I'm sorry to make anyone feel ashamed....the exchange was such a great idea and if everyone did it the way it was intended all of our kids would have loved it. Don't you think? I just know that when summer activities commence, some of the best intentions get pushed aside. :001_huh: And I have to admit, I just found the three last postcards that I was supposed to have mail two months ago. I thought I'd sent them already! So I'm no better than anyone else. I guess this is just a gentle reminder that if you still want to, and if you still have a list, its not too late to finish your mailings.:) Blessings, Lucinda

Please forgive me if this sounds winey...but I have to check in on this project now that summer is quickly coming to an end. Earlier this spring my dd and I signed up for the WTM postcard exchange that was to take place through the spring and summer. Within a month we had purchased all of our postcards, spent time composing the messages and getting them ready, and then we purchased the postage and sent them off to everyone on the list. It was a special project that we were looking forward to. Dd watched patiently for postcards to come back to us, and a fairly small number did trickle in bit by bit -- but I have to say we have really been disappointed. It is now nearly the end of summer and I would estimate that we have received a total of maybe ten postcards from other participants. DD and I had planned to create an album with all of the postcards, but we really don't have enough to do that. If you are one of the well-meaning people that signed up for this exchange, but got busy over the summer months and forgot -- please know that it is not too late. There is still at least one little girl in Oregon that would love to hear from you. The original list had my name on it, but these postcards are really for my daughter, Bettie. Anyone else feel the way we do? Blessings, Lucinda

This is me too. I have a sister that has estranged herself from the family, and as much as I love her and wish things were different, the peace that is in my life now is much better than the drama we were having. I pray for her every day, miss her and love her like crazy, but until she is willing to take responsibility for her actions and is willing to treat others with love and respect, then we have to be apart. I also have a dil who is highly dramatic and high maintenance. We recently had to put some space between our household and her because of the drama and hurt she inflicts on others. We wish it was different, and pray that it will change, but between now and then we have to have peace in our lives. It would be so wonderful if these difficult people in our lives knew the love, peace and healing that Christ can bring. How He can transform lives and turn things around like nothing else this world has to offer. Blessings, Lucinda

That is great to know. Until we actually get started, seeing and feeling how this all works, it would be hard for me to know. Can't wait to get started! Our fist official day of school for 2009-2010 will be September 14th. Blessings, Lucinda

I am going to be using TOG for the very first time this year and will begin with Yr 1. I have purchased the Writing Aids package, and I also own a copy of Writing Strands that we've never used. Has anyone ever combined both writing programs while doing TOG? I'm curious as to whether it would be too much writing, or maybe add a nice variety to the mix. I'd love to hear your suggestions. :bigear: Blessings, Lucinda

:iagree:I couldn't agree with you more. Best to you as you explore your options!! Blessings, Lucinda

Here is a link to Lampstand Press that explains the program. And here is a link to a virtual hs conferece booth with more information. Dd and I will be using TOG for the first time this year and are really excited. We have already purchased a new but used printed set of Yr. 1 Redesigned, brand new Writing Aids, Map Aids and a full year Yr. 1 lapbook kits. My next step will be to get the Yr. 1 resource materials for upper grammar level (which includes SOTW which we will use as our primary history reference book), plus language arts books that are recommended by TOG. By the time I am done, I will have spent $860 for the entire Yr. 1 TOG, and I will still need to provide math, science and Latin curriculum. (The price varies if you buy some or all of it used, borrow from the library, etc.) Yes, it is expensive, but I am keeping in mind that the master books will be either used again in five years when dd is in 9th grade, or I will sell it and recoup most of the investment. (BTW, TOG has a very good resale value.) There are a number of TOG users on this forum, plus there are several TOG Yahoo groups that welcome people that want to learn more about the curriculum. There is also a very helpful forum on the Lampstand Press website that I've really appreciated, although it is far less active than this wonderful WTM board. Blessings, Lucinda

I agree with this poster in that most pencils that have broken leads are caused by dropping. Could be that you've had a bad batch that was damaged in the warehouse or in shipping. Just a thought... Blessings, Lucinda

I believe in forgiveness and putting things in the past, and I believe that amazing things can happen between individuals and families when it comes to issues like this that can be restored and rebuilt. That said, I also believe that the majority of the time forgiveness and moving on does not have to include putting ourselves together with those difficult people in social situations. Forgiveness and letting go of hurt feelings is meant to free us from the bondage of bitterness. It may all lead to total reconciliation and starting over again, or it may just end in forgiveness. Ideally, you'd like to have everyone get along and be friends, right? But you may never be able to because of the damage and the dynamics of your relationship. It would be perfectly all right to work toward peace, but have limited contact going forward. I'm speaking out of my own life here and I hope it helps. Blessings, Lucinda

