I think I understand what you are saying. Let me check. I think you are saying that when people are asked a question and answer it honestly, they are feeling slapped in the face for it. I hope this is a safe place for all of us. It is hard when hurtful over-generalizations and judgments start flyin'. You know, secular people are THIS way, Christians are THIS way, yada yada. If I was to post why I left a certain belief system, agnosticism, that is not the way I would go. And (OT!) I want to know how you do dread locks. I think my dd would look great in dreads and she has difficult to manage naturally curly hair.

GG, your feelings are your feelings and I respect that. I'm not trying to ignore you, but am saying that you must be honest when making generalizations. If you insist on being offended by a call to accuracy, that is up to you.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Christian organizations do far more charitable work around the world than atheist organizations. Conservative, Evangelical Christians give the highest percentage of income to charity - MUCH higher than the secular folks. Christians have a loooong way to go in this area, but I believe that to say that Christians don't practice charity is a generally false statement.

I'm not trying to gain any points, just expressing my view. I did not address the original topic - but merely mused on the subtopic that Christians are hypocrites. I also see nothing wring with debate, nor with telling me that I am wrong, if that is what you think. I think radical honesty, if done kindly, is the best order of the day. I hope I am not adding any stress to your day - please feel free to ignore my posts if they are irritating.

I am not one to push nudity on a youngster who is naturally modest. Jewish and Christian standards of modesty are different from Greek standards. I guess it depends on your philosophy and religion - so you make the call! Greek humanism - the idea that man is the measure of all things and the ultimate in beauty - would enter my discussion. Also, many of the Greek scholars and poets were inflamed with lust at a young boy's body - and sought sexual gratification from their students. I believe that art cannot be separated from sexual norms of the culture. There is absolutely nothing wrong with modesty. It does not mean that one has a problem with the human body, but rather that one respects, honors and cherishes it. Our culture is eroticisizing itself into impotence.

Frankly, people of all faiths, or no faith at all, are....well....fallen and HUMAN. Sadly, Christian churches are full of people who aren't perfect, and who sin. I've often wondered at those who point the finger at Christians who are "hypocrites." Specifically, wondering if they could convert and show us all how to be the perfect Christians. ;) I think that there is a call for humility here, and a recognition that none of us can live the perfect life that Jesus lived. We as Christians will always fail to live up to that ideal, because we are not God. At the same time, I know countless people whose lives have been changed by God's grace. If you think they are bad as Christians, and count them hypocrites, you should have seen them PRE-Christian. Many of us were drug addicts, living extremely immoral lives and worse. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, knowing that sanctification and change is a life-long process. I have never know a single person whose sin issues were *worse* after true Christian conversion. One must also remember that only God knows who is truly and authentic Christian. A "hypocrite" may indeed be a false convert. In fact, maybe many are - but I am not qualified to judge that. Only God knows!

we have already read the usuals: Paul Bunyan, Wild Bill, Casey Jones, Johnny Appleseed, and others. I would like to include reading, copywork, and simple literature analysis. We will be doing a writing unit on Tall Tales from BJU English, if it matters. Do you you have any suggestions or websites? This will just be a short unit of about 2 weeks or so. Would love ideas at a 5th grade level!

Hi Lee, Thanks for letting me know! :confused: I fixed the settings, so you should be able to view it. Let me know if you have any problems seeing it.

If you want something laid out for you and literature-based, Sonlight immediately comes to mind. We have enjoyed a Core 5 "lite" this year!

I looked at the scope and sequence for math and ended up placing a year "behind" grade level. For one, dd's math facts were not down cold. Secondly, I wanted dd's skills to be rock solid and mastered and for dd to experience successs with math. CLE Math is quite advanced, and I would place without regard to "grade" level. I think average and struggling math students do best at a year behind grade. There is plenty of meat, and *I* am learning things I never knew before. My dd loves doing CLE math independently. She actually likes math now - I think because she is getting enough repetition and pracitice to get confident. I have a scope and sequence at my blog, in case you need it. If you go with CLE, make sure you get the math chart that goes with the program. IT will enable your child to look up things easily without getting frustrated. Love, love, love CLE Math!

