Welcome to the place where I come for high-5s, an endless source of info on whatever I'm seeking answers to be it a recipe, curriculum or parenting questions and sometimes just a place to write and expect no answer but just a silent voice of support! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do with your journey in homeschooling!

I LOVE FOSSIL!!!! I saw this purse at the Fossil store in Branson, MO and I wish I could afford to buy it!! My problem is deciding whether to buy purses or boots!

Nakia, I just looked at your photography...you do beautiful work. Is there any way that you could do more with your business to help with your finances? I think you have a talent there! good luck...we never seem to get ahead either and I'm not sure why. We have had help from dh's folks over the years and if we hadn't, I'm not sure what we would do. So, prayers for you and family.

Teresa, that's a great idea! They do work hard but my oldest is a daydreamer and to me, it just seems like it takes FOREVER for math to get done! I think I will give the incentive a try and see if it jumpstarts some speed behind the work.

We are struggling to get the work done that I have scheduled in our day and for the first time in our homeschooling, we are having to do homework. This is really a challenge to my kids as they have never had to do anything in the evenings or weekends. The subjects that we are doing the homework in are Algebra and Science. I keep telling the boys(grades 8th and 9th)that this is typical for ps/private school kids but they just don't think it is fair. Honestly, I am having fun with it either as it is really cutting into our free time activities!

love Keebler! maybe even Barley...I like names that end in ley or ee . They are easy names to yell!

I see the opportunity for some great Christmas gift ideas for family, friends etc.!!! I look B/W photography and if my kids had a talent with the camera, I would have my walls covered! Good job!

okay, so I regrouped English this morning and put the following under it: Vocabulary and Grammar(even though these don't count!), writing and English Lit. Is there a site specifically for homeschoolers that shows examples of how to assign hours/credits? I am one that works well from examples. thanks for both of your posts...it gives me something to start with.

I think what I am trying to ask is there a set credit unit for each particular class? If so, where do I find the credit unit for each class? Do you base it on grade, hours in semester/year or what to determine?

I know this may seem like a silly question but how do you assign a credit unit? I am using the homeschool skedtrack online site this year for my lesson planning for my 8th and 9th grader this year. While working on this, I realized today that I haven't designated a credit unit for each subject. How do you determine this? For example, our subjects are the following: Algebra Logic Bible English: Analytical Grammar Vocabulary Writing P.E. Art/Music Science Geography History thanks for help!

:lol:

in our house, black-eyed peas always go with cornbread, pork chops, mixed greens, and macaroni and tomatoes. We also slice up cucumbers, onions and marinate in vinegar,water and sugar, and a dash of salt/pepper. This is making me hungry! You could even make fried potato cakes with diced onion and celery! HOLY COW! I think I just figured out what's on our table tonight!

:iagree:

My niece just turned 13 and she got an Ipod Touch which is really cool. Her grandmother bought it for her as well as for my son(who turned 15 the same month) and they are having sooo much fun with it. Great for songs, apps.

I am sooo into fall clothing...love the layering, jackets, scarves, hats, and all. I try to find jackets that I can wear many ways. This year I have bought 2 jackets(one from Chico and one from Coldwater Creek) and they are ones that I can dress up or down with jeans/slacks and boots/heels/flats. I also try to buy basic long sleeve tees that I can layer in a variety of colors. I have found ones that I like for a great price at Charlotte Russe in the mall. They also have some great sweaters for layering. I have bought a couple of those long sleeveless wraps that are very slimming and make you look long and lean!(even my 5' tall mil says they do!) Boots are a definite for me...I bought tall flat heeled leather ones last year to wear with skinny jeans and this year I have added some suede ankle booties for a different look. Look at TJ Maxx, Marshall's for great separates, scarves. I find most of my handbags there as well. HAVE FUN!!!

I never really thought of the bullying aspect and him being a likely target!! But, that is a possibility. That is what I think he is worried about as he told me just last week that he thinks that he couldn't cut it in ps. I really really have enjoyed our homeschooling journey but as my boys have gotten older, I realize that somehow being homeschooled has caused them to be afraid of what they don't know about other educational options...how ps/private school is with curriculum and social aspects. For some reason, they both feel somewhat intimidated by it. I know this situation does not have a clear black/white solution---I just simply hurt for my kids as everyone needs a friend Thanks for the kind words.

