Make that 'visiting Nashville.'

We're going to a volleyball tourney south of Nashville, and I wanted to add on an extra day. I'd like to see the Parthenon, Vanderbilt (I'm ok w/just driving through), and the science museum if possible. Is there something else I should try to see. I'm also trying to decide whether to stay downtown or a little further out. We're staying over from Sun. to Mon. and I'm wondering whether parking is free/difficult in this area. Also, I'd like to know if there's a late Sunday Mass in the area.Thank Thanks, Laura

I just have my dc watch the dvds and do one of the later worksheets. If it's something I'm pretty sure they get, I don't even have them do a worksheet. I do skip some of the stuff like the long division b/c I don't like the way they do it either. I do like for them to use manipulatives b/c I think it helps them cement the concepts in their brains. I use other math curricula alongside MUS.

Nuke's wife: Are you using PH's Physical Science Concepts in Action (Kolbe)? If so, I don't remember any religious content in the TM. Laura

Look into Lukeion's class as well. But do it quickly as it fills up. My dd did it last year when she was 11/12.

I agree about the content for younger kids. My dd was in a teen reading group when she was 11. One of the books was the Canterbury Tales. She learned about the rape of the Wife of Bath. Didn't want to have that discussion off the cuff at that age. If you have enough teens, I'd limit it to teens only. I'd decide if you want contemporary, classic, etc first and go from there. Laura

I, too, am a paid writer (non-fiction) who had terrible training in grammar. I can see a world of difference in my writing since studying grammar w/my kids. It helps to know the parts of speech when teaching our kids, e.g., you can't say "between you and I" because you need an objective pronoun. I also realize now why I had a hard time studying foreign languages. The teacher would say something like predicate nominative, and I had no idea what it meant in English and therefore couldn't understand what that meant in French. (I can't remember if predicate nominative is even part of French, but hopefully you still see my point). Laura

My dd did Lukeion's Wheelock's 1b in 6th grade. She had started the first part of Latin w/a tutor. She's now in Latin 2 w/a tutor. She did AG in 6th grade and that probably helped a lot. I think if I had to teach it, I would go w/Wheelock's b/c the layout makes so much more sense to me. Lucky for dd, though, that I don't have to teach it. Laura

My son went to a fairly demanding high school this year with loads of homework. I tried to prepare him, but not sure how much it helped. I tried to get him to take notes from the TC's How To Be a Super Star Student. He has adapted pretty well (he went to a parochial school through 3d grade). I still help him a lot with time management and organization issues. For example, I have him outline his history chapter over the weekend when he has more time even though it takes about two weeks to get through a chapter. I also showed him how to organize all of his school work. Don't worry, you'll still have time to teach him this stuff, and it's easier (at least they're more amenable) when it's in context. Football about killed us however. Took up way too many hours. Laura

We use several different math curricula, and the only two my dd doesn't moan about are MUS and LOF. Maybe together they would be a complete curriculum. I also use Saxon and MM for safety nets. I do Saxon with her orally (we're on 6/5 and can still do that at this point), so I fly threw 3 lessons at a time focusing on what I know she needs practice on. MM makes her think and that's one of the reasons she doesn't like it. Laura

I agree. But then there's the judge in the CATO article and where we are school levies every 3 years. Laura

I, too, think this need should be addressed. It sounds like you are making progress, and he might just have to be patient. I think it's even more difficult for a teen. My kids both volunteer at the science museum, and while it gets them out of the house, it doesn't necessarily equate to conjuring up friends. Same with karate. Does this mean there aren't any homeschool groups in your area? Does the science museum have hs classes? Any other organizations? Just as an aside, I didn't find being a SAHM isolating at all once I found my core group of friends (albeit I did have withdrawal from the work world). In fact, I think it is similar to hs'ing in that your social life can explode b/c you have so many more opportunities to make lots of friends from different walks of life and different areas of interests. However, it is much more difficult to do in a small town. Laura

My high school years were fine. Some really big bumps, but overall, I'm glad I went. I can't imagine being homeschooled at the time. And my adult life never represented high school. I did find that when I went back to my reunions they were very similar to the ones in the article. Most of the folks were very gracioius and had moved beyond high school. Most, but not all. And it's interesting how FB has reconnected me with so many of those folks from high school. And even more interesting is how their high school personalities are still pretty much intact today. My ds is in an all boys high school. I worry that my dds will miss being a part of that 'quintessential American experience." Of course I don't want them to experience all the ugliness. Laura

Mine only got tenacious and gist and caricature. So much for Latin.

I wouldn't dismiss the judge too quickly as a whack job. Yesterday's whack job can turn into tomorrow's prophet. BTW, I'd never heard the KC school story. Thanks for the Cato article. I also discovered that the Russian fencing coach mentioned in the article was my kid's fencing coach last year. Laura

Haven't done this yet, but what about Patty Paper Geometry?

Crud. I just spent $26 + shipping a couple of weeks ago, AND just got it this week.

