BURR...

[smitty77]

We have about 1" on the grass here (northern/central Mass), but pavement is still too warm to have it stick around.  Weatherman is calling for 2-4" by daybreak.  It takes about 4" for them to cancel school here, but the college I went to in Worcester, MA only canceled once in the 4 years I was there - for 16" of snow!!!  We would still have class for 6,8, or even 10".  Most of the students lived on campus so it was no big deal for us, but some of the professors hated it.  At the beginning of the semester, a few would tell us "If there's more than 4 or 5", I'm not holding class...."

87OldYeller: We homeschool here as well because the local school system sucks.  My wife has a degree in elementary education, so it comes natural to her.  We like it.  Benefits:
Teach the kids as fast or as slow as they need
Use lots of creative ways to deliver a lesson (my wife loves to cook with them in the kitchen a few times a week)
Take them on as many field trips as you like
Can modify daily lessons to suit child's particular mood (by this I mean, if the kid just doesn't want to do his math, beating it into him isn't constructive so take him on a woods walk and do science instead)
Can take spontaneous events and turn them into a lesson (one clear night I busted out the telescope and we did a science lesson while looking at the moon)
Even working on his pickup (yes, his, the '79 is for my 7 year old) was a classroom opportunity as we changed the oil pan (compression, lubrication, air movement)

Granted, you can do this with your kids anytime even if they are "traditionally schooled" but I think the child learns more when his entire learning experience is delivered this way.  We do our share of "book work", but the curriculum my wife teaches is much more hands on than I remember from grade school.

[choptop]

My nephew is homeschooled, and at age 7, he is way behind my daughter at age 5. Those of you who do it right are the ones that make it worth while. My sister in law, is evidence of those who dont. As a youth director, I have had several homeschooled kids. They are mostly intelligent, but lack severly in  people skills. This does not apply to all, so dont think Im condemning your kids. Like I said, it doesnt apply to those who do it right, and my hats off to you. It is better.

[smitty77]

My nephew is homeschooled, and at age 7, he is way behind my daughter at age 5. Those of you who do it right are the ones that make it worth while. My sister in law, is evidence of those who dont. As a youth director, I have had several homeschooled kids. They are mostly intelligent, but lack severly in  people skills. This does not apply to all, so dont think Im condemning your kids. Like I said, it doesnt apply to those who do it right, and my hats off to you. It is better.

I know what you mean.  We're constantly gauging his progress against other kids, and by using at-home testing.  He's about a grade level ahead in math (he LOVES math, like his old man) and where he "should" be with reading, and he reads a lot more now that he has glasses (imagine that!

We also make a concerted effort at getting him involved in sports and other activities so he doesn't grow up like a social moron.  He's the only home-schooled kid in his street-hockey league, and it's heart-warming to see him being accepted by all of the other kids as a friend even though they don't get to see him at school.  It's a multi-age league (currently in the 7-9 division), and he's even been making friends with older kids as well.  He also does horseback riding lessons once a week with a group of girls (he loves it now but he will SO thank us in another 5 or 6 years) and also attends their week-long camp in the summer.

Everyone's biggest concern with homeschooling is "he doesn't get to interact with other kids", but if you do it right this can be overcome.

[choptop]

Smitty77, you are definately doing it right. This is coming form someone who deals with many teenagers of all ages.

87Oldyeller, sorry for getting us of track.

Our snow is gone, most left before 3 oclock pm friday (the same day it came down) we dont get much of the whitestuff here, but it does get cold and windy. 25 F doesnt seem very cold but when the wind is blowing 20+mph, it gets miserable. There is nothing here to block the wind. Winter doesnt get to windy, but spring and summer, 30-40 mph isnt unusual. Thank God it doenst blow that hard when it gets 30f or below. 20 is bad enough.

[87OldYeller]

Hey it is good info all around that is what matters

[84ramcharger]

Our snow is gone, most left before 3 oclock pm friday (the same day it came down) we dont get much of the whitestuff here, but it does get cold and windy. 25 F doesnt seem very cold but when the wind is blowing 20+mph, it gets miserable. There is nothing here to block the wind. Winter doesnt get to windy, but spring and summer, 30-40 mph isnt unusual. Thank God it doenst blow that hard when it gets 30f or below. 20 is bad enough.

