I haven't either, but if the one for every ten number is right, hsers are still doing better than the public schools. As a former ps junior high teacher in a "good" district, I can say that out of a class of twenty-five, I'd usually have twenty who'd put at least a little effort into learning and about five who'd avoid all work unless kept after constantly -- and most teachers after about the fifth grade won't do that. (But I did -- :D ; required study sessions, detentions, whatever it took to try to get them learning.)

A nice sized "kitchen" table and chairs, washable, that can be used for both schoolwork and crafts without damage. I bought one like that for our schooling years ago and am glad I did!

I hadn't heard of the DVDs -- they must have been created since the time that we bought and used this. I found it very easy to teach with just the set with pieces, folder, and work pages, and my dc, primary graders, "got it" with no problem. It's been nice, because they've been comfortable with algebra concepts so long that regular algebra is now no big deal for them.

My legomaniac cousin became a theater set designer.

I'd also suggest going sugar-free until it's well gone. Fungal things seem to disappear more quickly on a no-sugar/juice/dried fruit and lower carb diet.

Hi!

I'd suggest you get the unpacking done and make sure things look good, just in case CPS does show up. Hopefully, when and if the busybody calls, CPS can inform her that homeschooling not through the government schools is perfectly legal.

Don't let the "grade levels" fool you. They show that your child scored *in that test* as the average child in whatever grade level they listed would. It does not generally mean that your child is ready for the material at that grade level. For example, if my fifth grader gets a grade level of 10.6 on math on his standardized test, it means that he did as well as the average student in the sixth month of tenth grade would on those very same problems. It does not mean that my fifth-grader would do as well as the tenth grader on a tenth grade math test (algebra & geometry). You'd need to do careful placement testing to decide where your child needs to be in math if you decide that acceleration is in order. Also, remember that those scores are for the "average" student -- which, sadly, in the U.S., means a not very well educated one. When my children get 12th grade plus scores on standardized tests and ask why they can't just graduate now, I point out that they don't want to be average high schoolers, they want to be top high schoolers, and they still have a lot to learn to get there. So my two cents is not to change on the basis of the test scores, but to see where your child actually is in each subject area and help him to advance. We use that philosophy, and, for the most part, ignore grade levels.

Very Scots here, and very pro-kilts in general -- However, whether or not it was appropriate depends upon the school dress code/uniform policy, which the article does not cite. I have to agree with another poster who pointed out that just because something is cultural does not make it appropriate for all occasions.

I had a wonderful mother-in-law, but she died about six months ago. She was bright, loving, sweet, and always, always, a true lady in every situation. No matter what, she looked at the bright side of life and radiated contentedness. I've always felt blessed that I was given such a rare sort of mother-in-law.

We used Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and really liked it, after massively disliking Sonlight's I Can Read It (I think they've changed it since then). Because 100 EZ didn't cover years worth of phonics, I supplemented afterwards with Rod and Staff's phonics cards and Abeka's Handbook for Reading, plus we used some of the Go for the Code workbook series, too.

Another "never" here. If she wants strapless lingerie for her wedding night and after, I'm all for it. But, until then, I want people to see what a wonderful person she is, not how much skin she can show. (I'll assume that her future dh will already know what a wonderful woman she is.)

I've varied in weight in my adult life -- from average, to obese, to slim -- and my I.Q. hasn't changed a bit! I expect the people who believe that obese people are less intelligent have been watching too much T.V. and therefore also believe that Christians, people from small towns, and people who dress unfashionably are less intelligent, too. :blink:

I just stocked our house with lots and lots of acceptable books and let the dc loose with them! We had assigned books as part of our schooling, but I kept that not too heavy until the dc were in upper elementary. I didn't push on the reading level thing, just made sure that most of the books we had on hand were really worth reading (Cam Jansen was about the most "twaddle-ish" chapter book series I tolerated). Now they both read just about anything, from children's lit written for children their age and younger to adult science texts. Of course, I read most of the same things -- and I really enjoy most of the children's lit, even if it is below my reading level!

I haven't (and don't intend to) but several hsers I know have. All the dc have turned out to be honor students in ps, and one was the local valedictorian. At first, one mom told me, there was a real adjustment as her dc discovered that their classmates didn't like to learn and weren't interested in the subjects they were being taught (odd to her motivated homeschoolers), but they did like the clubs, sports, etc.

Some favorites (other than SOTW!) over the last 10 years: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons Rod & Staff Phonics Cards Explode the Code Rod & Staff grammar/spelling Latin Primer Series w/DVDs -- my dc really enjoyed these and learned a great deal.

But don't use dark neutrals! I've been house-hunting recently, and one thing I notice is how dark the wall colors are / how many coats they will take to paint over. I'm not even thinking about visiting the one in our area where most of the interior is red -- that would be a repaint nightmare. Light neutrals are good, and either hardwood floors (or if you must carpet, beige) or a flooring allowance (yes!) would be draws to someone like me. Another tip -- check to make sure all your doorknobs and cabinet knobs are tight, hinges are tight, etc. One fairly new house we toured had every knob loose, the closet door hinge broken, etc. Sure made me wonder what other ignored maintenance there was there!

Take the break! My dc often learn more in self-led ways during breaks than they do during "school time". You may have to do a bit a math review when you restart school, but unless you lock up the books, it's unlikely anything else important will be lost.

Hopefully, you've thought through the reasons that you wanted to make a baby with this man and then to move to TN with him -- and hopefully, they are still strong enough reasons to stay with him and raise the baby with him, too -- even if it's in an area you don't enjoy living in. I'm sorry that you're miserable there, but, very often, our misery is of our own making (I know that's been true in my own life) -- and if we try hard enough, and pray sincerely enough, and concentrate on others rather than ourselves, we can turn it into joy. If, however, you're in an unsafe/abusive/dangerous sort of situation, it sounds like getting out before the six month of residency mark would be in order.

My first thought was Rogers -- as in Buck Rogers. Does that put me on the cheesy list? :glare:

The gas cloud that they formed out of had a rotation (spin) that was counter-clockwise (as seen from the north). Therefore, most of our solar system has that rotation. So it was a rotation/spin, not a tilt.

I'd use a combo of olive oil and applesauce along with the butter. I've also successfully substituted sour cream or plain yogurt for part of the fat.

Well, my children had that choice for their final projects this year (both a paper and a speech). One discussed the different types and patterns of bird migration (I learned a lot!) and the other picked the life cycle of coral.

My favorite professional astronomer says: It's all a remnant from the creation of our solar system. Because the solar system formed out of a gas cloud that had a bit of rotation to it, so we still see the sun rotating counter-clockwise (as seen from the north) and nearly everything going around it revolves counter-clockwise and most rotate counter-clockwise (as seen from the north). Some things are orbitally locked (as the moon is with one side facing the earth) due to tidal effects, and Uranus is tipped at about 90 degrees -- it was likely hit by something else late in its formation period. However, most of our solar system, including most of the larger moons, are still carrying on this counter-clockwise motion.

My dc learned a great deal from computer games. In fact, we have a no-non-educational computer game rule here. When they were little, the DK Explorer series (World, British Isles, Human Body, Science, etc.), JumpStart series, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego series, Math Blaster series, and others taught them more social studies, science, and math than their schoolbooks did. I found many of these as old or used versions on eBay, saving lots of money over new retail, too.