I was very tempted by the same (likely) email. I finally googled the local program and found the school it is through. I decided it is essentially like any other public online school-at-home, in it's early stages when they are trying to attract more people. To participate, you do still enroll in a public school. If that is an option you are ok with, then it is likely fine. For me, knowing people who use an online public school and seeing how it is working out for them after a few years.....I pass.

Sigh, only the babies are left.

Are you in the Twin Cities? My previous university has a music academy like that. If they have only one instructor who will teach someone that young, I'd definitely ask if I could observe. If it is similar to the program at my school, I would likely not do the student instructor if I was going for quality (speaking as one who actually WAS a student instructor at one point). They are supervised by the faculty, but are just so so inexperienced. I would probably go for the grad, but again, if it is like my school, that doesn't mean they are grad students, just that they have graduated college (likely with a music degree, but I'm not sure if that is a given or not). The faculty instructors are excellent. If that is who takes young ones (if your little one is interested....if not, I'd wait until around age 7 or 8), I likely would not hesitate, if that is still a better deal than the other prices you are hearing about.

Woo hoo! I just got 5 books for $0 thanks to you all! And I MIGHT even use them. :)

Yes, thank you. That is a good thought. He currently wants to either design Lego sets or make video games (surprise, surprise), so I am not positive how to move forward. I wonder if he could help come up with some short term goals, though. Thanks for the Andrew Pudewa link. I love listening to him.

I appreciate all the encouragement in this thread. It is all good thoughts. I want to respond to this aspect of the conversation, to see if it helps get any more advice..... My boys are VERY independent. They all have lists of what to do each day, their input is taken into consideration when the lists were made, often they get to decide the order in which they do things, etc. They have things they do enjoy regularly scheduled. He is doing the Youth Digital Game Design course, which is validated as school. We do not do the heavily parent oriented levels of HOD. The oldest seems to like the two parent directed things we do on there, but it's about all I can handle doing with him. (He learns MUCH better by reading to himself than my being read to, or even discussing, it seems). It feels like we frequently change our scheduling style, because what worked for a bit always wears off. I have asked them to not voice complaint about school to younger siblings, but it has been a while, so we will have that talk again and make sure there is a consequence for it. I'm pretty sure they just hate school because it's something they "have" to do. Just like they hate brushing their teeth and taking a shower, I guess. Sigh,

My children were heard discussing this morning whether they "hate" school, or just don't like it. Are those the only two choices? Can I help them to love learning? They all do LOVE to read. Basically, they don't like thinking, or having to do anything that's not their choice, or working. I know most of that is normal, but any ideas on how to love the learning, and be okay with doing it? My oldest is 11yo and is using HOD CtC. Teaching Textbooks for math, CLE La (only ten minutes a day). This child complains the most. I think the youngers just learn the attitude from him. 8yo mostly in texts, reads abeka history, r&s social studies, abeka science (doesn't mind those). Complete Book of Animals (doesn't like the writing, but I thought he'd love it), Teaching Textbooks, CLE LA (ten minutes again), Reason for Handwriting (likes it). He doesn't complain about much, mostly CLE and the book of animals. He thinks he is looking forward to doing HOD Preparing....I love it, but I'm concerned. The younger ones don't really hate or dislike school, they just listen to their big brothers. I LOVE HOD, but am starting to wonder if I need to let it go in favor of something more simple, or something, I love CLE too, but wonder if there is something that can teach all the stuff in half the time. Thoughts?

I always peruse the bargain books, and almost always find a good buy there.

