We love it but if you are looking at Pre Algebra and higher, be aware that version 2 may work better for you because it has the grade book for parents and the first version does not which I find very inconvenient. We've used this for 2 kids in grades 4-7 and just starting Pre-Algebra. If we stay the course, my son will only be at Pre Calc in grade 12. This is fine with me. Some people would not like that though and want a math that progressed faster and completed Calc by grade 12. Just FYI. But some people double up lessons or complete all the levels early and just get another program for Calc or Trig for the later grades. So it's still viable. ETA: My kids have always scored well on standardized tests in math too-in the 70-90+% They are not especially "mathy" as some would say. Some have complained about TT and standardized tests but I haven't seen more than one person ever say their kids did terrible on tests when using TT.

Seattle, WA area. We lived north of Seattle for 4 yrs and LOVED it! Loved the temperate climate, the accessibility to the beach and mountains, and the fresh food! We went to the beach every week and never got tired of it. And when my son wanted to go sledding, it was only a 45 minute drive almost year round. One Saturday we played on the beach in the morning in shorts and were sledding in shorts at 2pm in the mountains :) We also loved the culture and all the greats educational things like the zoo, aquarium, science center, children's museums, museum o flight, etc. The library system is awesome too! And the shopping :tongue_smilie: Awesome selection of boutiques, book stores, food stores, thrift stores, and brand name shops. I got hooked on Hanna Anderson clothes for kids here. The value system of the people we met was more like ours too. I met some of my best friends there. We already know that we will retire there if we don't get back there before that!

Lots of great ideas-thanks! On one hand I like the 6 wk check out idea, but on the other hand, if I was the person waiting for this book I would grump that it was too long of a check out period ;)

Our library is wanting to do more for homeschoolers. The librarian in charge of this venture open to ideas and wants to incorporate new things and buy any books that would benefit many homeschoolers. So what does your library do for homeschoolers that you like and/or use?

I watched the whole thing yesterday and was very impressed! I love how he put a number on the ticket and then it had to be 'verified' with the calculator-very smart!! That kid will go places....

Yes, my parents said they would hide pennies and nickels and stickers in the eggs with "just a few pieces of candy." Well, 2 gallon buckets of candy later they were done opening their eggs. I glared at the grandparents.:glare: We kept just a few pieces and threw the rest away after the kids went to bed.

This happened to me when my son was little too. I was adjusting the baby in the carseat and he ran off. I went after him in the same direction but he disappeared. I have to say the stores are good at the code "Adam"" or whatever it is and everyone was looking. But that does not make a parent feel any calmer. A manager found my son in a rack of clothing as well. He said "I'm camping and going to start a fire in here!" Oh my, I'm sure the manager was glad to see him leave the store! ;)

I'm confused-if you can't go to their house because she's a hoarder and they can't come to your house (for other reasons as you state) then where does she think these holidays will be held? And where did they occur last year? Basically, you are both adults and you just need to put your foot down. Will she be mad, yes. But either she'll get over it or you will be estranged from them. Life is too short to worry about stuff like this. It's supposed to be a holiday and HAPPY and time to spend with family in a positive way-not driving all over the state and stressing. Since we have 4 kids we've always told both sets of parents that we do not leave the house on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day but they are all welcome to see us at our house. We had a few grumbles the first few years but now it works just fine. One or both sets of grandparents show up every year for Christmas Day. And now since we are known to host Thanksgiving-everyone else is glad they don't have to clean their house or cook the turkey ;) And larger extended family gatherings are always done the week prior or after the actual holiday so there's no conflicts.

I've bought and sold there often with no problems. It does take up to a day to get approved sometimes and with the holiday they might be a little slower. Just don't click on any of the side ads or links and you should be fine regarding the viruses I think.

I've read some good reviews of Painless Spelling (A Barron's guide) that I think I'm going to try since you can get a used copy for around $5 on amazon.

Cut the least stressful one first, probably the morning or nap time one. When the time comes try to have a sippy cup with another drink he likes or redirect with a story or lovey item or with a consistent message such as "milk is gone now" or something you think he will understand. I'd wait about 2 weeks before cutting another nursing session but do the same routine. When it comes to cutting the last session it might be a little tougher but maybe not, each child is different. The nighttime session has always been hardest for me. I actually have a 2.5 yr old right now that is still nursing just before bed, but I'm good with that. The above worked for me when I cut the morning and nap time sessions out. Good luck!

