Why not high school?

I was reading on WTM a thread about people not homeschooling through high school.

All I could think is if I had to choose I would probably pick high school to homeschool. I think our high school is so awful. Let me clarify-it is probably #1 in academics in New Jersey (or so all the polls say). But past the good test scores are cliques, bullies, tracking (you get in AP, Acc, college prep A or the dreaded college prep B).

The average class size is over 30 students and despite expanding they are still holding classes in every available space (including non-classrooms).

I have no doubt that my kids are going to learn as much and I am fairly certain more by being homeschooled through highschool.

Why do you not trust your kids?

I am constantly reading on the WTM boards about how people don't trust their kids. I just don't get it.

They are worried about an Ipod touch because their may not be parental controls and they may download an inappropriate app. Are there such things? You probably have to search for years to find one. Or they may go onto the internet and look at...........? I'm not sure. I can't see much pleasure in viewing pornography on that teeny little screen. Plus you need flash to watch any videos. There goes all the fun!

Now someone is concerned about their Netflix on the Wii. Their kids may watch something inappropriate. Huh? I have Netflix on our Wii. I have yet to find anything that I would be overly concerned about my kids watching. They are just thrilled they can watch endless episodes of Man vs. Food and Cake Boss.

I wonder. Are their kids really that bad? Or are they that overprotective?

What would happen if they did watch something they deemed "inappropriate"? Would it be the end of the world? Maybe an amazing discussion would ensue and X child would never do it again.

In conclusion, lighten up!!!

7 books?

My new hobby is obsessing over what curriculum to use for next year. I don't think I have ever been as indecisive as I am this year.

R is not quite 9th grade yet but she is kinda.......but not really. Very confusing. She is doing Spanish (same books as Oak Meadow) and I am most definitely giving her high school credit for that.

I picked out Prentice Hall Literature stuff that I really like. Added to that would be writing assignments and we usually land reading 2 novels a month.

I was comparing my plans to Oak Meadow for 8th grade english. They read 7 novels for the school year. Thats it!!! 7 novels!! Helloooooooo...............that is not nearly enough.

Then to make me even more happy I decide to go investigate Indiana University high school. They had sent me info and I had read positive feedback about them. Their 9th grade English class is like a 7th grade english class. Very easy. Very odd. Definitely not for us.

I'm trying to make things simpler for me and have R be more self-sufficient/interested/finish her work on time, etc.

Still more planning to do.

Not to mention I had 3-4 books for R to read through this summer and we have made it through 1. Not a happy parent.

Why do I do this?

I seem to have this nightly routine. My kids finally go to sleep and I go online and obsess over curriculum for next year. I stay up till 12-1am and then am sleepless all night as my thoughts are overrun with what curriculum to use for next year.

Why do I do this???!!!!

So what am I doing. Its 10:43pm and I have been online for the past hour obsessing over curriculum. I figure I am good for another hour or two.

I need to stop this. I really do.

I don't obsess as much over my 5th grader as I do over my 8th/9th grader. You would think that if I made the wrong choice that they won't get into Harvard. Or college at all!

I need to get a grip.

It would be so much easier if I liked Oak Meadow better. I like Oak Meadow. The problem is that I am not sure that I love it. If I loved it I would use it for all subjects. I really like their history for my 5th grader (we use 6th grade history book) and 8th grade. I just can't decide if I love their English for 8th grade. They read a ton of books and analyze stuff which is all well and good. But their are no tests. And its just a little too unstructured for me. My 8th grader needs to be challenged a tad bit to keep her on task.

I am leaning towards University of Missouri 8th grade english. Its lots of different styles of writing (assignments) and analyzing different types of literature (mainly passages, not whole books). Plus I will assign a stack of books to be read and some kind of questions answered or paper written or something.

I just have this mental block about letting go and let someone else dictate the class. I need to get over this and move on.

Is school fun in your house?

On the WTM boards someone was asking about how to make school fun. Their children were at vacation bible school and thought it was so much fun yet they hate homeschool.

On the one hand I know nothing about vacation bible school. Zip. Zero. Nada. I'm assuming its like camp but in a church setting. Not quite sure.

But it got me thinking as to why school would not be fun. School should be fun!!! Granted I am a proponent of learning the three R's but there is still plenty of time for cooking lessons and art museums and theatre and bowling and all the other fun things there are to do.

Why can't school be fun and educational at the same time?

Its a miracle!

Its Saturday afternoon and R is cleaning out our attic room instead of watching television!!!!

I believe in leprechauns!

My plans went kaput

I had grand plans for doing school this summer that did not work out. Okay. I am getting over it (kinda).

I was planning on beginning Oak Meadow 6th grade history with my son and stocked up on books on Mesopotamia and the Sumerians, etc. He already watched a really good video about them. He is all excited. The books now have to be renewed as we have not even cracked them open.

In June we began our second or third attempt at Real Science 4 Kids chemistry level 1. I give up. We made it 1 chapter. D likes it but is lacking his usual enthusiasm and has not asked to continue. I had planned on finally finishing the book this summer (it is only 9 chapters long). Now I think I am just going to sell it. I don't think I can stand a 4th attempt at teaching it.

Sayonara cable!!!

Two cable boxes gone and 1 left.

On the plane home from Florida (thank you Jet blue!) I started watching Man vs. Food. I discovered that we get the travel channel at home and I can watch it. I ordered the dvd from netflix as I disconnected cable from my television in my room.

Last night as I sat on couch watching portable DVD player my kids ask what I am watching. Next thing I know I am kicked off couch and they are watching man vs. food.

Now they want to go visit all the places he goes to eat. Hello Katz's deli in NYC!

As a reward for giving up cable 90% we went to Game stop and purchased two new Wii games. They have been busy playing for hours.

Even I have found new things to do (when I am not posting here).

Adios cable!

Change is in the air.......

Things are changing around here. For the better I hope!

For starters I have 2 cable boxes that are getting turned into cable this week. First I cut our number of available channels in half. Now I am getting rid of two boxes. If my resolve holds we shall be cable free by December. Yippee!!!!

Secondly, I installed a window a/c in the living room. Hallelujah!!! Now we can finally do reading out loud on the sofa instead of climbing onto my bed (the other room with a window a/c.). It is amazing what a 90 degree house (103 outside) will make you do.

Still no progress (or to my satisfaction) on year round schooling. I am just beginning to believe it is not going to work for us. I am done stressing about it. I am going to take pleasure in the math review/reading/vocabulary that we get done and not stress about the rest.

On a happier note D did an amazing week of nature camp and another amazing week of cooking class. Not bookwork but good just the same.