Thank you for this. I am embarrassed to admit that I've told my oldest to stop reading a book because it was a 'school' book that I was going to teach her. She is VERY self directed and maybe that's where I feel like I'm failing her. I really want to nail down grammar so she can write as beautifully as she narrates. Also - she loves to cook and I didn't realize American Girl's had that! (she just read her first one a few days). Facilitate is what I needed to hear. She's very bright and excited to learn - I don't want to squash that by controlling too much. Thanks!

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful replies! I really appreciate your encouragement and suggestions (especially to just breathe and not beat myself up too much). I love the idea of a Morning Basket but never really understood exactly how to incorporate into 'school' stuff (but singing/reading/memorization would be a very fun and natural way for my kids to start the day). I'm definitely focusing homeschooling on my 6yo and 8yo DD. My 4yo DS likes to do some art stuff here and there and loves when I read to him but mostly he's doing great playing legos and superheroes and building train sets with my almost 3yo DS. I'm going to look into a few of the ideas you all threw out. Is there a resource or guide that helps with lesson planning? Or is that included with most curriculum's Teacher Guides? I think my biggest struggle is finding that balance between keeping a healthy list AND being spontaneous. I can def go down rabbit trails and forget the original point. My DD 8yo would do 5 days worth of 'work' in one day if she is extra interested in what she is learning. (She loves learning and proclaims school is 'the best thing ever') So maybe I'm doing okay after all?

This will be my third year homeschooling and I'm switching things up a little bit. I have a DD who just turned 8yo in June (so she could be entering 2nd or 3rd grade) and DD who will be 7yo at the end of Oct (and is starting 1st grade). I also have a DS 4.5 yo and DS almost 3yo. In the past I've kind of done a hodge podge of different things - utilizing some memory (I've been making up ridiculous songs since they were babies -before I had any idea that was a 'thing' with schooling), some workbook stuff, some spine books for history/science, lots of random arts and crafts (my kids love to draw, sketch and paint on their own), some flashcards and math hands on, some unit style/interest led studies, and lots (and lots) of reading. The problem is that with 4 small kids and my husband and I both with alternative work schedules I feel like I get hopelessly off track. I'm one of those weird mixes of type A perfectionist with laid back, creative spontaneity. I need something with structure, but not something that will make me feel suffocated... If I have to check off too many boxes and stick to a strict schedule, I will internally rebel or feel like I'm failing if I miss anything. I definitely tend to fall under the classical style but lean more towards charlotte mason side than CC style of classical. I need and want SOME repetition and memorization, but both my daughters and I will lose our minds without other (read: deeper/newer/interesting) things thrown in the mix. I've spent so many hours researching that my husband asks if I want to switch up my job to 'professional researcher' (ha!). I just read through a 3rd grade planning thread and started to get some anxiety... I see why Moms are pairing certain things together, but I look at their subject/curriculum lists and have NO idea how they plan out their mixing and matching into a functioning, lesson-planned schedule. Ideally I would love to mix and match some of my top faves and create my own, but I just don't know if I'm there yet this year. Here's a little list of what I'm leaning towards: (for reference, my 8yo is incredibly advanced with reading and really wants heavy on history and science. My 6yo is super artsy and not a strong reader yet but super great with math and loves geography) Aquinas Learning - I've almost pulled the trigger but feel I would need to supplement. I like the layout of the samples they provide and like the idea of some core subjects being taught together, but am worried about the separate needs / skills in LA Latin from Memoria Press St. Thomas Aquinas Academy - Since they require enrollment and sending in weekly work, this wont work for me, but I like a lot of their book choices (would sub religion, penmanship, reading skills) AAR/AAS or Voyages in English (second newer edition) -trying to figure out more differences between them. I don't mind some workbook stuff when it comes to spelling/grammar practice. (I have no experience with Explode the Code) IEW - any thoughts? I feel like the heavier stuff is geared for kids a little older than mine. I need a good helper for learning to read for my 6yo - she understands phonics and is capable of reading early readers very slowly.. I feel like she's on track, but my 8yo is such an advanced reader that I have no fair basis for comparison. Math Mammoth - we have successfully been using this so for now I'll stick with it Science - I like what I've seen from Harcourt. My 8yo devours science books so I need something substantial. (I'm not a fan of Apologia science) and I need something with experiments but maybe weekly ones? I mostly need a variety of science subjects as my kids alternate between wanting to study animals, to weather patterns, to the earth's crust, to human bodies to astronomy. :eek: History is my hardest to figure out. I've been reading from CHOW and using Usborne Internet Linked. I also have SOTW but haven't gotten into it yet. I'd like to do US history this year so they can have a connection with geography (we are working on US states and capitols). I've heard great things about Adventures in America I'd also like to incorporate maybe Veritas press timeline, and Living Memory by Andrew Campbell. I'd love to hear of any favorite music and art stuff (stories of Great Composers, How to Draw - are these good?) Any other fun memorizing favorites? Thank you for reading if you've made it this far! I'm the first person on both sides of our families to homeschool. My side is supportive (even if they think I'm a little crazy) but my husband's side of the family thinks I'm damaging my children's education and entire childhood. :001_huh: I don't doubt my decision, or my ability to teach my kids... I just want to make sure I'm giving them the best I can, and my DD 8yo needs to be challenged more than I have the past 2 years, so hence my changing things up and reaching out for help. :seeya: