Thanks for the replies! I like what I've read about both NOEO AND Ellen McHenry...now I'm stumped, but at least I have a good starting place. Thanks so much!

I need some suggestions. I'd like to use Colors this year for my 5th grader, but it's not likely to be released any time soon. We used Elemental Science (Earth and Space) last year, and it worked well for my 1st grader, but not the 4th grader. I was looking at ES's Chemistry for this year, but it's recommended for 3rd-4th graders, as is their Physics program. So can anyone give me some advice on a science program (preferably one that focuses on Chemistry) for a 5th grade boy? Thanks, Becky

My almost 11yo DS is on the dyslexic spectrum. I've been reading about how dyslexics often have trouble with multiplication and division facts, and my son is one of them. I'm about to pull my hair out, and so is he. He seems to just not get it. He's been doing multiplication facts for 2 years now, and can do them on a facts worksheet, but can't seem to translate that into solving problems, especially word problems. Does anyone with experience in this have any suggestions other than just throwing more problems at him? I mean, maybe practice, practice, practice is what he needs to keep doing, but maybe there's something else... Thanks, Becky

I don't know your son, but he sounds like he has some of the same traits as my almost 11yo son. Some of it is age-related (raging hormones), I know. I highly recommend that you purchase The Biology of Behavior by Dianne Craft. It's a CD. It's helped me with all 3 of my sons tremendously. The supplement that's helped most with the behavior you're describing is 5HTP, so you might want to look into that. My sons all got great "character grades" when they were in school, but really pushed the envelope when I started to hs them last year (especially the 10 yo) and treated me differently than they had treated their teachers. I called them on it and told them what I expect. It's natural for them to see how far they can push the adult in a new situation. Stand firm! One consequence I had to use with the 10yo was to make him "work" for me if I had to teach him beyond 3:00. He worked soooo slowly (deliberately), and I told him that if I had to work "overtime (beyond the end of the school day)" because of him, he had to do my chores that afternoon. Worked like a charm - I couldn't believe how quickly he started working. With older kids, you really have to be creative in how you discipline and make the punishment fit the crime.

VT was invaluable to my son. I know it's a hike for you to get to a therapist, but it is soooo worth it. My son was diagnosed in 1st grade with dyslexia and about 6 different visual processing issues (focus, tracking, teaming, etc). After a year of VT, his reading ability and comprehension jumped from below grade level to several grades above level. As his eyes learned to focus, his body learned to focus and he dropped a lot of the ADD/ADHD "symptoms" he'd been displaying. I can't recommend VT highly enough. It really saved my son from years of heartache.

We're doing the same thing.

My son was diagnosed with dyslexia and visual processing issues at age 7. With a year of vision therapy, he jumped several grade levels in reading comprehension. At age 10, his fluency is still lagging behind, his spelling slowly improving (we use Apples and Pears, and like it a lot), his handwriting definitely improving, and his comprehension still above average. He's been having trouble with multiplication and division, though, which I've learned is common to dyslexics (something that may or may not pertain to your son). I HIGHLY recommend that you check into vision therapy because your son probably has more going on than just dyslexia.

This caused me to startle a bit...my maiden name was Abraham, and it's my middle son's middle name. I have a cousin whose 1st name is Timothy and last name is Abraham. It's just not a name you see very often! :)

LiamMichael, Matthew, Mackenzie

The hotel is lovely. We stayed there on Marriott points. There's a Whole Foods or something like it across the street. We grabbed some groceries and ate breakfast and even dinner one day in our room to save $. The hotel has an indoor pool, which was great for the boys at the end of the day. A reciprocal membership with the Franklin Institute in Philly is how I found out about the Lego museum in NH (and others in Boston that we didn't have time to use); definitely look into what you can get as a result of your Detroit membership.

*Might* burn myself out? I'm fried. My 6th grader is mostly independent; I teach him grammar and math, and go over his reading, writing, spelling, and history assignments with him after he completes them. He does Latin on-line. My 1st grader is entirely dependent in terms of needing to be taught everything. My 4th grader is about 75/25 (more dependent than not). Out of all of their subjects, only 1 overlaps, so I teach at least 6 solid hours on our regular days. We listen to books on tape in the car, even if we're only on the road for 5 minutes. I would prefer not to do activities in the morning (I forgot to mention that the 2 olders have piano in the a.m. once/week and they all have a music class for an hour in the morning once/month - both at my house, though, so at least there's no commute), but I haven't found good afternoon specials options. And I'm not giving up the Bible study; it's the one thing that keeps me sane. I have them do the art because I won't do it at home; there is no one on this earth who hates crafts, drawing, painting, etc, more than I do. 2 of my boys have a natural talent for art, which they get from their father's side, and I want to encourage that - or at least not squelch it. Plus, I think education is more than just the 3 Rs plus history and science. But I have a hard time saying, "We don't need to do writing today because we did art. We'll do spelling tomorrow." Mtcougar, we do have 3 heavier days and 2 lighter ones, and it wouldn't work for us to school on weekends. But even with the 3/2 plan, I just feel like the days are so long...

