trixi282, have you tried mint.com? You might be able to add your bank and track expenditures better on there. You can label transactions, tag them, or categorize any way you want. We love it.
Something I could look at, I've heard that before. Thanks for the suggestion I just hate having a million different logins... I already have too many, haha.
1. Part of me really wants to home school Emmett for elementary school. I am a certified elementary teacher with an advanced degree in language and literacy. I have also passed the tests to teach math and science in middle school, I just need one more class (I took a class that the state of CT said was good enough, but MA disagrees) to become certified for that. I have been checking out preschools in the area and I am not satisfied with their literacy programs and it is really pissing me off. I don't think I ever would homeschool though because I could never make up for the social aspects of school.
2. I would take snow over rain any day. I hate the rain. (This is very unpopular in the Boston area this year).
I have my MS in ED as a reading specialist. I feel the same way as you. I plan on doing a lot of supplemental work in literacy. We considered homeschooling, but decided against it because of the social aspect.
I have no intention of paying upfront for Anderson's college tuition. In fact, I don't necessarily feel it is my duty. He can take out loans in his name, and I will assist him with them upon graduation. And yes, I will help him along the way with books, housing, groceries, etc. But if he doesn't do well or drops out that is on him.
My parents paid for about half of my college tuition at a mid-range price-wise school and I have loans for the remaining costs. Looking back, my frugal self wishes I would have gone to a less expensive state school or had been forced to think more critically about what having student loans would mean (well, except then I wouldn't have met H or be having this chat with you ladies now). But going to college after graduating HS was just the next step. I had a really vague idea of what I wanted to do with my life at 18 (who am I kidding, it's not that much clearer now), so putting all of that money into a degree you're not certain about doesn't make sense to me. I think it should be more acceptable to delay beginning college until you get a better sense of what you want to do. Maybe that is at 18 for some, but I think I could have benefited from more exploration.
I have no intention of paying upfront for Anderson's college tuition. In fact, I don't necessarily feel it is my duty. He can take out loans in his name, and I will assist him with them upon graduation. And yes, I will help him along the way with books, housing, groceries, etc. But if he doesn't do well or drops out that is on him.
My parents paid for about half of my college tuition at a mid-range price-wise school and I have loans for the remaining costs. Looking back, my frugal self wishes I would have gone to a less expensive state school or had been forced to think more critically about what having student loans would mean (well, except then I wouldn't have met H or be having this chat with you ladies now). But going to college after graduating HS was just the next step. I had a really vague idea of what I wanted to do with my life at 18 (who am I kidding, it's not that much clearer now), so putting all of that money into a degree you're not certain about doesn't make sense to me. I think it should be more acceptable to delay beginning college until you get a better sense of what you want to do. Maybe that is at 18 for some, but I think I could have benefited from more exploration.
That's exactly what my problem was. I had no idea what I wanted to do when I graduated high school, so instead of going to a university, I went to community college. It actually helped me decide and then after 3 years I was able to go into a program at a university that I wanted to major in. I would have wasted a lot of time and money if I had gone to a university straight out of high school.
trixi282, have you tried mint.com? You might be able to add your bank and track expenditures better on there. You can label transactions, tag them, or categorize any way you want. We love it.
Something I could look at, I've heard that before. Thanks for the suggestion I just hate having a million different logins... I already have too many, haha.
That's exactly why I love it. I've linked all my accounts so I just log in once and they all update automatically. They've now added another site for paying bills so that's neat too.
Post by xanthepants on Mar 5, 2015 15:15:43 GMT -5
lainikins, sarahandeddie, See but both of you are completely capable of homeschooling and doing it for the right reasons. You have the education and background, you understand the gaps in your knowledge and would seek out supplements. And I'm sure you would seek out a way to get the socialization aspect if you wanted to go that route. I don't think homeschooling is the devil. I get why people would sometimes choose it over their other options. But I think as parents we should evaluate our own limitations or circumstances too (like you two obviously have put a lot of thought into it).
My parents paid for about half of my college tuition at a mid-range price-wise school and I have loans for the remaining costs. Looking back, my frugal self wishes I would have gone to a less expensive state school or had been forced to think more critically about what having student loans would mean (well, except then I wouldn't have met H or be having this chat with you ladies now). But going to college after graduating HS was just the next step. I had a really vague idea of what I wanted to do with my life at 18 (who am I kidding, it's not that much clearer now), so putting all of that money into a degree you're not certain about doesn't make sense to me. I think it should be more acceptable to delay beginning college until you get a better sense of what you want to do. Maybe that is at 18 for some, but I think I could have benefited from more exploration.
