My dermatologist recommends cetaphil and we've had good luck with them.

I'm waiting until next year (7th/8th grade) and plan to do a 2 year US History and corresponding American literature focus for history and English. In the elementary years, we studied Ancients for two years, the middle ages in Europe for one year and the renaissance in Europe for one year. This year we're working on world history (with a non-western focus) and adding in literature, art, music, cooking that goes along with each culture. We have used OUP for almost all of our history study.

In all honesty, every time I've tried to sneak in an extra subject, I just can't do it. My kids and my teaching style are limited to 5 subjects across 5 hours. Math, English, History, Science and Geography is all I can do. Some subjects like geography end up being done in 15 minutes, but that's fine since math and history inevitably take an hour and a half. English includes writing/grammar/literature but not on the same day... Any more than the 5 subjects and one of them gets dropped. You might want to reduce the workload and simplify by finding out how many classes you can be consistent about.

I would love for a classical school in our area. I would totally support religious studies, but an academic approach to religion would be ideal to avoid differences or absence of faith / traditions. Also, it's necessary to avoid partisan politics. I had terrible experiences in Christian schools as a gay teenager in the 1980s and I would never, ever want to pass on the frightening social and political climate that was encouraged by the school (as in... required picketing of abortion clinics and formal debates on whether homosexuals were devil possessed or just willfully sinning). Anyway, the only way I would ever enroll my kids in a Christian school is if it was openly tolerant and welcoming of all kids (and not in a weird proselytizing way).

I have also happily used the Teacher Created Materials " World Religions". There's plenty in it - text and interesting questions. I'm curious also about Galore Park, that's where I would head if I wanted to do more RE than what we've already done.

I would guess that foster kids whose parents are having their parental rights terminated would have fewer visits, but I don't know. In all of our placements, the plan has been to return to parent so the judge orders lots of visits to try to maintain the parent-child bond. I know infants in our county tend to have a lot of visits in particular. Also, when parents are separated, Mom gets a few visits and dad gets a few visits per week separately (though often back to back). So it adds up. The visit center is 25 min away for us... I have learned to consider it my respite/free babysitting hour. Otherwise it's unbearable. Also, sometimes I've just had to say that we can't do it. Occasionally volunteer drivers can take kids.

We've liked "Rules of the game" -- publisher is EPS.

Personally, I have only been able to foster because my foster kids have all been in school or preschool. I think if you're used to homeschooling with your own toddlers or babies around, it'll be the same. Except... for visits! Expect foster kids to have visitations with parents (for us, it's usually been between 3 and 5 per week), doctors, therapists, social workers, WIC visits, CASA workers, children's attorneys... It can be extensive. Additionally, Medically fragile kids in our county often involve overnight trips to the nearest university hospital - 5 hrs away. So, anyway... my point is -- expect extra complications in your schedule.

I'm happy with the choice of paths I've made for my daughter: SM 5a and b, SM 6a and b, Galore Park SYRWL Maths 2, and SYRWL Maths 3, and then Algebra. She absolutely could have started Algebra this year, but by giving her an extra year of integrated middle school math, she's done a review of the trickier bits of arithmetic, reviewed and learned a fair amount of geometry and statistics, learned much of what is taught in a first year algebra course, and will even have her first encounter with some trigonometry. We've done some supplementing with Keys to Algebra, Algebra Survival Guide, Zaccarro, and CWP 5 and 6. I like having confidence that she's really, really solid in her math and she's not stressed about it. We just call it "Math", not Math 7 or 8 or Prealgebra or Algebra 1a or whatever.

I tend not to focus on the grade level of the book... Maybe think of math books kind of like clothing sizes. The number might make you feel good or bad, but it's somewhat artificial. Even though they try to standardize, one company's size 6 is another's 8. What actually matters is the fit, not the number. As for review, I've had success with the Math Minutes series. They're good for keeping math concepts fresh and alerting you to areas that need review. Regarding teaching... What we have done with SM is - I explain the lesson, do examples together and work from textbook orally whenever possible. Then I'd have kids do workbook independently. I often check the first one or two to make certain that they're not headed in the wrong direction. My dd finished Sm 6b last year and with our new book, we still do an explanation, then examples together, then work alone, then check, then re-work mistakes, then if they're wrong a second time, do them together. If I'm sure that we'll revisit the topic again, I might let it go... If I think it needs to be mastered right away, I'll stop everything and find ways to supplement and review the topic (MM is great for this). I can't imagine my kids trying to learn math without me quite close to explain and check. So In your place, I would look carefully at what he's missed. Are they careless errors or does he actually not understand? Are they all in one topic? Have him redo the review - can he fix his mistakes?

All I can think of is Chemical chaos (horrible science). Also, you could try one of the more accessible adult non-fiction. My 6th grader liked The Disappearing Spoon.

My 11 yr old ballet dancer had to use tampons from day 1. It wasn't a big deal and she's handled it fine. At our studio, girls can also wear short wrap skirts or shorts (though it's not encouraged). I suppose a girl who was wearing a pad could maybe make it less noticeable? Still, I agree with the others... Tampons are the way to go with our sporty girls.

I took propranolol last year for thyrotoxicosis and had no side effects. It just brought my pulse under 100 and bp to normal range. Maybe your tiredness is unrelated? If it continues check for the usual culprits - anemia, thyroid, etc...

