And don't forget the best resource can be YOU! You don't have to be the expert on doctrines. Your stories, your faith. PERSONAL faith is what makes it come alive. (Speaking as a convert myself.) And as with every teaching experience, don't be afraid to say "I'll look up what the official teaching is about that one". :) A lot of times when I share with someone I'll say "This is how I understand it, but let me look it up more too." Being part of the RCIA program is wonderful. The few times I helped with it, it just makes me re-think my own faith, beliefs, life as well. Have fun! Oh yes, and I agree, having good resources on hand help your confidence and research and growth in your own faith as well - so these recommendations are great!

We are traveling East to DC area (from Wisconsin) SOMETIME between April and October. Everything else we want to visit is open during that time, but I know re-enactments are not usually an every day occurrence. :) So we will likely schedule our trip around a re-enactment. Any "favorites"? Any that we should avoid for.....whatever reasons? (Crowded, hard to see, etc.) Costs? Tips? We don't have a specific route planned, and this will probably be our ONLY full family vacation - so if you know of a place somewhat out of the way even but it is worth the trip - please share! We have five kids from age 15 to 5 (4 boys and a girl). The boys are really into the war part of history and I think this would be a neat way to "experience" what it was like.

In the backwoods of Wisconsin, we're like 20 years behind the times. My daughter gets paid $4 to $6 an hour regardless of how many kids there are. One person paid her less than $3 an hour and thought that they were being really generous because they paid the daycare person $3 an hour. We've now set a minimum $4 an hour. I'm encouraging her to look into other fields of work in our area. In Minneapolis, they get paid $15 an hour. And have you ever notice what cleaning people get paid per hour? It's usually $10 to $20 more an hour. Hmmmm.....what's more important? Cleaning or the care of children?

I just added most of the Peterson Guides to my amazon wish list. These look great. Once AGAIN - I love this site for it's tips and inside recommendations! Off to check the others out....

You don't need a diagnosis to start working with your child. The school will, yes, but just be sure not to WAIT for them to get to it! Our 6 year old took 18 months to learn the sounds of the letters of the alphabet (between ages 4 and 6). We KNEW there was some struggle. This is why we put him in Public School 2 mornings a week to hope they could identify it specifically. They told us they don't even consider dyslexia until 3rd grade (when they're already SOOOO far behind!!) Up until then, they realize (and this is correct) some kids learn faster or slower than others. Okaaay...BUT it can't HURT to help someone who is slower with extra ways of trying to learn either. So that's what we've been doing at home while still pursuing the "label" that will get him extra assistance. Finally this year (1st grade) we emailed his teachers, principal, school district curriculum instructor and said we are CONVINCED he has dyslexia and listed the reasons why (out of a dyslexia article), and what could we do to speed this along. They said they wanted to observe him first (you know us - second-rate parents who aren't officially trained in learning/teaching, etc). So they observed him until November. And then scheduled a conference in December. And said yes, they would agree there's "something" and he would qualify for some extra assistance in reading, but they'd have to wait until after Christmas break to re-arrange something. Then they emailed yesterday that since January is testing of their current students with extra reading needs, they'll wait until February to try to work him into the schedule. MY POINT IS - don't wait. The public school can take forever. If you suspect your child has a disability of any kind. Read up, and start some recommended suggestions to help children with that kind of struggle. It can't HURT! And be persistent (and kind) with follow-up in the school. We continue to work with our 1st grader one to two hours a day on reading and writing. In every fun way possible. I seriously believe OUR work is more effective than theirs. They are awesome teachers - simply don't have the time, and have so much red tape to get through - that if we merely left it up to them, he would still be learning the basic letter sounds of the alphabet. Oh yes, and meanwhile, keep talking to people (doctors, teachers) and do lots of reading.

Still applicable

Does your county have a "salvage yard"? Our county recycling center has BUILDING items for sale at rock bottom prices. When builders in the county are done building their house or business, they can bring their leftover supplies there and pay a more minimal unloading fee. Anything that's still in quality condition gets resold and the profits go to the center. Nothing is labeled, so you need to know the sizes you need for things, and go prepared with a measuring tape in hand. And of course, it's always hit and miss as to what supplies are there - but I'd think a smaller piece of stone would be easier to come by than some other things. Good luck!

I would just flat out ask how much the remnant pieces cost. I would not tell them how much you have to spend. This is the same advice given for people buying used cars. If you say you have $8000 to spend - coincidentally they have this car for $7999 just marked down from $12000 too, of course - so you want to GRAB it while it's hot! You can always measure your kitchen and the slabs yourself as well! Always upbeat and with a smile! :) You're not out to deceive anyone either, just get the best price! I also would call other places and ask for equivalent prices. Even if you're calling somewhere two hours away. Just get some ideas for a ballpark range. Should it be $200 or $2000?

