We are looking into it as well. We have 1 close by that will be starting it's 3rd year, but has actually gotten too big and is having a new branch start up (which is what we would be joining at this point). I am starting to buy little pieces and parts to work with and see how it will work for us. My son would start in Challenge A which I think will be an eye-opener for him, but in a good way. My daughter will be doing Foundations and Essentials. I went to the meeting on Wednesday with my 50 million questions and they were able to answer them all without a problem and didn't think I was a pain :) I know the women who are running it which really helps. Just don't be afraid to ASK questions - and also..... don't feel pressure to sign up that moment. I heard one person who went to a meeting and really felt pressure - "We ALWAYS fill up quickly..... you NEED to sign up today...." that type of stuff and then regretted it because she really couldn't afford it. I plan on tutoring a Foundations class or Essentials. I will be looking over the materials to see which I would feel more comfortable working with. THAT is what will actually pay for my tuition in time. Personally I'm excited about it - nervous as well. DH isn't thrilled it's ANOTHER program (3 in 3 years - but I only changed from LifePacs because HE didn't like them - LOL)....but I think he'll see the results we both want, especially with DS entering in the High School time.

We are looking into it as well. We have 1 close by that will be starting it's 3rd year, but has actually gotten too big and is having a new branch start up (which is what we would be joining at this point). I am starting to buy little pieces and parts to work with and see how it will work for us. My son would start in Challenge A which I think will be an eye-opener for him, but in a good way. My daughter will be doing Foundations and Essentials. I went to the meeting on Wednesday with my 50 million questions and they were able to answer them all without a problem and didn't think I was a pain :) I know the women who are running it which really helps. Just don't be afraid to ASK questions - and also..... don't feel pressure to sign up that moment. I heard one person who went to a meeting and really felt pressure - "We ALWAYS fill up quickly..... you NEED to sign up today...." that type of stuff and then regretted it because she really couldn't afford it. I plan on tutoring a Foundations class or Essentials. I will be looking over the materials to see which I would feel more comfortable working with. THAT is what will actually pay for my tuition in time. Personally I'm excited about it - nervous as well. DH isn't thrilled it's ANOTHER program (3 in 3 years - but I only changed from LifePacs because HE didn't like them - LOL)....but I think he'll see the results we both want, especially with DS entering in the High School time.

I would have been shocked if they sent postmen out - we are working now to plow to our back field for the animals - and the huge tractor is having issues.... let alone a basic car!! As much as I want my mail (I ordered stuff - LOL) I don't want anyone hurt so I can get it!!

I am shocked how much I am liking CLE and my dd is too! We started "over" with 401 but it is ahead of what she WAS doing. Some is drill/reminder work - but I am so happy we did it. I'm thinking of going with Classical Conversations next year - BUT I will probably use CLE Math for at least my dd. She likes taking the lesson practice test & passing it....then I dramatically cross off the next lesson with a big red X. If she looks at the lesson practice test and doesn't understand it... we use that as our lesson then the next day she will PROUDLY do the lesson knowing what needs to be done. I actually just bought the CLE LA for both kids because I was so happy with the Math ;)

Congrats! We bought a travel trailer last year and have made some great plans for this year already!! We took a small trip first just to see what we needed. 1st - we got a new sewer hose kit with an elbow shaped pipe that went in the hole. 2nd forks and steak knives. 3rd a can opener (no kidding - we didn't think about bringing one). I bought a collapsible colander which I have found invaluable. We NEED a clothes line to hang towel out on - that's next. Also I plan on getting some stuff for the kids to pack in (plastic containers) that will fit in their "closet" area. Check the mattress - we got those memory foam things to go on top because the mattresses are awful. We joined: Good Sam's club - and they have a new AWESOME site directory which lists it by road (on the east coast, if we are traveling on 95 we can just follow it down and it rates the sites as we go!!) My favorite thing I am getting (we only went 3 times last year and not for very long).... an address book for people we meet who we like and want to stay in contact with. My dd found a friend and we usually try and let him know where we will be in case they want to show up as well. When DH retires - I plan to have us go RVing!! ;)

Actually according to the Terms of Agreement - as a SELLER you can not ask for the fee as a separate thing (you can build it in - but no cash discount is allowed) . It's the same with credit cards.... I take cc's for our business - according to the terms as a seller (with mine and most cc accounts) it is actually ILLEGAL to charge someone a different amount for paying with a cc than with cash.

I've done it 3 times and been happy every time. Just also remember that if it has issues that will be taken into account - but they detail everything on a piece of paper and tell you WHY they are giving you that price. We chose NOT to sell my mini-van as we thought TO US it was worth more..... but when I sold my Land Cruiser (stupid mistake) they had a need for them so we were given more than even Toyota would do and higher than the expected value.

I LOVE the show.... I really hope it stays.... Walter cracks me up. I knew Peter would shimmer a few episodes ago - now I am dying to see "the past" in April.

Has anyone gotten the MP3 download of SOTW Vol 1? Reason I am asking is my experience with MP3's and my iPhone is that they don't "bookmark" if I leave it and then come back. Formatted audiobooks seem to work ok - but MP3's not so much (sometimes it's hit or miss).

I honestly think it will depend on your kids. Maybe for modesty sake get a privacy screen (even a shower curtain they like) for them to change behind. It's YOUR family :) You can make it work without a problem.....

I liked CLE much better. DD (grade 4) was 38 lessons in Saxon 5/4 and it was ALL review to her and it was getting to the point of being boring and she was dreading math. Now we switched to CLE 400 and even though it's review - she gets to skip what she knows well and then gets more practice on what she doesn't know as well.

