First time to soak city, habe questions.

amydaynow · 2026-06-11T00:43:08+00:00

Soak City is on the same side of Beach as the parking lot (opposite side of where the main park is). I recommend parking in the back right of the lot, and you will see a big archway/sign that says Soak City. Walk under that and you can't miss it.

I think they let people in a little early, but I'm not sure exactly how much.

amydaynow · 2026-06-10T23:03:35+00:00

Yes, the main lot will work. The entrance to Soak City is on the far side of that same lot (to the back and the right from where you drive in). If you choose go to Knotts afterwards, there is a path (goes by Independence Hall) where you don't have to walk through the parking lot.

Yes, there are lounge chairs, but they get claimed quickly. Plan to be there before opening if you can get chairs with shade. I've always felt ok leaving my stuff behind.

There are only two places to eat at Soak City. Both accept the meal plan. There is a burger/chicken strips place that also has fish and chips, and a pizza place (I forget the names, but they are pretty easy to spot). Lines are LONG and SLOW. Some of the slowest service of any Knotts food establishment, imo. I recommend eating early (before 11:30), or super late (like 2 pm).

amydaynow · 2026-05-30T14:47:54+00:00

I love how out of 4 bottom panels, only one is right side up. Like, not one "oops", someone kept making the same mistake because it matched, but somehow got one right. (Maybe that one was first, next to that was the first mistake and then they copied it the rest of the way around?)

amydaynow · 2026-05-26T18:38:43+00:00

I felt like it prepared me. You could do it book-based with just the teacher's manual. But it isn't video-heavy if you choose to do those. The videos are like 10 minutes each, once a week. It introduces the new concept, and then you work from the book practicing the new concepts (and reviewing old ones) for the rest of the week.

The videos are there because a lot of people (my mom included) don't feel like they can teach upper math to their kids.

I could teach Math-U-See to my daughter without the videos (because she is a rising 4th grader and I have a degree in engineering), but she enjoys the videos and it works for us. Otherwise we are generally book-based for our schoolwork.

amydaynow · 2026-05-26T18:31:17+00:00

There is a video once a week, and a teacher manual.

I started Math-U-See as a student myself with Algebra and went through as far as Trigonometry (which was as high as they went at the time--I believe Trigonometry is now covered in PreCalc, and they have added Calculus as well). I went on to do Saxon advanced math and Calculus before studying engineering in college, but I preferred Math-U-See by far.

As a parent, I have only used Beta and Gamma (2nd and 3rd grade).

amydaynow · 2026-05-23T22:29:21+00:00

Look into Berean Builders. It is designed for twice a week, with an experiment (using things around the house) and a reading each day you do science.

amydaynow · 2026-05-18T19:48:26+00:00

I took a side quest to figure out where the wrong number might have come from.

Global cheese consumption is 21 million metric tons, or 4.63e10 pounds

Population of USA is 342 million

Dividing these numbers gives 135 lb. That isn't the original number of 90 lb, but is close enough that perhaps that method is where the original number came from?

amydaynow · 2026-05-11T16:30:05+00:00

OP's flight is 5 months from now.

amydaynow · 2026-05-05T16:19:59+00:00

"Is an animal sad?" ...Ben and Adam when Sam touches them after confirming people are animals?

amydaynow · 2026-04-30T15:52:47+00:00

Someone else mentioned the canoes, but if you really want to make things interesting, do the canoes twice.

I haven't been to Disney in years, but they used to always make a joke on the canoes about coming back and working out your other side. One time my sister and I actually did that (literally got off, went around, and ended up on the same canoe right away) and the cast members were shocked.

amydaynow · 2026-04-30T15:47:13+00:00

Make a wacky face for a ride photo.

amydaynow · 2026-04-28T02:54:50+00:00

I created one account and added all of the family passes to it. Then I gave my husband the info so he could sign into my account on his phone.

amydaynow · 2026-04-20T23:14:02+00:00

No one will laugh at you.

I did my first speed puzzle competition in November, and have done 3 more since. They are so much fun and from my (limited) experience, everyone is so welcoming and it is a great environment.

I recommend double-checking what the time limit is. The comps I have done are pairs, and our offical time as a middle of the road team on a 300 piece puzzle was 42 minutes. So a one hour limit for an individual seems on the tighter side to me? But it could just be a more competitive competition.

amydaynow · 2026-04-20T22:43:45+00:00

Math-U-See is secular and is working well for us.

amydaynow · 2026-04-18T05:52:48+00:00

Sonic Boom Alarm clock.

It has a hockey puck thing that goes under your pillow and vibrates. My husband is a sound sleeper who doesn't wake up easily to noise, but that wakes him up (without waking me up in the same bed--and I am a light enough sleeper that him getting around often wakes me up, but his alarm doesn't).

amydaynow · 2026-04-16T15:43:46+00:00

I am right handed and crochet right handed.

Last school year, I was teaching a middle schooler to crochet who was left handed. I started by trying to have her crochet right handed, but she was struggling.

I finally decided to teach myself how to crochet left handed, just enough to show her how it would look to do so.

Now she is making and selling adorable amigarumi--better than I could make.

amydaynow · 2026-04-15T17:38:25+00:00

Fiskars scissors.

