Definitely an introverted groaner here. I used to keep it locked up, but my therapist encouraged me to "feel my feelings." I've probably swung too far in the opposite direction now. I think a happy medium is probably best, but shutting in one's feelings just because it may make some others uncomfortable doesn't sound healthy either.

I probably do say that my back hurts a couple times per day. I don't really expect anyone to do anything about it other than perhaps commiserate. There probably is some psychological payoff I get from complaining -- attention or what not -- but mostly I just think it's personality. Some people are just half empty and prone to groaning, anxiety, etc. Sadly, I've always just been this way.

I've used it more than once and it still worked.

Progressive Phonics has been working great for us. And it's free!

RLTL has spelling. I believe she also has a handwriting product.

I just wanted to give this a bump and let others know that the 25% off coupon on page 9 is still working. I do have a question for Kathy Jo or anyone else who can answer it. I'm looking at the workbooks for RLTL and they are marked vertical and slant. We use HWT for our handwriting program. Can someone confirm if the vertical book is the correct workbook to purchase? Thank you.

Why is it too young to explain how life is made? My son would not have accepted a 'mommy and daddy share a bed and baby magically appears in mommy's tummy' answer. He wanted to know how that happened and I explained it to him in a factual and accessible way. If a child is asking for an explanation, I don't see the point in brushing him off. JMHO.

Because I get so many ideas from you wonderful folks, I started to look at vocabulary programs. I was looking at samples of Sadlier-Oxford's Vocabulary Workshop workbooks, and I am confused about placement. I looked at the first two VW books, corresponding to approximately 1st and 2nd grades. With maybe one or two exceptions, my son uses all the words in the books and would understand the words in a read-aloud without issue. It isn't until about midway through the 3rd grade book that I could see him learning some new vocabulary words. However, even though he regularly uses almost all the words in books 1-3.5, he is still learning how to decode and spell these words. I'm thinking about buying book 3, but not using it until mid-way through next year to give his reading skills a chance to catch up to his vocabulary level. Is this a prudent plan? Or, would you just buy the easier books? It seems to me that it would be pretty pointless to do workbooks of vocab he already knows. How would/did you handle this? I also looked at Wordly Wise Online, but I think he would be bored by it. As always, thanks for your advice!

If you ever come to San Diego, you are welcome to go sailing with us!

I enjoy reading the plans threads on the different boards, but feel like I can't really post on any thread. I thought it might be fun to have a plans post for the more asynchronous/accelerated kids here. My DS5 will technically be in K with our charter next year, but we have the following plans: Math: MM2 Singapore CWP2 (about 6 months behind) LOF Cats and Dogs Zaccaro Primary Grade Challenge Math Living math books from the amazing Living Math Yahoo Group: http://www.livingmath.net/ReaderLists/tabid/268/language/en-US/Default.aspx History: History Odyssey -- Middle Ages SOTW2 audiobooks Adventures in America Living history books, drawing inspiration from HO, SOTW, AA, and this family: http://airskull.com/story-of-the-world-volume-2-the-middle-ages-book-list/ Reading: Finishing up the Progressive Phonics Advanced Readers and all of the Nora Gaydos and Bob books by end of summer Evan Moor Reading Comp 1-2 Moving into Grade 2 leveled readers, perhaps the Elson and Free & Treadwell Readers if they aren't too boring Junior Great Books and other read-aloud books from Ambleside Online and Sonlight Writing/Spelling: WWE1 AAS2-3 Singapore Sentences to Paragraphs 1 Evan Moor Daily Paragraph Editing 2 Evan Moor Language Fundamentals 1 Logic: Analogies for Beginners Logic Safari books Mindbenders book 2 Science: Mr. Q Life Sassafras Science (if the grammar errors don't drive me batty) Anatomy and Botany (already doing Zoology) Living science books from this list: http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/ Summer science camps, perhaps some life science kits (will probably delegate this to my DH) French: Continue CNED with Grandma (native speaker and retired teacher), French reading with DH. Spanish: Probably just continue with Spanish TV to maintain. Perhaps some easy Spanish language books/workbooks. Not sure I'm ready to begin formal Spanish grammar. Thinking about Galore Park down the road, but am open to suggestions. Hebrew/Judaism: Sunday immersion class Music: Weekly Ukulele lessons and beginning music theory class Classics for Kids podcasts Art: Monthly drop-in classes (I suck at art) Musical Theatre: Winter and Summer Camps PE: Soccer (Fall/Spring) Surf/Swim (Year Round) Tennis (Summer) Sailing (Year Round)

Just want to second the Nova specials. When I was pregnant with my youngest son this past year, my [then] 4 year old son and I watched the older Nova special. He was curious and it was perfect for him.

I asked my DS5 the other day and he requested the Angry Birds School. :)

Definitely neesh. Do the nitch people also say kitch or keech for quiche? Genuinely curious.

One of my wishlists is called Open Library. I periodically put books in there that I want to read, but can get for free on Open Library. Pretty proud of that list, even though I don't think it's what Amazon had in mind.

I don't really know. Homeschoolers in San Diego County don't seem to have as much trouble taking CC classes as the OP seems to be experiencing in LA County. The testing might be a way in, or to leverage the resources of groups like Davidson. I just didn't want her to think the only option was $1500 when there are more reasonable options in Southern California. Whether the testing is actually worth it, I can't say. My son is still too young IMO for testing, and I haven't really seen much point. But, that may change down the road.

I wouldn't spend $1500, but $450 (with the doc in Laguna Beach) to have some outside validation for programs/services/CC may be worthwhile.

Awesome! Thanks so much.

If you do decide to test, you might look at this doc in Laguna Beach. He comes well regarded by the DYS community and has reasonable rates. http://www.palmerlearning.com/

What about Stanford Online High School? I only know the CC policies in San Diego County, which are more HS friendly.

We also really enjoyed Wheel on the School.

Trumpet of the Swan and Sassafras Science Zoology.

Pretty please!

Not when Progressive Phonics is free.

Art is an oops subject for us. I'm just not crafty and need to outsource. Math was not an oops, but Miquon has been. I've opened the books several times, but I'm just not feeling the love. I'm much more comfortable with a combo of MM, Singapore CWP, logic, and living math books.

My kids are dual citizens and we plan to do this: https://www.donnaward.net/ ETA: I also found this http://www.homeschoolcanadastore.ca/ and this http://thecanadianhomeschooler.com/