That's exactly what my problem was. I had no idea what I wanted to do when I graduated high school, so instead of going to a university, I went to community college. It actually helped me decide and then after 3 years I was able to go into a program at a university that I wanted to major in. I would have wasted a lot of time and money if I had gone to a university straight out of high school.
I had a math teacher in HS who used to say that we should do two years of HS and then 2 years of a junior college. He thought that students could have more time to figure out what they wanted, where they fit, and more of a college structure. He is probably right.
lainikins, sarahandeddie, See but both of you are completely capable of homeschooling and doing it for the right reasons. You have the education and background, you understand the gaps in your knowledge and would seek out supplements. And I'm sure you would seek out a way to get the socialization aspect if you wanted to go that route. I don't think homeschooling is the devil. I get why people would sometimes choose it over their other options. But I think as parents we should evaluate our own limitations or circumstances too (like you two obviously have put a lot of thought into it).
My sister has 6 kids - she teaches 3 of them currently. She has a degree in engineering and was an all around great student throughout HS and college so she isn't just math and science minded. She had her two oldest in private catholic school but the expense was too great. She wanted to combine a traditional education with a religious one. I think she's crazy in that I have no idea how she can teach with a 4, 2, and newborn around but she has a curriculum that she follows and her kids are advanced in all areas so far. She is doing an awesome job.
BUT I really hope she doesn't plan to teach them into high school. Although she is a very smart person, I think she would be lacking if she tried to teach all subject matter at that level. That combines with the socialization that you get I feel HS is important if your kids plan to go away to college.
Where I live, a university town, there is a lot of homeschooling going on; however, they do it in co-ops. The students go to certified teachers for content and do supplemental work at home with their moms. They also go to different people for the "arts" portion of the state requirements for a high school diploma. My MIL teaches piano as part of the music arts program. Most of the kids I know that are in these co-ops are very smart and would place in advance courses in school. The homeschool students are also eligible to participate in their zoned schools' sports and extra-curricular activities. I think it is set up great here.
I am also of the mind that JA is likely my only baby so I plan on celebrating every birthday and making as many great memories as I can. Once each age passes, I won't get to do it again.
I really wish you all could meet my kids. I know there are ridiculous homeschool families out there but they give the rest of us a bad rap. My kids are around other people every.single.day. They are social and wonderful human beings. They can carry on conversations with adults and can show care for children younger than them without batting an eye.
I really wish you all could meet my kids. I know there are ridiculous homeschool families out there but they give the rest of us a bad rap. My kids are around other people every.single.day. They are social and wonderful human beings. They can carry on conversations with adults and can show care for children younger than them without batting an eye.
I was just going to say that we should ask momskie about this!
Well starfishy you could meet up with us someday and vouch for my sanity or insanity?! I do not disagree with a lot of what you guys are saying but it isn't always like that. I am sure it all depends where you live. The requirements are so vastly different from state to state. I am surrounded by co-ops and field trips to amazing places. We live only about an hour from the city. We get help for things we may not be strong in. Most of our kids start taking Jr. college courses around 15 or 16. The socialization thing just doesn't fly around here. We are involved in activities regularly, gymnastics, drums, guitar, art class, library functions, plays, dance and the list goes on. I bring my kids to activities including seasonal sports about 4 or 5 days a week. I honestly don't think we could be any more social. Honestly, if I lived somewhere that I could send my kids to school and feel they were getting an all around great experience I would probably do it. You think I relish being with them all.damn.day?! Seriously though, it works for us and it is what we feel is best. I am grateful that we all get to choose (not chose what is best for each of our children and that we all try to do what is best.
momskie, if I am financially able to cut my schedule down in a few years, I would do the homeschool co-ops here with JA. I would love the flexibility of it all too. Although the public school here is highly ranked, it is also HUGE. I graduated in a class of 98 people. I don't like the idea of JA being 1 of several hundred (like 700) in a graduating class. We may do private school just because of that feeling alone. My husband graduated from this same system but at the time his class was only like 200. It has grown exponentially over the last 20 years. They discussed developing two school systems but parents wouldn't have it because of the reputation the current system has of being so great. No one wanted to be associated with the "other" system. They all worry more about the name than the fact that it is the same freaking people teaching there. I think it is crazy. So instead they are constructing a whole new campus to just house 2 grades (11th and 12th) because the current high school buildings can't hold them all.
