My niece's new FIL made that toast at her wedding reception. I was totally offended (and I'm not a prude). I thought it was completely tasteless and trashy. All I could think was - No Class. On a business sign - completely unnecessary and gross. If I were the bride, I would insist it be taken down immediately.

I would be shocked if my dd could spell those words. We completed VP Phonics Museum K and I don't think some of those blends were even part of the program. I think that's 1st grade work.

This will be our 3rd year. My brain has been all over the place deciding how CC fits into my homeschooling. The first year, it was our spine. That particular cycle (3) was really easy to create our studies around. Last year, cycle 2 was more about world history/cultures so it jumped and the science did, too. Way too hard to keep up. This year, I have decided CC is strictly an extra. My kids love, love, love to go to CC and I adore our community. We would all miss the dear friends we've made. My kids benefit in more than just social ways and it is an amazing support system for a tired homeschooling mama like myself. So we will continue with this caveat - I will not stress about the memory work, I will not stress about the memory work, I will not stress about the memory work. I am going to enjoy this year without putting pressure on myself!

I guess I'm most concerned at what the cost for an uninsured individual to stay at the hospital would be. When my insured dd went to the ER for 5 stitches, we were sent a $3K bill. It's around $3K to set foot in the ER - literally - if you don't have insurance. Besides that, I haven't needed to see a dr. in 13 years. I've had 4 kids and occasional typical illnesses but nothing requiring a dr. or meds. It's new to me:) Googling can be scary if all you pull up is the worst case scenario for kidney infections.

Okay, I'm going to try to relax. I have been drinking tons of water for days. So tired of it but I'm too scared to drink anything else! Thanks for the heads up on side effects. Dr. didn't inform me.

I haven't been sick in 13 yrs. Nothing that constituted a trip to the dr. until today. 2 days ago I had painful urination so I drank lots of water, took my supplements, etc. 48 hrs. later (last night), lower back pain started to I went to the dr. first this this morning. Apparently, I have an early kidney infection. I'm on Cipro for 10 days. I'll get more results from my urine test in a couple of days. I've done the wrong thing and started googling kidney infection. I am terrified! I'd like to believe that I went to the dr. early enough to avoid hospitalization but this sounds serious. I don't have insurance either. I don't have fever, chills, lack of appetite, nothing. Painful urination (which isn't bad anymore) and some lower back pain. The back pain is less this morning so I'm hoping my body is fighting the infection. Somebody tell me the odds are in my favor:confused:

SW definitely does but you might be able to find something online for free. Search handwriting threads - free handwriting program. Maybe even use Startwrite as a search - threads will show up.

My teeth are relatively healthy; however, I have a molar that's in need of serious help. I'll be getting a root canal soon. I haven't seen a dentist in about 15 yrs. and, at that appt. I had cavities that should have been taken care of. So... I think if I had taken care of the cavities, I would have been fine, even w/o flossing. Flossing isn't a big deal. I think it's good preventative care.

Oh, decisions, decisions. I am also in the process of nailing this down for my 1st grader. Her bro., 6th grade, is doing WP Quest for the Middle Ages. I'm either going to tag her along (which will require planing on my part - I make myself crazy when I plan) or find her a fun 1 yr. world history program. I have looked at the programs you mentioned plus more. I need a 4 day plan for history with books and spines mapped out. I want my readers planned as well. I have ruled everything out except HIH and WTMs plan for 1st grade history. I reread the WTM plan today and it's solid. Excellent instruction and practicing of important skills. I'm concerned HIH isn't all that it's cracked up to be, esp. for the price. I drool over some of their other programs but I'm not sure about HIH. I'm also keeping the possibility of using SL in my pocket. We've tried it before and didn't love it but, now, with 4 kids (one totally wild toddler), I don't have the luxury of pulling together my own plans. I would definitely look at their readers w/schedule. If I were going overseas I wouldn't hesitate to order an all inclusive package and be done with it. I seriously want to love HIH but the price is steep for a history program alone and I'm not at all fond of the extra books they've chosen. I wouldn't use those anyway. If I leave those books out, all that's left is their exclusive, notebooking and activities. I don't know. I would really like to flip through their guide. I can also empathize with trying to choose books from an awesome list. I go crazy for SL, BP, WTM, and VP. I seriously drive myself nuts. I am forcing myself to get a grip this year, make some choices (I will choose books that show up on several lists - so many are repeated they HAVE to be good, right?), and move on. I am anxious to hear more ideas. I'm positive I was not helpful:tongue_smilie:

