Wow (not in a good way). Pitiful.

I've always said my son has two speeds--slow and stop. I have no words of wisdom, but plenty of commiseration.

Late to the party, but I highly recommend Professor B Math. It comes two ways: 1) scripted textbook or 2) CD. The CD is not at all game-ish (a good thing in my book). If you look up math-phobic in the dictionary my picture is there, seriously. So it is a very big deal to me that neither child has my math phobia. Professor B was how I survived. I just read what was in the book. If the child didn't understand it, he/she waited until Dad got home. It worked great for us.

Thank you! I replied.

Did anyone download this? If so, could you PM me and arrange to email it to me? I opened this in the wayback machine and minimized it partially read, and now it's timed out and I can't get it to display again no matter what I do. I'm kicking myself that I didn't just download it when I had the chance. Was anyone else more "with it" than me? Here's the link I've been trying through the wayback machine: http://school.jhssac.org/faculty/cheneym/documents/Section_13__FOUR_HALLMARKS_OF_JESUIT_EDUCATION.pdf Argh, I was planning to read this slowly and carefully this weekend! Thanks so much!

I have finally waded through this whole thread, after promising myself for DAYS that I would do so. Larry, I think you have some points worth pondering. I strongly recommend that you read Latin-Centered Curriculum and Wisdom and Eloquence. I think you will find them kindred spirits. It is obvious that you are not the typical homeschool newbie. Your life experience and training in philosophy show. But also be aware that people here are not automatically going to be awed by someone new to the community, so I recommend that you stick with us and stay in dialogue. I think you have a lot to contribute to the Hive, and perhaps we can give you a pointer or two as well.

Thank you, Ester Maria. Very inspirational! I agree wholeheartedly. When I said "keep my head down," it was more in the guise of doing what I know I should be doing, regardless of what is going on around me (i.e., lack of rigor). You are right that we do need to know what others are doing to a certain extent (i.e., those who are possibly more rigorous) so I can tell if I need to step it up.

:iagree::iagree::iagree:

I have read the thread, but I would like to go back to the OP's question. Yes, I definitely see a peer pressure to do less, and most definitely YES I am an oddball. Yet, my children are smart average and our level of homeschooling by this board's standards is nothing special. I kind of laugh to myself at the people who think I am soooo strict and my children soooo advanced, because if they had any idea about some of the standards of this board, their heads would explode! We all worry whether we are doing enough. I console myself with the knowledge that SWB has openly admitted she has these moments too and does a reality check with her mother. (I am sure she has them less often now that she has graduated a couple of her boys.) I don't want a rising tide of mediocrity and an automatic superiority complex to lull homeschoolers into non-schooling. It does bother me that I see this in the homeschooling community. And there's also an element that says that making academics a priority automatically means that you are neglecting spiritual training. Um, no. I think all I can do is keep my head down, do what I need to do for my own children, and continue being "weird" in the hopes that someone might be emboldened to be weird too. What's hilarious is that I'm weird in both secular and Christian circles. Equal opportunity weirdness.

Each office taking their own x-rays is pretty standard. Sorry, Jean : (.

Yay! I'm glad it turned out to be such a positive experience.

My math-hating daughter was given one by a dear friend, and I printed out some instructions to go with it. Remember, she's a math-hater--but she LOVES her slide rule! She likes to play around with it in her spare time. I do not require its use.

I voted "other" because I sometimes splurge for literature. For example, I chose a more expensive translation of Odyssey AND got the audiobook because I felt strongly about that one.

I got this one this morning. My second child is beginning the braces process, so soon I will get to hear this in stereo! :glare:

Mine are normal. Smart, but normal. I have seen truly gifted children, and I have been grateful for the perspective. Some people who aren't used to the classical approach think my children are some kind of advanced whizzes, but I know to ignore them. They are just smart, normal children. No prodigies here, and that's okay with me. They are who they are.

What ages are your children? We used both, for different reasons. I had the text of Children's Homer hanging around, but it worked so well as a car audiobook (unabridged) that we never cracked the book. Black Ships is a Big Kid picture book. It has pictures, but also a lot of text. So I assigned that as independent reading in the middle grades, after they had heard the audiobook of Children's Homer a few times. I don't think either is too suitable for the 5-8 yo set, unless they are already used to full-length works in audiobooks. If you've already trained them to it, then you could probably get away with the audiobook. For the first time this year, they read a full translation of The Odyssey, following along with an audiobook with their own texts, and it went really well. They really enjoyed it.

LOL! Don't believe her. I met her IRL recently and she's VERY sharp. But, yes, one can definitely feel overwhelmed when learning new things.

Trying for 100%.

Yes, one big reason why I homeschool. Among MANY.

Reading. Theology. Reading. Missions. Reading. Deaf Interpreting. Reading. Tutoring. Reading. Technical Writing. Reading. Going for a graduate degree. Reading.

I have used IEW with a co-op and respect it, but I think it is not appropriate for your situation. I would listen to her feedback and go a different way. IEW does accept returns without question. I agree that SWB's writing CD is a great place to start.

:iagree:

So cozy!

:iagree: I think I won't think of myself as an "experienced" homeschooler until my children graduate. But after over 10 years of homeschooling, I have finally come to terms with younger moms seeing me as "experienced." But I still don't think of myself that way. :lol:

LOL. You gave yourself good advice. 1) Chill. 2) Keep Reading.