Just tried again and was able to get the download sent to me. I look forward to working my way through these lectures. Thanks for the prompt original question.

There are some talks here that I've had recommended to me. Unfortunately when I tried, I couldn't download from Australia. I should try again. http://peacehillpress.com/audio-lectures/ From conversations with others I would say there was no better 'course' at becoming a better teacher than: an incredibly challenging child who doesn't learn well from most of the great resources that are out there. If you ask I'm sure you'll be overwhelmed with offers of a child that fits the bill. ;) They will keep pushing you to read, research and try harder. I taught my eldest through primary years pre-web, we found the early version of this forum for her high-school years. There are some responses in this thread that will be pasted into my resources file. Second time around we rely much less on curriculli, especially as she has reached those magic middle years. Good luck, enjoy the ride with them.

Here's some folding fun to keep you amused... http://www.thenappylady.co.uk/demovideosterrysquareandprefolds.html We mostly used Terry Square kite fold. Different folds when little. Flats dry well on the line and they don't outgrow them. We were given a month's nappy service at the start for the eldest. She was never able to absorb fats so we continued the service for a year while we learned to cope. Or not. Boy did those people earn their money. Anyway, have fun folding. Who's going to organise their family into a teddy relay of 4 or 5 different folds? Start em young.

I got that today. Amanda Vanstone discussing 'compassion'. Never, never in the same sentence.

In Australia, I listen to ABC's Radio National. A friend calls it 'cut your throat radio', she'd prefer to cut her throat than listen. However I enjoy listening to conversations and panel discussions from experts on a HUGE range of topics through the day. At the moment they are recycling for summer so mostly repeats. I find I learn daily through home education. My eldest went to school for a while 10 years ago and after going through withdrawal I ended up enrolling in Open University. I'm back to home educating child and mother now. :) Maybe add some biographies to your personal reading pile if they aren't already there.

Powerful water pistol. One of those that you fill from a bucket like a giant syringe with long distance swirt. In town we also had the option of keeping a diary to contact council and let them make the complaint. We did buy one of those background sea-sound players once for dad with tinitus ( ? ringing in the ears), but he prefered to sleep with talk-back radio playing. Mum didn't.

A commentry I heard on the first plane was that US spy er, I meant information gathering sources, did have very early information but it was as if... You had a secrect camera in your neighbour's house and they were looking everywhere for their missing dog and you knew it was hiding under their bed but couldn't let them know because you'd have to admit to the spy-cam. So while they were directing early searches in the completely wrong direction, this information was being sat on. That was for the last. For this I'll wait and see. Sounds terrible to be sort of hoping it is 'just' an accident.

She sort of does for us. I paste some useful responses in word docs on many topics and file for later. I include www address for review. Lori D occurs regularly. :) Many thanks.

Do you have something above your washer/dryer? Daddy long legs and their homes. Laundry is on the back porch and those spiders are well fed.

No carpets, Australia, and mostly bare legs. She was also trained and in undies by her 2nd Birthday. Also I learned to hold her differently (not on the hip) and others either learned the same or didn't pick her up again. It does mean a lot more nappies because when wet, well, she's wet. (Edited to save a kitten)

Flat terry's with a folded 'swan skin' pad for nights. Mostly no plastics, for the 2nd, just tons of changes and hold with care. I did use those velco'ed covers for night and with co-sleeping went through that age of hearing the toddler ripping the velco undone through the night. Cos she could. I was reminded when hearing a nephew doing the same with his disposable recently.

It's been said before, it can never be said enough... Jesus forgives, Lycra doesn't.

My girls both had to face up to an awful lot and we discuss in depth what others around us are going through, yet somehow they have/did still retain/ed their innocence. Knowing bad things happen to people is very different from (as in the book) doing the bad things to people. We have recently (carefully) discussed the child soldiers and child 'brides' of wars ie Sudan. Including the technique of breaking children by getting them to commit vile acts. This (being damaged more by what you have done to others) is a factor that reoccurs through the Tomorrow When the War Began books, particularly in the second series. The books are not all bleak, they do manage to be teenagers amongst the action.

For your 11 year old I'd recommend I am David. I didn't take it all in when I first read it as a child, but it still had an effect on me and and I've reread it a couple of times since. http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/review/i-am-david

I don't think they get more violent, but continues. The violence still disturbs the characters, however they can see themselves becoming desensitised and the situation they are in deteriates. Several books in (might even be in the second series), a relationship between main characters is consumated and fairly descriptive. It would be worthwhile reading ahead so you can be open to ensuing conversations over many issues that are covered, not just this one. I think the author deals very well with very difficult topics, but his target audience is mid teens (and up). We did see the movie but sorry I didn't retain a lot. There was a bit much happening IRL at the time. I think I remember us picking on small discrepencies rather than being upset by it not following the book. We bought and read all of the 'Tomorrow' and 'Ellie Chronicles' books and I do recommend this author for older kids. John Marsden is very apt at understanding teens and disturbing his readers. [Just googled, and discovered So Much To Tell You, was his first book and written in just 3 weeks! It is powerful, I've read it a couple of times. It is about a girl with 'voluntary' mutism.] Anyway, hope this helps.

