We used some on the pay as you go, self paced Apologia Physical Science classes last year and found them to be decent. The lady doing that class was just lively enough, but not annoying and certainly not dead, as some people are. My daughter, fairly easily bored with boring presenters, liked them ok.

Used it and we liked it. My dd was 13/14 when we used it. It is pretty good and straightforward, I think. Not flashy. If you don't find it to be enough, could always add in more towns, rivers, etc. to the maps.

I don't often post and have nothing more to add to all the NO's. But, here it is anyway: Of course you should not call him. Afraid to not call him? How about, afraid to call? Because you should be afraid. You want your children to have a mother? Do not call. Do you want peace in your life? Do not call. If he's changed (which he hasn't), so what. If he hasn't changed, so what. You are not his saviour, that would be someone else. And, at the very very least, block the number. But, the smart thing to do is to change your number. The phone company just changed mine a couple of weeks ago within moments of asking. Won't cost anything. If you are in touch with a dope who would give him the number, don't give it to that person. Also, stop wasting your time thinking about such a loser.

Having lived in the South most of my life but for about 5 years in Oklahoma, I will say that I always thought of Arkansas as the South. Oklahoma, I never thought it was, but then I saw Southern Living proclaiming it as such. When I lived there, I was the one everyone called the Southerner. As for Arkansas, with West Memphis, Arkansas right across the Mississippi River from Memphis, Tennessee... how could Arkansas (at least that part) not be. And my goodness at some of the Arkansas accents I used to hear. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

. Southern Living counts Oklahoma as part of the South. Of course, I no longer get SL, so no telling what they are counting as in their realm of authority these days. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

McDonald's. That is funny. I actually thought Time4Leaning was the McDonald's... CC may be more like Papa Murphy's. Edited from Donatos- getting confused. I think PM is a take it and bake it your own self place. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yes. And if the insecurities don't exist, create them. There is probably a homeschool guru business advisor person out there selling a web course about 5 Easy Steps to Creating Insecurity From Nothing( and make big money too). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I agree that homeschooling is commercialized, but more than somewhat, imo. It is to the point that I sign up for someone's blog updates and get those and a whole bunch of ads that try to masquerade as mere chit chat. One in particular never sent blog updates, just ads. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I ordered this a couple of days ago and can't wait to read it. I see Novare is having a big meeting in Austin, in July. Would like to go, but want to read the book first. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Finally, someone who finds belly dancing off putting. Thought I was the only one who finds it offensive and yucky. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yes, it is something that is not such a big deal if the child doesn't want to go to music school. There is nothing wrong with just simply learning to play music. Some people play by ear without ever learning all the technical, and sound good doing it. Music school and classical music is such a different world though. Even there, I am always hearing critiques of players who haven't learned proper technique, theory, etc. The best symphony players have all this and the ones that the best like to grumble about are weak in it. Usually the weaker ones don't ever make it beyond a small, local symphony. BUT, there ARE quite a few strong players in small, local symphonies. Emphasis because I don't want to be accused of saying these players are less, because small symphonies are great things. We need more. If your daughter could go to a really good summer intensive, non Suzuki, challenging, it might help her see if this is something she really wants to do. My daughter seems to think she will pursue a music career, and, if so, will be pursuing a double major because it is such a competitive field. She has lately gone from 1 1/2 2 hours a day practicing to 3-4 hours, which is killer. On the couple of hours a day, she has quickly gone to a college level under good instruction, but now to get beyond that takes a lot because it is perfecting technique. At 8th grade, it is young for your child to be deciding. On the other hand, it can take so much work to get up to a college level of playing, so may as well be prepared. Good luck!

Serious musicians must have music theory, but not all music teachers will tell you this because quite a few don't have much themselves. Not to knock Suzuki, because there is a place for it, but not all Suzuki teachers are of the classically trained mindset. But serious, classically trained, aspiring to music school, must. I know because my daughter is classically trained under two professionals. One teacher is European trained, toured the U.S. twice with a famous orchestra, decades of experience, etc. He preaches theory. To get to the highest level, it is a must in order to really understand the music and how it should be played. Her other teacher also has decades of experience, a professor at a major university and also toured the U.S. with a famous, at the time, chamber group. He talks about students who lost scholarships because they flunk college Theory. If the teachers don't respond when you mention Theory, I'd start asking around about who is a good teacher. A place to start is to call or visit the office of a local symphony and find out who they recommend. Now, not everyone in a local symphony knows this subject in depth, so it's probably good to find a professor who also gives music lessons. He or she can at least start integrating basic theory into the lessons. Boston University's Berklee School of Music offers online music theory classes, college credit. My 15 year old daughter did two this year. The first one started out easy, she thought. Then it really jumped difficulty. Same with the second one. But it was worth it in her case.

Extremely rare for me to post, but feel compelled though I am way late to this discussion. I am 40 something and just recently discovered Read Aloud Revival, Sarah Mackenzie, and all those wonderful things at her site. Love the podcasts; brighten my day. Even bought that little book Teaching From Rest, though it is simple in content, it speaks to me. Didn't think I needed the journal to accompany it, yet one day I took the notion that I did, so I downloaded it. Trying to figure out how to apply these simple words to teaching my one child who is almost to high school. I didn't think this perky, young homeschool mother of six would have anything to offer that I would be interested in and now I subscribe to her site. My only gripe is that I just do not have time or the unlimited bandwith to watch all these wonderful things she puts out. So much bad, mediocre and awful in this world. When someone comes along bringing good, happy, innocent, and positive, I want to embrace it and do what I can to help promote it. She doesn't have to be an expert. Doesn't have to have a Phd in library science or anything. Doesn't have to be a curriculum publisher. Just another mother learning and trying to teach her children in peace and maybe make a little money doing it is even better. Honestly, it is refreshing to hear from someone not touting her credentials.