Several units from The Good and the beautiful...really like it! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Another idea would be to look at either Layers of Learning or The Good and the Beautiful which has more of unit studies instead of one year in the same history area.

I have taught all three of my sons Latin (though I didn't know it at all when we started out 8 years ago) using Latin for Children followed by Latin Alive. I tried Latina Christiana but didn't like the cd recording's accent at that time (very southern). Our process was to watch the video on the first day of the week and do the chants together and discuss any grammar concepts. Then on T, W, Th we do the chant aloud (takes 5 mins) together, then the student does the memory work and an activity page (cross words and games of that type). On Thursday I usually do a larger piece of translation using the Libellus Historia (history reader), Friday is the chant and quiz. Classical Academic Press also has online free vocabulary games for each of their products if the student needs extra practice. I have been very happy with Latin for Children and will be in LFC Primer C with my youngest son this upcoming year. My oldest son took two years of Latin in highschool and made A's without much effort.

When my kids were a little younger I tried Wayfarers by Barefoot Meandering and loved it! Wayfarers is a mix of Charlotte Mason and Classical. I've tried alot of the different curricula out there and this was my favorite by far. You can combine any ages but it's understood that there are things that can't be combined..you can keep everyone on the same topics in history, science, bible, nutrition, poetry, music and art they break apart for their own math, english/grammar, personal reading, and language study. She has free samples to view on her website that show the full lists of book selections (I love that there are choices and options but nothing is required!). Full disclosure - I am selling Ancient History on the for sale board. :P

A Morning Basket time could be just the thing, for instance, a music/hymn study, nature/art/poetry, also geography. Reading Children Like Me or Material World along with other resources to study the people of wherever you are reading in your history or social studies. Monday - Poem of the week (you could have youngers color a simple picture to go with it), study a type of plant that grows in your area (could be pictures or a walk in the neighborhood) Tuesday - Aesop's fable (coloring for younger), listen to a pc of classical music (pick a composer and study several of his pieces) I used SQUILT for this and liked it. Wednesday - review the poem of the week, read from Geography (I also like the Ann Voskamp style -Child's Geography of the World -for short readings that I like to corelate to my history study), Material World or something the kids can relate to Thursday - review classical composer/composer study, listen to music Friday - Poetry review, drawing with children (maybe draw the plant you studied or something that ties in) You set up your morning basket with things like this plus any extras that you want in your family such as morning devotionals, read alouds from other school work, Charlotte Mason hymn studies, whatever you like! Then combine all the kids for read alouds, history (older children would be expected to produce more in narrations or w/e) and can even combine in science just expecting deeper understanding or produced work from older students.

I went through something similar with my Aspie son about two years ago when he was 16. Both dh and I talked to him about the warping of values and our concerns but also talked to him about normal sexual development. At that time we removed the computer from his bedroom (again). Just in the last week we moved the computer back to his room. He is 18 now and starting community college in the fall, the room where it previously was gets pretty warm during the summer in Florida. But he knows that if he lives in our house he still has to follow our rules regarding no pornography. So I'm giving him room but also will check in occasionally. I would agree with pp that my Aspie is emotionally and socially 2-3 years delayed while intellectually quite advanced so it's always a balancing act.

I've used this over the last few years, it helps my blonde and gray roots look less brassy. https://www.amazon.com/Clairol-Shimmer-Lights-Original-Shampoo/dp/B000TC0LFS/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1494677812&sr=1-5&keywords=purple%2Bshampoo%2Bfor%2Bblonde%2Bhair&th=1

My older boys (17 & 14) both have fine motor problems and have not learned cursive, my oldest has ASD and middle son has sensory issues. So handwriting is something I haven't really focused on with them, just doing the basics and making sure both can type. My youngest is 10, will be doing 5th grade work. He has some handedness issues (he writes with his left and isn't sure what to do with other things, mostly uses right - as do I) but has better fine motor control than his brothers. K-1st we homeschooled, he was delayed with his reading but I finally got him reading and doing a little writing. Then I taught at a small private school for two years where he had a nice teacher but she didn't focus on his handwriting or any particular program. We did 4th grade at home this past year and I've tried several different workbooks/programs to improve his writing without much success (HWOT and dimestore books). I'm interested in Getty Dubay Italics/Cursive (I'm using Easy Classical for history and I like their matching copybooks that were just released today!). I looked at the Getty Dubay website and was wondering if there are any recommendations for learning GD with an older student, do you need to start with Book A? or use the adult version (Write Now) with blackline practice pages? Other ideas?

My oldest son (Aspie 17) has been taking Vyvanse for the past 4 years. He initially started with too high of a dose (40mg) and had a bad reaction, after seeing a psychiatrist she reduced his dosage to 20mg and he stayed on that for about 3 years. He was recently moved up to 30mg because he was having more trouble with attention and focus. The vyvanse started working very quickly. Watch for depression, mania (too high of a dosage), also possible hives or rash..that would be a sure sign that you should stop the meds immediately. Hope it works for you!

