[Tell me about Ticket to Ride]

I enjoy the European version more than the US one, but it is also a little more complicated and takes longer. I think it is worth the money but not really an educational game.

[How long do you read to them?]

Never! It is a way for me to bridge the gap in ages of my children and the one thing we can do together. It is my favorite time of the day! We are adopting again, and I see our read-aloud time as a way to bond with our future child (a daily family activity) and maybe expand his/her English vocabulary.

[Does anyone use SL just for read alouds and not for a curriculum?]

We have used their book suggestions for years. The rest just doesn't work for our style.

[Am I crazy for even thinking of using Omnibus?]

My son will use Omnibus I in the fall. I have been pre-reading, and it's really tough for me as a progressive Christian to handle their point of view. I think it would really drive an atheist crazy!

[WP and shipping...]

I've been waiting way too long...

[Veritas Press: possible for ecumenical use?]

We are progressive Christians who love VP, but our views are not the same as their views. Omnibus is going to be tough for us because they are pretty forceful about their theology. It will be an opportunity for us to really discuss differing view points and an opportunity for our son to learn to give them the answer they want even if it is not his personal belief. I would think that Omnibus would be REALLY tough for a non-Christian to teach/learn. That's too bad, too, because I have not found anything quite as good for the older ages that is secular.

[Do you have a set Memorization time?]

We start each school day with both kids listening to me read a few poems, a chapter or so from our read-aloud, and then reciting the day's memory work. I found it is a really gentle way to start our day, and works really well for my DD7. I was often forgetting to do memory work with DS12, but now it is built in to our morning routine.

[Poll: The Death of Cursive]

My son did a year of cursive handwriting practice, but I never made him make the switch in his school work. I polled the men in my family, and not one man in either side of my family writes in cursive, despite being required to in school. It just did not seem worth the effort to me.

 

I do write all assignments and notes to my son in cursive to make sure he can read it.

 

I am pretty sure that I will make my daughter write in cursive, partly because she is dyslexic and partly because she is a girl and may wish she had that skill some day. I hate to be sexist, but it seems I am in this particular subject at this particular time for these particular kids.

[7th grade plans]

Math: Finish Jacobs Geometry, start Foerster Algebra II

History, Bible, Lit: VP Omnibus I online

Latin: Wheelock w/ VP online

Grammar: Continue Analytical Grammar

Logic: Art of Argument, Discovery of Deduction, Fallacy Detective

Greek: Basics of Biblical Greek by Mounce

Spanish: Continue Rosetta Stone w/various supplements

Geography: Trail Guides and various other sources

Vocabulary: Vocabulary from the Classical Roots

Science: not sure

Writing: not sure

PE: Tae Kwon Do 6 days per week, basketball team

Arts: Drama, Bell Choir

[Top 10 Chapter Books Every Kid Should Read BEFORE Middle School--What's on YOUR list?]

I could never, ever narrow it down to 10! It raises my blood pressure just thinking of having to exclude so many favorites!

[Would you let your 5 year old read Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes for HOURS EVERY DAY?]

Yep, we've been there, too. He goes through phases where he gets out all his comic compilations and reads them every single chance he gets for days. Then he puts them away for a while and goes on with his life.

[Would you be happy if your 8th grader was accepted to a very exclusive public HS prog]

I suppose I would. My son has decided that he wants to get an online degree from Veritas Academy, so I'm already going to be giving up a lot of the control and flexibility in addition to spending a lot of money. A really great school for free sounds pretty good to me!

[Any running families on this board? How does running with your kids look?]

We do best running as a family when we do it at a track so everyone can go at their own pace (sprint when they want, walk when they want), and we don't have to stick together. We take long walks and hikes together, but running doesn't work as well. Something else that has worked is to let the kids ride their bikes or scooters. That allows them to go faster without complaints. I usually let them go ahead of me as long as they stop at each corner and wait for me to catch them.

