I'd go with AAS. IME, SS works better for older children who are good readers....or if they are dyslexic or have a reading disability, they need to have had significant intervention before SS will work. I'd go with AAS, it will work *no matter what*. For any kind of learner and a huge range of ages. It an optimal. It's evidence based (in a huge way). K

there are either four or five more episodes. the 100th episode is supposedly someone's wedding day. it's been stated everywhere who's wedding day it is......but just b/c it's someone's wedding day doesn't mean anyone actually gets married before the episode ends. Shonda's been tricky with her wording before - ie 'izzy absolutely does not have brain cancer'. Well, right. She doesn't. She has melanoma that *mestastasized* to her brain. Whatever. Seriously;p i love grey's. The last new episode (Elevator Love Letter) was satiating. I loved it. It ended and I felt happy. All was right in my little Seattle Grace World. Even with Owen and Christina's difficulties. Knowing that Mer and Der moved forward into an engagement was just what I needed. In fact, I should probably stop watching now while they're happy;p The rollercoaster that is MerDer is way to stressful for me. greysgabble.com has all of the current spoilers if you're into that. Edited to add: looks like five episodes, the last being a double episode :) K

Here is the info that I posted earlier in the thread.....I'll follow it with the other specific recommendations. The supplements are available anwhere.....however, the cost from iherb.com or similar online vendors will be much much less expensive. Sometimes it's as much as 50% less in terms of total cost. everyday calcium (300mg cal, 300mg mag per tablet....for upping cal/mag intake at nondairy meals and/or for those who don't eat dairy): http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=1773&at=0 d drops (2000 IU per tasteless, flavorless drop): http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=10364&at=0 a great broad spectrum, high potency, high quality yet *truly* inepensive multi is also very helpful (minerals are in most easily absorbed, nutritionally optimal form): http://www.iherb.com/productdetails....b&utm_medium=f jigsaw magnesium (the time release formulation is key for me as most kinds of magnesium give me diarrhea...adds in mag for those that get plenty of calcium from other sources. sometimes I take the above cal/mag. sometimes I take this - ie at meals containing large amounts of calcium, when I'm pms-ing and when I have a lot of muscle tension): http://www.jigsawhealth.com/magnesiu...magnesium.aspx B-5: http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=2010&at=0 vitamin C: http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=975&at=0 Hope this is helpful.... :) Katherine

Here is the info that I posted earlier in the thread.....I'll follow it with the other specific recommendations. The supplements are available anwhere.....however, the cost from iherb.com or similar online vendors will be much much less expensive. Sometimes it's as much as 50% less in terms of total cost. everyday calcium (300mg cal, 300mg mag per tablet....for upping cal/mag intake at nondairy meals and/or for those who don't eat dairy): http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=1773&at=0 d drops (2000 IU per tasteless, flavorless drop): http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=10364&at=0 a great broad spectrum, high potency, high quality yet *truly* inepensive multi is also very helpful (minerals are in most easily absorbed, nutritionally optimal form): http://www.iherb.com/productdetails....b&utm_medium=f jigsaw magnesium (the time release formulation is key for me as most kinds of magnesium give me diarrhea...adds in mag for those that get plenty of calcium from other sources. sometimes I take the above cal/mag. sometimes I take this - ie at meals containing large amounts of calcium, when I'm pms-ing and when I have a lot of muscle tension): http://www.jigsawhealth.com/magnesiu...magnesium.aspx B-5: http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=2010&at=0 vitamin C: http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=975&at=0 Hope this is helpful.... :) Katherine

Sounds like adrenal fatigue is playing a huge role here (middle of the night waking is major symptom of adrenal fatigue) The help will be the same as what I mentioned for the previous poster (good, inexpenive, high quality ,high potency multi like Natrol My Favorite Multiple Take One), plenty of magnesium, probably 4,000 IU D (get tested...but until then take no less than 2,000 IU daily)....specifically for the adrenal fatigue: 500 mg vitamin c every few hours throughout the day maybe 3000 mg or so (more if you're fighting illness). take another 500 mg right before bed....any inexpensive ascorbic acid form of c is fine. 250 mg *b-5* taken with lunch will also be very adrenal supportive. :) Katherine

