Homeschool Chat

[Ashley Kees]

Now we're even more psyched...we just looked up the speaker, Vicky Beeching, and we have several of her songs on our iPod! DDs are very excited that they will get to hear from someone *famous* (btw, "famous" means that THEY have heard of the person before. Eartha Kitt standing in line next to us at Soarin' did NOT qualify in the "famous" category... )

DH and I would have lost our marbles if Eartha Kitt had been next to us on Soarin'! That TOTALLY counts as famous round here!

 

[borntoshop96]

I was really hoping we would be finished with the first half of the year by Dec17 but might be we will miss by a few days...

 

[graygables]

DH and I would have lost our marbles if Eartha Kitt had been next to us on Soarin'! That TOTALLY counts as famous round here!

My girls were completely unimpressed, even after I'd told them that she was our CP narrator that night. STILL not "famous" enough for them, I guess.

 

[DawnM]

It is typically around the 24th of September and around the 15th of January. So, I guess the 3rd week of Sept. and the 2nd week (or is that the 3rd week) of January.

Dawn

Does anyone here know what the dates for the homeschool days over the last few years have been? I'd like to get an idea of when they are usually held.

Thanks!
Ashley

Edited to add***

Holy cats! I just checked out the prices for the 5 day park hoppers you can get on those homeschool days, and they are literally half price!! Is that for real?? It can't be, there must be some kind of mistake...

 

[crl]

Due to work schedules, we always miss the Jan homeschool days by a week or so. And this year is no exception. Maybe we'll be able to do it in a few years.

We're potty training this week, so schooling is slow going for DD.

 

[labdogs42]

Yes I am required to count school days (160 for the year). We are spending a total of 10 days in Orlando. We will have 7 at Disney and 2 at Seaworld. I know they will learn a lot at Seaworld and I am sure Epcot will also be educational. What does everyone think of Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios educational wise?? Does anyone have any ideas on how to make any of these parks more educational??

Thanks for any input!

Kim in Alabama

I'm not a homeschooler (yet), but I would think that you could have a wonderful music lesson at any of the parks, but especially the magic Kingdom. Take the time to seek out the Dapper Dans and learn about four part harmony, seek out the Notorious Banjo Brothers and Bob and compare/contrast their music to the Dans. Even check out Sonny eclipse and try to figure out what style of music he sings! I think Music around the world could be a great topic for learning during your trip.

 

[asfarrell]

I posted a question a couple of weeks ago..then ...BOOM...I couldn't get on our computer at home.

I am taking everyones suggestions and will start doing "research" to see what is our best option.

Special thanks to KibbyCat and Ashely Kees...I appreciate the links.

 

[HomeschoolMama]

I'm struggling and so torn up about trying to decide about putting my oldest in public school. She's been home with me since 3rd grade and she's in 6th now.

I'm wondering if I'm able to do all three of my kids at one time. I want her to be smarter than me and I don't know if I can do the upper grades and subjects. I'm a smart person, so I know I could learn (re-learn?) along with her, but it's my sanity I worry about. I'm so stressed and overwhlemed lately.

To even think about public school and voice this hurts my heart and makes me feel like a failure and a traitor.

I just don't know who I can talk to about this. My homeschool friends will all be against public school and the moms of the dance team girls are against homeschooling. I wish I had someone who has been a homeschooling mom and had to make this decision I could talk to.

 

[graygables]

I just don't know who I can talk to about this. My homeschool friends will all be against public school and the moms of the dance team girls are against homeschooling. I wish I had someone who has been a homeschooling mom and had to make this decision I could talk to.

BTDT. In our district, the only way to get on the advanced math track was to start in the 8th grad. No transfers, no testing, start in the 8th grade. I have a B.A. in English for a reason. It is a 4 letter word spelled M-A-T-H.

I put my oldest in PS for the 8th grade. She struggled, but found her way, mostly b/c she was headstrong and didn't give a rat's behind about cliques and politics. She had a very strong musical ability that was not being met in our small district, however, so at 16, she moved to my parents to pursue music with my former teacher and to start college early. She wound up doing the Disney College Program and is now F/T at WDW while finishing her coursework online.

