This is a “good†school that she is going to. 8 out of 10 on the ratings. The standardized test scores are in the very good place. I have a friend who moved to the “great†school district around here. She was dismayed to find that the “great†schools are either way too academic (she called them dictatorships) or so focused on the social aspect that academics are secondary. I’m fine with the fact that we did take this year so I could regroup and figure out alternatives. Unfortunately, we will have to repeat what I consider to be a good fourth grade experience. I always thought I was doing as well as the public school—that I was at least keeping up with the academics. I had no idea that just using grade level homeschool materials with an average learner that we would be ahead of the game in so many ways. Also, one thing that stuck out when I went to teacher conferences is that every other kid had their “one†free reading book on their desk. My daughters teacher gave her a small bin to keep the vast number of books she wanted to read because they were so interesting to her. At least she’s retained that. I really wanted to like this public school thing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe I’ve just been doing this too long—13 years...On the flip side, I found a classical co-op where every bit of curriculum they are using is exactly what I would use if I could. It’s amazing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My dd is going to public school 4th grade after being homeschooled. We needed a break from each other and I was maxed out. I knew it would not be custom made for her and I would give up autonomy. I was perfectly fine with it. My standard was that she learn math and language arts at least minimally. Everything else was gravy to me. It’s horrible. I asked another mom who thought the math was “goofyâ€. But she was ok that her dd wasn’t learning math as she would have liked because, “they have to know this stuff for the standardized test. They have to know all the goofy ways so they can do well on the test.†They put pictures on Facebook of kids learning how write succinct questions to answers in computers so they can do well on tests. Everyone applauds them. My neighbors love this school. I feel like the year is a total wash for my dd. The spelling is what she did in 2nd and beginning of 3rd grade (according to AAS 2nd and 3rd grade books), writing instruction consists of “we have a standard of a 5 paragraph research paper, so here’s an outline —go!†Math is Singapore style in that they took a great program and made it look like Cinderella’s ugly step-sister. I am still teaching her writing skills and math almost nightly. She’s was on the “A†honor roll first quarter despite getting “C’s†and one “D†on most of her tests. I asked the teacher how that could be and he said he counts participation—she’s a mostly obedient student. My question is why can’t I just let my dd get what I consider to be a substandard education like every other kid in the neighborhood? Why does everyone else think this is such a great school when all I can see is that my dd is basically learning no real educational skills other than learning how to take tests on computers? She’s making friends and I’m regrouping to figure out how to homeschool so I don’t burn out immediately. I would prefer she goes to school but at this point, I feel like her education would suffer. Have I just drunk the homeschool Koolaid and nothing will be good enough? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mine is in the freezer. My mom never did stuff like this so I feel special[emoji6] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a similar situation. My dd is in 4th grade public school. Academically, this year is a wash. Math is the only subject she is learning anything new in and the curriculum is so horrible, we are looking at having to reteach 4th grade math just so she has a decent foundation to advance. We have chosen to keep her in school for the rest of the year so she can develop some friendships. Socially, public school has been good for her. In every other way, it’s a wasted year. 4th grade is easy to to make up academically. She’ll catch up easily. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My ds was 16 and a little when he seems to have stopped. He hopes it's for good since he's been buying clothes and shoes he likes. He's also 6'2". I have a feeling he may grow a little more. My boys started growth spurts around 12.

A couple of Gap sweaters. They're on sale 50% off today. It's partially a gift for me too. He has a few clothing items I would rather not see again because they're old and don't fit well.

If you make homemade rolls and forget to add salt, it makes a HUGE difference. Just that little 1t of salt takes it from tasting like flour to yummy. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I never used dressers in my kids bedrooms. I got one of those closet drawer sets and stuck it in the closet. We just never had big enough bedrooms to hold a dresser also. My friend had 8 children in a four bedroom house. She gave up her master bedroom to put four boys in it with two bunk beds. After 15 years, she is finally reclaiming it because enough children have gone to college. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just to be adding to smug talk we have going on—have you gotten “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle?†Tell them it’s not in the Bible. It’s the,â€I don’t know what to say about your situation†answer so I’ll try to make you feel better about being overwhelmed. Try to find the verse. It’s close to another verse that doesn’t mean the same thing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hear you!!! Everyone always tells me to make sure I’m taking care of myself and don’t wear yourself out—oxygen mask description. Yes, that would be great! How about you come over for the weekend and take care of my family including my 18 year old baby so I can self-care. It would do wonders! For now, Hulu is my guilty friend. I feel like I should be beyond Hulu. But, my big man baby doesn’t whine when someone else is talking in the house, so it’s all good. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My friend is having popcorn, ice cream, and warmed up chick-fil-a chicken nuggets while they pile into their parents bed and watching movies. Sounds like a dream(except the piling into mom and dad’s bed—my children are too big). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Puzzles? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I actually told a retail store clerk that their online store was competing against them when they couldn’t match the price online. That’s a business undermining itself. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My ds is planning on going to a state school. His major is most likely in communications or something along those lines. He feels like a degree is a degree and why get into huge amounts of debt? He can actually graduate from college debt free. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Twelvestones.education. We will be joining this next year. They do a classical conversations type program in the morning with K-6. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They have silky athletic pants. Still not terribly warm but at least they cover. My neighbors dd went to school every day in shorts for similar reasons. We lived in MN at the time. Brrrr! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a friend who is nearing the end of her homeschool years with a ton of hardcovered landmark books. She may want to sell? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wouldn't do it either. I just bought books for curriculum when we needed them. As a child, my parents bought a bunch of classics in nice hardcover bindings - they looked great on the shelves and that's pretty much where they stayed. None of my 5 siblings and I touched them. I can imagine that's also what would happen in my house. My 17 year old isn't interested, my 13 year old would read the classic, but hates how heavy books like that get (and also hates when books are obviously pre-read) so he reads classics on his Kindle, and my 12 year old is a non-fiction lover. My dh worked for a Christian publisher and I have a ton of good Christian fiction for younger grades that now just sits there. It's hard to get rid of. Personally, if I was doing it over again, I would continue to buy books for the curriculum I'm using and just get the rest of the chapter books from the library.

I would rent a full amenity cabin in the mountains and just hike and relax. There is a great bike trail near Vail, CO that runs along a river. I would like to do that also.

I have all my books coded by time period with stickers on bookshelves. My dd is a non-fiction reader and will read the non-fiction constantly. She’s learned quite a bit just from reading those books. I’m glad I made hem available. Curriculum guides and textbooks go in bins. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think this is what I'm going to do. I know Saxon well enough to know how many lessons to back up to make sure he understands. It's not how you're supposed to complete Saxon, but he's had a lot of the material once already. Also, if he does struggle with Algebra when we get to it, it gives us time to back up and repeat.

Last year, we did Saxon 8/7 and ds seemed to be having trouble understanding it so we did a repeat of pre-algebra with Saxon 1/2. It is obviously now very easy for him. He is blowing through it no problem. Should I switch to something like AOPS pre-algebra to give him a bit more challenge or just keep it as an easy math year. We are slogging through some mental challenges with possible ASD, so I'm hesitant to go to Algebra right now.

I’m looking for a daybed with drawers. Besides wayfair, are there any good places to buy online? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you had a child who struggled with understanding math concepts, would you try to do these curriculums? My dd is a “just give me the basics†kind of learner. Every time she is taught the “why†or something more challenging, she shuts down. I’m wondering if I just give her how to do math computations well and just leave it at that? She’ll be headed into 5th grade after a most likely miserable math year in public school (at least that’s how it’s been so far—mile wide inch deep). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk