Most of this is just echoes of what others have posted, but fwiw: *I buy used as much as possible *I stopped my "extras" spending sprees (although they were usually used materials too) *Christmas presents will largely be educational games or things w/ some educational value *I do grab things I know I'll be using in future years if they're extremely discounted. *Haven't cut back curriculum yet, but I'm feeling the pinch when planning next year. I'll have to choose something and stick to it - something would have to be absolutely dreadful to justify the cost of "curriculum hopping" anymore. *Use the library more, and turn things in on time so I can check out stuff for the next topics we're studying. No fines here unless you just don't ever turn things in - as long as it gets returned the fees are waived. *Gas isn't as cheap here yet so we still limit driving, and have cut into the grocery budget. *I'd rather keep aquiring books, animals, science experiment materials, etc. and cut into other areas of the budget. Thing is, now there's nowhere left to trim anymore fat!

For starters, I just heard of and read WTM this summer. My ds7 was in ps for 1st grade, although the last semester I homeschooled him half-days for his LA and math. They were doing life science (bits of zoology/human body/botany) in that class. While mapping out where to start this year in homeschool for both of my sons (the other is in K), I just decided to start at the beginning of the trivium so I could cover life science more thoroughly. Also, it was a matter of logistics - I wanted to combine what I could for my 2 sons, and since 1st grade is the "WTM recommended" age for beginning life sci. and each of my boys is only 1 year off from that, I figured that was a good middle ground for them to share. I wanted to streamline for my own sanity and so we wouldn't be "doing school" all. day. long. All that to get to my point, which is that now I'm feeling like my older son could have just moved on to the next level. He loves science and is very inquisitive. I'm feeling like I've messed things up for both sons, as the younger K'er seems to get very little out of it. Same goes for history for him. It's too late to switch what we're doing now. Even if I did, I could only move my older son up in science, because my younger hasn't covered life science yet. Switching seems daunting and like something I don't want to think about at all. I'm just having some big doubts for the 1st time really, lamenting my decision out loud here, that's all.

Some things I've done to supplement our use of FLL 1/2 are: I'll write some sentences down and have ds underline the noun once and the verb twice, then have him tell me what kind of noun it is. I've had him make side-by-side lists of common nouns vs. proper nouns, where each has an example of the other (ex. common noun: man, proper noun: Bob; cn:cookie, pn: Peppridge Farm; and so on). I let him cut pictures from old magazines to illustrate it. I'm thinking of having him (or I, if it's too much writing) keep running lists in the front of his grammar notebook for grammar rules, word usage (sit/set, ...) and parts of speech. Or I suppose we could just sit down w/ his notebook and go over everything he's learned so far to keep it fresh in his mind. I've made workpages for concepts that needed more reinforcing for my ds, one where he had to label which type of sentence each given sentence was. I'm sure you could easily just make up examples of what's being taught. I don't do anything fancy - I just do it w/ paper & pen as the need arises. HTH!

I guess I'm out of the loop, because I didn't realize most people were. I just use FLL w/ my 2nd grader, and will use it w/ my younger son when he's ready too. I have been thinking though, of making charts or lists of the "grammar rules", "word usage", and "Parts of Speech" to put in the front of his grammar notebook for him to look over regularly. That too, would be just an extension of what we're doing, not a separate supplement. It seems quite thorough, and I'm pleased with it for my children as a stand-alone.

I've only ever had experience with Horizons, Abeka, Saxon, ACE Paces (when I was a kid), and Everyday Math (when older ds was in ps). If I had it all to do over again, I'd look into more math programs (although I thought I had researched my choices carefully!). What I'd do differently: I'd start Horizons K when my sons were 4. They were ready and eager. Then for K, I'd let them do Abeka 1 and continue w/ Abeka from there. This is based only on the programs I've seen/used. I've never used Horizons completely alone. I always use hands-on manipulatives, games, etc. in addition to it. I like that the lessons aren't scripted and that I can just go through and teach or review each concept using whatever we please - be it worksheets, flashcards, manipulatives, or what we like to call "football math":D. I like the structure and support that the TM's in Abeka and Saxon give the teacher. I don't desire scripted lessons, but seeing how to teach or explain things would be helpful sometimes, esp. as we get into beginning Algebraic equations. For that reason, I'm glad Horizons only goes to 6th grade. I would have to re-take math a level or 2 ahead of my dc teach them higher level math Horizons-style. I'm almost afraid to look at more math programs. I just had it in my mind that I wouldn't look and we wouldn't switch just b/c I thought something was better. The grass is always greener on the other side, kwim? CLE sounds intruiging to me. Saxon was too long and drawn out for us. But if CLE is like Saxon "on steriods" that might just work. I've found myself lamenting that I didn't choose Abeka for 2nd grade w/ my older son this year. Less problems per page than Horizons, and he'd learn division by the end of the year. I've heard that Abeka can get really hard by 4th - 5th grade though. Thoughts, anyone?

