I forgot to add that there's no religious responses that work well here in our situation. If that makes sense.

There's no need to talk me into learning latin (or greek) but people ask me ALL the time about it. WHY study latin? I usually respond with being able to de-code words better (vocabulary type stuff). Reading source texts and such. What are some other reasons for Latin. When people ask my about Greek (which I want to do but haven't had the nerve to pull off just yet) I don't really have a response. Help me not look like a deer in the headlights!

We're doing Real Science 4 Kids and loving it. Granted.....I pull in a lot of extra materials. Mainly library books and we do lots of experiments from Adventures with Atoms and Molecules. I also planned my own "lego molecule" spin off for a week. I will say that it's not a cheap program and if you just do the book and labs (of 1 topic...chem or bio, or physics), it won't last long which is why I'm supplementing so much. But that being said, we still LOVE it! They do a great job IMHO of explaining things to kids.

Nobody is teaching Mandarin?! There has to be someone out there......:001_huh:

Is anyone else teaching their dc Mandarin? I'm looking for some program suggestions. I have no experience, though I love languages and have an affinity for learning them quickly. I also studied (not much, but a little) Hmong (which is also tonal). That being said, I'm looking for a program geared toward younger kids ages 6-8 and has to have an audio component. I'm also open to online type resources/tutors/classes if someone has a rave review!

My older brother had a friend like this. Eventually we took him on one of our family vacations! My parent's slowly taught him the rules of our house....like-how to use silverware to eat and serve yourself. They did it in a light hearted tone, but that's best what the boy responded to. And this all started in about 6th grade IIFC. Roughly the same age at the OP? My parents taught him all sorts of stuff, they even volunteered to check over his hw and his grades went up. I just remember the example my parents and brother was to this boy. That being said, there were boundaries, but my parents took Jesus' attitude....it was a beautiful thing.

I have a son (and dh, self, and my mom) who are VERY in to science. We LOVE science at our house. ds is young (1st) but wants a microscope. Go figure. Dh is all in support of this and I've been given the "blessing" of buying what I see fit. However, I don't know what I'm doing?! I can pick out a great microscope, but would a small child be able to use it? Will the eye piece be at the right distance....? I've heard good things about the sonlight scope (I think that's the one). Any have any other great recommendations? For the time being- cost is not the top priority. I'm sure I'll come into play, but not right now. I'd like a scope that will last a while, in terms of physical size/durability and magnifying power. Help me pick a good one!

Help, all of a sudden I feel overwhelmed with the spelling options! What are the pro's an con's of each? What other programs am I missing? Recently I've read some great things about AAS, any not so great things about the program? Are there any other programs? This if for a 1st grader...though is is very "rule based" or logical. So memorizing a list of words without any phonetic correlation or rule to tie them together won't work. Spelling Workout Spelling Power Spell to Read and Write The Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading All About Spelling Help! :w00t::confused1:

What age can this be started at? When I looked on the website it mentioned that Level A is for about a 3rd grade reading level. I have a 6 year old who is NOT reading at a 3rd grade level at all, but has a great memory (sometimes it comes back to bite me the rear!), I thought this might be a nice program to slowly start, but then read on the site about 3rd grade? Any thoughts? Could this be started earlier?! Thanks!

Just posting to see how many I've posted? Is there a better way to check that?

Anyone else?:001_huh:

Ok, I need the "best of the best" hands on science kit...OR book. I'm willing to chase around and find my own supplies if need be. I can find or get almost any science supplies out there....I need this to be for K-2 grades about. We tend to do better if there is a "unit" on one particular theme or learning about one thing for a while before moving on as opposed to just a new experiment every week. Also, I only ask because every now and again I see posts about how people are disappointed with the quality of some kits.....I really need a good one. Help! Please! TIA

I had some of the same problems sleeping/anxious in high school. I'm still not that great of a sleeper. Eventually a doc suggested anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills (not together). It took a while to find "the right one" as some made me want to sleep 20 hours a day and others had the opposite effect. I'm not a doctor and don't want to venture into anti-depressants for others, as it tends to be very touchy, but this was something that helped for me....in addition to all the other "normal" stuff..... a normal bedtime routine, no caffine at all, going to bed at the same time, breathing exercises for 20min while in bed. Good luck.

