"late" is just in regards to the legal age at which a child begins Public School K.. With his birthday I can pick which grade he would be in as per the state. So whether homeschooled or PSed I would still have to decide when he stared K... either this past year... or this next year. Either one is perfectly normal and legal. I have an education background and lots of parents chat with me about where their kids are... and in our PS area there's a growing trend toward starting late birthday boys a year later than technically the school will take them initially. The law is usually stated that a kid can begin "no earlier than"... but not "no later than"... and that kids need to start "by the age of 6"... SO when that 6th birthday falls in between school years it's a grey area, and up to the parent's discretion when the child starts... I know his personality pretty well and am pretty sure I understand who he is now... and much of his personality and maturity is just who he is... which I adore and respect... and I believe will remain the same till he's 99... but he is the kind that could use more time, rather than less time, to move into new areas of life (whether academic, independent, or whatever) I was planning on "formal education" beginning in January every year... but have some posibilities beginning around 2nd grade that would require us to be on a more "traditional" academic calender... So that's why I'm trying to decide now, rather than the year before 2nd grade... which year to put him in, in terms of reporting, and records.

Thank you all! This is helping a lot... :)

My family used to be in the bookstore biz so I completely get why it's not on there... that being said... I wish it were on audible. I can access it through my phone... and that's what we use for car trips/audio books for the most part. I wish there was a way to just charge more for it on audible (and itunes... but that won't work on my ancient computer so I wouldn't know much about it)... I keep hoping it will get on there because I have limited technology... and the only way for me to listen to audiobooks in the car is through audible...

So I have a K-er... sort of. Originally I planned on doing 1 1/2 years of K... so that he'd "school" Jan through Dec... I realize with homeschooling it's slightly unnecessary to even stick to something but I find that we need a school year to schedule ourselves into... We have a lot on our plate most of the time and I like being able to roughly schedule curriculum, and make sure that the extras get done. I'm kindof a cross between Charlotte Mason/Classical/Unschooler, with waldorf tendencies... so to me 1st is very different from K... and I think he might need 1 more year of K... He has a very late summer birthday. So He'll turn six late this summer... and I'm really thinking of calling this next year K also.. He is WHIP smart... but needs maturing time. I figure we can always proceed through material quicker when he's older... and with his personality I think it would be better for him to "graduate" slightly late, rather than slightly early anyhoo.... Just feeling a bit insecure and thought there might be some thoughts in here? Thanks!

I meant kinda like Calvert or K12... but I hadn't heard of the other. Thanks! That sounds interesting.

and if possible affordable? It's not for me... but I'm investigating for someone else. I have never really looked into any for myself so I'm not positive what the options are. Thanks! :)

I LOVE this thread! I read The Artist's Way when I was a science major at college taking all art and creative writing classes (against my advisor's advice) It totally changed my life. The War of Art is freakin' amazing. I wanted to pop in again because I've been working super hard on some business, creative, and farm pursuits lately. I've realized something about how it works for ME... Just thought it might help others. SO I have a farm... a husband who works 7 days a week, 2 kids 5 and under and I homeschool... frankly if we're wearing clean clothes and have full bellies I should be happy with that... but I'm not - of course - cause I have high standards and high aspirations, and high creative needs... SOOOOO - I've figured out how to actually feel complete in my own pursuits (and actually get some stuff done) AND feel like I'm devoting myself to my kiddos and the farm... I rotate. I ROTATE! WHY DIDN'T I figure this out earlier. For a week or two I'll devote every minute I have free to homeschool prep... for a week or two I'll devote it to my writing... for a week or two I'll devote it to the farm or business.. It's not regulated... I have my "morning time" which is non-negotiable... Coffee... silence... some kind of religious or inspiring reading... and then our family afternoon walk. Those are support times for my (and our) emotional health... but except for that all other space I have in a day (and in my mind) is focused on ONE pursuit at a time... When I peter out and feel my focus thinning... I take a break and focus on something else. Within 1 day it's impossible to do everything... but within a year? I think it might. :) ETA... Oh... and I've realized it's okay to say NOOOOO to stuff... NOOOO to extra gymnastics classes... NOOOO to weekly obligations... NOOOO to fresh food (for a day)... seriously.. I don't know why I was so opposed to a good frozen pizza every once in a while... :) ETA... I do Charlotte Mason also... I think with this method there's the possibility of simplicity - which can WORK with a creativity honoring lifestyle... but I also think that the open-ended exploration of it make it very possible for the teacher/parent to overthink, overplan, and be overly critical... It's less 'definted' than a set curriculum or workbook style curriculum is... which is a positive once you have your confidence and relax... but can feel stressful until you build up that ease and confidence... at least in my own experience. :)

That makes me so happy I can't even tell you.. I needed to reread it this morning too. So thank YOU! :)

The Carrot Seed!!!! Global Babies!!!! Jamberry!!! those three are my favorites... They are the ones that have stood the "read 80 times" test for both kiddos and me... :)

Thank you! Quiet isn't really a problem.... she mostly lives alone... internet and computer might need to be upgraded though... These answers have helped a lot. Thank you so much!

I looked for this last year... I ended up putting my own together from several great resources with individual printables... I think if you're picky about it and want to customize it putting it together yourself is the best option. You can either buy or find different sets of printables (homeschool, family, calendar, home, budget, etc...) and put them in a binder how you like them. That said... I'm trying to focus on putting together some business stuff this year and was DESPERATE to find a planner that would help force me to focus and plan... one book... everything in the same place. I finally ordered a pricey Plum Paper Family planner with some extra pages. I haven't received it yet so I can't review for you. I seriously obsessed trying to find the perfect planner for 2 weeks (there's a thread on here somewhere) and this one was the best I could find. There's not much room for homeschool... but my kids are tiny and we're pretty CM inspired so at this age I don't need much room. I have also considered getting the Plum Paper teacher planner in the future and having sort of the two matching planners together. I'm a planner junkie... I also have several pages I've put together and have used in the past. The best fit is always customized and printed at home... but sometimes it's nice to have a pretty spiral bound carry-able book.. ya know?