The D and mag have huge hormonal implications as well.....don't discount it at all:) But yes, b-6 is great too. Some lucky ones;p (like me) will need regular b-6 AND the p5p form of b-6 to maintain sanity:) I get my b-6 from my multi (natrol my favorite multiple take one) and also taking a separate 50 mg tablet of p-5-p made by solgar. Katherine

Classical education is just referring to specific topics that should be covered (strong emphasis on language, logic, math, history in sequential systematic style....) but how you go about teaching it is entirely up to you. It's certainly easiest with an auditory/sequential learner who loves writing and worksheets but really with enough creativity, one can make it entirely kinesthetic, game oriented etc.....or enough of a mix to at least make it doable for a child who is otherwise resistant. :) K

So what's going on with him. Knowing that my curriculum, school hating kid is ADHD, dyslexic and *severely* disgraphic makes all the difference in how I approach school....what I expect in terms of writing output and sitting still....the way we approach school time (frequent systematic reward system in place....) the book _How To Get Your Child Off the Refrigerator and Onto Learning_ has fabulous ideas for turning necessary evils into games. I do some of it....though really nearly everything we do should be a game and somehow kinesthetic. The discrepancy between the reality (some really hateful stuff like writing and intensive phonics to deal with dyslexia) and the optimal (games, active, auditory) is dealt with by the reward system. I hate it but it works when NOTHING else does. She gets a a rubberband (the cheap colorful ponytail holders) for each *two minutes* that she's working with cheer and her best effort. She's able to trade them in for rewards of her choice.....in the rewards there is a tiered structure. Without the rewards system in place, it's ugly. Really really ugly. Katherine

My 7 and 9 yo love them and the 9 yo has picked up a *ton* of revolution knowledge. We were able to get the series from netflix. I'm sure the library would have it - at least somewhere in the county if not at the particular branch in question. Katherine

Hugs to you!! I've been there and occasionally fall back to that icky place (mid february....ugh)....it's always a good kick in pants to get back to what I know works well. 1)neptune krill oil (yes, oil from krill). here is a fabulous article on using neptune krill oil to treat pms http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_2_8/ai_103194439 Interestingly, when I started taking krill oil, I had no idea it treated pms effectively. I was taking it for other reasons, then was very suprised to suddenly get my period with no warning - no breast tenderness, no preperiod chin or forhead breakouts, no moodiness. after 2 months of this, i started to investigate and found info on NKO and pms. One company processes all of krill oil - it's just bottled and sold for different 'brands'. I buy from iherb.com, whichever is least expensive per 500 mg krill oil....usually the Jarrow brand. Since it's so darn expensive, I've experiemented alot to find the MED (minimal effective dose). For me it's 1-2 caps from ovulation till onsent of menstruation. I take one per day, then if I start feeling pms-y, I bump the dose to two per day. 2)vitamin D. only 5% of the US population maintains optimal D levels of 50-80 ng/mL. Some will fall into the bottom of the range of 'normal' according to 'lab norms' (32 ng/mL) but really it's still much too low. You'll need at least 2000 IU per day of D3....but more likely 4000-5000 IU D to fully replete your vitamin D levels. Your doc can test your "twentyfive hydroxy vitamin D" levels....it's written as "25(OH)D" There is also a saliva test, available from vitamindcouncil.org for $65 Carlson D Drops is hands down, my favorite d supplement. iherb.com 3)sufficient (not excessive) calcium and magnesium. For me 1000 mg calcium per day from all sources (food and supps) works well......and 800-1000 mg magnesium depending on the type of magnesium I'm taking. I love Rainbow Light Everyday calcium (1:1 ratio cal/mag) - my normal 'go to' cal/mag for meals that contain no dairy.....and Jigsaw health magnesium which I take when I eat dairy - to maintain an appropriate (for me) ratio between the two minerals. I buy all supplements (except for the Jigsaw magnesium) at iherb.com everyday calcium: http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=1773&at=0 d drops: http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=10364&at=0 a great broad spectrum, high potency, high quality yet *truly* inepensive multi is also very helpful: http://www.iherb.com/productdetails.aspx?c=1&pid=2258&utm_source=gb&utm_medium=f jigsaw magnesium (the time release formulation is key for me as most kinds of magnesium give me diarrhea): http://www.jigsawhealth.com/magnesium/jigsaw_magnesium.aspx Wishing you all the best, Katherine