ETA: I can't imagine how big it will be by the time JA would attend middle school and up. The elementary schools aren't as bad because there are several of them zoned to neighborhoods.
See I know my one friend that I mentioned does a lot of the activities and gets out of the house with her kids a lot to do music, art, sports, etc. So they are socialized quite a bit.
I just don't like the fact that some (I know not all) people that homeschool don't have that higher education in anything... I think it really works for some, but I know once kids hit a certain age, they should have supplemental schooling to help them with the courses and levels of education that they require for higher ed, or to do some sort of career. I don't discredit all homeschooling, but I certainly judge those who do it on their own without adequate help to fill gaps where needed.
momskie, if I am financially able to cut my schedule down in a few years, I would do the homeschool co-ops here with JA. I would love the flexibility of it all too. Although the public school here is highly ranked, it is also HUGE. I graduated in a class of 98 people. I don't like the idea of JA being 1 of several hundred (like 700) in a graduating class. We may do private school just because of that feeling alone. My husband graduated from this same system but at the time his class was only like 200. It has grown exponentially over the last 20 years. They discussed developing two school systems but parents wouldn't have it because of the reputation the current system has of being so great. No one wanted to be associated with the "other" system. They all worry more about the name than the fact that it is the same freaking people teaching there. I think it is crazy. So instead they are constructing a whole new campus to just house 2 grades (11th and 12th) because the current high school buildings can't hold them all.
ETA: I can't imagine how big it will be by the time JA would attend middle school and up. The elementary schools aren't as bad because there are several of them zoned to neighborhoods.
Our HS went through the same thing when I was in MS... they started the process and actually built a new NS and a new HS in our area (literally down the road like 2 miles) and it was REALLY rough the first few years.
Our year was, at the time, the largest they had seen and they knew they couldn't fit us all in that building without a HUGE addition or a new building. They were literally in panic mode when we all hit 6th grade and they had no space for us all - so the MS was built as was the HS directly following. A few of my friends started in one MS and switched to another for 8th grade when it was complete.
What helped the transition is they did allow kids already established in one high school to "open enroll" in that school even if they were zoned for the other so they could finish with their friends, etc. My freshman year was the first year the new HS was open (I didn't attend it), and it helped so drastically. So basically the first year the new HS was open there was no Sr. class.... the second year it was a very small Sr. Class.... But the third year it was nearly a "normal class" and so on.
The "other" school was well established with a great reputation in just a few short years. And the rivalry is till VERY strong between our two schools
Sometimes they have to do what is right for the students and the community, regardless of what the parents want.... Or they just need to rebuild the school/add onto it. That's what TC Williams HS in Virginia did (you know the Titans... from the movie "We are the Titans")
momskie, if I am financially able to cut my schedule down in a few years, I would do the homeschool co-ops here with JA. I would love the flexibility of it all too. Although the public school here is highly ranked, it is also HUGE. I graduated in a class of 98 people. I don't like the idea of JA being 1 of several hundred (like 700) in a graduating class. We may do private school just because of that feeling alone. My husband graduated from this same system but at the time his class was only like 200. It has grown exponentially over the last 20 years. They discussed developing two school systems but parents wouldn't have it because of the reputation the current system has of being so great. No one wanted to be associated with the "other" system. They all worry more about the name than the fact that it is the same freaking people teaching there. I think it is crazy. So instead they are constructing a whole new campus to just house 2 grades (11th and 12th) because the current high school buildings can't hold them all.
ETA: I can't imagine how big it will be by the time JA would attend middle school and up. The elementary schools aren't as bad because there are several of them zoned to neighborhoods.
My high school graduating class was 711 people and I LOVED it. Because there were some many students the school was able to offer a wide range of classes, which gave me so many more opportunities. The school offers just about every AP class, 4 languages, tons to tech/votech classes, a wide range of. Art and music classes, and multiple electives in the "core" subjects. I had more opportunities than are offered at the "prestigious" (super expensive!) High schools were I live now, mainly because we had so many kids
momskie, I think it is great what you are doing for your kids. I know that there are ways around many of the social issues, but the social aspect that I have the hardest time getting around is the shared cultural experience of school as well as the diversity. I think that it is important to be exposed people of all different backgrounds and people of different levels. I am a strong proponent of inclusion for both the students in the special education program as well as the people in the general education programs and I can't wrap my mind around how I could provide those opportunities. Is there a way that you have found to provide your kids with those experiences? I know that there is more good in homeschooling than there are the people who give it a bad name. It is often the bad that gets the publicity unfortunately.
