My dd is doing WWE 3 next year and I think that I'd like to get the workbook this time. Is is possible to buy a used workbook? Are the selections to be read in a different part of the book than the student pages? I have no interest in the lined paper part, just need the reading selections, comprehension questions, and dictation sentences. If it is a selection that she needs to read to herself, I don't want her to also read another child's narration, if that makes any sense. Gwen

Janell, Thank you! That's just what I needed! I'm really loving the way math is taught in this book. I've learned so much and I wish I was taught this way. I'm glad to see that you've had success with these books. Gwen

So, I am working through the first book in the Strayer-Upton math series, Practical Arithmetic. Yes, I'm 33, and I still need help. I'm on page 148 and the topic is remainders in dividing by 5. The instructions are "Divide mentally. Give only quotient and remainder." The example is "in 48 divided by 5, say "9, remainder 3." What would be the answer to 1 divided by 5? It's a 3rd grade book, so the answer can't be 0.2. I'm stumped. By the way, the questions are written out in the normal division way, but I don't know how to write it that way on the computer. So I wrote it out like it would spoken. Please help me out. I need to finish 3rd grade math before my daughter gets there! Gwen

We use the 3x5 card box as well for our memory work, using the Charlotte Mason Scripture idea (can't think what it's really called). I can't tell you how much I love the system! It's honestly one of the best things I've done. We do it first thing in the morning and it only takes about 10 minutes. My dd has learned tons of poems and facts over the last 2 years. Here's what we have in our box: -A history timeline (from Hannah's Homeschool Helps) -poems (picked from whatever poet we are studying that month and from FLL) -grammar definitions from FLL -important facts from science (types of rock, phases of moon, planets, etc.) -skip counting and measurements -history lists - kings of England, etc. I think that's it. I just pick things along the way as we study them. When a poem is moved out of the everyday section, I pick a new poem to add in its place. Science facts just get added whenever they come up. I don't like adding things out of context. I didn't add the timeline until a month or 2 ago, so we are way behind in that. Once we catch up to the middle ages, I'll just gradually add the next point on the timeline as we study it. Hope that helps. I would just start out with a few things, and gradually add them in as they are memorized. It's amazing how fast kids memorize.

Well, I haven't made my way through this whole thread, but I can't take any more of your homeschool-loving kids! Whenever my daughter is asked if she likes school, she will give an emphatic and passionate NO! Of course, my daughter doesn't want to go to public school either. Her choice would be play and read all day, every day. She has also never been to public school so she can't really compare. I wish I too could say she loved it, but I doubt that would ever happen! Every public school mother thinks I'm mean for homeschooling her even though she hates it. I know enough of PS to know that she would like that even less!

I'm planning a party for my dd7 and ds4. They have birthdays a week apart, so they always have a joint party (they like this). My trouble is where to draw the line as to who is invited. We have a small house and small budget and can't possibly invite everyone they would like to have come, but I can't think of how to do it without hurting some friends feelings. We sent invites out a week ago, and since then the kids have now started playing with the 2 new kids down the street everyday. The kids are nice and play together outside for hours everyday. They didn't get an invite, since they didn't play together before. Now I feel like I need to send an invite to them so they don't feel left out. The party is at our house and living in a traditional suburb neighborhood, there is no way to hide that a party is going on in back. What if they came knocking on the door to play during the party? Then what do I do about the annoying kid across the street that enjoys spelling cuss words at my kids? He'll see the party too! Both of my kids hate him, so there is no way we can invite him. What do I say to him when he comes knocking? He ought to know he isn't welcome, but he's not the type of kid to pick up on this sort of thing. On top of all this, the invited girl down the street, went and told annoying kid that she got an invitation and bragged about it! It's too late to have a party somewhere else and I couldn't afford it if I wanted. Since we will be painting little figurines, I have to have space for each child to sit at the table and I'm already at my limit. I keep checking my email every morning hoping one of the invited will decline. So, what would you do in this instance? Gwen

I have considered All About Spelling in the past, but I don't think my dd needs that much spelling help. The program seems great, but that's too much money and levels to buy for a kid that isn't too bad at spelling. I'm looking for simple and effective, but would like more than just lists of unrelated words to memorize. I want her to be able to apply the spelling rules she knows to new and unfamiliar words. Gwen

