actually, the only thing that sl doesn't deliver from your list is tests. I've held back from commenting because we've only done cores 3 & 4. We will continue with sl for at least the next year, if not much longer. I think the IG can be as much or as little as you make it. At different points in time, I've used every single feature (map, vocab, discussion, research assignments), but I've also just used the schedule. I feel like we get much more out of it when we use it completely, but there are times when we need to focus our energy on other things. I like the flexibility. Have you read their list of reasons to not use sl? I think you can get a pretty good feel for whether or not it will work for you if you read it. There isn't a company out there with a better return policy, so you might just want to try it on for awhile and then make your decision. Hth,

We start with our read alouds. Then dd does independent work while I work with ds. After lunch, we move onto any subjects that she need my direct involvement with.

I'm considering purchasing this for my would-be 6th grader for next year to go along with SL Core 5. If you've used this, I'd love to know what you think. Is it worth it the $$? Can anyone give me a review? Thanks,

Right next to the tar pits is the la county museum of art. On Sundays they have all sorts of cool art stations set up for kids. You can also get free entryfor yourself and the kids. The tar pits were fun, but pretty quick to go through. Legoland is awesome. They have a homeschool day one or two Mondays a month where you can get in for $17 each. We spent all day there and still didn't do everything. AOP is wonderful, well worth going to. There is also Griffith park, LA zoo, the observatory, the beaches... Really, there's a ton that you could do. Way more than a week's worth. Happy planning!

That was one of our favorite episodes! It hit so close to home,LOL.

This was actually on the front page of the LA Times one of the first Sundays after the homeschool ruling started really getting attention. The irony didn't escape me.

Our friends saved for 10 years to take their dream vacation to Hawaii. They are supposed to return today on ATA. ATA filed bankruptcy this morning and they are basically stranded on the island. Is there anything that they can do? Other than fork over $$ for new airline tickets on another airline? Are they going to have any recourse over this? I'm so bummed for them. My husband is working on getting them back to the mainland, even if not California, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any inside info on how to handle this. I think it's criminal to allow people to buy round trip tickets and then leave them stranded. It's not even like they could drive back. They also volunteered to be bumped twice on the way out there, in exchange for vouchers that are worthless now. If nothing else, I know that they would appreciate your prayers for this situation. Thanks,

I would suggest watching the DVD with him. He probably needs to back up several lessons, if he's struggling where he is at. Even if he doesn't want to use the overlays himself, sit next to him and YOU use them. If for no other reason than they might help you understand the material and then be able to explain it to him. If he is not a natural math person, you should probably be hands on with this subject. No matter how great the instruction, non math kids will usually need a little hand holding on new concepts (I have a non math kid) . Whatever you do, don't push forward until he grasps the lessons that have already been covered. Hth,

I LOVE K, but we're not going any further. Mostly because it seems that 1st involves a lot more writing than my ds is ready for. We're going with Hearts of Dakota for 1st because I can sub in more of my own choices.

There is a chart on their website that spells out the changes year by year. For what it's worth, I used a core 3 from '99 and we had a stellar year. I wouldn't hesitate on a good deal for a used core, as long as the books are still in good shape.

I just read the book "Cult of the Amature- How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture." It certainly changed my perspective on technology. I am especially turned off by wikipedia now. Facinating,

That's my thought. It would be unconventional, but a much better option to me than sleeping in 2 different houses. As a teen, I was very "responsible and mature." That gave my parent's a false sense of security about my ability to handle lots of freedom. They gave and I took it happily. Then I made a load of really bad decisions. Too much freedom is a bad thing, no matter how mature the kids are. I wouldn't make any decision of this magnitude without complete peace about it.

Her original post wasn't seeking out opinions on purity rings, it was seeking out shopping advice. Why don't we stick to that?

Check out WinterPromise. Their catalog is easier to understand than their website, so I'd either download or order one.

For me, my biggest hesitation would be having newborn and having to keep up with the schedule. My 5 yo did VPK and it was a great experience. What area of Florida are you in? If you're in Central Florida, you might want to look into United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). They have charter schools all over the area. Their schools are inclusion schools, meaning that they have both disabled and typical children. My 7 yo (who is disabled), attended there for several years. When my now 5 yo came up to his VPK year, they were offering a VPK class at the school. It was wonderful. About 2/3 of the class was typical and 1/3 disabled to some degree, but mostly high functioning. A couple of our friends who have no disabled kids also have enrolled their kids over the years, and it's been a great experience for all. The teachers are all highly qualified, and in my experience, some of the sweetest, most patient people I've ever come across. I really love the UCP organization. Best of all, they have therepists on staff, so your son could get his therepy while he is in school. I have found UCP therapists to be some of the best I've worked with (and we've worked with a lot!). The schools are usually small and intimate, so I really got to know the director at our school. We did co op one day a week and they didn't fuss at all about Zachary missing a day a week of school. That's the one thing that I found more flexible there than my friends experienced at day care/public school based vpk. It seems that the other facilities make a big deal about attendance, but UCP was great about it. If you don't have a UCP near you, you might want to check and see if there are similar programs in the area. Another option is they do VPK 2 ways- one is a school year program, the other is a summer program. The summer program runs longer hours though. So maybe you wait till next summer? Or could you find a mom's day out program at a local church? My friend with 2 speech delayed boys opted to do that 2 days a week and it worked out well for her. Personally, after being around a lot of kids, with a lot of levels of delay, I can see why his therapist would suggest it. I have seen it make a difference and 3 hours a day is actually a nice amount of time. It's not overkill, but it will give him time to interact with other kids and have the necessity of being understood. I have had kids in school and a newborn in tow and that is really not fun, so for me, that would be my biggest hesitation. If you choose to enroll him, you can always pull him out later. I think I would seek out a program where he could do VPK and therapy at the same time. If the PS is the only one, then I would put him on the waiting list and just see what happens. God will either make it happen or not! hth,

That's great BUT... What the heck do the teacher's unions have to do with this case? I am severely annoyed with this court.

