Have you looked at hotels near Rosemont? The convention center is there and there's also an up scale outlet mall opening August 1. The blue line has a stop there that goes into downtown. There are many hotels in that area.

Educents is launching April 2 here's a sneak peek at one of their offers. Exclusive Sneak Peek: We'll be offering 42% off a full year of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt curriculum for homeschoolers! Includes titles from Saxon Math, Holt McDougal, Houghton Mifflin and Harcourt. Plus FREE SHIPPING! This package has never before been offered at such a big discount and will be available for grades 1-12! http://educents.com?source=dnft3ndx

Saw this posted on a homeschooling group on facebook thought I would pass it along. Daily Deals Educents is a daily deals site featuring the latest educational products at 30-90% off! (e-books, software, curriculum, online learning, & more) Launching April 2, 2013 Sign up Now and receive a $10 Educents gift card to use once they launch. http://educents.com/?source=dnft3ndx

Bumping for more help. Thanks

Ellie have you ever heard or seen the book called phonics for English reading, spelling, & writing streamline express by Pauline M Adamnson. I found it online and it looks exactly like WRTR and its free. Your thoughts. http://books.google.com/books?id=ngRIYg3wNIAC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&ots=AJEuzMJnh9&dq=87+phonograms+listed+in+spalding+method&output=html_text Edited for spelling

I got my order today and everything was included. RS4K physics and chemistry student and teachers manual pre level 1.

So true Ellie and they sure do get a lot of our tax dollars. Our schools are so bad we made the national news yesterday.

The process is not bad it's just getting everything rolling. Thanks

I'm in the beginning stages of starting a charter in my area. I have serious doubts but I'm mainly scared all efforts will not be enough. I need any tips you all can offer. I live in a major metropolitan area if that makes a difference. I've posted on FB, my church's FB page, and made a yahoo group and nothing. I'm still waiting on the marketing package from AHG. Thanks!

Have you tried http://www.hpb.com/ they are in Skokie but right off I-94.

This was us. It was a back up plan in case my husband changed his mind.

Nart: 50 spots!! Wow around here we are lucky if they have 10 per school per grade. Lets not mention that all the good ones are at least 1hr commute during rush hour. So glad your son got in. It's so much pressure and the testing for the kids as young as 4 is just crazy!

Thanks everyone I'm so happy to start this journey officially., full time I pulled my daughter from preschool in December. I'm just amazed how far I've come because I just heard about homeschooling 5 years ago when my daughter was born.

It is incredibly stressful beginning back in October which is when the process starts. Some families won't know what school they will go to until well into the summer. My husband was committed to evaluating yearly our hs situation but after this process he is all for it.

was the right one. Prior to making the decision to homeschool my daughter for kindergarten I had her do the testing for selective enrollment and lottery in our school district. That was back in November and today the letter came in. My daughter got wait listed in all the schools with no shot at a decent school. The entire application process is so unbelievably complicated. Parents are so stressed out wanting the best schools for their kids and only a few hundred given a shot at "good/great" schools. I'm so blessed the decision to homeschool is available for us and we are no longer on the crazy train of school applications.

DiannaC, I've heard of that but haven't looked at it yet. We are currently 30 lessons away from finishing OPGTR and before that we finished teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons. I'm not worried about the reading but needed something cheaper for than AAS. Do you use that program with an emphasis on spelling?

Thank you Ellie, you have great advice ill start from the beginning. I'm trying to find resources on how to implement it. I bought WRTR and returned it because I was overwhelmed but I'm determined to give it a 2nd try.

If my daughter already knows how to read is it worth going over all the phonograms again in the book? I'm mainly looking at this book for spelling but we could always use more reading practice.

As part of AAS I have the cd with phonograms sounds and letter tiles. I know 4th edition also has perforated cards. What else would I need to implement the program? I've read through many threads about WRTR but I guess I just have to read the book thoroughly to learn how to implement it.

I bought AAS 1 for my 5 yr old and we have blown through it. I love AAS and can afford to buy new levels but would rather spend money elsewhere if possible. I ordered WRTR 4th level used and wonder if it covers as much as AAS. TIA

Thanks for the advice. I was on the fence about because I've seen a few bad reviews. I'll have to check that website out. Thanks!

Google is running an offer on the yearly subscription. $120 and original price was $240 https://www.google.c...LSU5WCX2QT9GYI6

Google is running an offer on the yearly subscription. $120 and original price was $240 https://www.google.com/offers/m?gl=US&te=43530872#!details//SLSU5WCX2QT9GYI6

We are on lesson 39 in RS math. I'm not worried about working ahead except in certain things for appropriate age content. I want to work at her pace because if I hold her back she gets bored easily. I tried MFW K as suggested from their company and it now sits on my shelf unused because she was way pass that. I only worry if we work ahead how that may impact the HS transcrips. If we do end up working those classes earlier who knows where she'll be by then.

Thanks for the answers many ideas to think about. I'm trying to schedule out breaks around my husbands furloughs. It's hard given that they change every year. I have curriculum I want to add because of course it all looks amazing! But, my main goal is not to kill her love of learning. Just want to make sure I'm not forgetting something or that I'm teaching it in a timely manner.