I am a Curriculum. hopper, so unfortunately I have don't have much for a consistent 4 or 5 years. :( The only consistent thing I have used for the last 4 or 5 years would be Lapbooking & Abeka for elementary math.;) For the last 3 years, My favorite and all time life saver is Growing with grammar, and home2teach on-line writing classes. Neither of these I plan on changing again. :) And for upper math for the past 2: Teaching Textbooks. ----------------- Just have to add, like you I wonder and don't really find much "new" to purchase anymore. I think I may be slowing down from "hopping" from curr. to curr.. :) But this years convention find is Evolution: The Grand Experiment. I am sooooo excited to use this with the older 2 that are still at home. :)

YEAH!!!!

So sorry... I don't know. :( Maybe papa peep can help. :)

LOL it is you! LOL :lol: Where you trying to use the link above? If so, it should work. I know if I type http://www.handsofachild.com it won't take me there... It has to be http://www.handsofachild.com/shop. Just look on the left side and ta da, you will see the zebra picture. Click on that and you'll be good to go. :) edit... shoot I just tried the above that I said wouldn't work and by golly it worked this time. Go figure....

You might fine level 1 a bit to young for a 13 and 15 year old. I just don't know the personality of your children so it would be hard to say. I would tend to advice to teach to the oldest and let the younger one join along. I think starting with level 3 you'd be ok (ok for older kids and the activities would be fine for your 5 year old) But, boy this is a hard one. :) I still "think" level 3 would be ok. Your older kids would just have to realize there are younger kids on the video, but to know that that stereotype the age level the projects are meant for. Your 5 year old should be ok with it as well. He may have a hard time with the contour drawing aspect, but just work with him, or let him skip it until later. Each level will touch on contour drawing, so do fill like if he doesn't do it, he won't come across it again. I do have to add... I am sOOOOOOOOOOO impressed with the level 8! WOW!!! I just viewed that at our local convention and WOW! There are notebooking pages and more in-depth martial for older kids. I was something. It is on my "WANTS" list for sure. :)

I don't really consider it a how to draw program. It is great for the younger year to learn simple drawing techniques and copy work. Check with your local library to see if they have the book(s) before you purchase them. That way you can get a better understand of what the books are like. :) ~Tina

WAHOO! That is awesome! And that reminded me to go and download my freebie for super members too (there are 2 this time! 1 for older and 1 for younger about animal life cycles. LOVE IT!).

Thanks Barb! I have missed being a part of it myself. Even though we aren't accomplishing the challenges to the fullest, we are still doing things. As a matter of a fact, Jake is growing a sunflower seed indoor and will will plant it out side when it is bigger (which will be in no time). It is amazing how fast those things grow. And Jess just tilled the garden with her dad and we will put the tomato's and other veggies in the ground to start growing. It is amazing to see that you already have things growing in your garden. We don't have such luck here because of our cold weather. :( She also planted sweet peas and we are recording their growth. We have pressed flowers, etc. I just don't have the energy to blog about it... LOL :) Even with the little bit of assignments we have covered as assigned, it is amazing what has stuck with my kids. The LOVE for learning more about nature! Just last week, Jake and Jess brought flowers to me to identify. When we are out, all the kids are always looking what is around them, not just in front of them in the direction of where we are going. These challenges have been such a blessing. Thank you!! About the weather, I feel for all you folks that have hot weather. I would DIE if we had hot weather. Last month we had a hot day and we were out of town, in Portland, OR as a matter of fact, and I thought I was going to collapse on the side of the road. LOL My body is not meant for hot weather at all. Growing up here, I definitely am a colder environment type of gal. :)

Here Here! From one fellow Washingtonian to another! ;) It was great seeing you this weekend! We need to go to the science center for out next gathering. I liked your idea! :) Jess saw the book mark and was excited we were going there. :)

Highly recommend Atelier Homeschool Art. It is pricey new, but look for it on swap boards and ebay. Make sure you get the parent manual (only need to purchase 1x, good for all levels), and that it includes the dvd/vhs along with the lesson plans. Art prints are nice, but not necessary. I think art is good for all levels and grades. It doesn't have to be done ever day, but adding it here and there is a good thing. I try to teach it once a week, but haven't been good on that goal lately. :(

Regarding Jessica's earth science, does anyone know if she has samples of this anywhere? I have asked this before, but haven't received a response. I like to see what it looks like before I purchase it. I want to know if there is notebooking pages to go along with this as well. The description doesn't mention it at all. :) I am sure it is great, I just want to know what I am purchasing prior to actually purchasing. :) Ya know. :) Thanks, Tina

I really like the books by Greg Nickles. What ever country your studying each different book focus on the land, the people, and the culture.

Join the yahoo group Elem_Apologia_Science. There are lots of schedules in the file section.

