AAS is has too many tiles and doodads. I've tried. In spelling workout the world lists seem a little random. My 2nd and 4th graders don't struggle with spelling and I need at least one or two less teacher-intensive subjects for them. My dream spelling program would be progressive, rules and phonics-y and with lots of review built in (like AAS) but in workbook. Suggestions?

:bigear:

I lost track of this thread soon after I posted it. I don't know how it fell off my subscribe list. Thank you for the great links and resources.

this is very helpful. My kids are willing to hop too, in fact at any opportunity. This is why I want to figure out what needs to be at my right hand. I wonder if mallory's central supplies would be better for me, or if I want the kids to have pencil boxes so they can be a little more mobile. Just thinking out loud. Thanks for your responses.

I plan to use SOTW Book 2 (for my k and second grader) and Hakim's Story of Science covering the same time period (for my 4th grader). I expect there will be lots off cross over and shared conversations, etc. Has anyone done this? If so do you have a schedule, resources, advice to share? Thank you.

What is it that you keep in your top drawer or in your desk apprentice or on top of your desk? I'm always jumping up to get something, but I also feel like I have too much stuff to deal with. I'm trying to set things up so I have what I need right at hand, but not too much. TIA And what about your kids' daily supplies?

I think the letters would be invaluable, and gifts might be too hard to pull off. The isn't what you asked but I thought I'd offer it up anyway, since this is something you can do. When my friend's husband died, my friend asked all the people who knew him--friends, grandparents, cousins, co-workers, former teachers, etc To write stories about him. She asked for funny stories, crazy stories, little slice of life stories, tales of adventure and small events. She knew there would come a day when her two year old son would want any scrap of info, any anecdote, any memory others had about his dad. She asked for people to send the stories right away because sheknew that soon most people would turn their attention to other things in their own lives. Her son is 14 now, and she gives him a few stories every year. Only you know when the timing would be right for a project like this, but I think the sons would treasure anything about their mom.

Here's a link to the audio: http://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/ I think he was terrific--but I'm a little biased! (TG was outstanding--always such a smart and generous interviewer.)

She and he will be talking about Libya. Link here for more info, and broadcast times. Freshair.com

I wish you were my sister, OP! how nice of you to have the cousins stay. I have only five children and they are spaced out a bit so it doesn't quite compqre. They did come one at a time so I had plenty of time to adjust to each. Doubling your census overnight like that-- and with those ages -- is likely to knock the wind out of anyone. I hope the cousins enjoy being together-- and that you have fun with them all!

:bigear:

Here's what we do: 45 minutes a week of computer games and watching someone else play counts. a movie every few weeks. And that's it. It works fine and I get very few complaints. My oldest, however, has done an end run. He bought an itouch with his own money. Dh and I thought this was mainly to listen to music. Turns out, its real purpose is video games. We are reigning this in and returning to the limits described above. It's harder to monitor overusage on handhelds that serve other purposes. I assume DS is honest, but he still needs to e reminded of the limits. I find the issue annoying.

This original post is one I could have written (with some variations of course), and the responses are the advice I sorely need.

I have a newish inkjet that hogs hogs hogs ink. I already own a few downloads I will need to print again, and I am thinking of buying a few programs as pdfs so that I can use them for upcoming kids later (without having to photocopy). I keep trying to think of how to do this economically. I wish I could have access to a laser printer for just a day! What would you suggest?

For those of you who have used the elements program: how old were your children when you used it? How interested in science in general are they? How much time did you spend weekly over how many weeks? Did younger children "at the table" enjoy (say 5 and 7 yos) it? I'm weighing using this with my 3 hs children, or doing it as an "extra" with my Homeschooling 4th grader and my science loving-charter schooling 6th.

Searching the hive now. I don't know why I didn't do that earlier. All good so far!

i have been thinking about using two or three Ellen Mchenry's science programs (elements, the brain, botany cells). I've looked through her samples, and I like what I see, but I haven't seen much discussion of anything except mapping the world with art. I'd love to hear from people who have used the elements or the brain programs (the others are being written this summer.) We will be using a history of science program with sotw mixed in as our main science/history program, but I think an in-depth study or two or three would be much appreciated by the kids. I'm also looking around for a zoology program that be challenging for a very bright fourth grade naturalist who has a good foundation.

Maybe I'll just order sorbet the next time. wait: there's a "t" in that word!!!!!

Of course it's pronounced with two Rs. Who would even want sherrrrbit? I can't even force myself to say it without the second r. Shibbit.

2200 and 5 kids. Feels like it's going to get a little tight in here as the kids get larger. I'm missing a room or two here-- that large fireplaced room off the kitchen and the finished walkout basement room where the legos and art table can live out of my main line of sight. We lived in 450 with two kids, so I think things have vastly improved for me here. That camper sounds fun, though.

PMing now. Thank you.

Nadia, that sounds perfect. The trick, and it is a real one, is raising children who are wonderful, generous people. I wish I knew how to do that. Until I do, I'll keep trying to figure it out.

I'm thinking through my fall schedule and feeling a tinge of terror. I would love to see how other people with three or more elementary grade students AND a young, busy toddler organize their instructional time, etc.

How far do you want to go? If you are game, just get rid of it. Use the cable money for something fun the family can enjoy. You can still watch movies and important news events on your computer. we love being tv-free. We watch the occasional movie when we choose to. movies are a special treat here, and that works fine. I'm not all that great at setting and keeping limits, so not having one in the house is best for us. as others have posted, you might want to institute a big change like this during a busy, happy time. You family will adjust quicker than you think.

To the op and the poster who revived this post: thank you! I ordered what I did not have of this series and received all of it today. The three parts of volume 2 and the third book were $50 or so total. They are great books and this was a great deal. So thank you again. And thanks for taking the time to post instructions. It was a little complicated to order; I'm not sure I would have figured it out myself.