11 year old son gift ideasAs long as you give the receipt with him so I have an option to return.

Like my eldest who had at least several double chest X-rays per year. I didn't stop her having them but they were not allowed to happen until the staff were willing to eventually find (in that drawer there where they always are) the shield belt for ovary protection. Same da#n argument every visit for several years before they would just get it out when they saw her walk in. She didn't end up using any googs, but I wanted it to be an option. I did refuse an dental OPG for her once because they had forgotten to even look at the the two previous ones. However necessary tests are....necessary and most medicines are poisons that do more good than harm. So let this worry go, your kids will be happy to provide you with fresh worries before too long. :)

In Australia The Golden Arches Inedible Hamburger Joint heavily funds units for families of rural kids with chronic illness. Therefore some major Children's Hospitals like Melbourne's are 'lucky' enough to get one of their burger places on the hospital grounds.

That would be the tripe?

I recently regrouted a shower floor for someone who always uses vinegar to clean the shower. There was no grout left, just tiles. I'd not heard of vinegar completely eating the grout away, but it was gone. ETA: Just googled it, lots of references to the acid in vinegar eating away the grout and caulk.

Me again, I loved these copy books, cheap, good variety and brief enough passage to get one done at the start of each day. They each have a choice of three scripts, so you only print out the section you need. http://www.currclick.com/browse.php?keywords=happy+scribe+%2B+combo&manufacturers_id=90&x=20&y=20&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=&sdate_from=&sdate_to=&stime_from=&stime_to= We've now moved onto these for longer passages and she is now learning cursive. Her sister eventually developed a beautiful hand with the aid of these and a fountain pen. http://www.currclick.com/browse.php?keywords=master+writer+&manufacturers_id=90&x=18&y=24&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=&sdate_from=&sdate_to=&stime_from=&stime_to= Add a good typing programme. Repetition, repetition, repetition. I think everyday words need to get into muscle memory. Here's a sheet on pencil grip (a biggy in our house) http://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/ot/InfoSheet_A.pdf We tried lots of pencil grips too. OT recommended these and they were the preferred option with my girls. http://pencilgripsplus.com.au/shop/4572664863/the-crossover-grip/4602154 But supply lots of variations if you can, including chunky triangluar pencils. A friend's son had a knobbly rubber cushion wedge that helped 'diffuse' her son's wriggles. Ask your OT if they have one you could borrow to see if it works for your son before purchasing. I found mine worked best sitting on my lap for handwriting when younger. I was the wriggle cushion and kept them on track. Actually I might look into one of these to help my girl keep at task.

I'm from a big family and loved the shared food, preparation and gift making, finding, giving. Now we are all spread too far to get together for Christmas and it's only my girl and I and I have to share her. So at least 1/2 of each Christmas and the following week is alone and flat without her. Bah Humbug We will go back to our old Church for this Christmas Eve service and join the choir for that. That is special and we really missed it last year.

Just remembered one of my eldest daughter's favourites. I'm holding it off from my youngest for another year or so. She would be fine with the first of the series now but would want to race through the lot and I'd prefer her older for the later ones. It's an Australian one so you can study a bit of our country at the same time. Depiction of Aussie rural kids is accurate. Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden. Here's a study guide for the DVD.. http://www.filmeducation.org/tomorrowwhenthewarbegan/pdf/Tomorrow_WTWB_study_guide.pdf Here is a study guide from the author (who started up his own fantastic bush school).. http://www.johnmarsden.com.au/novelassignments/tomorrow_when_the_war_began.pdf

Love Lori's list (nothing new there), here are a couple more to consider... The Chrysalids by John Wyndham http://www.wikisummaries.org/The_Chrysalids http://www.bookrags.com/The_Chrysalids/#gsc.tab=0 Z for Zacariah by Robert C. OBrien http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-z-for-zachariah/#gsc.tab=0

Hello Chelsea, I'll offer my 2c worth and hopefully others will too, I presume you'll get a variety of responses. Well done getting an assessment so early. I only got one for my eldest at about 12. By then she had had two years at a local Parish school. They offered her many hours a week of one on one to 'fix' her lack of education. She made slow but good progress with written literacy. And then forgot it all again. Then the school finally realised that maybe lack of education wasn't the issue. My youngest will never be a competent speller either (family trait) so I finally gave up on dictation programmes. She does lots of copy work and asks continuously when writing and I help her work through each and every word she needs. We also have some good programmes we work through. We do NOT make her work down at the level of the written ability for most of her work. Some people will always support spell-check programmes. Do your homework, if you can find a school that you can afford that will provide (not just promise) all the extra assistance your son will need AND cater to his 'fidgets' then certainly consider it. But also consider what you can provide with feeding and keeping his thirst for knowledge while catering for very mixed abilities. Sounds like you've done a great job so far. And he is only 7 and boys are often slower to find their feet academically. By the way, I had to put this through WORD to pick up 7 spelling errors. I am teaching my child to use tools. Some brains can't hold letter orders. Hope this helps, good luck.