Busywork is an interesting topic, as it is subjective in meaning. In our homeschool, I try to strike a good balance between getting enough practice to master things without overkill. If my older ds gets all of his math problems in the top row correct then I excuse half the bottom row - as long as it is review of a function I know he has already mastered. If it is a fairly new concept and I think he does need to practice it, he has to finish all the problems. On the other hand, we are using FLL and much of it is done orally. Sometimes I make up worksheets (I keep them short and to the point), with just pen and paper, to solidify what he's learning and to check that he "gets it". It's really helped with parts of speech and types of sentences. So not all worksheets are bad, as long as they serve a purpose. I do have to bounce back and forth between my boys to teach them both, so they each have some time each day working or playing on their own. I often give my ds5 specific activities to choose from if I'm working w/ ds7 until I can get him going on his own and go work w/ ds5. Choices sometimes include reading his BOB books, look at other books, playing w/ his ABC magnet board, shape/color tiles, magnetic mosaic, Legos, etc. They all have some degree of educational value, and I do this to keep him in a "learning" mind-frame during "school time" so it's not so hard to reel him back in from free play when it's "his turn to do school w/ mommy". Hmmm, I just realized I am using it for my own benefit! :tongue_smilie::D

There's a social group here for LOST junkies? *going to find it*

Whatever you get, do yourself a favor and avoid early-model ('02, '03) Kia minivans. The thing is a nightmare for us and also for our Canadian relatives who own one from the same year. You may get a bit more than trade-in value if you try to sell the Caravan yourself. Just my 2 cents!

Math: Horizons K with supplements (Calvert Primary Math Manipulatives), math games, hands-on and real-life activities Phonics/Reading Prac.: OPGTTR with flashcards & magnet board, 2 readers per day (one newer and one review) from Bob books, Abeka K5 readers, and some Calvert K5 reading materials plus a few phonics games. We also do read-alouds throughout the day for other subjects and from a peice of literature (a chapter at a time) at bedtime. Handwriting: Abeka K5 Manuscript Writing With Phonics, and I also make up activities that involve writing for him so that it's in a more meaniful context (not just Aa, Aa, Aa...). Art: We do our own little projects here and there, but are starting our Atelier Level 1 this week (finally). We're also doing... Music: Drum Lessons, 1 hymn per week (started yesterday - just singing along and learning/talking about the words/meanings), listening to classical and jazz during meals and sometimes talking about the composer. Science: Life Science (animals/human body/botany) per WTM. He's doing this alongside his 2nd grade big brother. History: SOTW 1, again, just doing this alongside big brother. Awanas: Memorizing Bible verses and seeing friends. PE: Tae Kwon Do What are you enjoying? The cuddle-time during reading, seeing the wonder and amazement on his face as he learns, watching him read and seeing his confidence in his learning ability rise.

I really hate the insanity of it all. I hate that Christmas has felt like such drudgery to me in years past because of the massive chore of shopping - finding those perfect things for each kid. We're going to sit down as a family and read some books about how the Santa Claus tradition got started (ie, the real historic Santa), and what God would want us to do with our resources. Maybe they could come w/ me to help serve food at the local food bank and hopefully that will humble their inner hunger for all those "hot new toys". I want to do fun things w/ my family and enjoy the season. I don't mind getting them things, but not too much. I also can't see spending a whole lot when the money simply isn't there. I'm trying to do what I can to contribute income, but it gets eaten up so fast by the home heating oil bill and medical bills. I sound like a regular humbug, don't I? My kids all want big-ticket items this year - musical instruments, dd wants braces (we don't have dental ins.), the really big Lego sets, etc. I've never not been able to get them what they wanted, at least 1 thing each from their "list". We'll see how it blows over on Christmas morning. :tongue_smilie:

I know I'm late to the party here, but when dd was young, dh and I both had to work and dd went to daycare. It was an in-home daycare and the lady who ran it requested payment ahead of time, otherwise the child's spot might be filled by someone else. She gave parents a print-out of her "rules", and there were fees for late pickups. My MIL also ran an inhome daycare for decades, and when I ran this by her she said it wouldn't be wrong for you to hand out a "New Guidelines" sort of info packet to all the parents outlining new rules you are implementing effective ??? (immediately, in a week, in a month). That way you don't have to wait for a whole new rotation of children to come in to run your daycare how you want to. I would include a clause about the amount your state allows you to charge for bad checks. :) Hope it gets better for you!

