I too find it unpleasant when people see their kids as some kind of status symbol based on intelligence. I can understand concern at wanting the best for your child but not wanting to somehow use them for one-up-manship, especially when intelligence isn't something we earn through any merit of our own.

Thanks for the reminder. I didn't know you could do this as homeschoolers so thanks for the info.

Ok I posted earlier briefly saying that I couldn't understand both sides but thinking about it I understand a little of both sides. I have 2 dd who have both qualified for the gifted program at PS. MY dd9 was at school for K-3 and the day pull out at the gifted program was the best part of the week for her. The teachers there are really nice caring people and if you were part of the program you were much more likely to get a good teacher for the regular class time too. Last year - 3rd grade - she spent the whole time getting 100% on everything with minimal effort. Our worries were the same as expressed above - that she would not learn, through being challenged, the study habits needed to succeed in life. So I can understand the worries, however now that we are homeschooling those worries have virtually disappeared because we can go at her pace. So I guess I'm wondering why people who are homeschooling still have these worries. Also why are some so vehement about people refering to kids as gifted. I don't know if I'm missing something but does this have an actual detrimental effect on others? Or maybe I'm not understanding the discussion. I was going to say that's because I'm British living in the US and but there are people from all over the world here so that can't be my excuse:001_smile:

Just wanted to add my experience with d-mannose before you buy as it's fairly pricey. We tried it for my dd who has reflux and multiple UTIs recently. It is claimed that it works only for e-coli infections (which hers always have been) however no success here despite following all the instructions. i don't know if it didn't work because of something specific to her - but just wanted to say don't get your hopes up too much like I did. Hope you feel better soon.

I am just interested as to why people seem so upset that people say their kids are gifted. I've seen several threads about this in my short time of following these boards. Just as it seems strange that some people are obsessed with their kids being gifted, it also seems strange to me that others are just about as obsessed with pointing out that they can't possibly be so.

I've read some posts where the writer seems completely unfamiliar with TWTM. However I think for many it's the practical application that they are asking about. I've read the book several times, but as a new homeschooler, I find it a challenge seeing what that translates to practically at times.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one too. My six year old DD and I saw it 2 nights ago and were amazed. I thought I must just be spectacularly unobservant because I don't remember seeing it before.

Thanks for all the good ideas. You've given me lots to try. It sounds like it's OK not to be using a formal curriculum, I didn't think it was necessary but then have had moments of doubt so appreciate the advice.

We started hschooling this year. We are still trying things out and finding our way and I'm assuming that's pretty usual for most people at first. We have a daughter in K(age 5) and one in 4th(age 9). I would really appreciate advice regarding K. She is reading quite well, I haven't tested formally but estimate about end of Gr2-start of Gr 3 at least. Reading has improved tremendously over the last few months with just a lot of reading books and some work in Phonics pathways. My question is what is best to do: she is ahead in reading and seems to comprehend and pick things up easily but not so far ahead with handwriting and doesn't particularly like writing. She seems to pick up Math quite easily also. However I'm not doing a lot of organised, formal stuff with her because a) I want her to have a fun kindergarten and b) most of the things I've seen in the proper K programs she seems to already know. She does SOTW history and Apologia science with her sister - at her level of course. This less organised approach is going OK but I'm finding it hard to keep her busy while I'm trying to teach older sis. Any good ideas would be appreciated. I should add that we are fairly ecomonically challenged at the moment so cheap ideas would be great. Thanks