If your children are not interested in PE, grammar, or history do you insist that they have it anyway? Of course you do. We have to do our best to expose and teach our children a variety of important subjects whether they want it or not. In my humble opinion, art is under valued and under appreciated in our culture --and that is a sad thing. This subject gets pushed aside so often, or relegated to the bottom of the list. Art may not be your child's "thing", but it is enriching and important for them. Additionally, your children should have a better understanding and appreciation of the giftings of others. They should be familiar with art vocabulary, terms, techniques and the names of artists as a part of their over all education. I have learned that if I am passionate about a subject that I teach, I find that it is more interesting to my students. If art is also not your "thing" and you teach the subject, it may come across to the children you teach and they (in turn) may not be as interested in it either. I don't know if this is the case with you and your children, but it may be worth consideration. Maybe its time to find another person, one that really loves art, to become your dc's art teacher. I teach art in a private school and have seen previously uninterested students suddenly "wake up" and become engrossed in a project simply because I presented it to them in an appealing way. The secret was that I really loved the subject I was teaching, and they caught on. Art is all around us. It is closely, closely connected to the study of culture and history. Even young children need to begin to appreciate these concepts. Art is a valuable subject within the realm of classical education, just as music, logic, Latin, etc. Blessings, Lucinda

How long would you schedule in for this if you were going to add it as a PE class for you and one 10 yo dd? How many days per week - 3-4? This is definitely worth considering! Lucinda

This is going to be our first year, but we will be using SOTW as a primary resource. Blessings, Lucinda

This sounds like the perfect plan for me while also being more PE for dd! I'm headin' off to Amazon.com to find it. Thank you Hoggirl!!! :) Blessings, Lucinda

My surprise baby came at the age of 47 when my bio granddaughter was up for adoption. (Long story...so I won't go into details here.) Anyway, it was a no brainer for us. Dh and I were of the same mind, didn't even need to discuss it because we were already so in love with her. We marched down to the attorneys office and filed the papers. Next thing we knew our baby girl arrived at our doorstep. I will NEVER forget the moment she was placed in my arms and I became her mother. It still gives me a lump in my throat when I think about it. Blessings, Lucinda

I was a freshman in college at the age of 34 and when it came to the big decision of declaring my major, I followed my heart. Despite some naysayers, I entered the Fine Arts program and graduated four years later with my Art degree in painting. If I had done anything else, it would have been simply wrong! And I put myself through school with a combination of grants, scholarships and loans. I am still paying for my education, but you know, I have always thought of it as an investment. I made a pledge to myself to never buy a brand new car, and I can live with that. God created each of us with gifts, skills and abilities and we need to honor that. No one has a right to dictate that choice for us, NO ONE! Blessings, Lucinda

I am over 50 and out of shape....need to exercise, hate to exercise, but know that I can't keep putting it off. I am inspired by the Biggest Loser program, so know Jillian by that. So anyway, would this program work for someone like me that wants to start exercising at home and is totally out of shape? Or is it geared more for people that are already fit and just need a new routine? Whew! Just the thought of this makes me short of breath. :lol: Blessings, Lucinda

I'm so glad I ran across this thread. Somehow I missed it when it came up originally. Yes, I like this approach too; incorporating some discipline into the day, yet allowing grace when grace is needed. Even though I only have one child at home, I still have a lot to manage. Along with dd we have an elderly mother living with us, plus I teach part-time. (If I could count students, that would add a mere 125 more to my list!) Even so, considering the caseload I have at home, I bought the MOTH book to learn from a mom that has to manage even more than I do. As I am reading the book I find myself inspired by the parts that I know would make a difference for us. I have skipped over several sections that don't apply to us, but there is still a lot for me to consider that is helpful. From this, I have a customized day planner for myself and am going to make one for my dd to use, that will include her weekly school assignment lists. We won't be using the big charts either. That is a bit too far over the top for me. After being a free agent with my time for so long, God is speaking into my heart about being a better steward in these days. My guiding scripture is Psalm 90:12, "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." I can't change the past, but I can make the most of the time I have going forward. So as I prepare for the new school year I am incorporating more structure into our days. The goal is that in time we will become more disciplined and have better habits. Blessings, Lucinda