Wow, thanks for all the the great advice! I'm sitting here taking notes with tears streaming out. It's just nice to know somebody else out there understands and that I'm not THE ultimate failure mom of homeschooling history! lol I suppose if others have struggled with similar things then it's not all that abnormal. Since I posted that it dawned on me, "Duh! Read Psalms!" so I've been reading a chapter from Psalms in the morning and one from Proverbs at night. I am already on drugs (the legal Dr. prescribed kind) despite really not wanting to go that route. I will definately do my research to see how many of these vitamins and other such helpers I can implement together safely. Also since posting before, I made up a little daily schedule thing for each of my kids. It's not a fancy Excel chart but it works. I have the kids' subjects for the day listed out under their name on their respective chart and when they get one done they can take that subject off their chart (subjects are listed individually on separate poster-board peices) and turn it upside down to show that it's "done". DH gets a copy of their schedules (just written on notebook paper the night before) and the kids think this is so he can see what all they've accomplished. Really it's for him to hold me accountable. I did tell him I need him to do that, that I felt myself slipping, just not exactly how far. With their charts DH can see how much we have left to do for the day as well, and that in itself is motivation for me. I don't want him to see that we've done nadda all day long, so we've been moving through our subjects more efficiently. About telling him how far behind we are... I was just kind of hoping I could fix it myself without him having to know. Just don't want the "I told you so" or the "that's it, the kids are going to school" talk. He's already super-supportive and does help, so that wouldn't change if I told him. We don't keep things from eachother so this does feel weird. I've promised myself that if I fall into that kind of funk again then I have to tell him for the good of the kids. Thanks so much again for the kind words.

:iagree: My 12 yo dd is allowed very sheer lipgloss, any color of nail polish (thought I do prefer her to use Zoya or other formaldehyde-free brands - she usually has a rainbow of colors at any one time), and her sheer glittery eyeshadow stick - it's clear with irridescent clear little glitters, so it definately looks more little girly than grown up. She's been begging for mascara and since we have ultra-blonde lashes I decided she can get some clear mascara just to help them show up a bit more (gives lashes a wet look, just slightly darker than natural). I allow her to wear concealer for her acne. So far that's all she's been interested in. As long as she isn't trying to (or accidentally) convey negative messages to others about herself by her appearance, it's all good. :D

Plan B for me has resulted in a master bedroom cluttered with large boxes of "the crud that was all over the kitchen counters before so-and-so came over a couple years ago". We can't park our vehicles in the garage because there's too much stuff in there that I keep meaning to put to good use. I've got magazines that date back to 2004 because they've got good recipes, crafts, or home decorating ideas that I don't want to toss. I can't seem to come up with "homes" for any of the stuff. I'm really good at buying organizers and then not using them. I haven't cleaned the inside of the fridge thoroughly since we moved here 4 years ago, and I've only ever swiffer mopped the kitchen/dining floor - never used a real mop or scrub brush on it (for gunky chunks that are stuck on I just spot clean). Dusting? :lol: We have a "clean laundry couch". It used to be the loveseat. How's that for confession?

My house is messy and my life is out of control. Add homeschooling to that. Eek. Yes, I'm an insomniac nightowl too. :)

I didn't read the many posts between page 1 and page 20, but I get the gest of the thread. IMO, a 25-year old being spanked is just wrong in so many ways. Both parties involved have got serious issues. I agree that spanking should be reserved for when there is not a logical natural consequence and the child is not old enough to really reason with. It should always be within the context of a structured way it is always done, and with much talking about it and hugs before and after. If the parent has any issues at all controlling their anger with the child, esp. during discipline, I wouldn't recommend spanking for them. About spanking older children: I recieved my last spanking when I was 14 years old for not wanting to attend church. I had been spanked throughout my childhood but had not had one for about 5 years at that point. I was a rude, rebellious teen and at the time it was completely ineffective. I told my mom so, that I thought it was "hilarious - go ahead, see what I care, I'm still not going". I know my mom was doing the best she knew how at the time, her having come from a horribly violent home. IMO her views on it were skewed just a bit by the particular church we attended when I was a kid. She thought she HAD to for my own good - even when she didn't want to, even when there were other ways to deal with me and my actions. So, fwiw, growing up with spankings doesn't equal well behaved kids - in case anyone is under that impression.

