I think there are so many good suggestions here. We too are in a pinch, and have been the whole time that we have HSed. Something that has really helped is the YMCA. I babysit a few days a week while parents exercise, and in exchange we get free membership (I also bring my kids to work, so I don't need to pay for babysitting). I do sign the kids up for some extras for which I have to pay, but that is paid for out of my (meager!) paycheck. Our Y also offers scholarships. You would have to fill out some paperwork revealing your income, but memberships often go for as little as $10.00/month. I have also found that being out in the world at large (as opposed to the isolation that HSing can sometimes bring), introduces our family to many more people and opportunities. You might run into an artist or musician that could help you out. HTH

Too Much!!! Honestly, it's probably around an hour on most days, but I too have those nights when I'm up until 2 doing Nothing. What I'd like to know is how to manage to cruise around just doing what I need to do. There is so much that's useful, but often I end up reading some blog or something that's really of no use to me at all (cataloging factoids and clogging my brain!). I think the most difficult thing of all is that I tune out the kids, then they start to misbehave just to draw me away. Then I'm a big grouch.:rolleyes: Lately, I'm just turning it off after I've done the basic. -Kirsten

My three, my sweetie and I are on the west side of Cleveland, in NE Ohio. I grew up in rural NW Ohio (Tiffin).

We love RightStart

He's just turned 10, and I think we finally see the light at the end of the "learning to read tunnel." He has been working through some Jean Fritz books (Can't You Make Them Behave King George? etc.), and although he's still slow, he's understanding what he's reading for the most part. I know that I've read (somewhere...) that children should be encouraged to read silently. I know that I read so much faster when I don't have to say each word. However, DS insists that it would make reading more difficult for him. I do suspect that hearing the words as he reads them is actually how he understands what he is reading (He is definitely an audio learner, and will listen to any story, at any time, for any length of time). Any suggestions as to how I can help him over this obstacle? Many thanks, Kirsten

I feel your pain! That was just like my DS and me a year ago (when DS was 8.5). I had tried quite a few styles of carrot and stick with my son, and either I wasn't consistent enough, or the approach just fizzled out. My DH is much more discipline oriented than I am, and I was always nervous about trying his ideas, but finally I decided that it was worth a try. Things we have changed: 1. Work begins right away. After I assign something I check back within 2-3 mins. If DS has started and understands, fine. If he hasn't started, I ask why. Sometimes he needs clarification, and we do that. If he's footdragging I ask him to do some physical exercise, and we begin again in 10 mins. If he procrastinates again, he looses all treats/rights for the day, and he does chores for the rest of the day. I handle whining the same way - I deal with it right away before it starts to grate on my nerves and drive me nuts. 2. I expect more, not less. I had gotten to where I was afraid to assign a whole math WS. I'd ask for 5 - 8 problems (if that's no problem sweetie...). I'd ask for 10 mins of reading, or 2 sentences of writing. Anything more was too much, and I wasn't prepared to handle the whining and complaining normal assignments would elicit. Now he does a math lesson a day (complete with warm ups and extra skills practice), 40 minutes of reading and 20 minutes of writing. Then we do fun stuff. Believe it or not, it takes less time to complete his work now than it did before, and he says he likes "the new school." I think what really helped was to react right away to the whining and procrastination. I always tried to be super patient and kind and understanding. Unfortunately, I would snap suddenly and yell, or threaten some unenforceable punishment. Now, I'm dealing with issues when I'm still calm and rational. DS knows the consequences. If he flips out and overreacts to the exercise, he's up in his room all day. Things have gotten much better, and we actually get to do the "fun" school (history and science and art) much more now. -K

Great Idea!

Maybe take a look on the Bravewriter website: http://www.bravewriter.com/ You might enjoy browsing. If you have no time to browse, look here: http://www.bravewriter.com/thearrow.htm This link directs you to "The Arrow," a monthly magazine that focuses on a passage from a well-known kid's book. You copy/dictate the passage, and then look at the mechanics, the word choice, and any other writer's device (alliteration, assonance...). I believe these are meant to be used only once a month, or maybe once a week, stretched over a whole month. I think there is also a sample based on a passage from Laura Ingalls Wilder's, Farmer Boy. HTH -Kirsten

Not sure if this will help, but we use National Geographic's Map Machine for all sorts of maps. Just select continent, country, and the level of detail you prefer. I don't think they offer any historical maps however. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/