She is taking an Algebra course now and will have to at some point take Statistics and Calculus. I am even going thru the Khan Academy too. My second child is advancing faster than my oldest. He does have an advantage. He has used the same program from homeschool Day 1. First child had a different curriculum for awhile. She just took the PSAT and did great in all except Math. Not having taken Algebra 1 last year hurt but now we know. We are in Virginia and I wanted the kids to take the SOLs but they are coming up soon and I didn't get call the schools in time for them to be tested. My husband and I are going to talk to night about it and see what the future holds. What ever we decide we will finish the year now and make changes next year. Our second child really wants to go to middle school. Sadly it's just as poor as the high school. I like where we live just wish the schools were better. Most are not accredited and they have a poor grade or number when you look them up online.

So I totally feel like I am failing my high school freshman. We are using Rod and Staff and are at the first level of 9th/10th book and we both are just lost at the grammar portions. She has been using Rod and Staff since the 5th grade (used First Language Lessons 1-4 first ). We just finished Chapter 3 and it wasn't her best of work and I wasn't too much of help because I had to go back and reread and still was unsure how the answer was. Now she is taking a Writing class that focuses on papers, book comparisons and is getting an A in that class so maybe I should be too worried that she (and I) totally bombed Chapter 3. I have to admit all those letters for everything can be a bit confusing for me. I don't remember all that in high school but my teachers did mark up my papers due to crappy grammar but I still pulled a B in all my Language Arts classes in high school an college years ago. Then comes the math which I did outsource because she does struggle with math and I cannot help with homework. Like today we had a bit of a blow up because neither one of us can get the answer right and I don't know what to do. We have gone online to the site and still cannot figure it out. She says she understood in class but now is all confused. The class meets twice a week and it be another day unitl they meet again so as of right now she isn't completing her math because I am at a loss along with her. Now she does go to the Khan Academy site and that seems to help some. I just feel awful that I cannot seem to help pass Pre Algebra. The rest of the subjects are no big deal. All of those have been going quite well. Biology has been a pain but not something we cannot get thru, just a little extra studying. We will actually go into the summer with that book. I have never planned on homeschooling high school but we gave her the option and after seeing the run down school it seemed like a no brainer on continuing the homeschooling. I just have lost my confidence in teaching high school. I now feel she is at a disadvantage at this stage in the game unlike the younger years. I keep thinking that soon she could attend college for duel enrollment but because we homeschool she don't qualify for free classes at the community college like the public school kids. Temping to just send her to the run down high school just so she can take some college courses for free. On her yearly testing she tests out way above her grade and at level with math. This past year she passed at an adult level on nearly every subject, minus the math which again was at level. I just want the best for her and feel at this time, home is not the best. Oh and don't help that we can no longer afford the co-ops she and her siblings are in. Home life has changed and the money we had for all the activities and classes needs to go towards something else.

I have the very basic student microscope from homesciencetools.com when they were on sale for about $100. It has been used for the first 5 modules of the biology.

It's been nearly 10 years for me. I am not a big fan of all the educational or enrichment co-ops out there. Life was more simple without them and actually next year we are thinking about going back to just staying home and going out once or twice a month. It isn't easy with 3 kids of different ages or interest. We are in two different co-ops and I swear that my kids are missing out on some opportunities because we are in these weekly and twice a week co-ops. It be interesting to see how homeschooling is in another 5 or 10 years.

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My child wishes to become a veterinarian. Any one have kiddos who have gone this route? Which colleges have they gone too? I did suggest that maybe going vet tech first may help, this way she can have a job while going to college. College ROTC and going Army is another route but not preferred. The two colleges for Vet are both days drive from us so living at home isn't going to be an option. Now knowing that we are going to be living in this area for the next decade, I can now seriously start looking at the local options and sharing with my child. thanks in advance for any advice.

I daughter thinks she did good on the test but doesn't like that she has to wait nearly two months for results. Usually she is my patient one.

:( No house for us. We passed on the house.

They have to do the termite and barrier stuff - its in the contract if any was found, it's all on them. Bathroom - not so much. We are waiting for final report to be emailed to us and will know end of the week. I have read mixed reviews about termite. There are two other houses, I'd like to look if this fails. This one is just in a really good location and the other's are close but not as good of spot in same neighborhood. We have a large camper. Scared if this one has termite evidence, would the other homes have it too. Plus we are doing a VA Loan so there are more restrictions with that too.

Termites - there's evidence of termites in basement and around the garage door frame. Active little critters in the backyard enjoying the wooden barrier for the current owner's flowerbeds which is located next to house. Water damage - main bathroom (downstairs) leaking toilet and one of the tub pipes. Been doing that for awhile now, bathroom was remodeled sometime after 2010 but before 2014. Say good-bye or keep it?

It scares me but my (military) husband thinks it's no big deal.

I bought school books today because trying to teach two kids at the same time with one book is NOT easy. Now that they are older I need two and sometimes 3 of a book. I also bought card making supplies - stamps, and paper. I love LOVE that I don't have to drive 30 minutes to the closest book or craft store.

The owner is military too and they bought it in 2010. Just waiting to see if the VA approves is. Housing isn't 100% bad but it's just time to be in a home of our own. We have been searching and searching and this up popped up out of our searching. It's such a nice house and it's older so it's got more character than the newer cookie cutter homes in the area.

