I homeschooled my oldest k-2, then put he and my middle in a highly regarded charter school for the last two years. We're bringing them back home this fall. It is an excellent school, but the drive (20 min each way), the fundraisers, the demands on my time, volunteer requirements, costs (activity fees, gas, lumches, supplies, bake sales...) the having to follow an unnatural (for us) schedule, and the fact that both of my kids have lost their fire and zest for learning despite being accelerated... Besides all of that, we really miss each other. The benefits of our time in school are reassurance that I was doing a good job as their teacher, and now we know what school (a high achieving, very good school!) is like, and we still prefer homeschool. You could give it a whirl, and always reserve the right to bring them back home if it isn't a great fit!

Red Lion on 5th! Perfect location.

I don't see a thing wrong with how you handled the situation, and I would have (and have!) done similar.

The Imaginarium is interesting & fun for kids, a good rainy day activity. It's included with museum admission. You might be better off getting a yearly membership for your inlaws if you'd like to visit more than once. Free music in the Peratrovich Park downtown and at the Loussac library, last summer it was Wednesdays and Fridays around lunchtime. Good bands! Rent or borrow bikes and cruise the trail system. We love to hike/walk in town, too. Cheney Lake, University Lake (dog park, but it's very pretty), Kincaid Park, the coastal trail... Flat Top. Winner creek trail in Girdwood. Gorgeous, you can take a handtram over the gorge. On nice days, Goose Lake and Jewel Lake are the "beachy" spots in town, with lifeguards on duty. AK is expensive. Definitely take advantage of resident rates using your Inlaws to purchase tickets to attractions... Look into the Northern Loghts Coupon Book (find at Barnes & Noble) for excursions. Check Groupon for local stuff, too!

We are returning to homeschooling this fall. My boys are currently using Saxon, both are accelerated in their charter school, both have 98-100% in their current level. DS 9 is in 6/5, DS 6, 2. Math is not my strong suit, but my kids seem to be more naturally math-minded. Both get annoyed by the number of problems, but I figured I could cut down on that so long as concepts are mastered. I was thinking we should just continue on with Saxon since they seem to be doing well with it. There are DVDs for the upper levels, right? That would be a definite benefit to me as teacher... But I've read a few comments here and elsewhere about Saxon not being best for gifted kids. Should I consider switching to something else? And if so, what? I also have a daughter that will be starting K.

Thank you so much for this. As we plan to return to homeschooling this fall, your post has helped me to put my priorities in order and hammer out my own "mission statement" of sorts. :)

Nope. My golden still tries, but no. The cats are allowed on the furniture, though.

Way to go! I felt the same way on day one! Now I run for fun -- and I NEVER thought I'd say that! :lol:

I'm a new runner - started the Couch to 5K program in May, finished in July, and am running about 5-8 miles a week now. I want to keep running outdoors at least part of the time because the treadmill is SO very boring! The only hitch is that I live in Alaska! I ran this Saturday in a drizzly 38 degrees, and wore a long sleeved cotton top under a short sleeved shirt, long pants and a baseball cap. I was freezing while I did my warmup walk, but quickly warmed up once I got going. Then I was pretty chilly again by the time I got home - sweat plus cold - BRRR! What do you wear for running outside in the winter? Anything special on your shoes, or do you just stick to fresh snow/trails?

If your public/private/charter schooled child skipped a grade or more, can you share your experience? Looking for the good, bad & ugly! I'd especially appreciate responses from those that accelerated long enough ago to know how it worked out in the end, but in-the-trenches experiences would be welcomed, too. :) Thanks! If you would share how you came to your decision and what your options were, that would be helpful.

Thank you for the perspective and suggestions. I emailed the principal at his current school to ask about the Iowa Acceleration Scales and get her perspective on grade advancement. I also spoke with the liaison at the gifted school about a potential observation/trial day. She seemed negative about advancement and encouraged me to seriously consider the HG school, she looked over his testing materials and said he obviously is not going to fit well in a traditional schooling environment, but that the charter he is in IS an exceptional school, so she understands why we chose it for him. She didn't think grade advancement would really benefit him because he'll just perform at the top of the higher grade if we accelerate him, and it wouldn't fit the unique needs of a kid like him. I'm going to pull out some of the things that he was working on last year when we were homeschooling and take them with me to his P/T conference next week, and ask his current teacher about having him work on "extra credit" projects during 'early finisher' time, instead of just reading twaddle. He is intrigued by the idea of the observation day at the HG school, so I think we'll plan that and then proceed. :)

Dip a spoon into the peanut butter jar, then into the nutella jar. YUM. It's sorta like a Reese's PB cup, only better!