I put my 2nd DD in PS for the 8th grade. She struggled a LOT. She is a much more social creature and was much more in tune with the drama that is junior high. It was disastrous and she came back home midway through the 10th grade. Her personality completely changed and she, too, moved to my parents' at 16, but for entirely different reasons. She finally said, "to heck with it", aced the GED at 17 and started college early. She wound up doing the Disney College Program and now lives with my oldest while working P/T at WDW while finishing her coursework online.

I have to tell you, 6-8 grades is a very tough time to transition into or between schools. I moved from Germany to the US between 7th and 8th grades and it set me up for a living hades for the rest of my high school years. I *begged* to be released from my suffering. I was younger than my grade-mates and had taken chemistry and computer science in the 7th grade (back when computers used punch cards and classes were not even offered in high schools yet). Being smart didn't help me much in the game of public school.

I also used to be an English teacher for 7-12 graders and can tell you that was the primary reason I chose to homeschool. I did not like what I was seeing in the schools (the things the kids don't tell their parents about) and I did not want my children exposed to that. 7th-9th were particularly bad.

My commitment to my younger 2, now that I've been through it with the older ones is, if I can't figure out how to teach it or you can't figure it out on your own, we will find someone who can. I'll hire tutors or teachers or find a co-op if necessary.

I've said it before, my philosophy of education is simple: Wake up. Start learning. There are ways to teach different grade levels at the same time in various subjects. I think it's important not to get tied up in curriculum and schedules and keeping to the perfectly designed school calendar, but just let the kids learn at their own pace. Most people I know who are successful with multiple levels and at maintaining their own sanity and some semblance of a house with food, do so without paying attention to the outside pressures.

Now may be a good time to consider your reasons for homeschooling. What kind of compromises will you make by sending her to PS? What are the risks and what mitigation techniques do you think you will have? Is your daughter prepared for the sex, drugs, and peer pressure that are prevalent at the 7-12th (even in the 6th) grades now?

Someone once told me that this journey would never be an easy one. I would face criticism from the outside, criticism from my family, and even criticism from my children at times. Whenever I'm feeling discouraged, I remember the poem by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

 

[HomeschoolMama]

BTDT. In our district, the only way to get on the advanced math track was to start in the 8th grad. No transfers, no testing, start in the 8th grade. I have a B.A. in English for a reason. It is a 4 letter word spelled M-A-T-H.

I put my oldest in PS for the 8th grade. She struggled, but found her way, mostly b/c she was headstrong and didn't give a rat's behind about cliques and politics. She had a very strong musical ability that was not being met in our small district, however, so at 16, she moved to my parents to pursue music with my former teacher and to start college early. She wound up doing the Disney College Program and is now F/T at WDW while finishing her coursework online.

I put my 2nd DD in PS for the 8th grade. She struggled a LOT. She is a much more social creature and was much more in tune with the drama that is junior high. It was disastrous and she came back home midway through the 10th grade. Her personality completely changed and she, too, moved to my parents' at 16, but for entirely different reasons. She finally said, "to heck with it", aced the GED at 17 and started college early. She wound up doing the Disney College Program and now lives with my oldest while working P/T at WDW while finishing her coursework online.

I have to tell you, 6-8 grades is a very tough time to transition into or between schools. I moved from Germany to the US between 7th and 8th grades and it set me up for a living hades for the rest of my high school years. I *begged* to be released from my suffering. I was younger than my grade-mates and had taken chemistry and computer science in the 7th grade (back when computers used punch cards and classes were not even offered in high schools yet). Being smart didn't help me much in the game of public school.

I also used to be an English teacher for 7-12 graders and can tell you that was the primary reason I chose to homeschool. I did not like what I was seeing in the schools (the things the kids don't tell their parents about) and I did not want my children exposed to that. 7th-9th were particularly bad.

My commitment to my younger 2, now that I've been through it with the older ones is, if I can't figure out how to teach it or you can't figure it out on your own, we will find someone who can. I'll hire tutors or teachers or find a co-op if necessary.

I've said it before, my philosophy of education is simple: Wake up. Start learning. There are ways to teach different grade levels at the same time in various subjects. I think it's important not to get tied up in curriculum and schedules and keeping to the perfectly designed school calendar, but just let the kids learn at their own pace. Most people I know who are successful with multiple levels and at maintaining their own sanity and some semblance of a house with food, do so without paying attention to the outside pressures.

