You **absolutely must** get yourself an assistant leader. Don't wait for the pack to do it. Tell your den that this is a necessity, now, and unless someone steps up (and does the Youth Protection Tranining, at least), then no more meetings, you're done. I know what you mean about the parents. You have to take a hard line with them. It's silly, but it's true. You have to tell them that you are a volunteer. You are doing this because you want the boys to have a good experience - but you can't do it alone. They *must* respect your rules, and they *must* help, or there can be no den. So many parents in our pack have no real idea of how to maintain discipline in a group. They also don't understand that if they don't take meetings seriously, it devolves into chaos. You must insist on following the rules, and that they step up. Someone will step up to help.

I began homeschooling in Texas. Most of the homeschoolers I know took it very seriously. I look at it this way - I am accountable to my *kids* and to *their future.* Ultimately that is the most important thing. What's a state test? It's *my job* to see that my kids are prepared for the opportunities they'll have, and to be able to pursue the lives they'll want. That's accountability.

Very nice answer, Rose :)

I did not think they were well written. They were interesting and compelling, and I can see why they're popular - especially among a younger audience who largely has no experience with dystopian literature. I'm not saying I'd discourage teens from reading these, but I hope they'd go on to read works like 1984, The Lottery, Fahrenheit 451, etc.

Are you, Anissa? I'd love to hear about it! Our co-op is structured around the LCC philosophy. Drew is sorely missed.

Have you read Climbing Parnassus?

Younger kids, and older kids with phonemic awareness problems, will very much benefit from the tiles. I do use it without the tiles with my older kids, now that they've got excellent phonemic awareness. When we hit a problem, we will go back to the tiles - the way they're color-coded makes everything so very clear to the student!

I very much agree - chronological history, or a four-year approach to history, is not at all the definition of a classical education. This is why I urge people to read a few books on the theory behind classical education. Read the books, form your philosophy, and then use curriculum or whatever that fits your philosophy and your goals. Classical is not at all what curriculum you use - you don't even need one.

Thanks, Eleanor. This is how my family approaches classical education, too. My husband is an engineer, and most of my kids are strongly math/science oriented. But I keep the focus on classical languages, grammar, logic, great books, and the humanities. In no way does that mean my kids are not also getting an education that will serve them well to be engineers and scientists. There is still *time,* after teaching those important things, to pursue science and technology, and even to do it well - especially if you have a naturally scientifically-oriented household.

It sounds like you're saying that perhaps you're at Eleanor's second paragraph? You're maintaining a high degree of math and science education, but you've realized that it's better to do so while also teaching Latin, great literature, history, etc?

It is! Definitely try that one :)

My oldest has taken two SAT II exams so far. They were painless, and many colleges like those as validation of homeschool work. I imagine that he'll take a couple more. We are only going to do AP if he particularly wants to. Right now he is interested in doing AP US history. I am certain that his younger brother will want AP science.

Try Jean's: http://shadesofwhite.typepad.com/shades_of_white/2007/07/high-school-tra.html

Nicely said, pqr.

We are in the same boat, right now. After three unemployments in four years, dh has taken a job in another state. He likes it, he believes that it's stable, has growth potential, it's in a lower cost of living area - so we're preparing to move out to where he is, even though none of us want to.

We gave an Algebra I credit for LoF Beginning Algebra. When my son finished the book, I downloaded an end of course exam for Algebra I from our local school system (a released exam) and gave that to him. He passed with flying colors, so that seems to mean he learned the equivalent of the ps Algebra I class. I don't know how the colleges would look upon both courses completed in one year, but if you can find some way of validating the knowledge, that might be helpful.

My husband and older teens are avid gamers, and my kids have learned an amazing amount of military history and strategy through playing board wargames. They usually focus on the world wars - I'll see if they know of anything more specifically American.

I agree. Also, spend some time on the classical education websites. Memoria Press and many others have eloquent articles about the benefits of learning Latin and Greek.

1. I am American, an Air Force brat. 2. I was expected to do general household chores - dishes, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, etc. I didn't have any responsibility for them, though - just did what I was told, when I was told. 3. No, I did not feel like i had much input in family affairs, money, vacation, rules, etc. It was very much "my house, my rules." 4. I love my parents, but yes, I couldn't wait to leave and get out on my own. I went to college in another state at 17. 5. Yes, my parents stressed the importance of being independent. 6. Maybe? I love my kids and would certainly love to have them stay with me, as long as them staying with me did not stunt their own lives. My BIL lived with his parents as an adult, but his parents were enabling him to sit on his rear and not work, not go to school, not do anything healthy or productive - I hope that I would not stand for that. But an adult child working/going to school/raising kids who wanted/needed my support/help/companionship? Or who wanted to come for an extended visit when he had a break in his responsibilities? I'd be fine with that - especially if there are grandkids involved :) As homeschoolers, we are already a very different family unit than the one I had growing up. I do encourage my kids to be independent, but they have a great deal of input on family rules, routines, schedules, vacations, and academics. They have chores as well as responsibilities. I am uncomfortable staying with my parents for too long because they are very set in their ways, and I usually end up feeling like I'm intruding. I don't wish that for when my older kids visit or stay.

Oy. I quoted the wrong thing. Anyway - we made a separate account with only a couple of programs accessible, and only the websites we specified. He didn't have access to anything else that way, until we allowed it.

This is what we did, and it worked very well.

I was just in a car accident. I took the other guy's insurance information, but I only called *my* insurance company. Later, the other guy's insurance company called me to get my statement. It may well speed up the process if you call them yourself. If your husband were in a car, they'd reimburse for repairs - so it seems right and fair to me that they should reimburse for the bike, etc. If you have not already, take pictures of the bike and anything that was damaged, and any of your husband's visible injuries (scratches, etc.) if any. The police cited the driver, so the driver's insurance company will have to accept liability.

I am wrestling with this right now. My oldest is well versed in history. For his junior year, he has requested to do a year of American history. Because he knows history so well, I am willing to follow his interest. If we were not moving, we'd do a wonderful American History class with our current co-op. But we are moving. We could do it at home, but he's used to talking through ideas with other people now. So we are considering PA HS APUSH. I don't want to do this class if it is focused only on the AP test. I don't want to do it if it emphasizes memorization and trivia. My son is hoping for a challenging class with some real depth. I think we'll end up doing AP classes where they suit our program, but otherwise, not. I don't plan to sweat that much.

Oh, yes - if you're at Lone Pine, you've got a great teacher :) I'm sweating it because my Latin III student has ME for a teacher :P

We're taking it at our co-op this Friday. For some reason, I'm really sweating it this year. I've got one taking the Latin I exam, and one doing Latin III.