I used BA level 3 with a very slow processor and we had good success. I agree with farrar's assessment - which is partially why I am unsure what to do with my other child - BA would be nice to use, but I imagine it will not be the good fit it has been with child #1. But child #2 loves the comics. I would say that the aforementioned issue about frustration and saying they don't know how to do the math is more of an attitude issue than a math issue. Maybe you know that. If you want ideas on working on the attitude: modelling failure with a positive attitude, trying multiple avenues of approach, flexible thinking in general are things to consider.

I have been a bit down lately about a variety of things. So in an effort to embrace what I do have and what I am living (and to exercise some power of choice when I feel I have little for my own life at this juncture), I chose to invest in an appliance for home that will look nice and function the way I want it to (instead of the old one we have that works but is designed in a way that frustrates me). Yes, I know the choice is a bit petty, but I rarely choose to do something nice for myself, so after much research, I decided to go for it. I have saved my side/personal money for years, waited, found a great sale at a scratch and dent place (and the dent was on the side and not visible when the appliance was installed. It cost about $1000. Well, $100 more of my money and hours of time modifying our current set up so the new appliance will fit (because I added wrong when measuring the darn thing with my too-short measuring tape), It worked for a few days a couple of times. 7 weeks, two times shipped to the warehouse for fixing, the darn thing just won't work. So I got a refund for the item (less delivery), but am pretty much out $150, have cabinets that don't fit our current (old) appliance, and my saved money has now dropped into the pot of family finances, and out of my personal account (because of how the returning on the credit card worked). AND while the whole thing is a bit of a comedy of errors, I had to keep it more private because I have a relative who likes to share things in mean ways and I don't want to be angry at them, so this all has had to stay on the down-low. BUT it is pretty obvious what with the gap in the cabinets now. Oh, and my dog who had stopped eating their own feces has begun again. I find it so terribly disgusting I can hardly look her in the eye. I keep her on lead when she goes to the bathroom so she can't/ to break the habit, but apparently with DH she did it yesterday (ETA: pictured dog is innocent of this abomination).

I have a child about that age who doesn't quite have the hang of the balance bike - but with some advice from my DH that child has started to actually balance it. I think my 3yo was in the habit of not gliding on it, so actually balancing wasn't on the radar. So, if the scooter works, I'd think the balance bike would too. As far as pedal bike - pedaling is a tricky skill for some kids. Keep it divorced from balance (trike) and it'll come.

As I recall, one of your kids seems to have diagnosable problems with learning to read/write. You are going to have to expect that reading/writing will be hard and take longer than they should. You either need to adjust what you expect to do with these areas, or expect to take more time than regular. FWIW, I think that if you want to be on track with the schools for standardized testing, you will regret starting your year late. With my personality, I have tried that - starting out late because we had trips in September- and I always felt behind - all year long - even if we worked diligently. So if you are similar at all in that regard, I strongly suggest starting early instead of late. As far as vacation goes - give the kids vacation now or explain that while they aren't having 100% break, they only do an hour or so and that is just how your family does it. Their school-going friends spend 8:30-2:00 at school - ask your kids if they'd rather spend that time at the table all year or doing it a more flexible way (that includes some summer work). I personally want to encourage you to emphasize the areas your kids shine in, while plodding along in the other areas. In our house, it got really discouraging when we focused on the reading/writing (which is where a learning disability lies). We could never catch up enough to do the fun things. When I was able to find a way to have 1 hour a day devoted to the LD areas, but just leave it all there and then not work on it in other areas (I read all the science stuff, for instance), it made a real positive difference in how we all approached our days.

We moved into a place where the cat had fleas. Comfortis. Monthly. Whatever you use, you will need to treat for a couple of years for sure to kill whatever hatches from eggs.

Well, I think I was 36... :) But for kids, I think it really depends on what you want them to get out of it. The political overtones are complex, the bathroom humor is juvenile. Young kids could well enjoy it (I think my 7 year old would listen attentively), but they would get very different things out of it than a teenager.

We had mesh bumpers - they were nice. Pottery Barn Kids has the softest chamois fitted crib sheets. Cozy for cold times of year. Target has cute sheets (and if you go through often enough you are bound to find good ones on clearance). Bedding sets and such - PBK again is adorable, but that is insanely expensive.

