[Are you an obvious homeschooler?]

In our small abode, it is not possible to disguise our homeschooling.

 

When we're out and about, I don't think we're obvious.  We don't have t-shirts or anything.

[What do you say to the people that think they can't homeschool?]

I tell them that I thought that, too.

Homeschooling was never on my radar, was not anything I had planned, but did when it was clear that public school did not work for my children. I did it because it was the only option.

 

Other than that: it is not my place to convince other people that they should homeschool their children. If somebody asks me for advice, I will tell them how I made it work, answer their questions, point them to resources. If somebody tells me they would really love to homeschool but are scared, concerned, worried that they won't be able to, then I will help them figure out that, and how, they can. But if somebody does not really want to homeschool, I don't say anything.

 

 

This says it pretty well.  I never thought I would be a homeschooler either.

 

But yes, I will happily give info to someone who shows genuine interest and asks for it.  But I'm not going to push it on anyone.

[S/O: What are you planning for social opportunities for 7th/8th grade?]

ODD is a competitive gymnast, so lots of other girls around there.

She will be able to do choir again in the fall (she often has to miss it due to her gymnastics schedule).

Church youth group/Sunday School/etc.

[Are "give"/"get" impolite requests?]

I often politely ask my daughter to "get/give" me things. I don't think it's rude.

Exactly. And everyone in the family will help another out in this way. The girls do things for each other as well.

[Latest edition of the Mommy Wars-Article for discussion: report it if we see kids left alone?]

Nope, he goes back home. Both families do. They get in their car and drive for the sole purpose of kid drop off and then turn around and go home. With the wonderful weather we have here, that's not even the reason.

Maybe I'm missing something. Why do you even care what they're doing?

[Is 7th grade a bad year to go back to school?]

JMO, I would not, in a million years, put either girl in public middle school. ODD will be 7th next year and she would get eaten alive.

[What classic books, or any books in general, have inspired you most to be a better person?]

The Bible

The Bell Jar

The Prayer That Changes Everything

The Mark of the Lion series

WTM

WEM

 

This is my bare-bones, right to the heart, major impact books that have literally changed me.

 

My most impactful classic lit books would be like:

 

House of Mirth

Madame Bovary

1984

Brave New World

Gulliver's Travels

 

And adding in the YWAM bios of missionaries.  Nate Saint and George Muller were big ones.

[s/o girls and tangled hair]

Sylvia has very thick and curly hair.  We have it cut with long layers in it to thin things out a little and keep the curls bouncy.

 

She tends to keep it in a ponytail most of the time, but she wakes up with wicked bedhead.  We brush with a Tangle Teezer - it hurts her much, much less than the Mason Pearson.  We brush immediately before showers and she does not "ruffle up" her hair while washing or drying.  Plenty of conditioner from the middle down.  Wide-toothed comb afterwards.

 

 

Rebecca has long straighter hair that is more fine than Sylvia's.  She always wears a braid for gymnastics because it keeps her hair tangle-free through all the flipping around.  She does a braid/bun for competitions.

 

Here they are (showing their new pics off a little too!):

 

 

[Summer reading]

Do you assign it to your kids?  How do you decide what to assign?

 

Last year, I had ODD read the two books she would be doing study guides on this school year, so it was Tom Sawyer and Bridge to Terabithia.  Both girls are doing lit guides for Johnny Tremain and Witch of Blackbird Pond "next year."  I can't decide whether to have them both read those books or assign other books.  SO many great books out there, and so little time!  I could probably give my 10 year old 3-4 books, but 12 yo only 2 - ODD will be at gymnastics 22 hours a week, plus she's pretty slow.  I am trying to branch out to some higher level books for them.

[Is Mythbusters a valid science source?]

I think it's a fun addition for any level, really.  Stand-alone, no, but it's a TV show.  DH and the girls like to watch it and we also saw them on tour a few years ago.

[I get that I'm the weirdo here, BUT . . .]

THAT'S what it is!  And now I won't be able to un-see it...

[Look what the stork brought me!]

He is the sweetest little one!  So adorable.   :001_wub:

[Look what the stork brought me!]

No pic!  :(

[What are you doing for 7th grade?]

Tentatively:

 

Grammar:  Rod and Staff 7

 

Spelling:  Rod and Staf 7?? or nothing

 

Math:  MM7A (then B) or Saxon 8/7

 

Writing:  Finish WWS I

 

Latin:  First Form 1 continued

 

Science:  Apologia General Science

 

History:  MFW 1850-Modern or Biblioplan Yr 4

 

Literature:  Lots of reading and maybe 1 or 2 Progeny Press or Memoria Press Lit Guides

 

Logic:  Fallacy Detective continued

 

Health:  Need something in CA...maybe American Girl Care and Keeping 2

 

PE:  Soccer

 

Music:  Piano

 

Theology:  Continue studying Shorter Catechism and add in some books by Sproul or others.  

 

 

***Anyone incorporate computer skills somehow?  Make them type papers?  Or what do you do for typing, etc.?

 

 

We've done Typing Instructor for Kids for a couple of years.  YDD actually got really good at typing from online games (*hides*).  I'm thinking I will have both of them start typing papers next year.

[My dd (almost 8) told me she hated me today :(]

I think you are expecting too much. Sorry it was a horrible day though :(

 

You may need to work on these tasks with her side-by-side. Plait her hair, so it doesn't get messy. She may need you to do this for her. Help her check her room daily for mess and clean it up - maybe just before bed.

