One-Sixteenth

I have a standard answer for this one: http://www.amazon.com/What-Third-Grader-Needs-Revised/dp/0385336268

The lists are so extensive that there's no way anyone would ever learn it all. But it's a decent jumping off point to help clarify what YOU decide is and is not important.

I agree with you here.

Sometimes, when a parent takes a child out of school because it is a bad situation, it makes sense to give the child a break. At that point, the parent can see what the state standards are. However, they are theoretical--at least in our state there are so many standards for each grade (87 social studies standards for 4th grade for example) that no teacher can possibly teach to them all. But it does give a starting point.
However, it seems logical to think that after the shock wears off, the homeschooling evolves.

After the parent has "done the homework" as you put it is the time to ask questions on message boards. Questions like: we are considering two different math programs, X and Y. Has anyone used these? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each? And so on. A question like that shows some seriousness of purpose.

However, I do think that sometimes parents new to homeschooling are worried that their kids won't "keep up." And sometimes this precipitates that "what should my child be doing in third grade" kind of question.

I find this particularly annoying on message boards that are connected to a book. Maybe there's a reason the author dedicated all that time to writing the darn thing, eh?

I was one of those askers three years ago, when we started hs'ing abruptly partway through our eldest's first grade year. The questions I had answered were an incredible help, and I try to pay that help back by offering assistance and suggestions to other new hs'ers on my various lists; I'm not a board girl, though (because aside from the fact that I'm on dial-up, the folks who need help with too much zucchini or chicken or who need brand recommendations for a dishwasher, let alone curriculum, send me round the twist).

As an aside, I think it can get confusing with all the ever-growing possibilities available, and if, like me, you live in the boonies, you don't even get a chance to see any of the books firsthand before ordering anything.

But what REALLY cheeses me off are the questions from hs'ing parents who have been doing this at least as long as I have, who come back every year and aks, "What do I do this year for English, or Science, or Math? How do I make this work?" I'm all for helping folks get on their feet, but geez, why do they still need propping up after the third or fourth or fifth year?

Oh dear. Not enough coffee. I misread the original question, Stephanie, as focusing on curriculum rather than scope and sequence. Drew's comment set me straight. Yes, if you've read the book or the program, you should have a general idea of what you want to cover. But my pet peeve still stands :)

Let me share what set me off, and maybe it will be more clear.

Last week, one particular post on the Well-Trained Mind board caught my eye. It was from a woman who said she had a 3rd grader, and asked what she should be doing for English. The respondents gave her the WTM list for 3rd grade.

it bugged me because the woman didn't ask "What does the Well-Trained Mind recommend for 3rd grade?" She didn't ask for opinion on different programs, or for guidance as she made decisions. I tried to read her post in some other way but I could not: She had not given the matter any thought.

Now ... asking "What does the WTM say?" or "Does this sound about right for 3rd grade?" or "We've just started homeschooling and I don't know where to start ..." those all show me that you're at least thinking. But her post did not, and it's not the only one I've seen.

Hopefully I am reading them the wrong way.

Does it not raise anyone else's hackles to see people being told what they *should* teach at each grade level? Maybe it's just me and my allergy to state standards? (Or maybe it's that the woman who answered first is someone I consider a know-it-all who thinks everyone should homeschool her way? *cough*)

But when I see these questions that don't give any evidence of thought behind them, I want the entire board to rise up and say, "Gosh, I don't know. Here are some possibilities. What are your goals?" The pat answers bother me more than the questions.