Thanks, AprilMay. I appreciate an honest review! When I read "jingle" in the description of PZ, I hoped they had thought of some clever way to teach the rules of spelling. I'm not sure if the rules you listed are any more clear than what I already have. Isn't there any program out there with clearly stated rules followed by a list of words that apply and doesn't cost a fortune?! Gwen

I'm seriously considering buying Phonetic Zoo for spelling and I need to make sure I'm getting all that I need. I've read everything on the website, so I think I understand how the program works. Has anyone used the "budget package" without the CD's and had success with this program? I can't justify spending that much money on the CD's, so I'm hoping it can be done with me reading the lists and spelling the words. I see on their site that I can buy the budget package for $29 or I could buy the zoo cards and lesson cards for $20. If I only bought the cards, would there be any instructions on how to use them? Do I really need the DVD on Spelling and the Brain to help me understand this? Also, are the spelling rules explained clearly in a way that they are simple to understand and implement? I bought How To Teach Spelling and find that the rules are a bit much for my daughter to understand. I don't want to buy yet another spelling book that I will be disappointed with. I love that all the words are on the lesson cards so it should be easy to review past words to really cement them. How to Teach Spelling has so many lists with all levels combined that I feel lost and overwhelmed when trying to pick words to study. We have just ended up using Phonics Pathways for spelling. We are nearing the end of it and need something more challenging. Oh yeah, and if I start this next year when my daughter has just turned 8, will it be too hard? I believe it is listed for ages 9 and up. If your child completes all 3 levels, what grade level of spelling would that take them up to? Will I need something else after we finish it? Sorry, I know I've asked alot of questions! Thanks, Gwen

Thank you all for your replies and links! I called my daughter's pediatrician this morning, and the next appointment I can get isn't until March 2. I may go crazy by then. Just this Sunday, she complained of a sore throat, but she only mentioned it once or twice and it didn't seem to bother her in the least. Today, we unplugged or covered all the clocks, and she is so much better. Still not quite herself, but a lot happier. Gwen

Yes, she had strep, with the scarlet fever rash, about 2 months ago. Is that too long ago to cause OCD symptoms? Gwen

My dd7 has recently started some very odd behaviors. Just this week out of nowhere, she has become obsessed with the clocks in the house. She will look at her bedroom clock, then say "Here we go, here we go", then blink as she walks backward out of the room. When she is in the den, she will look at the clock, then blink while turning her head to see the clock in the kitchen. She has been getting up from meals and school work to go to her room and look at the clock and walk backwards. She has no explanation for why she does it, but it bothers her that she feels she has to do it. It sounds like OCD to me, but I'm surprised by it's sudden arrival. She has always been a bit "off". Nothing noticable to strangers, but "off" to me. There are things that she "has" to do like run out to see Daddy when he comes home, watch people leave our house and drive away, and watch a bus leave that picks a neighbor. If prevented from watching or doing any of these things, she becomes extremely agitated. I'm at a loss as to how to go about getting help for her. Do I first see her regular MD, how do I pick a specialist that deals with this? Thanks for any advice you might have. Gwen

I'm looking for a good timeline for my dd to memorize. Something similar to the one done by classical conversations but a bit more secular. The bible references in it would be over my dd's head, but yet I don't need all mention of religion eliminated, if that makes sense. One based off of SOTW would be even better. I really like the idea of memorizing it, but i don't know what facts to include if I made one up on my own. I'm hoping someone has already done the work for me. Gwen

I just picked up this book a few weeks ago to work through myself. My math skills are shockingly bad (I didn't even know my basic math facts) and I liked that there were only three books in the series and that it wasn't a workbook. I've learned SO MUCH and I've only just started! I love how they add columns and how you check all your work along the way. So much more effecient than my old way. I feel like your child would certainly be good with computations after completing this series. As for having an understanding of "why" algorithms work, I'm not so sure. I plan on using the techniques in strayer-upton and using MM along with it to help with the "why". I'd love to hear from anyone who used the entire 3 book series with their kids and had success. I bought Ray's last year and wasn't too impressed by how the material was presented. I need much more explanation to understand than it gave. The word problems in it are great and I use those all the time. Gwen

