My daughter needs to collect data from a 6 question survey for her research methods class. She is hoping to get 100 responses within 48 hours. The anonymous link is: https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/…/SV_0PM9LO3uj1… Thank you!! Happy Holidays!

We used Saxon Grammar 5 last year and loved it. I was just able to purchase Saxon Grammar 7 used (I was looking for 6, but was preparing for the future) and have just spent a bunch of time reviewing it. I may be missing something--I didn't compare -every- lesson to those we just finished. However, I was surprised how little new information was contained in it. For those of you who have used it: is there any reason why I shouldn't just skip to the last book-Saxon 8? Does 8 review everything previously taught like 7 and and the final bits of new stuff? DD doesn't like going over things she's mastered. BTW, we use just the grammar portion--writing is attended to with another program. Thanks for your views. The people on this forum have been so helpful to me throughout my homeschooling years.

Thanks everyone for your kindness. It looks like the peace thing is sticking and the teeter-tottering is over. Listening to you express your indignation on my behalf helped me get over mine. You know how you can admit to the flaws of those you love, but to hear anyone else mention them makes you brace a bit? That response in me made me seriously think. They are a phenomenal group of women with lovely children. The organizational policy that led to the decision revealed a fundamental difference of views. But that's okay. It doesn't diminish who the women are in the group at all, and actually, the objective value of the organization is the same as it ever was. I just now see that is just isn't as valuable to me as I initially thought it would be. Disappointing, but not their fault. I am friends with individuals with differing views and beliefs than me and I don't have a problem with that. Why should I be upset with those making the policies in this scenario? Different strokes for different folks. Anyway, I've been generating ideas how to spend the extra time and money and I'm starting to get excited. S'good. Again, thanks for your responses, it really helped get me through the height of my emotional overload.

Thanks!! I joined the group and just read Andrew Kern's post on truth, wisdom, and anxiety. That and the subsequent Martha story was so beautiful and inspirational. What a potent shot of peace that brought!

Thanks. That's helpful to hear. That's where I'm heading. And I'm going to be happy about it. I love one mom's signature "Relax, it's supposed to be fun." My mantra right now.

deleted because I woke up upset and vented. Took me an hour, but I'm back to being okay.

Weekly throughout the school year. I count myself lucky to have found it because it was what initially gave me a vision of the education I could aspire to provide for my daughter. But now, you're right, I need to recognize I'm lucky to be leaving it, because it would be detrimental to that vision to continue with it. I really appreciate your comments guys. It's been such an emotional day and night. I'm hoping tomorrow, or at least soon, I can get off the teeter totter of emotion and wind up just being grateful for the shove out of the nest and at peace about the whole deal.

My experience today: You can’t classically educate your gifted child unless you keep them in line with the proper age expectations. If you accelerate them, you are educating aligned with the typical achievement-oriented institutions. You should seek a community other than one focused on classical education. Children cannot be, therefore should not be, moved to the “later grammar stage,” introducing abstract concepts, until they reach 9 years old. It is impossible for it to be appropriate to move them to the logic stage until they are 12 or 13. Rhetoric stage cannot begin to emerge before 16. Today, on our last day of this school year, my daughter was effectively released from the Christian classical education homeschool organization we have been attending for three years. I am heartbroken and dread telling my daughter we are not going back next year. I keep alternating between crying/grieving/indignation and peace. We both love this community. But, I gather, I am pushing my daughter, (whose IQ, btw, is unknown because she hit the ceiling of the test) inappropriately. Basically, I should try and get my needs (because they aren’t hers) met elsewhere unless I decide to stop pushing her and let her be at the same place as other 8 year olds. I homeschool, among other important reasons, because my daughter does not fit into the box. I will not put her in yours. I don’t need to defend meeting the needs and interests that my daughter has. She is the way she is because that is the way God made her. If you don’t accept her or me, we are (or will be) fine because we are accepted by God. I still love the community. I still think they are doing a great job with children. I still recommend them to others seeking help in classically educating their child. But they are just another version of an institution. As such, I guess they have every right to impose whatever rules and boxes they want. I agree with them in this--we don’t fit. But I say, you can’t tell me that I can’t classically educate my child unless I do it your way. Watch me! UPDATE: Thanks everyone for your kindness. It looks like the peace thing is sticking and the teeter-tottering is over. Listening to you express your indignation on my behalf helped me get over mine. You know how you can admit to the flaws of those you love, but to hear anyone else mention them makes you brace a bit? That response in me made me seriously think. They are a phenomenal group of women with lovely children. The organizational policy that led to the decision revealed a fundamental difference of views. But that's okay. It doesn't diminish who the women are in the group at all, and actually, the objective value of the organization is the same as it ever was. I just now see that is just isn't as valuable to me as I initially thought it would be. Disappointing, but not their fault. I am friends with individuals with differing views and beliefs than me and I don't have a problem with that. Why should I be upset with those making the policies in this scenario? Different strokes for different folks. Anyway, I've been generating ideas how to spend the extra time and money and I'm starting to get excited. S'good. Again, thanks for your responses, it really helped get me through the height of my emotional overload.

I'd be interested in seeing those. Could you provide the link so I don't have to go on a fishing expedition : ) ?

My daughter was a HUGE fan of Magic School Bus books at that age. They have 3 different levels and the content is great (meaning very educational while being interesting) if you have a science enthusiast. I'm bummed we've gone through them all.

It depends on your reasons for wanting the test as well. If it is just for your desire to get a handle on your child's IQ, then an abbreviated test such as the RIAS will be much cheaper. If you are wanting it to have it done to fulfill the requirements of some of the special gifted programs around the country (see Hoagies) the Stanford-Binet (higher ceiling) and Wechsler tests are the gold standards. As stated above, the least expensive way (other than the school system--if you are lucky) to get these tests is going to a college/university with a Ph.D. program in Psychology and letting a supervised student conduct it. Be aware though, there often is quite a wait list at these centers because of the lower cost.

My daughter (5) was in the same boat. We did Shurley 1 in our first semester of this year (our first homeschooling). We altered it quite a bit to keep her interest and because her writing isn't as advanced as other areas. We did the longer writing assignments orally or with me writing on the whiteboard (with a little help from her). Also we did a weeks worth of Shurley in 1 or 2 days because she got it and would have been very irritated to keep going over and over the same material throughout the week. We are on Shurley 2 now and we're going to fly through it, because a lot is repetitive. If I were to do it over, I would have bought 1 and 3 and skipped 2.

My favorite of all the books/authors that I've read this year are the same as every year since my 20s: Jane Austen's Complete Works; J.K. Rowling Harry Potter, and the Bible. They are comfort food and dear friends rolled into one.

I love Walmart on Black Friday. The rest of the year I just appreciate the savings.