Thanks for posting that - it's one thing my 5 kids have NOT thought of yet, and so I have something to be grateful for despite all the other broken items and forgotten rules. :)

Horrible Histories Murderous Maths Science/Geography titles in these series There are so many titles in these series, and my kids (well, the 4 boys) love the handful of history ones we have. Would just love to flip through them all so I could pick and choose my favorites! I think it's awesome my boys read these for FUN!

We would set out three different pots with lids on them and tell the kids to pick one. We just stuck random things in there like "old" McDonald toys, apples, pennies or nickels, pencils, and occasionally a treat. The kids had so much fun, they were so surprised! They would sit there and STUDY the pots like they could figure out what was inside each one. No one ever asked for something else. After all, it was their "choice"! And we really didn't have one that was just for candy, or one just for toys, etc., so we couldn't really remember either what was inside them. And for people who are asking for free stuff - they shouldn't be so demanding was our philosophy! They were welcome to take it or leave it! :) But like I said, no one complained! They all thought it was silly and fun.

We are considering switching TO IEW next year after all the praise I've seen for it on this board, so I am VERY interested in hearing the "con" feedback. I think every curriculum has pros and cons and fits different teaching and learning personalities - so please comment! For example, for me, I am a "little to no prep teacher" meaning I love just picking up the book and diving in to the lesson. I love Story of the World, and Writing Strands - no prep necessary! Just wondering if Writing Strands will be "enough" and curious about IEW.

My son's been tested for Asperger's as well - the difference is he doesn't totally obsess like a lot of the "typical" Asperger's kids. He is SOMEWHERE on the "autism spectrum" which is how they classify kids a lot nowadays. It would be nice if they all fit in one nice little box and definition, but that just rarely seems to happen. For my son, a rigid general schedule helps. :) He has to accomplish a, b, c, and d by the end of the week. 5 lessons in math (I define the number of pages), 5 lessons in science, 5 lessons in writing, etc. (Again he is 14, when he was younger it was daily.) At one point he asked me though if it could be weekly because he hated stopping one lesson and starting another. So he would do all his science in one day, and the next day he would do all his math, or whatever. Rules are constantly having to be defined in black and white. Last night we told him he had to get off the computer. He promptly got off and I found him downstairs 5 minutes later on our other computer. He genuninely did not understand that "off the computer" meant "off ANY computer". Be prepared for explaining basic rules! Don't be surprised if they REALLY don't get it! He is VERY, VERY literal. Some days it's really frustrating because I feel like we have 80 zillion unnecessary rules - can't we just make one general rule about "being kind, considerate, and responsible?" That is WAY too vague! :) Keep reading, reading, reading. I would recommend starting with Carol Stock Kranowitz book, and branching out from there.

Wow! Sounds like Sensory Integration Dysfunction to me! I have no scientific or educational or behavioral degree, but I have a child (now 14 years old) with SID and it was (IS) SUCH a mystery! I HIGHLY recommend the book Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz. It's a quick read and has SEVERAL checklists. It explains that many of us have SOME "quirks" about us, many of us are sensitive to one thing or another, and these children just seem to have more difficulties that can effect their everyday life and learning. Because it has something to do with the way their nervous system is wired, every child with SID can be different than the next - there is a HUGE nervous system inside each of us and plenty of potential for something to be just a little askew. For my son, he had no sense of personal space - is still awkward. But when he was younger he was so clumsy, and he would prefer to touch or bump into people or things (this was the way his body adapted to figuring out space and place in a room - if he could touch an object his brain would make sense of it more). He would talk loudly. He did not like sports (his brain can't comprehend movement, time, and space in that short of a time). The tiniest noise can sound like a screeching bird. He will burn his hand on a cup of hot chocolate because his brain doesn't read the message soon enough to put it down. The book explains that for most of us it takes us an average of 7 times (or less) to learn some things. For kids with these specific problems, it might take 100 times of learning something - if they ever get it. Most people learn sequentially. For example, if you think of developing our brains like you would build a puzzle - people's brains usually are built around some sort of order. First we put all the outside edges together, then we find the puzzle pieces of like objects and group them together (pieces that are for the flowers, pieces for the horse, pieces for the barn). Kids brains with SID are putting their puzzle (brain) together in random order. Their brain can pick up a piece (flower piece) and put it down anywhere on the board. Then they pick up another random (barn) piece and put it randomly on the board. Ideally, by the time they're an adult, they would have put their pieces down and made a complete puzzle as well, but it's much, much tougher. It might take them 100 tries to put that barn piece in the right place. Anyway, that's the short version of the analogy I use a lot when trying to describe my son. He can look at an algebra problem and solve it by the time he's done reading the problem. He got lucky and put that piece of the puzzle down rather quickly in his brain. But if you ask him what 12 divided by two is, the word "divide" might have fallen out of his vocabulary that day because it's only the 88th time he's learned it. Logically that doesn't make sense! But I can only tell you what I've read and seen happen for the last 14 years. Like the day he was 7 and the word "banana" fell out of his head. He insisted we were making up some word he had never heard of before. The hardest thing is that he can NOT problem solve. We read "social stories" over and over and over..... What should we do if..... What if this happened..... After 14 years of talking about BASIC every day things in life, and he can calmly tell me what he should do - he still isn't able to apply it when something in REAL life happens. And a lot of times we haven't covered THAT specific situation, and his brain only knows black and white - he can't adapt and think of a common-sense answer. He falls apart. At 14. He will still have meltdowns like a 4 year old. However - these are maybe 5x a week now instead of 20 times a day. It gives me hope when I look at the whole spectrum of where we've come! Big plus - most kids with SID are black and white. They do NOT lie. My son does not lie. Not even white lies (he wouldn't be able to think of one). WHICH can get him into trouble because he is TOTALLY TACTLESS - he's honest. :) It's been hard work with him, and I still pray OFTEN for his future. He has a GREAT heart, and a terrific sense of humor. He is really bright in the things that come easy to him (science and computers). People either find him very funny :) or very annoying :( I am very glad we homeschool. :) Good luck in your research!