Post by Riverdong11 on Mar 5, 2015 18:43:53 GMT -5
I'm with paddyb. I graduated with 500 kids and the size doesn't bother me at all. We had tons of activities and resources available since we had so many students. None of the private schools in our area could get anywhere near offering the same variety of classes or activities or even honor classes.
I'm so tired of getting birthday party and baby shower invites via FB. If you are a grown enough adult to have a child or you want me to attend your child's birthday and shell out some money for a gift, then you should be grown enough to get invitations and send it to me through the mail.
I'm so tired of getting birthday party and baby shower invites via FB. If you are a grown enough adult to have a child or you want me to attend your child's birthday and shell out some money for a gift, then you should be grown enough to get invitations and send it to me through the mail.
Really? I love how efficient it is to organize things through FB. People can cancel last minute, add comments if they're late, etc etc.
I would never send invites through the mail today, except for a wedding or something major. I'll do paper invites, maybe, for the kids' birthdays, but I'll be handing them out in person.
Like paddyb said our school had so many amazing academic opportunities and extra curricular activities. We had an art program that actually rivaled college programs, and a music program that won a Grammy for music education my junior year. I felt very lucky to attend a big school with so many opportunities.
I'm so tired of getting birthday party and baby shower invites via FB. If you are a grown enough adult to have a child or you want me to attend your child's birthday and shell out some money for a gift, then you should be grown enough to get invitations and send it to me through the mail.
Really? I love how efficient it is to organize things through FB. People can cancel last minute, add comments if they're late, etc etc.
I would never send invites through the mail today, except for a wedding or something major. I'll do paper invites, maybe, for the kids' birthdays, but I'll be handing them out in person.
I agree! Mailing invites to family members for a kids birthday is a waste of money, that I would rather spend on the party itself, in my opinion! I mailed wedding invites and thank you's but that's about it! Haha
I guess it will be surprising to y'all but my little school had what you describe in your big schools. We were advanced for the mid-90's in that we did some distance ed through live video stream with the University of Alabama. My boyfriend took Japanese from a UA professor. He had to call in and do his speaking exams over the phone. We also had things like drafting classes and mechanical drawing. We had art and culinary classes. We had AP classes for all the subject areas. We also could do transient classes with the local junior college to earn college credit in high school. I got my history and Great Books credit before ever graduating. Small doesn't always equal lack of resources or opportunities. Also, I knew everyone in my class and all the teachers in the school knew us. I like that sense of community.
Really? I love how efficient it is to organize things through FB. People can cancel last minute, add comments if they're late, etc etc.
I would never send invites through the mail today, except for a wedding or something major. I'll do paper invites, maybe, for the kids' birthdays, but I'll be handing them out in person.
I agree! Mailing invites to family members for a kids birthday is a waste of money, that I would rather spend on the party itself, in my opinion! I mailed wedding invites and thank you's but that's about it! Haha
I just hate how people rely so much on fb. What about those who don't use fb or don't use it very often? How will they find out about it? It just seems so impersonal. Also, it forces people to say yes or no. It drives me nuts when people say "maybe" on fb invites. That's basically just a nice way of saying no. And If someone wants to tell me they are running late or cancel last minute, they should call me. It's just common courtesy.
I don't really like FB invites for things, but for a kids birthday party or other event I totally use Evite. Not everyone is on FB, but most people I know (except my grandpa) at least have email, so I can send evites.
Sometimes it's nice to get a paper invite, but I didn't want to spend extra time and money to send paper invites last year for J's baptism and birthday. It was easy to personalize, and easy to send and update when something changed.
I'm so tired of getting birthday party and baby shower invites via FB. If you are a grown enough adult to have a child or you want me to attend your child's birthday and shell out some money for a gift, then you should be grown enough to get invitations and send it to me through the mail.
Really? I love how efficient it is to organize things through FB. People can cancel last minute, add comments if they're late, etc etc.
I would never send invites through the mail today, except for a wedding or something major. I'll do paper invites, maybe, for the kids' birthdays, but I'll be handing them out in person.
I don't rely on fb, although all my family, grandpa and grandma's included, do have it! I actually usually just call or let them know in person. I am lucky in the fact that we all live pretty close together!
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