Now may be a good time to consider your reasons for homeschooling. What kind of compromises will you make by sending her to PS? What are the risks and what mitigation techniques do you think you will have? Is your daughter prepared for the sex, drugs, and peer pressure that are prevalent at the 7-12th (even in the 6th) grades now?

Someone once told me that this journey would never be an easy one. I would face criticism from the outside, criticism from my family, and even criticism from my children at times. Whenever I'm feeling discouraged, I remember the poem by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Wow. Thank you so much for taking the time and posting all that. I prayed for an answer last night and I feel like that was it. It was just right to remind me why I'm doing this and give me renewed strength. Thank you so much!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Dawn~ I totally agree with what the PP said!!! Middle school for me was a nightmare!!! And that was back in the late 80s. My older son is now in 7th grade and that is an age I would never consider putting a kid back in ps. It's a totally different world out there now! He was in ps for part of 1st and then for 2nd-not good! He's very friendly and loves his friends, but they see each other at church twice a week, and they play together as often as all of us hs mommies are sane!!!! He ( and my other 2) go to work with their daddy a lot-that's always fun and educational!! He's a contractor/land developer, so there's a lot to learn--just by listening.

I think you should not worry about multiple level-teaching. It is not that hard --REALLY!!! Just look at it as a personal challenge!!HA!! I have a 7th grader, 4th grader and a kindergartener. We just work our schedule out so that I can help each one as I need to. I have the boys on Teaching Textbooks for math and that has been such a blessing!!!! That was one of our biggest time consumers-just reviewing facts and intro a new lesson--then the daily work. This really condenses the time and is VERY effectual. I wouldn't NOT use it ever again!!! It's on the agenda from here on out!!!

I do still get some criticism from people--not as much as I used to. Lots more people I know have started hsing since I began 5 years ago.But, just try not to feel 'bad' about what they say. They are usually people who wouldn't hs for the same spiritual or emotional reasons you do, and all the talking in the world isn't going to let them see your point of view. I just kinda change the conversation, or walk away! Most are people I don't even know-just random comments at public places. Just keep the peace--especially if your kids are standing right there~!! HA!!! Not good to blow up at people to defend what you believe in. I know.

There are so many websites now, and so much to choose from.And according to whatever state you are in(Aren't u in Texas also?), so much freedom.Texas is the best for hsing!!! But even in states where you have to keep up with curr. choices and days to be fulfilled--we still have freedom to pick and choose what works for each kid. My friend that does Story of the World for History, has it on CD, so every time they get in the car, it's playing. So, she can make good use of traveling time-even if it's just to church, or the store, or whatever. We can find soooo many ways to make it work!!!Blessings to you!!! Keep us posted!!!

 

[disneymom3]

HomeschoolMama--I have been in your shoes. Honestly I think (and hope) that 6th grade is the hardest year to homeschool when you have younger kids too. I did it last year and felt like I was failing everyone. The youngest weren't getting anything out of what we were doing because it was too hard and the oldest wasn't because it was too easy. I felt like alternately pulling out my hair and crying depending on the day. I did put DD back in school for the third trimester and that went well actually. It was however in an alternative school for gifted kids that at the time was highly selective. When she went back this fall however, things had changed. Suddenly her class size had doubled with no more staff and the age range instead of being middle school and high school was now ages 6-16. They fell into the trap of what I consider most of the problem with public school--they try to be all things to all people and it cannot be done. So, we brought her back home.

The difference in this year vs last is just amazing and what has made the difference is #1 I don't try to teach science and geography/social studies/history together anymore as I always have. My boys in 1st and 3rd have one curriculum and she has her own. The science I am using for her is just about all self directed so she works on her own. Geography we talk about together, she does her assignments and then I check them. Math same deal. Spanish is totally on her own unless she gets stuck. She is just so much more independent in her learning these days. I am here more as a resource than truly teaching her at this point.

So, my encouragement is to hang in there! And come here when you need to vent or cry or whatever!

