My dd has used the 5th grade MR alongside RS E this year, and it has been wonderful. It has given her some extra practice on certain concepts and has introduced some things that RS E doesn't cover. She likes the colorful pages and the critical thinking approach of this text. I am planning to order the new 6th grade book for next year. I am trying to decide whether or not to do RS Geometry with the MR book next year. If you are using RS Geomentry by now, I'd love to hear what you think of it.

I would love to read more opinions on this as we are researching this for next year.

I am using Town level right now with my dc, ages 10 and 8. We are using each MCT level over a period of a year and a half. We are able to take time to enjoy the books and not have to feel rushed. My 8 year old loves Town and is keeping up with the 10 year old. I may have her wait until she is older to do some of the later Paragraph Town assignments, though. So you may want to buy Town and just spread it out over more than a year. If she loves Island, she will enjoy the storyline in Town. If she's not ready for the writing assignments, just do Paragraph Town a bit later than the other books. I am using Sentence Composing for Elementary with my 10 year old. I have her do a section or two per week (2-4 pages of the book). I plan to spread this book out over two years. Using it alongside Town has been good for her because of the focus on phrases. I am not using Kilgallon with the 8 year old but may pull it out when she is older.

Yeah, I think that this might bother me. Why not change, just to be on the safe side? Hospitals are full of all kinds of nasty germs . . .

You are not being too sensitive, and the movie is rated PG-13 for a reason! We are very careful, too, about what movies our children watch, and this would definitely upset me! Furthermore, our opinion is that worship time should be family time, so even if there is a "children's church" offered, the worship service should not be rated PG-13. The minister at our previous church used to show similar clips during the sermon, and it was one of the reasons we left and found a new church.

I would not buy a house that was in a flood plain. BTDT, not fun.

I would love to know what you have decided. We are heading into RS E as well, and I'm not sure what we'll use after that . . . Thanks.

I read Judy Blume books when I was in elementary school. I do remember aspects of them. Some of the content was . . . eye opening. My mother actually complained to the school librarian about one of them. I think that it was the only time she complained about a book. I am gently steering my daughters away from them, for now anyway.

Hugs to you, as I know that this is difficult. You've received some great advice. I think it's really important to listen to your son and show him that while you empathize with him, you and dh feel that this is the best decision for your family and for him. Make sure ds knows that you have made this decision because you love him. Preserve and build your relationship with ds through this. Perhaps your ds thinks that he will be staying home doing schoolwork all day, every day now that he will be homeschooling. Let him know that he will actually spend less time on school now -- if he works hard -- and will have more free time than before. Listen to his concerns and reassure him that you will provide plenty of opportunties for him to visit with friends. Once he gets used to the idea of homeschooling, perhaps he can help you select some of his curriculum, giving him some ownership over his studies. Also, when we pulled our dd out of ps, I tried to make homeschooling extra special for her. I was concerned that she would feel bad when the other kids went back to school. So our family created a "Homeschool Celebration Day" that we now have every year when we start school. I put together games, surprises, and special gifts for the start of our year. I surprise my children with a cake that introduces the theme of one of that year's subjects (I made Egyptian pyramids last August, for example :001_smile:). I decorate the school area. Some families celebrate homeschooling by taking their children out for breakfast on the first day of school. We also celebrate "Box Day" when new books arrive. Finally, the other thing that we have done --especially when we've hit a stumbling block in our homeschool -- is to pray over this endeavor. I pray that God will work in your son's heart and will draw all of you closer together through homeschooling. I pray that He will provide some homeschooling friends for you all, to encourage you. It sounds as if ds may have been surprised by your homeschooling announcement, and with time and encouragement, he may come around. Many blessings to you as you embark on this new journey! Lynne

We used MFW Adventures, and it was one of my favorite years of homeschooling. It doesn't specifically address health. Does your state require that you cover it every year? Adventures does include science. During Adventures, you choose your own LA and Math. Everything else is pretty much included.

:iagree: This was our experience. Even though both of my children were early readers, they learned a lot from MFW K and 1st.

In our experience, MFW K was just right, and we did not need to supplement. My dc found that MFW K provided enough activities and new ideas to ponder. Kids that age need plenty of playtime and learn just as much -- if not more -- from playing. So enjoy this year and make happy memories!

I just e-mailed GHC about this. I cannot imagine why anyone's personal views should prevent him or her from selling a writing curriculum and speaking at a homeschooling convention. I heard Julie Bogart's talks in Memphis last year and left completely inspired. She was one of the best speakers I have ever heard, in any venue.

My dc really get a lot out of the MFW book basket. The books reinforce what we read together as a family. It works well for us because I'm able to obtain many of the recommended books through our library or through interlibrary loan. My dc enjoy having several choices for their book basket time.

We are really enjoying Spanish for Children and Rosetta Stone. It's a good combination!