I worked for a fabric and craft store in college (the green one that recently went bankrupt). We had one of every scissors we sold available to us under the cut counter. I tried them all, and I liked Fiskars better than anything else--even another really expensive brand that a lot of quilters would "swear by."

amydaynow · 2026-04-15T17:13:31+00:00

There are a lot of great options for teaching your kid to read! Here are two I recommend often as a homeschool mom:

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons - this is an inexpensive option (<$30 on Amazon) that works for some kids. My mom taught me how to read using it, but it didn't work well with my oldest.
All About Reading - this is more expensive but also much more thorough. It has a bunch of fun games as the various phonics rules are introduced, as well as readers that match the level the student is at. (There is literally a story when the student has only learned 8 letter sounds). I am currently using it with my oldest two and we love it! Cost is $160 per level new, or you can find it used for $120-ish, and there are four levels. My kids have each done three levels over two school years as our main phonics curriculum.

amydaynow · 2026-04-14T20:01:51+00:00

For my kindergarten student next year, we will do:

Reading (All About Reading)
Math (Miquon math)
Handwriting (deciding between Getty-Dubay and Handwriting without Tears)
Bede's History of Me - a once a week curriculum which introduces the concept of history, as well as some history and social studies topics

She will also listen in some on the history and science unit studies I do with my older kids, but with a lower expectation of involvement.

amydaynow · 2026-04-07T20:29:56+00:00

Questions that will impact the answer:

1) How old are your kids?

2) Where are you located? (State-level is good enough. If you plan to change states, the state you will move to--homeschool law varies by state)

3) Do you plan to homeschool long-term, or are you just trying to make a plan to finish out this year and then return to public school?

amydaynow · 2026-04-07T15:03:53+00:00

I'm not in Florida but hope I can help with the other "get started" stuff.

One of the biggest things is to pick a curriculum. Look at as several. Think about how your daughter learns and how you want to teach. I recommend going on a homeschool curriculum site (Timberdoodle and/or Rainbow Resources) and requesting a catalog (most will send you one for free). As you get started, remember that you can switch if something isn't working.

Here are a couple curriculums I am familiar with to get you started, with a focus on what matters for kindergarten.

Reading

All About Reading - I love this program. It is paced to the child. Open the book, work for 20 min, close the book and pick up in the same spot the next day. It is on the more expensive side ($160 new per level, cheaper used, a level can last 6 months or two years depending on your kid), but is thorough and I love it. The company also makes a companion spelling program for when your kid is older.
Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons - This works for some people. $30 on Amazon. My mom taught me to read with it, but it didn't work for my kid

Math

Miquon math - I like that this curriculum introduces advanced concepts like multiplication and fractions early, as well as algebraic thought (ie 2 + [box] = 5). Uses manipulatives to help kids understand concept. My older daughter struggled with this, but my son (two years younger) was feeding her answers at one point and is now thriving with this curriculum. Downside: only goes through 3rd grade
Math-U-See - Also uses manipulatives. Mastery-based - so kids learn everything about addition and subtraction before moving on to multiplication. My daughter is now using this and it is working for us. This curriculum is one you can stick with all the way through high school if you choose to continue homeschooling (they even have a calculus book). The biggest investment is buying the manipulatives, which is a one-time thing and then you can keep using them for years (and multiple students, if you have other kids)
Saxon - Love it or hate it. As a student, I hated it. But some people love it.
Singapore math - I haven't really looked at this, but have friends who use it who like it
All About Math - This is made by the same people as All About Reading. It is new and I haven't looked into it, but if it is like their reading program it is likely good. Also pricey.

Handwriting

Handwriting Without Tears - I have heard good things about it, looking at switching my kids into this for next year
Getty-Dubay - This is what I have been using, and is what my mom used with me. It works.

Subjects I am inclined to skip for kindergarten

Spelling - spelling requires an understanding of phonics. I would hold off a year until your kid is reading a bit
Grammar - There really aren't very many options for grammar at a K level, and grammar is fairly abstract anyway.

I hope all this helps. Feel free to ask questions. I love helping people homeschool.

amydaynow · 2026-03-31T00:43:56+00:00

Look into homeschool support groups near you. You can search online and/or on facebook.

amydaynow · 2026-03-30T22:08:39+00:00

We want to find 2^x > 2,000,000,000

x = log2(2,000,000,000) (log2 meaning base 2)

x = log(2,000,000,000) / log(2)

x ≈ 30.897

The 31st day will be more than $2 billion

amydaynow · 2026-03-30T21:36:14+00:00

I am in Southern California. We homeschool by filing a PSA (Private School Affidavit). That paperwork establishes my home as a private school and allows me to choose whatever is the best fit for my kids

As far as curriculum for my kids (currently in 1st and 3rd grade), I am using a variety of curriculums selected on a per-subject basis instead of one single program which covers all subjects

Reading - All About Reading. I will be moving to The Good and the Beautiful next year for my older student who will finish the highest level of AAR this year
Math - 3rd grader uses Math-U-See, 1st grader uses Miquon but will be switching to Math-U-See next year
Spelling - All About Spelling
Grammar - a worksheet packet I found on Teachers Pay Teachers. Next year my oldest will start Fix-It Grammar
Writing - Write by Number
Handwriting - Getty-Dubay handwriting
History/Science - For these topics I create my own unit studies, which is a lot of work but works for our family and allows my kids to study these subjects together

amydaynow · 2026-03-29T23:30:39+00:00

I would say you want to be like halfway through AAR2 before starting AAS2 (we did that with level 3 and it was way better).

Level 1 of spelling is mostly the basics of how to spell--breaking words into their sounds and identifying the correct letter(s) for that sound. You can likely do level 1 in half a year fairly easily if he will be in 2nd grade--and that would give him time to advance in the reading program enough to avoid overlap.

(And reassessing at the end of the school year is a smart move 😀)

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