 

My daughter is a born runner, but she was born to run short, fast races. I can go on forever but am not fast, and my son can do the same but loses interest. We have done several 5K races together, but my daughter complains a lot. I try to get her through by picking a target ahead for us to sprint until and then we take a walking break. It really isn't that much fun for either of us.

[2nd grade curriculum for next year]

Reading: Barton 4

Writing: WWE 2

History: SOTW 2

Science: ?

Arithmetic: A wide variety, nothing seems to work

Spelling: Spelling Workout B

Grammar: Shurley

Memory: Living Memory

Art: ?

Others: Chess through WP, lots of read alouds, maybe Song School Latin

[People of faith, do you befriend "others"?]

Yes! Let me tell you, though, that, as a pastor's wife, it is really hard not to get dismissed by those "others." I feel that I have to work 10 times as hard to prove that I am not just trying to get everyone to go to my church.

 

I am socially and politically very liberal, and I have more in common with many non-Christians than I do with many conservative Christians. It just takes a long time to prove to the non-Christians that I may not be out to get them.

 

I'm in a new town and a new homeschool group right now, so I can tell you that this is a current struggle. Many Christians and non-Christians feel they know all about me as soon as they hear what my husband does, and neither group has me pegged with only that knowledge. It does help to let my tattoos show, I've found. Oh, and to go as long as possible without mentioning my husband!

 

Melani

[If you like Settlers of Catan and Carcassone, can you give me some recommendations]

I'll second some that others have listed and add one or two more:

 

Dominion

Pandemic (addicting because it is hard to beat)

Small World

Bohnanza

Killer Bunnies

Munchkin

Goa

[Shurley English Question]

Each level has a good review, and the earliest jingles are taught in later years, too! Enjoy!

[Who out there works and homeschools?]

I provide childcare to two babies and childcare/preschool to a 3 1/2-year-old in my home. We will be moving in July when my husband is moved to pastor a new church with a larger salary. I really cannot wait to "just" homeschool from that point forward.

 

I have watched the older girl for three years, and she always fit into our lives and our schedules really well. In August I started to watch my baby nephew and the other little girl's baby sister. I feel as if my whole way of life has been thrown into turmoil this year because of the additions!

[Anyone still using workboxes?]

We have been using them (the drawer version) all this year with my K-er. They are working great and really allow her to feel a little more in control because she gets to go from drawer to drawer, always knowing what is next and how much is left. I now have her return each subject back to the drawer as soon as she is done, so there is very little daily work for me.

[Poll... for how long are you committed to homeschooling?]

Until graduation for one, and until the time when homeschooling no longer seems like the best option for the other. I really hope to homeschool both all the way through, but I'm not sure it will always be the best option for my daughter.

[ETC 1/2 books...]

We moved from 1 to 2, and my daughter did really well...for a while. She is dyslexic, and eventually got to the point where she did not enjoy it anymore. I also noticed that she wasn't retaining the new material. I moved back to 1 1/2, and it is perfect. It is giving her extra time and work without stressing her at all.

 

I really think this is another case where it depends on the child. I didn't use ETC with my son, but he would not have needed the 1/2 levels.

["Dysgraphia never shows up alone." ~ your thoughts?]

That seems to me how it works.

[The envelopes are ready.......wish me luck!]

Good luck! It is a great example to be setting for your children, and I know you will be amazed at how different it is when you track every cent you spend!

[I want to Supplement Singapore Math. Which programs?]

We used Miquon as a supplement until my son finished them all, and then we used the Key to... books to supplement.

[Shurley English 6 and 7? Or different grammar?]

We are skipping to Shurley 7 in 6th grade. We also took grade 5 to do non-Shurley grammar to vary things a bit. He's doing diagramming and Editor in Chief as his grammar this year. Shurley has given him such a strong foundation that I don't worry about a year without a formal grammar program before we go on to Shurley 7 next year.