We are going the following 2 weeks after homeschool days this time. It couldn't be helped. We are also getting APs this year though, so it worked better for us.

Dawn

I was surprised when I priced everything out that if you are going to stay onsite, going during the pay for 4, stay for 7 promotion is even cheaper than using the homeschool tickets. (The promotion is not available for the homeschool days time period.) So, we think we will be going in Feb. We could stay offsite but are really thinking we want to be on this time. Just have it in our heads, I guess.

I'm not a homeschooler (yet), but I would think that you could have a wonderful music lesson at any of the parks, but especially the magic Kingdom. Take the time to seek out the Dapper Dans and learn about four part harmony, seek out the Notorious Banjo Brothers and Bob and compare/contrast their music to the Dans. Even check out Sonny eclipse and try to figure out what style of music he sings! I think Music around the world could be a great topic for learning during your trip.

I am ansering the person you quoted here. As for education at Animal Kingdom. Study the different habitats represented by the various areas and then see the animals in replicas of their natural habitats. So, you have savanna, mountains and....why am I blanking on this...is it rainforest? Anyway, you get the idea. Make sure to go over to the area that has the animal hospital building--you take the little train there. (I am doing so well on my Disney terminology today.) Lots of hands on science throughout the whole place. REally stop and talk to the guides there and you have some geography in there too. Not book studies but I bet your kids will remember a lot about the various areas.

 

[Mouseketeer67]

Hi everyone,
Are there any homeschoolers from Louisiana here?

Angie

 

[Ashley Kees]

I'm struggling and so torn up about trying to decide about putting my oldest in public school. She's been home with me since 3rd grade and she's in 6th now.

I'm wondering if I'm able to do all three of my kids at one time. I want her to be smarter than me and I don't know if I can do the upper grades and subjects. I'm a smart person, so I know I could learn (re-learn?) along with her, but it's my sanity I worry about. I'm so stressed and overwhlemed lately.

To even think about public school and voice this hurts my heart and makes me feel like a failure and a traitor.

I just don't know who I can talk to about this. My homeschool friends will all be against public school and the moms of the dance team girls are against homeschooling. I wish I had someone who has been a homeschooling mom and had to make this decision I could talk to.

You know, homeschoolers have a notorious reputation for being anti-PS, but really, we all just want what is best for our kids, and aren't afraid to try something new. You clearly have your child's best interest in hand, try to focus on that. Ignore the "what if I am not smart enough??" demon. He is a bad man. The fact is, you are. You went through these grades, and anything new or just foggy can be suplemented. Homeschooling isfar easier now thanks to the internet, you literally have a universe of knowledge available to you. You can find tutors, other homeschool moms who are great at calculus and chemistry but are maybe not so comfortable with Shakespeare that you can swap with. It just takes creativity.

And if you decide that DD needs to go to PS, that is *gasp* fine. Hard to believe, I know, but there again, we all just want what is best for our child. Noone besides you and your family knows what's best for your family. Period. Anyone who makes you feel bad about your decisions is not worth listening to, and us homeschool moms know that mantra by heart.

So, to summarize:
1) You're doing great. We all support you.
2) We all have faith that you can do this.
3) Homeschooling with three isn't that difficult, it's just a timing issue. Give yourself time to get into the groove. Everyone makes mistakes, you are allowed to, too!
4) If you really don't feel like you can, but you still want to, there's lots of assistance you can get.
5) If you and your family decide PS is the way to go, do it! Be that mom who always chaperones, always volunteers, always helps with the homework, etc. Just because she's going to PS doesn't mean you can't be involved in it.
6) I really do think you can do it.

Ashley

 

[Ashley Kees]

BTDT. In our district, the only way to get on the advanced math track was to start in the 8th grad. No transfers, no testing, start in the 8th grade. I have a B.A. in English for a reason. It is a 4 letter word spelled M-A-T-H.

I put my oldest in PS for the 8th grade. She struggled, but found her way, mostly b/c she was headstrong and didn't give a rat's behind about cliques and politics. She had a very strong musical ability that was not being met in our small district, however, so at 16, she moved to my parents to pursue music with my former teacher and to start college early. She wound up doing the Disney College Program and is now F/T at WDW while finishing her coursework online.

