Good to hear your experience. Thank you, Denise.

Yes, the compliant/sweet part is huge. If only she could sing choir songs or Taylor Swift while doing her math. :D And I realized I need to update my siggie....she just turned 10. So a 4th grader who's now 10. Thank you. I have a boatload of manipulatives including 100 blocks/singles/10s but I'm thinking I'll need the colored ones that go with MUS.

Thank you for weighing in, EKS. I value your input! She tested into Gamma and we'll definitely work through the summer.

Here's the short backstory. We've used Saxon since Day 1 of our homeschool. Most of my kids had varying levels of intuitive math sense and despite different learning styles, Saxon worked. My oldest graduated kids have all done really well in university and beyond. it worked. Not so with my youngest. Bless her heart. She doesn't see the patterns in math. She hasn't really moved from concrete to abstract. She understands well enough if I'm working elbow to elbow with her but go back 6 months later (assessment testing) and it's like I never explained it. :huh: She is sweet. She's a compliant student, though she works in shorter spurts than any of my others. She's not ADD but she's seriously right-brained. I asked her what her favorite subject was the other day and she said MATH. :laugh: :closedeyes: Here's where we are: She just finished Saxon 3. My original plan was to keep working and get through Saxon 54 but Saxon is not working. She needs something that will explain the place value, why we need to carry, why long division works like that, why zeros *hold the place* in three digit multiplication..etc. Here's where I need input: Having only used Saxon and not having children with this particular struggle before, what have y'all used that works with this kind of learner? I've looked at and like Math U See. I love Cuisenaire Rods and have briefly looked at Miquon. I don't want Teaching Textbooks. I like that Math U See has online teaching. Any advice or input here?

Great overview. Just correcting the bit about Florida's Bright Futures scholarship: SAT/ACT scores for homeschoolers no longer have to be higher than public/private schoolers to qualify. The legislature amended that last year b/c we have an ah-mazing homeschool lobbyist. She is seriously wonderful. On top of legislation, present at committee meetings, works tirelessly to get Florida the great homeschooling laws we have. Brenda Dickinson. Of your current benefits, Florida has *participation in public school extracurriculars *part time enrollment in classes *free virtual school *free dual enrollment in colleges We don't have virtual charters like you described. We do have to keep a log of work done and students either have to take a nationally normed test or have a present a portfolio to a certfied teacher. Test scores don't have to be turned in though. You can have the teacher document that the student is progressing commensurate with ability -- not grade level even -- ability. Mixed. It's gotten much busier over the years, especially now that all public schoolers have to take one FLVS class to graduate. Because the teachers have a heavier load, there's less of a teacher-student relationship. The teachers will check up on the student and check in with the student, but in the old days, we got to really know the teacher and they knew the students. (we visited one in the hospital.) In our experience, the classes are get-R-done. Your student needs to be independently motivated. They can often take a fascinating subject and make it textbook boring. So while we've done APs and Latin I, II and III through FLVS, it's no longer a go-to resource for us. It's a last resort if we really need to check a box or need an accredited class in that subject area. I can't speak to the full-time elementary FLVS. We've only done the a la carte high school FLVS.

Hands down having children has molded who I am -- chiseled so much junk out of me, made me realize what's really in me, required me to be more than I thought I could, pushed me and stretched me emotionally, physically, mentally, relationally (is that a thing?). Having children has caused me to lay down interests and hobbies and take up all new ones I never would have. My children have helped me realize what matters and what doesn't. They've helped me develop wisdom and insight, helped me understand rich theological truths through parenting parallels. There are things I'm so glad to have done that I never would have done had I not wanted it for my kids. ETA: While my initial impulse is to say that my dh's sudden death has impacted me most, as a person it didn't so much mould me as reveal what is there -- the weaknesses and strengths.

The Florida statute requiring public schools to allow home educated students to participate in extracurricular activities did not change any other requirements for homeschoolers. Homeschoolers were already required to submit test scores from a nationally-normed test or have a certified teacher administer a test or review a portfolio and certify that the student was progressing commensurate with his/her ability. So no new testing in Florida. The big difference between the Florida TT rule and the Texas bill is this section: (d) As a condition of eligibility to participate in a league activity during the first six weeks of a school year, a home-schooled student must demonstrate grade-level academic proficiency on any nationally recognized, norm-referenced assessment instrument, The Texas bill requires homeschoolers to show grade-level test scores whereas Florida requires the student to show "progress commensurate with his/her ability" AND it can be demonstrated through a test OR a portfolio review by a certified teacher.

We do 5-year history cycles a la Veritas Press but my all-time favorite off-schedule year has been World Geography. I try to place it close to 7th grade.

My take: It's not a run-on. It's correctly punctuated. BUT, the "he's so happy" is awkward/incorrect because it changes the verb tense of the sentence. Without the apostrophe: ...he will practically pee his pants (a colloquialism that you can count as correct or not) because he [is] so happy." It should read "he will practically pee his pants (if you allow the colloquialism) because he WILL be so happy" OR "he'll be so happy."

Sounds intriguing. I knew y'all would have new curriculum I hadn't heard of yet. :) Thank you for this suggestion, Emily.

Ok, that I can do!

Ahhh....some real treasures in those Yahoo groups. I don't miss the emails that were never cut and pasted so it took s c r o l l i n g through miles of addresses and messages to get to the new response. :toetap05:

We have totally done this in some years. I'm not worried about it b/c I know we've had years of solid, structured science. But my ds really does love science and I'd love to have something to make his eyes light up in this area. I think *he* feels like he's missing out. ;) Thanks CoffeeMama!