Every child is different. My first started pointing/naming letters before he was 1 without my coaching. He taught himself to read soon after. #3 would have nothing to do with letters even at age 3. She learned basic phonics at preschool and loved it. She just wanted me out of her business;) #4 is newly 2 and loves singing his ABCs (incorrectly, lol) and pointing to them (incorrectly:D). He'll be fun to teach in a year or two. My advice is read, read, read. You don't need a phonics program but, if you want some guidance, I'd do something simple, easy, low pressure, and fun. My #3 is a workbook girl. She loves to write, trace, fill in. I wouldn't over do it and I would always stop if it became "work." She's young but if she's interested, let her explore learning to read. IMHO, the simpler the program, the better at this age.

No personal experience here either but I am also using WP w/my ds. We're doing Quest for the Middle Ages. He is 12 so we're getting the Jr. High package. I'm pretty excited. I need discipline i.e. the guide and he is begging for more history. I think it's going to be a great fit. If he read through the books early, I'll use recs in SOTW, VP, and SL. We're only doing WP history. I'm covered in the other areas.

Cost is about $312/child for the 24 classes (12 fall, 12 spring). Cost of materials is not included. You would need the book ($50), VP timeline cards ($100?) and I recommend the audio CD ($30). Gather the first 2 used, I say. Volunteer to be a tutor. You would go through a short training during summer. We've been in CC 2 yrs., will start our 3rd this fall. We love it for a lot of reasons. My kids wouldn't let me quit if I wanted to and I would miss the dear friends we've made. It's been a great support system. We just couldn't find our niche before CC. CC just brought many like minded families together and we enjoy it. The further we go along, the more I feel CC has to be a supplement. It's memory work. I have to leave it at that because it shifts gears so quickly, it's difficult to keep up if you are adding to the material imo. Essentials (for 3rd - 6th) is the afternoon class for writing, grammar, and a little bit of math (for fun really). We enjoy that as well. Our co-op offers classes for the youngers while the olders are working. They do Spanish and Art. Every campus is different. Talk with families that are in the group or the director. Go to an info meeting if you can.

Yes for http://www.jetpens.com:) Yes for Pelikano Jr. for lefties and righties. I like these pens. Good weight, nice grip. DD6 also likes the Petit whatever because of all the pretty colors. They are short and very light so I'm not fond of them for practicing writing but they are fun.

Is that the same for Older Beginners? Will I do Aesop first, then Homer w/Poetry mixed in?

Just trying to figure out if I need to pick up Poetry tomorrow at the book fair:)

When does the poetry portion fit in w/olders? I have materials for Aesop/Homer and would like to hold off buying Poetry until later. Thanks!

Thanks for the input. It's good to know there have been some changes. I've read threads that were 2008 so things could certainly be different at this point. Now I've been trying to go through what I'll need, check the library, yk, keep things as inexpensive as possible. It's not going well. Questions: Ds is going to love hands on but I want to get him the Jr. guide. I like the Church History is incorporated. He'll get to do activities in both but I don't know which to choose. I think I'm going to have to call WP. Can anyone compare 4/6 v. J/H? - besides from the samples. I printed those already:) Necessary resources - Atlas of the world, extra maps. I have tons of maps from books, SOTW AG, and a disc. I can't possibly need more, do I? I guess I'll have to get the Timeline book and figures. Sounds like a good project. Agree? I'm already a little frustrated b/c even if I wanted/could click a button to buy everything - WP has it set up for extras, necessary resources not included, not necessary but added, etc. I can't figure out what I really need. I've got to relax. Blah. Thanks again :)

