We tried Analytical Grammar this year, and it was not a good fit for us at all. DD already had a considerable amount of grammar and diagramming experience, and it just seemed to drag on. I thought it was a faster moving program than it was, and I thought it was advanced. In hindsight, it's clear that I misunderstood its purpose. It is comprehensive, but if your DD already has a solid grammar and diagramming background, it might not be a great fit. I agree with Farrar too that you might want to choose either spelling or vocabulary. Spelling is my DD's weakness, but after using (and finishing) so many spelling programs (AAS, LoE, Megawords, Phonetic Zoo, How To Teach Spelling), she has made huge improvements, but still isn't at grade level in her writing. But, we just stopped about 2 weeks ago, and I switched her back to MCT CE. She is loving the emphasis on stems and vocabulary, and we are both thankful to have a break from spelling.

DD 11 - Cirque du Soleil aerialist, paleoanthropologist, or marine biologist

Well, not sure if anyone wants to hear from me because I have, in fact, been a homeschooling mom and working mom since the beginning, and I don't work because I have to. I make a lot more than DH, but we could live on his salary. But, we certainly enjoy the lifestyle we have with two salaries. I like being able to bring DD to shows, lectures, concerts, classes, etc. I work as a manager for a large high tech company; I've always worked at large high tech companies. When DD was first born, DH was a SAHD, not me. He works full time too as a high tech manager for a local company. We both have tremendous flexibility. I am 100% telecommuting, and my direct reports are globally distributed. So, I sometimes work in the middle of the night, sometimes at 5am, sometimes on weekends. I do have core work hours during the week day, but I dedicate 6am-10am entirely to DD, plus time on weekends if necessary. We often do things as a family, like watch documentaries, read books together, play games in evenings and weekends too. I'm also available throughout the day if she has questions about her independent work. We are eclectic and quite academic in our approach; I am not an unschooler. DH works among several local locations so he can drop her off at activities, which he does nearly every day. He also takes care of the daily cooking and pick up around the house (we do have a biweekly housecleaner). We can't participate in regular activities that require parent involvement. That's less of a problem as she has gotten older. I've also helped start a social group that meets in evenings and arrange field trips that we want to do and DH and I take off work to participate. So, yes, some homeschooling moms do work because they like to, not because they have to. In my case, I'm able to do it because DH and I share household duties quite uniquely, we have flexible (yet corporate and professional) jobs, and we have a single child. My situation is not like anyone else's. The thing is none of our situations are like anyone else's. Figure out what works for your family. Who cares what anyone else is doing? Everyone has their own challenges, and the only way you're going to be successful and happy as a homeschooling family is to figure out what's the right balance for your family.

Not true. Nothing in the law says anything about how long. The recommendation is 180 days, but that is not the law. OP--i highly recommend that you read the info from the state directly: http://www.ncdnpe.org/hhh103.aspx

NC laws are pretty straight forward. See here for details: http://www.ncdnpe.org/hhh103.aspx Since your son is already 7, you'll need to send in your letter of intent when you move here, after July 1. It doesn't really matter if you won't school him until January. The law requires your letter of intent based on the child's age and the "statistical year" as they define it from July 1 to June 30. Here are details about testing: http://www.ncdnpe.org/FAQs/hhh114s.aspx Most people I know use CAT or PASS on their own or Woodcock Johnson with a tester. You have to use a nationally standardized achievement test that covers grammar, reading, math, spelling. You have to keep the records for one year. They say that you should be prepared to share them if requested. No one has ever requested to see ours.

Honestly, I just think that most of us who finished BA, just did it all in order since we were usually just waiting for it to show up. So, I know I personally don't have advice other than to just do it in order. Sorry!

nm

Congratulations! I know how you feel; my DD is in a similar place with circus arts but with fewer options than dancers or gymnasts.

That is awesome! I love it when adults take our kids' interests seriously! What a great opportunity for him.

I gave up on all science curriculum a while ago. We do our own thing, read stuff, go to science lectures and field trips. Science is impossible to avoid in our family discussions because we're all deeply interested in it. I'm also ABD in neuroscience and work full time in high tech. So far this year we've been on a puffin research tour, Neil deGrasse Tyson talk, lemur tour and science lab afternoon, and have an upcoming Homo naledi field trip. I have more planned for after the holidays. We're also reading, reading, reading, talking, talking, talking, watching documentaries and other videos (even Mythbusters, Bill Nye, Alton Brown, science around us types of things). Tons of living books and this year Dawkins, Pollan, and some others I'm still evaluating (6th grade). My goal for elementary and middle school science is to develop and foster an interest in science and to develop skills in critical thinking. I don't care at all if she knows things like all the stages of photosynthesis or other random science trivia or facts.

Every day is different. We have 1:1 time sometime between 6am-10am. Could be the whole time or not. Most days she has independent work too. That amount varies. She has several hours of activities outside the house daily, and they aren't academic focused. Bedtime varies. She probably should be asleep by 8 but it's usually later. We have a regular pattern to our days, but every day of the week has its own pattern. We both work full time and homeschool so we would fail epically if we didn't have any consistency. But, we are quite laid back about it. I don't always know what subjects I'll cover on a particular day until it happens.