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/a/phrase.html?id=1412&phrase=Fifty%20Nifty%20United%20States (someone commented it was a cheesy sounding though) Here is a recording: Go to this site: http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/16532 Do a search for 50 Nifty United States. Not like I remember from elementary school, this was it. :) It is the 2nd song on this track, not far into the music recording (maybe 11 seconds or so) OH THIS IS WONDERFUL! Go here: http://www.ilovewavs.com/Holidays/July4/july4.htm Do a search for: Fifty Nifty United States - School House Rock.wav It is a little different at the end, but it sounds good. :) And of course the lyrics: Fifty Nifty United States By Ray Charles Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies; Fifty nifty stars in the flag that billows so beautifully in the breeze. Each individual state contributes a quality that is great. Each individual state deserves a bow, let’s salute them now. Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies, Shout 'em, tout 'em. Tell all about 'em, One by one till we've given a day to every state in the USA , in the USA., in the USA . Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut; Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana; Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan; Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada; New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, O-hi-o; Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas; Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wy-o ming. North, south, east, west, oooh… In our cool, considerate, objective, un-prejudiced opinion, (name of home state) is the best--of the Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies, Fifty nifty stars in the flag that billows so beautifully in the breeze. Each individual state contributes a quality that is great. Each individual state deserves a bow, let’s salute them now. Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies, add up to U-S-A!

I sang that song in elementary school! I still remember all the states in alphabetical order. :) I'd love to know this too. I think I found it a while back. I will see if I can find it again. :)

Our science notebook is based on The Outdoor Challenges hosted by Barb, therefore they are set up by the weeks challenge. This is our nature study. Beside doing our nature sketch book, we also notebook. With-in them (the weekly challenges) I have mini studies that are related to the topics we discovered during out challenges. I don't keep them separate from the week are working on them. Eventually I may separate them into a separate notebook, but not sure yet. If I were to set up a science notebook that covered a wide variety of topics, I would separate them into categories (like suggested above). We also notebook Apologia Science (Zoology), but that is set up based on the lesson. When notebooking, the possiblities are endless! That is one reason I love to notebook!!!

no way! Amazing! My son turned 19 today. :)

You know I was always intrigued by Atelier and I finally went to a convention and I was hooked! I think it is neat that we all seemed to purchase it at the convention. :) What a small world. :)

I have done summer ones and others at different times. It isn't a yearly thing (though zoology this year was a whole year). Last summer we did TT Colonial Life here at my home. I asked a couple friends if they would like to join me with a study I was doing with my own children. They said sure. I figured out what we would need to get the study done (copies, supplies, etc) and we all chipped in by gathering different things. It worked wonderfully. I did the main teaching, but was VERY blessed to have mom's here to help as well as give talks on different topics as well. It was a wonderful experience. This summer we will be doing a horse study and "hopefully" a chocoloate study. :) It will run basically the same way as the last summer get together. I have also opened my home from time to time when we lapbook. I will invite another family over and we will lapbook together. This is done during the school year. Have fun!

I/we really enjoy Atelier. Do a search for Atelier and there will be a few posts on it. :) It touches on many different aspects of art, using a gentle approach and video instruction. It is pricey, but I would recommend to try and find it used; either here at the swap board, veg source, ebay, or any other used curr. sites.

You're welcome. :)

You already purchased it and I am sure you will make it work fine. The projects your son has struggles with, just give him the extra help he needs. From using levels 3-5 in a co-op setting, I think starting at level 3 (even for your 9 year old) would have been fine. :) My 8 year old used 3 and enjoyed it. Honestly, I think I could used level 3 with my 12 year old as well and she would enjoy it. :D You may find some activities challenging for you 7 year old in level 4 (I encountered problems with a couple children). The activities the children in my class found extremely frustrating were contour drawing and sometimes the blending/splattering of water colors. It is nothing you can't work through with and for the most part your son will do fine with Level 4. My own personal opinion, I don't think any of the projects are age based related. I think kids of all ages could enjoy all the project. The thing that interferes with this is the ages of the kids on the videos. Some kids don't like the idea of doing the same project as kids much younger than them. Also as the levels go up, the same techniques are encountered, just at a higher level of difficulty. It is always building on technique throughout the program. I just LOVE Atelier! :) BTW, if you wanted to, could you call and switch the levels? I am not saying you should, but only if you are feeling like you might want to go down a level. Is that a possiblity?

In the message box, right about where we type in what we want to say/reply/etc. there is a earth with a chain link thingy. Scroll over it and it says "instert link". Another example... If I want to send someone to my blog, here's what I would do: Type in: Jetihoja Academy Left click and scroll over Jetihoja Academy. It will now be highlighted in blue. Then I would take the web address from my blog: http://jetihoja.blogspot.com/ . One way to do this by left clicking the link at the top of the page at my blog. This highligts the whole link. I then right click on it (I don't remove the curser from it) and choose cut or copy and then left click. (this copies it to my clip board). Then I come back to this board and where I highlighted in blue, I will click the earth icon and then enter in my blog address (making sure you get the whole things with the http:// and all) and hit ok. Jetihoja Academy The steps I explained above can be done in a different order as well. Once you get the hang of it, do it the way that works best for you. :) HTH's a little more. ~Tina

My friends son was this way as a boy. And now as an adult he is a lieutenant in the fire department. :)

example: Highlight YOUTUBE (or whatever you want to link to), then click the earth icon (a box will pop up), and enter in the http://www....... and click ok.