I have another difficult MIL here, dh is her only child and furthermore he was raised by his father and step-mother, MIL only had him every other weekend. But she still thinks she knows it all, how to raise kids, what I should do ... She lived with us for 10 (?) months a while back and finally I had to tell my husband that she had to move and if he had a problem with it he could get an apartment with her and was welcome to see the kids whenever he wanted. Couldnottakeitanymore! We never threaten stuff like that but I didn't know what else to do at that point. She cried every time he brought up the not getting along and her needing to move (she planned to stay a month or two until she found a job, but she was too good for the only kinds of jobs she qualified for). Anyway, she left behind tons of boxes when she left and I had to be on the receiving end of her deciding whenever she would/could drive down to get them. I just made plans with the kids and smiled in passing as we left. I don't go out of my way to start fights but I simply choose not to be involved in her drama. I've tried talking to her and she truly doesn't understand what my problem is. Taking care of myself means that I have chosen to avoid her whenever I can. I encourage my husband to visit with her occasionally, take her out to dinner, buy holiday cards and even let her have the kids now and then (which we have to finance because she is living on the results of poor life choices), but that's what I can live with myself. Hang in there and good luck getting your boxes in the house without killing anyone!

Or chips if you need to keep it simple! :)

I would recommend that you look into Charlotte Mason - the idea is having the kids spend lots of time outside and listening to good books, poetry, learn songs and folk tales. The older children definitely do need some time spent doing math but it can be as simple as them helping you count fruit for your smoothies, helping with the shopping. Basic number knowledge, addition and subtraction. Play Uno and other board games, let the oldest two help with the scoring. Junior Monopoly - teach them to be the banker. :) Doing arts and crafts are a good way to develop hand strength and fine motor control. There are lots of (free) resources online, Ambleside Online gives reading lists, Simply Charlotte Mason sells pdf's and printed curricula. Mostly enjoy this time as best you can, expose them to lots of good words and literature and let them play and explore nature. :)

Gravitas Press - RS4K (for grammar or middle school), they have it by subject or grade level (called Building Blocks of Science). ElementalScience.com R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey - Pandia Press MrQ - eequalsmcq.com

I'm considering using the Building Blocks of Science this fall with my upcoming 5th grader. I've found it for sale at Rainbow Resources ($109.95 for text, lab book and teacher's manual) and at GravitasPress.com (134.00 with text lab book and teacher's manual plus lesson plans and quizzes). Has anyone used Building Blocks of Science that can speak to whether the lesson plans are useful? Thanks!

Hi guys, I'm trying to figure out what to do with my upcoming fifth grader for next year. His older brothers are covered, one in virtual school, the other in a two day a week prep school for 9th grade. So I won't be integrating multiple children this year. We are doing Year 2, Medieval in history, Read alouds that go with that and geography reading scheduled from Wayfarers. I was considering doing RS4K Focus on Middle School Astrology and Geology (Fall/Spring) but wondered if anyone had tried RS4K Building Blocks of Science that has 4 chapters per science topic (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astrology, Geology) and goes over the whole year. I guess it's part of the question of studying many different topics in younger grades vs immersion in one topic. This year we have done almost nothing but Botany/Biology and it's been tolerable but I don't think particularly memorable or interesting for my kids. Thoughts?

10 seems a little young for puberty, but then I know everyone matures differently. With my middle son (just turned 14) I noticed last year that he needed more room to breath, encouragement and cajoling to get his work done. Also I had to just let him sleep in later and not worry about getting everything done by lunch.