We switched from SOS to the CLE 401 (we were at unit 4 on the SOS) and we are doing the quiz 1 day and then if she passes, the next quiz the next day. If she doesn't pass.... then she does the complete lesson. We don't do the speed drills (mainly because of schedule right now) - but I expect once we get back in the groove we will be doing them. I love what this is doing for my daughter though - it's NOT an easy curriculum which I am really pleased about. I am thinking about having my son do it next year instead of going back into Algebra with Saxon to make him more confident. We switched him to SOS 8 and now back to finish some of last years lifepacs.

We are using Spongebob as well.... she just installed it and is having fun with it. DS is using Mavis Beacon if he would ever install it and not get side tracked :)

http://www.the-simple-homeschool.com/simple-schooling-science.html My daughter loves these programs. She is working on the "Horses" unit right now along with a side-study of "pink Dolphins" (indo-pacific humpbacks). She is also working through the American History. I like it because she can have it on her computer and/or printed out. There are internet links in the PDF for further research.

Think about things you would like. I raid the library every week :) My kids are 10 & 12 but still my daughter loves "The Fairy Collection" and so many more books out there. Also - librivox.org ROCKS ;) Those are all free to download and are from the public domain. Both my kids love Andrew Langs Colored Fairy Book Collection.... there are different ones (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow - you get the idea).... they are all short individual stories so it works out great.

We are - I'm excited that Parts 2 & 3 are now available (they weren't last year when ds was working on it). She LOVED "Our Island Story" and listened to it over and over again. I also just got the Blackline Maps for the US over at http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/Ebook-Sale.html for $9.98 which is great for her.

I'm trying to see if there is a basic outline anywhere of the years/people covered in This Country Ours. My dd has told me she got more out of Ambleside last year than the Seton workbooks we were using this year - so we are switching some of it back for her. She's an auditory learner and is listening to "This Country Ours" but I was looking for a basic outline so maybe I can plan extras....even just coloring sheets and maps. Thanks :)

You can get some low cost MP3 players at buy.com I have a sansa fuze and both kids have Ipods.... it's worth the money honestly to get an MP3 player in my opinion. Both my kids have different audiobooks on their units and I spend a lot of time downloading from librivox.org :) Then we can download library books etc. Now - with an iPod, not all libraries will have downloads compatible which stinks but they are working on it apparently. BTW - if you buy an MP3 player off amazon.com right now and sign up for audible.com for a year ($14.95/month) you get $100 off the MP3 player - if you get one under $100 it would be "free".... my son just got his new iPod touch with money he saved up by us doing that....

There are also youtube animated videos of P.P!! Both my kids LOVED the story after they watched those.... Also - there is an audio version which is acted out - with I think 50 actors or something like that. I can't find the link right now - but I heard it was well worth the $20-30 for it.

Thanks - we just had her spelling quiz and she did AWFUL!!!! I'm lost at it - I might pull out the 3rd grade Rod & Staff Spelling I have and have her back up and do that one. Or just might grab the Seton one to stay consistent with the subject. Thanks for the suggestions on the readers - I have those!!! Why didn't I think of that ;)

So my dd is in 4th grade work now..... but her reading is really bad. I was asking her to read the "Hello Julie" book from American Girl and she couldn't make it easily through any of the pages - and I felt awful!! She's doing FINE on her schoolwork which is great - she's learning to pre-read the questions and highlight as she reads to be able to find the answers again later. She did History the other day ahead of schedule and got all the review questions correct! So I'm not sure WHY or WHERE she is having all these problems. But she doesn't want "baby books" - so any suggestions to help build her confidence?

Ok - first I will say to read the OLD book (look on eBay for the 1995 book I think it is). It's a lot better and not so much "please buy these products"... I lost 40+lbs on it and kept it off for over a year - then blew it and gained 18lbs back his past holiday because I then had surgery and sat in bed forever. But I'm back on it now and doing ok - I feel a lot better when I'm on it. So - after your 1st 2 weeks when you are pretty much getting your body used to eating differently - you can start adding things in. BUT - honestly fruit and yogurt should wait awhile. Reason is that in some people (not all!) fruit sugars will trigger the "need to eat more" button because of their sweetness. Things in the lower glycemic index will do better (think blueberries). I make my own bread - which isn't too bad ;) I got the recipes from: http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/ I also LOVE protein shakes - and I order ZERO CARB protein powder from Netrition - my absolute fav is cookies and cream flavored - tastes like an oreo cookie! I got some great recipes and support from sugarfreeshelia.com - she went from a size 10 to a size 0/1 and has stayed with it. Me - I was happy going from a size 18 to a size 5/6 and I'm ready to get there again. There are TONS of great recipes out there for you to do - so don't think it's all meat and eggs - which a lot of people believe. I eat a TON of salads and more brocolli and cauliflower than I have in a long time!!

We also did the Pet Store one...... we started and didn't finish but that wasn't because of my son not liking it! We plan on doing it again and starting over - but both kids will do it.

Board Game - "Create A Story" iPods for the kids - I'm addicted to librivox.org and download a ton of books for them through it Each kid has a computer and they are both working on saving up for laptops - which we will probably allow with the same restrictions as their computers My comb binding machine - I make up fun workbooks for them from schoolexpress.com and whatever else I find for them.

I don't know the "course plan" - maybe give her the placement test which is free on Saxon's site.... but we just started with Saxon this year (2009-2010) and I am truly kicking myself we didn't do it sooner. The lay out is so easy to handle I love it. My ds is in Algebra and I got the CD. He doesn't really LIKE it but I do. If he has a serious problem and doesn't "get it" he can always watch the CD and they will walk him through it. I actually already bought Algebra 2 because I got it for a good deal and we'll move into it when he is done with Algebra 1.