I taught paid science classes for several years, and now teach in a paid co-op. Over the years, I've had about half a dozen kids in these classes that I felt had significant learning challenges that the parents were not addressing. We're not talking about a 2nd grader who isn't reading chapter books yet -- these are kids 8 and over who are two or more grades behind. Ethically, I've always felt the need to mention my concerns, and I've always been rebuffed, "OH, he'll figure it out eventually, they all do." Would public school deal with this? Maybe. I realize that sometimes they don't, but my heart goes out to these kids. It doesn't take long in a group for them to realize that they're behind. I had to modify my writing class because I was having everyone in the class take turns reading certain materials out loud, and one kid absolutely could not do that. In another class, I had been having the kids write their names on their work until I realized that one 9 y.o. was jumbing the letters of their name and was getting teased for it. So when people make comments about the "crazy neighbor who homeschooled and...", I always say, "Yes, there are some people who shouldn't be homeschooling, just as there are some teachers who frankly shouldn't be teaching. In the end I think we'd agree though that as parents we have to be involved in our children's education. That's the difference."

The spines and read-alouds are hard. The Landmark book they use as a spine is wonderful, but it's a harder read than either SOTW or CHOW. The IG offers ways to edit and explain it down to a child's level, but it's just a tough book. It their catalog they list it as a read-aloud for 5th grade and up, or independent reading for 6th grade and up. When you get your catalog, look at the reading levels of the books. For Core 6, they list SOTW as a read-aloud for grades 1st and up, if that helps you guage it. I agree that our children generally benefit from having more difficult material read to them than they can read, but I'm still glad I waited on Core 3 until my younger one turned 8.

We just finished Core 2 in January with my 10 1/2 and 8 y.o. I had my older one read and write on SOTW somewhat along with the core after he finished all the readers (which he enjoyed BTW). My younger one is doing O.K. with Core 3, but it's a stretch and my older one is clearly grasping much more. I personally am glad we waited on this core until we did. I had the same debate you are when we returned to Sonlight two years ago whether to start at Core 3, but I'm glad now that we didn't. It would have been too much for my younger one, even though she's always loved being read to. If you want American History, Winterpromise is definitely more appropriate for younger children. BTW -- I was a research scientist/program manager for 15 years before children, and I do NOT like Sonlight's early grades of science. The experiments don't match up with the reading, and topically they jump around too much. The upper grade school program are not that way though, and we're going to do Sonlight Science 5 in the fall. We've done three years of BJUP Science and have loved it, but I wanted to do almost a full year of human body before my oldest moves on to 7th grade. I'm really looking forward to it!

Maybe because I worked for 15 years before kids in a male-dominated field and still work part-time in a male-dominated field. I've always had lots of male friends from college and work that I'd be fine with riding along for an errand, eating lunch during work hours, etc. etc. I'd definitely back off if there was any hint of more than friendship though, even if it was just my gut feeling like things weren't right.

I bought it when it first came out, and although we are not running a LCC homeschool, it gave me a lot of gems that I use every day (especially making Latin and math the priority subjects because they're so pivotal!). I plan to buy the revision sometime down the road when I can.

I'm using BJUP 5 with my two children, and it's not set up to be an independent program at all. My SIL uses A Beka with her five children and just hands them the book. She does a few of the more interesting experiments with them, but mostly has them do it on their own. We also did one book of Singapore My Pals are Here Science over the summer two years ago, and it was mostly independent. There weren't that many experiments compared to BJUP.

My mom has vascular dementia, and she would call 6-8 times a day and leave all kinds of frantic, sometimes disturbing messages if I didn't answer. Reasoning with her is virtually impossible and she has little sense of time or other's priorities these days. We put on call blocking for only her number and only take it off when I'm OK with her calling :). Other relatives and her friends know this and can get through if there's an emergency, so it's not like she's unable to reach us at all. I love her to death, but she was absolutely destroying my ability to homeschool and the peace and order in our home.

