I haven't read ahead yet, but we had a similar problem and one thing that really made a difference was labeling some classes as graded. Not all of them, but the ones that required prep or out of class work. The teachers send an email each week also listing the requirements for the upcoming week and a general line about some kids receiving zeros or not being prepared, or that they all were. I think the thought of their kids getting a grade helped them teach their kids to take it more seriously and I darn sure made sure my kiddo knew it was his responsibility to write down any homework that needed to be done so he wouldn't forget.

Yes, we will be in Algebra in 9th grade. I plan on Alg, then Geometry, Alg 2, and then we will see.

Interesting. I know quite a few returning college students have to take remedial Math or English if it has been a few years since they were in school, even if they did graduate with an advanced High School Diploma. In some cases it us use it or forget it. If that was my thought process I would concentrate of economics, an internship in their area of interest, and continuing research skills, and editorial skills. I would drop foreign languages, and concentrate more on formal logic. Then follow the child's interests deeper instead of a wide base of knowledge. I would also require more volunteer work.

Divorce isn't fair for anyone. A family members wife cheated and divorced him. She got the kids, the house, half of his pension, and close to 75% of his income goes to pay the bills and child support. He now has to live in an RV on family property because he can't afford anything else and he can't have joint custody because he can't afford two homes for the kids. When the house is sold he will get part of it as an asset, but for now he is screwed and didn't get any choice in the matter. Maybe we should get rid of the idea of no fault divorce. I think it was instituted in the hopes it would keep things from getting ugly during divorce but no matter what it seems to be part of the process.

Is she comparing apples to apples. I hear people brag on their kids advancements but when I ask what curricula they are using it makes more sense. For example my son went from Teaching Textbooks 7 to CLE 5 (we didn't get past the first 10 lessons before I knew TT wasn't going to work for us) But most of it is the age too. All the sudden my kiddo who never paid attention to what other kids were doing, or have, has become a Stepford wife when it comes to being part of the crowd. It drives me nuts, but it doesn't last for too long.

We finished formal grammar last year in 5th grade. We still have some grammar in our writing program and expect that will continue.

The zoo is great because there isn't an entrance fee; you only pay for parking. The National Mall is a great walking/running and photo opportunities in front of iconic monuments. I would also call your congressional representatives and see if they will show you around congress. Most of them will help make arrangements and it is also free. I am not familiar with parks in the area, but if you have a car it is absolutely worth the 3 hour trip to Williamsburg/Jamestown. Jamestown has an excellent outdoor interactive program for kids that will teach the kids more US history in a fun way than any book possibly could. They have a native American side and a settler side with hands on exhibits for both. My kids loved it tremendously. Then Colonial Williamsburg...which is within minutes. And Yorktown is 15 minutes up the Colonial Parkway and the kids can run on battlefields overlooking the beach and river where Cornwallis surrendered. The visitor center offers a tape player and tape that you can play that allows you to listen to the sounds of battle and different characters tell what it was like from their vantage point. Bring a kite for the battlefields and beach.

Yes. I am absolutely comfortable with putting people in prison for rape if the victim made no effort to stop it. Too often rapist have used the oh it was consensual arguments because the victim wasn't beat up or beat up enough. Or the victim was passed out, sometimes by being drugged and then gang raped at a frat party. I teach my son's that no means no, maybe means no, and yes means are you absolutely sure.

Is Fox a political station or a news station? If it is a news station then it shouldn't be off limits. I think their motto is fair and balanced so I am not sure how bashing Fox news is any different than bashing any other form of information, literature, or entertainment.

Sorry, not true. Any drug that changes your dopamine receptors and how your body responds to neuron transmitters can make a person an addict. It isn't just a matter of willpower or an internal brake. Especially with opoids that were originally meant to be used for end of life pain relief or the very worst pain and are now prescribed for anything and everything. Once they are used, they are easily abused because the brain can not activate the pleasure response without them. Pain killers, especially Opoids are very dangerous and are responsible for the increase in heroin addiction and deaths which are now hitting middle class and upper class families. Even muscle relaxers can produce a physical addiction because the body can no longer send the signal to the muscle to relax without them. Perhaps you are correct when it comes to non chemical addictions like food, sex, or gambling but comparing chemical addictions to mental "addictions" are like apples to oranges.

I did get a bit of a laugh when one of my adult sons requested I not make youngest son a weirdo by homeschooling. The only kid he knew growing up that was home educated was a bit isolated and in his words weird, but I asked him if he knew any "weird" kids at public school and of course he knew a bunch. (Whatever weird means)

Yes, he was in Seattle working when he fell and was at Harborview. Fabulous hospital.

I would bring her home. The school system is still required to test her if you request testing. Or you can handle it through your pediatrician. But if my six year old hated school I wouldn't want that to turn in to hating learning.

We love Cosmos: a Spacetime Odyssey

Math---CLE 6 Spelling--Soaring with Spelling (he is a lucky natural speller) English-Killagon Grammar for Middle School Reading---assigned reading, fun reads and probably Figuratively speaking Science--Real Science 4 kids History--- not sure yet Writing--Jump In