Reesee's for the cups, something in between for the pieces, which I then end up doing to "pieces", too (kind of like reese-uhs piece-uhs) ETA: Obviously this is incorrect, and it would seem Reese-es (for both) is probably correct, but I never really thought about it, and I've also never noticed anyone pronouncing it differently for the cups. I have noticed differences in pronunciation for the pieces, but I chalked that up the difficulty created by the near-rhyme

There's a Mr. Schmuck running for Senate here.

GoPicnic is great for this - maybe not every day, but nice to add to the mix: https://gopicnic.com/ They often have deals, and amazon carries them, with varying prices. If I keep an eye on both sites, I can usually get them for under $3, sometimes close to $2.

Middle school/junior high was the worst. It seemed like everyone was so mean and competitive. In reality I guess everyone was just dealing with their own things, trying to feel better about themselves and their changing bodies and lives, while also having a greater awareness of peers. But it was so miserable. I've never met anyone in real life who remembers it positively.

I would probably just say it has to be individual (ETA: multiple single-serving) items. That still allows a lot of variety (cookies, cupcakes, brownies, mini/individual versions of other things like tarts, and so on), while allowing for judges to taste without cutting into what will be auctioned off.

Maybe Logic of English (Essentials)? It's a spelling curriculum with a grammar and writing component, not a writing curriculum with a spelling focus.

I don't think it would confuse an advanced 3-year-old, since many advanced 3-year-olds successfully go the opposite way (learning letter sounds after learning the names), but I also don't think there's harm in waiting a year if you prefer. I would probably go ahead and introduce the concept that they have names besides their sounds, and then just start saying the letter names along with the fingerspelling. I think knowing the ASL will probably make it easier, because he's already connecting sound, written letter, and signed letter.

http://www.webmathminute.com/ The default is timer for a minute, but you can change that to untimed (or other time limits), plus you can pick which operations, which ranges, and how many problems you want. There is also a print option.

A lot of elementary math is just logical, so some can figure it out on their own. In addition, a lot of review is built in and a lot of "new" material is just incremental, so advanced learners don't need the next increment(s) spelled out. For example, math programs will introduce addition, then later introduce double-digit addition, then re-grouping in addition, then triple-digit addition, etc. Some kids can just see how one follows from the other, so when they get that lesson, it is easy/review. We started homeschooling when my oldest was in 2nd grade. Her gifted kindergarten class had everyone doing first grade math, which was easy/review for her. We switched schools partly because the new school pre-tested and differentiated math, and she tested out of second grade math and did third math in first grade, then tested out of fourth grade math and started fifth grade math in second grade. I haven't used Saxon, but I understand that it is hard to compact. We used Math Mammoth in elementary. I would give them the test for a chapter (as a pre-test), then only print and give them the pages for the concepts they didn't do well on (and circle only some of those for them to do, because they usually didn't need all those problems). In this way, I was able to avoid them being bored or missing concepts. ETA: Beast Academy would probably be a better choice now. It was too late/took too long to release new books for mine. We did move to AoPS after completing MM6, and it has been great for them.

I wanted to add that kids with diagnoses could probably get a 504 plan in place to formalize and legalize what they need. Here is what I gave her teacher (and have given any time she's done drop-off activities, etc.) and would basically ask for in a 504 if she had a diagnosis: [dd] is gluten-intolerant. Snack/lunch: She can only eat things I provide or approve. She needs to wash her hands with soap and water (not just sanitizer) before eating. Play dough: Play-Doh and Crayola Dough have wheat; she cannot use them. Lakeshore and Colorations are safe, as is clay, including air-dry, and Model Magic. Finger paint: Elmer’s has wheat; she cannot use it. Crayola and Colorations are safe. (All other Elmer’s products are safe.) Crafts/activities: She cannot do crafts or activities that involve any wheat, barley, or rye products (flour, dry pasta, some cereals, flour-based paper mache, etc.). I can provide substitutes with notice. Please feel free to email me at ... or call me at ... if you have any questions. Thanks! [me] ETA: She also allows me to keep a small bin of non-perishable gluten-free food in the classroom, which I would also ask for in a 504. She has some safe snacks (Pirate's Booty and freeze-dried fruit) and safe lunches (GoPicnic) in case she forgets to bring those and some safe treats for when somebody brings in cupcakes or something for the whole class for their birthday.

