Thanks for the replies everyone. I appreciate it. I'm not quite sure which one to go with as of yet, but I at least have SOME clarity about the books!

:lurk5:

I clearly don't quite have a handle on what I'm doing?:confused: ~lol, oh well. Every time I think I know what I want, the much wiser, seasoned homeschoolers step in to save me. Thanks. So...it looks like HO and SOTW are pretty much the 2 best bets? What is unimpressive in HO at the younger level? Does anyone have any particular areas to heavily supplement in for SOTW? Asenik-you didn't assume too much, thanks for your insight! Thanks for everyone's help so far......

Ok folks...I've heard the good and the bad. I think I've narrowed it down to: History Odyssey K12 History Spielvogel's Human Odyssey Can someone compare and contrast these programs? I'm looking for best, liberal, world perspective approach to history. Need not include religion, I can adapt for that if need be. I'd love to include a hefty dose of Eastern History (Asia....) if possible. Specifically, what are the strengths and weaknesses of each of these programs. Or, if someone LOVES a different program, I'm willing to hear you out! TIA

I'm in DM too! Anyone else around?! Great to know there's at least 2 of us!

I researched kid's magazines long and hard. I hate magazine ads, I think that targeting children for things like fast food in a magazine is wrong. Very strategic, but morally wrong. Anyhow, here's what we ended up with: Click! (http://www.cricketmag.com) and Ranger Rick. We didn't go with National Geo. Kids for the advertisement reason. Highlights just didn't appeal to my son (ds 5) and the Nick JR mag wasn't even an option. I love the content of the Click! magazine. I think they really know what there doing at Carus Publishing. They are the umbrella over Cricket and Cobblestone I believe. My son is (obviously) young, and it looks like they have some great mags for older kids too. They also have an option for a 5 year subscription that you can switch the magazine titles at any time. That way it can "grow" with your kids(s) or switch kids completely. Good luck! I'd love to hear what others are reading as well!

Or does anyone know of a GREAT science experiment book? I don't need the whole kit, just a jumping off point.

My latin is very minimal, but I do speak Spanish...and took a bit of french. My background (in college) was second language acquisition. So, in a nutshell here's what I have to offer. Start young. Keep is separate...as in MWF is always Spanish, and T/TH is always French. Or something like that. Learning french and spanish back to back on the same day is not the best idea for most. They tend to confuse them, and then you've lost them both. Also, one thing that I found in a study (waaaay back in college) was that kids and adults did a better job at keeping 2 languages separate when they learned them in different places (different classrooms, rooms, used different notebooks....and so on). Just a thought, maybe they have a "french desk" and a "spanish desk"...it might not matter at all, just thought I'd throw that in. I leave latin out because it's not quite the same as learning a modern/speaking language. Above all else, if they are really struggling after some time, drop the weaker one. And, just because someone professor told me all this in college, doesn't mean it's the standard. Do what works for you and your kids. You know your children best! Languages are a great thing....:thumbup: to you for giving your any opportunity to study a foreign language!

Ok, I've read plenty of reviews on specific science programs. Here's my bottom line question...which one out there is the best, most comprehensive for 1-4th grades? Just for discussion's sake-money is not an issue. We also have full access to a lab for ordering (chemicals/compounds and such) and supplies. The part about the lab is true-there's a lab at my husband's work. I've seen some comments about a science program being great but you need to buy a lot of supplies with it...and so on. And that wouldn't be a problem here. Ideas...thoughts? Thanks!

Anyone out there from Iowa...we're South/Central.

I went through the same deal with my ds last year. Being that it was spring and it just wasn't "clicking" we dropping working on it formally for the summer. We just picked it back up this week (we're a little slow sometimes) and he's right where we left off. I figured we'd do a lot of re-learning. Not at all. Not only did he remember everything from last spring, but he totally ready for the "putting it together" phase. Or as we say at this house "smooshing". We worked a lot on saying the sounds a little faster each time we went through the word, and sometimes it would take us 5 or 6 tries through the word before he realized that m-a-t was MAT. It's only taking us once or twice. Wait it out, then try again.

I have just decided to "jump in" to the message boards though I've been reading them for about a year. My youngest son whom we plan to homeschool just turned 5. We have him in pre-school at our church this year several days a week for just a few hours each day. He isn't overly challenged by any means, but enjoys the arts and crafts that they do there. I've been slowly supplementing things so far. A few times a week we do 100EZ Lessons and/or OPGTR. I'd like to incorporate some math as he's very ready. We also do about 1 science experiment a week for some fun around the house. He seems very ready for learning and always wants more. Should I jump in to more of a kindergarden curriculum? Any ideas what else I could be doing? Anything I SHOULDN'T do? Thanks to all those that are seasoned at this.