First off, I get the Home Science Tools kit so I don't have to run around town gathering materials! :) I am lazy, but I do weeks of history alternated with weeks of BJU. When I do BJU weeks, I sit down the week before and read through 4 or 5 lessons (or whatever I plan to cover the next week) to familiarize myself with what will be taught. That is very important! I may make a trip to the library and get books related to our topic, throwing them in a book basket. Block scheduling a couple of weeks for BJU lets me turn it into a mini-unit of sorts. We watch videos and try to plan some type of field trip. I get the kit, so I don't usually have to buy anything. Sometimes I will need paper towel tubes or something like that - but it is always easy stuff that I have on hand. From there, I pretty much follow the Teacher's manual to a "t." My dd loves the questions to get her thinking, and she enjoys all the demonstrations and experiments. It is definitely a multi-sensory curriculum that utilizes all learning modalities! Love BJU! My suggestion is to try block scheduling a 2-week BJU unit if you like to go the unit study route. I let dd pick the unit and we go from there. Hope you like it! : ) Tami

I thought this article was a yawner. Also, the author comes across as quite intolerant of and biased against religious education. I wouldn't give it a second thought. :)

I like to get up at least an hour ahead of my daughter to have prayer and quiet time, a work-out, and a start on chores. If I don't do this, my day doesn't feel as peaceful and I tend to get frazzled. :eek: Getting up an hour and a half earlier that everyone else is even better - though that doesn't happen more than a couple times a week. For me, I wake at 6:30 and dd gets up at 7:30. We start school at 8:15 or so.

Living Books Curriculum, if paired with Latin and Writing component, would be a quality, clasical program. I believe it would be my first choice of boxed curriculum followed closely be Sonlight.

There is some info on our Japan unit study on my blog. At the right sidebar there is also a PDF file under "Planners." Have fun!

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I also have good results trusting my stylist. I usually give her adjectives like, 'easy,' ,'fun,' or 'a little trendy.' If you drop a name of a celebrity whose hair you admire, that will give her a rough idea. For fun, I like to say that just because I am a homeschool mom, I don't have to look like one. :D Joy to you!

I am the opposite. I quit the high stress job that USED to took the front seat, leaving me exhausted, and focused on keeping the homefires burning. I literally went from shopping at Macy's to combing the thriftstore for "finds." My goal is to be really free of the drive and need for "things." I have not arrived, but I am finding great joy and freedom! I homeschool, have 2 part-time, flexible jobs (that take a back seat to everything else and are LOW stress), and am the happiest I have ever been in my life. We have less money, but greater joy. I am focused on meeting the needs of my husband and daughter, and on helping others when I can in practical ways. In the process, I feel more and more energized. I take time for close female friendships, work-out more than I did before and have so much flexibility with this slow-track lifestyle. If you are not finding peace, perhaps it's time to re-examine your priorities. Why are you writing? If it is simply to make money, there are many low stress ways to do that. If it is for self-fulfillment, why does it need to take a front seat at this season of life? Let it give you joy, instead of allowing it to consume your day. Joy to you!

Have you tried Modified Child-Directed Learning? I think it is a happy medium between NO structure and allowing children to develop their own passions. I have used it many years when I need a time of less structure, or need dd to work independently. This idea is absolutely brilliant! WHy not give it a go! I think it is a happy medium. Joy to you!

My dd does NOT like historical fiction, but that doesn't preclude a whole books approach at all. We do biography and appropriate children's literature. Your child isn't the only one who detests historical fiction! Try biographies instead.

Hi Brigitte! If you click on member's names, our webpage (blog) link is there. Here it is: http://amblesideclassical.blogspot.com/ I did one this afternoon, and my skin feels sooooo soft!

Raid your kitchen and give yourself a natural facial! If you have baking soda, olive oil, and honey on hand, you can give your face a lift this week-end for free! See post at my blog.

It is a necessity to do self-care so that we can finish the marathon. When I get tired, I let dd do "unschooling." I use the method described HERE It has worked for me for YEARS! Take tender care of yourself.

I love . Her make-up techniques are easy and result in a fresh, natural look.