If RFP doesn't do a nametag with username thing (which really wouldn't help me because I have very few usernames memorized), let's write our name and the state we live in on the name tags we'll probably get at registration. That would make it easy to link up with each other. Also, could someone please tell me how to find the social group? I think I remember joining awhile ago, but can't remember... Thanks. Becky

I'm a DE WTMer, too, and so is the friend who's coming with me. It would be great to meet up with like-minded, local homeschoolers. Are you on the DE Classical Educators Yahoo group? Martine and I will be driving in each day, not spending the night. We're in the Wilmington area. Do you want to carpool with us? Becky

We didn't use Dancing Bears, but Apples and Pears has been great for our dyslexic sons. Anything with dictation really helps them keep the words in their heads.

Obviously you're going to get thoroughly checked out when you get home, but your comment about endo raises a red flag for me. I, too, had serious endometriosis (stage IV) many years ago. My youngest is almost 9, and I've had very few endo related problems since he was born...until last year. Long story short, the endo was coming back AND I had a growing cyst on my left ovary, lots of weird bleeding, etc. My specialist told me that they're finding that a lot of women who had serious endo in the past are now developing ovarian cancer. I had my left ovary removed and that has solved lots of problems. Please talk to your doctor about this, and get a baseline CA-125 blood test done (the tumor marker for ovarian cancer) so that you'll know if it changes over the years.

We have 3 sons, and we've had to ban all sorts of things at the dinner table! Please - original conversation only at the dinner table! No quoting! I wanted boys, though...be careful what you pray for. ;) My MIL had 7 boys and only 1 girl. And yes, my MIL has lost her mind.

I'm originally from West MI, and you have my favorite weather. Granted, 95 and humid (especially in June) is very unusual there. Here in the MidAtlantic, it's what we have to suffer through most of the summer. I hate it. The humidity makes me woozy. Can't wait to float in Lake MI at the end of July when it's unbearable here!

Yes, I'm a mean mom and make my boys go outside...AND I make them run around and get some exercise when they're out there (no sitting on the porch and counting it as outside time). Once they're outside, they have a great time. When it's beastly hot, I go out with them first thing and they bike while I run. They're like caged animals if they don't get exercise every day. Besides, fresh air does a body good!

Take a look at Books Children Love. It's a great resource.

I've been to a SWB conference before, and if I had to, I'd walk to this one (thankfully, it's only an hour's drive) to hear her and MCT in the same day. If it wasn't these 2, I'd say no...but it IS these 2, so my answer to your question is a resounding YES! If you can stay overnight somewhere in VF on Friday, that would make Saturday morning a little easier.

Your comment about an average child is a good one. I'll tell you our Latin story, but the bottom line is find a curriculum you like and go at the pace your child needs. 3rd grade is not too young, but you have to be in tune with your child instead of focusing on "turning the page" every day. I think of Latin in the same way I think of how long to nurse a baby: a full course is best, but even a little Latin is better than none at all. My eldest son started Latin for Children in 3rd grade at the classical school he attended. He had excellent instruction and an aptitude for the language. When I began homeschooling him in 6th grade, he was able to skip a year of Latin and go right to Wheelock's Latin I in Veritas' online class. My middle son also started LFC in 3rd grade at the same school. He had poor instruction (different teacher), and his dyslexia and other issues made it very hard for him. He received high marks, but only because I retaught him every night. When I began homeschooling him in 4th grade, I moved him into LFC B, but it quickly became obvious that he needed to restart LFC A at the begining. He's just finished 5th grade and is only on lesson 8 of LFC B...but he gets it. My youngest son will be in 3rd grade next year, and I'm going to start him on LFC A. It'll take a few weeks to determine his pace. Becky

How fun to see familiar faces and places! I'm so excited and glad Peter Jackson's at the helm...and looking healthier than during the LOTR days. Can't wait for the Hobbit movies!

This makes me want to cry. Sometimes I feel so alone and unsupported as a hs-ing mom, which is why I was excited about so many of my "mentors" being in one place in VF for the big conference. Knowing that the folks at RFP and SWB have created this mini conference and will be there because they want to encourage us and support hs-ing in general...wow. :001_smile:

How do I beg on-line for these seminars? My initial reaction to them was a spontaneous prayer, "Oh, please, God, please." My 3 sons are all of those things except non-book loving. And the eldest 2 are in 7th and 5th grades and I'm sure they'll never be ready for high school, college, or life.