This is my 1st year hsing DSs 6th, 4th, and 1st. I need some advice from veteran hsers about how to handle the "specials" days, while keeping up with the work, yet not teaching until 5:30. We have art class at the local Art museum on Weds. morning (4 week sessions, and we've done 3 sessions) throughout the year, and a Bible study every Thursday morning from Sept - May. I try to get one subject completed with each boy before the special. After the special, we have lunch and aren't able to start school until about 1pm. I do make specials days lighter than normal days, but even with just the 3 Rs and spelling, it's 5:00 before we're finished. Is that normal and I should just get over it? And here's a quasi-related issue: We're going to hs year-round... So do I do the 3Rs every day and then vary the extra subjects? Currently, it takes us from about 8:30-3:30, with an hour for lunch and recess, to accomplish everything. On the specials day, we work until 5-5:30. What I DON'T want is to school year round, all day. If we're going to do school all year, then I want all of the days to be shorter so we can have some fun, do service projects, and accomplish some things around the house. How do I manage these things?! :tongue_smilie::001_huh: Thanks, Becky

PURGE!! Good for you - a 12 to a 6! You're 1/2 the woman you used to be. ;)

We spent time in Boston 2 summers ago before a family reunion in VT, and we stayed in the same hotel! :) Our boys were 10, 8, and 5 at the time. We bought the Go Boston card which included a ton of things: Freedom Trail, Swan Boat rides (good for your little one if you're a Make Way for Ducklings family), Plimouth Plantation (which we didn't think was boring) and Mayflower II, Louisa May Alcott Orchard House, Concord Museum ( both of those in Concord), TOMB presented by 5WITS (this ended up being a bit too scary for our youngest). We also did the Duck Boat tours, which wasn't included in the Go Card, but was worth it. We stopped at the SEE Science Center in Manchester, NH, to see this amazing Lego exhibit. Jasper White's Summer Shack has great seafood and is within walking distance from your hotel. Have fun!

I switched to R&S because we were so sick of Shurley after all those years. Shurley is a solid program, but we just needed a break. My younger 2 were switching to FLL this year, and since R&S is one recommended by SWB, we went with it. I don't regret using it this year, but I'm glad to find MCT. R&S is very dry...BORING, actually...but it gets the grammar job done. Shurley uses lots of chants, which my kids have recalled this year while using their other curriculums. If you're deciding between R&S and Shurley, I'd go with Shurley...but look into MCT.

:grouphug: There is so much information available, but not many want to look for it. Kudos to you for wanting to cure the problem rather than throw a pill at it. The books I mention or quote below can usually be borrowed from the library. Because there are several options, I recommend talking with a doctor or naturopath in conjunction with consulting the books; you want to pick the supplements and dosages that are right for you. According to the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Low levels of seratonin (I've read this elsewhere, too) are linked to depression. To combat this, don't smoke, abuse alcohol, limit sugar intake, don't overconsume protein, limit caffeine, and make sure you are not deficient in various nutrients (are you taking a GOOD multi-vitamin/multi-mineral?). "A health-promoting lifestyle and diet go a long way toward restoring optimal seratonin levels and relieving depression. But in the interim, such natural agents as 5-HTP and St. John's Wort can provide the necessary serotonin boost to support making important changes in diet and lifestyle...Numerous double blind studies have shown that 5-HTP has equal effectiveness compared to drugs like Prozac, Paxil, and Zolof...it is less expensive, better tolerated, and associated with fewer and much milder side effects...perhaps more important than simply relieving insomnia is 5-HTP's ability to improve the quality of sleep...5-HTP is equal to or better than standard antidepressant drugs, and its side effects are much less severe...St. John's Wort extract wa shown to produce improvements in many psychological symptoms including depression...the main advantage of using St. John's wort extract as opposed to antidepressant drugs was found to be...in terms of side effects, cost, and patient satisfaction." Also, according the the same encyclopedia, folic acid and B12 have antidepressive effects by elevating serotonin. "High dose folic acid therapy is safe (except in patients with epilepsy) and has been shown to be as effective as antidepressant drugs. Folic acid should always be accompanied by vitamin B12 supplementation to prevent folic acid from masking a vitamin B12 deficiency." "Vitamin B6 levels are typically quite low in depressed patients...Considering the many functions of vitamin B6 in the brain, including the fact that the vitamin B6 is essential to the manufacture of seratonin, it is likely that many of the millions of people who take Prozac are depressed simply as a result of low vitamin B6 levels." "An insufficiency of omega-3 oils in the diet has been linked to depression...researchers have concluded that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the development of depression..." The results of a number of clinical studies suggest that SAM is one of the most effective nautral antidepressants. "Depression and fatigue have been linked with food allergies for over 65 years."