If we haven't begun to pray for the hearts of people in the world, this definitely should get people realizing the seriousness of the NEED!!! I mean, not even to have some COMPASSION? Is it against the law for a doctor to LOOK at the baby and say some gentle words to the mother? Can't there be something like an Apgar test for premature babies? If a, b, and c then we can provide this type of care? and if they improve levels to d, e, and f, this type of level is added? It just can't be so black and white as to pick a random DAY for life. There need to be other factors considered. Anyway, it's a good article to keep aware of the way things are currently in the world and where we can add some prayers. Respect for life.

Sorry, I'm terrible with acronyms - what are VP cards? We too are looking for recommendations for US History! WE have the US series, but anything additional would be great!

I coordinate a readathon every year (for last 9 years) at our local private school. I have had SO many parents of "non-readers" (those who choose not to read) coming up to me and THANKING me for running the program - it has motivated so many to become better readers - my own daughter included. Competition works for some! This could easily be worked into your own family. Adults are encouraged to participate! We set a goal of reading 300 minutes in 2 weeks (for 2nd grade and above). pre-k through 1st graders have to read just 150 minutes. The prize? A certificate. NOW if they read 500 minutes at the lower level and 1000 at the higher grade levels they get a medal. Not a cheapo plastic medal, but a heavy duty reading medal (Costs under $2 apiece, cheaper for me when I get 100 at a time). I have no idea why this works - I wouldn't be motivated by that, but I simply love reading anyway - but it works for a LOT of kids. Ask them. Have them pick a prize - maybe it's a lunch at McDonald's with you. Maybe doughnuts for breakfast. Something silly or fun. I also go in to each classroom and do a quick 5 minute presentation on WHY reading is important (if you can read well - you can read ANY of the 5 billion books in the world - the ones YOU want to read, but we, your parents and teachers, don't have time to read ALL of them to you). We pick a sampling of books that will teach you the basics of reading and help you, but that will only get you so far. How can you get to be a better reader? (How do you get to be a better swimmer? A better anything?) PRACTICE! For the readathon, they can read ANYTHING they want. Baby books (they think that's funny and try to read them, but get bored quickly and move up to their own level), comic books, magazines, required reading for school counts (reading math problems don't :) ). If they enjoy reading, they will choose to read. Where can they read? Anywhere! (Upside down on a swing, in the bathtub - if it's empty, read to a neighborhood cat...)

I have a 2 for 1 on my kids readers, younger and chapter books! Pick one and email me your other request... Does not include the Usborne History/Science books. http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/members_books.php?m=NXBvM0dlTUM0MFE9 Email me with questions! To order from members here who have an account on paperbackswap.com , can I just buddy everyone? If anyone here has something available, I'd love to give the credit to you guys first! I checked out most of these links and there are some great books there!Hopefully later this week I'll have more time to check that out (and I'll have more credits by then!)! I got my first lead to that site from here - so thanks!

