-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- per the thread regarding the exclusion of hs dc from their contest I received this response from my email. I was honestly surprised to hear back from them. Dear Christine, We are deeply sorry that the Subway contest has offended you and thank you for voicing your concern. Our intention was never to make independent schooled children feel discriminated against or excluded from this specific promotion. Throughout the course of the year Scholastic runs a number of contests and sweepstakes that are open to all teachers and students. The eligibility of this contest in particular was solely put in place to award a large group of children with the grand prize of $5,000 worth of athletic equipment. We do however understand how home-schooled children could benefit from this type of prizing and will make sure eligibility is open to everyone in future promotions. To show our gratitude for bringing this matter to our attention, please send us the ages of your children and your address and we would be happy to send you a complimentary book to share with them. We truly appreciate your feedback and will make sure a similar situation does not happen again. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me directly. Best Regards, Samantha Calastro Scholastic Parent & Child

Love, love, love these books. I read them aloud when dds were 6 and 8 and they still remember the stories. I think I'll break some out for them to reread themselves. thanks for the reminder

per the thread regarding the exclusion of hs dc from their contest I received this response from my email. I was honestly surprised to hear back from them. Dear Christine, We are deeply sorry that the Subway contest has offended you and thank you for voicing your concern. Our intention was never to make independent schooled children feel discriminated against or excluded from this specific promotion. Throughout the course of the year Scholastic runs a number of contests and sweepstakes that are open to all teachers and students. The eligibility of this contest in particular was solely put in place to award a large group of children with the grand prize of $5,000 worth of athletic equipment. We do however understand how home-schooled children could benefit from this type of prizing and will make sure eligibility is open to everyone in future promotions. To show our gratitude for bringing this matter to our attention, please send us the ages of your children and your address and we would be happy to send you a complimentary book to share with them. We truly appreciate your feedback and will make sure a similar situation does not happen again. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me directly. Best Regards, Samantha Calastro Scholastic Parent & Child

Peets' - love Peets

26 days : ) Yippee!

Thank you Jennifer, I just sent the emails, this is really unfair!!!!

to quote another JA novel "he's a little too piano for me" : )

We are using Rod & Staff math at grade level for grades 5 and 7 this year. We have used it for 7 years, it is very thorough and the TM's are friendly. I'll continue with grade 8 and switch to VT or ?

Creed, Third Day, Jars of Clay

Mr. Darcy! Yippee!

We start formal grammar in 5th, I address parts of speech and punctuation in dictation up to that point

I do too! my dh snores sometimes, well maybe more than sometimes : )

Thanks for the affirmation : )

We always take off all of July and August, mommy needs a break : ) and the beach is calling

Fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies : )

Sorry, I guess I assumed that it would be understood that I only mean to address grammar and writing when I say English. Lit, vocab, and spelling have been taken care of by other means thanks

I haven't read the other responses, but the TM is necessary up until 7th at least, then it becomes somewhat self-teaching in that there are very specific instructions in the student text. I always assign 1/2 of the problems per assignment. We've only done Rod & Staff in the lower grades, so I don't have anything to compare, but the b&w has been helpful in not distracting my dds hth

I just starting having my dds take notes for Rainbow Science, I have a big whiteboard guide them specifically through the process, ie - one the top line write..., With this curriculum it helps to organize the material. I hope that by doing this, next year they will be able to take notes in science by themselves

One thing to consider is that the DVD's for 7th science are for the 2nd edition, but they have a new 3rd edition textbook, for that reason I'm thinking of going solo for Life Science, and then adding DVD's in 8th. hth

I am wondering if there will be any "holes" because we are not using a formal English program. I was thinking about using BJU for one year to fill in any gaps, like sentence types etc., but is there an easier way? This is for the 6-8 grade level thanks Chris

Night Blooming Jasmine - it takes my breath away : )

Thanks everyone, you saved my some $$ and disappointment. Jane Eyre is my "take to a deserted island book" and so I think I would have been unhappy with the purchase

do you think of the BBC version with Ruth Wilson? I have the Timothy Dalton version and I love it, but haven't seen the other. thanks Chris

Thanks Heather, I think you're right : )

What do you think? I started my oldest at the end of 6th, but was considering starting at the end of 5th with my youngest. She has had very little grammar up to this point, (CW Aesop Book A only)