I don't know how I feel about it. Honestly, I try to avoid the discussions. But, I also have a very strong sense of what needed to be done (my academic background is in child cognitive development), and I never even asked any of my friends what they thought. I just don't have that sort of inclination. We didn't evaluate DD until she wanted to be, which was about 9.5. We explained that it might help us make clearer choices with her learning path. She liked that idea. She doesn't have anything totally earth shattering. 2e diagnosis with some uncertainty as to whether it's working memory, processing speed, or ADHD inattentive issue, and for the most part it doesn't matter because we are remediating in similar way, regardless. And, well, I had already guessed it. I guess it was mostly validating that she didn't have some other issues that we were concerned about too (like serious anxiety issues.) She also started speech therapy somewhat late, at 10.5 just for middle vowel /r/ remediation. Again, in her case we might not have ever bothered except her own name has a middle vowel /r/ and people were always misunderstanding her and it led to some self esteem issues. If she had my name, which has a middle vowel /l/ sound, we probably never would have bothered.

Oh gosh. Willow Falls is probably one of my DD's favorite series; I'm the one who started the other thread so she would probably love many of the middle grade ones that Farrar suggested there. DD has read most of them and loved them. I absolutely agree with Rose's suggestions. I'd probably include Savvy, Skumble, and Switch set too by Ingrid Law. Perhaps a Snicker of Magic too. Tangle of Knots. Those are all a nice combo of contemporary fantasy. They stay just on this side of contemporary for my DD to like them. If she hasn't read the Penderwicks, it's a great series. The Calpurnia Tate sequel. Gah! I can't choose just two!

Excellent! Some more great suggestions. A few that I don't think she's quite ready for, but so many fabulous suggestions. Yes, Rose, she loves Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead too!

I'm not sure what you're asking. My husband and I both work full time and homeschool our only child, who is 11. I think every family situation is unique, but it's not impossible to work and homeschool.

I went through the lists, and we definitely have some great suggestions! Thank you!

Thanks! She has read at least half of those lists, maybe more. So, I will check out the ones she hasn't. Sounds like you're in the right genre!

Hunger Games, absolutely not. She is not interested in violence or alternative worlds. Farrar--yes! She has read everything on the second list you mentioned except two and loved them all. That's why I am struggling! I feel like we have exhausted the upper middle grades! Some non dying but moving books would be good!

I am having a hard time making some book recommendations for DD, 11. I don't need historical or literary suggestions; I have that covered. I just need some excellent pleasure reading books. She wanted to read Fault in Our Stars for a while. I pre-read it and couldn't finish it because I couldn't stop crying. I warned her and she even knew most of the big spoilers, but she finally read it, and loved it. So incredibly much. She is normally incredibly sensitive, but she loves contemporary books, apparently moving up the age range. She does not like fantasy or sci fi. She does not like violence but I guess she can handle heart-wrenching depressing. I have no problems with the relationship of these characters, and am comfortable with her reading it at her age. We are very open in our discussions here, and she is mature in her understanding. What should she try next?

It looks like other people got the offer too! I just have a ton of nonfiction stuff sitting in my basket so perhaps they knew they would lose money from me!

Nope!

Some choices other than Saxon; I'm just focusing on pre-algebra but several of these go into algebra and beyond: - AoPS and Arbor School (Jousting Armadillos, etc.) are two discovery-based approaches to pre-algebra, which I think would appeal to a visual learner. - Dolciani and Lial are more traditional - Math Mammoth is another option - Key to... series is fairly visual but mostly good for procedural practice - Online options like Tablet Class or live classes. You can start Tablet Class anytime; it's recorded lectures/videos accessed online. - Khan Academy is great for review or reinforcement We honestly use a combination of just about everything I listed. Saxon would have caused my DD to despise math. My DD is the type of kid who, when she gets something, she gets it immediately. She doesn't need repeated practice. But, if she gets stuck on something, she needs tiny little shots of different perspectives appealing to all styles of learning (she's fairly evenly distributed as a visual/auditory/kinetic learner). If she just got the same type of thing over and over, she would just shut down. So, I need to have a mix of materials always available, and just when I think she'll never get it, she gets it and jumps ahead 5 concepts. So, I have always had a very bizarre approach to math. We also use a lot of manipulatives still. I find games for us to play; she loves algebra tiles; etc.

I have 15 credits available. Maybe it's for people not annoyed with them! They messed up my account the other day.

These are things we will be doing all year; I split them up in different ways: - Math: pre-algebra using a mix of curricula, as needed. Starting a math club. - History: Middle Ages using OUP, Human Odyssey, some History Odyssey, lots of historical fiction, videos, audio books and lectures. Will be doing Plague unit from RFWP - Science: Mix of Bryson, Dr. Art, Pollan, and Dawkins. I have books from each scheduled and we might do some McHenry too. Plus some in-depth reading and field trips for Homo naledi. Went on puffin educational tour, attended amazing Neil deGrasse Tyson lecture. Does Alton Brown count? - Grammar: Mix of diagramming and mechanics practice, multiple resources (we ditched Analytical Grammar), MCT Voyage - Poetry and Literature: "How to Read Literature like a Professor for Kids", Blackbird Poetry program, MCT poetry - Spelling and Vocabulary: Megawords 3 and MCT Caesar's English - Writing: Cover Story and Blackbird Intro to Composition - Philosophy: "Philosophy for Kids" and "Philosophy Rocks" but DD requested more - Outside classes: pottery, chorus, circus arts, 1x weekly full day outdoor program, and she volunteers a few hours a week at a preschool

I was eyeing this the other day, but thought it might still be too easy; DD is another who gets logic problems somewhat intuitively: http://www.prufrock.com/Math-Bafflers-Logic-Puzzles-That-Use-Real-World-Math-Grades-6-8-P905.aspx Philosophy for Kids has been a huge hit for us. DD says it is her favorite thing we are doing this year. We are doing Philosophy Rocks too but she prefers the former.