We bought our Miele when we lived in a house with hardwoods and a Lab. Best money we ever spent. It's great on carpet, too.

First, :grouphug:. When you say "classic ADHD," do you mean diagnosed and being treated, or just showing the symptoms we all recognize by now? If they're diagnosed and being treated, I'd call the Dr. to talk about a change in treatment plan, because it sounds like it's not working. You're already setting some limits, recognizing inappropriate behavior, and getting help...have you tried meds? My DS7 was just (not surprisingly to anyone) diagnosed with ADHD, and as much as I am opposed to putting a kid on meds for any length of time, I know it will be the best thing for him. We've done behavior modification and supplements, all of which helped, but not enough. If you haven't looked into supplements, go to Dr. Daniel Amen's site for some really useful information. His book, Healing ADD , was invaluable to us on many levels. Also, the book Dreamers, Discoverers, and Dynamos was helpful in understanding behavior like the cat shirt incident, and how to respond to it in a way that will be successful. Take a deep breath. Get a good night's sleep. Relax this weekend. Call on Monday for appointments to get the girls evaluated.

Thanks for asking this question, and don't be hard on yourself regarding focus. I have found the investigating of MCT to be overwhelming and have a hard time keeping all of the names, etc, straight. I'm at the point where I just want someone to tell me what to do because I can't figure it out for myself! I'm glad I'm not alone. :001_smile:

Calling the publisher is excellent advice; thanks. I can't keep the names of the levels straight anyway.

Thanks! Too funny, and so appropriate. :D :lol: Thanks for the perspective! Also, if it's any consolation, I have a deep affection for a friend's 19yo Aspie boy. He was a challenge until his mid-teens (and still had "moments" after that), but he is a delight and joy to all (ok, most) around him now (valedictorian of his classical Christian school class last year, with a speech that made us want to stand up and cheer). He goes to college in New York City and is doing very well. Hang in there, MamaSheep. :) OK, here's my issue of late: my previously delightful 12yo DS has lost his brain. He was my "classic student," ie, eager to please, great attitude with schooling - and almost everything else, got work done in a timely way, etc, etc... In the past couple of weeks, however, he has been taking hours longer than usual to complete his work...if he even completes all of it. This NEVER happened before - not at school, not homeschooling...He is totally spacing out for long stretches of time, and feels badly about it...but then does it again. At the end of the day, he's mad at himself for wasting so much time, cries about it, yada, yada, yada. Any suggestions for vitamins, consequences, anything?

I have a 10yo and a 12yo, both sons, so I average to 11, and life has been very hard here lately, for reasons you've mentioned. I understand that it's a phase, but one that lasts about 4 years...lovely. What is a PITA?

Has anyone started an older child on MCT? I'm a little concerned about CD's comment about needing to start from the beginning... Next year, I'll have a 7th (5 years of Shurley and 1 of R&S) and a 5th (3 year of Shurley and 1 of FLL) grader...I can't imagine that I'll need to start them from the beginning of MCT...

So I was feeling really encouraged until I read the last bit about the string, and sealing wax, and other fancy stuff...and then I just started to cry. :crying: Thanks a lot, Nan! :angry: ;)

We're using Singapore for the 1st time this year and are in 1B, 3A, and 5A. I wish that I had been taught the strategies that Singapore uses when I was a kid. I am not math-y by nature; I can't "see" the numbers, strategies, etc on my own...I just plod through the equations. I like Singapore's strategies, and my 1Ber is doing great. My older 2, who have been trained on Saxon ad nauseum, are having a harder time catching on to this new method, but I know it will be worth it in the long run. I would definitely teach the HIG strategies, but if your DS ultimately comes up with his own way that works for him, great...at least he'll know a couple different ways to solve a problem.