One word.... puberty...

I think that if they have experienced both options and they both want to be homeschooled, your are willing to do it, and dh supports you then you should. I would sit down with both of them though and tell them that this is it until they reach high school for the older one /middle school for the younger one. Have them try a reporting period in the schools again when they each reach that grade level to ensure they still prefer to homeschool. Some schools to quarterly some in trimesters. So if early on they are not liking it you can pull them if necessary.

Online and Free! Print them off :) http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=stickney&book=aesop&story=_contents

some of the dominos do but they do not have a requirement to hold to the standard of separate ovens etc. so there is the possibility of cross contamination.

Last year was my first year hsing. DD went to a private Montessori School for prek-1st. I transferred her to ps for 2 weeks of 2nd and took her out. I had her placement tested with K12 (we started our experience with K12 Independent and quickly abandoned it.) However, she tested with 100% through K work. Everything else was horrible so she started 2nd grade in 1st grade math. I had her doing 2 lessons per day which was daunting with K12. I switched to Math In Focus, which is just like Singapore math. I used the Singapore math placement test and compared the textbooks by getting the online sampling. She tested into book 1b. So we started there. Over the summer she finished book 2a. Then I had her placement tested through K12 again so I could see the progress she had made. She placed into 3rd grade math. Needless to say we should finish up book 3b by the end of this summer. I like Math in Focus because I think the teachers guides are better then the Singapore math ones. If I were you I would first in place of a math lesson for a few days or a week give them the placement tests for each level of Singapore Math to see what they have retained. That will help you decide where to start from again. Then before starting I would give them the k12 placement tests. K12 is more advanced then ps so it may help you to feel better about where they are at in comparison to ps kids. Now the ones I linked you is the printable one that you have to grade yourself. I had my dd tested through their automated system. The automated one is free(you have to call and request it) but takes forever for the kids to get through because they start with K and have them go through each grade. I like it though because it breaks down each section to show you what they need help in. If you call for placement just pretend you are interested in their curriculum. LOL. We were still paying for our access so that is why I did it that way plus I had the test from the beginning of the year as a baseline to go from. Then I would go back to Singapore Math/Try Math in Focus if you would like the cool instructor guides :). I think they will be fine though. My dd is catching up to where she should be now. We do 1/2 a math lesson a day through summer though and I have her continue reading books that push her reading level over summer/holiday breaks so that she doesn't lose it. Most kids lose 1/2 a grade level of math and 1 reading level or more over summer breaks if they are not feeding them.

I hate to recommend you buy something that you are not 100% sure about but do you have this book. If you do there are How to do it chapters. I would honestly recommend getting the book and reading through it. It is a thick book but if you stick to just the chapters on how to implement and then go back it may serve you well for now. My immediate recommendation is wait to get rid of whatever you have until you have tried this out. Start All of your kids with the Ancients at the same time. Also start them with the same science. I do not recall off the top of my head the order she recommends but it would be either astronomy, life, chem, or physics. That way all your kids are working on the same materials just at different levels. Keep your math if it is working for you. LA is discussed in the book I linked but it is not really a part of the curriculum. You pick all the pieces you want to incorporate. Good Luck! And don't worry last year was my first year hsing. I call it my practice year LOL. That year I spent like 3k finding the right curriculum to suit me and dd and getting into a rhythm where we weren't killing each other.... now it is the best part of our lives! DD went to private school for prek-1 and then 2 weeks of ps. She never wants to go back now lol