Thanks! Yeah... I think the scams out way the legit ones... that's why I decided to see if the hive had any input. I know there are legit companies that do work-at-home stuff... but I'm suspicious of anyone I don't know personally. I forgot about Elance. Thanks!

Convergs Alpine Access (Skykes Home) Working Solutions Arise asking for someone else who really needs to find a legit work-from-home company... not full time... but something 2-3 days a week... thanks!! :)

Ok thanks! I have family in a few countries and am just aching to travel earlier than I thought I would... I figured I'd want to wait until they were middle school/high school age... but I just can't... it's just something I need to start thinking about/dreaming about now... I'm also really interested in doing some TESOL/TEFL training and possibly projects/jobs locally... so I was just wondering if anyone had done overseas work with it. Everyone I know ho has done it is college aged... Thanks Amira! I might take you up on that!

Title says it all. Have any of you as adults traveled to do TEFL work... especially since you've had kiddos? I'm just thinking through the possibilities...

I don't think all of it would work... I haven't looked at it in a while. I used to live in a Desert and you might be better off looking for something geared toward that. A lot of publications that are generally about "nature" tend to overlook or not even mention some of the most beautiful and subtle aspects of Desert nature life. If it's age appropriate maybe try the One Small Square desert book?

Oh sorry! I didn't even think of that! :) I ordered Plum Paper Designs Family planner on etsy... with some add ons... I have NEVER forked over that much for a planner before but honestly between ink and printing and the time involved in putting something together I am content with the price. The Family planner has categories you can customize... not huge amount of writing space... but I think it will actually help me focus... Plus frankly I kinda wanted to get an expensive pretty planner to force myself to actually stick with it! I tend to planner-hop. :) ETA: I had seen their regular planner before... but had never looked at the Family one... the customizable tabs on the left are kinda how my brain works with a planner anyhoo.. I didn't use tabs for people... but rather subjects.

Never mind... I think I finally found something that will work through sheer force of search engine determination. :)

I haven't. We don't do screens in our living areas. It sounds really lovely and functional but I need something pen and paper that can go in my purse or on the kitchen counter. Although I should probably look into it in case it could work being printed... I just don't think it would be flexible enough...

I am determined to tackle our lives and orga-fricken-ize them!... after several years of upset and chaos... I have always either used very basic daily planners or made my own. I'm almost always happier with the ones I make myself cause I want them to do everything! BUT... I just don't have time right now. SO... What are the BEST planners for a) home management, including or separately finance b) homeschool c) business (I'm trying to focus on my incredibly pathetic fledgling freelance life and actually turn it into something this year) d) bonus points for anything that's inspiring or doesn't have to be printed in color - as we only have a BW laser. I'm sure this has been talked about tons on here... but I can NOT find a thread that deals with anything but the basic erin condren, or other well known homeschool planners. I'm using a basica weekly calendar for deadlines and a bullet journal right now... but honestly I think I need something that FORCES me to stick to a form for a while... THANK YOU! :)

Mine are tiny... but it is important to me to include histories of people often overlooked by "traditional" histories. My website is broken but if I ever get time to fix it I put together a bunch of elementary aged resources, and some possibilities of older spine like texts... Farrar's suggestions are ones I like and have on there... My plan at this point is to do basically a 5 year, maybe 6 year rotation. I want my kids to have a strong knowledge of the history of their physical place and home... I'm starting out with 1/2 year on "pre-columbus" American History (cause I don't know what else to call it right now)... then 1/2 year on "post-columbus" history... We hope to travel a great deal when they're late middle/high... So if that happens I'm sure entire other historical tangents will take place! :) At some point I'm thinking of doing a year on our town and state history. At this stage I'm starting with the 1 year pre/post american history because I think having a physical connection to a place makes history more tangible... (like standing in a historical person's birth home).. As for placement after this round... it will probably be random quite frankly and will depend on what works for both ages. In general after a bunch of research I have found that most indigenous histories, or other histories usually dismissed or untold from many history texts, can be found in books for adults... it's finding children's resources that are difficult. I find it's a topic that requires a lot of teacher/self education... then with that background and comfort level you can put your own resources together a bit.. I don't know. I'm looking forward to whatever other resources show up in this thread. PS... sorry my linky doesn't work or I can't get you access to the list I do have... hopefully in a few weeks I'll have time to figure it out. :)

OK great! Thank you!

I used to tutor Learning Difference kids going into college... many that I worked with were particularly Kinesthetic, visual, or couldn't sit... I specialized in working on their writing and organization... and often we outlined essays while walking outside... that kind of thing. I'd say Rightstart also... in terms of picking ONE program to go with. It's what I use with my kiddos and love it. My kiddos are really young, so I don't know much about later programs...

I have absolutely nothing to add except thank you... this is exactly what I've been figuring out this weekend...

So I want to use BFSU as my experiment train track so to speak... later... We do nature walks, and mostly right now are exploring. My kid is very into science books and jumps around a bit. But I really want to have more of a tack to follow. I was planning on just being better at actually DOING the mudpies to magnets experiments. But it's ALWAYS what doesn't get done. By me... not by him. I have a really full plate right now due to a number of things and it is just not going to happen right now. I feel comfortable with our level of self-directed reading and exploring... but I really think he would love more activities and experiments. What about TOPS lentil science? What is the prep time? Is it mapped out pretty well? Has this worked for people with a K-1st er (and a 3yo wanting to "help")?