Here's how we addressed it at our house. If you'd like to touch your bike, you're helmet needs to be on and BUCKLED. Otherwise...no bike. End of story. My kids take their helmets to other people's houses and for the most part, when I tell the other parents OUR rules, they respect and implement them when they are caring for our kids. Actually, one of my youngest's best friend now has the same rule as we do. I just mentioned that for US, if he wanted to touch a bike/scooter, he had to have a helmet on. The other parent responded by saying....wow, I bet that's effective. ps- We had to say that if you wanted to TOUCH a bike/scooter....= helmet because I have a sneaky little one and "riding" on the back of someone's trike was technically not "riding it myself" so in his brain...no helmet required. He's quite literal though....we have to say exactly what we mean. Someday it will be a strength of his........I hope.

I was a public school teacher and so far there are very few things in MY education (Edu major, Linguistics major, Spanish major...I loved school:D) that help me homeschool. With that being said, here they are: I have more confidence I have a better understanding of what kids are "supposed to learn" at what age... ie. 3rd grade-multiplication, or "benchmarks" if you will. My education itself didn't necessarily help me become a better homeschooling mom, but seeing kids day in and day out and what they "learn" or don't learn for that matter and at what age. Teaching also showed me what was normal (mixing up B's and D's for a while) and let me know I was on the right track. Other than that.....? I don't think anything. HTH

Just a thought, though I'm sure you've seen this site: http://www.buddhistchildrensbooks.com/

Where would one find "Webster's Speller" and figure out how to use it? TIA

Although Patagonia is some spending outdoor clothing/coats and the like, they not only hold up well, but they have a satisfaction guaranteed deal more liberal than most places. My husband bought me a small backpack to use when I went to Guatemala...the kind that stuffs into a small little zippered pocket. It was very lightweight and waterproof (or very resistant!) After hauling my stuff and my 2 year old's stuff around the city for 5 weeks, in the RAINY season (everyday at 1pm it poured!), food, clothing, my son even fit in it when I was too tired to carry him...it went to the ocean with me, in the ocean with me, up a volcano (and back down), and then to the Mayan ruins for a weekend-not to mentioned my daily journey to and from the classes I was taking. One tiny spot on the stitching started to fray by the time I returned stateside...go figure. I brought it in and they said, here's a new one. It took all of 2 minutes. Also, my mom bought a red windbreaker from them about 30 years ago. 5 years ago (so the coat was 25 years old!) the elastic was shot, I took it to the store and they sent it in, replaced all the elastic and mailed it back to me, no shipping or repair charge. The coat is in good enough shape that you wouldn't know it's 30 years old....now I wear it!

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:lurk5: Have a ways to go, but I always like to be ahead of the game!

When does everyone do school and what type of schedule. I'm am confident that this has been discussed many many times and probably beaten to death...so if anyone has a link to a thread that would be great too. I tried to search some things and nothing good came up. Help?! Specifically, I'm looking for for insight on those that school all year, or school 4 months on-1 month off. Or school through the summer and have a November, December and January off....any "out of the norm" type schedule. TIA

I've been looking for these for years...I've found kids sized ear protection....(I'm kinda a nazi with lawn mowing noise, helmets for biking and the such....very dorky, but you only get one set of ears and eyes!). Thanks so much for posting this!:001_smile:

I wanted to be hs'ed. I was in a private Christian school until 5th grade. Then I went to ps. I didn't learn a thing in math from 5th grade until 11th grade...go figure. I hated the "politics" of school. Popularity, who had the cool clothes, who got a car for their 16th b-day...who was dating who...and so on. I loved learning then, and love it more now. I'm thrilled to be in a position to hs my ds, he's smart, and school to cramp his style. Often times when he plays with other kids, the others are fighting over who has the most and largest (legos for example) and who stole who's toys...my ds is generally building something like a catapult and is so excited when he's done. I can just see the look on his excited face, and then the other boys who just don't get it and think he's weird. :) I love hs'ing!

:iagree: My ds is young, almost 6. I played in band..clarinet, trumpet, sax....I also played a few years of piano. I at least want him to take a few years and know a tiny bit about music...how to read notes. My husband and I also have season symphony tix and we take ds a few times a year and he loves it...surprisingly! This next year, I'll step it up a notch and listen to some of the pieces played before we go so ds is familiar with them and talk a bit about composers and such. I really do believe music is important, though in a few years if ds hates piano he can either switch to something new or drop it.