Exactly, Lovinmomma (whose post I will not quote), mistakes were made and the system of backup and oversight worked. It must have been a terrible time!

I'm not suggesting mistakes can't be made. I'm saying that the big, clunky system of child protective services has no interest in removing kids from a minimally safe family and that there are people both inside and outside child welfare who check the system. If the case worker with her supervisors and the CASA and the judge all say the kids should be removed, then we're probably not getting the whole story. If truly the only issue was homeschooling, I have full confidence that the system will chug along and either a different judge or review board will order those kids back home or the family will jump through whatever hoops they want them to and we won't hear anything more about it. As an aside, do we know that these kids are even in community foster placements and not just staying with grandparents or whatever as relative foster care?

As a foster parent, I can say that the state has no interest in taking children away from stable, safe homes. Families have to have multiple issues of sexual or physical abuse, drug or alcohol usage, extreme neglect. If nothing else, it's not like there are a ton of foster homes available... and really that's not the way child protective services work. They really, really try to keep families intact unless there is obvious safety issues. There is so much paperwork and so many meetings and hearings and ways that a family can get their kids back unless they just don't want to follow the rules. If a rogue case worker oversteps his/her role and takes a child from a family, there is oversight in the system to make certain it is legal and appropriate... case worker supervisers, CASA workers, judges, citizen review boards. It's a huge bureaucracy full of multiple layers of protection, but it's set up with the purpose of protecting kids. I don't always like working with the system, but I can say with 100% assurance that they do not take children away from stable homes. My guess is that there are a lot of other issues with this family and they just don't want to tell their friends and family what's actually going on.

I'm not a fan of experiments either... The two programs we've enjoyed so far is Joy Hakim's "Story of Science" (aka Science for people who really prefer learning history) and any of Ellen McHenry materials. McHenry is more game/craft/video oriented though there are a few experiments. That said, both are aimed at middle school... younger depending on ability and interest.

We did the ancients in 2nd and 3rd grade, Medieval in 4th and Renaissance in 5th. That was all great. But during that year I realized that we couldn't really address the crusades or colonialism or slavery or anything after the 16th century when things started getting more international. I felt I was doing a disservice to my kids by not giving them opportunities to learn the history of other areas too. So this year we are doing world history in a unit study format... We're devoting about a month or two for each unit -- Africa, Asia, Middle East, Americas, Australia (sorry -- only 2 weeks), Europe (mostly 18th-19th century). Like previous years, they have a portfolio (blank from history portfolios) and they draw pictures, maps, flags, write paragraphs and do timelines for each period. They read OUP or HO or research online, watch documentaries, memorize the countries of that area, learn about the religions, read a book from the country and write an essay. When appropriate, I tie in literature, science, art, music, philosophy, political science etc... I had originally thought we'd do a single year of US History next year, but I think we'll extend it to 2 years and have a heavy international "Modern History" focus. After that I think we'll move to focusing on an AP History syllabus. Anyway, I guess my philosophy is to use history as a basis for all other subjects and to spend time focusing on our own western history without disregarding the rest of the world. Although we do sometimes focus on facts and memorization, from the start, I've always aimed for having my kids look for bigger questions and repeating themes like: what happens when cultures interact with each other, what happens when people are dissatisfied with their government, how do scientific and philosophical ideas build on each other, what happens when empires get big... I guess that's my philosophy on history education.

I think it looks like you've got a good start. If you're like me, you'll figure out what you like or not as you try it. It might be that Phonics pathways and ETC are overlapping or that the ETC A or Singapore levels (for all your kids) are a little too easy. But -- it's homeschooling! You can adapt -- go faster, go slower, skip a book, order something else when you realize you don't like what you have. The only way to know that is to give it a try.

Terry Jones did a great documentary on Medieval England... My girls did watch the whole thing, but the one about the medieval woman is probably better saved for middle or high school. "Worst Jobs in the Middle Ages" (on youtube) "Supersizers go Medieval" (on youtube) is great to lead into historical cooking (which we do often!). Lots of online recipes. Listen to some medieval music while you cook/eat. Horrible Histories videos and books are awesome for medieval England.

Up until 4th grade, we did about 45 minutes of work and 15 minutes of break. Then around 5th grade I realized the girls were running upstairs to giggle and then having trouble focusing after their break. It was too much stop and start. So I did away with breaks and it's been fine. Now they work from 8:30ish-12ish and then they cook lunch and eat lunch and chat... usually about a half hour or an hour depending on the day. Then a few more hours after lunch... we finish around 3 or so.

I'm like that too... And I think it's pretty common. I would add that if you're seriously sweating -- as in drenching sheets at night, I'd talk to a doctor about night sweats.

Homeschool helper app is like 5$ and does everything I want it to. I'm really impressed!

Homeschool helper app is like 5$ and does everything I want it to. I'm really impressed!

Welcome! Check out http://www.welltrainedmind.com/academic-excellence-grades-k-4/ for recommendations from the 2003 Well Trained Mind book. As for spelling, I have been very happy with Apples and Pears from sound foundations. It's scripted, which I find useful... and just what my 9 yr old daughter needed. She tested into level B - which is probably about 3rd grade. Rod and Staff Spelling and Sequential Spelling get mentioned a lot here too.