We use and love BJU Press DVDs for science! Science gets done in the car!

That is ok if you want to share your experience too. I need all the info I can get to make a decision!!

I have one in 2nd - and for that grade I am loving CLE (and I absolutely LOVED Learning to Read!). My older one is in 4th with CLE now so if we did switch, we would do it for 5th grade. I'm glad you mentioned the Reference Sheet - I pulled it out and gave it to her today - that eliminates a lot of the going back and looking something up again. I don't have the Handbook yet though - maybe I need to order it. I notice that CLE only has LA through 8th grade and then switches to Literature, but with R&S it continues through 10th, with 10th looking like more composition. That was another thing I was concerned about with CLE. Does it have enough composition? I tried to supplement this year with a composition curriculum but it is not getting done. I thought maybe R&S would eliminate that problem. From looking at samples of R&S it looks like it builds on grammatical topics well so that students really get the nitty gritty of grammar. With the jumping around of CLE, it does seem to break up the grammar with other topics such as telephone manners, study habits, etc which maybe makes it seem more "gentle". I don't know - this is just such a hard decision!!

Well, see, the thing is - I can't really put my finger on what is not working. I like a spiral approach but it seems like sometimes we have to go back and find the page in the previous LU to jog my daughter's memory, which may not even be a bad thing, but maybe the mastery technique of R&S may work better. But that's not all. Sometimes it seems like CLE jumps around a little. For instance, this weeks lessons go from Adjectives to Note Taking to Finding the Simple Subject. Maybe there is a purpose to that? Then I wonder if spelling is weak or is it enough? Then I worry about composition - maybe there is more writing/composition in R&S? See, I didn't want to list the things that I'm concerned about with CLE because there are a lot of things I like about it and maybe it is working well for us but I wonder how it compares with R&S for someone who has made the switch? You know, always wondering if the grass is greener on the other side. Can you tell me why? I am concerned that the teaching time will be more than CLE because I am a little spoiled by the independent nature of CLE but I am spending a fair amount of time going over corrections and reviewing previous lessons and things she has forgotten anyway. So why didn't R&S work for you? I really just want opinions without creating bias based on my own concerns/wondering. I want to make sure my kids have a really good grammar foundation.

...What was your experience? Were you happier with R&S or did you regret switching from CLE, and why?

I probably shouldn't even be responding since I haven't researched this enough to be helpful, but have you looked at Valley City State University? They have an online music degree program. I honestly don't know what the requirements are, though. I'm gonna be following this thread because I'm in the same boat. My degree is in nursing and there is no way I am going back for another degree but I would love to have a music degree in Piano Pedagogy. If you're wanting to teach, have you looked into MTNA certification?

We usually keep it easy: Frozen chicken tenders (a good brand that I like from Whole Foods or Fresh Market - Bell & Evans brand) Frozen Amy's Organic Burritos Amy's Organic Canned Soup Amy's Organic Frozen Pizzas Boiled Eggs Leftovers All of the above with fresh fruit and vegetables or baked sweet potatoes. I try to keep it simple with the frozen foods but still healthy by choosing organic.

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14 That said, I don't think that someone who rejects God can truly know what Jesus would do. I don't really think a Christian would truly know what Jesus would do. The knowledge and wisdom of Jesus is so far beyond anything that man can fathom. So to answer the original question, I don't know why an atheist would think they would know what Jesus would do. I suppose because they are "literate".

CLE!!!

If you google "sell books online", you will find places that will give you a quote for how much they will pay you for your books. Some will even let you print out a shipping label to ship them for free. Otherwise, I love the idea of giving them to a family who would appreciate them.

I am naturally frugal. Spending money makes me feel guilty. I feel much better saving money and watching it grow. In the back of my mind, I am always worried that there will come a day when I will need it, so I stash money away and don't bother it. When I want something, for instance - a blender - I will save and research it to death before I buy and then I will buy the best I can find - a Vitamix, for instance. If I'm going to spend money, I get the best quality I can find so I won't have to toss it and buy another any time soon. For clothing, I mostly wear classics or just t-shirts and blue jeans, so my wardrobe is limited. I have only what I need. Any time I have had debt, I've paid as much as I can on my bills to get them paid off quicker. For me, it is just the way I am - I feel guilty spending money.

