Thank you so much for the info! I will check out those 2 organizations. Still in the maybe mode, but if the offer comes I want to have my answers already!

So from CA (easy peasy to register as a private school), how much of a hassle is homeschooling in MA? Specifically the Revere,MA school district. From what I read, it seems some school districts are more difficult that others? I see I need notification to the school district & educational plan including a way to evaluate. How picky are they? Anyone use statement of progress instead of testing? Any help appreciated!

Arthur on PBS might have some episodes that would work. https://arthur.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_morals

Thanks @Where's Toto? Yeah, I am used to some lugging of stuff for weekly 4h project meetings. My main thing would be organizing it all at home when not in use. I will research more into what middle school classes might work. And maybe workshops that the charters would cover.

Thanks both of you for all that info! The case here in CA with the charters is kind of unique in that I would have a curriculum laid out as the classes have to be a-g certified since these are basically public school and they want those classes certified. All the high school courses have to be a-g in the charters so even if I taught math, I would have to pick from the pre-approved curriculum to use basically. I mean I could come up with my own plan and submit it to get a-g approval, but why reinvent the wheel. Like chem I would probably use Holt Modern Chem and the resources that go with it. So age limits, etc. would be pretty strict, just because charters will not pay for the class for kids who can not count the credit. There may be an advanced 8th grader who could take some a-g classes in 8th, but I can put requirements, like must have completed Alg 1 for Chem with a min grade of C. Those like me, who homeschool under the private school affidavit, are not my target audience. I am 99% confident that I can fill my class just from the 5 charters I know of in the area. If someone wanted to come and pay privately, there would have to be the same admission requirements. My plan was to do something similar to what @FuzzyCatz mentioned with kind of reversed classroom: assignments, readings to do on my site and we meet 1x a week for the 20 minutes of explanation, then the bulk would be labs, demos, etc. That is what I did for my Forensics Sci class this year. I had 22 kids and we did 1/2 powerpoints and discussion and 1/2 hands-on and labs. I currently am teaching usually classes of 18-25 right now, so 15 kids sounds lite to me, but I plan to keep it there unless I find I can handle more and there is demand. But the minimum students is an excellent idea. I can rent a place here (as a resident of my city) for $90/3 hours, so I planned to do 2 classes an afternoon, 2x a week. I did not target the younger kid's classes as there are learning centers here for the younger kids and parents here are typically not that interested in classes for that age other than things like horseback riding, art, sports, etc. Plus the pay rate for younger ages is much less..... a weekly 1 hour class is maybe $50/month versus $100/month for high school. I mean I have tons of material, I could easily do a science class for K-3rd. I will have to look into it a bit more. I already have several parents who will give me great reviews (I tutored their kids or the like). But I am not thinking to start this year, just because of my broken foot. I may need surgery in Dec and until then, I am just planning. Checking costs, insurance, etc. The refund policy I need to figure out. @Where's Toto? Thanks for the info, that falls in line with what I had in mind. @Where's Toto? would you say $5K initial cost for Chem and Physics equip is realistic or too low? I will also need to invest in a way to transport as I would not have a permanent location. Are your summer camps and kid's night out popular??? Let me ask anyone reading this, if the high school class some weeks did not have labs, but hands on demos/explanations, like I am thinking manipulative for atomic structure modelling in class (like this maybe), would you be disappointed? Especially Chem and Physics, it would be parts labs and parts explaining and making sure the concepts were grasped.

