I am still so intrigued by Miquon, and I think it would blend nicely with the Montessori stuff I am looking into. Hmmm, maybe I should try it again. I have the Lab Annotations, maybe I'll buy the orange book and the First grade diary and see if that helps me understand it. I was all set to do singapore again, but I really loathe all the books that I would need to buy. Obviously only one HIG and text, but the workbooks, and time 2 is so annoying. I have too many books as it is. However, it would be easiest for me because I did 1-4 with their older brother. I get the system. I did do some MM with him, and that was fine, he just preferred the look of Singapore. Also, my older DS accelerated pretty quickly through SM, and it got expensive some years. This is why I'm looking into MM, I can buy one set for both kids and print only what we need. Maybe MM and Miquon?

That is a good idea. I have some Montessori math materials I'd like to use, and I think I could fit them in easier with MM. (Did I mention it's cheaper? Lol)

Ok it's time for me to decide on this. I keep going back and forth between SM and MM. As far as where they are, if you are familiar with Montessori, both have finished the cube chains. DS was starting a new subtraction work when the school year ended. DD was biding her time til the end after she finished the cube chains. They have addition facts under 20 pretty much memorized, definitely 1-10 is solid. They probably need more subtraction work but I don't see it taking too long to catch up to addition. Anyone else want to weigh in?

Has anyone purchased any of the guides? I'm interested in hearing some real world experiences!

I don't want to hijack Farrar's thread, but thank you for mentioning this. I have an anxious, perfectionist boy with executive functioning issues. I always look at the EF issues as secondary to the other stuff, but perhaps I need to turn it around.

I'm pretty sure it's at least 70% of the posters here. ;)

I order in the summer. I start planning in January, or lets be real, after the first week of school, for the next year. Then I post in a bunch of threads what my plans are. Then I change the plans at least 3 times and update the posts accordingly. I also let my husband know that I'm changing the plans because he is VERY interested in the inner workings of my neurosis and just loves listening to me drone on about curricula. I usually end up back where I started which is a continuation of what we're already doing. So I make myself wait until summer to avoid buying 3 sets of curricula.

Through Athena's Advanced Academy http://www.athenasacademy.com/mod/page/view.php?id=59766

Ok, I think I have it figured out for real now. I have to keep reminding myself to stop adding everything that *I* think looks cool. Easier said than done! DS 9 1/2 Math: I decided to stick with the Arbor books. He likes them and I'm afraid to throw a wrench in something that works. He wants to do more LoF, much to my dismay, but if he's asking, it's worth a shot. Kahn Academy will be in there somewhere too because he likes it. Science: MEL Chemistry sets and supplemental books / National Geographic rabbit trails / Astronomy Social Studies: Harry Potter Sociology / Horrible Histories / Horrible Geography Spanish: Duolingo and spanish readers Handwriting & typing with getty dubay and KWT Writing: pretty sure we will do the 6 week Kidswrite basic and then just BW lifestyle stuff. I was going to buy Faltering Ownership but I don't think I want to make him do those projects, I'd rather he have more control over what he writes Lit: my list compiled from AO, great books academy and the Mensa excellence in reading list Art: classes at the art museum / cartooning this summer Music: Double bass and hip hop for life :laugh: PE: swimming DD & DS 6 (This will mostly look like us reading books and making art.) Math: Singapore Language Arts: Jot it Down Lit: my list compiled from AO, great books academy and the Mensa excellence in reading list Handwriting: Italics and cursive Science: Nature Journaling Geography: books and possibly some Montessori maps Spanish: this is the only thing I don't have figured out Art: art classes, sewing, pin punching and metal insets (Montessori materials that they love) I think it looks pretty out of the box. I think we have a good mix of planned and unplanned. ETA: I forgot about morning basket! This will just be random fun stuff, I don't need it to be mini school, just something we can all do together since older DS will be pretty independent of the twins.

I'll look into them! Not a fan of religious science at all, but it's worth a shot. I'm thinking I'll be able to actually research and plan ahead for the MEL sets.

I wanted to come back and update our plans. DS and I had another learning meeting on our last day of school, and he had these ideas: - Chemistry - at least 2 experiments a week (I would like to beef up our MEL science kits with some books, but I don't know where to start. I showed him Real Science for Kids Chemistry and he turned up his nose.) - He wants a subscription to National Geographic and he will "look up more information about what interests him" - cooking - he didn't really get into this much, but I think I'll incorporate some of it into "chemistry experiments." :lol: - astronomy - he has a telescope that he wants to get out and use - sociology - he's taking "Sociology with a Wizarding twist" from Athena's What I'm not set on: Writing - We were going to try Kids Write Basics from Bravewriter. Not sure if it will be worth it Math - Deciding between moving on to Crocodiles & Coconuts after JA or doing AoPS. Leaning AoPS because I'd like him to be able to switch to an online at some point. (sooner rather than later!) Spanish - He's done with GSWS and I need something else. (he does Duolingo as well) looking at Home School Spanish Academy and Rosetta Stone. any opinions? I'm not even sure what I wrote here. :leaving: :laugh:

My kids decided they would rather learn spanish, and I decided to stick with Singapore because that's what I know.

