did they hold up ok???

I just bought and have started to cut out the games in this program. But I have a quick question...on the flip books, did you laminate them? And if so, how did you staple them together...or did you do something different. My laminator uses 3 mil pouches and I know I won't be able to staple 3-5 thicknesses together. Any ideas on what I can do?? Thanks. Kathy

I wish i could have found a deal like that...I ended up buying it new for $50...the good news is that it appears that I will be able to resell it when we are all done. Kathy

with the re-loading of the boxes...I started this week too. The first 2 days were a nightmare because I waited until later in the afternoon to both figure out what was going into the boxes as well as loading them. I quickly decided if I was going to keep up the system THAT HAD to change...and quick. So this is what I started doing on Wednesday...I made a copy of Sue Patrick's grid page for each of my kids (3)...then I started filling the spaces while I sat next to my youngest helping him with his work. Our workboxes only go through the morning, because we do History, Science, Language, religious instruction all together. So, as soon as the kids are done with their boxes, then I am there ready to start filling...and I get mine done before lunch now...mostly anyway...there might be a box or two left unfilled for various reasons. This really works well for us. And, as far as unfinished boxes...we haven't had that happen yet, but I think I would just simply leave the stuff there...not add more on top...after all...before the boxes...weren't there days where things didn't get done too??? Unless there was some sort of REAL deadline, I didn't double up on the work...that just seems too overwhelming to me and my kids. Kathy

First off...thanks for all who answered my plea for opinions on Happy Phonics. Now I have another question...could I do as well by buying a bunch of phonics based games and playing them with my kids...or are these games (Happy Phonics) so great or specialized that it would be just as costly to buy other things?? THANKS!! Kathy

where can I buy it second hand? I have looked here and on the homeschool classified board...no luck either place..is there another spot to try...oh, I tried Ebay and Amazon too. Kathy

Did you use it by itself...or with another program?? Kathy

thanks. You aren't ready to sell yours yet, are you...?? Kathy

please...anybody????

Opinions please?? Positive or negative. THANKS!!! Kathy

thanks for the additional idea...now to help her pick...UGH!!! Kathy

thanks for your ideas. Anybody else want to chime in, I would appreciate it. My friend is new to homeschooling and is very nervous about teaching reading to her youngest. thanks again.

I forgot to ask about Sing, Spell, Read and Write too...opinions on that? Thanks.

A friend of mine asked me if I would get opinions on these 2 phonics curriculums for her or if you would have another thought for her. Money IS an issue, but if the curriculum is good, she would consider it. She has a 5 year old and a 7 year old. She is not a teacher type...so the easier to teach the better. She is also interested in games and other fun activites either related to the curriculum or not. She was not impressed with ETC. All about Spelling Progressive phonics Thanks. Kathy

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Which set of beginning readers would you recommend using for kinder?? Kathy

I have never used R & S...but I do use FLL and love it. I like the short, but very effective lessons. I LOVE the memorization of the poems...even my 5 year old can recite them..and he is learning the parts of speech right along side of the "big kids". There is very little writing...almost all of it (at least so far...I am still pretty early on in the book) is verbal and the children just simply memorize small bits of information at a time. Good program in my opinion. Kathy

For a 2nd and third grader with no previous Latin, which of these two curriculums would be the best for starting: Prima latina or Latina Christiana. Kathy

What curriculums would you recommend for a 2nd and 3rd grader with no keyboarding skills?? Thanks. Kathy

We are going to have envelopes (instead of drawers or boxes) and I plan to include Math, handwriting, spelling, phonics and reading in the envelopes...but then for Science, History, and language, because we do those subjects together...they won't have an envelope...unless I am adding supplemental things for the 2 bigger kids. Did that make sense??

I noticed that the RS abacus has 2 different colors on each line...is that super important...better than one that only has the same color per line??? I am using Saxon for math and I was wondering if anybody here uses an abacus with other curriculums. Kathy

Does anyone here use an abacus for Math...or is it just sort of useless?? Kathy

This isn't really a game...but I have had my children spell their spelling words with the tiles...connecting them as they can. It is a fun variation to spelling.

THANKS so much!! This is what I was looking for. Kathy

I am planning on using Saxon Math this fall, but I was wondering if there was any sort of placement tests available...I am honestly not sure where to start my kids...they don't know all of the material below grade level, but they do know most of it. Do I just start at grade level...or do I try and figure out a different plan?? Thanks. Kathy