Susan, for years we didn't have a schedule. I'm just starting to consistenly implement one. In years past, I'd start one then get too busy to consistently implement it. However, we managed to get schoolwork done and my kids have advanced fairly well. I let my dd13 sleep in til at least 10, but then make her day go longer. In years past, I'd often not enforce the work later in the day. Now I do. If she wants to sleep in, she pays the price of doing work until 9 pm if necessary. She's out 3x/week for volleyball, so she knows she won't go if it doesn't get done. Plus, we're active w/several groups, which cuts into our 'school' time. Here's a typical week: 10-start off w/an educational dvd--right now we're touring Greece through one of the TC dvds 10:30- Alg. 1, w/Khan videos 11:30 Latin II w.Lukeion 1-Apologia Gen. Science, Story of Science 2-FMG/KFH/Mapping World w/Art 2:30 CEII 3 Writing Reading in the evenings and anything she didn't get done during the day. Wednesdays she has swim and art and Fridays we do history hands on projects w/our co-op or go to gym. At some point we'll pick up grammar again as she finished AG. Right now we work through it with her writing. Laura

I have three areas for my homeschooling material. 1. Long term storage in the basement on bookshelves and in drawers for stuff that I won't use this year. 2. In our school room, I have 3 bookshelves for stuff that I might possibly use this year. 3. Workboxes for stuff we are currently using. At the end of the day the kids put their stuff back into the workboxes and we just move on the next day. Extras like timeline books, extra math books, reference items go on the shelves in our school room shelves. Stuff I know is highly unlikely to be use (eg medieval history resources when we're studying ancients), goes downstairs. I also have one of those multi drawer carts where I keep our school supplies like tape, rulers, flashcards, etc. Not fancy, but it's taken me way too long to get to this system. Laura

We go to the Cincinnati convention every year. I get the feeling that quite a few speakers put in at least one obligatory nod to the Christians who attend. Often, after that nod, the speakers move on to their secular topics. There are a good deal of Christian focused speakers as well, but lots of secular speakers also. Unfortunately SWB and the Brave Writer woman (Julie??) will not be there this year. I've gone to Art Reed's sessions, and I don't think he ever mentions anything religious, and Runkle, where she does. Other secular speakers whom I've heard are Zacarro and some G&T speakers. Others, like Pudewa and Weiss do touch on religion, but not excessively, esp. Weiss. Laura

You can also use the Sheppard's free online games. Sometimes, I give my kids something like an educational game to do at the end of their school day, and they run with it for an hour or so. My dd saves her McHenry program for night time. She just finished Italy in about 20 minutes and said, "that's where Venice is." Laura

We're just starting McHenry's Mapping and are realy enjoying it. I don't think it has to be an either/or. You can easily and quickly include geography into your history lesson. I know it would have helped me immensely in my history studies to have a good geography background. It also helps tremendously with understanding our world. Or you could use two separate programs and devote one hour/week to geography. You can cover a lot of geography in 36 hours. Laura

I started homeschooling ds after 3d grade at a Catholic school because the homework load was too much for him. DD spent about 6 weeks in 2d grade and decided she wanted to join ds b/c we were having so much fun. Ds decided (with very mixed feelings) to go to a rigorous Catholic high school as a freshman. It's ironic b/c he rarely has free time b/c he has so much homework. But it's where he wants to be. I had mixed feelings when he went, but see the enormous growth in him as far as his responisbility and work ethic go. DD13 is still homeschooled in 7th grade and would prefer to be hs'ed through high school, but b/c of the sport she loves (volleyball), she should really go to high school. We have the part time option, and that's what we'll probably do for her. DD9 has always been homeschooled and is a tad bit curious about school--not enough to want to go though. I wish I could give her the recess/school bus experience and be done w/her curiousity--park play dates just aren't the same. Like a pp mentioned, for me the biggest drawback is the commute and the commitment to a school schedule. I hate when my alarm goes off at 6:20 to get my ds up and ready for school. And then I have to stop what I'm doing to pick him up. And of course fall vacations, etc., are a thing of the past. Laura

I have mixed feelings about CC. I have come to appreciate memory work and agree with pp that seeing it in younger kids the first time around seemed a bit robotic. I appreciated it with my olders more. I did it for 2 years, then 1 year at home, in it again this year with just my youngest, and will possibly do it again at home next year. It would be much harder to start at home than to go one year and do it at home. It really helps to get a feel for it in a community. Likes: 1) we've met some fabulous people there, 2) I can see the results of the memory work in my older students, esp. in Latin, math and science. It really helps to know the declensions by heart when you hit higher levels of Latin, 3) science and art gets done every week regardless. Dislikes 1) it's a lot more time consuming to go to a CC community than to do it at home. We're out of the house a lot, so this extra time means a lot to me. 2) I don't like all the extra jobs that are an essential part of the community. When I had 3 kids in, I was paying more than a $1k and had to volunteer in the nursery, clean the bathrooms, vacuum, etc. This is often location specific, but it seemed after paying all that $$ I should have someone home cleaning my house ;). Also, it's seems like a time suck to have to sit there in the classroom with your student. I get the reason, but still. 3) some of the material has no rhyme or reason. It's also hard to form your school around the material b/c you move so fast. One week you're in Africa, the next Asia. HTH, Laura

My dd is doing Gen Science this year in 7th grade. it is slow moving,but it's fine for her. She does it mostly on her own. i do help her gather up her supplies for experiments. Her younger sister does the experiments with her and has to write a lab report and draw a picture. There are lesson plans for GS, including Donna Young's. I think we're using one that has 'common core' in the title. DS did Rainbow. GS would have been way too wordy for him. Rainbow was completely independent. Laura