I would say we only do the basics on a daily basis. We do history and science informally, not as a specific program/curriculum. It's more interest driven and usually a few experiments and living books. Now that my son is 7th grade he's doing more specific science and history readings but not a "program" per se. He's reading Science Explorer books for science and the Hakim series for history. We don't do music, latin, foreign language, health, or art as a "formal subject." We belong to a homeschool program that does 4 week classes throughout the year and the kids will take art or science in this way such as watercolor or frog dissection.

Just try on a few. I've tried an A line style that made me look "fuddy duddy" but I tried a a slimmer straight cut that looked good. I think the longer they are, the "more mature" they look. I like Land's End suits best. I wait for the sales ;) They had a wider shorts style that I got last year that was a cross between shorts and a skirt and I like it best!

DD takes about 30 min for a grade 4 lesson

Great job-your DD is cute!

It's a good article. This described my older son. Too bad she doesn't suggest some writing programs specifically ;) For those interested: http://www.diannecraft.org/article-003.htm

Most of the Teaching Co DVDs are stated to be for college level (except for the hs level courses) but that hasn't stopped a lot of people here from using them for middle and high school age kids. And you will hear quite a few parents here tell you that their middle or high school students are TAKING jr college level classes now with no problems ;) Meaning, that jr college may not be as challenging as it is intended to be and/or some people have gifted students. It all depends on the kid and their level of interest and capacity to understand the information. Some will not be ready for it and some will enjoy it and learn a lot. I think each parent has to check out the info for themselves and then decide if they want their child to try it. Then let the child try it and go from there.

My 7th gr son is enjoying the Prentice Hall Science Explorer series. They are a middle school textbook series. He just reads the books and he does some of the experiments. He gives me a verbal summary of each chapter. We have the older books so don't have all the on-line support but it's working for him since he's learning and he's interested in the books.

I had this with #2 or #3 and I thought for sure I was m/c because of the amt. I actually assumed I was m/c and was just letting nature take it's course. But for some reason I called the dr-not sure why now. She suggested I go in for blood work/hcg count-I think she wanted to confirm I had m/c. Ended up I was still pregnant but low in progesterone and needed supplements. I started supplements within a few days, spotted until about 15 weeks (talk about shot nerves!) but then it stopped and all was fine. I've heard about this progesterone issue a lot more in the recent years with other women but had never heard of it before. I had 4 kids and only 1 had this issue. Wishing you well.

We both started wearing ours 20 yrs ago but then he stopped because of his work in a factory setting and it was dangerous. But then he stopped the factory tours and was management. But by then he was out of the habit of wearing it. He traveled a lot and would get hit on by women, he found it amusing ;) I told him I wanted him to start wearing it again but he had gained weight and it didn't fit anymore. So now he's gained more weight and it really doesn't fit but he's never taken it in to be resized. It used to annoy me a little, but now it's no big deal.

I picked up Joy of Science on CD cheap this year and planned on using it next year (8th gr) or maybe 9th grade. I was going to load it onto his IPOD and have him listen to it but wondered how I would add to it as well. I was thinking a writing summary every week and added book or books. Not sure of the books yet. So can't help with "been there, done that" but I'm thinking the same thing.

My 7th grader is reading Joy Hakim's series this year. He's in book 4 now but we started late. Otherwise, I think you could get through the whole series in a year. My son says he likes it better than some of the other history books he's read.

This only came out in the last week or two so no one has used it yet! ;)

Are the titles people are listing supposed to be $1 because I'm not finding them. I've bought from this sale before but I can't find it in the teacher store area at all? Found it in a different area: http://teacherexpress.scholastic.com/dollardeals?product_type=269

This is what I was going to suggest. Talk to them yourself to get more info on the prep part of it. And I agree about finding a non-recruiter for your son to talk to. Not that this will change his mind, but he might get a different perspective. My cousin is a Marine and would never suggest "not" joining but he was a medic and now a VA nurse, not a traditional "marine" type job KWIM? He also did not go in straight after high school but worked in the carpentry field for awhile first. With some more specific "prep" work maybe the Marines will be a great goal for him. Good luck, I have a 13 yr old son that I'm in a similar situation with.