:iagree: Also, to spin that broken record again, LOF doesn't have enough practice for some kids (or some moms) ... requiring another resource for additional problem sets. So ... my ds13 used LOF to teach himself calculus ... and he understands it better than I ever did (Purdue engineer, I am). I call that success. But whether it would be enough on its own for him to succeed in a college classroom math course ... dunno and not taking that chance. So while I have the highest regard for LOF, I also supplement it with Singapore curricula. HTH, karen

Another vigorous yay! vote here. DS13 did it ... basically self-directed. He learned a LOT about basic literary concepts. He was very interested in a couple of the unit study extras -- Tolkein's life and the section on heroic epics in particular. We are studying the Aeneid now, and I can see him applying what he learned from LLFLOTR to it. Karen

DH has an uncle who had a lake cottage in the Ozarks. We borrowed the cottage for a few days and spent the time floating on the dock, playing mini-golf, getting our "wedding picture" taken old-timey style, grilling steaks on Uncle's barbie, and reading mind candy novels. It was wonderful! Karen

"I'm sorry dear, you're whining, and I just can't understand a word you're saying." Karen

We loved John McWhorter's "Story of Human Language." Because of that course, DS14 requested that I put together a linguistics course for an elective for him. Dr. McWhorter has a follow-on course out there now, which I have yet to see. The related course they have on history of the English language (different instructor) is not nearly as good as Dr. McWhorter. Karen

:iagree:

Re the physics question ... no it would not look odd. It would look advanced. :) Re the statistics ... I suggest looking at Life of Fred. My ds used it, pretty much self-taught, and really learned his stuff ... he is always "annoying" us with off-the-cuff analyses of things he runs into in real life. We also supplemented that with the Teaching Co. lecture series with Dr. Starbird ... it does not line straight up with LOF, but there's more real-life stuff in there. I agree that your ISD's policy on the math/science credit is odd. I would think it would go the other way round ... :001_huh: Your dd's education looks great ! Karen

No. Karen

For us, it was size and strength more than age. Most kids are stronger than adults, pound for pound, but height really makes a big difference in one's ability to handle a roaring mower. We are a fairly petite family. By the time the kids were big enough to really handle our mower, they were 10yo or so. Karen

Not my purchases, but my mother's .... anything with noises, voices, and/or flashing lights. My mom is a personality type that loves that stuff. It just made me jittery all day long ... those toys "broke" very early and had to be thrown out ... so sad. Karen

:iagree: Like this

Sounds like plantar fasciitis to me ... I know it well. Here are some stretches you should do twice a day ... gently, but consistently. If these don't help, it might be something else. http://www.plantarfasciitisbraces.com/plantar_fasciitis_stretching_exercises.html Karen

:iagree: Me too. And I stay here, not because we're classical, but because this is the most academically oriented board around. I always come here to find academically rigorous resource information. :) Karen

:lol: I love this rule! And I find that I do have less patience at age 50 than I did at 35 ... but I'm not so sure that the alleged wisdom speaking :) Karen

Double-dog ditto the weight work. For me ... way older than you ... the weight work is even more important for weight loss/maintenance than simple calorie-expending aerobic activity. We're not talking bulking up here ... just consistently lifting weights at moderate levels. I do weights 2-3 times per week (in addition to cardio) ... one exercise for each major muscle group ... weight levels are an effort, but not difficult. I recommend you start with a trainer to get you started on "how" to do weights and what levels to start at. You don't want to overdo or underdo. And when you do start to build muscle, your weight will go up, ironically. But the measurements should go down at the same time. Grit your teeth and get through that phase ... the weight numbers will eventually get back to decreasing if you stay consistent. Karen

I tell them we never respond to telephone soliciations, but if they want to send me a brochure, I will consider it equally with all the other charity appeals we receive. Then I ask them to remove our number from their calling list. Then I take the initiative to say "thank you and goodbye." All very polite, yet firm. I never receive any brochures from those organizations. Karen

Yes. It has given me increased sympathy for my 9th-grader who is struggling with the increased pace/workload of high school :) Karen

COPD has many causes. My mother has it and never smoked a single cigarette in her life. Did you know that half of all lung cancer victims are also non-smokers? It's true, yet what is the first thing people say when they learn an acquaintance has lung cancer -- "did she smoke?" or "I didn't know she smoked." Blaming the victim.

Right there with you! We even have a special song for school books deliveries -- sung to the Barney cleanup tune. :) Well, it's my song, not the kids. It embarrasses them :) :) Karen

Initial reason: Academics. Pure and simple. Our children, when they were in a school, were not being fed. They were dying intellectually from starvation. Ongoing reasons: Add to that ... control of our lifestyle, freedom to teach according to our world view, freedom to begin the day with morning prayer, freedom to do activities we couldn't do if we were enslaved to the institution's schedule demands ... I believe that I teach a far more rigorous course than the public schools do .. at least in academic subjects. I also keep my mind open and outsource courses when I find that preferable. Right now, my ds14 is taking two classes at the public school because I felt it would be better academically (German) and/or better regarding my own workload (Biology). So home schooling does not mean sitting around the kitchen table all day; in fact, we utilize far more varied resources than the institutions do. As for the teaching credential/qualification issue -- that's laughable at best. Public school failures prove the lie. But someone who has bought into the lie will never take your word for it (or anyone else's either). Several posters have recommended not allowing the discussion to continue; I concur. In my experience, I've run into a handful of institutional school zealots, and they speak from a depth of ignorance; yet they don't realize their own ignorance; yet I don't have the credibility in their eyes to be able to enlighten them. I had one guilty pleasure in that regard -- I was able to shut up one particularly aggressive schoolteacher when I informed her that my ds13 had taught hiimself calculus just for fun (ya, he's scary that way) -- she hasn't brought it up since. But short of something fun like that, your best bet will probably be just to be firm about not discussing it. HTH, Karen

No. You are the parent and a 13yo is still the kid. You need to make the decision, whichever direction that decision may go. Now, I will go on to say this ... if it is open for you in your area, you may find there are particular classes in the school that he would benefit from. I would consider that. It might be a good middle-meeting-ground for all of you. In fact, I am doing that. Our state allows home schoolers to attend any number of classes at public high schools -- I know we are lucky to have that choice, whether we choose to use it or not. My ds14 is taking two classes at the public high school. Classes that I am glad to outsource. However, rather than making more friends or whatnot, he is learning what it means to be part of a regimented institution. He is hearing about the stupidities of the public school students -- fireworks set off in the hall; a feud in which one student put human excrement in another student's backpack; etc. He is learning to speak with adults (teachers) in a more mature way -- he's temperamentally reserved, so this is a good experience for him. Overall, I'm very happy that he is taking these 2 classes at the public school. I feel he's learning some important things (including the academic part!), yet I am still able to influence his culture and world view. HTH and blessings, Karen

This is not normal. Something's gotta give. You need to take action, one way or another. :grouphug: Karen

:iagree: This is one of the two reasons we dropped out of our local support group. And yeah, that means home school specific networking is almost all online. Karen

FWIW, we track hours and do it by Carnegie credits. Ds has fencing twice weekly; we track those hours. He does a tournament when he feels like it; I print out the results for the portfolio. He'll easily earn half a Carnegie credit over the school year. Karen