I recently ordered a core and it took exactly a week. :)

I agree.

My ds7 *loves* the Childhood of Famous American series. When I gave him each book, I found a little toy or something to go along with it. He loved it. I'm actually giving him the last books (because he's been reading them to go with our history studies) with something to go along with each as a first day of school present in January when we start. :) There isn't something exactly equivalent as AG dolls for boys, but as others said there are a lot of other options.

My niece is 15. Pulled out of PS this year. I'm mentoring/tutoring her and helped my sister pick out curriculum. She actually is pretty smart BUT hates reading and has comprehension difficulties. Personally I wouldn't force a program *based* on reading books for kids who hate to read. I'm also just trying to get her to read, anything. So for history, literature, grammar and composition this is what she is doing: Notgrass - She has to read a unit every week, it is pretty simple. There are review questions after each lesson but I just have her go over them herself. There are options for writing assignments and she has to do one. There is also schedule bible reading and a lesson every unit (as well as worldview in the others). She takes notes on the chapters to make flashcards, sometimes she makes posters or drawings, she also has a timeline. There is a weekly quiz for each unit also and that's what my sister is basing her grade off of. For literature she is using Any Novel Study Guide. It's written for 6th-12th graders and can be used with any book. We are picking our own titles BUT you could use the Literature from Notgrass. There are some notes on each book and a schedule. I think it would pair nicely (but some of the choices aren't easy! that's why we're picking others). For grammar and more writing she is using Essentials in Writing. It starts with the basics of sentences, moves on to paragraphs, then essays and a research paper. It's been a good fit for her. I don't see Notgrass or her other curriculum suggested here often but I actually think they can be very successful for a certain type of student. :)

:crying:

Awesome!! Do you know which one she is?

Praying :)

That was somewhat my thinking too. We're going to be using the books anyways.. It might not be the perfect age for the core but we're doing Modern History and that's what matches up. He also LOVES history and I'm feeling like I'm not giving/doing enough for him. SL Cores match up pretty perfectly for my history planning (if we start E) for the next few years. It would be so much easier just to actually buy/use the core instead of just using the book list. I think I'm going to do it. If it's to much we can always just slow down, tweak, etc. I was going to have my older dd read a lot of these books too so it's just so much easier. :)

DS will be 8 in March. Our school year starts in January, the original plan was to use the Complete book of US History with lots of other books. The list mainly came from this core anyways (and this past year the list came from Core D). I really want to just press buy, get all the books in one box with a schedule and notes. I don't want to plan anything but ds really prefers I do. I don't know why but I'm having a hard time getting over the age range but I am. When I talked to an online adviser and they do not recommend it for him either. Really the reading should be right on his level. The biggest thing I've seen mentioned is the Landmark books being to hard but I don't think ds will have a problem with them. If he does we can always use CBUSH instead. We're also doing modern history over 3 semesters so we can take our time. Anyone have any thoughts? Bad idea or maybe it could work? Thanks!

We have a Kindle Fire, iPad, Macbook and an iMac . Dh and I both have iPhones. They each have their own purposes like others described. The iPad doesn't replace the need for a computer in our house (or e-reader). We also both like our phones for when we're on the go.

My 10yo has loved them since she was 7 1/2. :)

Wow! That is really cool!

Thank you for both of your explanations. That describes how my dh and I feel on the topic very well. We have felt that is not how/what the church we attended believed at all. Another question, What does the church believe (and teach) on creation? We are old earth and accept evolution. I understand not everyone will feel the same but I don't want to be the only one. ;) I think I'm going to call one of the Catholic churches and find out more about the RCIA. I have a friend that is Catholic, maybe I can see if we can attend Mass with her. From the research I've done I feel the Catholic church is where we belong, I'm really excited about it too (and so are my kids and dh). :)

Thanks that thread has lots of ideas I didn't think about (or forgot)! Pillow pets, puzzles, A kids camera, Scrapbooking stuff, doddle bear, type writer (my mom had one and she thought it was so cool!), cooking kit, lego friends set, webkinz, a karaoke or microphone set, bow and arrow I'm back to going overboard like I did for everyone else. Thanks! Lol :tongue_smilie: