envy or discontent appears. i only follow boards i am interested in, or use it for research purposes. it's not really a 'browsing' medium for me.

will you explain how that works for you? i decided to try that method this year but i've found that they are either too large (for ex; if i had human body, with only 4 things rattling around) or too small (can't even fit science for the semester in there). how do you divide and organize? i'm usually much better at making things work but this is really driving me nuts lately.

for nutcracker there are costume fees if you are not in the company - $20. the company members do not have a fee and we have company costumes which are variously altered for each production. we produce nutcracker every december and a spring production, which this year included giselle. you didn't mention, but the ballet studios i've known that have more flashy costumes which you pay for and keep tend to be more of a 'show' ballet rather than true classical training. you really have to think about what you want from it. i wanted my kids to have strong clean training and discipline. they may or may not continue in ballet (they are 14, 12 and 8) but i know they'll have what they need if they do, and if not they're learning how to work for what they want. sorry for the long response!

right start math. we tried many and were going with saxon but i think it was a big waste of time. 3 of my kids have used rs now and it really helps them build mathematical thinking, plus it's fun. there's games!

this may not be what you want to hear, but with one of my sons i put off almost any writing till he was almost 7. he knew his letters, and he even knew how to read, but it was so difficult for him to gain mastery over making words that we just ignored that part. and magically, he's 10 now and has no problems with writing at all.

plan for the best and let it go if 'things happen'. i have 4 school age, 2 youngers. some days are fantastic. we do history all together still, they split up and i spend time with each working on math or grammar. other days, forget it, i might spend 10 minutes with each and the rest of the time they read and play outside. i find it helps to have a weekly goal and then i don't feel destroyed by days that don't go as planned. also, we take fridays off. we might have a class, or do art, or my oldest 2 might make up writing assignments, but in general it's my day to relax and do fun things that there is no time for. otherwise, burnout. the best part about wtm is that it's very doable. be careful not to over schedule and try to do everything on the list all the time. especially when they're younger. it really only takes 15 minutes in most subjects/areas. my boys especially appreciate a short and sweet lesson. good luck.

haven't heard of it. sounds lighthearted and fun but difficult to plan for. if i did it it would be once a week. fun friday!

my daughter is enrolled in 9th grade english right now, and i feel like it's a good course. i like the options for literature (really dislike some of the typical choices) and taking the speedback quizzes is really enjoyable for her. instant results! i took some myself as a sophomore, back in the mail-it-in days. i actually failed the math class i took because *i did not want to do the work* she's a different story and is very successful at the self-directing.

my girls (8th and 6th) took a shakespeare study/performance class all year last year and they used 'cliff's complete'. it was a fairly enjoyable guide. there's a good amount of explanation along with the full text. they are doing it again this year and we're using this one: http://www.amazon.com/Merchant-Venice-Cliffs-Complete/dp/0764585754/ref=pd_ybh_7?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=11P2GC6AC91XSHDABVQW

i've also heard 'morning meeting' but i'd like something that will attract both my older kids and my younger boys. anyone use a name for it that is enticing?

i have to say the flip side of all the annoying questions is the reverential awe that i often face when someone finds out that i homeschool and have 6 kids. i actually hate it because i know what they *think* about me and what i really am are 2 different things, but it's true, it does take a lot of patience.

"oh, i couldn't homeschool my kids. i love them too much." was she trying to say that i don't love my kids?

well i just tried it again and it worked just fine. boy that gave me a shock! sorry!

:)