We've been in several, and are now in a larger one with paid teachers (homeschool moms, but all had to apply and be hired) and a small monthly history group with three other families who share responsibilities. Both of those have been great. Those in charge are great, but they also demand a lot of those who participate in any capacity. Some have left because of that. In the past though we did two different volunteer ones that were fairly large, and the quality is so-so. That was OK when my children were younger, but I've got one in the logic stage now and things like this have to pack some academic punch in order for me to give up the time. In one of them I was a teacher's aid where I was always madly helping her figure out what to do 15 minutes before class and then making copies during class with the hope that I would get them to her on time. Never again!

But speaking frankly, I know what's best for them, so they deal with it. I've really worked hard on their attitudes over the last two years, and complaining during school is not an option. They can appeal outside of school for changes with both DH and I present, but not during. Someday they may have to go to a classroom where the subjects and curriculum are not to their liking, and they may be in a job where things are less than ideal. Now is the time in our house for learning to work through things they may not enjoy. We all have our ways of doing things, but I'm not one to let the child dictate the curriculum (and my unschooling friends say I'm an utter meanie!).

I think it's more that there's a general bailout around 5th-7th grade versus the number of years you've schooled. Two friends of mine have already committed to send theirs off to the classroom in the fall, one says that next year is the last, and as of today I heard of another putting hers in at the beginning of March. Of course I have other friends who are keeping on, and several who have even graduated children, but it's been a sobering few months. DH and I have discussed it several times. I gave up on planning my own several years ago and run a pretty streamline operation though, so maybe that's a factor in why I still feel energized. Just a thought.

I agree. My wardrobe is strudy and inexpensive. My shoes (Croc knock-offs) are a must because I'm still recovering from ankle surgery. I am what I am!

The longer I go, the more I see that there is no one-size-fits all solution to educating our children. I cringe these days whenever I'm around a "homeschooling is the only way to the very end" person because none of us really can say that, and as we've discussed before, sometimes folks homeschool who shouldn't. With DH's level of disability increasing (he hasn't been to work since mid-October) EVERYTHING is on the table at our house. If I have to send them to the classroom, it's going to be because it's the best choice for us. It's not failure.

Once I committed to buy something on a swap board and then changed my mind. I emailed the seller and said that I had changed my mind, and asked if it was OK if I backed out. She said yes, and had a back-up buyer anyway. I've ordered things on Amazon, and then gone back a few hours later and cancelled the order. I've ordered things from Rainbow and sent them back as soon as they arrived. I've sold well over 300 items on swap boards, eBay, and Amazon, and periodically buyers ask to bow out for various reasons, even as recently as last week. I always am agreeable because it just isn't a big deal to me. Maybe I'm too laid back, but I just don't see that backing out to be that big a deal with a purchase. I'm picky on other things, but not that.

I work full-time part of the year, but recently decided to cut back some in the fall because DH may retire on disability and we are talking about relocating (sh...sh...don't tell the kids). I need to get the house ready to sell and we plan to significantly downsize. Anyway, it's easier the older your children are. Mine are both literate and work independently a lot, so that's a big help. They aren't big enough to stay home alone though, but almost. I use largely scripted curriculum. We also don't do support groups or field trips. We belong to a weekly co-op and are involved in a small monthly activity and one year-round sport, and that's it. If you do it, you have to let go of the visions of the "typical" (whatever that is) homeschooler. You won't be, and you'll need to streamline a lot of things.

I think that they have some good points about teaching good sentence construction, but I decided that I have plenty to cover with IEW in the co-op I teach so I never bought it. I think I may get it though to look at over the summer and use it as a resource next year. Wish I could help you more!

I've been an adjunct professor teaching private, public, and homeschooled kids for nine years. I've homeschooled my own kiddies seven years. And finally, I've been teaching other people's homeschooled kids for four years now. I think that it can be done if: The parent has a decent education or is willing to study along/ahead The parent can honestly access their weaknesses and delegate to resources that make up the shortfalls (assuming that they can afford and have such resources available) The parent can effectively pace themselves for the long haul (may depend on the child too, certain children are frankly easier to homeschool the whole way) The relationship of parent and child is such that homeschooling gets truly gets done to the level that the child is capable of Sadly this type of parent is not that common, but it does encourage me that it can be done. In our case, I've chosen to go with very scripted curriculum for grade school and plan to delegate almost completely to Classical Conversations after that. It's still year-by-year though, even though I thought I'd never say that. Flexibility is important!