First, let me explain our situation...I have 2 boys(9th grader-just turned 15 and 8th grader that is 13 1/2). We have moved with my husband's job about every 2-3 years but this move has lasted 4 years. We live in a small town where homeschooling is not popular. We have lived here 4 years and my kids have no friends. We have had a difficult time finding a church and thankfully we have found a small church that we really like. They do have youth( middle school and high school) groups which is what we were wanting. We tried the one large church here in town where there is a HUGE youth group but it is more of a business and social scene than actual church. We tried various other churches in surrounding areas only to finding them lacking in a focus on developing teen participation at church...some just simply didn't have many in those ages ranges. So, thankfully, we happened to find this church which we all enjoy. Now, the problem. The Sunday school classes are broken into middle school(6th-8th) and hs(9th-12th). My oldest son is extremely shy and doesn't like to talk in group settings. In most situations, he and his brother(who is the exact opposite and more outgoing and will talk in a group environment). I mentioned to oldest that he should try going into the hs class since he is in 9th and he told me later that he didn't want to because he isn't a "normal" teenager. I asked him what that meant and he said because he doesn't go to ps, play football and drive yet. He also said he wishes that I wouldn't always mention we homeschool because people look at us funny. You see, my in-laws live in a small community where everyone knows everyone, goes to church together, the schools are small and my nieces are involved in EVERYTHING(beta club, basketball, volleyball, pageants, you name it) and our other friends are on the football team, FHA, and volleyball). They go hang out with other kids and well, it's just the world my kids want to live in and can't. We visit often there and they see it as being a perfect world. Honestly, if we lived there, they would go to the school and be very involved. I am so sad that he doesn't think he is a normal kid who does normal things...he loves country music, fishing, hunting, golf. That's normal to me. My husband says that next year we are probably going to enroll them both in a local Christian school but both boys don't want to lose our freedom and the opportunities we have with homeschooling. I'm torn because I know that by going to school that there would be more things(golf team, clubs) for them but is it worth it? I don't know that I am turning to you ladies for answers just needed to ramble. We have had such a great time homeschooling but sometimes I feel like them...just out of the loop in life. I know how hard 15 can be...you want to feel like you belong somehow to something.

well, I'm afraid my take on a small town is not for the positive...I wish that BEFORE we had moved(with my husband's job I might add) that we had had the opportunity to find out more facts about our "small town." We moved from Lafayette, LA which I loved to a small town in southern IL...a town that is feeling hard times and real estate, business growth, and school system is not good. We moved to be closer to family(both sets of grandparents) and to move to be in a better district at work for my husband. I thought when we moved to a small town that we would find a quaint little town and fit right in...we moved to a town that is full of people that never left and think they are all that plus there is very little acceptance to homeschooling. There is very little activities for our kids to get active in and honestly, I HATE IT! I miss shopping, good bookstores, cultural events, good restaurants. My advice is this...don't assume your small town will be Mayberry as I thought going into this move. I had visions of us staying here until my kids graduateda and knowing everyone and it being just like that Mayberry. NOT SO...we hope to move again before kids graduate hs(they are in 8th and 9th). Find out about the town. Sounds like you have an active homeschool group which is really great. Also, really think about those places, activities that you enjoy in a more urban area and as in our case, ask yourself if you are willing to drive an hour for those activities. I like small town but I want small town to be with 2-25 miles of a metro area with growth and opportunity.

:grouphug: praying for you...so very sorry for your loss.

:iagree:seems more stages or planned what is going to happen each episode. I much prefer documentaries on things like this as I think it is more realistic.

My problem is that I could use my first one when we begin Algebra...the problem with that is that it is only 8 a.m! Maybe I should switch math to an afternoon class and my stress level would go waaayyyyyy down!! I need to check out the chocolate martinis!! I never have tried one but I did try a key lime martini in Houston one time and I loved it!

He earns the money and allows me to stay home with boys. He never says anything about what I pay for my hair...color, cut etc. He encourages me to buy my makeup from Sephora, lingerie from Victoria's Secret and basically whatever I want when it comes to shopping. Mows lawn. Shops for groceries whenever I text him or call him. Brings books home from library or runs any errand when I need him to. Takes us on vacations whenever we can. He is great about most anything. I am a lucky wife and my kids are lucky for he is a great dad as well!

I totally agree with you, Peela! In fact, up until this year, this is how we have viewed our school. We never do homework. Our school schedule is from 8:00-3:00. We take a lunch break and they always go outside for 30 minutes in morning before class and then at lunch for a short bit. We have a life and our family life after school is a priority which is not dictated by schoolwork unlike most ps kids. This year, however, I just feel like we are not keeping the pace and next year, we are considering a local Christian school for them(grades 9th and 10th then) and so I want to make sure that this year, we cover it well. I think that puts pressure on me to make sure they are up to par on everything and honestly, that is taking the fun out of school for us all and makes me a time watcher which I HATE! thanks to all of you for encouragement and sympathy as it appears with these grades that it is a common thing to stay behind!

I guess that is how I am feeling...it is so much busy work and it does take away from us studying a topic that may pop up from another subject. I don't know how we are going to deal with it all as I am sure as time goes on, the math and science are going to get harder and more time-consuming. I want my kids to continue to enjoy learning and it is so discouraging. I wonder how kids in ps handle this load when they don't have an active parent working with them as I am?!?!? I would just like to find some balance to our day.

It was slow at the start but by the end, the boys enjoyed it. They are really wanting to do To Kill a Mockingbird and My Family and Other Animals...they also hate poetry. I am wondering if I should just push thru poetry and stay on track.