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As a mom whose dc have been in PS for the past 2 years, let me tell you. Kids DON'T really "socialize" at school! At least not in the way that they should. Socialization is limited to kids exactly their own age during a super-fast 20-minute lunch period and 20-minute recess. That's it! For the rest ...

Aaah -- so encouraging. Thanks! My husband and I were discussing it last night and we think that's the best path to take, but I wanted to get some input from someone who has actually DONE it! I also have a 3 yo whom I think will enjoy tagging along in the activities. I plan on doing grade-level math...

Hello again! I was on the board last year. We were going to homeschool, but circumstances changed at the VERY last minute, unfortunately. Well, we are on board (God willing) for next year and very excited! I had planned on using BHFHG this year for my 7 and 9 yo daughters who are now in 2nd and 4th ...

A lot of good advice! Encouraging for this mom who chickened out on this year but is coming back to homeschooling, totally re-loaded, for next year!

Thank you so much for all of your wisdom and insight! It is bringing tears to my eyes to read all of your responses - thank you for taking the time! As soon as those negative words were out of my mouth, I KNEW I had done the wrong thing to complain. Sometimes my mouth works before my brain does! Pra...

I have been doing Bigger and 1/2 speed with my girls, with much success. This week, we had a couple of bad days with my 2 1/2 year old (expected). I mentioned this to my husband and he has now decided that we should 'wait a year' to homeschool and send the girls back to public school. I had SUCH a p...

My 7 and 9 year old copied the verse today. I needed something they could do without me. The 9 year old said it was his favorite part of school; the 7 year old did not, but he didn't complain. If he had, I just would have spread it out over 2-3 days. By the way, we started 1/2 speed, and there was ...

When we homeschooled our girls 2 years ago, our parents were WAY less than pleased. My mother said that I would 'ruin' our kids, and my father in law said, "they have to be in the real world sometime" - among other things! My mom actually said that she would have no part of it, and shut us out. For ...

I have been trying to think of some good ideas of things to play with for my 2 year-old in his 'alone time'. He hasn't quite mastered the skill of occupying himself, and I was going to get some new things to help keep him busy during the times I need to work with the girls. I have read a lot about L...

Hello! We're new to HOD this year, but it's our 2nd year homeschooling. We just got a bunch of our books yesterday, and are SO excited! My daughters - 9 and 7 - are doing Bigger (w/extensions for 9 yo). We also have a 2 1/2 yo little guy. I have LHTH, and we're going to try and see how he likes it. ...

Shelia - I have no advice - sorry! I just wanted to say that my girls are doing Bigger -- with extensions and as written -- as well as R&S. I have the Homeschool Journal (used it last time as well) for this year. If you use a computer program, I'll be curious to see how you like it. We should compar...

Thanks, Ana! I actually got my boxes today -- so exciting!!! I think my 9 yo will definitely be challenged and interested in the material. So much neat stuff to read! I might have to read the books right along with her

Ok -- I finally got down to business and ordered! This is my plan: I have a 9 1/2 yo DD going in to 4th grade and a 7 yo DD going into 2nd. We're doing Bigger history, geography, science, story time and (maybe) poetry - together with the extension pack for my 4th grader. I also purchased R&S English...

Such great information! I do plan on getting a 2nd opinion before I go ahead with anything. I'm going to look for a ped. in a more "progressive" area of the city - maybe they'll have a more alternative approach to this rubber stamp dx! Thanks for all of your help. I'll be checking back for more later!

Hi -- it's been a while since I've been on here, but things have been busy. I took my middle daughter (7) to the doctor the other day because she has been having an extremely hard time focusing on some days. One day, her schoolwork will be neat and correct, and another day it will look like a 3 year...