We're in one that has organic meats, eggs, cheese, some produce, and few other products. I found out about it from a friend that runs the local Breadbeckers co-op. I had been running around to different places getting things, and didn't realize that there was a co-op that handled most of what I needed with a monthly local drop-off point. The prices and quality are generally better than grocery and health food store items. I order online with a $50 minimum and a $5 delivery fee, and then they drop it off at at a hosting home which is about 10 minutes away from me. She calls when it arrives, and you're expected to go get it immediately or provide her with an ice chest to hold it.

I used CW some 2-3 years ago when it first came out before the student materials were available, and it was too much for my oldest and I. We used Wordsmith Apprentice for about 3/4 of a year, then went to IEW, and now I teach IEW in a co-op. I much prefer IEW of those three. I have watched the TWSS tapes all the way through several times, and they are excellent. If you committ to watching them, they are a superb education unto themselves. I also own the Webster book. If you decided to get it, I'd recommend posting to he IEW sale YahooGroup. I did that, and got it for about 1/3 of the price new. It's also helpful, but it's heavy reading with small print. I've read it through several times and still use it to quickly brush up when I start a unit, but I would say that Andrew Pudwa's DVDs are definitely easier to follow if you're going to write your own lessons. If you're going to use a theme-based book you could use the Webster text for background if you feel you need it. I currently teach with the new IEW Medieval book in co-op, and I do like having the Webster book to understand the foundational material. You could probably do without it though if it's just you and your children. HTH!

We've done both, and I frankly haven't noticed any difference. I personally find using a laptop uncomfortable because of body positioning and too many years in front of a computer (I have some level of tendonitis because of that), but my children don't notice a difference.

Before you buy any Christian textbook, you will need to define what doctrinal issues are most important to you. I'm fine with BJUP Science because it's pretty mainline Christian, but their history and literature would not be an option for our household. I'm fine with Veritas Cards, but have problems with some of their other choices. I'm one that likes the mainline Christian nature of Sonlight because I can insert our specific beliefs, but I was uncomfortable with Tapestry of Grace at times although it lends itself to flexibility that way. IMHO some homeschoolers are not picky enough -- they use any Christian curriculum because it's Christian without considering their household's beliefs.

Both our ped doc and internist are very into natural foods and health, and both are supportive of homeschooling as a personal choice. There is a local pediatrician though that has turned in two homeschoolers to CPS for what he/she felt was lack of attention to the child's special needs. Obviously we stay far, far away from that one and go to another practice.

I've been homeschooling awhile, and I find that I pretty much know my way around these days. With so many vendors providing online samples, Internet provides most of what I need. I'm also one that doesn't like Saturdays away, but my kids are older and even one day away sets me back in terms of getting my chores done, especially yardwork in the summer. I do have certain speakers though that I might go to hear if it was free :).

Our dojo is run by a homeschooling couple, and I couldn't be more happy with it. It's really helped with body awareness and self-control, and it's a very peaceful martial art that still instills the personal defense skills. I had looked at other martial arts schools in the area without knowing a whole lot about the differences, but now I'm a fan of Aikido and know that we chose right. I just hope they keep doing it and we can continue to afford it (although it's much less expensive than most)!

We'll be finished with some things in March that we'll let rest until June or so when we start our "new" year, and continuing some things without much break. I usually test in May because I like to take the last two weeks off from academics, but frankly I've tested anywhere from March to June in the past because of other issues. It really doesn't matter much to me. It's just a "snapshot" of where they are at a particular time. Last year my 1st grader was in a silly mood to the point of over-analyzing the math and didn't do well, and I knew that her scores didn't reflect her true capabilities. It's useful, but I look at the results with a broad view.

I truly hope (and pray) that the surgery will be successful and that you'll have a good experience with whatever doctor/hospital you pick. DH is headed for disability retirement sometime in the next few years if not sooner because of all our medical adventures, so I'm always quick to jump in when others are in similar situations.