This is hard. On the one hand, banning everything anyone is allergic to makes it easier for those kids to stay safe, and to be included in anything involving food in the classroom (birthday treats, parties, etc.). On the other hand, there are so many allergies, a lot of times that would make it so restrictive, there'd hardly be anything anyone could bring. I tend to feel that any allergy with anaphylactic reaction should be banned, and others probably not. My youngest is going to school this year. She probably has Celiac's (didn't get the testing because she lost 3 pounds in 3 weeks of eating gluten, at age 1) but has no official diagnosis. Even if she had the diagnosis, and even though it very clearly negatively affects her digestion and mental state significantly, she's not going to die if she gets glutened. So I am not going to argue that she needs the same precautions as the kids with anaphylactic reactions to nuts (there are some in her grade, not sure about her class, but they do stuff together or mixed-classes a lot). The specific policy is no nuts in the classroom, but nuts are allowed at lunch, and there is a separate table that is nut-free - all allergic kids sit there, and can have one friend w/o nuts in their lunch join them there. On the other hand, her teacher has been great about following our list of precautions for her, and she has not been glutened so far. If that weren't the case, I would probably push for something more formal. And it is ridiculous to have a no-nuts policy without any allergies!

We had a similar issue when we first tried outsourcing writing (Time4writing). No teaching, and feedback that was more often wrong than right. The teacher clearly knew less than me (and my daughter!) about grammar, and seemed to be using some list of common mistakes, saying she was doing ones that had some passing resemblance to the actual thing she wrote, even though what she wrote was fine. So frustrating!

That makes sense, and I wouldn't be surprised if ours goes the same way. Thanks.

I just signed up for Math Club (https://www.mathcounts.org/programs/math-club). I had to agree to host meetings with at least 4 kids, and that the kids would be 6th-8th grade. I should have at least that many kids in those grades. However, I am also going to allow younger kids working at those levels in math (including my 4th grade son) to participate. I am pretty sure I read about others on this board doing the same, but I can't find it now. My question is, if we apply for the awards, do you include them? In other words, do they not get awards, or do you list them correctly and they get awards even though they're not the right age, or do you fudge their grade level so they can get the awards?

I have always understood you would generally use graphic organizers OR outlines, not both. They are different ways to do the same things (organize the information to summarize what you read or prepare to write). As far as learning to outline, we use Scholastic's Paragraph Writing Made Easy, which covers both outlining paragraphs and writing paragraphs from outlines. I think it provides a good level of hand-holding for that level.

I have a similar mother. I had given her the benefit of the doubt with my kids because she had previously not directed those behaviors at them. Then she was just awful to my daughter when alone with her (aside from my enabling father), in a very manipulative way that made her think she was at fault and I would have punished her. When I explained what had happened, she was the one who called Grandma out as a bully (to me). I had not thought of it in those terms before, but that is completely what it is. Long story short, she is no longer welcome in our lives. Easier for us than you because she lives hundreds of miles away. Once I made the decision, as hard as it was to make, it has been such a feeling of relief. So, based on what you wrote and my experience with my mother, I vote Just Say No.

ETA: maize's solution is better. I have a hard time thinking of things like that when their behavior is aggravating, especially unexpectedly. I don't think the "taste of their own medicine" is bad, but supporting through completion would be better.

I received a message that the Philosophy class my son is enrolled in at Athena's still has openings. Since it is a discussion-based class, they would like to fill it so they can have better discussions. My daughter took it a couple years ago, and they cover some interesting topics and really do have some good discussions. So if anyone is interested, you can sign up here: http://www.athenasacademy.com/mod/page/view.php?id=2136 Itmeets Wednesdays at 11:00 AM Pacific for 50 minutes.

Thanks. I think I'll try that.

I am wondering how the CTY class levels (particularly elementary) compare to standard curriculum? In other words, after which CTY Elementary Language level would you expect a student would test into a standard Spanish (or other language) 2? How about 3? Or 4?

This is a favorite here, and very quick and easy. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/51283/maple-salmon/

Wow, that's a lot of votes for the Outback. It definitely hits all my points, and it does look cooler than it used to (less like a wagon) so maybe he'll go for it. Thanks, everybody!

Thanks. I've never heard of the that, so I'll check it out. Outback would definitely be near the top of my list, but not sure about dh.

Good to know; thanks. Yeah, I wasn't sure about it meeting dh's criteria, but I was going to check it out and was surprised I couldn't find it. But maybe I'll run it by him if used ones are easy to come by.

Interesting. I used to know someone who had a Mazda 5, I think, with 3 rows of 2 seats each. I thought we might like that, but when I searched it looks like they don't make it anymore. I'll check that out, but our one experience with a Ford (his car in college) was not a good one so it might be a hard sell even if it meets the other criteria.