My grandmother has celiac and has since I was young. One day I decided to go gluten free to see how the change effected me. Lets just say that after reviewing my medical history and seeing the difference it has made in my life and that of my little sister its not worth waiting on the doctors. I was always very sickly. Although the trigger that made me test my theory was more related to something else the truth is clearly seen in the reversal of my infertility. 8 years ago I had a beautiful little girl. After that I lost 4 pregnancies and subsequently did not get pregnant again until 5 years after the last miscarriage. I am currently 9 months pregnant with dd2 who is due Friday. This occurred 2 years after being completely gluten free. Which is the time frame it takes for your body to reverse the effects of a lifetime of gluten consumption 6 months - 2.5 years I believe is the estimate. My little sister is 12 years younger then me and decided to try it because she literally looked like a balloon that could be popped if you touched her. Within 6 months she lost over 60 lbs and all the swelling was gone. She will be 18 in January. The test they do to determine if you have celiac is a pain anyway. You can do the blood test to find out if it is affecting you. (Celiac can be in remission at various times in your life the only way to fully protect yourself is to be gluten free at all times.) You can do the DNA test to see if you have the gene but then again that does not mean that you are currently affected. The longest one is where they sample a portion of you intestine... again celiac has to currently be affecting you for this to be accurate. So If I were you I would read up on it and decided if it's important enough to you to give up your current eating habits because 1 its not easy and 2 gluten is in more stuff then high fructose corn syrup. If you do it and it works you tell doctors you are allergic to gluten and that you potentially have celiac. I did and they mark my records accordingly. I explained to them the research and rational behind why I feel this way. That I am not willing to eat gluten for three weeks and destroy my body so they can do a test that may or may not be accurate and they have no issue with it. I make sure they never give me anything that contains gluten and I go from there. I wish you all the luck in the world.

We are not this bad off but things are tight and I grew up in a house where that was the norm. And this is the problem I see with SANTA and nobody truly understands unless they have been there. Your post makes me so happy I never taught my dd about Santa and completely fit my reason for not doing so. SANTA is NOT REAL. We have never taught our child about Santa for this exact purpose. Not all kids get equally. That doesn't mean they were bad and it doesn't mean anything other then some parents don't spoil their children. I would sit down with them and tell them that there is no such thing as Santa if they don't already know. It is better then them feeling like they did something wrong all year. Now, I want you to take this into account. Your family will be together. My husband and I have each spent holiday's away from our dd at war and in other military situations. And there are a ton of families/people who are out there alone. There are homeless people and hungry people and dying people. So again In a situation like this you need to look a the positives: you are together! Then I would do this ASAP. http://www.livestrong.com/article/216548-how-to-apply-for-christmas-help-for-low-income-families/ I posted on a different forum how we were saving money this year and someone else responded with she was creating family experiences for gifts this year instead of individual gifts. So why don't you create a family experience: Take a trip to the local library and pick out some family movies and some Christmas stories you can all enjoy together. Use the $25 to make cookies & popcorn and maybe some throw together some type of activity you all can do together that would make the day a memorable one for the good. Go to their favorite park or play in the snow. Do something out of the ordinary. If you are creative you can create gifts or give things you know you dc love that you already have. I made all my Christmas cards this year. I am making clothes for my dd's doll out of her old clothes and using string and my sewing machine that are already in the house. My hubby is making her custom lego minifigures by using templates that are online. I have yarn and art supplies that have been packed up for years that I am going to go through and arrange into a craft set for her. You could go through your house and find everything you can spare. There was a mom on a different forum also who traded all her DVD's into Amazon and used the gift card from the trade in to buy their gifts. Are you any good at writing? You could write and illustrate a book for them on your computer and print it off and paint it. Are they young you could make coloring books by printing pages off the internet and stapling it together.

I get that learning the latin and greek roots of words can be useful... but how much more useful would it be to put your efforts into learning a language that is not dead if you are going to learn one.

Have you looked at Singapore Science for K ? I plan on using this for my next dd and subsequent dc. The 7 day break is fine IMO if you state that you HS in doesn't take issue with it. I would record things like field trips etc on your schedule though so that there is no issue. I keep my dd reading and doing math all summer because kids can loose and entire reading level if it is not maintained. So that is the only thing I would say is if you could some how keep up those two at least for some of the off days. Even if it is in the form of games.

I have had the Kenmore He4t kingsize washer and dryer since January 2005. In the last year it has had to have the tumbler replaced but I have a warranty on all my appliances through our electric company. We also have Whirlpool appliances in our kitchen. Our dishwasher is amazing. I wish I could give the specs of exactly which ones I have but right now they are all in our house in MD that is rented out at the moment. I would not even dare to advise you to get what we have here in this supposedly "luxury apt" because it is anything but. We did purchase a Cabrio washer and dryer for the apartment... I will advise you to stay away from them... While the dryer is great (although it has a steam setting we cannot use because when we hooked up the water supply to it we could not keep it from leaking everywhere) the washer shreds things and doesn't wash as well as my Kenmores. Needless to say I cannot wait to move back home in 2014! Good Luck!