I honestly didn't think Texas got that chilly for the winter

I wish our snow was gone , it's stopped snowing though . We get lots of wind too , lots the last month or so  . It's been really gusty today and it's -17c or 0 f . Looks like -20f for a few days then it's gonna warmer again around the freezing mark.

I'm really glad the block heater is really good on the 454 so I don't have to idle it for 15 mins to get heat

[smitty77]

I wish our snow was gone , it's stopped snowing though . We get lots of wind too , lots the last month or so  . It's been really gusty today and it's -17c or 0 f . Looks like -20f for a few days then it's gonna warmer again around the freezing mark.

I'm really glad the block heater is really good on the 454 so I don't have to idle it for 15 mins to get heat

I like the cold and winter, but I don't know if I could deal with your weather.  We've seen -10f here a few times, even had a -15.8 for a few hours early one morning last year, and that's as cold as I can stand.  Even days in the single digits with a 15mph breeze get uncomfortable quick.  I can't imagine -20f for days.  That's COLD!

[84ramcharger]

I wish our snow was gone , it's stopped snowing though . We get lots of wind too , lots the last month or so  . It's been really gusty today and it's -17c or 0 f . Looks like -20f for a few days then it's gonna warmer again around the freezing mark.

I'm really glad the block heater is really good on the 454 so I don't have to idle it for 15 mins to get heat

I like the cold and winter, but I don't know if I could deal with your weather.  We've seen -10f here a few times, even had a -15.8 for a few hours early one morning last year, and that's as cold as I can stand.  Even days in the single digits with a 15mph breeze get uncomfortable quick.  I can't imagine -20f for days.  That's COLD!

-40 f is cold for me lol , last winter my 87 grand prix died at work , My lower rad hose blew then not even 2 mins of running again the coil went so did the cap coil and plugs and wires at the same time ..  All outside no heat at -40f with a 25 mph wind .. it was fun lol

We all know how well winter gloves and tools mix 

[low budget]

Smitty 77  Keep up the good work homeschooling!  My oldest daughter is 20 and graduated from homeschooling.  She then went and took an adult education class in Medical Terminology, received straight A's with the big words she had to learn to spell for that, and landed a really good job in a local hospital making good money.  She works in Central Scheduling where she sets up testing and surgeries for the different patients.  She is talking to different people everyday.  I have a niece that was homeschooled and is going to collage right now to be a nurse.  She is flying through the classes with ease and has an "A" so far.

chop Never fear, girls usually do advance faster then the boys.  It will click for him one of these days.  He might be picking up more then you think

As for the kids lacking severly in people skills, not my kids.  They are very active in our church and get along great with the other kids.  Sunday we had 45 kids in the youth class, so there were plenty of kids to talk to.  They just came back from National Youth Convention at Opery Land.  They had a great time and are still telling the stories about it.  Lacking severly in people skills doesn't happen in my house.
I didn't mean to take us back off the weather subject, but wanted to tell my homeschooling stories...


The weather here is getting worse.  I think we are getting the stuff you guys out west had.  Snow, sleet, and high wind's are in the forcast for tomorrow.  The high of 28 deg. also.       

[choptop]

We had 40-50mph sustained winds today with gusts over 60mph. Tempertaure changes Im ok with, wind just puts me in a bad mood. And I know Im in the wrong region for that, but after 36 years here, I dont see moving anytime soon.

[87OldYeller]

Yea well we went from snow to nice temp and now tornado's 4 sighted. and the hotel i am in is getting beat pretty bad had a few chunks of something hit the building. *L* ain't sure what it was but it is broke now...

[LUV2XCLR8]

Snowed 7 times in last 10 years here 

[ccz145a]

My backyard last Thursday
Halfway between Galveston and Houston is where I finally ended up after the move from B'ham AL in September.

[campcrf]

-39c here yesturday, checked the antifreeze in the parked 81... now it is only -15 today... looks like its warming up... lol