I fell off the accountability train last year, but I want to hop back on. Critterfixer, thanks for the thread. I have read through everyone's replies. Hugs to those with struggles, especially Sdel. The public schools here started August10, and so did we. But we have eased into things, and DS has an online AP course that begins today. We spent a lot of time in August revamping our workspaces, habits, and putting OneNote together for the year. OneNote is now our engine. :001_wub: This is DS's first year of high school and we are required to track hours for our cover school. I am making DS log his hours, and I have my own log as well. It has been a bit eye-opening for him to see where the time goes and how it flows. Math went through the summer, and we FINALLY finished Algebra last week and started Geometry yesterday. Woot!

Ooh I like putting Watership Down with the Aeneid. I love pairs! I want to put Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies together.

There are vast differences between (a) and (b). How old are your kids? How long would you plan to stay abroad?

IMO, it can absolutely be appropriate for high school. Take a look at Blue Tent's Honors English reading list. I don't have personal experience with Blue Tent, but they get great reviews here. The book list includes middle grades books such as Tuck Everlasting and the Phantom Tollbooth. What you do with the book is what matters, too. I would not want every book for the year to be a "typical middle school book", but I don't think it is necessary for every book to have a high lexile level (feel free to substitute your favorite measure of reading level...). Personally, I think there is a way to use all types of books. We are sort of doing a literary essay bootcamp using picture books!

Do you have any friends or family abroad that she could stay with for a year? When we moved overseas, I set up an exchange semester for my Middle Son between his high school in the USA and the local overseas high school. Neither school had an exchange program in place; I had to put it together. It took me a zillion hours, but I did it! If she doesn't do the state department program, what would she want to do for her year? Study? Volunteer? Any target regions? Maybe we can help you brainstorm alternatives to prepackaged gap year programs.

I just bought Rite inthe Rain Universal field notes journals for our biology course. I am ridiculously excited about them, but I am a notebook junkie. They just arrived, and the paper feels nice. I thought it might feel waxy, but it doesn't really. http://www.riteintherain.com/shop-products Here is a good Youtube Review

Here in Denmark, I volunteer at a place that mostly helps refugees after they have been granted asylum. It is not easy to start a new life in a foreign country. If you are looking for a way to help, see if any refugees are being resettled in your local area. I was surprised to discover that there is a refugee resettlement organization in my part of central NC, so don't assume that there isn't one near you.

Does Penelope Trunk count as famous?

Yeah for your daughter! Welcome to the high school board :) PS We are also outside of the USA, and my 9th grader has seven credits as well.

My 9th grader is taking AP Human Geography. It starts next week, so I don't yet know if it was a good idea! I read somewhere that around 50% test takers are 9th graders for AP Human Geography. Sorry, I don't remember the source for that statistic so take it for what it is.

This summer, I met a really delightful young woman (late 20s/maybe 30) who went to the Greystone culinary school. She is now working for an innovative executive chef at a tech company - it is one of those companies that goes all out to provide great food for its employees. I just thought I would throw that out there...

I would keep on it, but I wouldn't be worried. My son will review Foerster's Algebra 1 all the way through this Geometry year.

Gosh, I remember when we were talking about sending our kids off to college, and now they are going to be juniors. I didn't homeschool mine either, and it was still terribly traumatic. It took me two weeks to be able to walk into his room. :grouphug: :grouphug: to you, OP. What you are going through is tough. It is OK to be sad.

I expect to be in a similar situation at some point as some of DS's mentors would not be comfortable writing in English. I thought about having the mentor write in the native language and I could translate the letter. But both my idea and writing the letter yourself mean that the recommendation contents will be known to the parent (and possibly the student) which is not ideal. Maybe it does not matter in your current instance. I just throw it out there because I have been thinking about this dilemma!

If she doesn't happen to pop into this thread, try sending a PM to Amira. She has experience with homeschooling in Mexico.

Glad you found your way to the boards :) And I agree that the Hive is what gives me the confidence that I can do this!

Welcome to the boards! And good luck with all of the changes :)

My son had them in his dorm - once (or maybe twice) per semester. Small, private, secular LAC. I remember there was some cleaning involved as well as checking for fire hazards.

Interesting...I can't wait to read the book! I was thinking that perhaps the public dissections were done b/c they are not done in the schools. FWIW, we will be compliant :) We will use virtual dissections. DS went to Marine Bio camp in NC this summer, and they did several dissections as part of the camp.

I have not yet read this book, but I am on the library waiting list for it.While zoos and museums have public dissections (Maurius the giraffe is an infamous example), classroom dissections have been banned below the university level according to PETA. ETA: I suspect the intent is education more than entertainment. Whether people find it entertaining or upsetting is a separate issue.

DS is happy to know that at least one other WTMer has a natural wake up time of 11ish :) Starting in the afternoon is not an option here so alarm clocks are going to need to be involved! Love the replies - keep 'em coming!

DS and I are trying to decide on a start time for the 9th grade year, and we are curious: What time does your high school student wake up? That's the key question, but if you care to elaborate I would love to know more about your student's morning routine and also how many hours of sleep your teen needs/gets. My teens have always needed 10+ hours of sleep. Needing it and getting it are two different things, though... ETA: I didn't know how to make a poll :tongue_smilie:

Strategically relaxed: Yes! Plum Crazy, you have described me. Our homeschool is relaxed because of the oodles of time I spend researching and overthinking and stressing.

When thinking about homeschooling, I am not very relaxed at all. I tend to be kind of serious. But when we are actually doing it, I am very relaxed. Most days are quite peaceful here. But yikes, I have had some sleepness nights.

Travel is my priority for spending fun money. I have only been on one cruise, and it was OK. But not my preferred means of travel. We also enjoy events, and have bought some expensive tickets over the years. Usually we attend free or modestly priced events, though. Good food is nice, whether at home or out. I didn't see entertaining on your list, but I have been known to throw some fun money into putting together a party. I find it particularly fun to try to seek out frugal ways to do all of the above. Overall, I prefer to spend on experiences rather than stuff. I have no interest in cars, clothes, or decorating. And I keep my hobbies minimalist. Except that I own too many books. DH likes boating. We don't have a boat right now, but want to get one again someday.