We didn't break it through the day...it took us a while to get used to it, but for most part we got it now (he's halfway math 2). I don't do all the count ups every day (do a couple per day).

Most of our screen time is educational so I don't keep track of it (doesn't mean they are glued to a screen all day long though). They like watching an episode of magic school bus or wildkratts while having lunch (I have been able to skip many science readings or experiments because they saw it on these shows and can explain it), they also do state capitals and us presidents apps. We are not too big on mindless shows or videogames

Wow...I must be really boring! We just do school. We do field trips during the year, but definitely not the first day

Nay for us. We have more than enough going on and no time to do it all...would add busy work for us

I know it depends a lot on the troop, we personally love ours and we are at full capacity. Yes, more expensive than girlscouts, but I don't agree with what girlscouts support, so morally I can't have our girls be part of that. Also, our experience with girl scouts was not the best...my daughters were given badge after badge for very little work or activity, many times they didn't even know why they earned them (and we participated in girl scouts in 2 different troops and many years apart), in AHG they have to work hard to earn their badges, I love it and our girls do as well. Oh, and yes, our pathfinders do work and very cute activities, and they seem to enjoy being part of a "big girls troop"

Another "we do what mom says" situation. When my kids are parents they can decide what to do during their summer

Some folks just like drama, and enjoy any attention, even if it's negative attention. Any attention is better than none, and that is why they like "stirring up the pot". Anyway, to the OP...hope you are feeling MUCH better!

I found myself in the exact same dilemma as yours. I recently purchased Living Memory by Andrew Campbell (about $33 from rainbowresource). I haven't started using it yet, but gave peeked in it and like what it covers. And I really like that it has material to work on from K-12th

I struggle with this one. Ideally would like to before the end of the day, but it doesn't happen. Actually, just found some stuff from May that wasn't checked :( I guess better late than never??

You are very welcome! I had tried posting the link for you, but somehow the page kept kicking me out and asking to log in again, so I couldn't. Glad you found it!

Not sure if my response can help or not? I sure hope so though! Maybe sometimes it is good to "take a step back". Life goes by too quickly (we have an almost 20yrs old and a 9 month old baby...struggling right now fulfilling the needs of such different ages). The day will come that they'll be old enough to leave the nest, and you will cherish the years you had with them and maybe wish it didn't go by so fast. Will pray for your family, and all the homeschooling moms out there who are so burnt out :(

I guess for me it boils down to why do I homeschool. Yes, academics are important for me...but honestly, teaching our faith to our kids and spending time with them comes first. Also, I am not fond at all of the environment in the schools right now, and what kids are exposed to now a days. That does it for me...academics is not my main priority.

We have been able to do it just using a notebook. We rarely ever write on our books

We have been able to do it just using a notebook. We rarely ever write on our books

For math facts...we do Xtra math, a free online program just to practice facts. It is timed, which can be hard to get used to, but as the parent you can adjust their accounts to go a bit slower. We do this almost every day, and has helped a lot

I might not have as many good suggestions as others, since I am homeschooling 3 of mine and the last year hasn't been easy with pregnancy and now a 9 month old. But I can share that I always wanted to homeschooling my oldest and never did, since I had a baby and 2 more under 3.5 years old. I regret not trying it because I was too busy with the rest. You can do this!! You'll figure out something. Good luck!!

So happy to help with this since I have struggled finding these files! Go to "rainbow resource center" and click on the Saxon 3 intermediate package...they have the file there for download. Under the "product description" section.

Thank you again! Just so glad they mentioned the option I am thinking of. Yes, I have also been worrying about expl-1850 being too hard, but I hope it won't be too bad. Only time will tell :)

Thank you so very much for your response! You really gave me peace of mind!! I didn't know the owner and wife had suggested that path as an alternative...that's the exact route we are planning on doing. I wish their customer reps knew about that, he made me feel uneasy about it. Kids will be fine, Adventures was fun for them, but they wanted so much more in depth! Yes, the plan last year was to do ECC and do more American history on the side, but I had a baby in October and keeping up with ECC was hard...in fact, we are not fully done with it yet. Switching sounds the best for us right now. Again, thank you!!

Bumping up. Any input is highly appreciated!

Hi! We are about to finish MFW ECC, and I know they recommend to go on with Creation to the Greeks. My kids will be 5th, 4th and 2nd grade in the Fall. The idea of pushing more in depth study of American history just doesn't appeal to me. We did Adventures last year, but are still craving more American history. Thinking about switching things a bit, doing Expl-1850 next year, then 1850-present times, and leave Creation to the Greeks and Rome to ref. for later. Has anyone made this switch? How did it work for you? Any input is highly appreciated!

Honestly, I consider myself a little old fashioned. When they were 2-3yrs old and gave me the big NO I kind of picked my battles and reminded myself of their ages.... but at her age I would have no tolerance for it. If it was me I would establish consequences and teach her that I am the mom and she cannot say "no" to me...it's just not an option. I am the parent, she is the child, and I am a firm believer that parental authority should be respected regardless of what activity are you trying to do with them. Sorry I can't help much, I am just not too tolerant when it comes to disrespect from my kids :( Good luck!

We haven't used them yet, but one of our girls is taking their class this year. The reading comprehension book is supposed to be for half of the year, and the thinking skills for the second half. I don't know yet what the differences are, but both books are scheduled in the same year, just at different times.

Lanny, LOVE to hear your perspective from someone living in Cali. Amazing to hear the huge difference between cities. I never visited Cali, or Medellin (I wonder how elementary and high school education is going on there?). From what I've heard about Bogota, education is as expensive (or even more expensive) as some private schools in Arizona. And forget the concept of a public school... they are all VERY far from where you live, and I do question the quality of education at those public schools (since most of them are located in areas that have huge violence and socioeconomic issues). So glad to hear Cali is doing much better though! Educations is so important, it should be more accessible :( Thanks for the info on the shipping companies. Will definitely have my mom check into it!

I guess it all really depends on where in the USA you live and where are you shipping from? We live in AZ and don't have as many companies that ship directly to Colombia. My mom tried for many years to ship through some companies in CA, but more often than not her package did not make it to the final destination. In AZ we don't have services like those in CA or Miami, so shipping for us is extremely expensive (and that is, if your package makes it). As far as education...we do have wonderful programs at the University level. I went to a couple universities in the capital city and liked them both. However, I have to disagree with the enforcement of "all children have the right to education" over there. At least in the capital city, elementary and high school public education is pretty much non existent (at least not in the medium-high class neighborhoods). We were discussing with one of my cousins the other day, there are no public or affordable schools anywhere near where she lives (and she is not a millionaire, just lives in a medium-high class neighborhood), all the schools in those areas are private and the cost to send your children there is outrageous. I was raised in a private school like this myself, and there is no way on earth I would be able to afford education for our children in such a school now a days.