Here in NC the state requires us to have them take a standardized test every year by June 30. We take the CAT in our home mail it back to be graded and then we receive the results. I make a copy of the test results and her attendance record and keep the originals for my records. My dd always tested really well. (we practice test so there is no panic with the spectrum booklets. IMO the Spectrum books are harder then the CAT. We also have the option of choosing which grade level to test our child. I was freaked out at first because when i took dd out of private (Montessori) school she was way behind in math. She started hs for second grade but tested into 1st grade math at the beginning of the year. By May when we took our standardized tests she had only worked two chapters of her 2nd grade math books. She placed in the 97th percentile. So now I am not worried. I would not stress to badly about it. If you have kids with learning disabilities I would find out what type of accommodations are given to them in the public schools so that you can afford those same accommodations to your kids. For example, some kids with ADD have the time constraints removed. I set the timer on our microwave for each section but she actually finished most sections early. Mind you I only had one child and my house is distraction free aside from our dog that barks at everything. This time around I will have a baby and it may/may not be so smooth. When we lived in MD on the other hand they did not require testing but if you wanted to opt into it you just drop you kid off at the school and they take the test then when the school gets the results in they call you and you can pick them up or they will mail them to you. I much preferred this option as it gave me time "off" LOL.

I love the Singapore method not so much the guides. If you are leaning towards Singapore then I would check out Math In Focus. It is awesome. My daughter tests above grade level (she is in 3rd) and is working only in book 2b right now because we started homeschooling last year and had to start with grade one math because she was so behind. I switched to Math in Focus, which is Singapore Math but it is designed for the US, in book 1b. The teachers guides are amazing and the textbooks are almost self-teaching. There are not too many problems that the student gets over whelmed. They also have extra practice books aside from the workbooks that break things down to an even lower level / give a different way to approach the problem if the student is struggling. You can also request a sample of the product which is online access to ALL the books from grades K-8. Math In Focus What I did was request the sample. Then I had dd work from the book on the computer for one chapter to see how it went. She did amazing so I ordered it. But I did order from Rainbow Resources as they have the best prices on the homeschool kits and they have a full K-5 Manipulative kit. (or you can do the current level kit and do the add in each year.) You have several kids who will use it though so If you can I would just get the K-5 kit so you have it all as necessary. I wanted to add that for us one lesson takes 15 min. Then I have her do the Lets Practice questions & maybe the workbook. Sometimes I spread it over the 3 days and sometimes I go by the guide's pacing but she usually works faster then the pacing guide.

The formal testing will also get her the help she needs for free in college... tutors and such from the learning center. It is a pain to get tested once you are in college though. This is a really good suggestion. I am currently in college (college, homeschooling and pregnant is not easy LOL) and there are regular students who if they have an attention issue get the time limits removed from their test and they get to take it in a distraction free room. Wish I had remembered that! Also I wanted to say that your plan looks great! I am really excited for you that she is dedicated to getting her diploma! Best Wishes especially around the holidays!

Just a suggestions I would use: Teaching Textbooks curriculum for the math. They have a placement test too! http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/ I am assuming you do not mind christain based curriculum based on the civics program you are using. So for Science I would use the Apologia Exploring Creation with..... books. They have a way of explaining topics that are hard to understand in a very simple fashion. You could continue with the same brand of History Books if you like.

