It sounds as if Rod and Staff 5 might be a better choice. It covers grammar and basic punctuation thoroughly. It also provides a very basic writing instruction. We do most of the R&S exercises aloud. You could skip diagramming at this time knowing you will be hitting it hard with AG next year. When we started homeschooling this is what I did for my oldest and it was a great choice. She benefited from the overview in R&S. Some of the things I considered basic, like capitalization and punctuation, improved quickly. Moving to AG gave her a really solid understanding of grammar.

Dd packed two medium sized boxes last night. I'm guessing there is another box to go. She may need to prioritize once she gets there. That won't be a problem because we are taking her to help her move in so the overflow can be carted home. The next 48 hours are going to fly by.

Spent time today helping dd pack her clothes. There isn't much left to do. The last purchases should be delivered Tuesday. Thursday is moving day.

Thank you all for your encouragement. I am hopeful, based on your experiences, that I will be able to help my dd find a path through high school that we can both enjoy.

Encouraging, supporting, setting goals, etc. haven't worked either. The thought was she would only gets good stuff after she completes the required stuff. She doesn't care enough about the good stuff to complete the required stuff. Why did she request a counselor? The counselor is for an issue that is hers not mine so I really can't share that information. Does she want more social opportunities than two classes? She has been given the option of going to public school, private school, community college, etc. She's declined all. She enjoys the social time she has but doesn't seek any other. Does she have friends? Yes, a small group and severAl individuals. What happens if you sit at the kitchen table with her while she works, sharing mugs of coffee and interacting, on a daily basis? She is happy to share the time and interact. When work is required none gets done. Usually she claims she can't work because there is too much noise, she's uncomfortable, etc Regenerative, I think I answered most of your questions above. I feel so stupid to ask, but I really am at a loss. How do you keep a student on task who simply refuses. What then? I'm off to look up tomato staking. Thanks so much for the encouragement. I will think about how we could reorganize our time. How did you get your dd to understand the need to keep plugging along? Yes, she does know what she needs to complete to graduate. I think the idea of graduating is not real to her yet. Great idea about garthering the brochures. She is interested in going into the military.

Dd says she wants to be a writer. She writes but rarely shares. She shows no interest in increasing her skill or interacting about her writing. I agree the motivation needs to come from her. Here lies the rub. How do you motivate someone to be motivated?

Great questions! Thanks for the help. The work is for me. Once a week she participates in a speech class and a co-op. Those are her only regular social activities. She's off task. The only class that required a computer was biology and she'd rather poke needles in her eyes than do that class. The failure here is mine. I started off checking work daily. With the reading required and the lack of output in several of her courses, she exaggerated progress and I believed her. She then made an excellent case for more independence and weekly check ins. In January we realized that wasn't working. I printed out a list of what was required of her to successfully complete the grade level along with a chart for her to track her progress. I continued to check weekly but there was less and less getting done. I feel as if we've taken away everything except her bed and time with family. Nothing seems to inspire or motivate her. ETA: At her request she's seeing a counselor. No medication has been recommended, nor has the counselor given us information that leads us to believe there are other issues requiring our intervention.

Water, black coffee, the occasional beer or wine.

Seriously, last year with my dd15 was a mess. She is a wonderful, terrible child who I am tired of battling. I want joy and purposeful forward motion in her education. Is that too much to ask? Given that she is no where near completing most of the work from last year, and this year is coming on like a locomotive, what do you suggest? She's perfectly capable of the work. She just has this incredible inertia and overwhelming apathy that all my enthusiasm, cajoling, threats and begging have not cracked. I am feeling annoyed and helpless about the situation. Advice, insight, support, and fresh perspective are definitely needed.

We use the code phrase "Did you THINK?" to stop this kind of argument or at least slow down the cycle. For years I had this posted in my kitchen and we referred to it frequently. Filtering what you say by true, helpful, inspirational, necessary, kind requires discipline but the attempt can change habits. http://www.mediawebapps.com/picturelike.php?id=277

Have you done The Thinking Toolbox? We follow those with The Art of Argument.

Good morning! Today's plans just got shuffled. My restful day of listening to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is no more. Water Devotions Breakfast Couch to 5k Errands with dh First Lego League boot camp Dinner? Kenpo Prep for 4H fair booth And please, oh please, get my hair cut

I would definitely go. I have taken several trips without children with my husband and each has had its blessings and challenges. Honestly, the children will probably adjust more easily than you will. They live more in the moment. You will also be blessing your in-laws by helping foster a deeper relationship with your children. That benefits everyone too. Prepare as well as you can. Pray without ceasing. Have a wonderful time building a deeper relationship with your husband. That is of immeasurable value to your children.

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We have chores that are done because we are part of a family. We allow our children to work. There are jobs that can be done for pay if taken on without hassle. Those same jobs can be assigned without pay if the person who contracted for it procrastinates beyond what is reasonable or if negative behavior will be improved by some time to work and think.

I love Explorer's Bible Study courses. SOTW for history.

About 12 hours a week sounds right. I fix breakfast 2 or 3 mornings. Lunch is normally a fix it yourself deal. Dinner is usually from scratch and sometimes includes bread.

Great suggestion. Thanks.

We have lived in two different states. Both charged fees beginning with kindergarten. If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you qualify for fee reduction or waiver.

Several things I've done over the years... Told asking children to put the desired item on their gift list for either birthday or Christmas depending on the time of year. Immediately walked out of store when whining is unacceptable. Refused to take whiny child to stores for several weeks following speedy exit. When grocery shopping with children, each is allowed to select a special snack if they are well behaved. Simply said no, over and over again. Distracted with games and silly talk. Acknowledged the desired item and inject reality...I certainly understand why you want xyz. It seems really cool. Put it on your list.When you have enough money we can talk about buying it.

He has read Robin Hood and Geraldine McCaughrean' s Canterbury Tales. I'm not sure if Le Morte is too old for him. I will check it out. Does anyone have insight on what age is the right age for Le Morte?

We will be reading HOTMW this year. Where can I find SWB' s year 3 list? It may correspond with what I have planned.

My ds(12) is very interested in knights, battles, and the like. He's read all The Redwall series and LOTR. Would you please take a moment to suggest some other medieval fiction he might enjoy?

We enjoyed the Center for Puppetry Arts and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. The zoo was okay. The kids really enjoyed Stone Mountain.

We have a not our first day of school tea party on the first day of public school. On our first day we take first day of school pictures.