This may be standard practice for most people...but it took me awhile to realize why many people wear gloves to wash dishes. I absolutely feel motivated when I am wearing my size M, purple Playtex dish gloves. My hands don't get wet, I can have the water really hot, and I need only my gloved hands to scrape the plates and pick up trash. I enjoy washing the dishes with my children; we talk and laugh. Alone is another story, because I prefer to wash but not put away. I have a lot of put awayers here. Janell

We school year round and lighten the load when a project needs our attention. This month we put new flooring in, and not having bookshelves and tables made school non existent. My dh reminded me of The Swiss Family Robinson...winters for study, summers for work. I prefer to keep our days consistent and adjust as needed. Janell

Thanks for the info. I use the Trofast for the kids clothes...you have me thinking about other uses. Yeah, workboxes. Janell

I bought the Brother 5250D from Costco. I have printed up the AO books that I could not access from the library...such as This Country of Ours. I love it. The price is right. Janell

Thanks for the info, Merry. Janell

We live in a 1000 square feet "school house" with six children. It is tight and filled with wall to wall Ikea Billy bookcases and two large Ikea tables with benches (one for dining, the other for studying). Just to let you know...we don't have a couch.:mellow: Janell

How about Sonlight? As a mother with six children, SL has been a great open and go curriculum too for those newborn years...minimal activities but a lot of discussions. I especially like AmblesideOnlineorg too for independent reading. Of course this is about other curriculum... I hope you are able to get the information you need to make your decision about WP and MFW. Sincerely, Janell

I can get most books from inter-library loan. I like how the Ambleside incorporates biographies, geography, and literature...with a great free reading list. My children use Ambleside independently and are required to produce written and oral narrations. Janell

I appreciate this info. I'll be deleting those files. If I want to listen to those books again, I will just recheck them out. Thanks again for discussing copyright laws. It was a great reminder. Janell

We love all the Five in a Row picture books and the large wooden blocks set (called Unit Blocks Standard Set). The blocks are a great value and have lasted us six years so far. Janell

I think independence does not have to mean no accountability. We have a mix of subjects in our home that are independently learned. I check everything. Janell

This thread made me really examine my own actions. I sometimes get audio books from the library and download them to my computer to listen from my iPod. I don't sell this...but I do have a personal copy. Is this copyright infringement? I'm thinking so. Thank you for addressing this topic. Janell

Thank you both for answering my question. I love this forum...you all are so quick to help. Janell

Hello. I am looking into Singapore Math for the first time. Can this program be done without the home instructor's guides? Are the answers for the workbooks in the textbooks? :confused: Thank you. Janell

Thank you both for your responses. I will consider buying the entire program. Janell

I am interested in Classical Writing Homer, but I would like to keep costs down. Can I teach Homer without the student workbook and instructor guide using only the core book? Thank you for any help. Janell

My children use the Practical Arithmetic Series. It is practical (hence the name) and self-teaching. I don't even have to help with long division. I let the children check their work and work it out...and work it out...and work it out. I was influenced by the Robinson Curriculum and this series fits the bill. The children don't want me to help them anymore. It does move very slowly, but a child who completes book 1 will have a solid math foundation. Janell