Works for me...

I've really had an interesting struggle over the years. Some of my kids have either physical limitations that we have to overcome or lack of confidence which also has to be overcome. This is especially true in reading and math.
This year I decided to look at more of a Classical approach and check out books in the public domain (meaning older, free, download books).
These two books have been amazing!
First: Ray's Primary Arithmetic

When my oldest panicked because I said "multiply", this book was the key. It teaches problem solving, not just "memorize the time's tables and write all the answers over and over." It is a "new" (to us) way of thinking and looking at a problem. After about 2 months in this book (she is going through it fast, because she needs to get to the second book this year) I asked her how she felt about multiplying now...she said "fine". I did not have to drill and fight her to get her to understand. She took the book and learned it on her own! Now "multiply" and "divide" don't panic her!

Second: The See and Say Series Book One

My 4th child can't remember anything (or so it seems)! I have tried for 3 years to teach him letters and sounds. He does great "right now" but in 15 minutes he won't remember any of it, and by tomorrow we have to start all over! I started this book with him and his 2 younger brothers last week. After 1 page, they could all remember the "mmm" sound and show it to daddy at the end of the day without me telling them again. (For 3 years, I've had Freddie look at me and say, with a puzzled look "what does it say again?" It is so good to not hear that question all the time!

Now if I could find the perfect motivator to get all of them doing what they should when they should...

Yay! He did it!

Finally!

It seems like forever. I've been waiting for Joey to sit up on his own without toppling right over for about 3 months now. He should have been getting his "sit-up" balance at about 6 months old. He is 9 months old now, and he is finally sitting up long enough for me to get a picture before he falls over...actually I got several pics. At first he was tense, trying not to fall, after a while he relaxed and started to reach for the grass. After big brother came to check on him, he finally leaned forward and tried to eat the grass...

This was also his 1st pair of shoes and socks...that was interesting. At first he hollered because he couldn't wiggle his toes. Then he decided they looked interesting...

Home

Well, after several months of waiting and packing, and waiting and packing some more...

We are finally here! Actually we got here two and a half weeks ago. Now we are unpacking, and unpacking, and unpacking some more...

The kids are adjusting and looking forward to sledding in the snow. They already found the sled hill, and have been sledding without snow, so we know it is a good hill.

I'm glad to see some routine starting to take shape. Routine is something we never seemed to have before. We finally all get to sit at the table for supper every day. The 4 littlest ones are getting baths and going to bed after supper, so they are asleep most nights by 8:30 (used to always be 10 or later). And of course, we are all enjoying having Dad home every day. Especially since he moved up here 4 months before the rest of us were able to move.

Still a few wrinkles to iron out...a few things to work into our routine. Some more unpacking to do, and spaces to organize. BUT we are home, and it feels good!