<<If you put Gaba and OCD, ADHD, asthma etc. into a search engine, studies will pop up. It treats everything that I have wrong with me (autoimmune inflammation, depression, ADD, etc.),>> All things linked with D deficiency as well:) Since only approx 5% of the population has optimal levels of D, chances are that D deficiency is playing a major role..... :) Katherine

history, reading.....language (foreign language, vocab, root words, spelling etc) K

When this happened to my dh, it turned out to be allergies. The allergic response triggered inflammation in ears/sinuses/throat....fluid was trapped and the result was exactly as you describe. He started nasal steroids ( flonase, rhinocort, nasonex, veramist are all nasal steroids) and was better w/in a few days. Every spring, he has to do this for a couple of months to avoid the 'ear' problem. Don't be alarmed by the term 'steriods'.....systemic absorption of nasal and inhaled steroids is so low as to be almost negligible....it's not like taking oral steroids. Truly, I'd not do the abx. Abx resistance is at a frightening level of concern and only getting worse. Take them only when absolutely positively necessary for your life and health when there is a known bacterial infection. It's unlikely that the ear pain is a bacterial infection.....it's much much more likely that it's allergies or a viral infection (or both). All the best, K

And if it comes down to it, *insisting* on at least those two would be worth it (WISC-IV and an acheivement test) :) K

I'd 'help' so that it turned out right the first time. My kiddo had a hard time holding the Tsquare firmly enough to the page.....it would slip and create shapes that didn't come together as needed. So I would hold it and help her line up points and lines. K

My very strong feeling is that it's used as a place holder while starting to learn multiplication tables.....a way for the student to continue to move forward with new, challenging material in hopes of not noticing that they're doing the 'boring' work of memorizing at the same time. :) K

interesting! a friend who claims to have kids on a gluten free diet says they are. so much for that;p but either way, oats are gluten free....it's just the cross contamination that is an issue for some. I don't buy expensive, special, gluten free oats. Just regular oats. My blood tests every year are fine (ie negative) for antibodies. :) k

I'd use the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) with accomodations in place. Getting accomodations isn't difficult....just contact the company and send in appropriate documentation with the professional requests for specific recommendations: untimed, 100% more time, 50% more time, more frequent breaks, separate room, having test read to child, using test booklet *as* answer sheet rather than separate answer sheet.....whatever is necessary for your child to be able to complete the test. :) Katherine

We used it alot and saw no results. I've done it for me and for my now 9 yo. At the time she was 6/7. K

Last time I ordered from vitacost, the items I was after *did* say 24h. Then a couple of days later, I got the 'out of stock' email. There were too many items for it to have been a mistake. K

Yup, it varies depending on the dollar amount of your order.....but it virtually always brings it below the total cost anywhere else. K

iherb's prices are better - at least for what I tend to buy - so I generally stick with them, though occasionally I'll get something from vitacost. If one places the desired 'items' in the shopping carts of both stores, it may appear that vitacost has a lower total, but 19 of 20 times, iherb still comes out lower because of the last discount that is applied when you click 'purchase'. Another vitacost drawback is that they'll state on the site that something will ship w/in 24 hours when in fact, it's out of stock and won't ship for 7-14 days. I have never had this happen with iherb. When they're out, they're out and it says so when I try to order. :) K

I'll stick with the Austen, Austen fanfic and Austen knock-off's that are currently available. The only movie I can think of is Outlander. :) K

Just to clarify what others have said, gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and spelt or any of their derivatives. Most in the US don't consider oats to be gluten free (because of cross contamination), but the oat itself is gluten free and in some other parts of the world, oats are part of a gluten free diet (australia, south africa etc). :) K

2nd. I would work intensively using evidence based methods in the areas of reading, writing, spelling and math while letting most of the rest go temporarily. But I'd also want to be certain that I'd be using the best of what's available in terms of improving cognitive skills. There is a small body of evidence currently available....I'd stick with it. K