I keep it simple. I usually say "we homeschool" in a cheery, matter-of-fact voice, and wait for any reaction or questions (I rarely get any). So many people don't know what to say when I say we homeschool and I don't want to force them into a conversation they're not ready for. If they want to ask why, or they have reasons why they could never do that, I have my answers ready! Always cheerful and light. :) Don't you think the teachers are good enough? My husband used to teach, we have many friends who are teachers - teachers have the HARDEST job in the world! We are blessed to be able to have JUST five kids in our school! What teacher wouldn't LOVE that ratio!? Are your kids smarter than everyone else? The kids are able to learn at THEIR individualized pace - faster when it's easier, slow down when they're struggling. It's great. Aren't you worried about socialization? Are we worried about socialization? Absolutely! That's why we homeschool! Our kids are WAY too social, and I want them to focus on academics! We get enough socializing in sports, activities and other things! I could never do that! Do I get drained? Absolutely! It IS hard having them around all the time! We schedule quiet time, and we work on respectful behavior all the time! It's something I'm choosing as a priority for this time in my life right now. So your kids will always be homeschooled? Will I do it forever? No idea! We take it a year at a time. The impression I want to leave is: we're not special, anyone can really do this, it's not always easy, we're not judging anyone - please accept us - see that we're 'normal' people too, feel free to talk to us!

Her desire to teach her kids will make her the very best teacher regardless of any "degree". First of all, you need to find out what the LEGAL rules are for your state. One thing I have always encouraged people considering homeschooling to keep in mind is that: the decision to homeschool is not permanent. You can change your mind at any time, for any reason After a semester, a month, a week. I usually encourage new moms to stick it out a quarter at least if they feel they are struggling. Struggles are common. When people ask me how long I plan to homeschool, I always say: we are homeschooling for this year, and we will review where we are at next year. Some people review by semesters. Make it workable for you. When I first started, despite my official degree, I felt inadequate to teach beyond the early grades - I didn't think I had the "right" education for it. Each year brings me more confidence. My oldest is in 9th grade, and still homeschooled. We are still taking it a year at a time. When we started, we spent less than $100 a year on homeschool items, and probably could have spent less than that. The library is awesome, and 10cent notebooks at the beginning of the year last us the whole year through. There are MANY ways to get freebie items - put a request on here explaining the situation, I'm sure some people would be moved to share. Put a request on your local freecycle or other community groups. I know our community homeschool group would pitch right in to help a committed new mom. (Maybe adding a request if she changed her mind in 6 months to donate the items to ??) And my 9th grader is now "smarter" than I am. It doesn't mean I am now suddenly in inadequate teacher. It means, I need to understand where he is at and my job is to provide him the correct sequential curriculum, and contacts if he has questions I can not answer. By no means do we need to be masters of the subjects we "instruct". Yes, if she wants to further educate herself, that is fine - but I don't think it's necessary (unless your state requires it). In my mind, those are two separate issues.

Explode the Code, Story of the World, Apologia Science, and Saxon Math WITH the teacher instruction CDs (a must have for kids who need lots of repetition!)

We go really low-key. Shirt (a size or two bigger than needed) so it will last - for cub scouts (dark blue) A neckerchief either for specific year if you want - we went with a generic "cub scout neckerchief" that covers all years until a boy scout. And then we ordered a pack of 15 "slides" from ebay that hold the neckerchief on. With 2 kids in scouts (another to join this year), they get lost easily, and I don't want to stress if we can't find one. They were sold as some "collectible" ones, but for $8 or whatever for all - we weren't really looking at the collectible value so much as saving $$ by not buying the non-collectible more expensive ones. We just printed off occasional checklists to check off and didn't buy the books, but I don't think they're that expensive either. Boy Scouts just has one book used for many years and is referenced often. - we bought that one. The Cub Scout books have a lot of general info, and is nice to have, but we didn't find it necessary. If you haven't figured it out already, we are very practical and frugal people. :)

My kids are all over the map when it comes to curriculum. My son has been two years ahead in science, but when he hit high school, I stuck with the basic recommended grade level curriculum (biology, chemistry, etc) even though he knew "most" of it. How much do we really remember later? A review of these things can't hurt! So he finishes it earlier and we find other fun science things he can do to replace it. My daughter is behind in math and writing, so she is doing a grade level "behind" what is normal. it is a still a stretch for her, but manageable. My other son is two levels ahead in math - he is doing the same work as my daughter. Since we do other subjects together - it's not a big deal - they don't see it as "grades", they are just levels of where they are at. A comprehensive curriculum is great, but if there are too many tears in certain subjects, have a back-up! Or if it is too easy, require them to continue with it (so there will be no gaps) and incorporate other things as well.

Love the Usborne Learning Pallette for beginning reading skills especially. Great HANDS-ON for my 100% kinesthetic learner.

Anyone have some excellent fun programs for teaching kids ABOUT the computer? Specifically programming or web design? Any other fun computer CDs? I really like the ClueFinders series....