Hobo dinners.

I guess we are on the border. If I put in we have only two children, we get to upper. But when I put in five children, family size 7, we are middle.

I wouldn't do it. I read that it makes a child less scared of going in to the water and therefore, a bigger risk. Plus, it seems to me it could traumatized the child.

Congratulations!!!

I would love ideas of streaming channels you might like. Also, if you have time, please tell a little about the channel.

I am not "skipping high school." But, I am only doing 9th grade full time. By 10th, he will be taking 25% through community college, junior years, 50% or more, depending on how sophomore year goes, and by senior year, completely at community college. At least that is the plan. I do not intend to do courses at home that he will do off at community college.

I was thinking something like that. Not formal writing, but give him a notebook he can write in and even story starters unless he already has something to write about.

No you don't. It is right there in the textbooks. We clearly are not going to agree on this one. Maybe if someone has not used the books since level 1 or 2, as in, if they start for the first time at level 4 or so, then they would want the HIG or something similar to help them understand what has been taught prior to their level. And they will need to do additional teaching with the child to catch the child up to what was taught in previous levels. But if you start with the Singapore Math in the earlier levels, you will get it all.

7th grade I was going to skip over doing a writing because he is a natural writer and he has meltdowns when I require too much of him and nothing gets done. Also, he prefers to watch entertaining documentaries. He enjoyed shows like "The Cosmos" and "How the States Got Their Shapes." So, for the sake of sanity, I was going to let those subjects go. And ask for free reading, maybe the book adventure quizzes to make sure he keeps up with it. Now I feel like I should just add something. Originally, I purchased "Jump In" because I figured it would be fun, not too difficult. But it sounds like "Jump In" would be irritating for the natural writer. Plus, I currently have a set for older son that he never finished so I could use that one if I wanted. I have thought of getting him a composition book or a spiral notebook and pull assignments from past curriculum that I have, Jump In, story starters, journal entries..that sort of thing. Just make the lessons up myself. What do you think? I also have Writers Inc and a syllabus to go with that too that would make it work. Any suggestions for writing? Or should I let it go and maybe add to our program with science or history? I have Apologia Physical Science. I have tons of books on history, and books on tape. So I am thinking that adding in history is not needed. I did consider IEW's Themed writing? That would tie in history and writing? Also, on the science end, I have all the RS4Kids books as well as all the elementary Apologia books. Of course, I could just add nothing else. Here is what we have... Finish Singapore Math and then start Jacob's Algebra. Spelling Workout G Daily Grams 8th grade, plan to finish half And then the rest, try to casually add in throughout the year, largely interest led. I have tons of resources and I have the internet and some streaming channels. I am also open to new ideas of Streaming Channels that we might be able to make use of and for Audio Books. He has a brief interest in Russian right now.

I would definitely go with a workbook based program. It sounds like he is not a tactile learner, or one to learn through games. BJU math is a very gentle program. It has the theory of start slow, get the basics very solid, and then move it. It is ahead of other programs by 8th grade. You might want to look at that one. I like the pages and how the lessons are broken down.

The HIGs did not come from the same writers as the Singapore books, nor did they come from Singapore at all. They were written by home school publishers, I think Sonlight may have been the first. It was written by people who had no special training in "the Singapore Way" beyond using these textbooks and workbooks. "Singapore Way" is not such a mysterious or difficult thing that it takes tons of work to understand. There was some family in this area, not near me, but within an hour, that opened a home school store. They really got on my nerves because they started advertising for new home schoolers to come to them and pay for their seminar on how to home school. They said in their ads that this seminar is a must because if you home school wrong, you could end up in jail and even your children taken away. We are in Texas! This is not even true! They took it a step further and sold "evaluations" to "determine the best program for your child." Only, every single child got the same exact thing, and at their grade level, and it was not even that amazing of stuff. It was mostly CLP, which is fine I guess. But not this amazing, "wow" thing. In fear, new home schoolers paid for their seminars because they thought they needed them. Many parents gave up on home schooling all together thinking it was very complicated to navigate the legal waters and one wrong step and their children could end up in foster care. Anyway, I equate the HIGs to that. Sure, they are good for someone who wanted the added activities and a somewhat like a script to follow. But that is it. People were posting on boards, including the Sonlight boards that existed back then that they wish they had more of a TM to go with the books. The HIGs were written then, by American home schoolers who had read and maybe even used the Singapore Math books. The books were fine and nice and meant to supplement for those who wanted it. At least Sonlight never told anyone they NEED the books and they will destroy their child without them and cannot possibly do Singapore Math without them. BUT, as the years have gone by, people have grown to think this and post it. But it is simply not true. It is nothing more than a product that is also available that you can use with the math if you wish. But if you do not like the product for whatever reason, or simply do not wish to use it, no problem at all. Everything is in the textbook anyway.

