I think you should sell them - purely because I want to buy a sonlight core b package used! :) I plan to keep our books, but I've only just started and have another younger one coming up.

FWIW, I come from a relatively conservative Christian background (not legalistic... politically conservative maybe?), and am imagining it from the guy's perspective. He meets a nice girl who is close to her family. He figures - why not go out a few times? Maybe God brought her to the restaurant for a reason. ;) He likely doesn't date in the church because of his position of power as a pastor. He probably thinks that Night Elf's daughter is Christian because she has said she was baptized and confirmed. He's trying to understand what her personal beliefs are, but Catholic Christianity isn't out of consideration, as there is the same basic foundation of belief in Jesus. He's a youth pastor - they are notorious for growing up late. It works well with the job - energy for the teens, but usually the maturity is a little slower too. So it's not like he is an older guy preying on a young girl. He probably read the "I kissed dating goodbye" book by Joshua Harris with his youth group and wants to try it. :) Although if he is going out alone with her maybe not... There is an emphasis on not doing alone-type dates for most of the courtship, IIRC. It has been 15 years or so since I read the book myself, so I could be a little off. Or maybe he knows he would have a hard time stopping at just kissing once they are in the midst of it, so he is drawing the line further back to prevent crossing his own boundaries. By 29 he may have some commitment issues - even if he talks quite seriously up front. I think I would personally suggest reading a book together. Something Christian. Perhaps Blue Like Jazz. Then they run into theological issues to discuss, and understand where each person is really coming from. The church putting conversion stats on the website is probably the only super weird thing to me. I'd ask him about it. Why do they post that information? Who does it help? My guess: he's a sweet goof who loves beautiful women and God. He is hoping that your daughter is as beautiful inside to him as she is on the outside. He's made relationship mistakes before and wants to be careful.

That is nice!

I did Lollipop Logic with my Ker this year (the second book) and it was really easy for her, but she loved it.

I chose other. I would do a good portion of one wall in chalkboard paint. The rest I would do a very subtle pink (because, IIRC, pink is supposed to be a very calming color. Orange makes you hungry. I don't remember what other colors do...).

What were you having them do with the ETC workbooks? I'm trying to picture it...

It was the tone of the statement that was questionable. I wholeheartedly agree that I would not touch the religious-based texts either (and am a Christian), but if you read the comment in question it seems out of place and like it is commenting on religion in a place where the comment doesn't belong. BUT, it isn't even in the lessons directly, and as I said before it really is, in context, about science being based on rational thought.

That line also stuck out to me the other day. I had to re-read the section to come to terms with it. In context, he really is saying that supernatural beliefs do not advance scientific understanding. Read the entire paragraph the "without merit" bit is in. He should have said "without scientific merit" in order to keep the statement from being taken poorly. Well, and he shouldn't have used the word "uniformly" either. I assumed he accidentally let a bit of his own non-religious bias slip into his writing, but since it has been mentioned above that he is religious I'm not sure how he ended up saying it that way. I'm still going to be using the book - it is very good, and I don't think that as a believer in God any of the teaching itself goes against that belief (I've read a number of the lessons and haven't found anything objectionable). As a scientist by training I really appreciate the way his lessons unfold.

:iagree:

My DD knew her letters and their sounds for 3 years before she started "getting" the blending thing (another leap frog graduate ;)). It is something that is either there or not - when it clicks it clicks. It'll come. No hurry. Tjej

I've helped run VBS many times and 30 minutes is a long time for kids who aren't crafty. A GREAT bit of advice we got from a teacher that helped a lot was to have something for the kids to do once they have completed their craft (or the portion of the craft you are doing that day). We did a play doh table and a lego table. It gave them something fun to do, so they weren't wandering aimlessly or bouncing off the walls. :) FWIW, I think your theme could work very well on felt banners like the first poster mentioned. Sounds like a lovely craft I'd be happy for my kids to bring home.

With your art comment, I'm wondering if this might be a perfectionist issue? He's giving up before trying so he can't fail? There are lots of ways to model imperfection and acceptance aside from reading that might help if perfectionism is truly the issue at heart.

Ok, we just started with 1A not long ago, and we are about halfway through. I, however, only bought the workbook. So far I just explain the concept to my DD until she seems to understand and we do the workbook. If it doesn't seem to click, we use manipulatives too. I am trying to understand what magic there is in the HIG that makes it so necessary (I'm thinking lower levels like this)? Am i missing giving her deeper understanding?

Yeah, I looked through it very thoroughly and it isn't that it is bad for little ones, it is that it isn't that useful for that stage. The greatness of it is the depth it has for the higher levels. "Overkill" is just the right word.

Have you ever done the learning style assessment in Cathy Duffy's stuff? If not, I recommend you try that and see what his main style is and what cirricula match up better with that. I've found with my DD that things she doesn't like/drags her feet on are generally not challenging enough. Too much repeating and she finds it boring. It took me a while to realize that was the issue - I thought she found it hard and that was why she was dragging her feet. So, just another angle/thought.