I just looked up how much it would cost to get the performance Suede ... 1700 NOT happening... I paid just over 3k for ours... I am not real thrilled with the outcome... I don't think I will be sinking more $ into this couch... I will definitely throw a sheet over it once we move again and it is all clean and set up... in 3 weeks... then when people come over maybe they will be too scared to sit on it! HA!

no it says image.jpg where the pic should be But I was checking out their website.

I can't see the pic :(

Will one of these actually hold up? The only part I am having issues with is the piping around the cushions... Do you have experience with either of the two suggestions. This may save us. I would pay if I knew it would last more than 2 years!

Okay, I am a little confused but quite intrigued. So you bought a sectional cover at Macy's but then had a cover made? I can sew. I have a machine. I never really thought about making my own... the thought is actually quite scary. I am afraid I would mess it up and loose the money on the fabric but you actually had a cover made?!?!? Can I ask how much it cost? I would love this! I could have a pattern that would make marks, footprints from walking over the couch all of it disappear into something that would be wonderful LOL.

We have the L-Shape... and now the short end of the L and the corner are ok... but that long part... has seen its day with all that dog on reading and cuddling we do... seriously .... pb furniture is not built to survive literature based learning.... Not at all... I don't recommend it... I am at a total loss. I think the only reason my beautiful Microsuede furniture that I gave my mom survived for 6 years in our home because I was working and our family never saw each other. So What furniture is built to withstand growing homeschool families?????

I could buy a new cover-> Cover for a PB couch is basically like walking into roomstore and walking away with a mid grade livingroom set (maybe) 1000$ before shipping tax and all that good stuff and I am not really sure that is the route I wanna go... the piping is coming out of the trim... that will most likely happen with the next one and 1000k every two years.. eeeeekkkkkkk Dying it-> I have thought about it... And I am not sure how in the world I would make it all the same hue... if I wait til I move I will have a soaking tub... will it dye the tub ... that would be bad... what if the color doesn't set right... will my clothes change color?!?!??! Do I pay someone else to do it? that could work but then if I don't like it will I go batty on them... I really don't want to hurt anyone or go to jail for doing so... bad example for the children... and the piping is still coming out... Rip the piping out ... that crossed my mind a few times... but I just can't bring my self to destroy it further... smh... why ... why in the world would anyone in any state of mind... with any children and OCD issues ever in the history of mankind ever buy a WHITE COUCH... don't do it.. if you have thought about it dreamed about it... DON'T... because IF you are on this forum ( which obviously if you are reading this you are) you prolly have kids (homeschooling and all) even when they are grown and move out... they too WILL HAVE KIDS.... and they will have dirty hands and feet and pets and you husband will still be a man... you may have a dog ... or a cat... or fish that jumps out of his bowl when the cat in the hat comes to play.... you will still need coffee to function... and your white couch will never ever not ever be WHITE... so... just don't do it..

We use AAS by the same company as AAR and it is basically planned out to a T of what you want. Even little encouragements like "good job" or notes in the columns for mom.

So in March of 2012 we decided to put our tax return funds towards a new couch. We were in dire need of one as I had given ours to my parents when we moved (military we do that alot). So we were like well if we are going to buy lets get the "dream" why wait. So I login to Pottery Barn and look at the slipcovered sectionals because I am OCD and need to be able to wash my sofa and I was looking at sectionals because the dream was simply the pottery barn grand sofa. I thought sectional so that we get enough seating right. My dumb non thinking bleepty bleep bought the linen ivory (basically white) one because it would match anything and it was on sale for 800$ less which meant lower shipping fees and taxes etc..... I figured my kid is almost 8 and fairly clean.... Well two days after delivery I find out I am pregnant!!!! seriously all I can think of was baby puke everywhere. So for the rest of the time we were in NC the white couch stayed covered with a brown and red blanket. Well here I am 2 years later cursing the day we bought it.... the cushions ribbing are now threadbare from washing, it doesn't stay clean longer than an hour (8 if I put the cover back on after washing it when everyone is in bed) Did I mention it takes 3 -5 loads to wash all the covers... and of course you have to wash them all every time or the fade will be wonky!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I have had it with this couch! So.... any recommendations? :D

I am not big on labels. While I know there are many issues that kids can have I do not feel that if they don't fit into our little cookie cuter box of what we think they should be either. They don't always need to be evaluated. Sometimes its just hormones raging through their little bodies. I mean seriously imagine being in their shoes for a day and seeing the world through their eyes. My daughter has been going through some similar things and I remember going through them too. For mine the label is puberty and the the treatment is love, space, respect of her emotions, redirecting the explosion into a proper outlet, calm reactions on my part cause blowing up or acting frustrated won't help anything and reflection at a later time. I hope things get better for you though.

what does your day look like when you do both for your 4th grader?