I feel that both programs will hold your hand well, but there are some real differences to consider. If you would like to have a program that is scripted for the teacher and lays everything out step-by-step while covering multiple aspects of math simultaneously (spiral approach - i.e. currency, telling time, taking measurements, plotting weather, learning math concepts, etc.), then Saxon is your program. While this is good in theory, we found that the Saxon method moves.VERY.slowly (no exaggeration--yaaawwwwn!) So if your children are fast learners, they may get frustrated and bored with it. Saxon was not a good fit for our dd for this reason and she was bored to tears, hating math all the way. So we left Saxon behind and never looked back. If you would like to have a program that is taught to you (the teacher) via DVD instruction (as well as your children if you like to include them with watching it), you may want to consider MUS. Along with the video teaching, there is a teachers manual with written instruction for the lesson. Additionally, there is a Yahoo group and some supplemental information on the MUS website, so there is a great deal of support for most people. The program itself is taught by students mastering the math concepts before moving on to the next concept (i. addition, then subtraction, then multiplication, then division, etc.) It is not a spiral approach like Saxon. MUS moves at the rate of your individual child's learning speed. We switched from Saxon to MUS at the recommendation of the Classical Christian school where I teach part-time. (Our school had used both programs, so the teachers knew both very well.) Once we moved over to MUS we felt much more positive about math. Dd went from hating math to loving it. At this level (two years later) we find that since I am not a strong math teacher, we are going to try Teaching Textbooks for 5th grade. This is yet another program that comes highly recommended and it has a built in math tutor. We think very highly of MUS and will go back to it if TT doesn't help in the way we are hoping. The only reason we are making this change is because I am not a strong math teacher and need additional help beyond what Steve Demme has to offer. After all, he can teach on the video very well, but he can't answer questions when they arise. Unless I can answer the questions with confidence, dd gets stuck. Hence, we move one more time to another curriculum, but we are still very optimistic. I hope this helps. Blessings, Lucinda

Plus you could use it whether you have a PC or a Mac. Pretty cool, huh? This is what I am going to use for grade keeping and attendance, even though I don't have to for 5th grade. I am going to need to keep closer tabs as dd goes beyond the grammar stage. Along with this, I have a hard copy lesson planner book as well as my own schedule/time manager notebook. Dd will also have her own hard copy notebook for assignments and weekly schedule. Things are finally coming together for me with the organization and planning. I'm really looking forward to the new school year. Blesings, Lucinda

My 10 yo dd is starting to find things on her own and ask me about it. Like one day recently when she was reading in her OT Explorer lesson and ran across the word "concubine"...so when she asked what that meant I had to think fast. :D You can run, but you can't hide! Sooner or later it will be asked or have to be dealt with and it will need to be addressed. Blessings, Lucinda

We school Monday through Thursday for most sit down subjects. I have to work on Tuesdays, so I have the assignments laid out for dd when I leave in the morning and she has a lot to do really...so I count that as a regular school day. (Grandma is here to see that she stay on task and it works well.) On Fridays we have always had a lighter day, especially if she has completed her assignments. I will be teaching a hs art class on Friday afternoons this year, and she is enrolled in the class too. So we'll probably do library on Fridays while we're in town for the class, leaving some light catch up or other electives time for the morning. This is going to be a great school year! Blessings, Lucinda

We are really hoping we are not trying to fit too much in. Dd wants to learn Spanish, but I think it would be a good idea to continue with Latin at least another year first. Blessings, Lucinda

