We are doing Wayfarers this year. So far we are enjoying it! I find it easy to adapt to the needs of our family.

Thankfully our co op is planning to teach all about it. It is definitely not something that excites me so I'm happy to have them take the ball on this one! I'm not sure what curriculum they are using. I want to say one age group is doing Notgrass I think...maybe.

We didn't end up switching! I'm still doing AAS. He (my oldest) begged me not to change. He's a good speller naturally so we just do AAS quickly and not as often. My youngest is a terrible speller so he needs the one on one. I would have picked the R&S Spelling by Sound and Structure I think. I liked the look of PZ but couldn't justify the cost.

When I asked awhile back Spelling by Structure and Sound was recommended. As was Phonetic Zoo by IEW though it was pricier.

I only have 2 kids but I still can't get organized enough to do any of those big fun exciting things I dream of doing. Or we just can't afford to do them. Blah.

I speak up immediately although sometimes that means me pulling my kids aside and quietly correcting them. Other times I just call out to them to stop or whatever. Depends on the infraction and my mood.

The sermon topic at my church today was about the Good Samaritan and having compassion. I immediately thought this post!

I would not have stopped either. A good friend of mine's mom stopped to help a man. She was beat up. We were in high school at the time and parents didn't let me hear much of what happened beyond that but I imagine more occurred they didn't want me to know about. The man could call for help or another man can stop.

My oldest wanted to try school. He did a year (2nd grade) and then asked to be homeschooled again the following year. I gave him a choice at the end of last year and he initially said school. Then we discussed it, things he'd gain and things he'd lose by going or staying. I stayed neutral on it, just giving facts. He decided on homeschooling again. I guess I'm just giving feedback on what we experienced. I can't say what you should do, think, or feel. But sometimes grass is greener syndrome hits us all.

I haven't used Swagbucks in awhile (I forgot about it) but I think my Amazon cards always came electronically. Can't recall how long though.

I love the look on the other guy's face! What a stand up guy!

I get driven insane by autocorrect. So I feel for you!

I used to be the mom who watched every second of every practice. Then I realized I was doing more harm than good. I didn't become wow mom, I became judgmental nit picky mom. We left every practice with me giving my kid a lecture on whatever great awful thing I witnessed. Like how kid was sitting on the sides after his set instead of practicing flip turns or something I deemed productive. Or critiquing his need to use the bathroom during practice. Or my soccer son...why didn't he run faster or wait until he was closer to the goal to kick or whatever. I lost sight of the real reason we participate and was sucking out the fun. So possibly mom is just an awful mom. Or maybe she did have an important call. Or maybe she didn't realize that they were doing anything amazing. Or she got to the car and said "wow you guys did awesome let's get ice cream to celebrate." Or maybe she was like me and realized not watching is better than criticizing. We are all happier now that I don't watch and just ask "how was practice?" But props to you for being a proud teacher who can get excited about the progress of your students! That goes a long way.

Oh and no idea on fin style, coach didn't specify.

Coach said they have a team cap and shirts but everything else is personal preference. He has worn fins a lot but he always borrowed them from the stash his old team had. I never paid attention to the size. I don't think they use them frequently but he still has to have them. He does need paddles, I'd forgotten that! They don't appear to have a set type of team bag. The pile I see at practice is mixed.

I filled a basket with easy readers of various levels, printed up a reading log, and filled a jar with rewards written on them (things like trip to the park or you pick movie night or ice cream at Twisty Treat). Every ten books he reads he draws from the jar. He hated reading before. Struggled to the point we got him evaluated. But doing this encouraged him to practice regularly for a reason. I think before he didn't see a reason to do something so hard for him. Some of the books were "The cat sat. The cat on a mat." I didn't care how low the reading level was, if he read it we counted it. His fluency is improving more than ever before. Reading isn't easy for him yet but I'm seeing growth like never before! We have kept moving in his phonics lessons at the same pace as before.

My son recently started on a competitive team after being on a casual rec team for years. He needs to have his own kick board, fins and pool buoy. Plus he needs a better swim bag to hold it all. Do I just go to swimoutlet.com and pick something at random or are there differences I need to be aware of? Fin sizing? For reference he's 9, wears a size 4 shoe.

I'm so sorry. It is never an easy thing to say goodbye.

I've changed completely in a car but never, ever while being the one actually doing the driving. And, I can't recall changing while the car was in motion.

We started at a medium sized co op last year. At the halfway point in the year I was adamant we weren't coming back. It didn't feel worth the sacrafice of a day. I didn't think we were connecting with people or getting much out of it academically. By the end of the year I changed my mind. We started to get to know other families, I started teaching one class (in rotation with other moms), and the kids were loving it. So we're going to go back another year. I take all things a year at a time. I will be teaching a Lego Challenge elective class. ETA: This co op meets from 10-12, so it isn't all day which I appreciate. We also meet with a tiny group on Fridays. It is more social than academic but we do art, science experiments, field trips and holiday parties.

Wow...just wow and I never would have guessed what it was! Does wheat not go bad?

Awesome, thanks for sharing! I'm signed up.

We are having fun with Barefoot Ragamuffins curriculum this year though we are only a week in! Price can vary on it though because it is very literature heavy, so it depends on what you spend on books. I'm using the library and found a lot cheap at Goodwill. Just one idea for you. Or you could consider unit studies in topics of interest.

I don't think you need to refund her. You've gone above and beyond. 3 years! That's insane. If you'd been the one cancelling then you'd need to refund but seriously she's crazy. And don't meet her! She needs to come to you.

I never learned it. I'm 34 and was a public school student.