We don't have a daily schedule. I'm not a morning person so we start when we're ready and are pretty loose with our time. I like to sit down and finish pretty much everything once we've gotten started, which only takes us about 2-3 hrs, but it doesn't always work that way. I have a dawdler with attention issues so he takes 10x as long to do things as he should. My goal is to finish what I had planned for that day - whether it be at 1pm or 8pm. Last night he was reading a book to dh at about 8pm because that's how the schedule worked for that day.

I have several cousins who have been/are being home schooled.

I like the Magic Treehouse books because I think they are educational. Ds7 is currently reading through all the Hardy Boys books that we have. I think it's better to judge each series separately rather than lump everything together.

Mine's up. Science experiments!

:grouphug:

thanks! I hadn't thought of that. The form only gives a grading scale (90-100 A), but doesn't say I have to use numbers so I can go with only letter grades. This helps a lot. thanks!

I'm looking for some advice as to how to fill out this year's mid-year report card for our non-traditional private school. It's basically a blank form, so I choose what subjects to grade. I was planning on grading math, grammar, reading, and spelling. This year we've switched up curriculum and are not doing anything too prepackaged which means no weekly tests like last year's Abeka. For instance, math is Math on the Level. How do I come up with a math grade when he hasn't been doing tests? We've been doing a Total Language Plus study on Pippi Longstocking for grammar/language arts. It doesn't have a test either, just a review unit at the end. So I guess my question is easy...how do you come up with grades if you need them to submit? Thanks!!

I have the same problem, but with my 6.5yr ds. I feel like we're never going to get through the year because I have to go so slow because he's not learning. And he's not learning because he doesn't pay attention.

:lurk5:

:lurk5:

Are you involved in a HS group? What extra activities do your kids participate that provide social interaction for them? I'm considering quitting our HS group. It's not productive for me at all. Other than providing some social interaction with other kids, it's not benefitting our HSing at all. Finding a new group could be challenging because there aren't many options that are close to my house. Right now, we're driving 35-40 mins one way to the group. Plus, with being pregnant, I'm not sure how active I'm going to be able to be. I feel bad for the kids, but I really dread going to any of the meetings and activities and think it does more to stress me out than anything at all. How important is being a part of a HS group?

Thanks! Ds7 has been doing weekly PE at the YMCA this year because our homeschool group participates in it. But I'm thinking about quitting the HS group which would make it awkward to continue going to PE. Basically, the only kids in the PE class are the HS group kids. Plus, I drive about 35 mins each way for a 45 minute PE class. With this pregnancy progresses, I'm just not sure I'm going to be able to keep up with it. I'm high risk for preterm labor so there's a possibility I'll end up on at least partial bed rest. Dh seems like he doesn't want me to quit it though. Ds7 does play soccer and baseball - each lasts about 8 weeks so it's not like he's not involved in sports. Maybe I should be more concerned about the social aspect and the kids missing that. Guess that should be a new thread...

Do your kids participate in a PE class? How important do you think it is?

I'm in. Link in my siggy.

I have some of those feelings quite often. That I'm a miserable failure, that we're screwing our kids up, that they're going to be behind, etc. Dh is supportive of homeschooling, but I think he doubts my ability to get things done. He has voiced concerns about the kids getting behind. Especially this year since we took most of Oct/Nov off due to me being so darn sick. But there are other times, like tonight incidentally, when I feel very confident with our schooling. I look at what we're doing, what they're learning, and IMO most importantly what they're excited about learning. I remind myself that I *am* doing a good job despite the feelings I have at other times. I know ds6 is better off doing one-on-one phonics with me than he would be in a classroom setting or even a smaller reading group setting. I try to focus on the positives and not worry about the rest. It sounds like your kids are doing well. My 6yo has terrible writing habits also. In fact, we're starting Handwriting without Tears because of it. I'm so excited because the books came today! He's behind where my ds7 was at this age, and I know some of it is because I never taught him how to form the letters correctly (I didn't have to with ds7 - it came natural), so we're just going to start fresh and go from here. My ds6 also isn't reading like I wish he was, but I can't beat myself up over it. I'll just work with him on his level until he's ready, taking it a day at a time. I'm sure you're doing a great job and just need some encouragement. :grouphug:

I agree. And I only see huge age gaps as another hindrance to the system.

Smaller gaps wouldn't be a problem, but if the kids are up to a year apart, I could see it creating social and academic challenges that I don't believe a school setting is equipped for. But that may have more to do with it being a school setting rather than age differences. There are a lot of kids here that get shuffled through the grades without having learned what they are supposed to, according to the school's standards.

In Florida, the child must be 5yrs before school starts in Sept to be able to start K. My ds7's birthday is in Feb. I started HSing K when he was 4-1/2yrs, he turned 5 in the middle of his K year. He was very ready and I couldn't see making him wait until he was 5-1/2. Right now he's in 3rd grade and will turn 8 in Feb. His 9yr niece is also in 3rd grade. Her birthday is in Jan and she had to wait to start school since she is not HSed. For ds7, this has worked very nicely. He does great at 3rd grade level work and does well socially also. Yes, he may also be the youngest, but so was I and I managed fine. Ds6 has a June birthday and started K when he was 5. He wasn't ready until then and he's doing fine in 1st grade now. His cousin is also in 1st grade and just turned 7yrs. There's nearly a yr between them, yet they're in the same grade. I can see where this would be difficult for a teacher in a classroom setting. Having huge gaps in the ages of students could prove challenging.

I struggled for about 2 yrs after dd4 with "being done" since my dh was. Finally, I came to terms with it and told him it was time for him to have surgery. He put it off, put it off, and put it off. During that time, I wavered back and forth with hoping I'd get pg and wishing terribly that I wouldn't. Then surprise! I'm 18wks pg with #4. Dh is still not thrilled and I am wishy-washy. This pg has been very difficult, definitely the hardest, for various reasons and I know this will be our last.

thanks!

congratulations!

My dd4 often spends most of the day in her dress-up princess dress. My only rule is she isn't allowed to eat in it because I don't want it getting dirty. :D If we're staying home, all 3 kids pick their own clothes in the morning. They may wear a long sleeve shirt with shorts, but I don't care. They hardly ever match. But they did it themselves. When we go out, I pick clothes and ask them to go change into what I've picked because it's more appropriate, IE either weather-wise, nicer, matches, etc. I never have an issue with them having to change.

I chose other because I got mine in Oct for my 30th birthday. It's the leopard one. My sister got the pink breast cancer one from her dh for Christmas.

I got Monopoly Deal for dh's stocking after it was suggested here. We haven't had a chance to play yet, but maybe tonight.

Sequence Numbers [url=http://www.amazon.com/Out-of-the-Box-6050/dp/B000301PJ2][/url]Snorta - http://www.amazon.com/Out-of-the-Box-6050/dp/B000301PJ2 We played both last night and ds7 loved Sequence. We have the States & Capitals so we knew it would be a hit. Snorta was fun too although hard with our dd4. We played Banagrams at the ILs Saturday night and I thought it was a lot of fun.