That makes sense. I will let the teacher know I'm available to help but not be offended if he doesn't take me up on it.

So, it's not a "movie" really, and it's non-fiction, but my kids watch Extra Credits History on Youtube for fun (even my non-homeschoolers), and so do I. They are super well done. Here's a playlist in chronological order (and no...can't figure out how to make it smaller or just a link).

So, our middle child was going to join my youngest for 6th grade...didn't happen because of various reasons, but we did do a trial month and I did plan out a lot of the science for that year. On our trial month we were doing Physics. So, for our main spine we did Byte size physics which I LOVED. Really fun experiments, liked the writing style of the text, ect. (We did not use the videos though cause the sample one didn't seem that engaging). We only got through a little that first month but my son really liked it. http://bitesizephysics.com/ We supplemented with anything remotely physics related from the Free Experimenting with the Vikings Unit study (since we were doing Vikings that month for history). They had some things on weapons and ships that worked really well for this: http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00001940/experiment-with-the-vikings?cmpid=CMP00006331 We also planned to use the Elements by Ellen McHenry, but since we didn't actually get to it I can't comment on how it went. http://ellenjmchenry.com/product-category/elements/

Thanks everyone so much! We told him about an hour ago. We kept it really upbeat and talked about the progress he'd made and how I think he's ready for this (talking about how he wanted to be more independent and such, and we talked about how this would give him a chance to meet more other kids, and went over the structure of the class and the ways we thought this class would be good for him). And, he wants to go! YEAH! I'm so glad because that's going to make it so much easier. If he was resisting that could have thrown a wrench in things. I definitely plan to have a meeting with him and the teacher beforehand (they said that would be possible--I've already met him and got to observe but just briefly, for a half hour). And I will definitely volunteer. My son's 10 but very much more comfortable around a younger crowd so the mixed age classroom I think will be very good for him.

So, after our IEP the school offered to put our son in a reduced size class two aids and individualized instruction in reading and math. That had not been my original plan. I had planned to continue homeschooling through an Independent Learning charter, but just with some specialized reading instruction through the charter, and some supplemental classes. But, my husband was strongly pushing for this, and I'm coming around to thinking this is the best plan (though I shed a few tears along the way, because I enjoy homeschooling my son, but also because I feel like I'm not giving him everything he needs). I'm not 100% sure this is the best option for him, but the charter that was the one that seemed like the best option is closed, and I'm just not getting enough progress with him at home (though it has improved). 20% of the students at this school are special ed, possibly because, like us, they are getting transfered from other schools that don't have as robust of a program for this. That 's actually a relief...because one of the things that concerned me was that he would be ostracized for being so far behind. I don't see that happening here. In his particular class kids grades 3rd through 5th are in the same class so I like that too. I liked the main teacher. I'm hopeful, but still plan to be watching like a hawk to see how he does, ready to pull if necessary. He hasn't done public school since KG where he cried every day. This is a different school (but that school wasn't bad...he just had trouble with the structure). I feel like he's doing much better now and wanting to do more independantly, but we still have days he breaks down and just crumbles. It's 3 weeks until school and we plan to tell him this weekend. Any suggestions, both for that and for how to prepare between now and then? Anyone like to share experience, good or bad, of sending a child back to school?

Another good free resource is ProgressivePhonics.com

I think the one I started with was Little House on the Prairie, which really stuck with me. I remember going back and reading the "Little House in the Big Woods" one and not liking it. My favorites were "On the Prairie, On the Banks of Plumb Creek (that one I think introduces the Nellie character, and The Long Winter." What one is the one where Mary went blind? I wonder if you skipped that if you might want to just read that chapter for context in later books.

So, my 10 year old is really interested in marine biology. I'm looking into resources for that this next year. I'm OK with both secular and Christian resources. Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day looks interesting, but I'm not sure if he would have to Zoology 1 first (flying creatures). I would really like to jump straight into marine life. I'd love suggestions of other resources as well.