So It's been a while. I broke my right foot (the metatarsal) 2 months ago. It is still not healing. I may need surgery on it later this year. I really miss driving!! I was elected chair of the STEM Committee of our county 4-H. My oldest is a county Ambassador for 4-H. I am now a club leader for our local 4-H club. And the younger kids still love it. If you remember my previous posts , well things haven't changed much. My oldest is in therapy for depression,it's a lot. But I am still trying to work on a plan. And right now, I have an opportunity to maybe teach classes for homeschoolers. There are charter schools here and my friend who uses one initially asked me to teach her kids science classes. I looked around and apparently there is a need here. The only 2 vendors that teach science classes are in the county over (45+ minutes if no traffic, 1.5-2 hours with traffic). I looked at tutoring before, but the pay per hour was not that great and they wanted certs I don't have. I would much rather do classes of 15. (I figure 4 classes a week, 2 afternoons, with 15 kids per class.) The classes here (due to charter schools footing the bill) charge $800-$1000/year on average for a lab science. I did the math and even renting a place and getting an umbrella insurance policy, it would be good $. Of course, the 1st year would be an outlay for lab supplies, etc. And would require the most time with new curriculum, etc. I thought I recalled someone here doing that? Anyone have experience? Anything you as a homeschooler would look for in classes? Things to be aware of? Since most of my students would be through Charter schools, they are a bit more serious and have someone holding them accountable. I know to have a well spelled out syllabus and expectations for parents and students to sign. Anything else you can suggest?

I had a relative who did this almost 10 years in a row. I would wonder if they would qualify you? With a baby on the way? You might be gone (hospital, busy with newborn). Hosting actually made my relative really busy. There were events to take them to for the exchange students in addition to the regular high school activities. None of her students got driver's licence and public transport was not an option where we lived. Were you hoping the exchange student would help you around the house or with the kids? I found most of her students would clean up after themselves, but were too busy to do anything beyond that. And the agency that placed them were very big on finding families that would go out of their way to provide them with "typical American experiences" , like take them to a sporting event, tour local famous places or parks, etc. We were in the midwest and I know she had a plan and every weekend that they did not have exchange student things to attend, there was a planned outing for the whole family: a baseball game, took them to Branson, took them to an amusement park, took them to some historic sites, etc, etc. And I know the small stipend did not cover all that. I mean my relative would do maybe 1 thing a month with her kids usually, but with the exchange student it was 2-3 times a month.

I have 2 5th graders, 1 7th grader and my 15yo son. I will also be adding my friend's 14 yo freshman and 7th grader. I had planned to use HOLT Modern Chem (2015) with the online component (from Rainbow Resource) and some labs for my 15yo before we discussed doing this coop style. Does MrQ Advanced Chem seem appropriate for High School level? I was going to use that for the 7th graders? and the Elementary Chem for my 5th graders? I know on the High School Board Mr Q Adv Chem is mentioned as High School level, but has anyone used it??? If not Mr Q Chem, any other suggestions? Or use Holt as the spine and allow the others to tag along at their level? That seems easiest right now. My kids have done McHenry's Elements, so it is not all new to them. I could fill in with some teacherspayteachers units for middle school and elementary. Any suggestions for curriculum welcome!

My twins will be in 4th/5th grade next year. Long story, but basically they are old enough for 5th grade if in public school, but I delayed Kg due to speaking skills, etc. And now they are catching up. So, with that being said: Math : Beast Academy online with the books (hope to finish level 4) English: AAS, FLL3, WWE3, Just Write book 2, reading challenge with my lit list History: SOTW finish through book 2 (book 3 in 6th, book 4 in 7th, amer hist 8th) Minecraft Journals like these Cursive workbook Critical Thinking Company Vocab and Logic puzzles Meet the Masters Level 3 Evan Moor Daily Geography Mr Q Chemistry (coop I will teach 1x a week) Outside Classes/Activities: Archery, Drama Class, Painting class, 4-H

I haven't been on in a while, but I check in occasionally, but I had to sign in to respond to this..... <><><><> How could you help? Invite them over/on outings. But understand if they have tight time restrictions (have to be home by x:00) or can't talk or text in the evenings, or don't have access to large amounts of $$ for activities or just listen without judging. <Hugs> to everyone else in this boat.

Hi All, long time no "see" , been busy with 4-H and school, but I thought the hive would have good ideas for our county fundraiser. What would you like to see in a silent auction? DS15 is going to start asking local businesses for donations for auction items. So far ideas are: pizza places, grocery stores, oil change places, car wash, bakeries, spa, maybe pet stores??? I am guessing a lot of places will donate gift certificates. Any other suggestions?? Only no-no items would be lottery or gambling or alcohol related items. Thanks!!

