I'm not creative. Yesterday was our first day. We went out to get donuts for breakfast, took first-day-of-school pictures, and filled out our first-day-of-school questionnaire (height, weight, interests, future career, etc.). Then we got to work. :-) It was a light day though. I was more focused on getting back into our routine than getting work done.

I did something similar the year before last and it worked nicely. At that time M was just 6 and a good reader, so I even made school optional. It was on her list though. So if school work didn't happen, at least she wasn't staring at a screen.

Besides a little Khan Academy and Duolingo, my kids have to earn their screen time. We only just started this a couple of weeks ago, but it's been going really well. We had been having a horrible time on outings/errands. My son especially - his behavior was horrific. So now for every place we go to, including family events, my kids have a chance to earn a rock (they have a rock jar, similar to marble jars). They have to be well-behaved the whole outing. And we don't talk about whether they've earned or lost their rock during the outing. When we get back to the house, they find out if they earned a rock. Each rock is worth one hour of screen time. They can use it whenever they want - as long as they don't have something else they're supposed to be doing at the time (schoolwork/chores). So far M has about a 75% success rate and j has about a 50% success rate. It's really helped though. Yes some days they end up getting 2-3 hours of screen time. But they've worked hard for it. And then there are 2-4 days in a row when we don't go anywhere. So I encourage them to save their rocks.

clock fraction tiles counters dice c-rods number line place value blocks (like a cube for the one, a stick for a ten, and a flat block for hundred...) ruler flashcards Wrap-ups toothpicks and rubberbands to make groups of tens/hundreds

I haven't read all of the replies. We use a homeschool charter and love it. However, it sounds less restrictive than the one you're considering. We have to meet with our Educational Coordinator every two months. We turn in a couple of samples from each subject: math, ELA, science, history, art. So far they've been super relaxed about what we turn in. I've even gone a couple of times without really turning much in for science and history. We mostly just read good books and have great discussions for those subjects. So unless I find a fun little project for us to do, I just turn in a reading list. That's been accepted so far. I also turn in some Math Mammoth worksheets and a piece of writing plus some copywork. They have curriculum for us to use, but I chose to find our own. They're fine with that. ETA: We have to do testing (actually I think we can opt out, but it's a huge deal), but I have no problem with that. We also have to turn in attendance sheets, but they told us any day we do anything educational counts. So my kids have perfect attendance. What does the homeschool charter do for us? We have the option of taking some fun science/STEM/art classes. We usually do those. We also have the option to take math and ELA with them, but I said no. Also, my kindergartner gets to take a fun weekly kindergarten class. They give us $200 a year to use for extracurriculars (gymnastics, karate, art classes, etc.). I sometimes get the feeling that my E.C. lets us get away with more than he should? But I'm not sure. My kids are somewhat advanced and seem to be doing well. Our family just loves to learn new things and have a lot of discussions about those things, and I think that's apparent to the E.C. Anyway, we love our homeschool charter! Because I have so much freedom, I don't feel like it's public school at home at all (although I know that technically we are; I don't care about that). But if we had less freedom, I'm not sure if I'd go for it.

No help, but sympathy. I had it really bad during the second half of my pregnancy with j. It didn't matter how little I ate, I got it so easily. It made me miserable too! I tried baking soda in water and apple cider vinegar in water. Neither helped much. And I get restless legs so often even now. Not fun.

I read aloud for at least 30 minutes after I'm done eating lunch (the kids are usually still eating for a bit - they're slow eaters). I read SotW, picture books, a chapter from our current novel, and something from the What Your _____ Needsto Know series. My plan this year is to read some things on Tuesdays & Thursday's and others on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We'll see how it goes.

Treasured Conversations for my third grader. Simple copy work with talk of nouns and verbs for my Ker.

We use McDougal Littell Spelling books from the 80s. These are the same ones I used in elementary school. I liked them a lot, and M doesn't seem to mind doing them.

Three weeks

We are starting the next Monday (Aug. 10th). I was working on the kids' school boxes yesterday, and when they saw me they both started begging me to start early. Ha! I love the enthusiasm, but I'm not ready. And, I know that excitement might only last a couple of weeks. ;-)

The second half of this last school year, when j was reading at about a first grade level, I started requiring five minutes of independent reading every school day. Most days this was something he wanted to do anyway. On those days he didn't want to, I didn't feel bad still requiring it because it was only five minutes. We're starting this new school year in two weeks. He'll only be in K officially, but he's reading well. I'm going to require 10 minutes a day. M also started reading at an early age. I never thought to require independent reading until she was older. She's always loved reading SO much! But I did require 20 minutes last year (2nd grade) and will require 30 minutes this year (3rd). It's one of her favorite parts of the day, even if I am telling her which book to read.

I had two. They were removed about three years ago.

Yes, I have a daughter that loves creating things! We go through so. much. construction paper and tape it's crazy! Thankfully, I can get the paper free during the school year.

Ticonderoga pencils Pink erasers Pencil grips Bic paper-mate (is that the name?) blue pens Crayola crayons Crayons colored pencils Crayola thin and thick washable markers Post its and sticky bookmark tabs Black medium and fine tip Sharpies Various colored fine tip dry erase markers Small $1 section at Target white boards Various colored highlighters Staples Printer paper and ink Glue sticks and liquid Elmer's glue a couple of composition books a couple of folders for the kids' loose papers in their school boxes manila file folders We can get construction paper, index cards, and lined paper for free from our charter school. I keep coming back to add stuff as I remember it. :-)

Love the way you put this!

I encouraged my kids love of Beverly Cleary because I loved her books so much. When each of my kids turned 4/5, I started reading aloud the Ramona series. Now I'm reading the Henry Huggins series to j, and M is reading them to herself. I LOVE Beverly Cleary. I even read her autobiography (biography? I don't remember now) as a kid. Socks is a good book too!

Said so well! Totally agree!

Love: it's located in the center of the house; I have a pantry hate: counter tops. The grout always looks nasty unless I've cleaned it with a toothbrush and bleach in the last 24 hours.

I never finished a degree. I've never had the same job for more than a couple of years. I've been completely out of the workforce for eight years now. I have no idea what I'd do. We have life insurance, but I wouldn't be okay forever. (ETA: and if we're just talking about a disabled/unemployed dh, we'd be in even bigger trouble. Although dh has some skills that, depending on the disability, he could use to work from home. And that along with my meager income might get us by.) My inlaws have money, and I know they'd be more than willing to help, but I wouldn't like it at all. I really enjoyed working as an aide to children with autism. I could probably do that again, but I wouldn't be making enough because I don't have a degree. I want to work for myself. I really don't like having to answer to anyone. I'm very good at it, but it sucks the life out of me. Being a homeschooling mom is awesome because I get to make so many of my own decisions. My dream job would be to be a photographer, but I'm not nearly skilled enough. I just want to take pretty pictures and sell them... :-) I know how realistic that is!

We've been using Math Mammoth for 2 1/2 years now. I love it. I bought the PDFs. We've done it on the iPad and printed it out.

Exercise Call my grandparents Read to my kids Work on nonprofit stuff Finish reading dh's script Buy a new printer (finally!) Get back to planning for new school year Clean bathrooms well, 1/2 anyway Play a game with the kids Make dinner

Me too.

Mmmmm...dried mango... Now I need to go to the store. Thanks! I will also have a third grader this coming year. I don't know why, but I'm not worried about it. Maybe I should be! :-)

wow, thanks!!