 

Think about why she is 'stealing' the snacks. If you really don't want her eating them, don't buy them.

 

Don't beg and plead, that won't help. Punishment won't help either. She need you to help her develop good habits. Help her with everything and pick one habit to work on...it can be as simple as bringing you her brush and a hair elastic after breakfast, so you can do her hair. When one habit is established, start another.

 

Seven year olds need quite a bit of scaffolding re self care and room care.

 

 

Sadie is exactly right.

[Preparing for 7th and up...]

Something we've done this year when she's in 7th grade is have conversations about what she thinks she would like high school to look like for her. We've talked about different careers she might like, different universities she might like, and what kind of high school studies those would require.

We've also talked about picking a couple of her extracurriculars to go deeper with, and how she's going to have to make choices about her involvement in her sport.

 

 

May I ask what her sport is?  Mine is a competitive gymnast and has started training optionals.  I'm always concerned about fitting in everything with her schedule!  I have asked her what she thinks she might like to study in high school or college, and right now she's so in love with gym that she wants to be a coach or trainer.

[Preparing for 7th and up...]

I have a decent idea of what materials and types of assignments to require to fulfill my vision for our children, but what I need help on is state and college requirements, test prep readiness, etc.  The basics I have planned are: 

 

Saxon Math (as high as they can go)

Art: drawing and painting of people/portraits and landscapes, exploring of other arts and crafts as time allows and with interest

Music: instrument study (my preference would be violin, guitar, and/or piano but their choice)

Formal Logic followed by SAT/ACT Prep

Spanish (not sure which program yet, but husband speaks fluently so probably his department)

Mounce's Greek and Hebrew (not at the same time)

Essay writing after readings in all content subjects (I'm sure we will use something to guide literary analysis and Bible study)

Science labs as needed for credit or interest  (hoping to do more of a living book approach)

 

Unsure of outside activities or jobs, but I know my oldest will participate in girls' choir all the way through.  The boy's choir ends when their voice changes so then they will likely choose something else.  We are not big on sports now but my boys definitely have football aspirations so if my husband desires to take them to practices and games we may let them participate at some point.  Maybe tennis or golf as my husband loves tennis and my father and sister are golf pros.

 

I am pretty sure this will meet most college and state requirements as long as we document the readings but my oldest may need a vocational diploma instead because I am not sure she can finish all the math she needs, but we'll see.  My requirements for her will be different, but this is what we are striving for academically in our home.  

 

 

Oh, crap.  ART.  Any curriculum suggestions? She'll be covered until high school.

[Disagreement with my teen daughter - she's actually agreed to let other people weigh in on the subject.]

I'd have blown a gasket if they took my kid to a town 40 minutes away in the middle of the night without my permission. Definitely NOT overprotective. He needs to communicate better with the parents.

 

 

AMEN!  My jaw dropped when I read that!

[Preparing for 7th and up...]

Yes,this is great! Anything and everything helps right now. What about high school electives? They seem daunting.

[Preparing for 7th and up...]

Experienced moms, what do you recommend to prepare yourself for the junior high/high school years?  My oldest is going into 7th in the fall.  Any books, self-ed, things to think about for her, any wise words or tips, anything!  I am just  :scared: .

[Smoking]

I would be stunned if either girl ever dated a smoker.  ODD is an athlete and pretty serious about that.  Both think (and agree with DH and me) that it's a completely disgusting habit and hate even catching a whiff of it.  I'm glad it's been outlawed in restaurants here.  If I even get a bit of the smell, my nose starts to twitch.

 

When I was a kid, both grandmothers and one uncle smoked.  It eventually killed the grandmother on my mom's side, but my other grandma and uncle managed to quit completely.  I was very proud of that.

[When do/did you allow your kids to ride in the front seat?]

Definitely not before 13.  The girls are pretty tiny, so no earlier.  My just-turned 12 year old only weighs 72 lbs.

[What tier are you?]

I'll join your tier!

 

When I first read the tiers, I thought I was a 4, then they threw in some stuff like no bikinis or short-shorts and I began to have doubts. Then I read tier 5 and I really fit about everything there too. I would never even have HEARD of courtship if it weren't for these boards and certainly assume my kids will date. 

 

We are pretty liberal Christian, rarely drinking but in no way opposed, no tattoos but again unopposed, yoga is nice, meat is fab (although dd is veggie), academically focused, more Apple devices than you can count, hard rock and even <gasp> rap loving.

 

I thought the article was fun, but it annoyed me there was no room for non-Christians as if everyone who home schools is Christian? I also didn't really feel like I fit. I'm guessing the writer is a tier 3 and she really seems to see 4s as sinful and I would guess she would question the salvation of a 5 - ugh. We are just mainstream American's who homeschool. No one that we don't tell would ever know. Admittedly though, we love to pick out Tier 1 & 2 homeschoolers in public and laugh at their obvious "homeschoolness".

 

Oh, very nice.  How enlightened and nonjudgmental of you.

[Why are some people in the US with no health insurance?]

It's not always affordable.  Sometimes people can buy the insurance, but can't even afford to use it.  It's a pretty crappy state of affairs.

[Is There Security At Your Place of Worship?]

Somewhat large Protestant church, the security is mostly there for the younger kids' protection.  Only parents/grandparents allowed in the under-K wing, etc.

 

I don't think they're armed though.