I have had good experiences with buying from local breeders and also from rescues. We currently have three dogs (my mom lives with us and has one dog then kinda took over one I got for myself). She has a Peekapoo (pekingese-poodle) and we have a Shihpoo, about two years ago we met with someone from our church who had a family health tragedy and needed to find a new home for their Peekachoo (pekingese-shih tzu supposedly) and he's been my favorite dog in a long time. Very quiet, rarely barks, good energy, but restful in the home. He likes every one in the house but pekingese are known to be one person dogs, he has bonded primarily with me and is my little anti-anxiety, feel good baby. For a lap dog I would wish him to be a little lighter on his feet (he weighs around 18lbs but has big, heavy feet) but I understand that the previous owners also had his sister who was only about 5lbs. With mixed breeds especially those features can be a tossup. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Another INTJ here - I relate to you all!! My natural introversion has been "enhanced" shall we say by the onset of fibromyalgia within the past ten years. I'm pretty sure that the two years I spent getting oldest ds dx'd with autism, middle son being a preemie and FTT baby right along with providing full time care for a bedridden grandmother who lived with us and broke her pelvis a week after the move exacerbated my condition. I second the audiobooks and headphones! I get out of my house at least once a day by myself to walk my dog and listen to escapist fiction. (SF/Fantasy is my cup of tea) I also tend to listen to books while I cook and do general cleaning. My kids are finally old enough to be fairly self-sufficient and I'm teaching them all to be in charge of their own laundry and general maintenance but they all still need me checking in regularly to make sure school gets done. My ipad has been my second savior...I can play a mindless little game while sitting in the same room to keep the sniping to a minimum and keep everyone on task (reading, writing, math). Read alouds work here and lots of solo or just one on one work. I hate crafts and co-ops are a real challenge for me. I have to really push myself to get my kids out of the house, fortunately they are mostly introverts too but I struggle with feeling that they are missing out because I'm their mom. :( Middle son (most extroverted of the bunch) is starting a two day a week classical prep-homeschooling "tutoring" school this fall for ninth grade. He will be with me at home the rest of the week but in classes Monday and Wednesday with an outside teacher to grade the classes he is taking there. Expensive but I think worth the try, our public school options aren't an option for him. Chocolate! Books! Netflix on my iPad. And I admit to spending too much time on the computer, researching curricula, teaching methods, books and playing games. ;) Edited to add: I'm married to a major Extrovert and we have had those same discussions through the years, me needing the alone time and being grouchy if he comes home early. Since our move last October he has been *working* from home and we are still adjusting - he needing more people to talk to all the time, me telling him that I'm not that people! LOL I encourage him to go to lunch out with friends as often as he can and get his words out. We also practice him having a guys night out to play games with other married friends most weekends. I gives me a little more quiet and peace.

I am another mom using BA along with Singapore with my 10 year old. He was in private school for the past two years and not challenged at all with math so we had to back up and used BA 3A-D and Singapore 3A&B this year alternating days. My son seems to enjoy the cartoons and I really like the word problems and different ways of thinking about math that BA teaches, while doing basic math reviews and measurement, fractions, etc...in Singapore. I went to engineering college so I'm pretty good with math but I learn new things from BA. My FIL was also an engineer and I tend to think of this son as being most likely to follow in our footsteps.

I recently moved back to Duval County and transitioned my 17 year old from FLVS to Duval FLVS (though it may all be the same). We officially only go "part time" though I am not doing anything outside of the FLVS classes for his education. By being a part time student he can take as few or many classes as he can handle, he still has to finish them in the 16 weeks per semester time frame. The teacher's we have been mostly great and very good at giving feedback and assistance to my 2E(ish) Aspie. I guess this is the same as the flex option mentioned by the OP. The downside of doing the part time option is that he won't graduate through the school system, it will still be a homeschool "diploma" and transcripts, but all of his classes are being graded by the teachers. My plans at this point are for him to get a part time job this year and graduate in the next 12-18 months then start at community college while he continues maturing emotionally. My son schools pretty much year round with a week at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and a week or two in the summer - plus maybe only two classes in the summer instead of the three or four he usually does during the school year. When he finishes one class I have him start another one within a few weeks. It's been a life saver for our family and I'm happy with his overall education. It allows me to focus on two younger siblings and some health problems and a live in parent who needs my support. HTH!

PAL + AAR was the only thing that worked for my youngest and it was fun - game based activities. :)

Wayfarers could also work, since noone else has mentioned it. You keep the kids together in what they are learning, combine them all for read alouds, bible, geography, history and science but she suggests different options for the spread of ages for their solo work/reading. It's been my best year of combining kids so far.

I found Beast Academy to be a year ahead (by number level vs grade level.) So, my 4th grader did 3 A-D this year along with Singapore 3. We will be doing 4 next year in 5th grade. I did do the placement test and he did very poorly (just brought him home after two years at a small private school), I might have even started at level 2 (if there is such a thing) but he learned alot from BA this year and alternating with Singapore gave me a good place to continue practicing his basic math skills.

I love how programs like Pandia Press's History Odyssey combines history, literature and writing. It's very clear set up to make my life easier and I will probably be using it again next year. The middle ages level two for ages 5th grade through middle school suggests these books: One Thousand and One Arabian Nights retold by Geraldine McCaughrean The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb A Shakespeare Coloring Book from Bellerophon Books ** Beowulf, A New Telling by Robert Nye The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green Castle by David Macaulay Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, retold by Geraldine McCaughrean Tales from Japan retold by Helen & William McAlpine The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly I like how you can combine geography literature and history. Reading historical fiction set in the period that you are studying is a great way to bring the times to life to the reader IMO. I love the books you have listed and would assign those (especially Narnia) for reading to themselves. LotR might be a little more advanced depending on your children's reading levels.

https://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/curriculum-guide/middle-ages-renaissance-reformation-epistles/