That would have been my next step

Yeah thank you! I archived it!! I had to turn on my laptop... but the kids were busy so no one was online and saw it....

Ahhhh!!! Ok, so what to do.... ummm.... ok, i mean this isn't just stunt undies, this a whole stunt outfit 😋

Ok thanks ladies. That cleared my browsing. Is there anyway to hide the order??? 😲

Thanks to DH traveling and shopping for a present for me online and that stunt panties thread.... I...umm... I now need to clear my history.... i know someone here posted how once.... please quick... i am on my phone so can't search as well. If it matters i am in the amazon app... Now going to hide over here in the corner...😋 All hidden now! No children scared for life! And bonus I'll let you know how amazon's stunt items are in a couple weeks

I've done that in furniture especially or buying something for a kid who is between sizes. But I'll throw in my 2 cents as my parents owned a "mom and pop" shop literally and the shop was very well known in the community for being helpful and the only one of it's kind. We had people from big retailers sending us customers on the side when they went there and the retailer didn't have what they needed. But the items we sold could easily be damaged if not installed/handled properly. We had a large sign that spelled out return policies. Defective items we would repair/replace. But if they just changed their mind, they could return within 14 days in the original packaging, unused. Certain items (very delicate) were no return, but it said that clearly on the tag. If it was a special order, then there was a 20% down payment and no returns/exchanges unless defective. So that would have covered cases like Melissa's with the tile. As far as going in and not buying anything, trust me we expected that. Not every person who walked in bought something. I worked there every summer and after school for 10+ years. Sometimes it was nice just to break up the time and chit chat.

I have a separate email I use for signing up for store mailing lists, etc. I still check it regularly, so I would use that one. Bonus, it does not reveal my name, etc. And my 1st name is so common, they would never find me LOL! I would be concerned with harassment here. My friend was harassed by a person who hit her (yes there were witnesses, and police sided with my friend, but didn't stop the harassment, till lawyer stepped in).

Maybe they should make this required reading in health class...........

I'll be honest, with myself and a couple other people I know, i get frustrated because I wonder if there is some underlying "big" cause for other diagnoses. Like myself. I know I have hypercholestemia (since my 20s), insulin resistance (since I was 5, diagnosed in a hospital), PCOS, anxiety, etc and a slew of other issues. But anytime I ask about diving deeper into why or if something else is going on... I get the "lose weight" answer,that is all. Look, I was skinny at 5yo (have pictures to prove it), so weight had nothing to do with my low blood sugars and high insulin levels...those are what led to the weight gain...DUH! Another person I know has weird digestive issues (actually runs in the family, 1 sibling had surgery for polyps in their 40s), severe anxiety, other mental issues I believe, maybe OCD(which also runs in the family), but about people, not things, and I often wondered if it is all connected.

I would love to have dough frozen that I could pull out and have ready to use. But I have never done it before successfully. I tried one pizza dough recipe, but I must have done something wrong, because it never fluffed up (it was not a thin crust recipe) and was super chewy (and not in a good way) and flat. We love this recipe for Turkish Pide and I have made it fresh and it works well. So at what point in there would you freeze it? After kneading and cutting into portions? Before? If you have a dough recipe that freezes well, please share. I would love a good basic dough.

Thanks all! And now I am having flashbacks!!! Man I loved stirrup pants... and what were we thinking with those jelly shoes... I hated them, but I wore them. So uncomfortable!

Thanks, i will look into it. Thing is, i am the oldest generation at 40. Sad, huh? My parents both died young and were onlies. It is my dad's mom side that the questions/stories are on. She passed before i was born. Is 23andme as accurate as ancestory for ethnicity? Anyone have experience with that?

The Hive is awesome.... now I don't have to stay up all night getting lost in google-land.....

Thank You! Oh man, I forgot Debbie Gibson..... Were the Bangles 80s or 90s????