My twin boys have been with CLE math for years and it has been great. However, they are at the point where we feel they are about ready for PreAlgebra. They are above average math students and do well with most math concepts. They do o.k. with word problems, but their dad helps them with that because I just don't understand math that way. We are looking at AOPS and I looked at the pretest and they can do most of the test already(we are in book 506 of CLE). Should I continue with CLE 6 when we get to that point or make the plunge into AOPS? I like the idea of conceptual math and my husband is very good at that type of math, but I'm not so I'm scared to teach it and my time for teaching these things is limited(due to teaching other subjects and having a 2yr old and a newborn as well). Is CLE 6 comparable to a PreAlgebra program? Have you gone from CLE 5 straight intoPreAlgebra or should I wait?

I just downloaded and printed this free word problem book from Math Connects but noticed it doesn't have an answer key. Does anyone here know where I can find it? I've been searching with no luck. Thanks~

We eat meat, lots of veggies and love brown rice and quionoa(sp?) We don't eat things like Cream of Mushroom soup(which I know a lot of crockpot meals have-I do love CofM soup but don't love the ingredients)

I just had my fourth child 2 weeks ago and my husband will begin traveling again next week. I could really use some easy, one pot crockpot meals that are nutritious, but quick to throw together. I'd love if it was a complete meal in a pot, but will still be grateful for some easy ones with easy sides.

We are having some trouble with our toddler's sleeping arrangements and I could use some advice. He is going to turn 2 in a couple of weeks and has been sleeping in his own bedroom for about 6 months. Before that we had him in our bedroom in a crib. Before that he slept with us when I was nursing him, so we are open to co-sleeping/attachment parenting. We just had a baby 10 days ago as well. Our toddler has adjusted pretty well. He does have little moments of jealousy, but he's always kissing the baby and wondering where she is...however...since we have brought her home he has been awful with sleeping. If we take him upstairs to nap, he might sleep 45 minutes and then he is crying for one of us to come lay with him. At night, we can get him in bed upstairs, but again he won't stay asleep for long unless one of us(usually my husband because I'm nursing) goes to bed with him for the night. So, for now it seems my husband is upstairs with our toddler and I'm downstairs with the baby for the night. I would really like my husband to be downstairs with me because he does help with the baby(making sure I get up to feed her, taking her a bit at night so I can sleep, etc) but we are trying to figure out how to make this work in the short term. Should we put a mattress on the floor in our room and bring the toddler downstairs? Do you have any suggestions? We won't let him cry it out so that's off the table. We know he is going through a transition so we are trying to make it easier for him as well. We did try having one of the big boys sleep in bed with him last night and that didn't work.

Great suggestions so far! Please keep them coming. I love movies too so any movies or really good documentaries (-:

Amsunshine-It seems that most people are using the Oxford series with HO...do you think that is necessary? It's quite expensive.

Which would you choose for 6th grade? I like that Dorothy Mills has a teacher guide/student guide and I was able to see examples online. But, HO is getting so much attention here and I found lesson plans for HO from a generous poster here on the WTM boards. I love that she included Mapping the World with Art because we'd really like to use that next year, but I"m guessing I could do the same with DM. Is it redundant to read both?

I just had a baby 8 days ago so needless to say, I'm watching a bit more television these days (-: Can you give me some good movie/tv suggestions to watch? I have Netflix and Amazon Prime. I've watched all of Downton Abbey and the first season of Call the Midwife(excellent!!) Anything you've watched lately that you really liked? Thanks!

Has anyone here written up any lesson plans to go with these two together that they'd be willing to share? Also, in looking at HO teacher's manual and student pages, it's hard to get a feel if they are worth it. We are planning on reading HO, probably Dorothy Mills as well as some historical fiction. Doing Mapping the World with Art, a timeline, some outlining and then I'm not sure what else. To be honest, it has to be pretty easy for me. I'll have two 6th graders, a toddler and a baby. What do you think? PS I looked at the Oxford series but it's way to expensive for us to buy this year so that's why I haven't included it.

