Thanks, Claire. I had forgotten about these and will look into them. Holly

Hello! I am not on the boards as much anymore. Some of you know about my son. For the newer posters, he had a congenital infection that caused deafness and other learning issues (calcification in the brain). We have followed a similar learning path as my other children, just slowed *way* down. We fumbled in the beginning with math programs and finally found Rod & Staff and have stuck with it for several years now. He just turned 12, is in 5th grade and just started the 5th grade math book. So generously speaking, he is only one year behind and I am fine with that! He is doing o.k. with basic math problems. He memorizes easily (his sole strength, so we use it) and learned his facts. He learns the way to approach a problem and masters the mechanics. So, with basic arithmetic, I am pretty happy with his performance. The problem is that we are now embarking on all the "other" skills: fractions, measurement, etc. He is a mess! I think I let some of this slide when he was younger and now I am regretting it. So, my question: I am not interested in changing programs. R & S (with is hefty review) is working for us, for the most part. R & S is slower in the younger years with some of this other stuff, so it could just be that we are just now hitting this and seeing the carnage. I am interested in more ideas/games and supplements to focus on these other skills. For example, about a year ago, some one mentioned workbooks to address how to solve word problems. He has been slowly working through them and I have seen a *big* improvement in reasoning out the word problems. Thanks, Holly S/NC

I started here 8 years ago. I still try hard to maintain WTM standards, with modifications for kids, as needed. I don't check in as often as I did years ago, when I got such great feedback on how to implement WTM. Part of it is that I now have a lot of experience, but part of it is a switch in people visiting. I do still get great ideas here, but the feel is definitely different. Holly S/NC

Adjusting expectations takes a lot of time and work. I think the gradual method that Stacy suggested would be best. My kids know (this is our 8th year of hs) that they should absolutely never expect to do anything fun before lunch! O.K...That was a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the picture. Mornings are for school only. No electronics, pretend games, etc. until all work is done. You can't impose that immediately, you have to work up to it. (BTW, I fulfill my part of the bargain by also just doing school from 8 to 12. No phone calls or projects...I am there to teach, coach, check, monitor, etc.) We do still use the timer, even in 5th grade. If he is working hard and hits 50 minutes on a *very difficult* math lesson, I let him finish it the next day. Math is our biggest potential blow-up, so I monitor that much more closely than I do grammar or writing. We also do the math and language first. Then listening to a history story or doing a science project almost seems like fun, or a break, from the seatwork. HTH, Holly S

of 10 minutes per grade per subject. So, for 2nd grade, we used about 20 minutes of math, 20 minutes of reading, etc. We have made it to 5th grade now! :) We do roughly 45 minutes per hard, sit-at-the-desk subjects (math & grammar) and about one hour for history and science (which includes read alouds and projects and writing up one paragraph summary). This was a very gradual process. And we still take lots of breaks as needed (for jumping jacks or shooting baskets or free reading). We school from 8 until 11:30ish most days. I have warned him for 6th grade, the day will get much longer... Holly S

It has a star chart for each month....on the left is the image, with the stars "connected" to show the constellations. On the right are just the plain stars. We have only been using it a few weeks, in conjunction with the astronomy event for science olympiad and have found it extremely interesting and helpful. Also, only $8 or so. HTH, Holly

We are in Charlotte and have been home schooling, with WTM, for 8 years now. Holly S/NC

I've been homeschooling 8 years now. Found WTM right after I started and everything just clicked with my CPA mind. I started on the old boards about 2000. Just graduated to the high school board in the last year or so, as my oldest is only 13, but doing some high school level work. The other boards got too busy for me. I have learned so much from you all. These new boards are making my nervous, I am persevering because my hs just wouldn't be the same without the collective input from the hive. Thanks, Holly S/NC

Thank you, Jean. I am having a terrible time and just don't have the time to try to figure this out. Thanks for the hints! Holly:)

My 13 yo has just finished Pride and Prejudice and is currently reading Glass Menagerie for school. She reads a lot and is currently working her way through all the Naruto books (shudder!). I just finished Eat, Pray, Love and am now reading Middlesex for my book club. Enjoy, Holly