Do your kids enjoy the Usborne See Inside books? They don't have a ton of content, but they do have a couple of spreads with a number of animals besides dinosaurs, and the information is interesting (um, and FLAPS!). I was just looking through it with one of my kids last night http://www.amazon.com/Inside-World-Dinosaurs-Alex-Frith/dp/0794514367/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8 (although the one we have has a blue cover). Someone else just posted a link to Utah's free online science curriculum and I see in the 8th grade book there is a section on fossil formation (starts on page 106, but the rock stuff beforehand leads up to it well). There may be other stuff in other grades too. http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/558215-updated-free-secular-science-resource/

A smattering of ideas/comments: An audiologist would probably be good at looking into your concerns. Perhaps a Speech and Language Pathologist, but my experience with one was lacking. You say that he is very good at reading - how does his reading out loud go? That smooth too? Spelling? If those are not very good, you could be looking at "stealth dyslexia". You could be describing something like Central Auditory Processing Disorder. Hearing can be just fine - it's what the brain is able to do with the sounds. HTH.

That is a BRILLIANT idea! Don't forget comparative anatomy! Soo interesting to compare different skeletons.

Usborne has a lot of neat sticker books - we've enjoyed a number of the ones where you dress people from different time periods/stories. Shakespeare, King Arthur, Ancient Armies (or something like that). There are art and flag ones too. Board games and audiobooks are really great. Stationary bike off craigslist?

Yeah, I feel this way far too often. I ask a simple yes or no question, and get "gerblsmerk" (or something equally non-yes/no) in reply. I don't understand it. I mean, "all set" is sort of positive, so it doesn't mean "NO", but it sure doesn't answer "yes" either.

Thanks. If anyone wants another 2% back, Staples gives 2% back through Ebates (affilate link). It is 2% on the purchase price, so since it is a rebate, it is 2% on the almost $50, so about $1. :) They mail cheques or give amazon gift cards.

I'd step back and explain idioms, using a very absurd one - like "he's the cat's pajamas." You could find a book like this http://www.amazon.com/Scholastic-Dictionary-Idioms-Marvin-Terban/dp/0439770831/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436851125&sr=8-1&keywords=dictionary+of+idioms, or just think of a few. You can also run out of gas, run out of steam, etc.

Have you ever seen Kai Lan? It is like Dora, only Chinese. That would be something very easy you could do that might placate your daughter while you figure out how to approach Chinese with her more seriously.

I agree that royal fireworks press probably has a good curriculum for you. I am sure I have seen something right up this alley there.

I keep seeing mention of the idea that church membership confers exclusive benefits. FWIW, where I live this is not allowed and church staff have discussed it with me. Sacraments can be given only to members, but things like facility use legally cannot be exclusive or even cheaper because of anti discrimination laws.

I'm a day behind in the discussion, but has anyone brought up how Christians in other countries with legal ssm handle it? It isn't a new thing in many places. One article that came through my feed today which I found well written. http://careynieuwhof.com/2015/06/some-advice-on-same-sex-marriage-for-us-church-leaders-from-a-canadian/

To offer a different perspective, for us testing was very helpful. It is very variable what one gets out of the experience, and there isn't much chance of knowing what you'll get out of it before you go in.

This CD was surprisingly effective - 100 sheep. It is intensely Christian. I didn't know how one could make skip counting thoroughly Christian, but they sure did. So be warned of that, but like I said, extremely effective. ETA: The Amazon description is totally off, but the picture is what it looks like.

Yes, we did last year. I think it worked well. But we are rogue people and used Life of Fred as our math for a couple of years (and subsequently met/exceeded standards on testing, so it worked).

Where I live there are also the benefits of teacher support and funding. For instance, many schools are completely flexible on how learning happens (some schools are even "unschool friendly"), but they provide a certified teacher that can serve as a sounding board for curricular ideas or questions on issues with teaching/learning. These umbrella schools will also pay for curriculum or classes for you - up to a certain amount of money. The "catch" is that the kids are to be following the local standards - but for K-2 they are pretty much all the same standards and they are very ambiguous. 3-8 gets increasingly specific on standards that need to be met, but how they are met remains flexible (AND, if you don't care what "grade" your child gets in the different areas, your child can just fail the standards). 9 and up are a lot more specific and restrictive, however older kids can enrol in individual courses - so a child could pick and choose what they like from various schools - virtual and brick/mortar, as long as there is space. So you can homeschool, but have your child take math or band at the local school (or an online umbrella school).

You ever read Peef the Christmas Bear? It's a children's book about loving and letting go. My DD and I tear up at it every time we read it. http://www.amazon.com/Peef-Christmas-Bear/dp/0931674263/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1435560363&sr=1-1&keywords=peef

nm

Maybe one (or more) of your kids could help your dad with some online research?