1. Trying to homeschool while battling depression and insomnia (ie, unmotivated, undisciplined, and inconsistent - skipping too many days of school - we're like a month behind - don't tell dh!). 2. Trying to homeschool in this crazy-small, super cluttered, disorganized house. CHAOS (Can't Have Anybody Over Syndrome - cuz it's too messy!) going on here. Related to #1. Lack of energy/will to clean. Doesn't help that I make list after list of "important things to get, remember, homeschooling ideas, etc." and then they all get lost amidst the other piles. 3. Trying to homeschool while trying to remain :chillpill: under the stress of dd12's bipolar manic rages. I know this was more about practical things, and while my ds clogs the drain with poo every day too, the above is what came to mind 1st. Thanks for lettin' me vent.

...and based on what I've seen in all 3 of my kids, the two should not be separated (of course there's always kids that are exceptions to one's assumptions). I used Abeka K4 and K5 with my dd and older ds. In this, the child learns to spell the sounds as they learn them via phonics charts drills that take 5 min. per day or less. My youngest ds in in kindergarden this year and we're using OPGTTR but I've retained use of those chart drills for both of my sons. We say them like so: " /st/ in stop, s t" (sound, word example, and spelling of the sound). Their K-3rd charts cover most sounds and some spelling exceptions. I'm sure there's other programs out there that offer this, but this is what I've got and it works, so we use it. I don't implement a formal spelling program (Abeka still) until 1st grade, and even then, we're not all that formal about it.

As the wife of a law enforcement worker, I too have heard far too many scary statistics about predators on public places like MySpace. My 12 y/o dd begs for permission for this and dh and I have no plans to change our position anytime soon. She and her friends are too immature to discern what could be construed by someone negatively in the future. We do let her have her own email which we set up for her, and she knows we have the password. She knows not to give the email address out to anyone but her friends, and so far so good. I'm too leary of weirdos out there to allow her to have a public blog though.

Aha... I was wondering if there was something behind this! ;) To answer your question, no. I do think the margin is narrowing since homeschooling is becoming more widely accepted. The greater the number of people who participate in hs'ing, the more diversified a group we have.

So I've been reading a chapter or 2 from the original Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum to my boys at night before bedtime (dd isn't interested in the least). Tonight they had all their stuffed animal dogs, whale, chick, and a few others join us to listen. I do voices for the different characters so they can better decifer who's talking in the story. Then they started acting it out as I told it with their toys. "Chickie" played Dorothy, "Sandy" the big dog played the Lion, "Whaley" was the Scarecrow, and 2 miniature dogs played Tinman and Toto. This was humorous and so cute to watch! They really enjoyed it, and asked for an extra chapter tonight. My heart just swells to see them engaging their imaginations like this and it makes me SOOOO happy that I am homeschooling! Little bits like this sweep those pesky doubts away quickly!

They don't refrigerate eggs in New Zealand either, I'm told. I'd try one, and I probably wouldn't let my kids eat them just in case. My dad would eat them for sure, esp. if he saw you heading for the garbage with them! :)

1300 sq. ft. for family of 5. Badly configured floorplan, a lot of wasted space. I am learning to accept this house is where we will be for a very. long. time. Every now and then I draw up plans that include knocking out walls, adding a mudroom/arctic entry, adding an upstairs, etc. Then I remember that if I spend all the $$ on that, how will the kids go to college someday? And I go pop a piece of chocolate in my mouth and all is well again. :) ETA: It's not really too small for us if it had a better floorplan. DD has bipolar and the walls are just too thin and there's no place for the other kids to go during some of her outbursts. It just feels too small for our particular mix of people. I wouldn't want to clean 3,000 sq. ft. either though! ;)

Oops, as always, another post was added while I was typing. :P Nevermind the parts of my post that no longer apply. :)

I've been wondering the same thing about Horizons. Today my ds did lesson 56 in Horizons 2 - 1st day of any real, official multiplication. It was all over the place though - there were 2's, 3's, and 5's. I thought they would start with the 0 family, then 1's, and so on. Although, he's known simple multiplication for a long time so it isn't a problem right now. Looking ahead at harder mult. and div., it has me wondering if this approach will be too hard or confusing for concepts truly new to him. I've thought of maybe implementing incremtal learning of the facts tables in order alongside Horizons. In my mind, knowing the facts families is the goal so it doesn't matter how it's achieved: flashcards, copying them, games, songs, etc. Abeka does a very incremental approach. I have the 3rd grade complete math set and would be willing to answer any questions about it. I grew up on Abeka and LifePacs, and a bit of PACE packets, and my oldest (DD) used Abeka for most of her schooling previous to the school she's attending now. It may be worth looking at - they have the sample online but I think it might be very limited. Let me know if you want any further viewing of this. I hope the answer comes to you clearly. I know it's frustrating to think about switching. You're right in your conviction to not switch unless it really isn't effective. Go w/ your gut; observe the things you're questioning carefully in the next week to assess whether it's comprehension or the other things you mentioned. Best wishes to you!