i thought 17 degrees was cold. i can't imagine it that cold!

We use it as a supplement. We do 2 pages out if 4 or 5 days a week to re-enforce basic spelling and reading. In addition, we do phonics pathways, Zaner-blozer and primer reading books.

I need a new washer asap. I've been searching for information. It is not easy to get. I am thinking Bosch 500/800 models or Whirlpool Duet. I want to be able to wash large blankets - is it important to have a heavy duty cycle for that? Also, is it good to have a cotton cycle or does it not really matter? There are so many options and they are all so different it is hard to know which is the best one for us! And, then I just think at that price range they should all be pretty good and just go for the one that I think is the coolest?!

It has different assessment The disposition assessment has just 10 questions: ex. I.... a. am fun to be with, b.get things done, c. ask questions, d.help others, e. think a lot They are to be ranked from 5=the most like, 4=a lot like me, 1=the least like me Talent assessment (11 parts): check all that are easy for you example #1. playing music in my head, playing an instrument, whistling or humming, singing, learning to play new music, collecting records or tapes, memorizing words to songs, making up songs, composing music Interest assessment: list all your interests in priority scale Involvement issues: answer questions example: what do you really care about? at home, in the neighborhood, at school, in your town, in the world Modality assessment: 8 questions example: I prefer to a.hear a story, b.see a movie, c.play outside Environmental assessment: example: sound, check one quiet, noise, music or people talking Considers favorite foods, colors and time of day. That's it in a nut shell.

Discover Your Child's Learning Style by Willis and Hodson helps you discover all types. I found out my son was a visual learning through this book. There are two types of visual learners, picture and print. If you get the book see page 147. They also have a great amount of resources, including curriculum that works best for each learning style, to look into. It also helps you find out what your child's talents are and how that can fit into their future area of work. It took a bit of time to get through it, and it includes about a 100 questions for your child to answer. Highly recommend it. Good luck.

My oldest is 6. I bought the WTM when he was about 2 or 3 to get ideas of how to be an early teacher to my kids. It totally opened my mind up to books on tape and all you can do early on for your kids. Another book introduced me to non-fiction for kids to get books on subjects they really enjoy. Our family knows a ridiculous amount about the Titanic, astronauts, pirates, the Hindenburg, and most great disasters in history. We were not planning to homeschool, though I was very curious and ignorant about it. I thought I may be an afterschooler, but the school system is very liberal here and some wise counsel helped us to leap into homeschooling! Classical education seemed the best fit for us. We already had the book! Our plan is one year at a time. I love to read to my kids!!!!

My son is 6.5 and has no interest in cleaning himself. So, what age should I push him to do so? He is still taking baths with my help. Also, how about cutting his own nails?

I just wanted to thank you for this post! I brought my son to confirm meatis stenosis today! He's 4.5. He is not in any pain, but he pee's at a 90 degree angle (has to hold it down just to get it into the back of the toilet). Which is why I was like hmmmmm... So, now we make an appointment with a pediatric urologist! The doctor says it has nothing to do with curcumcision.

My husband wants me to take more than one weekend away a year to get more time with the kids. He loves it. Now it's just a matter of planning it! Other than that the best thing that just happen lately is I just joined the gym. And, saturday morning is my longest time to go to the gym - take a long workout of beating myself up, which I love, then a shower there and then off to do some errands! This past saturday I actually bought myself some new workout clothes! It has been great! I leave the house just after 8 am and am not back till about Noon. It's like a spa treatment. I have a friend with 4 kids who feels guilty leaving her kids with her husband for too long. It is very tough to get together with her alone. I really don't understand the guilt thing.

I have the 2005 version. I'm not sure what the difference would be.

Read Transforming the Difficult Child! Just the first section of the book helped me understand alot and react alot better! I have a 6 year old. I've wanted him tested for about a year now for something. I was convinced he was adhd, or asperger's, or gifted. He may have a little of all of those things, but he's already making changes for the good. He's thinking much more before he acts and working really hard at succeeding. He wants to succeed and we want him to succeed - the book helped to put us on the same page.

I just recently read Sign of the Beaver to my boys and I was crying through the end of the book! The older I get the more sensitive I get. There's been more I just can't remember them. One short book I read to them was about a Dad that comes home on the day man walked on the moon and he is still in his car inside the house in the drawings! It was so powerful! The Dad could not disconnect from work to home. I cried! I tried to read a non-fiction book about the Challenger and I just couldn't even get through it. I just pretended it was the end of the book practically in the beginning! I'm sure there will be more.

