I am totally a checklist person! When I managed Tech Support and Software QA, I used checklists for my employees. I never go to the store without a list. That's just me haha. Maybe to a fault. Do you have any book recommendations? I read Dr. Sears' book on ADD, but it didn't really help me. I have my own opinions about ADD, the pharmaceutical industry and allopathic "medicine" in general, but that is a whole different discussion and I don't want my concerns to be disregarded because I refuse to put my child on medication. Like I said, I did try to use diet to treat him (having read that gluten specifically can exacerbate "symptoms of ADD"), the problem is that, every other weekend, he eats garbage (and I mean stuff I wouldn't even feed my dog) and there is absolutely NOTHING I can do about it (and I do notice that he is the worst after a weekend at his father's house).

He actually does fine in math. He's just behind because we're behind. He tested at a 2nd grade level in 3rd grade though. It was a year ago. I'm not familiar with CLE...? I'm definitely going to be getting away from Saxon. My other son is doing the Algebra 1 book (yes, he is also behind, it's not that they're bad at math, but they are just slow workers) and I REALLY do not like it. They jump ALL over the place and I don't feel enough explanation is given for some of the concepts (particularly, WHY you do things a certain way). I've been looking at Teaching Textbooks and wonder if they are worth it? They're pricey.

I wonder too... Is there some resource to guide me through what we have to do? Again, I loved WTM, but it's just WAY too much, at least for this one particular child. Like, what does he need to know by the end of 4th grade in math and what "writing" does he NEED to learn? I mean, I know there's not one right answer for every kid, but I think MOST of my stress comes from thinking they won't lean everything they need to (I struggle with my highschooler here). I also want to say how envious I am of parents who can naturally just teach their children, enjoy it and make it fun. It doesn't come naturally to me (I went from being a full time career woman to crunchy mom extraordinaire in a very short period of time!)

I didn't know that about Saxon! We are actually a year behind in Saxon (we're doing book 3, he is technically in 4th grade). So I guess he's doing ok then. And I actually did do exactly what you said because we were behind, when we went to Saxon 3, I skipped the first 1/3 of the book because it was all review. We do go through the summer, more I think because we do frequent breaks throughout the year and because I constantly feel like I am catching them both up from public school (my kids are smart but they work slower and they're the typical kids left behind in the public school model). I like the field trip idea. We're members of the zoo here and the aviary. I think I'll also get a membership to the Carnegie Science Center this year. Now that the weather is warmer, we'll be getting out more (and then I'll get stressed because my teenager missed a day of work haha). I just don't understand how people do it - between having each kid in a sport, music lessons and homeschool subjects, plus all the groups and stuff they belong to, how do they get ANYTHING done???

The thing is, when he is inclined to do so, he DOES work independently just fine. I could understand if he was NEVER able to do it and if he was truly struggling versus just not wanting to do the work and take the easy way out (yes, I have verified that is the case). And I have to say, I think you misunderstand my position. It's not like I NEVER sit down with him to do work, but, as I stated before, I have 2 other children, I can't sit with him the entire school day (especially since I have a high schooler and a toddler to deal with). Plenty of the stuff that we do REQUIRES me to do it with him. Other stuff doesn't (like Latin, I just don't have the time to sit and watch the Latin DVD with him, and I feel it would be redundant to do so). On a better note, I have noticed that changing to a less dry and irritating Latin (from Latina Christiana to Classical Academic Press Latin) program has done wonders for him. That's really what I am looking for, suggestions for curriculum or even other ways of learning that will keep him more engaged and make it less of a struggle. I really liked Storygirl's idea of science videos and other books and stuff. I guess I always felt like just letting them off with watching videos instead of doing "science work" was kind of cheating.

I LOVE YOU!!!

He actually does read quite a bit. I finally got him reading Harry Potter (I LOVE HP :coolgleamA: ), he reads the Tree House books, we also do the Life of Fred math books (I just don't feel these are ENOUGH math to constitute leaving him do these and nothing else), he's also been reading the simplified versions of the Classics that you can get at target for $1 and other versions of classics that I've gotten him. We also get a lot of library books based on the recommendations in SOTW and his science curriculum. Now that I type it all out, I worry less, because he certainly does read and do a lot. I think sometimes without the writing and the worksheets, I feel like I have no measure of what he's done and what he's learned. According to the State tests he took last year (which I put NO stock in) he's reading at an 8th grade level but he was doing math at a 2nd grade level (he was at the end of 3rd grade at the time). I don't know really, I guess I am just stuck in public education think where everything has to be measured and accounted for and reported on. Maybe easing up on him a bit will make him more willing. I mean, do I really NEED to give him a Latin test every week or is it just enough that he's being exposed to it?