Water Park, hands down.

I vote for getting the u/s. My second child had a birth defect that was caught at a 25 week u/s. He suffered a lot of complications, but without that u/s, he would be dead. That was the ONLY test that could have dxed his birth defect. So yes, I'm a fan of u/s's. They are non invasive and can give you information that you otherwise would not get. The reasons I can think of for wanting it soon would be the earlier in the pregnancy, the more accurate the dating and I think it's also easier to see all of the organs. Why don't you call her and talk over all of the questions your are now thinking of? I know my midwife was always happy to talk me through any doubts or questions I had. The question to ask yourself would be, what would be the bigger regret- not getting it and having complications or getting it and spending the money for nothing?

There are many on here that I relate to, but here's one I haven't seen yet. That I am homeschooling to fulfill some school teacher fantasy. I think my PS teacher neighbor is thoroughly convinced of this. She actually said to me, "Why don't you just go back to school and get a degree? Then you can make an actual living teaching and your kids won't have to stay home." I, for one, have never wanted to be a teacher. If I go back to school, it'll be to become an RN. It was like she was saying, "Don't make your children suffer, just because you want to be a teacher!"

I am going to guess, that either 1) You have not been consistent with your consequences or 2) You haven't found their currency yet. That is assuming that there are not any underlying learning difficulties going on. If this is purely a discipline issue, then it's time to get tough, mom! I would really think about what your kids value most- be it social time, screen time, sports time, money, music, whatever. I have one child that would absolutely melt if I took her ipod away. That has become our main punishment for her. Your kids need to start to understand that your time (and theirs) is important. If they waste it, there will be consequences. This will take clear communication- "If this subject is not finished within the hour, you will lose your tv privileges." It will also take consistency on your part. Unfortunately, there is not an easy fix to this. I would sit down and form a plan. Then meet with your kids and lay it out for them. After that, it's up to you to carry it out. I have a girlfriend with 5 kiddos, ages 3-10. When she senses her days are slipping out of her control, she takes a full week of discipline training. Her main goal for that week becomes "resetting" her kids in their problem areas. You may just have to apply that kind of focus in this area. Good luck!

Have you listened to SWB's seminar on writing? I think if you did, you could get a good idea of what WWE would be like. From what I know of it, it sounds like it would be a good fit for your son. I haven't done WT 1, but from what I've seen, it seem like it would work as well. Good luck,

Excellent piece. While we are conservatives, I really prefer articles that point out the broader range of homeschoolers. It seems really easy to write us off for being crazy conservative Christians, when the education reasons are just as valid and a bit harder to dismiss.

making money- DH paying bills- Me budgeting- Me mortgage/loans- Me home repair/maintenance- DH banking/investments- Me taxes- Me car care- DH health insurance- Me scheduling (making/keeping track of)- Both, with an emphasis on me phone calls or correspondence re: all the above- Me teaching/school work or homework- Me discipline (planning and implementing)- Both spiritual guidance (who actually carries it out, not just the "head")- Both, with an emphasis on DH kids mornings- Me kids bedtimes- 3/4 me, 1/4 dh transportation for kids- Me grocery shopping- Me laundry- Me eating at home- Me eating away (pack lunch, etc)- Me daily chores/cleaning (really need sub-categories!)- Me lawn care/snow cleanup- Dh garden or bed maintenance- DH

I haven't read any other responses yet, but I'll jump in. My husband is a youth pastor, so yes, I like youth groups. That said, I have heard other's opinions on this matter and can at least see why they have the views that they do. A well run youth group, with a lot of parent involvement can be a beautiful thing. A badly run youth group is a potential disaster. Frankly, I'm not in youth ministry for the families that have it all together and are raising their kids well. I'm in it for the lost kids. The ones with parents that are often less mature than they are. That's not to say it's just a group of misfits. We do have students that come from great families, but struggle to make their faith their own. I think it absolutely helps to have another adult come up along side them and mentor them. I understand that some parents don't want that or don't think that their kids need anyone but themselves. I'm ok with that. I think God convicts us to decisions for our individual children and if God is in the lead, then I have no doubt that the child will be ok with or without a youth group. Youth groups are not for every student or family. On the flip side, I really don't understand the position that youth groups shouldn't exist at all. I have seen SO MANY lives changed that wouldn't have been otherwise. Youth groups have a purpose, a very holy purpose. We are Kingdom builders and whether or not you (in the global sense)personally choose to let your kids get involved, incredible things are happening through this vehicle.

I would be a SAHM to our 3 year old and probably be spending a lot of time in my other kid's classrooms.