Thanks for sharing! We may use this next fall.

My boys are in their second class with Home2Teach and while it's been a good experience the boys have found things they don't like about the class. The entire class is done in a chat room. There isn't a lesson first and then chat. The teacher teaches the class completely in a chat room. My boys don't like this. They feel like other students take up so much time with silly things that they feel like they aren't getting anything done. Plus, the teacher will ask a question in chat form and then every single student will answer. I guess they feel like they'd like to have a teacher teach the lesson and then maybe move into an interactive format. Is there anything like that that is good and affordable? I do like that they have multiple lessons during the week and that the teacher emails the boys directly for corrections. I like that I am supposed to be totally hands off because we butt heads on writing.

What about k12 human odyssey? Could we just read something like that? I haven't seen it, but it seems to get rave reviews on these boards. Does it have student pages? I'm not even sure how to use it.

Does the VP program have timeline, map activities already with it(like can I purchase a package to put in a notebook) or is that something I need to plan and come up with myself?

I'd love some suggestions for 6th grade history. I'll have a toddler as well as a newborn then, so I need something that is not teacher intensive. We are more CM types around here so we love read alouds(but not too much reading as I'll be busy too). I want it to still be interesting and fun for the boys, as well as for me. I'd like it to co-inside with geography if possible, but if not that's o.k. I do have A Child's Geography I was thinking of using next year that wouldn't go with history, but I also like the looks of Mapping the World with Art because we LOVE art. But, like I said it doesn't have to be together, but would be nice. Any suggestions?

One more question Sweet...since you've been so helpful! The boys are finishing up 5th grade now, so they will be 6th grade. Should i do Jr Analytical Mechanics first in the fall and then begin AG? I'm pretty sure I won't do both AG and CLE that just seems like too much for my boys.

My boys will be 6th grade next year. So, are you saying that I should use CLE 6 next year?

I know the recommendation is to wait a year and then begin Analytical Grammar but I'm scared the boys will forget everything. Did you follow their recommendations or did you just jump into AG? Did you use something else for a year or take a break from grammar?

My toddler was diagnosed today with a form of enterovirus. He has been sick since Monday, but we finally got the diagnoses today. This past weekend, I shared drinks with him and yesterday I gave him two sips of my milkshake and then ate after him(I know this was sooo stupid of me..he hadn't eaten in days and I was excited he was eating something). Should I be scared, I could have potentially harmed my unborn baby? Would I be sick by now if I was going to get sick considering we shared drinks this weekend? If you know anything about this, I would appreciate any information. Trying not to revert to my anxious self and remain calm.

No specific issues here. I'm just a worry wart :laugh:

Has anyone here done it? Pros and Cons? Is it worth the $$ to save it? I did see there was some Phase 2 clinical trials of it helping kids with things like cerebral palsy among other things(this was using donors own cord blood). We are trying to decide if we want to privately bank it or donate it. I have to decide quickly as I'm 34 weeks on Monday.

My 11 year old son is really interested in learning how to create video games. I have no idea where to learn about this. Is there an online class I can sign him up for? I'm thinking I could start it next fall for him.

To be honest, I don't see a difference in that and a stroller. You are trying to keep your babies safe and by you. At least with the leash they can walk and get some exercise. I have twins as well and while I didn't have leashes, they were ALWAYS in a stroller if I was by myself and needed them contained. If someone glares at you, that's on them, not you. I say go for it!

I almost feel Silly for asking this but I bought 10 packs of free range organic chicken livers from a local farmer because he was having a sale on them. I've tried making pate, I've tried gring up the livers and putting them in ground beef dishes, I've tried everything...we are all grossed out by them. But, I really need the iron and I know they are so good for me. I was wondering...if I cut them up frozen and swallowed them like a pill would I still get the nutritional benefit? Would it matter if I swallowed them frozen and not chewed? I know this is such a weird question.

Thanks everyone (-; Off to order 1/8 of a cow.