See I totally get that! But I am wondering if my daughter would have more fun with the MEP style. I may just use it between books and see what she thinks. She loves math now but sometimes it sucks not getting to play the 4 or more player games. MEP being more parent intensive may make her happier because there is lots more involvement. She loves attention. LOL

I think my problem is I am a curriculum junkie and I have run out of stuff to look up LOL... but someone posted a question about MEP in another forum. They wanted to find something else because they have a lot of kids and want to spend more time doing other things. So here is my question. I currently use Math In Focus. I came to it because we had issues with the K12 curriculum we used when we started homeschooling. In any event it works well, I rave about it and I know the "Don't fix what ain't broke" line too. But I have a little one to consider as well. I purchase the textbooks with an extra workbook each year so theoretically I have all the curriculum I will ever need. Switching would mean starting her in book 3a of MEP and right now we are a few chapters into book 3b of Math in Focus. I have been trying to get her up to speed as she is in 4th grade (she started a year behind when I pulled her out of public school in the beginning of 2nd grade). I am afraid switching will set us back further and discourage her. However, what is the better program LOL. I want to use the best! So anyway... I present this question to the masses... what would you do...

Have you thought of a program like All about reading for him? Or tried picking up some bob books? Phonics Pathways is good too. I would go with AAR myself. Teaching him to take words slowly etc.... It sounds like he needs more of that phonics time... The ordinary parents guide to teaching reading... Reading is hard but once they are fluent they will be good. If you have an ereader the Mcguffy readers are free :)

I assumed you hadnt used level one because the title of your post was transitioning to ... sorry

well the first time I had the sample it lasted a year... but when I have deleted the email I have just gotten it over and over and over again without issue.

Completely free http://www.classicsforkids.com/ You can check your library for these http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=17&category=5618 This lady basically combined those two things and "The Worlds Greatest Composer Series" to make this http://store.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=70_76_77

My daughter is 9 and a 4th grader she turns 10 just before 5th grade. MOST kids turn 10 in 4th grade but we started in private school and she has an August birthday. She has been showing signs that she is ready for the Logic Stage now (5-8th analyzing what she is reading and making connections) but I am holding off until the fall to progress her to that. I would just start yours in the logic stage (assume 5) and let her progress. Read about the signs of knowing when she is ready to progress to rhetoric and let her move on naturally, don't force it. If she does 4 years at the logic level then progress her to rhetoric.

We like sonlight but it is not on the 4 year cycle,veritas looks good but I saw one of their guides in person recently and was not impressed so I would stick with the cards.

I have Math in Focus 4 although we still have to finish up our 3b book before we start. The Textbooks in my opinion are self explanatory. After 3 years of using the program my daughter can basically teach herself. I do recommend the "Transition Book." since you are switching curriculum. I only started purchasing the Teachers guides for level three to make checking her work faster for me as I have a toddler and things are not so easy all the time here. It is basically an answer key for the workbook and textbook and has some pages in the back you can photo copy for the games if you so choose to play them. You can sample all the books at all levels though virtually! Just click the Math tab, then Math in Focus, select whichever version (I choose 2012) and then fill out the form as a homeschool teacher. You will have access immediately and you can see the differences yourself. I took screen shots of the text and printed them out to try a chapter before I purchased it. Also there are placement tests. http://saxonhomeschool.hmhco.com/en/resources/result.htm?title=Placement

I answered the first part about WWE & FLL in my previous post but wanted to epand on the others here.

We use FLL, and do copy work from whatever book she is reading. I just look through her reading for the day the night before and pick something relevant to something she has learned or will learn that day in FLL. I typically have her do it in cursive (now that she has completed her books on how to make each letter) and that is her handwriting. Her narrations come from History and question and response from her readers. If you do FLL2 and WWE2 you will find a ton of overlap. She created those for people who want it all spelled out. If you have the WWE teacher guide (the main book) use it as a source and draw from other books you are already using. (I use FLL and build from there) Otherwise you are just going to overwhelm yourself. Hope that helps!

http://www.commonsensepress.com/covers.htm

We use Math In Focus it is Singapore Math and LOVE it! It is aligned with common core as far as what they teach each year but still the singapore method. My daughter is behind in math because when I took her out of school in 2nd grade she tested into first grade math. However, since we started using Math in Focus she gets is able to standardize test on grade level and get a 97%/96% even though her textbooks are one grade level lower. So for example at the end of 2nd Grade she took the 2nd Grade Standardized test but she was only in the 1b book. She got a 97% (no errors on the test at all) At the end of third grade she took the 3rd Grade test she got a 96% (one error) and she was only in book 2b. This year she is not testing because we have moved and it is not required again until 6th. But she is now in book 3b and will be working over the next two summers to get into the correct "book"

My daughter enjoys workbooks so I let her write in them and usually just buy a second set of activity pages or an additional workbook for my little one and store it.