We live in a major city, where there are very few homeschoolers, and homeschool opportunities. We moved a year ago from an area that had a huge population of HS and so this is quite the change... My daughter will be going into 10th this next school year, and right now she's in an all day wilderness survival class that she loves, and will continue next year as well. This was the only class she took this year, so was mostly home. We attend our bible meetings 2 times a week, but not too many kids in her age group, a few girls that are a bit older who do include her in activities 1ce or twice a month. She has no interest in going to public school and I don't really want her to anyway as the schools are not the best here and I have different educational objectives. So other than these activities, she always home, and I don't think it's healthy for her. She dropped dance last year, and had no interest in any other classes. There's a weekly day of classes set up by a mom in our group whom I haven't met- for 12-15 year olds (she'll be 15 when it starts as well) that is a weekly writing class, chemistry, and coding class. The writing class will be taught by a lady who has a Writing school, but it sounds like she has her own method of teaching, using more of creative writing prompts, I'm not super impressed with the idea behind it, but she has excellent reviews. My daughter is a prolific writer and has written books, so she really Needs no help in that department, after receiving a classical education for years. The Chemistry class is taught by a science teacher from a local university using a textbook with labs. I had wanted her to use Apologia Biology this year initially. The coding class is free and taught By one of the parents. Writing class is $50 for 1.5 hour class, chemistry is $35 for 1.5 hour class. So $88 a week for these two, neither of which I'm super interested in but she needs the socialization and I think could benefit from being a group setting. Between her wilderness survival class and this it would be about 500 a month... very tight for us to pay for, and my part time job would essentially all go towards that. There's no other classes for homeschoolers within an hour drive, and the homeschoolers here don't get together for any other reason. Would you sign your kid of for this? You have to pay up front for the whole semester as well. Ouch! ETA: sorry for so many typos, I'm on my phone!

We live at the far end of the charters area, in the middle of a very large city with few homeschoolers and none of the charters approved vendors within 1 hour from us, so local classes are out. We aren't big on online programs, which is why I need to try to spend it on supplies. I hadn't thought of an iPad, I think they'd buy that, so I'll check into that. Any other ideas?

I have 1,350 for each semester to spend on materials for this next school year, since this year my daughters no longer taking dance and so we have to think of what to purchase. She's in 10th grade. Here's what I'm buying (they won't buy non secular items) Apologia Biology Ambleside literature (they'll buy some) Simply Charlotte Mason Ancient times History I was thinking of having them buy: Teaching Textbooks Algebra (they already have this for us to borrow so we don't have to use her funds) Biology labs- they will buy any labs related just not the books. Which ones? It's hard to tell in rainbow Resource what's needed or used for the course. Oak Meadow Health and Physical Fitness (anyone use this)? Rosetta Stone Greek Oak meadow Integrated drawing That still leaves about $900 for this semester alone.... I have NO IDEA what to get with this money and if she doesn't use it it's forfeited. She already has a microscope. She used 1500 this semester on super nice art supplies so she's not needing any right now. Any cool science kits in a Box, lab items, charts, etc. or other $$ things you can think of to order? What would you use this money on?

I wrote last month about a trip my daughter and I are going to take through Europe this October, we will be flying into Rome, then visiting Venice for a couple of days, then will take the Bernina Express from Italy to Chur station in Switzerland. We were then just supposed to stay the night and take the train to Paris, but she really wants to see Switzerland before going to Paris. Help me come up with a plan? I'd like to do 3-4 days, and not cities, but charming country towns, with beautiful nature around.... I know there's the train through the Swiss Alps, but I don't know if that's too much to do after the Bernina Express, and how would we get there, and then also I know the trains to Paris don't connect from there. I'm basically trying to figure out what my options are, and I'm not familiar at all with the country, geography or anything else. I wouldn't mind taking a train somewhere cool, but I have no idea where to go from Chur. And would we need to go back there to take the train to Paris? Thanks!!

Thyroid panel, iron level and vitamin D levels.

Can I ask why everyone thinks 8 days in Rome and 4 days in Venice is too much? I've never been there, so I'm not sure how long everyone stays.... I don't want to be super rushed but on the other hand if there's other things to see in Italy, close enough by, please let me know!!! I know really nothing about the area. Open to all suggestions!! Thanks!

Thank you so much everyone for the suggestions, not sure how to directly reply and quote on my phone... A quick question- where do you buy a European SIM card from? We are flying into Rome, and will get there probably late and very tired. Is this readily available at places? Any idea of the cost? My daughter and I LOVE history and art, so I think Rome will be amazing to see, thank you for the suggestions about visiting a he Vatican as well. Any other suggestions or tips I would appreciate it! Thanks again!