I do not know what your state requires 100% for graduation only what you mentioned. Also keep in mind I am a stickler and that I would not want my credibility questioned by the state. If D is a passing score in the public school system of your state then I would count it. (Personally, for my DD I would not). In your case if it's okay with the state it's okay with me for the courses she has previously taken thus.... I would say have her do the bolded courses. What's she missing and what should we add? Math – she needs at least Algebra 1 plus Geometry (This would be the easiest IMO) English – can we do a decent OCW and call it a credit? I am not sure what OCW is but based on what she has done/is doing she needs another English Course and should write a couple of various types of papers pertaining to topics that are covered in Science and History Classes and classify it as a Writing Coures/Credit. Science – she needs at least 1 full course after she finishes Biology, if not 2 I recommend 2 as most states require 3 years of Science (1-Bio/Life, 1-Earth&Space/Astronomy/Environmental, & 1 Chemistry/Physics/Physical Science) History – US history & World History (Most states require 1-World, 1-US, and 1 Civics/Govt. Economics IMO would be an elective and not fill the world requirement. Other considerations... If you state requires art/music/gym/technology credits you may want to figure out how to derive these from the courses she is taking... (ie technology using the computer for research, familiarity with computer software using Word and Power Point for assignments/ artist & musician appreciation assignments (listening to music and looking at artworks created by the artists... maybe creating her own versions of them) as they come up in history /gym could be workout dvd's once or twice a week, or if she likes to run or something.) You also mentioned home economics.... She is MARRIED to your son... outside of school if you want to ensure that he is taken care of I would have her cook or help with meal prep, ensure she cleans and is capable of washing clothes. Maybe mending... AND definitely ensure she knows how to be financially savvy make her create a budget off of her earnings at her job. Plan: Algebra I Geometry English Writing About Science&World History Topics: Artists&Musicians Earth Science Physical Science US History World History Sadly depending on how long she takes to do work it looks like she has about 2 years until completion. She could work through the summer.

You sure its not just puberty?

My mom was homeschooing my little sisters when I was in 11th and 12th grade. I begged my mom to HS me and she did. She ordered the curriculum I picked and let me at it. She didn't feel qualified to teach me so I taught myself and took Chemistry with some of my friends who were in a coop at my church. I knew the mom really well that was teaching it so she let me join for the cost of the textbooks I really appreciated it! Now I am homeschooling my dd and my sisters are graduating this year LOL. I did run into issues having a homeschool diploma when I joined the military as they looked at it as on the same level as a ged so I lost out on a $20K bonus for not having a high school diploma. For that reason I would make her go to the local cc if they offer the program Bee mentioned. I know with my dd she will at least take dual credit course at the local cc for high school.

I am not sure as I am new here. But I definitely like newer look. It is exactly the same as Sonlight's Forum so it is much easier to follow. I did have an issue logging in though. Strange...

Hello! Last year was our first year homeschooling. Our curriculum usage was crazy! We did end up doing SOTW up through Egypt at the tail end of the year. However, my dd was in 2nd grade now in 3rd and I wanted her to be on a slightly different schedule then completing her first run through of history in 7th grade. I also hate the library (only because I usually end up, up to my ears in late fees. So for this year I had sold my SOTW and decided to go with SL B+C where world history is consolidated into one year. Then follow it will SL D and SL E the two years of American History. For some reason I really like the distinction between World History vs. American History. In any event, the other day I decided we really missed the stories from SOTW and the Mapwork. I also missed having the ideas for projects and book lists available when my dd wanted to dig further into a topic. So I just reordered the first two books and activity guides to use in conjunction with what we have now. I will order the last two books to use in conjunction with SL 4th and 5th grade cores of American History. She is at the very young age of her grade as she turned 8 in August and then we started 3rd grade in September so I am not too worried. We are unsure right now if we will hs for high school. I want to but I need dh to be on board first. So I was looking at what I would like to do for 6-8/7&8 (as I may still want to do Core F from SL in 6th) I was wondering do you all have your kids read the stories from SOTW again or do you just use the spines recommended in the WTM. I just read through the Logic Stage last night. If you do only use the spines can someone tell me if DK: History of the World also includes American History? Does any one know if the topics covered in SL Core F (Eastern Hemisphere) are covered in the WTM trivium in any of the stages/cycles? I did find a blog online that puts the SL books in order of the WTM. I saved that list and in the process of organizing it to my liking. I am wondering for those of you in the logic stage (now or have been through it) would you purchase the books you want them to read throughout the year and take them to the library when they seek more then what you own or would you only do the library (if cost was of no consequence). In an ideal world I would have my own library and after a year and a half of homeschooling I feel that is what I am working towards and I love literature based curriculum but I feel as though I would like to own the "we need to at LEAST read these books this year." For example, next year we will move right before starting school and in the middle of the year (military). We may get to stay put in our own house after that but we won't know until that second move so I just feel like owning the minimum allows me to move or travel without being like... oh no now what! The reason I am trying to be so thorough at least in deciding on purchase items is because I will use them again with future children (I am due with my second child next Friday and plan on having a few more after this one now that we are able to!) Any thoughts/opinions/suggestions?