We usually do random set up for it too like the original. I don't think it says in the directions how to set it up though. The only reason I'd say you should do random or per the instruction set up is because some cards allow you to rearrange the regions so if you set them up as you'd like that card isn't as important ( I guess until you add other regions later on...)

Still waiting for mine to arrive, but I'm interested

Because of this comment I dragged all the kids out to Aldis this morning! We grabbed those French fried onions! It's been years since we've had them! Unfortunately they were sold out of the gf stuffing. Still a proper green bean casserole allergen free will be had!,! Thank you!

Although the space of the basement laundry room sounds nice, I'd keep with the first floor. We have a first floor and second floor laundry room and I find the the laundry sits in our first floor laundry since we are typically on the second floor throughout the day. So laundry there gets done as we school and do other chores. And since the kids rooms are all on the second floor, they easily get their laundry to the washer and can put away the laundry themselves. I usually only use the first floor laundry in the evenings for DH and my clothes (since it's right off our master) and kitchen towels. If I had to redesign our home though I'd only have the second floor and I know I'd rarely do laundry in our basement let alone sit down there and fold it. For me it wouldn't fit right in my day, but I still have littles so that could change as the kids get older.

We will be, mainly because we are hosting thanksgiving and I have a house to clean and food to prep all week! If I didn't, then we'd have school!

If I had the budget to do it and the designer worked with my input- shopping with them, choosing colors, etc, then yes. And if Joanna Gaines came over wanting to do my house, I think I'd pretty much hand her the keys and come back when it's done. With that said, we don't have the budget to have a designer and I'm fairly cheap when it comes to buying decor for the house. While I don't mind spending money on a piece that is quality and classic which will last many years, I'm not spending extravagant amounts on knick knacks. We recently moved and are working on decorating this home and I admit in the last few months I wouldn't have minded having someone come over and assist me in room layouts, arranging decor I have and adding what's needed, complimenting colors to what's new and what we have and making sure I don't over decorate. So I'll just keep watching hgtv for ideas and searching Pinterest.

It's good to hear people like them. I'm so tempted to buy some for my DS. I think we may get a couple for next year for DS special school time for him and me.

mine used to complain all the time the past few years about grammar and it always got pushed aside and often not done because of that. This year they get it done without me asking and want to do more. And they are retaining what they've learned so even better!

I'd also recommend fix it grammar as a pp did. The lessons are short and do a good job of covering the topics. Mine have been enjoying it a lot

So I tried a few suggestions given here (he particular liked jumping on the papers with letters, saying the sounds and then running to say the word) and today he was able to sound out all the words from lesson 1- Sam, Pam, map, Sap He was so excited! I know we have a way to go, but the look on his face was priceless, thanks for the help!

I also print at home and put it in a binder. I've bound mine before but like having the option of adding things or changing things later. I only print what I need to in color and the rest is black and white to make it less expensive. I add in dividers and separate things that way, folders and answer guide and tms

That's great! We took a fall break last week and we will get back to trying again tomorrow. I'm hoping it will click for him soon! He wants it so bad!

I came across this in my searching. Anyone use this program? Any reviews of it specially? I've read bad reviews about the company and that worries me as this unit seems to be something my kids would love!

I don't doubt that, nor that my boys probably would have enjoyed it. We just finished reading the series and need something new and something that screams boys. We already live the rurally, so they live those adventures already :)

Thanks I'll look at those. I had thought prairie primer but we've already gone through the little house series and I'm looking more to interests for little boys.

I can't believe I'm thinking of this since I feel we've hit our stride this year finally but I miss the days of cuddling and reading together, talking about the books and doing unit studies. We did FIAR and I loved it as did my kids. I'm thinking of next year picking it up again before my oldest hits middle school and doing a year of unit studies together. I'm looking for something similar to FIAR that I'd be able to use with a 5th, 3rd, K and preker. Is there such a things? Any suggestions? I can make my own but would love if it's already done for me!

I need some help. I have a small kids table that has been well loved over the past 8 years. What I'm guessing is stain (?) is peeling off or has been scratched off by the kids over the years. I want to paint it so it looks nicer while we still use it. Do I need to or can I even sand it? What do I use to paint it? Paint? Spray paint? Any other tips? I want to do the table and all 4 chairs

Thank you for all the suggestions and help. I'm going to take a look at it all this weekend and try to put something together that will benefit him the most!

I have one who is a natural speller and I chose to advance him into a higher level. In 1st grade he used rod and staff third grade and flew through it. Then in 2nd grade is using the 4th grade. It is definitely more challenging for him. The words themselves aren't but the activities are. IEWs phonetic zoo is different from RS as it does not have the activities that go along with it and is solely based on spelling. If you feel he is a natural speller, then it wouldn't be a good fit IMO.

Thanks I'll look into it. I looked at it briefly before but never more in depth since we already had aar

We are using level 1 (or at least attempting to!). He already can identify letters by visual and sounds, rhyming, clapping out syllables, chooses words based on their beginning and end sounds, etc. pre reading wasn't out for my oldest and I've never felt my others needed those skills, sober never invested in it. Is there more it covers than I realize? His biggest struggle is blending.

dp

DS 4 ( will be 5 next month) has been asking to be taught how to read for the past year. I pull out our AAR, begin to teach but it just isn't clicking him him. Even so he keeps asking to learn. Do I continue presenting it to him using AAR (daily as he's asking), put it away and see if he just needs to mature some more, or try another approach with him (AAR worked with my older ones)?

We just began but this is the first year my kids haven't complained about grammar. They have been enjoying it and doing well. Previously it was a struggle for them to pick out a noun in a sentence and they do it without issue. My ods who doesn't enjoy grammar at all does this on his own without being asked and loves reading the story each day. I'm glad we gave it a try.

The activity books aren't anything special. It is the size of the cd inserts with things that go along with the story and has maybe connect the dots and such. I don't use them, but maybe there's more there than I saw when paging through. There is also included info on the composer and others who contributed. The CDs are good though. We are using the mike mulligan and his steam shovel this week since my younger child is reading it with me (FIAR). He loves the music that goes along with it, there is a section that talks about the author, making the music and more. I wouldn't say that it's a curriculum, but fun CDs to listen to. I did see online they have activities to do aligned with typical subjects.