Storygirl, thank you so so much for sharing your story with me. I'm glad to see that you were able to send your kids to private schools. I could not bring myself to send my kids back to public school and unfortunately, we just can't afford private (although I think a good, rigorous catholic school might be just the ticket to get his butt in gear HAHA!). I really do think private school would be the best solution for my 10 year old, because of the personality conflicts between him and I. I actually did have both his hearing and vision tested, because I used to have to repeat myself every single time I told him something. Turns out, he just said "what?" automatically every time someone said something to him. Talk about AGGRAVATING! I want to clarify, I was being hyperbolic when I said 8 hours a day. However, I do want to make sure I get in "all the subjects" so to speak. I guess that's another thing I struggle with. I want to make sure he's doing and learning everything he's "supposed to", I have a hard time letting go of that. I hear bout these unschooling families and these other types of laissez faire types of homeschooling and they sound so great but I am so afraid my kids will not learn what they need to learn. I know that Latin is not required, but he actually does pretty well with that one and I know it's really good for him to do, so I don't want to take away this early opportunity for him. As far as working independently, I DO think he should be able to work on his own to some degree. I believe there are failing standards in this country, even globally, in regards to what is expected of children and of people in general. Is there any wonder we are seeing a bunch of adults that never grow up, can't hold a job and do nothing but party and chase "the next best thing"? While I would like to find something that works BETTER for my child, I also do not want to lower standards or expectations for him, I don't want him to think someone will always be there to hold his hand and do the work for him. I also have 2 other children of significantly different ages that need my time and attention (and when I am with them is when I expect him to do his work on his own). I think another thing I've lost sight of is what a typical day should even be like... really, I'd love to see a book written about 30 or 50 different families that homeschool and what goes into their typical day.

So I read WTM and have used it basically as my homeschooling bible since we started. It's working out well enough for my 16 year old (we can't do EVERYTHING because he works at a slower pace than most kids) but my 10 year old is struggling and I am struggling along with him. I'll say first, I'm not one of those homeschoolers that always wanted to be a teacher or is natural at teaching my kids. I'm the kind of person who learns a certain way and has a hard time understanding any different ways of learning. So my 10 year old... I'm sure if he were in school they'd tell me he has ADHD. He has a short attention span and, frankly, he is lazy. Not just about school, he's lazy about everything, even playing. Always always the path of least (or NO) resistance with this kid and ZERO ambition. I understand that I cannot MAKE him ambitious or driven, but I'm not sure what to do otherwise. Right now, we're following mostly WTM Saxon 3 Math Times Tales Spelling Workout Classical Academic Press Latin (We were doing Memoria Press but he and I both couldn't stand the teacher) Memoria Press Grammar I went from Elemental Science's Classical Program to the Living Books program WTM Writing with Ease 3 Story Of the World 2 50 States program from Memoria Press PreScripts writing and drawing book from Classical Conversations So I try to keep things structured and sit down with him for the ones I need to (like math and my husband does history with him) and I expect him to do the rest on his own (and ask me for help when needed). For instance, the Latin has a DVD and a CD, plus workbook activity book etc. I make up a schedule for him to follow each week, so he KNOWS what he has to do. But it seems like, if I'm not constantly on him, he just doesn't do what he's supposed to, and I get busy with my other kids (3 and 16) and he gets behind in everything because he's not doing what he's supposed to. Also, when I sit down with him to do writing or language, sometimes he's super cooperative and sometimes I can tell he doesn't want to so he acts stupid on purpose and I end up getting frustrated and it's just a mess. Believe me, I know I am part of the problem on that one, but I just don't know what to do with him when he acts dense and witless just to get out of doing something. I feel like I can't let him get away with acting like that. We have tried rewarding good behavior, punishing bad behavior, NOTHING works. I feel like maybe there is something better out there for him. I honestly cannot spend 8 hours a day holding his hand through every subject (and, if I don't, he doesn't do what he is supposed to). I think he's one of those kids that wants everything to be fun and I am torn between educating him in that way if it works for him (even though I have no idea how to go about that) and teaching him that not everything in life is fun and instilling some discipline. It's helpful to note that 1. He started homeschool in the middle of second grade. and 2. I am divorced and he sees his father every other weekend. There are no rules there (I tried treating his "ADHD" and some dental issues he was having with diet and my ex flat out refused to follow it) and that entire family is constantly bashing homeshool. Any ideas of maybe a gentler curriculum? Any other advice? Thanks for listening.