We're uber secular and after a math breakdown with MM, I switched my girls to CLE and we couldn't be happier. It is very gentle but it is decidedly not secular; however, my girls are regaining their confidence and are enjoying math again, so I can easily accept that it's the curriculum that works best for us, regardless of whether or not it is secular. It is what is best for us and, in the long run, that's really all that matters.

When you're paying outright, a lot of medical offices will allow you to pay under what the insurance would have paid them. It never hurts to ask. Best of luck!

We're not averse to astronomy binoculars either.

I love to talk politics as well. After growing up in a family where I was the black sheet, politics wise, I learned early on to never talk about politics, unless a debate is what's scheduled. It's made life a lot easier. It can be a difficult urge for people to curb, especially since politics are such a sensitive matter to so many. I only talk about politics with my husband, our children, and friends who ask what I think about a certain issue or official.

I want to thank everyone who added their suggestions! I wound up compiling a list with all the suggestions and downloading a title per week for my DD. She extends her thanks as well! :thumbup:

We aim to go to the library once a month for actual books. However, we download Kindle titles from the library on a near daily basis. Another thing is - we keep the library books in one spot. When you're done with it for the day, it goes back to the pile, so everything stays together. I put a sticky note on the top with the due date, or on my calendar and stick with that. Most libraries also have, on their website, a place where you can renew your books. Our library allows us to take 50 books out at one time, so it can be difficult, but it's doable.

My husband and I decided, based on the girls' interest in astronomy, that for a family Christmas gift we would like to get a telescope. Can anyone recommend a quality telescope that will work for absolute beginners that enables you to see the planets and the stars well and can be purchased for under $250? TIA!

I voted "longer". Besides's DH's vacation time, which is 2 weeks, he also has personal days (5), paid holidays (10 per year), and he also has unlimited paid sick time if any of us are sick. After living through numerous layoffs, and supporting our family while DH went back to school for a second degree, I don't take any of that time for granted.

My 10 year old DD loves dragons. I know of the "How to Train Your Dragon" series, Terry Pratchett's "Dragons at Crumbling Castle", and E. Nesbit's "Book of Dragons". Other title suggestions? Thank you!

The assessments were very beneficial. I decided to start a year earlier than where we'd been with MM, grade level-wise, just for a positive review. I'm not the best parent to ask about whether the program really cements the ideas, given the short amount of time we've used it. I will only say, that my youngest daughter is extremely confident in her math skills again, and my older daughter is building hers back up. While we experience these results, we will happily continue using this curriculum. I never thought the spiral format would work so well, but it has, beyond my hopes. My husband and I were talking the other day and he asked where they were in regard to where they'd be in public school. I pulled up the scope and sequence for CLE and our state's standards and showed him both. Even at a level below they will still surpassing the state's standards for the grade they would be in.

*** September update **** They still absolutely love it. After starting and doing lessons every day, they've mellowed a bit and now range about 2 lessons per day, five or six days a week. They have finished six of the ten workbooks and we are planning on ordering the next level this week. At this rate, they are catching up to where they should be and are so happy with the math. I still couldn't be happier to be wrong. It has been a beneficial and humbling experience for me as well; not to discount anything that may work wonderfully for us because of preconceived notions. :001_smile:

Along with Magic Treehouse, my girls love Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume's 'Fudge' books, 'The Spiderwick Chronicles', and the 'Bunnicula' series as their favorites to read alone.

We're learning cursive and one thing we have is a laminated chart to practice on while they get the hang of how the letters flow. Even our ultra-fine tip Expo dry erase are a little too thick in regard to lettering. The thickness is proving cumbersome to my girls and I want to find something that will work well and allow them to move ahead instead of overcompensating for the thicker line of our markers. Any other suggestions that work well?

I haven't - thank you so much for the link!

Suggestions greatly appreciated!

We started out with MM and my children loved it... until midway through second grade. What used to be the first subject of each day became something whined about and, eventually, cried over. They went from loving math to feeling as though they were terrible at it and would never be good at it again. We stopped MM and took a break from curricula, pulling out the fun math books like 'Math Wizardry for Kids', 'Family Math', and the 'Sir Cumference' series. Then we tried Singapore - that didn't work out well for us either. Then we tried MUS - too dry. My DH and I are not into religious curricula - I swore that I would never, ever use it. After reading so many fantastic reviews, we looked at CLE. It seemed too religious and we decided to try TT, which didn't match what I'd read about CLE, but I was not going to use Christian math. Well, we never ordered TT - my children did the placement tests which they deemed boring and I looked again at CLE. I ordered it and upon receiving it, we started using it this past week. Math is again a joy - it is the first requested subject of the day and is often pulled out again after dinner to do "just another lesson". My children love math again and I am beyond impressed with CLE - it seems gentle and rigorous at the same time and it is working beautifully for us. I have since eaten my words and couldn't be happier.

From "The Chronicles of Narnia" wikipedia page, should you be interested ....

Thanks! I just downloaded the sample.

My children are 10 and 9. We've actually recently begun watching the Attenborough series "Life of Mammals" and it is greatly enjoyed by both. :001_smile:

My children are very interested in zoology and I've decided to forego chemistry for this year and replace it with zoology. I had been interested in the Sassafras zoology title but after reading reviews citing numerous grammatical errors and a clunky writing style I've decided to look elsewhere. Beyond "The Burgess Animal Book for Children", I have no idea what to get, title wise. I'm not really interested in a full program, living books are terrific, a spine title would be fantastic, a text book would be acceptable as well. Suggestions greatly appreciated. :001_smile:

After having a major math meltdown with MM, we tried Singapore and TT. Neither fit us. My formerly math-loving children felt they were terrible at it and would cry when it was time for math. We have only just started CLE and it has gotten a hugely positive response from my children who said, "This is my favorite math of all the math we've tried." We generally keep religion out of our curricula but, after reading such wonderful things about it, I decided to order it and give it a try. Today after doing two lessons, they both requested more. So far, so good terrific..

What my children may hear from others does not necessarily worry me either. However the possibility/probability exists that they might take that word as law and not ask DH or I for the facts and, given the rumors and lack of knowledge that is abundant among children and teens, that concerns me a great deal.

My girls have actually known about the hows-and-whys of menstruation for years, since I haven't started menopause yet. I use cloth pads so they always see them in the clean laundry and in my dresser. The most frightening concept to me is leaving any aspect of my children's sexual education to come from their friends/lovers/spouses. I want them to have (age-appropriate) knowledge and, obviously, as the grow up and mature, that knowledge base will need to expand. My original question was based on what I had read on PT and what a 10 year needed to know at this age. I've gotten many answers, suggestions, and opinions. I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond, whether I agree with your take or not. They've made for illuminating reading and have given my DH and I quite a bit to think about and discuss. I have the Robie Harris book in my shopping cart and plan on checking out the UU course as well. I look forward to reading more responses as well.

Definitely, to all.

I'll definitely check it out and bookmark it for future use if we vet it as unnecessary at this point. Thank you!