For both my older kids we are using MFW Rome to the Reformations In addition, I'm adding for my 6th grader- LLATL Tan Analytical Grammar Beyond the Book Report Wordbuild Elements 1 Teaching Textbooks 5/6 (she's a little behind) Piano Co op (history, art, science, drama. but not enough to count....this is just for fun) 4th grader is adding Teaching Textbooks 4 LLATL orange AAS Writing Strands Jr. Analytical grammar Karate co op First grader- Veritas Press Phonics Museum 1st grade Horizon Math 1 OPGTR copywork that I create daily lots of reading related to our MFW studies ice hockey Co op K (adopted from China last year and still more like a preschooler even though she's almost 6) OPGTR Horizon Math K Lots of books co op HWOT

Thank you. I think I settled on MFW, but this was all very helpful!

Thanks!

The title says it all. My children are k, 1, 4, 6 and I am tired and needing something easy to implement that will still be complete. I need daily lesson plans, classical cycle, open and go, with daily reading assignments for the kids. I want lots of literature but I want someone else to pick the books and assign daily reading assignments, especially for my two older kids. If it makes any difference, we're doing middle ages this year. So far the only thing I can find that fits the bill would be MFW. I am very close to buying it or possibly even TOG (realizing there is planning involved with TOG).

Just another vote for always checking behind the vehicle. It's been almost three years since my friend lost her little one in a backover accident. We try very hard to make sure that will not happen to anyone else we know.

Is there a writing and grammar program that my 2nd and 4th graders can do independently? Combined would be best, but if not I'm open to suggestions for separate programs.

I am praying for you and heartbroken for you.

It's time for us to do Physics but most of the options I find are geared toward grades 4 and up. I need pre planned lessons, easy experiments and fun for K-4th grade Physics. Any suggestions?

Has anyone found a good Chinese curriculum that can be used with prek-4th grade?

I would call someone too.

Yep. And I'd rather pay a small fee (either as buyer or seller) to ensure that there is protection for both parties.

I don't think you can get around it without linking it to another bank, but honestly Paypal is nothing to be afraid of. I love it. It is a real bank, just like the one you use locally. I just dump my paypal money into my checking account once a week or so, but I also have a paypal debit card so I can spend the money immediately if needed.

My standard response to something like this is to assume that the person making the request is being honest. If it is a cause I support, and I have the money, I donate. If these people are being dishonest, God will deal with them. With that said, if the people making the request are known for being dishonest, or if it is a cause that I don't feel is worthwhile, then I will decline. If a large amount of money is involved I may look into it further before donating.

I can't think of any other way to describe my son. He is in constant motion. Always wiggling, moving his body in some way. He has a very hard time focusing. I am looking for some practical ideas to keep him focused on books and other things that require him to be still for a few minutes. I know his learning style and I know I can't expect him to sit all day, but I do believe he has to learn to sit still long enough to be able to read through a grade level book.

Jen, thank you for replying. I hate that we have to explain ourselves to people who don't understand. I hate that unless we clearly spell out how we are preparing and how much we are learning, it is assumed that we are just ignorant fools jumping into something we can't handle. It would be nice if people would assume that because you are doing this, you must be preparing yourself.

Thanks for the replies! It's already a roller coaster! When I posted the original post, we had committed to adopting a certain little boy in Eastern Europe, then found out that he had already been adopted by a couple in his country. After that we tried again to commit to a little girl- same thing. She had already been adopted in country. This is great for them and I'm so happy that the stigma of their medical condition did not prevent them from finding a forever family in their own culture. We tried a third time to commit to a little boy in Russia, but found out that his agency listed him as a waiting child before he was available for international adoption. He is still waiting but currently only available to Russian families. I hope he finds one who will adopt him. So, we've decided to go with a blind referral in our original country while keeping an open mind about possibly committing to a child in the future. We hope to adopt a child or possibly two children with mild special needs. If you'd like to follow our story, here is the blog- http://www.wiehloffaith.blogspot.com

Has anyone here adopted from Eastern Europe? We are about to get on that roller coaster and can't wait to bring our son home. I'd love to connect with other families who have done this.

I knit, text my friends, check facebook...stuff like that.

Whenever dh and I disagree on something concerning the children, I explain to him that I've done lots of research, prayed, and planned. I ask him to explain his concerns to me so I can specifically address them, and I also ask him to become equally educated on the topic so we can carry on an informed debate. Most of the time, he is concerned because he is uneducated on the subject and I'm choosing a different path than the mainstream, which seems normal to him until I explain my very logical reasoning.

I hope to have that kind of crazy someday. It sounds heavenly.

Crazy here. I am done trying to pretend that it's not crazy at my house. My oldest daughter has borderline personality disorder. All 9 criteria. Right now she's in a residential facility and seems unable/uninterested in working through the levels to earn her way out of there. Our lives are insane when she is home. Insane. I am exhausted, mentally and physically. I have panic attacks almost every day some weeks. Our insanity is sad and scary and sometimes pretty extreme.

Pandora Playlist.com lastfm off the top of my head.

This is what we are using- Math U See (1 page a day) 30 minutes of reading time (I assign reading relevant to history) AAS (daily) FLL3 (daily) SOTW3 (M and W with activity day on Friday) Real Science Odyssey (T and Th) Copywork for Girls (daily) The Easy French (daily, but only about 10 minutes) Maps, Charts, Graphs (once a week) 30 minutes of piano practice daily 30 minutes of "fun" reading (her choice, daily) On Monday, we'll start Drawn Into the Heart of Reading and I've never used it before so I have no idea how much work we're getting into. My concern is that she needs a writing curriculum and also that her narration skills are absolutely terrible. I say that with love, by the way, lol. It's just how she is. However, I've heard that WWE is kind of redundant if you are using FLL. Thoughts?

I have always had iron issues and this is what I use. In fact, I just got back from the store with a new bottle. I love it!

I am shocked at the number of people who would suggest a wife keep a secret like this from her own husband. If it were a family friend, an extended family member, or some other distant relation...sure, keep the secret. It's just not a good idea to have secrets within a marriage. If you know, he should know. He has a right to know. I would be livid if my husband knew something like this about my father and chose not to tell me.