Thanks ladies - exactly what I wanted to know!

I'm lesson planning out Grade 3 right now in Rod & Staff. I don't plan on focusing heavily on the diagramming, though we will cover it. Looking forward, I am curious, does Grade 4 have diagramming? If so, how much?

I like the insight into the fact he may just not be mature enough to apply his spelling. Sometimes I forget he is only 7 as he excels in so many subjects. I think we'll take this year off. Thank you so much ladies for making me feel more vindicated in this choice, ha! :)

Are you referring the 1909 printing for Diction Day by Day by Wagenen? I want to make sure I am finding what you are referring to.

My son finds spelling very challenging (though he does very well at it when he applies himself by oral studying, though he still gets very frustrated and complains about it constantly). He's 7. He will get all his spelling words right but still spell them repeatedly incorrectly in his writing, which is advanced for his age. He will misspell "New Jersey" when he writes when he has a map right in front of him but orally he spells it correctly. It feels like he is trying to get out all his thoughts that he is not paying attention to spelling as its completely phonetic (but only SOMEtimes - othertimes he spells fine). I am heavily considering taking a year off of spelling curriculum and going the copywork route instead. Trying to get him to FOCUS on his writing like he does in his penmanship (which is beautiful cursive). Thoughts? Does anyone else not do a spelling curriculum? Pros and cons you experienced homeschoolers have had with a child who has my child's spelling tendencies?

My first grader is 5 (so would be Kinder by age in the fall). She does chores though needs reminders. She reads 1-2 short books per day. She loves to talk and converses in a very dramatic social way with full on body language and attitude (we're working on that). Her hobbies are drawing, singing and storytelling - she initiates those activities as well as many others. She has requested to learn begin musical instrument lessons this fall. She does not nap. She pouts often to get her way, especially with her brother and we are working on correction. She enjoys drawing and illustrating stories. She can sing and holds a tune better than myself. She dislikes handwriting practice immensely.

I think I got about 3 hours of sleep too. Playdate is scheduled for 2pm at the park but its pouring outside so we'll see. VBS is this week (Sun-Tues as the kids are going on a vacation with their grandparents). I am scrapping some of my plans for fall with DD and making some little changes. Oh, fun.

We are doing R&S Grade 1 for DD but she will move into Singapore with DS after grade 1. I like the amount of heavy repetition, felt board manipulatives and worksheet pace of R&S for grade 1.

Boopoo. I forgot ink.

We'll see on the backpacking... we usually go 4 days/3 nights with our hammocks as our anniversary trip. We're all packed to leave but I don't know if we'll go more than a night if the heat and humidity stays as it is now (and the weather channel says it will). I also picked up BBQ pork sandwich stuff and beef stew stuff in case we just nix the trip completely and veg at home.

Yay for week16 on planning! I have almost all the subjects planned then I go back after I have a plan and make sure all my little plans work with each other. If I try to plan week by week I give myself a headache, it has to be done subject by subject here. I went to the grocery store this morning. However, I didn't make a list like I was suppose to so dinner for the next couple nights isn't going to be exciting: Tonight: Tacos Tomorrow: Birthday party @ friends, just need to make a side Sunday: Spaghetti Monday: Grilling out some meat and making tater tots. I outdid myself, I know. The kids leave for week vacation with grandparents this coming week and we're going backpacking if we can survive the humidity for 3 days.... so I don't want to overload the fridge and have it all go bad without the ravenous children here.

We ordered taco pizza and I feel insanely fat and lazy now. #regret Having a tea party with myself before bed, I'm exhausted for absolutely no reason...and trying to make a grocery list. booya?

I think I may be the root cause of the stink I smell. .... I'll be in the shower.

Love this.

Also got some planning done today: DS's Math, English, Literature, Vocab planning and prep is done for fall. History and science are done except I need to make copies and my copier is out of ink until I make a trip into the city (nowhere in my town carries it) to get it. DD's Math, English, Science, Reading, Printing and Phonics are done. I still need to do her History copies and order a couple workbooks I'm missing. I also have the fall calendar done - including 2-3 field trips. #screwthisiamorderingpizza

I confess, I'm jealous. I dislike grocery shopping greatly. I'm sure there are a lot of things at the store I'd not realize were there. I couldn't tell you a single brand of milk that they sale at the store locally nor its' price as I buy it from a local creamery...and I go to the store plenty - just never looked as I didn't need it, kind of like you and cheese :thumbup1:

Highly processed shredded cheese?

Idea! Ground beef onion pasta shells tomatoes, diced up 1/4-1/3 cup of the tomato powder chili powder make it into a casserole and maybe have DH grab a bag of cheese on the way home for the top?

Nope, used my last red sauce of any kind last night. I've got tomato powder but maybe a 1/2 cup left at most. Oh and there are 2 tomatoes hiding in the crisper with some sweet onions! Those sneaky buggers, about missed them lol.... so maybe it's not as empty as I make it out to be but I'm running low on creative juice.

I don't want to go to the grocery store (whine). I have made it 3 days on making whatever I could put together everyone would eat and leftovers for lunch. But the kids are about to revolt as they hate most of what is left in the cupboard.... But here's my cupboard/fridge: 3/4 box medium shells 3/4lb beef, ground 1lb leftover diced/shredded turkey (in freezer) Quinoa Canned peas canned green beans Canned butter beans 1-2lb dried great northern beans sugar 1c white flour 2c whole wheat flour every spice/seasoning you can imagine a couple gallons of ice cream and enough popcorn to feed a small army ...and tons of spicy foods I adore but the kids won't touch (they aren't that picky but hate spicy foods, beans and quinoa) lol Maybe Subway wants to make dinner tonight. Or the local pizza joint? Edit: ooooo milk, butter, tortillas, peanut butter and celery too are in there! lol

Video please.

Oh no. I got distracted looking for a teaching skeleton on Amazon. Sigh. Fooooocccccus.

Alright. I'm sitting down and science planning for the fall. I have a bowl of ice cream and am ignoring the dishes that need cleaned after dinner. Focus..

I've tried that and nothing gets done.... I think there is a balance somewhere in the middle. Sadly, I can't find the dang middle during the summer... Yay! Congrats to your DS and DD!

Woo, errands done. I have officially exhausted all distractions (normal housework, mowing, geography lessons, stalking the mailman to see if any curriculum came, cleaning the bathroom) and am still left with curriculum planning for the fall. Or I could go fold clothes.....naaaaahhhh.