Needed an anonymous place vent out my frustrations so I am posting here. Okay so we found a house that we like, it's not our dream house but for right now it's perfect. We gave what I thought a pretty good offer and they liked the price but only want to pay half the closing costs. Trusting my husband, he upped the price and still included paying all closing costs. WHY? Going up a thousand or fifteen hundred isn't going to break us. I just wanted to keep a firm offer since we really are in no rush for a house and there are four more homes in the area. This one is just in the right spot and had room for all our outdoor toys. Oh and its in a great area to rent later on, if need be. The other homes don't have a big enough yard. Plus cheaper homes like this one get snagged up quickly and only the truly over priced ones are still For Sale. I love my husband and wanted to stick to what we offered and wait it out but no, he really wants to get it. I think he is done with military housing like I am. It be nice to only spend $1600 a month for everything (mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilizes) instead of $1900 in rent. We will get an extra $300 month to put in the retirement nest egg or for save up for emergencies. Does seem like every duty station we been to has had some natural disaster. Oh yeah and we are first time home buyers. I personally wished it was as easy as buying a car. We went in with our loan and said this is what we are going to pay for this car. Take it or leave it. They actually took our offer :) I am surprised they did. Why can't I just get a loan and say here is the cashier check for xxx amount? make it so much easer.

I use Apologia science for upper elementary. My now 9th grader us using Apologia Biology this year and will be using their Chemistry next year. I just found out Chemistry 2nd edition is out of print and a 3rd will be coming out next year. I really haven't looked yet but will there be other changed to Biology or General Science. I won't use General Science for another 3 years and after my 9th grader will be done with Biology it be another 4 years before I use it. The same goes for Rod and Staff items. Should I just sell since it's 3 - 4 year between uses?

Thanks for the replies. We are doing the test preps and retesting. I have used the English/Math testing before but we did the all subjects last year and everyone did great so DH said to do it again. We are in Virginia and everything is due August 1 and we wont have the new test back in time. We are out of town until July and won't retest until August. This test will be sent it with my intent. My kids are smart, it's just so upsetting hearing how other kids do great or I read about the 10 year old genius and I am just blahhy. We are on break and enjoying our days and feel better about it all.

Last year all my kids did awesome on their testing and got really high overall scores then this year happened. We used the CAT that had all the subjects. Child 1 over all percentage was 44% and the other child's was 39%. My oldest was 90%. It was a rough year when returning to the states and all that related craziness but shouldn't be an excuse for poor test results. I did the testing like I always did except my child with the lowest score fought about every test and said she had them all wrong. My second poorly done child was confident and didn't complete one test and was surprised at his results. So would this means they have failed their grades if in a public school? Test results are due to the state on the 1st of August and my husband is embarrassed to be sending in these test scores. We are doing 'summer school' with the two kids which don't make them happy. His concern is that they will see these scores and it will frown upon the homeschooling community. My kids did learn while we did have a difficult year. English didn't get finished but they finished everything else and even started the next level of math mid year. I used Bigger and Preparing Hearts for his Glory from Heart of Dakota (same programs I used with the oldest for this grade), Teaching Textbooks and Rod and Staff English. This testing just has made me feel like a complete failure. Yes I know all about the to test or not to test but I have to test because it's what my husband wants them to do. I been doing this for eight years now.

My parent led co-op doesn't but the school like one does. I politely refuse and just pay full cost. Same with scouting, we do not fundraise.

Well I should have posted AFTER I visited the local high school. Let's just say if this is suppose to be the best in this city than I'd hate to see what the other's look like. Liked the teacher but not so much that my teen will attend that school. So still sending the boy to school now keeping the girls home. Since my teen does need some time out to learn, she will attend a more academic co-op (very popular around here) twice a week while her sister will still attend the parent ran co-op once a week. Still at peace with my decision, just a little sad i won't have that extra $$ since I will be paying a high monthly fee for the teen to attend the more academic.

I saw the high school and it's totally icky and the room we were in was smelly. My husband goes in a week to check it out. I am seriously going to look for a part time job that will pay me $500 a month and send my teen to an 'enrichment' co-op just so she can be challenged in some classes.

My kids are 9,10 and 14 and all have their own Kindle Fires. We can travel up to 40 minutes to a place so it's nice to let them watch a movie or show during the trips. The teen uses it as her TV now. We have Netflix and Amazon Prime.

I just packed up what I want to keep into two large totes. Now to sell off a tote load of books to hopefully to a local co-op and the selling FB sites.

We have completed another successful year of homeschooling. My kids tested out in the 80% or higher on their yearly testing. I had planned to homeschool them for the 2014-2015 but all has changed now. We are no longer moving or traveling around and want to enjoy my husband's shore duty. Now one would think that by homeschooling we could do more but that is so untrue. My husband cannot take hardly any leave during this shore duty, he has a demanding school house job so he is stuck to weekend outings. The schools are pretty good once you look past the possible shooting threats. We have had treats on the base and at some of our outings. The same with drugs. We are not all that much safer here or there, guess that is city life. Anyways I am mostly likely going to be the most involved parent in the high school and upper elementary classes. I am okay with that because I will know how my kids are doing and who they know and stuff like that. That last time I put the kids in school I wasn't at peace with it but here I am. I don't know why, I thought I would always homeschool or do the dual enrollment. Plus PS isn't forever like HS isn't forever. If for whatever reason they wish to return home after their one year in the system they can. Guess buying those $$$$ L.L. Bean backbacks were not a waste of money after all. :p

I used HOD up to Preparing and then a year of MFW (ECC) and did SOTW and now Sonlight. I will not be using Sonlight after this year due to really disliking the guides. I like MFW guides the best but do enjoy HOD. I just need a break after using it for so long. I tried other curriculum too but my two all in one are HOD and MFW. HOD has the books so no hunting the library. We move quite a bit and not all libraries are all that great.

Today I am ditching most of my duties in and out of the home and going camping. It is suppose to rain but that is okay. I seriously need to get away from my surroundings which is military housing on a very busy base. So we are all going to get up, have breakfast, the teen is going to do some math while the younger two read and then it's loading up the camping gear and then our clothing which I am washing up right now.