But it is actually all in the textbooks. You do not need the HIG also. There is nothing missing from the textbooks that the HIG would bring to the program. Other than that some people wanted a more scripted type program to follow. But, the entire "Singapore Way" is in the textbooks and explained very well there.

Would another degree actually bring him in more money? From my research, companies might concern themselves with the major and/or the level of education. But they do not concern themselves with which degree was done at which level. And my husband is an engineer and a masters is pretty much considered a waste. If he is underemployed now and needs the additional degree to be taken seriously, maybe. But I would personally object. It would take away from his family time. He has an MBA, he has another business type degree, he has a masters, and he has a type of engineering degree. Getting a masters in engineering, unless it changes his skill set, will not likely change his career outlook. And really, he can add to his skill set without returning to school and paying for another degree. I know for us, if we had the money for an additional degree, then we probably do not need the additional earnings that would come from it. I would love to return to school to get a masters in something I might enjoy more. But, by the time I pay for it and take all that time away from my children's childhoods, and from the money that would go toward their degrees, it would not be worth it.

One thing is, when all this happens so fast, it resembles "love bombing." Throwing the children in to a rushed and "bombed" relationship is not that healthy. I know sister says they are permanent, but she said the last relationship was. And the last one went on for years, they married and had a child. And no one really gets a new sudden SO. The children matter. And it does not help the children when stability gets messed up on a whim. I would still call this relationship a new one, not a permanent one. And the sister really has no business making all the demands she has been making, that everyone pretends the relationships are something they are not. The children are probably even tired of playing grandparent with people they hardly know.

Where are nursing necklaces? Is this something I make? Is this like a teething necklace?

OK, weird breastfeeding problem. I would love solutions. I have never had this before. His hands are very very busy. And I try to stick something in his hand. That only sort of works. But, sometimes, when he is nursing, he pinches me on the arm. Not like intentional, but more like, it is what he does when he falls asleep? Except he is leaving bruises. In addition to this, sometimes, if I look the other way, he will pull off and tweak my nipple. Yep, he does that too. AND, if left when any sort of access, he sticks his fingers in my belly button. Nursing is becoming an olympic sport and is not much fun for me now. In fact, I dread it sometimes. Other than being punitive or stopping nursing, any suggestions?

The only thing that adds to SM is math fact drill and maybe Keys to Fractions. That is it.

The HIGs have left people thinking they need them to use SM. The HIGs are not even written by the same people. You do NOT need anything in the HIG. But the fact that they exist leaves people thinking they will be missing something without it. You won't be. It's just sales and marketing. Someone made something people will buy. Now people think they need it. They don't.

I feel like the HIGs ruined the books. You know there were not any HIGs the first several years people used Singapore Math. I would just ditch the HIG.

Also, if your mom really wants to give gifts to her grandson, have her send it through the ex. It is giving too much power to the sister to only talk to whoever sister says they can talk to. Your sister has some mental health issues going on. She is trying to triangulate everyone by telling all who can talk to whom. And she is using emotional manipulation to get away with it. If you all cave in to this, you will be held in bondage by her for always. Everyone needs to take a stand. No more triangulation or emotional manipulation or warfare.

Your sister is immature and using emotional warfare. I think you all should just not cave to her stunts.

Here is where I am.... I picked a preschool known for hands on. It is rare that I see anything come home in the form of a worksheet. I love the preschool. I honestly LOVE LOVE LOVE the preschool. We get a lot done when they are there. And really, my children have learned so much and done so well there. Downside..in the last 4 years of sending children to preschool, I have spent $12,000!!!!!!!! I could have invested that money and had a year of college tuition fully paid for at the state university. And the children only ever went two half days a week, school year only. That is the only downside here. I am so frustrated. One more year of preschool for Princess Glitter and then I have Baby Beautiful. What to do...what to do.... (if you comment to my post, please click "like" so I know to come back and look. Thanks!)

If you want practical, Spanish would not be the way to go. Chinese is way more common in this world. Forget practical. Spanish is no more practical than several other languages. Your child is not going to learn enough of a foreign language to be so fluent at it that your child can become an interpreter. French is an excellent choice. Also, so many people study Spanish and very few study anything else that when it comes to mission trips, it is difficult to find anyone who can go anywhere except Spanish speaking countries. And trust me, studying Spanish in the US is not going to make you a great enough speaker to go elsewhere and use it really. The child would have to enjoy it enough to study for years. And sounds like your child wants to study French, so she would probably not enjoy Spanish.

I really love Jacob's Algebra. That is what I plan to use next.

I love it!