Is TOPS what Sonlight uses? I actually love the thought of a science station ... that would be the ideal me. But the IRL me won't get it put together this year. :D

Thank you, Tibbie. I'll look into this. I tend to LOVE physical science while this ds enjoys life science ... off to see what Sonlight has. My kids do like the Usborne books. And I'm fine with worksheets for this season as well as an experiment kit with everything in it. Part of our (my) science fail this year is because there's a long supply list and I never gathered it before school started.

Thank you for these leads. I'm going to research these a little more. Thanks!

What resources are out there for independent science? We are truly doing well in homeschool this year. Getting lots done...especially the nuts and bolts which is exactly where I wanted to razor focus. Daily math, grammar, writing, history, reading independently and aloud, memorization, Bible, etc. But science is not getting done. The text I bought at the beginning of the year is sitting on the shelf. Because of me. My ds (6th grade) would LOVE to do lots of science but I just don't have time. We do get science through discovery, museums, camps, and we are generally a science-loving family. So I need something that can be done independently by my 6th grader with a 4th grader tagging along OR also done by a 4th grader. I have a good mind to just read this small stack of Tiner biographies I have on the shelf, follow up with some googled videos and throw in some field trips and exploration and call is science. But I'm also open to something structured that would isn't vacuum dust dry but will fuel a kid's natural love for science. ideas? Curricula? Online resources?

Going away changes things but I think you might be surprised how much you'll still be involved with her. There are long late night phone calls to talk through issues and decisions; there are weekends home when you push pause on everything else in life to be with them, cook for them, enjoy them; there are weekends away to visit; there are long holidays together and summer vacations and spring breaks. Not to mention all the to-dos like refilling the prescription, gathering up paperwork info, sending the forgotten coat. And with snap chat, instagram and texting -- well, I talk with mine way more than I recall talking with my mom. Grief at the change and what will never be again is okay. I broke down in my van at my oldest's orientation and pretty much got most of my emotion out there with only dh on the phone. But the next chapter is pretty full and great as well.

Completely, fully, absolutely will be okay. I wholeheartedly affirm cutting back to the core when you're in a crisis. I would add in as much or little of the following: books on CD/audio where necessary science DVDs, documentaries, free discovery free time filled with masterly activity -- i.e. limit screens and encourage discovery, creativity, play, etc. I'm sorry for what's causing the crisis. I've been there and schooled through it. ((((hugs))))

You've received some great answers. I'll just add that whenever I feel burnout coming on I do the following: *at minimum, have a day of masterly activity. That means I work on whatever I need to (and playing catchup with my work really helps relieve much of the overwhelm and stress driving the burnout) while the kids do the school they're able to on their own and then spend the balance of time in learning-centered activities. *take a week of masterly activity days with routine as needed -- get up on time, keep up with chores, Bible time in the morning or a morning meeting, hour reading time/quiet time after lunch. Sticking to the routine at large helps the transition back to our school schedule. *take a week off altogether. Play. Explore. Go on field trips. Take long days for errands or to organize the kitchen or to lay around reading or whatever will help to fill you up and restore your energy. *take a personal retreat day. I think I did this every February for y e a r s because I sorely needed to think my own thoughts, eat slowly, breathe deeply and re-cast my vision. I usually looked at what was working; what wasn't; what needed to be added or adjusted or ordered in; and put down on paper my vision and goals and dreams for each of my children and our family. This day alone has always been a soul-filler for me and helps me renew the reason why I'm home educating. xoxo to you as you adjust and realign where needed ~ Lisa

It's amazing how many connections I make when I journal -- but I'm an external processor so I have to talk it out (or write it out) to really think it through. That's a lot on your plate. I find that often I'm tired after I've made it through a huge period of emotional heaviness. I've got the energy going through it but it's later, when it's done, that I need to reset and restore. Just talking about that today with my hairdresser (and good friend). Hope your 2017 is much more smooth!

NM :)

We've always had a 1 hour quiet reading time after lunch and this has usually been books I've assigned to them. If it's a child who chooses books off our shelves or from the library and chooses well, I don't really interfere other than to make recommendations. But I've had at least two that needed more help with their choices. So my conversation is usually, "Sure, you can check that {twaddle} book out and read it in your time but not for reading time. Sometimes those books get read, sometimes not but the child is usually allowed to check them out. And as for napping . . . I'm mixed on this. I've allowed it at times but then started not allowing it when I saw that is was really just an excuse to get out of reading. I want that child tired for bedtime too and s/he always perked right up when reading time was over and it was time to play! So, for us, no napping during reading time. IME, the daily habit of reading is one of the ways to help kids learn to love to read. Though, after all these years, I still have one adultish child who is super active and not a huge reader. 6/7 so far though. ;)

My 2016: RESPOND. As in, be ready to respond to God's nudges, His call, his leading. I was actually a bit nervous b/c I thought "Oh dear. God is going to ask me to do something big/crazy/hard and I'm going to have to learn to respond." But that didn't really happen. It was way more subtle and not at all nerve-wracking. My 2017 word: BOLD. I have areas where I tend to shrink back. I'm much like you, Quill, waiting to see how God will grow and develop this word in my life. I don't *make* the word happen so much as look for circumstances to practice it.

I'd do it this year during Spring Break b/c you're excited about it and that will spill over into the study. Then you can reference him again when you get there in history. Not everything your kids will learn will be linear. Also a book rec: I read Michael McHugh's Saint Patrick in one sitting (though it will be a multi-day read-aloud for kids) b/c I was so intrigued by his story. He is definitely fascinating and the today's skewed St Patrick's day celebrations don't even touch on his real contribution. Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Patrick-Pioneer-Missionary-Ireland/dp/1470891719.