I shared these recommendations recently with another mom and so I'll add it to the thread for the consideration of others. My list is based on extensive use in the classroom and my own personal use. Please feel free to contact me via pm if you have any questions. Oil pastels - Excellent medium for students in elementary through middle school! You can achieve the look of painting without the mess and chemicals. (Note there will be some residue "crumbs" that will need special care, but it can be kept contained and controlled.) I would recommend Sakura brand, which is affordable and good quality. We use these at the school where I teach. Tempera Paints - I do not have a favorite brand or recommendation for these, as I have found most to be acceptable, except for the washable kind which behaves very strangely and I really hate. (What point is it to the child if it is washable but the paint performs poorly?) We use tempera mostly for primary grades to teach basic painting skills and color mixing, or perhaps for theater backgrounds. If you use them for color mixing, be sure to choose "pure" primary colors that are, for instance, a true red, a true blue and a pure yellow. If you are not careful about this, the colors will not mix well and you will end up with strange versions of secondary and tertiary colors. If choosing tempera paints for these purposes, you can actually save money by purchasing red, blue, yellow, black and white and mixing them to achieve the colors and shades you desire. Water Color Paint - Watercolor is a great medium for middle schoolers and primary grades as well. I can't recommend Yarka watercolor paints enough! We use them at school and they are excellent. They are a stickier, moist pan paint. These sets come with a little paintbrush, however, that is simply worthless. Throw away the brush and replace it with a nice round brush, a one-inch flat brush and a thin liner brush. My second choice for primary students would be Crayola brand watercolors. Brushes and Paper for Watercolor: There are so many types of paint brushes to choose from that I have a hard time narrowing it down for a recommendation. Just try to stay away from brushes that have loose hairs and are cheaply made. It is not fun to use a brush that leaves hairs behind when making brushstrokes! As much as I like Crayola brand supplies, they do NOT make good paint brushes. Synthetic hair is absolutely fine for students, so don't feel that sable or kolinsky brushes are required. The best thing to do is choose brushes in person and get some assistance from a store clerk if possible. Otherwise, here is a watercolor brush set that would work well for at least a couple of school years - maybe even longer if it is taken care of - for a student that is, say, 12 years old and up. You will also need to have watercolor paper for this medium, and I would recommend something like this pad by Strathmore. A 9" x 12" pad is a really good size. You may want to order a couple of pads at a time because they only contain 12 sheets per pad. Chalk Pastels - There are pastels and there are pastels. I am very choosy about these materials, probably because I used them a lot in college. (I even did my senior thesis in pastels.) I do not encourage students to use what is referred to as "chalk", or even what most stores carry that is labled "pastels". Most of these versions of pastels have mostly chalk filler and little to no color pigment at all. If your dc would like to explore the amazing, colorful world of pastel painting, then I would recommend another Yarka product: Yarka soft pastels. These sets are affordable and although I have not used them myself, I plan to purchase them this fall for my students based on the quality of Yarka watercolor paints. My suggestion would be to purchase an set of 12 or 24 of the assorted colors -- not the portrait or landscape sets. Pastel and Oil Pastel Papers - Canson Mi Teintes papers are the standard "toothy" paper used for these mediums. They are meant to hold in the color and keep it there longer than smooth papers. You might consider buying one pad of this larger size, then cut the sheets into quarters. We use the fine art color assortment for students and they seem to really enjoy that selection. Drawing Papers - I use this line of Strathmore paper for my students and it is very good. We have a standard size for all papers and that is 9" x 12", and these pads come in that size. You might also buy some of the Bristol paper we brought up in another thread (very smooth surface in a nice, heavy weight) in the same size. And I always like to have newsprint on hand for drawing, sketching or simply as a "placemat" under painting projects. I like to get this in a bigger size such as 11" x 17" for that reason. Markers - Color markers are really more for the primary grades, unless you are into cartooning. If you want to give your dc more of a fine arts education, forgo the use of color markers. If you do purchase markers for little ones, Crayola brand is the very best around. Every art supply cabinet should contain thin and medium tipped Sharpie pens in black. They are great drawing tools and come in handy for many projects. Pencils - In my humble opinion, you don't need to get fancy sets of pencils for children. If anything, you might consider buying a couple of these Turquoise pencils - but most young students only need a couple of the 2B's and a couple of 6B's for the whole year. If you want to save money, just use #2 school pencils with the eraser cut off (don't ever use pink erasers for drawing) and then purchase the 6B's or what we call ebony pencils. These are very soft leaded pencils that work wonderfully for filling in dark, dark areas in a drawing and also for tracing and transferring. NOTE: Also purchase a white plastic eraser for drawing use only. Never use caramel or pink erasers for art! Colored Pencils - This is a very good medium for primary and secondary grades. I would recommend these Prisma Color pencils or even Crayola Brand water color colored pencils, which can also be used with water and a paint brush. (Just be sure to use paper that will support water if you add water with a brush.) Have I forgotten anything? Blessings, Lucinda

We will be using TOG for the first time this year, but I can make some comments and perhaps others will chime in as well. First of all, TOG itself does not include grammar. It does include writing, but if you want your child to learn grammar you must supplement it. (They do have recommendations, but it is up to you entirely.) Additionally, TOG does not include math, science, handwriting or Latin. The program itself is classical education with an emphasis on Christian world view. It is a unit study program, which means that the subjects are all connected with a "spine". In this case, the "spine" is history. With each year of study, the students' literature, history, geography, philosophy, government and writing assignments will all be woven together. There is a rich layout of materials to choose from, somewhat like a smorgasboard - and I am told that it would be impossible to do it all. You have the freedom to customize your plan to fit the needs, interests and age levels within your family. One important aspect is the Socratic discussions, which help a student think through topics and situations. The goal is to help them to become independent thinkers, understanding what they believe and able to articulate knowledge well and defend their faith as adults. There is a four year rotation of history, and a family can actually use the same primary set of books, but purchase appropriate grade level resource materials. It can be expensive, but there are ways to cut down on the costs, and frankly I have found that the first year is similar in cost to Sonlight Core 5 that I would have purchased. And considering that if you stay with TOG you will use the main set of books more than once with repeated studies of that era of history, it makes it an even better investment. I've heard some negative things about TOG too, but I have heard much, much more positive than negative. I've decided to try it out for myself because what I've learned about it so far sounds like a wonderful way to educate my dd. There is a lot of support for people there, and so I can get all the help that I might need. I do hope you check it out as you consider what your dc need and I want to encourage you to push aside the naysayers and form your own opinion. There are also a number of TOG users here on this website that have much more experience than I do. Hopefully they can address some of your questions I have not answered. Blessings, Lucinda

Have you ever considered Tapestry of Grace? Unless you are looking for strictly secular curriculum, it sounds a great deal like what you are describing. Blessings, Lucinda