We have always given our kids a cell phone when they're 16. For my oldest (now 23), that was fine but in the last 7 years that has completely changed. When half of the fifth graders have data phones, I know 16 is really old! But there have been few times that my under 16-yo really needed a cell phone. A couple thoughts not b/c I've figured this out but b/c I'm walking through it, so I'll share my fellow mom thoughts and experience. 1) Our deal is that our phones are completely open. They have complete access to my stuff and I have access to theirs. I ask them to read texts while I'm driving so they know it's open. And I do check. I ask for their phones periodically and while part of it feels invasive, most of me knows that accountability is really good for a teen. I remember when I was growing up and hit a rough patch, I was actually grateful when my parents found out and I was disciplined. I wanted those safe boundaries and though I couldn't have articulated it, boundaries are healthy for teens. 2) I really think it's going to be hard to shelter our kids from any and all graphic images. I just got a new phone and it already had some *Hot Views" loaded on it and it came up with pretty provocative photos just when I opened my phone! I had to figure out how to get rid of it. So disappointed at how pervasive this stuff is. Ditto on instagram, tv ads, the net, vine, etc. It's just all over. So we've decided to allow the technology but try as best I can to monitor. -----> I'm curious how many have had success with a filter for cell phones. I have the ability to put the one on our computer on our data phones but haven't done it yet.

In high school, we've always by Providence had an extra old car that the kids could drive. Both were given to us by extended family members so they were paid for. We pay insurance, tag and title and some gas -- I pay gas to dual enrollment classes, church activities and some extracurricular. Teen pays the rest. It's not a set amount, it's more like "Here, let me fill it up" or "Here's $20 for some gas." Every single one of my drivers has either gotten in a small fender bender or knocked the car in some way. They pay for the damage and even if we choose not to fix it, the diminution in value goes into a fund (usually called "My current grocery bill") for the next car. We've done something different when they're in college and when they buy their own car.

I have three out of the country on a mission trip and my youngest two in the neighborhood VBS. I've been carpooling with a friend who today picked them up and brought them home and oh my word! I got so much done! :D And my college daughter has offered me a 2-day personal retreat in a few weeks. :wub: I am already telling myself to stay off the net those days!

Hooray!! :hurray: :hurray: :hurray:

I do my bulk shopping at Costco and then fill in with trips to Publix. And yes, friendly, helpful, rainchecks, clean is worth it but I shop mostly BOGOs or produce. I don't do meat there and we don't buy very much processed. I used to really coupon but found I was buying more and more processed food. I stopped couponing and try to stick to fairly whole foods. Lisa

Martinmom, You've received lots of great advice so I'll just add a few things in. I wouldn't rush to make all new plans by a surgical date (I know you said it's not extended but still). You have time to make a plan and if you need to add something in November or change it up in February b/c life has shifted again? It's okay. That's the beauty of homeschooling. I would focus on the bottom line: if nothing else gets done this year what do your kids need to get done? That's your core. There may be many bare minimum days and knowing that they are getting done the most important stuff will ease your mind. Your kids are at an okay age for an interruption. School might not look ideal, but you'd be surprised how far doing the core will take your kids. Some things might get done in clumps -- a clump of science when you have a good two weeks and then paused for a trip to grandparents. Finally, your kids will need to know the new expectations. Without a set structure, they will need to know what, when, how much to do. If you have the time, a daily checklist would allow your 7th and 5th graders to work pretty independently. Since the days might look different, a checklist on a post-it note works great! Ask me how I know. ;) My kids actually love when I stick a post-it on their pile with check off boxes. Hoping you are able to fully enjoy your dad this Father's Day. Lisa

Also, he may or may not have some fear about this news. "If that could happen to my PE teacher, it could happen to ___________." Yes, it could. You may consider whether you want to address potential fear a day or so after he learns the news. Or later that evening or when it seems appropriate. So terribly sad.

Some of my favorite speeches have to be read since they were before audio. Some speeches, like the Gettysburg Address, are excellent when read but went over like a lead balloon when given. Ain't I a Woman, by Sojourner Truth was an extemporaneous speech and goes down as a great. Here's a list of noted American speeches. For excellent examples of student speeches, I would suggest googling NCFCA you tube (and maybe add in Nationals) and you'll get many winning speeches in various categories given by students. There are lots of really good examples -- some super funny and many moving. Enjoy! P.S. :confused1:

It will be somewhat redundant. My oldest 3 did Nance's Intro through a co-op but then as I investigated options, I chose MP's Traditional Logic. We started with Traditional Logic I because I needed to work through it and they were on the young side when they completed Nance and could use another pass through Traditional Logic I. You might be able to start with TL II and then go on to Material Logic. That was my goal, it's still on my shelf, but life happened and we never made it that far. :/

I enjoyed these as well as the one by or about Marva Collins .. . . I think it's the Marva Collins way. I gleaned a lot of ideas from Rafe Esquith's books and just hoped some of his copious energy would transmit to me as I read. Those are truly inspirational and usually available from the library.

