For copyright reasons, the videos were moved to Classical Conversations Connected, which you can access if you are a member of a Classical Conversations Community (well, actually, anyone can subscribe to CC Connected, but it is expensive if you are not part of a Community). Hope this helps!

I could use your advice....particularly if you have experience with FLL, MCT and/or Classical Conversations Essentials. DS7 is finishing up FLL2. FLL1 and 2 have been easy for him, but I haven't accelerated him. We've just been enjoying the simplicity (plus, he's young!) The lightbulb seems to have gone on, however, because he completely gets the content. He can easily recognize the eight parts of speech, has all of the lists memorized, etc. I introduced some diagramming - even though FLL2 doesn't require it - and he thinks that it is super fun. Here's my question: I recently looked through a friend's copy of FLL3 and realized that the little new content it contains could be taught to my DS in about a week or two. So....should we jump straight to FLL4? I haven't looked at it beyond the samples. I've also read a bit about MCT, but I don't know a lot about the program. FYI - In two years, we plan to enroll him in Classical Conversations Essentials program. Thoughts/suggestions?

Ugh....so I do not suffer headaches nearly as severe of some of you, but I get two or three doozies a year. This morning was one of those days. Not just the headache, but sinus pressure and nausea too. Blah. So thankful for good medication!!! So I'm trying to figure out what may have brought this headache on. Last night, we had a birthday celebration at a hibachi place. They used a ton of oil and butter when cooking in front of us. Could it be a reaction to the fatty food? (FYI - the last time that I went to a hibachi restaurant nearly a year ago, I woke up the next morning feeling lousy too...you'd think I'd learn my lesson!) What says the hive?

This isn't super funny, but I've gotta share...and y'all will understand! We are not studying US history/politics at all this year. Understandably, my DS7 had some questions about the election, so I gave him an upper-elementary nonfiction book about US Presidential Elections last week. I told him that if he was able to read the whole thing by election day and then be able to explain the electoral college system to me that I would let him stay up as late as he wants on Election Day to watch the results. Over breakfast this morning, he gave me an oral report about the electoral college that would probably rival any high schooler's understanding! So, guess who may be pulling an all-nighter tonight with her second grader?!?

Trader Joe's is opening soon in our area. I've never been, but I know that they have a lot of unusual types of things. Any recommendations? :bigear:

Overheard a conversation between my boys while they were cooperatively putting away the silverware: DS7: Remember, you need to pick up each piece of silverware, quickly assess what it is, and then place it into the correct category. DS4: Um, can I just look at it and put it in the drawer? :lol:

Ha! I was just thinking the same thing earlier this week. I ordered an early elementary astronomy reference book for DS7 to use this semester. He read the entire thing before bed two nights ago! My planning looks like this: have a general plan (in my head) and then just go with the flow!

I seriously need to update my wardrobe and need help! Are any of you on Polyvore? If so, mind sharing your username? I could use some inspiration!

Speaking of RR, has anyone received their catalog in the mail yet?

Congrats! What a bright kid! And I understand about not being able to chat about it IRL. Not to hijack your thread, but I am giving my 6yo an end-of-year test designed for 3rd graders and he's flying through it. So thankful that we have these awesome boards to meet some similar families. Brag away! :001_smile:

So we recently stumbled upon Snap Circuits and my 6yo ds LOVES them! Do you know of other products like Snap Circuits that a young science-y guy would like? We haven't yet gotten into any of the Lego Robotics, but he's very interested in stuff like that. Is there some other awesome toy out there that you would recommend?

I agree with you completely....I usually try to avoid talking about exactly what my ds is doing as well! Here's what prompted this post today....and it's pretty silly! Beautiful weather today and we had a great hs group field trip at a local park....I almost posted something on FB about what a great time that we had, but chose not to do so because I have several friends who wish that they could homeschool but can't for various reasons (unsupportive husband, fear, finances, etc., etc.) Is merely mentioning something that may be insensitive to a few considered boasting? Or, is this simply an example of that you can't control how others view something?

Ok mommas of smarty-pants kids....I've been thinking a lot about boasting or bragging recently and would love hear your thoughts. Certainly, this is not an issue only for parents of kids who are bright, but you all will certainly understand. My question: How do you define bragging/boasting? Does it have to do with the intentions of the one sharing or the insensitivity that the one sharing has of their audience? Real-life examples: 1. a group of friends discussing a past or future get together in front of people who were not or will not be invited 2. a person posting something on Facebook about their lavish lifestyle knowing while knowing that others of much less means will be reading it 3. here's where you all come in --- participating in a discussion with other hs moms about what level of such-and-such curriculum you are using or maybe sending your advanced dc's math work along with him when visits another hs friend's house (and they are supposed to be doing work, not playing!) In all of the cases above, one can be truthful (and not boasting)....but does it cross a line when you know that your words may be perceived by the recipient as hurtful? Still working through my thoughts on this....hope that this makes sense! I'd love hear the thoughts of others!

Our local elementary school's website has pages for each of the classroom teachers to list their curriculum, classroom updates, homework assignments, etc. I'm assuming that many public schools do this now. Once or twice a year, I "research" their site to see exactly what my kids would be doing if they were there. Anyone else do this? Or, am I the only stalker-type out there?!? :tongue_smilie: Honestly, what I've learned from my stalking (ahem, research) is just how very different the classical model is from whatever model it is that is used in public schools today. For instance, the lack of history instruction and the emphasis on social studies (4th graders making maps of their neighborhood, for example) is shocking.