Which version of the Robin Hood story is appropriate for a 7 yo? There appear to be too many to pick from on-line at the library. Gwen

I'm glad I came across this post! My 4 yo son just got qualified for speech at the local school, but was looking into what I could do at home to help. He only qualified for group therapy (a group of 4 boys) 2 days/week, 20 minutes each time. My son in only 30% intelligible and that's all he qualified for. Since his receptive language was strong, he didn't qualify for more. I can't afford the co-pays for private speech, so I need to figure something else out too. I've been working on Phonics Pathways with him, but haven't seen any improvement yet. No carry-over into regular speech. I like how it blends the sounds together starting with just single syllables like P-I, P-O, P-U, etc. Then it adds on a third letter and so on. The problem is, that with so many sounds he can't properly produce, it's hard to go forward. Gwen

I'm looking for some books on Thanksgiving that portray everything accurately. I always hear that many of the books twist the story around a bit. Since I don't know the least thing about it, I was hoping some of you would. These would be picture books I'm looking for, by the way. Thanks, Gwen

Anyone have the name of a great bread baking book? One with simple, tried and reliable recipes? I'd love to learn how to bake bread but so far I've really only tried quick breads and pizza dough. I have a Kitchen Aide and would love a book that would have recipes that can be fixed in there. Nothing with fancy tools or pans and I don't want to grind my own grain. Oh yeah, and I'd like them to be whole wheat, but lacking any ingredients not found in a regular grocery store. Any suggestions? Thanks, Gwen

Thanks! I knew you guys would have some great ones for me! I've never heard of many of these. Gwen

I need a list of books for my dd7. She LOVES scary, ghost, spooky types of books. I'd like them to be well written also. Any suggestions? She reads really well, so reading level doesn't really matter. Thanks, Gwen

I feel better now! I just needed to know that MM is not so easy for other kids, that they can whiz right through unassisted. The puzzle corners are tricky for us (I can't even add without my fingers), so we work them out together. Gwen

Do other kids find MM too be a bit challenging? My daughter sometimes struggles on the problems. We just started MM2 but did MM1-B last year and also found it challenging. I don't think it is overly challenging, but I find that I often have to help walk her through the problems. I've read many posts where they say their child does MM independently. There is no way we could do this - even if we backed up a level (I don't want her to do it alone, but I worry a little because she can't). I don't know why, but my daughter could easily do some of the problems in her head, but when math is written, she goes blank or something. 12 + 8 mentally is no problem, but on paper, I have to remind her how to add them over and over if it's written in columns. I have no idea why, but worksheets of any kind (though math is the only workbook she has ever used) perplex her. Even the types of things in Highlights magazine with spaces to fill in the blanks, and boxes to write letters in baffle her. Do I just keep plugging away and hope that she catches on to workbook math? I have no one to compare her to, but she seems to understand numbers well. She understands multiplication and negative numbers to some degree without ever being taught it. I don't plan on giving up MM, but I just want to know that there are other average math students that find the program challenging. Then I can relax a bit. Gwen

My daughter loves rocks. What is a good, easy to understand for a seven year old, rock collecting/identification book? Something with real photographs (versus drawings) of the rocks and minerals would be great. Gwen

I just recently listened to the lecture about elementary writing by SWB and was surprised by this as well. We used WWE1 last year and my dd did well with the narrations. When we started on WWE2 this summer, my dd had a hard time with telling me "what was this story about in 2 sentences". I don't understand the discrepancy. In the lecture, she says for second graders to ask them for 2 interesting things, 2 important things, or 2 things learned. She didn't mention a summary. It's been a load off my mind as well. Gwen

Thanks for all the suggestions so far! In the past I have tried sending her to my room (there's nothing fun in there) for whining. I tell her she can come back when she is ready to work with a more cheerful attitude. The problem is that the time spent in my room makes her even more sullen. Do I just send her back again and again till she stops crying and slouching and moping while working. Maybe have her stand facing wall? I don't like to remove privileges, because she can't watch TV anyway, and I can't take away reading. I also don't like reward systems because I feel like good behavior should be expected whether rewarded or not. She knows that she has to get the work done, so she always does it, but it's that attitude that it is done with I want to correct. I'm relieved to see that there are a lot of other whiners out there! Gwen