I keep going in cycles. for awhile we are relaxed barely getting the minimum in, then I read a new book or article and decide to go off on a tangent of one subject or another nice and serious. Then I gather all the topics in a nice neat spreadsheet and get it all done. Then I get burned out on all those topics, and ease off...till I fall back into the barely the minimum. So far the kids still learn at amazing rates. I think in a way it is good for the kids to have the opportunity to learn in many different ways, from practically unschooling to full fledged classical. Though maybe a consistent balance would be better? It just isn't in my genetics :) BTW Stories on tape sound like a great way to pass that hour in the car? Hope the baby feels better soon.

I don't have the program, but if you are fairly certain you will like it, I would start with what looks like his grade level or a bit above...you can always store it if it is too hard. Though at the same time you might want to start with the lowest one and let your oldest teach your youngest...neat learning experience for both.

THIS!!!!!! Downplay the 'freak' part. don't let it get to their head (or your grandparents). enjoy the fun when it is book time, enjoy the dirt at dirt time. on destructiveness, get lots of building type toys to keep the construction/destruction in a way that is acceptable. I say this as a mom of 5 'freaks' :)

I choose my children's 'grade' for testing (we have to do a test annually here) based on their scout activities. When they were ready emotionally, physically and academically to hang with other kindergartners (girls) - or first graders (boys). I let them and 'pegged' their grades to match. But that grade has nothing to do with what they work on academically. I have a kid doing algebra that still writes his r's t's and x's all the same way. Obviously the writing grade doesn't match the math one! I don't worry much about highschool...not like we will run out of things to learn :).

The type of questions asked my be different. My one kid tests rather average for math on speed, but is amazing at capabilities. Averaging the two leaves her barely above average. If you were present at the test, maybe you can try to understand what type of trouble your kid has? regardless, a compromise is generally best :)

I have children in both GS and Cubs. I prefer the Cubscouts, but as yet in my area they do not allow girls in. I find running the GS troop makes a huge difference, we require more for our children - though age based. Meaning the daisy group doesn't have very strict requirements to earn a fun badge for going to the observatory. The jr level however does have a stricter list. If you decide to join, know the troop leader in question is far more important than the various national level policies. The new changes they are making (but not sharing with us) will effect things as well. If you join one troop looking for camping, or crafts, or speaking/survival skills - you may find what you want right off the bat. Or you may go through several troops - or need to start your own. I find that the alternatives are not that great of a fit. 4H only goes camping if I choose to lead a camping thing (my kids are in 4H for things like robotics, and public speaking though). the various new super Christian groups tend to be so far on the 'girls are homemakers' side they they turn me off. the Y has a group thing, but it is so expensive. YMMV Instead I bring my whole family on all cub events that I can and we try our best to make our GS troop as much like a Cub pack as we can. If cub Scouting ever goes co-ed we will be switching to a whole family of cubs!