I think it depends on the school and the child. We looked at 3 different one's before deciding to give it a try when my son was 5, which was just about 1 year ago. The school has a seperate age group for 4-6 year olds. It is just a 1/2 hour class. We have really liked his progress. Also, our 4 year old was just watering at the mouth to start it too, as as soon as he turned 4. Our 4 year old is very coordinated and athletic. We waited 2 months after his birthday so he started in the summer when the school is much smaller. He has really excelled and loves it! I do not feel it is a waste of money for us. They have both learned great skills and great character building! We plan for them to go through to a junior black belt. That has been our experience.

We just started to hs this past summer and feeling like we should never take a break - get ahead! I just read the end of WTM - about scheduling. Wow, taking time off. I feel better! It's okay! I have got to relax a bit!

A major part of success in homeschooling seems like having a close family. Children getting along and parents involved in the process and growing together as a family. That is very challenging and constant. It goes against the grain. I think if you start feeling like the family is crumbling for some reason and there is more destruction of relationships going on - it's a good time to hang in the towel and ask for help.

I have had great success with Frank Schaffer Publication's Social Studies K-1 workbook. My 6,4, and 2 all enjoy the cut and paste stuff. Does anyone have more suggestions for great fun activity workbooks for this age group like this one? I've gotten a bunch of Kumon, but they don't compare to this style.

My son is very much the same way! He is 6. I wanted to pull him out of karate and swimming lessons due to his poor attitude, disrespectfullness, and embarrassment! My husband is hanging tough with it all and feels my son just needs time to grow. It's tough as a mom!!! He has his good days and still some bad. But, overall he is improving. And, I have had some help dealing with him with the book: Transforming the Difficult Child. I really think it's a long term effect for all of it though. I think piano is giving him confidence slowly! I think karate is giving him confidence and physical ability slowly! And, swimming is also gaining him confidence slowly! The book is helping me react more mildly to him!!! I don't think there is a quick fix from any one thing. Good luck!

My 2 year old daughter just got assessed for speech delay today. Someone will come in a few weeks to start speech therapy. Have you had success with it? Is there a reason behind being delayed? I forgot to ask this question today. She is about 10 months behind for her age group. How long could it take her to catch up? Thanks

karate classes 2-3x week swimming lessons 1x week at local rec center, plus 1-2x week free swim Keys for kids - group piano class 2x week art classes (art exploration and cartooning) local rec center skating 1-2x week lesson and free skate at local rec center 1x month for the school year 2 hour aquarium class

I think my goal for my kids is to give them a great education along with great relationship, a sense of belonging, and exploring personal interests. I do not unschool. I have only met one unschooler and 2 of her children are in art school. My question was whether or not they missed out on exploring their full potential. I think, as others have posted, it is crucial to get to know your individual child. I think Discover Your Child's Learning Style is a great resource. As in most things in life there needs to be more of a balance, which is hard to do. We naturally swing from one extreme to the other. As a teacher/mother, I don't want to be a tyrant or absent.

There have been some really great suggestions here. *I would suggest praying together if you are religious *A date night would be great - once a week might seem too much at first, but maybe once a month *Intimacy - huge *he needs a men's group to join and get connected with other men *Read the Five Love Languages for Marriage! *Read Boundaries in Marriage! *Find a weekend marriage retreat getaway! Many churches host them or just make your own *Read a marriage book together. *Fireproof the movie - excellent and the book that goes with it!

My goal was to have run a marathon, but of course I didn't have any kids by then! But, a great goal together!

I have really liked the pink - what your preschooler needs to know and the kindergarten one. They have been a great intro. to history and art! And, everything else! I have the book that has all the books listed for every grade and subject and that has been an enormous resource! My kids have not really liked the preschool activity books I got though!

We are planning our grade 1 curriculum. My husband has searched and has come up with Explorer's Bible Study. He thinks it's the best combination of reading, questions, and drawing. Anyone use it? If so, what do you think of it? Thanks!

I was told by a homeopath the wonders of Flax seed oil and ground seeds. She told me to take 1 tsp. of each a day after I had one miscarriage and I did this before each of my 3 children!