Another resource that would be awesome is a collection of printable books (living books...like regular picture books), where you could plug in the phonics rules your child had been exposed to (like, maybe they know all the basic sounds, beginning blends, and silent e, but hadn't done ow, r controlled voweled, etc. And it would color code the text in the books so that all the words your child didn't know the rules for yet would be in one color, and all the words your child could read would be in another color, and you could read with your child. (OR, if could be on an iPad or something and allow the child to click on the words they didn't know to read them, but wouldn't make that available for words they did know.)

A curriculum that, without passing judgment on which was right, laid out the arguments for and against creationism and evolution. That alone would be amazing. It would be great if it also covered the various theological views on this (because there isn't just one...Genisis is interpreted in various ways). And if this was followed up by general science books that took this view of discussing the issues and showing both viewpoints...oh that would be even more amazing.

So, my friend may be moving to Georgia, and classes start much earlier there than where she's living now in Texas, and they can't move in time for her to start there on schedule. She was wondering if there was something online she could start with her daughter in the meantime so she wouldn't be behind (something that covers similar topics as she would get in public school). What would you suggest? She has not homeschooled before and is only looking to do this for a few weeks. She asked my advice since I homeschool but I'm not familiar with things there, and have never tried to keep exactly up with what the school is doing. Thanks.

Progressive Phonics is free and can go fairly quickly (I feel like it needs supplemental practice, but if you feel like she's at the point where she needs less of that could work well).

So, I lived on a boat until I was 10 years old. Our boat was a powerboat (old converted WWII Navy Launch), but we did have a sailboat, a little sabot (think dingy), that we tooled around in (and rowed when it didn't have sails). My mom knew how to sail and taught me a lot but I still learned a lot from a sailing class done by the Girl Scouts. The class provided a boat but we got a discount for using our own. One thing I would suggest is buying your children their own life jacket. A class will provide one (and require one, even if they can swim well), but if you have your own you can pick one out that is more comfortable.

I'm trying to put together a list of non-academic general life skills it's good to learn before leaving home. Things like... How to do your own laundry How to iron a shirt/pants Various other chores (dishes, sweeping, mopping, cleaning a toilet, etc.) How to cook simple meals How to write a check and balance a checkbook How to do simple car maintenance (like checking oil) How to change a lightbulb So, you don't have to complete my list (there's more on it in my head anyways), but I'd love suggestions of more things to add to this.

Story of the World, only with full color illustrations like they have in Usborn or Kingfisher, for EVERY chapter.

Can someone tell me more specifically what time periods each of the three volumes of "The Story of Science" covers? (Aproximate dates or eras). Thanks! Also, do you need to do the three books in order, or could you start at say, the second book, without problem?

So, I missed my chance to use Science in the Ancient world during the time we were studying ancient history. Could I start with Science in the Scientific Revolution? (In other words, does it build on things in the other book that my child would be missing, or could I start with Science in the Scientific Revolution and be fine?)

So, my older sons needs work on spacing, capitalization and such. My younger son just needs practice writing. I'd like to find quotes that are several sentences long, but where the first sentence or one sentence in it can stand alone (so my youngest could just write just that sentence but my older kiddo could write the paragraph.) That way they could be doing the same work but at different levels. Inspirational quotes, scriptures, etc. would be great (not poetry because I need it in a paragraph...but prose is fine). Here's one example I found: You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give. E O Wilson See how the first sentence "You are capable of more than you know," works by itself? Even if it's not the first sentence, if there's a sentence IN the paragraph that works by itself, I could use that (and I'll just make it bold).

If you don't mind videos, here's some I suggest related to those topics: Urbino by Extra Credits (Italian Renaissance) You might also look up those topics on TedEd and Crash Course, both of which have excellent video series that might touch on some of those things.

So, A Child's Geography has, as part of it's free sample, as section on the Moors/Spain that was pretty good. Since it's part of the free sample pages, it might be worth checking out.

