Teri-- Thanks so much for your post! It made tears well up in my eyes--because I am so relieved to hear that someone else has a kid that struggles with math too! It's not that I think that homeschooling should be without struggle! It's just that it seems that this problem with dd doesn't seem to get...

I appreciate your taking the time to respond! I guess what I am hearing is to -- as you say, Trish-- keep plugging away! It is very helpful to hear others who are having the same problems! Sometimes dd's math problem seems very overwhelming to me and I need to remember that after all it's just Math!...

Just adding a tad here...... I was nervous about CTG and the feasts too! We didn't do EVERY feast, but we did try to do most of them, and while it did take extra time and preparation,we kept it simple and the kids loved it! Dd loved making the covering for the Challah bread for Rosh Hashana, they ma...

Hello:
www.homeschoolinthewoods.com has a free download model of the Jamestown settlement. We enjoyed using this with the toob figurines. My kids also enjoyed watching the Liberty's Kids series.

I have taught MFW K and 1st twice each, Adventures, ECC, CTG, and will be doing RTR next year. Since being led to MFW--I have no desire to look elsewhere. MFW meets the needs of our family so well! The kids are happy learning, I am happy with the manageability of MFW, as well of the Bible-centered-n...

First of all THANKS so much for being so open! I think you will find that many of us feel the same way you do--but maybe not in quite the same situation. Just wanted to share that I grew up in a family of 13 kids! I was raised in a community similar to Amish--but left when I was 17. My family was ve...

That's so great!!! It happened to my ds too! At 6 he was really not motivated to read at all. Then... one day he saw a picture of a blue whale and found out it was the biggest creature on earth. All of a sudden---he wanted every book that the library had on sharks, whales, and other sea creatures. :...

Agreeing with Trish. (I'm a PA resident,) I gave the 3rd grade CAT to my dd last year. They did ask for subject/predicate identification. I looked over the test and covered it those things quickly with her beforehand. She did fine.

Ok, I know that MFW really doesn't need any add-ons but lapbooks have been working great for us to cement what my dc are learning in ECC with both the geography and science this year. We have mostly used lapbook components from homeschoolshare dot com for free. Now I'm looking for similar info to a...

Sounds like you have a great method that is working! My kids are 8 and 10 and I tried the white board method but things would get erased or marked off that needed to be up there, etc. Now, especially on the days I go to work, I just write out assignments on post-it notes and stick them to each book/...

I have an 8 yo and a 10 yo. We did the Zoology "Swimming Creatures" this year. The kids and I have loved it! They each made an ocean box, and every time we learned about a new species, they added it to the box. We did do the notebooks as well. They contain mini-books on each chapter and the kids rea...

You know--sometimes home-schooling is VERY hard--some days I feel as thought I'm ready to throw in the towel. I'm not patient enough, organized enough, loving enough..... I'm going to permanently damage my kids.... Why aren't we getting beyond this or that.... Well--I seem to have been thinking thes...

Just wanted to share that my dd was sort of in the same boat as yours. She was reading well at 4. When I got to 1st--I was tempted to consider going straight to Adventures--but decided to go with first. I'm so glad we did. While it does start very gently--first picks up the pace quickly! The Bible s...

Hello! We have used MFW with the recommended science for all years (K, 1st, Adventures, and ECC). I found the MFW recommended science books went along very well with each year's curriculum. This year--however while studying Creation to the Greeks--we decided to use the Fulbright, "Swimming Creatures...

Have you tried the "Bob Books?" Both my dc loved them and they start out VERY simple. The illustrations are black and white (she could color them in). The stories are very humorous, and my kids got a real kick out of them. Also there is the satisfaction of reading a whole book! They come in several ...

Hi Jamie-- I appreciate your thoughts on this. We are in the middle of reading The Children's Homer, and I too have had some mixed feelings about it. But it has provided some great opportunities for discussion--and for the most part, the kids are really into it. It seems odd to me too--because we do...

Hello: Just wanted to share that Lamplighter Books has a Children's series of books with beautiful illustrations. "The Hedge of Thorns" is one, and "Teddy's Button" is another with beautiful illustrations. The author of The True Story of Noah's Ark, (I think it's Paul Maier) has also written, The Tr...

I do purchase the books and/or DVDs/VHS tapes in the TM marked with an asterisk. We love having good books around and I'll use them again when we do the cycle on a higher level. I also swap books with other moms who are a year ahead of me or vice versa in the curriculum. We live in a very small town...

I am coming from a spiral learning math program and SIngapore's methods are like..whew! Hence my user id...Can I do this? If the ds already knows his facts and understand vertical math? Must I teach those topics the Singapore way? I gues what I am trying to really get at is SIngapore has its approa...

One thing you mentioned--caught my attention. You thought she might enjoy the crafty project such as rosemailing. My kids also really enjoy hands-on crafts. In ECC (this wasn't something recommended in the curriculum) but every time we started a new country--the kids would each make a colorful cover...

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate all you dear ladies (and Mike :) ) on this board! Just reading all of the kind and helpful responses makes me so happy to be a part of a network of people who (while we don't 'know' each other) can encourage, support, pray for, and yes--love one another! I ...

I find for me--(in addition to quiet time with the Lord each day, and taking the summers to rejuvenate ) is being prepared for the year. I have to have each week organized ahead of time so that things run smoothly. This helps my attitude--as well as the kids to stay on track.

In my case--my dd is now nine--and she still wants to challenge me although it is much less now. In her case--I don't argue with her or get upset with her. (Not always successful there!) I also don't send her to her room. Too many books to read, etc! :) I quietly ask her to stand in the corner (away...

Thanks for the ideas! I have a typing program that she started using a couple of years ago--but I kind of wanted her to learn to type "correctly." That is taking more time than I thought because we mostly practice it during the summer months. I guess I could let her do hunt-and-peck--but I learned t...

Hi Lori-- I don't have any real advice for you--just know that I will keep you in my prayers! I do know that the homeschooling years will all tend to even out---the rockier ones and the smoother ones! Your kids will learn great things through real life experiences that will stay with them forever! P...