I made independence a big goal for our homeschool a few years ago because of the number of kids I have. For the older ones, here is what works for us right now. - During Dinner, they recap their learning day. We discuss books they are reading, subjects they are studying, etc. this is for all the kids. I count it as narration for the younger kids. It is usually approached as, “Tell Dad what you learned ...” - At the end of each week, we do a sit down review of their work for the week. I sit down with each of the older kids and we go through all the work they completed. I schedule light of Fridays so they can correct any work that needs to be corrected or do additional work as needed. I tried to do this daily, but it was too much. Once a week makes it still applicable but puts it all together so we can all get through it. Once the sit down review is completed, their weekend officially begins.

Books are the only thing I have ever decluttered and regretted. I went digital about 5 years ago, which resulted in a major purge, and my digital phase only lasted two years. I still miss books I gave away or sold during that purge.

I have a very big age range, and switching to a Morning Basket style for those subjects they can do together has helped significantly. I read Story of the World out loud to them for history and then for their more in depth work, we split it up. I still keep all the little kids together for the extras, but the older ones have moved on to independent work in those areas.

Math: TT7 Grammar: Easy Grammar Plus + Diagramming the Scriptures Vocabulary: Word Roots 2 Handwriting: Patriotic Penmanship Jr. High Science: Christian Kids Explore Physics History: SOTW4 + additional work as outlined in TWTM Bible: Herein Is Love Exodus (group) + Journey Through The Bible Book 1 Latin: Latin Primer 1 Logic: The Amazing Dr. Ransom’s Bestiary of Adorable Fallacies + The Thinking Toolbox Writing: The Creative Writer Music: Busy Kids Do Piano Art: 13 Art Techniques Children Should Know + 13 Art Movements Children Should Know

We see pastoral ministry as our thing, yes. As a team. Yes, the salary is technically in his name. But we see ourselves as a team in ministry together. But likewise, our church is not an extension of our home. Our home, however, is an extension of our church.

While I would agree that we are all called to be out in the field bringing people in, there are people who have been called into ministry full time, as a career or job or calling- whatever you want to call it. It might make you squirm, but it is certainly Biblical. Not all of us are called to the same things. My calling to serve the church full time is not better than someone else’s call to teach, be a witness in their current job, work in an office, etc. It isn’t better, but it is different. Just like each of those things are different from one another. Saying I am in full time ministry just describes my life. Our income comes from the church. Our work is done for the church. The Bible clearly says that some are called to be pastors, some teachers, etc. We were called to be pastors.

I’m a pastor’s wife, as well. However, I don’t see myself as a parishioner. I’m in full time ministry just as much as my husband does. Our family is a ministry family. That is just who we are. Missionaries are always seen as a team on the field. That is how I view our family- a team on the field.

I always administer the COGAT portion simply because I feel like it tests critical thinking skills, which is a subject we focus on. Really that is the only reason I add it. My kids usually test high on it, not because they are geniuses but because we do focus on critical thinking skills. So, it is an area of the standardized testing experience that I know they will do well on. We did not give it after 1st grade, though, because our state only requires every third year testing.

I think she is hitting on something here. You already seem annoyed with the person and the situation. You already seem to be looking for an excuse to leave. I wouldn’t care about it, really. It is helping a member of the church. It is providing community. I’m not a MLM fan (though I have gotten sucked into a few), but it wouldn’t bother me. If I didn’t want to go, I’d RSVP no and move on. But whether it bothers me isn’t really the issue. It does bother you. So really, it is up to you what you do with it. It significantly bothers me that our voting place is in a church. It feels to me like giving to Ceasar what is God’s. To make matters worse, this church chooses to use a worship space for the voting. One year, I was literally standing at an altar voting for education superintendent. It bothers me. It doesn’t seem to bother anyone else. My options are to complain about it every year and go vote there anyway, avoid it by filing an early ballot, or let it go and vote at an altar. If I say nothing and just stop voting, that doesn’t really speak to my convictions about the situation. I think finding another church doesn’t speak to your convictions. It doesn’t address the issue at all. I’d say either address it in your heart and reconcile your feelings toward this person. Or speak up and voice your opposition to using the church as a marketplace. Fading away isn’t going to help the church or your own heart.

My boys aren’t nearly fitting into grade boxes right now. So I am planning a sort of late K-early 2 kind of year instead of a solid first grade year. Math: unsure Math Mammoth Science: Berean Builders: Science in the Industrial Age (with older siblings) Sassafrass Zoology Language Arts: Explode the Code online History: SOTW 4 (older siblings, this is just where we are in the cycle right now) + Legends and Leagues Bible: Herein is Love Exodus (with the older kids) + My ABC Bible Verses from the Psalms + Big Thoughts for Little People: ABCs to Help You Grow Logic: Critical and Creative 2

Buy the third! I had the third, bought the forth for updates and I hate the fourth. I’m trying to pretend it doesn’t exist to keep me from jumping the WTM ship.

We pick a verse each week. I’ve chosen a variety of ways. Lists others have made. A key verse from the past Sunday’s sermon. A verse from our group Bible study. We read it aloud at the beginning of each day during our morning basket. At the beginning of the week, the kids are all looking it up or repeating after me for those that can’t read yet. By the end of the week, they are all saying it from memory. The older ones write it during the week to practice handwriting. But other than that, we are pretty low key about it and they memorize them easily.

We used Modern Manners this year. It was a big hit. It focuses on manners in business, so some of it, the kids weren’t quite ready for (email etiquette) so we skipped those. But they had a lot of fun practicing handshakes and introductions and setting the table for dinner.

I like Prismacolor, but my kids don’t like to be nice to art supplies, so I usually just buy them Crayola. The “adult” version are the exact same as the regular ones, they just have different wood and such, but the color part is the same- so don’t waste your money upgrading from the basic Crayola to the fancy. I also like to have some watercolor colored pencils around because they can be really fun and pretty. They aren’t our everyday use pencils, but we do love them.

My son with ADHD was similar. We used Explode the Code online program. It skips them past things they already know and works them slower through things that they need more help on. It is automatically adjusting. My son went from not reading at all to reading chapter books in a semester. We purchase through Homeschool Buyers Co-op for a very discounted rate.