In addition to doing exercises like the ones in the video above, I also use a foam roller. I want to say I saw it in a video by the same lady in the video above, but it's been a while. Basically, I put the foam roller (or you can use a pool noodle or rolled up towel if the roller is too wide) under the part of my back that would hump out and lay with it for 5-10 minutes. Core strengthening exercises are important too. All are recommendations from my chiro.

A chess set and maybe some yarn/knitting accessories and then just some clothes/boots. One idea (that I gave her for her birthday) is the Zoku Popsickle Maker. She loves that thing!! It seems the more my kids get, the less they appreciate it. They each got an American Girl Doll last year and they don't really play with or take care of them. One of them cut the hair on one of the dolls. They scattered and lost all of the pieces to the board games I bought them. So, I am hesitant to buy much this year. I really need more ideas for consumable items because I am trying to declutter!

I'll say what I think about mine and my husband's professions and then what I'd steer them toward/away from. First, my husband is a dentist and I know this was discussed previously upthread. Dentistry has its advantages and disadvantages. First of all, the young dentists graduating nowadays are coming out of school with 3 times the debt that my husband graduated with (which was a lot of debt when he graduated). Then, as mentioned previously, they have to either find another dentist to work for or start their own practice. If they start their own practice, the costs are astronomical. The dental equipment/supply companies charge sooo much! Then they have commercial real estate loans to pay on. It is an expensive field to go into in the first place. Then, you have to be a good business person. The overhead costs of running a practice are high! That said, we are comfortable and we don't have to worry about him working weekends or nights. He can make his own schedule and works for himself, which is nice. I am a nurse. I loved working as a nurse. There are so many areas of nursing that you can go into. The hours are crappy depending on what area of nursing you choose to practice in. For example, a med/surg hospital nurse is going to be working weekends, holidays, and nights - which may be good for some, not for others. I hated nights. However, I could've chosen to work in a doctors office or a surgery center, or even an insurance company. Then, if I'd wanted to further my education, I could've gotten my masters or PhD, although, last time I checked, the prices for school had increased so much that it wasn't worth it for me to get my masters. I'd have been working my tail off just to pay back loans! The drawback to nursing is having to work for someone else. At this point, I don't know whether or not I'd go back to nursing. I am so spoiled by staying at home teaching my kids. I'd almost rather start a cleaning business or teach piano so I could work for myself. I don't want to steer my kids. However, I would love for them to get into a field where they can be their own boss and not be a slave to educational lenders. As much as we are trying to save for their college, I worry because the costs of a college education are just growing! I would love for them to own their own business without a bunch of business debt. I know this thread wasn't supposed to be about mine or my husband's own careers, but they do shape my opinions on the matter.

CLE does become much less phonics based (actually I don't remember seeing any) in 3rd. If you want less phonics for 2nd, though, look at the Memoria Press Lit Guides. They have some really good titles for 2nd grade, including a few of Beatrix Potter's books, Little House In the Big Woods, Mr. Popper's Penguins, and The Courage of Sarah Noble.

Please update on how you feel about R&S compared to CLE LA. I am struggling with the very same decision on whether or not to switch from CLE LA to R&S. What are your reasons for wanting to switch? I can't completely put my finger on my itch to switch - maybe just thinking the grass is greener on the other side. I've just heard so many good things about R&S. Let us know how it compares!!

Honestly, I am tired. We did a similar schedule last year (our first year homeschooling) but without the lit guides and without CC. That extra day of CC and the tiny amount of pressure I'm feeling from it are probably making me a little stressed. The Latin in particular is stressing me out. GSWL is so easy and makes so much sense, but the CC latin just feels so random. I think I will just give up the GSWL and go with the CC Latin for now and take the advice here and drop the lit guides. I'll see if that little bit helps.

My daughter was having a hard time with looking up the words too until I bought her an elementary dictionary. I think going from my "adult" dictionary to a child's one made it much easier for her. I like your idea though. It would probably be easier to do it that way.

We don't actually combine literature and composition. We use CLE 4 for the 4th grader and CLE 2 for the 2nd grader for reading comprehension and I'm only doing the Lit guides and composition curriculum for the 4th grader. Or do you mean you wouldn't look for a way to combine them? I suppose I thought maybe something in our history or other read alouds might suffice for the literature component for the 4th grader, but it sounds like I am not doing too much and maybe just need to rework our schedule for the activities we do out of the house so I'm not feeling so rushed each day.

