Sorry, duplicate. My ISP isn't my best tool. O.o

Yay! I went through the exact situation - even down to reading the "student examples." It is a great feeling. We're on week 5, going to get to day three as soon as this posts. ;)

Yep. Fortunately, the one who usually clamors for the WWE titles is well able to read anything I put in her hand, so she's usually invited to add those to her personal reading list. Hehe. I've been fortunate that the couple titles my middle child has asked for are available on CD from the library for bedtime listening. I do love the selections, though.

Like others have mentioned, in our home dictation isn't spelling. The one I have doing dictation uses a word bank that I write on a white board for her. Her main problem is remembering the exact words used. For example, last week's dictation used the word "smaller" and she wrote "littler." If she's worried about spelling, the passage leaves her head completely. I mix up the order of words in the word bank, and I've begun adding random words, as well as some words that are similar in spelling, or the same words either pluralized/singularized or a change in tense. This frees her from spelling paralysis and let's her focus on keeping the passage in her mind.

This.

Our library has several series by Schlessinger Media that we've enjoyed on a lighter level. There are series about ancients, medieval European culture, explorers, colonial North America, Revolutionary US to name the ones we've looked at.

Waves from midway between Florence and Myrtle Beach. :)

Thanks, Mergath - I was afraid that might be the case. My internet is slower than dial up usually, so it sounds like I shouldn't trouble with a sample. :-)

The Great Brain books by Fitzgerald Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls Books by Karen Cushman, especially Catherine, Called Birdy Caddie Woodlawn Dr. Doolittle

Before I go and request a unit, can anyone tell me if TOG is as easy or easier to secularize as SL has been? I need to explore new curricula like I need a hole in the head, especially as what we have is working so well, but I suppose this is my hobby. LOL

We use and love REAL Science Odyssey from Pandia Press.

My 9yo DD is devouring Margureite Henry's horse books. She says "Nurse Matilda is funny, and the Freddy books by Walter R. Brooks are fun and funny, too."

Trying again. :) Have convinced her to snail mail. If there's nobody here, can anyone recommend a safe place for her to find a penpal? Thanks for any help!

My DD would very much like to have a penpal, email preferred. She's eight, loves "Littlest Pet Shops, historical fiction, dogs and cats, and ancient Egypt. (Plus the library.)" Thanks, all. :D

Had it all typed out, with notes and my fingers stumbled and managed to close the tab. :glare: Grr. See my signature.

Easy readers we're enjoying at our house include the Morris The Moose books. Assorted SL readers: Balto, Wagon Wheels, The Titanic Lost...and Found, The Long Way To A New Land (and its two sequels.)

:iagree: You may miss some things occasionally, but the weight of having all that stuff gone is so worth it. BTDT. We are five living in less than 900sq/ft.

:bigear: My two oldest just (just!) got involved with the newly-forming 4H club locally, and we've had a run with Girl Scouts. Curious what else may be out there...

:iagree: I scribe my 8yo's history and science narrations, and allow her to select one sentence to copy beneath. She is also a slow, daydreaming writer who tends to need constant prodding. Sometimes from letter to letter. :001_rolleyes:

We have several. Three are used fairly regularly: A hand-held one (approx 8x11in) that I mostly use for demonstrating handwriting (DD is learning cursive.) An old, ancient one, approx 12x20in, that requires elbow grease and an alcohol bath to erase, is wall-hung and is where I put memory work. Atm, that's Psalm 117 for the 6yo. And we have an approx 24x36in wall-mounted one, horizontal, that we use alternately for more memory work or kids' play space. They have their own set of markers and are forbidden to even look at mine. ;)

My favorite go-to mild fish fillet recipe: Dry well with a paper towel and sprinkle with salt, pepper and dry thyme. Sautee in a non-stick skillet in a tiny bit of butter until it flakes easily (3-6 mins per side, generally) Remove from skillet, add a dash of lemon juice to skillet and mix with any drippings. Pour over fillets.

:bigear:

We school year-round. Get in 36 weeks, so usually about 3 weeks per calendar month.

I'm in the same boat. Our new year starts Monday. :001_huh: Thought I was all planned out two weeks ago, but have been spending a couple hours each day since Tuesday tweaking. I also have a bored 8yo and a screaming toddler making things interesting. ;)

We love Math-U-See. It is mastery-based, not spiral. The facts are memorized and the blocks lay out concepts in a very visual manner. The worksheets are very tidy, in plain black and white with no colorful distractions and plenty of white space (important to my learners.) In the very early years, however, there's some colored pencil work which is fun. There are enough practice sheets per lesson that if need be, one could even re-use them for the same lesson, days later. We commonly do not use all of them. Review is good. The DVD lessons are fairly well done, have optional closed captioning. The music on the DVD menu is overloud, though. We've learned to hit mute while the disc is loading and unmute while the lesson is loading. :glare: The Test/Activity Book has several fun sheets, like "color by sum" and ridiculously silly word problems. HTH!