Please help me think this through.... I'm planning on going with my 15 yo daughter to Europe late October and could use some help with tips and suggestions. We are planning on over a month and will visit Rome, then Venice, take the Bernini Express through Switzerland and maybe stay a night in Zurich (anyone ever done this) and then meet hubby in Paris, and then Amsterdam. We will be doing things as minimally as possible with some parts of the trip as far as budget for food and hotel goes, only bring carry on backpacks, and will need to do laundry every few days, as well as trying to eat very budget friendly, going to grocery stores if possible. The plan is to fly into Rome stay for 8-9 days, we want to go to do Pompeii, the Coluseum, the Vatican and what else is worth going to? We are trying to go for as budget friendly as possible, so I'm thinking of staying in hostels while there... any experience with them? How safe, and clean are they? What tips do you have for staying in one? How is the transportation around the city? I don't know any Italian, and have a really hard time navigating maps, will I be ok? When we visited Europe a few years ago, I had a hard time getting my phone to get a European plan... I have no idea what my husband did but it took a few days. Do I need to buy a burner phone, as I don't want it to cost a lot of $$ Any other tips would be appreciated!! Next we'll take a train to Venice and stay for 4 days, what should be on our list there? How are the hostels there? Will it be easy to buy food at grocery stores there as well? Next on to Tirano by train to catch the Bernina Express, which Will take us through the Swiss alps and maybe stop for the night in Zurich. Please tell me your experiences with this. Next onto Paris where we'll meet with hubby, (we've been there before) stay for 8-9 days, and then to Amsterdam where we'll stay with friends for 5 days before coming home. So a Few questions- does this sound like a good plan or is it packing too much into it? I've never traveled alone in Europe before and am a little nervous.... anyone done this with their kids successfully? Do I need to purchase the Euraile pass, or just a train pass for Italy to get from Rome, then Venice, then Tirano? The Bernina Express I don't believe is covered under that or is it? I believe the train from Paris to Amsterdam is not offered as part of that deal. We would need hostels most likely in Rome and Venice only, any experience? A little nervous about taking my 15 yo daughter into a hostel but I've had plenty of friends that do them. Best suggestions for food in all city's for as cheap as possible. We aren't unfortunately going For the food, so please share your best tips for this. Are bathrooms, fountains, etc readily available in Italy? Suggestions for top things to see and do in each place? And Pompeii.... suggestions and tips, how to get there... How does the Public transportation work in Rome and Venice? Do I really need a gondola ride or is there a cheaper option? Any other tips for packing, and saving money would be greatly appreciated!! This is a big deal for me to take dd.

Oh, and she couldn't focus, I remember also at te time that it started she was having such a hard time remembering simple stuff... I tried continuing some school work with her before stopping for months, but its like she regressed backwards. She was just all over te place. It looks like the symptoms are different w every kid, some its more if one thing than another. It's the only thing that makes sense with her. I thought maybe she had asbergers??? She still could have some issues with that, but these symptoms literally developed all at once.

My daughter has been having these symptoms for about a year now. She had had mono for a couple years prior, and was still chronically sick from it, and out of the blue, she started having extreme OCD symptoms, panic attacks, raging everything bothered her, she would have meltdowns for hours, her personality completely changed. She was scared of everything. We thought she had seizures, but looking at it now, I'm sure it was tics. We took her to Er twice, had no sea what to do, we've been seeing a natural dr. And she's been helping somewhat. But I literally just read up on this last night as some ladies on the learning challenges board suggested this. Originally they thought that this could ony come about with strep but now they're saying anything like lymes pneumonia mono even dormant strep. I have been doing research like crazy all day and as soon as I saw it it describes my dd exactly. I guess there's ony a handful of drs around te country that can treat it. I can send some links I found if you're interested.

Does anyone know of this or have this disorder? I think my daughters undiagnosed issues may be attributed to it. You can message me privately if you'd like. Thanks!

Oh my goodness, I have been reading up on Pandas like crazy and it completely describes what we've gone through with my daughter in the last year!! She basically developed these extreme symptoms within a couple weeks. Does anyone have any experience dealing with this? I have a all to a specialist and am waiting to hear back from them. Thanks for all the help!

Paradox5- Really?? That is unusual. Ive done some intensive reservh on an illness like mono and how it affects the brain. is there any way tou can find out what your friends son has or maybe see if shed be willing to be put in touch with me through email? I really think there may have been issues prior but she is just not the same, I don't know if its from the illness or having underlining issues and the mono has brought those issues to the forefront. She's like a different person, but spending so much time sick does something to your psyche as well so I wonder how much has to do w illness and how much was going to come about anyways? As for Lyme, we live in SC. I thought of that but my dr said its very unlikely as there's very few cases here. I know she's had tick bites though... Should I check for something?

I appreciate the elp everyone, and I do agree she needs more help than we can give. Tiramisu, I also appreciate the thought about working on this so it doesn't affect our relationship. This is just so out of my range, and I feel so helpless. Nothing seems to be working, but I'm honestly hesitant at seeing a professional because I hate to label people, but I think we've reached our limit. I'm going to make an apt tomorrow, also are there any helpful book suggestions? Thanks again!