So when are you thinking about doing this curriculum sharing? I have some things people are interested in seeing, and there are some I'd like to see as well. One person mentioned Thursday night; since I'm driving to and fro each day, driving up on Thursday as well probably won't work for me. Not that you need to plan around me, but I was just wondering if anyone's having any thoughts about a time other than Thursday... Becky

I'm close enough to easily drive back and forth each day, but the idea of wine, chocolate, no kids, and fellowship with like-minded moms is pretty enticing...

Has anyone used this unit study based on The Chronicles of Narnia? I'm wondering if it would work for a summer program (we obviously wouldn't do all of it, since it's a 7 month program). Thanks, Becky

:grouphug: from a mom with 3 SPD boys. Take a deep cleansing breath. And maybe a bath tonight. And a glass of wine after that bath if you're so inclined. ;) Have you had Zachary evaluated by an occupational therapist who specializes in Aspies/autism/SPD? Our boys were misdiagnosed by PhD's as ADHD and ODD. We had them evaluated by an OT, who correctly diagnosed them with SPD, and they've been in therapy on and off since Sept. It's made an amazing difference.

I can't really answer this in terms of homeschooling Omnibus, but my DS13 takes Omnibus III (primary and secondary) online with Veritas. Yes, they read ALL of the books. THey don't do all of the activities/questions, etc, but they do read all of the books. I have thought that if I were to teach it myself, I would NOT have him read all of the books. They really fly through some of them, and he's spent weeks keeping/catching up. They have great discussion/instruction (covering both literary terms and doing essays), but I wish he had the opportunity to delve into some of the books more deeply. On the other hand, now that he's read them at this young age, he'll have the chance to sink his teeth into some of them later if he chooses.

We just moved right into FLL2 over the summer last year, and are 11 days from finishing it. I'll take a short break and then move into Grammar Island. I didn't see any reason not to do it this way. FLL is pretty simplistic, so it's not like it would be too much for the summer.

5HTP is a wonder supplement.

My DS13 did Latin I through Veritas last year because he was beyond my ability to teach him Latin. It was a great success. He's taking Latin II this year, plus Omnibus III Primary and Secondary, and Logic I. Overall, it's been a very positive experience for him and for our family. My reasons for outsourcing are: 1. He is the eldest of 3 and last year I was teaching over 20 classes/day to my 3 boys. I needed help. 2. He is beyond my abilities in Latin. 3. I wasn't confident in my ability to teach Logic, given my time constraints this year. 4. We might put him in the Veritas Scholars Academy for high school, and to graduate with their diploma, a student must have all 6 levels of Omnibus...which means he needed to start in 7th grade.

THIS would be the one to attend, with these speakers. It'll probably ruin you for any other convention, though! :001_smile:

Susan Wise Bauer, Jessie Wise, Michael Clay Thomspon, and Ted Tripp all in my back yard! This is like my Dream Team. Now if they would just get someone from Singapore Math and a dyslexia specialist, I'd think I'd died and gone to heaven!

Thanks, Elizabeth. What ages have you used this with? I'm really looking to hear from people who have used a spelling program with a dyslexic child older than 5th grade...

My DS 11 (5th grade) is dyslexic and has had vision therapy and Cellfield therapy for his reading/visual processing issues. He now reads silently (and comprehends) at about 3 grades above level, and is finally orally fluent at grade level. When he was in a brick and mortar school, he had 4 years of Spell to Write and Read, so he is solid with phonics; we are almost at the end of the Apples and Pears curriculum, which helped him more than SWR did. So here's my question: where do I go from here? Do I go somewhere from here? When my elder DS finished his spelling curriculum at the end of 5th grade, we moved on to Vocab from Classical Roots and didn't do any more spelling. That son doesn't have the same issues as his brother, though, and is a confident speller. I'm concerned about stopping spelling with DS 11, but I don't want overkill, either. I've looked at All About Spelling levels 1-3, and he's definitely beyond them. Maybe levels 4+? If you've had experience with a dyslexic child and spelling beyond 5th grade, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks, Becky