Yes. I just spoke with the liaison and DS can go for an observation day whenever we wish.

We homeschooled K-2, until my son was tested in February of this year, at my request. His test scores qualified him for the HG public school, which we toured and were impressed with, but we ultimately decided to place him in a highly academic science/math/arts charter instead. The HG school is still available if we decide to change course. He took the WISC-IV, and had a cumulative of 140. The test specialist said he had the "average working knowledge of a 9th grader" - he was tested as a 7 y/o 2nd grader. Now we're a quarter into 3rd grade and I'm not sure we've made the right choice for him. I posted this on another forum last March, after he'd been in his charter school for a month or so - (he went into a 3rd grade class as a 2nd grade student, and was expected to remain with the same teacher this school year as a 3rd grader): And ultimately decided not to grade advance, due to my own discomfort with his being a (future) 10 y/o in the same class with 13 y/o's, and his reluctance - he really loves his teacher, and was afraid to advance since he didn't know cursive. Sigh.:001_huh: So he's in 3rd grade this year with the same teacher, and I posted this about 6 weeks ago: And this about 3 weeks ago: And then last week I asked him how much time he spends reading after finishing early on whatever the class is working on - he said he spends half the day reading since he's always the first one done. :001_huh: So. If you read all that, BLESS you! You deserve a big cookie and a homemade pumpkin spice latte! I guess my question is - if he is happy, which he says he is, should I leave well enough alone? I became a lazy student when I got to high school and had to actually put forth effort for the first time in my education - I breezed through, never applied myself, and still maintained a high B average. I don't want that for my kid. Should I pursue grade acceleration? He is mature, tall and big for his age, and obviously academically "there", but I feel so uncomfortable about going from "sheltered" homeschooler to young (July birthday) 8 y/o 3rd grader, to skipping an entire grade and potentially having him in a classroom with much older kids... We have a dedicated HG school right here, catering to kids like my son. But something about it just feels off to me - I can't put my finger on it. I LOVE that his charter has 2 hours of Spanish every week, 2 hours of music and art and PE... They differentiate well, obviously - is differentiation enough? How can I advocate for him and encourage his teachers to challenge him in his current school? I've been considering sending in SOTW and other things we were working on last year when he was homeschooling, instead of his going to the reading nook and picking out things like Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. :glare: Parent Teacher Conferences are next week, so I want to be prepared for a discussion on what would be best for my kiddo. Thank you!

I only knew the three in my state! :lol:

Michael's matches all competitor coupons. So I signed up for an educator card at Joann's, and Michael's accepts it. Every time. Whatever, I say!

63 at night. 66-68 during the day.

I like layers. I hate constricting or tight cuffs and collars.

Jenn, you're freaking me out! We were at Eielson when I was 3y/o - 9y/o -- I'm dying to know what years you were there and if we were at the same school/same time! It would have been 1982ish to 1989ish for me -- Did you go to Anderson? Pennell? I rode my bike and walked across base, too -- from Columbia Circle (which was totally new when we lived there, townhouse-style duplex units. Anyway, small world! OP, I grew up in and around Fairbanks (Eielson AFB, Ft Wainwright, North Pole, Fairbanks proper) from infancy until I was 12. I've lived in Anchorage for the past 14 years, since I was 17. Alaska is one of those love it/hate it places. And the vast majority of the people who live here love it! :D Fairbanks is not my favorite place in Alaska, but there are plenty of folks who really appreciate it's frontiersy feeling and the sense of community there. Honestly, it's freaky-weird for me to experience heat and dark at the same time. After spending almost my entire life in Alaska, heat = light for me, and going outside where it gets dark at night trips me out! I LOVE our 20+ hour summer days. On the other hand, the winters really get to me. It's cold, dark, and can feel very isolated with the short days and long, long nights. I don't know where you other Alaskans are buying your milk, but where I get it, it's $2.99ish/gal for conventional. :) In the villages, you're going to pay top dollar for any perishable grocery items, notsomuch in the cities. Think of the experience for your family! Since you know it's just for a few years, you can fully enjoy all of the wonderful things about Alaska and live with the not-so-pleasant, right?

No. Lifelong Alaskan. It stinks.

:D 10:42 here now!

It is SOOOO beautiful in Anchorage, AK!!!

:iagree: Exactly. Your son needs to grow up. Passing his room on to his sister is a good first step, imo! :001_smile:

Yes. I lost a diamond on my engagement ring, so I traded my old set in for a bigger and better version. :)

Without even thinking twice, yes! I'd knock and ask if they were home, and if not, I'd borrow it and tell them later. :)