I put my 2nd DD in PS for the 8th grade. She struggled a LOT. She is a much more social creature and was much more in tune with the drama that is junior high. It was disastrous and she came back home midway through the 10th grade. Her personality completely changed and she, too, moved to my parents' at 16, but for entirely different reasons. She finally said, "to heck with it", aced the GED at 17 and started college early. She wound up doing the Disney College Program and now lives with my oldest while working P/T at WDW while finishing her coursework online.

I have to tell you, 6-8 grades is a very tough time to transition into or between schools. I moved from Germany to the US between 7th and 8th grades and it set me up for a living hades for the rest of my high school years. I *begged* to be released from my suffering. I was younger than my grade-mates and had taken chemistry and computer science in the 7th grade (back when computers used punch cards and classes were not even offered in high schools yet). Being smart didn't help me much in the game of public school.

I also used to be an English teacher for 7-12 graders and can tell you that was the primary reason I chose to homeschool. I did not like what I was seeing in the schools (the things the kids don't tell their parents about) and I did not want my children exposed to that. 7th-9th were particularly bad.

My commitment to my younger 2, now that I've been through it with the older ones is, if I can't figure out how to teach it or you can't figure it out on your own, we will find someone who can. I'll hire tutors or teachers or find a co-op if necessary.

I've said it before, my philosophy of education is simple: Wake up. Start learning. There are ways to teach different grade levels at the same time in various subjects. I think it's important not to get tied up in curriculum and schedules and keeping to the perfectly designed school calendar, but just let the kids learn at their own pace. Most people I know who are successful with multiple levels and at maintaining their own sanity and some semblance of a house with food, do so without paying attention to the outside pressures.

Now may be a good time to consider your reasons for homeschooling. What kind of compromises will you make by sending her to PS? What are the risks and what mitigation techniques do you think you will have? Is your daughter prepared for the sex, drugs, and peer pressure that are prevalent at the 7-12th (even in the 6th) grades now?

Someone once told me that this journey would never be an easy one. I would face criticism from the outside, criticism from my family, and even criticism from my children at times. Whenever I'm feeling discouraged, I remember the poem by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Amazing, inspirational post! You rock! In the words of my DD5, "That post was Awesome Possum!!"

 

[Ashley Kees]

I posted a question a couple of weeks ago..then ...BOOM...I couldn't get on our computer at home.

I am taking everyones suggestions and will start doing "research" to see what is our best option.

Special thanks to KibbyCat and Ashely Kees...I appreciate the links.

You're welcome!

 

[DawnM]

It may be, but the tickets we got were $152 each and included 5 park hopper days and 4 vouchers for DisneyQuest and the waterparks. With the stay 4 and play 7, do you get anything other than the parks?

We aren't staying on site, so it doesn't matter anyway. It is still far cheaper to stay off site for us and get APs.

Dawn

I was surprised when I priced everything out that if you are going to stay onsite, going during the pay for 4, stay for 7 promotion is even cheaper than using the homeschool tickets. (The promotion is not available for the homeschool days time period.) So, we think we will be going in Feb. We could stay offsite but are really thinking we want to be on this time. Just have it in our heads, I guess.

 

[DawnM]

I taught English for many years (12) too. I was also a school counselor for an additional 4 and a half years. I think there are a couple of things I would comment on in your post.

I do not plan to send my children to the local ps for middle or high school, but most people do have some options that are far better and don't necessarily include peer pressure for sex, drinking, etc....

Magnet programs, charter schools, and private schools are all options.

What I like about the above choices is that many of them are so different than the local ps. There are fewer kids, so the hoard mentality is not as prevelent, parents are typically FAR more involved, and the academic pressure is higher, leaving far less time to get into trouble.

This next year, since my youngest will finally be school age, I do plan to do the lottery for all of my kids into the local K-12 Charter school. There is also a great new 6-12 school (charter) that just started. It currently has only 120 students and only grades 6 and 7. They will add a grade level each year.

I just don't think that it has to be an all or nothing approach.

I miss working terribly, and I am hoping that we might all be at the same school or near one another in the next year or two.