Yes, this is us! Community Bible Study is one morning a week, CC is one morning a week, and we have 2 other afternoons for extracurricular lessons (and I think they are important too). Therefore, we are out of the house for several hours a day M-Th. So did you drop the Bible Study? I hate to do that, as it feeds my soul and theirs too, but maybe we could do a less intensive Bible study at home or use the Bible portion of MFW.

CC is really our only option for friends/socialization right now, because our only other co-op option meets on a day we are not available. Right now we are simply listening to the memory work CD in the car rather than doing extra work at home. I'm hoping that it grows on us. I must say it is tempting to just not do any other history or latin on top of CC but I'm afraid CC alone is not enough. My kids are enjoying the classroom environment for now. I may just give up the lit guides and read the books but the lit guides give vocabulary and copywork practice. I think this would be easier for me if I would take the time to read the whole novel before giving it to my daughter to read. We are slowing down because I need to take the time to read the chapter with her so we can discuss it. I suppose I am wondering if somehow the reading comprehension, history, and composition writing can be combined and still be thorough. Or maybe I could do a loop schedule. If my schedule seems normal, then I probably just need to stick with it. I honestly was just surprised that some of the other CC parents don't do all that.

Please take a look at my curriculum for 2nd and 4th grade. I'm trying to fit it all in but I feel like I could combine somewhere or whittle it down somehow. It seems like I am doing more than I need to, but maybe not? 4th Grade: LA: CLE Reading: CLE alternated with Memoria Press Lit Guides (this year it is Lassie, Heidi, and The Lion/Witch/Wardrobe). I'm doing this because I feel like she needs classic literature in addition to the CLE reading comprehension and CLE is only 1 semester in 4th grade, giving me time to rotate in the Lit guides. Math: CLE Composition Writing: Meaningful Composition (since this version of CLE LA doesn't include writing). 2nd Grade: LA: CLE Reading: CLE Math: CLE Both Together: History: My Fathers World Adventures in U.S. History. We are only using MFW for the history portion Science: BJU distance learning DVDs - I love this science. I don't want to give it up. Latin: Getting Started with Latin Classical Conversations: Doing this mainly for the community, memory work, and oral presentations Community Bible Study After talking with some of the other parents at CC, it seems that they are only adding math and language arts to CC, but I just feel like my kids need more background content than just the memorization that they do at CC. Maybe not? I don't know, it just feels like our days are so full and we might soon burn out, but I don't want to miss anything important and I love all of our curricula. We are specifically having a hard time getting to GSWL and the Memoria Press Lit guides, but they are such good materials that I hate to miss out. Am I doing too much or does this seem about right?

I have always thought of yoga pants as the long ones that flare at the bottom. The tight ones I call leggings and the shorter tight ones - capri leggings. I wear the leggings and capris for running and the flared yoga pants for walking, lounging, or running to the store. I buy all of those styles from the Champion line at Target. They have so many different styles. I've told myself that when I lose a little more weight, I'm gonna splurge on a pair from lululemon :laugh: .

I make roasted chicken legs (drumsticks). All I do is lay the drumsticks out in a roasting dish and coat them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder (or a good rub if I have it) and roast them at 425F for 40 minutes. For almost every meal, I steam vegetables in my steamer pot - it is a 3 part pot with a double boiler and a steamer basket that fits together. I take the double boiler out and just fill the bottom pot with water and put the vegetables in the steamer basket and steam them. We get the huge bags of vegetables from Costco - green beans, broccoli, mixed veggies, whatever.

Makes sense. I wouldn't call myself a "lurker". However, I don't do a lot of commenting because if I do, I get everyone else's comments in my email inbox, so I do a LOT of "likes". Nor do I post a whole awful lot. Maybe 1-2 pictures a month of family activities. I don't play games so there are no game requests coming from me. Some defriending is understandable. I know people who have made a general post saying that they are going to cut down to those that are closest to them, and there have been people that we've stopped doing business with that have defriended me, and that is ok. We have family friends that just had a baby. I see them about once a month and my husband sees them several times a week through work. We are definitely expected to buy them a baby gift. This weekend we started wondering how the new baby was doing so I checked her profile on FB and thats when I saw that I was defriended. It's just a weird situation - buying a baby gift for someone that you feel rejected by. An explanation would've been nice, is all. I know I won't find an explanation for that particular situation here, but I do appreciate the opportunity to vent about it and maybe put it out there that there is another side to the defriending process and that is the rejected person's point of view. I will try, as many of you have said, to not take it personally.