Expedition Earth? http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/world-geography

I have a new seven week old, joining our 2yo, 3yo, 6yo, 7yo, 8yo, and 11yo. I agree that those preschoolers are the toughest. Usually we all out stop school for at least those first six weeks or so, but this time we took a different route. When I chose their curric for this year, I had independence in mind. Not necessarily for everything, but for most. So we are using TT and MUS. My third grader is reading abeka for science and history, etc. We had mom-involved stuff going until about six weeks before baby came, and then I worked towards getting them as independent as possible. We made lists, I put away the stuff they NEEDED me for when possible, we practiced them getting through their list, etc. my 6yo is in kindergarten, so I decided it was okay if he was more exempt from this stuff, though he does have a few things he can do without me when he wants to. When baby came, they didn't even take a day off. (I'm not sure why, because they could have, but they didn't need to, I guess). I also worked toward short term meal independence. "This is what's available for breakfast. This is what's available for lunch. 11yo, please help make sure the 2yo gets food" etc. so if I am too tied up with baby, or exhausted, or whatever, they can take care of themselves pretty much if need be. Oh! I don't know if you will have one still napping, but that is the other thing we worked toward, was getting a sibling to put the 2yo down for his nap, and him being okay with it. So now if I am nursing or whatever, that doesn't throw the 2yos whole life off.

We went thought that about a year ago, too. The account we had opened in 1996 and was the "totally free checking" account suddenly had a monthly fee. We ended up closing our account, along with a LOT of other people. We had to wait in line for several hours when we went to close it. We found a local credit union that actually PAYS us 1.5% interest on our checking account! So I'm glad the whole fiasco happened. Meanwhile, after about four months, the bank started advertising totally free, no fee checking again. I guess enough people backed out, and they realized this was not going to be a lucrative move on their part.

It has changed over the years here. I don't remember anything worth remembering with my 11yo down to my 6yo. With my 3yo, the hospital we delivered at gave us nothing, but he was in the Children's Hospital NICU for a week, and he got a handmade baby quilt, and a board book. With my 2yo (same hospital), we were given a little woven basket, another board book, and a sleep slack swaddle. With my 6 week old (at a different hospital in the same system), she got a sleep sack swaddle, a knitted by volunteers hat, and I got a super soft nice bathrobe. Along with all the aforementioned bonus pads and whatnot.

How would you go about teaching if the goal is to get a behind student ready for school in the fall? Fourth grade this year, but the goal has been mastery, not getting to a certain level so far. However, the plan is now to go to school for fifth grade. That choice is not really up for discussion, but how to help her move ahead as quickly as possible is. Here is where we are at... Just finished CLE LA and math 200. Lots of going back to correct errors every day. Capitalization, what is a noun, punctuation issues, etc in LA. Issues with measuring, and issues with borrowing that have not gotten better with months of practice for math (she gets it, but usually doesn't do it right the first time. Upon being told the answers are wrong, the second time through they are usually right). Only brief exposure to multiplication, and no division yet. Reading and then looking to find answers within the text is a huge struggle. Huge. Often the answers are made up. Phonics and spelling are not great either. Out of context, words like pining are read as pinning...but then if the suffixes are being added, the consonant is never doubled properly when spelling. Changing y to I for a suffix is difficult, too, etc. She has never composed more than one paragraph, and has had very little instruction on that sort of thing. We have been doing IEW Bible Heroes, and it is slow going. Thoughts??? Please? Not sure if we keep plugging through CLE, try to do it faster, pitch it and use some other resource for catch up? Not sure what to focus on, which things are most important, etc.

We do not need a referral per insurance (though lots of specialty clinics here require a referral). The university has a Behavioral-Developmental Pediatrics clinic that I can see several things he suffers from on the "things we treat" list. It also has a dr. involved (who is a professor in these things as well) who also works in specialty at the Autism spectrum and neurodevelopmental disorders clinic. Thoughts? Or do I try for a neuropsych?

Thanks so much, everyone. So, I'm all about getting as thorough an evaluation as possible. The last few days with this child have been........um, awful. The autism place, though we are familiar with it and I am satisfied with our older ds diagnoses from there, and they have a very fantastic reputation, I don't feel will be as thorough. The evaluation there is only about 90 minutes,followed by a parent meeting. So, what is the title of the type of person I would go to? I a feeling very desperate.