Continuing to pray as well.

Oh boy. I cannot imagine. So very, very sorry for such a great loss and I will be praying. :grouphug:

Well, honestly, my recollection is that LCC had the student studying 2 works per semester but that may be off as I haven't read the book in years -- probably close to its release in 2008? 2009. I tried to pull up some old WTM threads on this but couldn't get them to pull up. I don't want to race through our studies either (and that's part of what bothers me about AP classes is that I feel like we're on a bullet train with no time to stop and really discuss or explore any tangent).

My two favorites are probably Educating the Whole Hearted Child and Homeschooling for Excellence. I read and re-read those in the early years. I also like the Memoria Press catalog articles.

I love the idea of multum non-multa but it seems difficult to implement in high school. I don't mean eliminating busy work. We've not done that but I mean slimming literature down to 1 book in the fall and 1 in the spring or maybe 2 per semester. I just have books that I want my dc to read and papers I want them to write and AP biology is a lot and then add in the math and it's a solid 1 1/2 hours of work a day. I would love if Andrew had continued this conversation into the upper years or continued publishing what it looks like. I know from his book what it looks like on paper, but, our days seem full.

I second this.

I feel like Melissa Wiley is pretty unschooly. She's an author and wrote The Charlotte Years books about Laura Ingalls Wilder's grandmother (?).

Eaglei, I'm so grateful to see this thread trending at the top of our feed. I've been offline for a week but I've been praying for you and your son as God has brought you to mind. Praising God for a steady report and asking Him for FULL healing. May you see God's grace and mercy today.

My older neighbor, who had raised 5 girls, said to me when I discovered I was pregnant with #5 "You're already doing the dance. You just do it a little faster." I think there's a lot of truth in that! Yes, s/he will be another child and may have very different or individual needs. But, I found that I was able to adjust to meet the demands as my family grew. For me, going from #5 to #6 didn't make all that much difference in our daily schedule, demands on my time (except that whether you have your first newborn or your your 6th, a newborn requires time), vacations, eating out, extracurricular. Blessings to you if you are indeed expecting! I'm a mom who freaked out when I found I was expecting #4 and then again with #5. Lol, then years later seriously wished for 6 and 7.

I've had many friends recommend Charles Martin books to me. I've got one of his on my summer reading list, but haven't made it that far yet. His books look great though. Have a look at his author website and see what you think.

We are pulling for you Halcyon. Praying for you right now. :grouphug:

Wonder if this was the work of an editor or the journalist whose name is all over the net! When I was in j school, the editors chose headlines and taglines.

If you are approaching this as a Bible study class, you could add in a book on how to read/study the Bible. Kay Arthur has one and I'm currently enjoying Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin (women's ministry director at Matt Chandler's church). It's an easy but very good read on how to approach Bible study and specifically how to mine truth from scripture. Highly recommend it and you could do either the Kay Arthur or Jen Wilkin book as a summer read. Then I would add in some kind of questions so that she's not just reading. Precept Ministries or Navigators which don't have doctrine but open ended questions to apply the scripture. Or, have her keep a notebook answering a few questions daily: 1) summarize the passage (what is going on?), 2) What truth is being taught? What do you discover about God in this passage? What does this passage tell you about God's relationship to man? and 3) How does this truth apply to me? If you are approaching this more academically, then you could add in a book on church history. Church History in Plain Language by Shelley is a classic and standard recommendation.

This is what I've used with all of kids when they hit the fractions stage to nail down fractions. The Education Unboxed videos are a great, recent addition! Lisa

We enjoy the books that have been made into Disney movies like -- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (who knew it was written by Ian Fleming of James Bond fame?) Mary Poppins Pippi Longstocking Swiss Family Robinson I've heard 101 Dalmatians is great but we haven't done that one yet. Also: Five Little Peppers and How the Grew Little Women Chronicles of Narnia series spans all the ages Island of the Blue Dolphins and other Scott O'Dell books Freckles and other Gene Stratton Porter books can span a wide age Cheaper by the Dozen Kate DeCamillo books are great -- Because of Winn Dixie, Tale of Despereux, Flora and Ulysses, and many other award winners I think there will be times that you may need to target the older and the younger will just glean what s/he can OR target the younger and let the older just listen to a great story. Even I enjoy a great children's story. Also look at those on the Newberry Award list. Those are generally all great books, though the