I wouldn't want to start him at a different level than the girls. I wouldn't worry too much about this year and just focus on next year, when you'll be starting in Ancient times (which is really fun for younger kids). Just let him participate where it seems to fit and don't worry too much. While it's not a broad overview (just random deep dives into various history topics), Extra Credits videos might be something fun you could do with both your older girls and him (we started watching them for fun...not even for school, when my youngest was either in 1st or 2nd, and they all loved them). There's a chronological list below, and for Volume 4 the episodes you'ld want to watch will start at The Broad Street Pump. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyjLt_RGEww&list=PLHnQERzIZmXVYIRJyGkVCWWF6USpJYoDK If you do try to do SOTW with him (whether now or later, at level one), I have some suggestions on how to make it easier for kiddos who struggle with books with no pictures. http://imaginativehomeschool.blogspot.com/2016/09/tips-story-of-world-for-short-attention.html One thing I definately would do is get at least ONE book on the era with lots of pictures (something like the Usborn or Kingfisher history books would be good). That way, for most chapters, you have something you can open to and show him pictures from while you read from SOTW.

It's not as pricey as it seems. The manipulatives you buy once and use for all levels, and the books have no consumable parts (nothing to write in them) so you can buy them used very cheaply (though it's harder to find the cards used). But here's a secret...you don't HAVE to use manipulatives OR cards (they're useful...but like you mentioned, you aren't good with pieces, so maybe not so useful in that case). All the words on the cards are listed in the book and you can just read them to your child and have him read it. There's some syllable labeling it's helpful to have magnet tiles for in the 2nd book, BUT you can make those yourself. And it does cover those rules really well.

I had been suspecting dyslexia or something like a tracking issue with his vision that has similar symptoms to dyslexia, and since we were going to a charter next year I had him assessed for an IEP (I now know they can't diagnose, but at least I thought the tests could maybe give us direction on what to do next and since our job situation was shaky at the time, decided to do what could be done for free first). They said that they don't think it was dyslexia, even though his CTOPP is low, because his Visual Motor Integration (Berry V MI-6 and VMI-6 Motor Coordination) and Symbol Translation (WISC 5 Immediate Symbol Translation & Delayed Symbol Translation) was average and his Visual-Spatial Processing was high (WISC-5 Block Design and Visual Puzzles). The person who did the test explained that he tested him with a made up symbolic language...But when I inquired I learned the made-up language was not phonetic, it was more like Chinese where every character represented a different word. My understanding about dyslexia is that it involves (or can involve) a difficulty understanding the phonetics. So, I'm sort of feeling like that's not a reason to rule out dyslexia. Am I wrong? They were not denying him services, just thought that something like ADHD or maybe even also Austism made more sense. I do think that he probably does have ADHD (Autism doesn't feel right from what I understand of it), but I don't feel like that totally explains the struggles he's been having. (Side note: He also rated poorly to everything related to audio-perception/working memory. Really, he had troubles across the board. The visual aspects were the only ones he scored high on of all the tests they took).

ProgressivePhonics.com is FREE, and has short readers that briefly introduce phonics concepts and then have short poems color coded so that you read some and your child reads some (with funny pictures). It sounds like it would be a good fit for what you need.

Bartolome de las Casas, who came to the new world just a Columbus was leaving, came to realize that what the Spanish was doing to the native peoples were wrong, and spent his whole life fighting for them. Ada Lovelace - computer pioneer. Harriet Tubman - for her work on the Underground Railroad, her work as a spy during the Civil War, and her continued work after the war. Philo Farnsworth - inventor of the TV, who came up with his idea for it while still a teenager. Also, I suggest the videos by Extra Credits History (free on YouTube) who often highlight individuals... You can find all their history videos here (the orange ones are history): https://www.youtube.com/user/ExtraCreditz/playlists Two of my faves on individuals from that one was on Mary Seacole and Admiral Yi.