We are part of a fairly small homeschool 4-H group. I am an asst. club manager for the group. It really depends on how many families you have and how active they are. The people in our group are very nice, but there are few that step up to take on leading projects. Mostly just the same parents over and over. I can't complain about that much, because I rarely lead since I have more on my plate than I can handle already. However - my kids do always participate. We have some families that show up for the monthly business meeting but don't participate in any of the projects. I really don't understand that kind of thinking. What is the point of doing 4-H if you don't do the projects. To me, I personally wouldn't see any point in doing the family 4-H of just my family because it would be just like doing homeschool projects. A big part of the program is learning leadership skills, which would be difficult-ish to do with just your family. The group has been going on for about 10 years, but I'm not sure how much longer we'll go on after the current club managers kids age out in the next year or two if we don't get more adults in the group who can step up and really pitch in. We have a number of indians, but few chiefs, kwim?

Anyone else want to chime in?

Hey gals - I have a question about printing out TOG DE. Will it really matter if I don't print in color? How critical is the color? Thanks!

I was just about to start a similar thread. I am looking to start TOG soon - probably in May or June. We school year round, and I'm ready to get on with it! We haven't had as much writing here as we should have and so my kids are behind. I'm not sure what to do with them. Sigh. I was hoping that the TOG writing element would be enough to get them up to speed, if I started gently. Now I'm thinking maybe not...I'm not sure what to use. I have: Wordsmith Apprentice (they have done about 1/2) Wordsmith (never used) Writeshop (never used) Writing Strands 4 (did one assignment) IEW Ancient History (did about 1/2) R&S English 5 and 6 (never used) My oldest 2 dc are good with reading, spelling, vocabulary, fairly good with grammar. I have just never been consistent with writing and it has been something that has been an abandoned topic when things got crazy (like they are most of the time). Any suggestions?

I was just thinking that once the kids get old enough (my oldest is 12, so I'm thinking of the future...) that you could get copies of the Seminary manuals and try to incorporate what they are working on. You'd just have to plan that ahead for being in the right part of history if you are using a 4 yr history plan. Jenna

What a timely thread for me as I've been researching this. Thanks so much for all of these suggestions. Jenna

How about someone to go to work instead of my dh so he can stay home and help with schooling? I'd like to get rid of my part time job, too.... Maybe that is too much of a dream? Heck, I can aim high! Jenna

I have 6dc (12yo-6th, 10yo-5th, 7yo-2nd,5yo-k, 3yo-pk,2yo) I've been chatting with a friend who is in love with SL for her family. She said that by 6th gr that her dc manage their own schedule, and she just gives them a copy of the checklist. I don't want to have to spend all day on school, honestly. I think I have to go to a single program for all my dc. We have been doing eclectic stuff, and I am just not getting enough subjects in. I NEED a preplanned curric. After reading some on the forums I'm now leaning toward MFW or TOG. Thanks for all of your input.

Exactly my thought. I would have to pay extra to have the bindings cut off and then rebind the book either spiral or in a binder (my proclick doesn't have bindings big enough for a teacher's guide). So if I were buying second hand (which I do a LOT) I'd go for the book that was already "desecrated" over one I'd have to do myself, all other things being equal.

I have always hated/dreaded math for myself, and was looking forward to doing math with my kids so I could learn more about it now that I am older. This thread inspired me to check out the Liping Ma book from the library. It is on the way, so I have high hopes to have my eyes opened, and blinders removed by reading it. Thanks so much for the recommendation! Jenna