My brain hurts. I have "researching history curricula" burnout. I'm reading past threads and being filled with doubts. I am a wanna-be planner. I am facing facts. I need plans and check boxes. I used SL Core 1+2 a few years back and didn't like it. I was combining too much (MOH, SOTW, SL:confused:), didn't like reading a page from 3 different books then putting a dot on a map (felt scattered), and DS and I didn't enjoy the books (Ginger Pye, Little Pear, Red Sails of Capri). We're readers but struggled to get through those books so we gave up. History has been scattered and ds is screaming for more. QMA looks like a good fit and I will encourage/help him to do as much as possible independently. I'd use the Jr/High program. I'm reading mixed reviews about it. He's 12, an outstanding reader, working well above grade level in reading/comprehension. Did you like QMA? Did your child learn a lot? I'm very interested in sticking to one curriculum so I'm looking at other WP packages. I have a 1st grader and am considering HiH. Again, mixed reviews - that it's above grade level and a lot of work. I'm scared! I'm even considering going back to SL. After 4 yrs. I have solidified my choices in other subjects but history is eluding me. I'm looking for daily plans for history, coordinating readers and read alouds. We also want to have fun:) WP seems to fit the bill (looked at BP, TQ, TOG among others). I'm just having doubts. I'm reading WP is too much crafty work (although you choose what to do/not to do), book selections are not quality, and it's either ahead of grade level or not enough! I know it depends on your child but it would be great to hear from previous users of QMA and HiH. Thanks!

I've been reevaluating BP all afternoon and I think WP is still the winner. Question: I see that WP has reading from history spines and read aloud but no assigned reading? I guess that's fine. I have a list from LCC for him to complete so no biggie I suppose. I'm also wondering how many WP exclusives and extras of timelining and maps I'll need. Perhaps I need to start a new thread (and investigate past ones). Thanks for all of your help:D

Gracias;)

I'd like to see a better sample of Biblioplan. The sample makes it appear that it's a weekly schedule. Quest for the Middle Ages is still in the lead. Ds is 12 and I'd get the Jr. High independent level. It's really not that much different than the 4/6 level. I like that it's an independent guide and gives him activities to choose from. I also like the idea of him making his own notebook. These are things I like about it but aren't really a requirement. I was just looking willy nilly and liked the guide (samples, anyway:D). aquiverfull, it would drive me crazy not to read straight through MOH but ds is leading the charge here. He's not going to mind. I want so badly to get him a program he enjoys and can take the lead on b/c I'm afraid I'll let it fall by the wayside. Maybe I'm being hard on myself - we had a rocky yr. last yr with family things. He loves history and QMA looks like fun.

Latin Christiana has the option of incorporating Famous Men of Rome. Does FF? Thanks!

I am always amazed at how many choices there are out there. To make matters worse - I picked up TWTM to reread last night. Everything looks so good! Looking over the choices, I think I've refined my requirements and might be settling on WP Quest for the Middle Ages. But I have a question. Does anybody else find it kind of distracting skipping from book to book during history time? 2 pgs. here, a chapter there, etc. We used to use SL and dropped it b/c we didn't like reading 1 Aesops fable (we wanted to finish the book in 2 days:)). I guess it doesn't matter. Finish when you finish but that could get us off schedule. We are wanderers. Perhaps I should just change my perspective and show some discipline! We are LCCers but ds as requested to do history every day b/c he loves it. I don't want to let him down. So, WP is on top for now. I'm also looking at BP b/c they use the sources I love but I think I need an every day schedule. Not weekly. Making up my own will do no good. I know me:tongue_smilie: Hmmmmm, decisions, decisions.

Thanks so much! I've already gone over your suggestions at least twice:D I'm going to take a break and come back with a fresh brain. I'm getting them all mixed up!

I'm just going to face facts. My history planning is not working out. It totally fell through the cracks last year. I'm not going to repeat it. I'm looking for something for 6th grade - able to retain and understand above grade level, though. I love using MOH, SOTW, Famous Men, and G. Foster's books as spines - I'm open to others, of course. That's just my personal preference. I want a curriculum w/spine(s) and living books. I'd like it to have reading assignments from historical fiction. In my dreams, I'd cover after the fall of Rome to the Reformation (or thereabouts:)). I've looked at: Simply Charlotte Mason TOG (but for the life of me I can't figure out which books go with it) Beautiful Feet I don't need vocab, geography, etc. I'm just looking for history. I need all the history planned out for me. History just won't happen if it's not. Thanks!