Dawn

BTDT. In our district, the only way to get on the advanced math track was to start in the 8th grad. No transfers, no testing, start in the 8th grade. I have a B.A. in English for a reason. It is a 4 letter word spelled M-A-T-H.

I put my oldest in PS for the 8th grade. She struggled, but found her way, mostly b/c she was headstrong and didn't give a rat's behind about cliques and politics. She had a very strong musical ability that was not being met in our small district, however, so at 16, she moved to my parents to pursue music with my former teacher and to start college early. She wound up doing the Disney College Program and is now F/T at WDW while finishing her coursework online.

I put my 2nd DD in PS for the 8th grade. She struggled a LOT. She is a much more social creature and was much more in tune with the drama that is junior high. It was disastrous and she came back home midway through the 10th grade. Her personality completely changed and she, too, moved to my parents' at 16, but for entirely different reasons. She finally said, "to heck with it", aced the GED at 17 and started college early. She wound up doing the Disney College Program and now lives with my oldest while working P/T at WDW while finishing her coursework online.

I have to tell you, 6-8 grades is a very tough time to transition into or between schools. I moved from Germany to the US between 7th and 8th grades and it set me up for a living hades for the rest of my high school years. I *begged* to be released from my suffering. I was younger than my grade-mates and had taken chemistry and computer science in the 7th grade (back when computers used punch cards and classes were not even offered in high schools yet). Being smart didn't help me much in the game of public school.

I also used to be an English teacher for 7-12 graders and can tell you that was the primary reason I chose to homeschool. I did not like what I was seeing in the schools (the things the kids don't tell their parents about) and I did not want my children exposed to that. 7th-9th were particularly bad.

My commitment to my younger 2, now that I've been through it with the older ones is, if I can't figure out how to teach it or you can't figure it out on your own, we will find someone who can. I'll hire tutors or teachers or find a co-op if necessary.

I've said it before, my philosophy of education is simple: Wake up. Start learning. There are ways to teach different grade levels at the same time in various subjects. I think it's important not to get tied up in curriculum and schedules and keeping to the perfectly designed school calendar, but just let the kids learn at their own pace. Most people I know who are successful with multiple levels and at maintaining their own sanity and some semblance of a house with food, do so without paying attention to the outside pressures.

Now may be a good time to consider your reasons for homeschooling. What kind of compromises will you make by sending her to PS? What are the risks and what mitigation techniques do you think you will have? Is your daughter prepared for the sex, drugs, and peer pressure that are prevalent at the 7-12th (even in the 6th) grades now?

Someone once told me that this journey would never be an easy one. I would face criticism from the outside, criticism from my family, and even criticism from my children at times. Whenever I'm feeling discouraged, I remember the poem by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

 

[graygables]

Magnet programs, charter schools, and private schools are all options.

What I like about the above choices is that many of them are so different than the local ps. There are fewer kids, so the hoard mentality is not as prevelent, parents are typically FAR more involved, and the academic pressure is higher, leaving far less time to get into trouble.

I do agree with you to a certain extent, however, in my area, none of these are options. We have an online charter school, but it did not work with my schedule. We prefer year-round school and the charter was on a traditional calendar. There were other issues. There are no B&M charter schools, no magnet programs, and only 1 private school that is the catch-all for the public school rejects (as many private schools are becoming). I also taught in a private school and the kids there were no different than those in public school except many of them had more money and free time to get into even more trouble.

I believe that parents should carefully weigh ALL of their education options for their families to decide what is best for them. If you have charter or magnet programs, by all means, they should be considered, but it's important to remember that there are probably more areas WITHOUT them than areas that do have them.

 

[disneymom3]

It may be, but the tickets we got were $152 each and included 5 park hopper days and 4 vouchers for DisneyQuest and the waterparks. With the stay 4 and play 7, do you get anything other than the parks?

We aren't staying on site, so it doesn't matter anyway. It is still far cheaper to stay off site for us and get APs.

Dawn

Oh, I agree completely! We almost always stay offsite...I know, I know, shocking isn't it?? I was just saying that I was surprised that even with the same tickets the pricing was more in our favor to stay onsite and use the 7/4 deal at another time a few weeks later than to stay onsite and use the homeschool tickets. That surprised me since the HS tickets are such a great price.