Ok, I'm having a summer planning crisis. :laugh: I think it's because my almost 6 year olds will be home as well next year, and we are still in our tiny house and I don't know what to buy and where to put everything. Right now, I'm obsessing over DS 9 (10 in Nov.) I just signed him up for the Harry Potter Sociology course at Athena's. And honestly, that's the only thing I'm still sure about! - I need help with what to do after GSWS, considering Home School Spanish Academy, but also SYTYWTLS. - Math! (Always.) He's almost done with Jousting Armadillos. Do I go on to AoPS Pre-A or Counting Coconuts? He requested more LoF :cursing: - Grammar, is it necessary? We did MCT Island and Town, took a break this year because we were underwhelmed with the Voyage samples. Was seriously considering the Literature level, but I am not even sure which components I'd want to buy. - Kids Write Basics from BW. Is this worth it? I have a Creative Writing degree and The Writer's Jungle, so I keep thinking "I should be able to do this without the $200 course." :lol: However, he was very interested in the description and thinks it would be good, so that's why I'm leaning towards doing it. The only writing we did last year was Friday free-writes. Things he said he wanted to do at our learning meeting the other day - 1. Chemistry - he loves the MEL Science Chemistry sets. I need to beef this up a bit with books, but I've yet to research this. He does NOT like workbooks or anything scripty/scheduled/school-like. Any ideas? I showed him Real Science and he turned his nose up. :glare: 2. He requested a National Geographic subscription, and he will research things that interest him. (This is easy and doable) 3. Cooking - no problem, in theory. 4. Google Time - Basically he wants 30 minutes a day to look things up on Google. :laugh: 5. He also mentioned getting his telescope out so maybe we will do some astronomy as well. I don't know where to start with this for the middle school/high school level. He's what I affectionately call "work averse." I don't want to be too rigorous, but we need to ramp it up a little bit. We were very laid back this past year, which was a good reset for me, but now I need to start building in some challenge and stuff that produces a little bit of output.

Sorry, not the lit trilogy, but the new "literature" level of the grammar series.

Anyone? Bueller?

Has anyone tried these yet? They've been around a year now I think. Looking at this for my accelerated 5th grader.

Has anyone used these? My twins are officially done with Montessori today and I'm realizing more that they may like having some Montessori inspired "work" at home next year. I've found a lot of random things on Pinterest, but it's hard to find Elementary age instructions. The guides are pretty cheap, but I'd still like to hear if they are worth it. http://www.magellanmontessori.com/

:leaving:

My DS is a lot like this. I keep trying to get him to be creative and "unschooly," but he wants a checklist and to get "school" over with so he can do what he wants.

Sorry, DP!

I work at a yoga studio and go to class regularly. It's a common occurrence, don't sweat it!!

I have been doing pretty good, I needed shoes and a shirt to go see a play and only spent $35 total. I signed DS up for a summer cartooning class I was not planning, but it was a good deal for 2 weeks, and he needs some opportunities to be social this summer. I REALLY want new patio furniture, but I just bought DD a new dresser and cute knobs so the furniture will have to wait.

I just decided to quit a week early. I have to get his portfolio ready next week, I think it's better if I don't also stress about finishing a chapter. Plus the weather broke, and we enjoy taking nature walks. :)

This is how I'm working. I can tell when DS is skating, when he's a little bit challenged, and when he is working. It's a fine line between working hard and over his head, so I try to err on the easier side. I don't want him to burn out on my account. I definitely "nudge, if not outright push, at times. He's not one of these highly motivated GT kids. He's borderline PG with other stuff going on, so it's definitely a balancing act. I feel like if I didn't nudge, we'd be in bigger trouble because I know from experience his dad and his uncles have BTDT. TLDR; trust your instincts. ;)

Yikes! I have a really good OB, she did a hysteroscopy on me last year to remove some polyps and I felt well taken care of. She wants me to get an IUD instead of an ablation because she worries about being able to test the uterine lining later on if I need it, so I am comfortable with her advice. However, this is kind of freaking me out. If she can't get it in the first time I'm done. :laugh: