Today went so good! We eased into the school year, so while this is the third week for us, this is the first day doing all subjects. We are doing a lot of school, and I thought it would be too much, but it is the perfect amount for each kid. At least it seems to be so far. It's a lot for me though. I spent about 5 hours teaching today, but I enjoy it.

Art

Reading lessons through literature is what I use and I love it.

I think most start with Astronomy, actually, because it is the shortest, and perhaps it is going in the order of creation, but it doesn't really matter. The experiments are great and easy to do. I recommend the notebook journals you can purchase to go along with it. The junior level would be appropriate for your boys. http://www.amazon.com/Astronomy-Notebooking-Journal-Exploring-Creation/dp/1935495593/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438630843&sr=8-1&keywords=apologia+astronomy+notebook+journal+junior

I think most start with Astronomy, actually, because it is the shortest, and perhaps it is going in the order of creation, but it doesn't really matter. The experiments are great and easy to do. I recommend the notebook journals you can purchase to go along with it. The junior level would be appropriate for your boys. http://www.amazon.com/Astronomy-Notebooking-Journal-Exploring-Creation/dp/1935495593/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438630843&sr=8-1&keywords=apologia+astronomy+notebook+journal+junior

CLE math is your answer. It's not teacher intensive. It introduces small bites at a time and reviews previous concepts every lesson. The layout is clean. The TM is easy to use (unlike MM). It is written to the student. I've been a devoted MM user for the last 4 years and my kids have an excellent understanding of math but they HATE it. I switched over to CLE last year for my oldest because I didn't want to torture her anymore, and it's been like a breath of fresh air. It's not as conceptual as MM, but it is written clearer and so much easier to use. I was going to do both MM and CLE for my 4th grader, and have been for the last two weeks, but comparing side by side, MM is just so onerous. I decided yesterday to drop MM for my 4th grader and switch my 2nd grader who was doing only MM to CLE before her love of math was destroyed. *I* love MM. I think it is brilliant. I don't really want to persuade anyone not to do MM. But it is a bit much for some kids. I love how conceptual it is, but I'm realizing maybe elementary kids don't need to wade through the conceptual stuff as much as MM requires it, at least not at the expense of their love for math.

English Lessons through Literature

We've been doing partial school for two weeks and will do full school starting Monday.

6th: CLE 6 math/Life of Fred R&S 5 English (just the grammar lessons, odds) Classical Composition Fable and narrative English Lessons through Literature 4 Apologia Swimming Animals w/notebook journal MP's 13 Colonies w/ workbook The Trojan War, oral narration Famous Men of Greece, written narration Tiner's Medicine, written narration First Form Latin Religion 4th: CLE 4 math/Life of Fred R&S English (grammar, odds) ELTL 3 Famous Men of Rome, written narration Famous Men of Middle Ages,written narration apologia astronomy with notebook journal Tiner's Planet Earth,oral narration First Form Latin Classical composition Fable religion Xtramath 2nd: ELTL 1 Reading Lessons through Literature CLE math 2/Life of Fred Oral reading McGuffey Religion K & preK: phonogram workbook Counting on the abacus Life of Fred Read alouds religion Family school: History, science, geography, Literature, art, music.

Real Science Odyssey

http://teachmejoy.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2 The Joy of Handwriting! It's a $10 download.

Right, or how the woman selling the baby parts was joking about buying a new car from the supposedly "nonprofit" sale? How many here read the NY times article but didn't watch the three videos?

I see a strong connection. Killing animals for sport is sociopathic, but killing babies (and selling their body parts) is... what?

So *I'm* starting Whole 30 tomorrow, for the first time ever. And another round of P90X3. I'm reluctant, too, but I just haven't been feeling like myself. I feel 20 years older than I am and I'm always so tired, like I could just go crawl back in bed even though I sleep well at night. I've been a couch potato for the last 6 months and eating like garbage. Time to take control!

English Lessons through Literature is 3x a week. I do R&S 2x a week by skipping the writing lessons, the chapter reviews, and the last chapter.

Kumon maze books, I think there are 4. I don't allow them to write in them, they have to use their finger to go through the maze. That can last a while, and they use them over and over.

You could use some of the books from MP in a charlotte mason kind of way. I follow MP's classical study schedule, and sometimes I've used the workbooks and sometimes I just have them write a narration, and sometimes I go over comprehension questions orally.

There's a new one published by Beautiful Feet. It is supposed to read like A Child's History of the World. I haven't used it but it's worth looking at.

Updated. I'm going to do a year round loop schedule doing 4 days a week. A-day English Lessons through Literature 4 (1 lesson) Christian Light Education Math 6 (1 lesson) Classical Composition-Fable/Narrative (part 1 or part 4) Read Tiner's "The History of Medicine," written narration xtramath Read 1 hour of literature* First Form Latin (day 1) **Family school: History B-day Rod & Staff English 5 (1 lesson, odds) Math Mammoth 5 (2 pages front and back, odds) Apologia's Zoology 3 w/ Notebook Journal (day 1) Read "13 Colonies & the Great Republic" w/ student workbook handwriting page Read 1 hour of literature* First Form Latin (day 2) Family School: Geography C-day English Lessons through Literature 4 (1 lesson) Christian Light Education Math 6 (1 lesson) Classical Composition-Fable/Narrative (part 2 or part 5) Read "The Trojan War," written narration xtramath Read 1 hour of literature* Latin (day 3) Family school: Science D-day Rod & Staff English 5 (1 lesson, odds) Math Mammoth 5 (2 pages front and back, odds) Apologia's Zoology 3 w/ Notebook Journal (day 2) Read "13 Colonies & the Great Republic" w/ student workbook handwriting page Read 1 hour of literature* First Form Latin (day 4) Family School: Literature E-day English Lessons through Literature 4 (1 lesson) Christian Light Education Math 6 (1 lesson) Classical Composition-Fable/Narrative (part 3 or part 6) Read "Famous Men of Greece," written narration xtramath Read 1 hour of literature* First Form Latin (Test) Family school: Music or Art, Poetry Tea-time *Literature will come from the reading list in English Lessons through Literature, Beautiful Feet's Intermediate Early American history book list and Early American & World Jr. High booklists, books suggested in Family School, and other classics she is interested in. **Family School is the curriculum from Latter-Day Learning. We're doing Year 1.

Panera Bread is tasteless, dry and expensive. There is one being built in the new town I just moved to and everyone is so excited apparently. LOVE Five Guys for burgers and fries, and CFL is ok.

I have been reading this thread, wanting to comment, but I only have access to my phone, so it's difficult to make a lengthy response because auto correct is a pain. But here it is anyway. Albeto, all of your discussions revolve around how reality is discerned, or how truth is attained. Your measuring sick is the scientific method, and if it is beyond the scope of the scientific method you do not believe it can be knowable. Correct? So if I say prayer has an effect, a miracle had occurred, you want evidence. God has promised evidence, but you, personally, have to perform the experiment. The results can't be shared because they are spiritually discerned, even when there ARE physical results. 1 Cor. 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." There is a God. Our senses and reason denote that there is a God. That is the most logical conclusion. Without that fact there is chaos in the thought, that we are mere random, advanced organisms that are born full of life and love, the ability to think and reason, to create, improve... yet with no purpose, and then to die and cease forever. There is no logic in the thought. Before we were born, we lived with God. He is the literal Father of our spirits. He is our Heavenly Father and He loves us as such. He sent us to earth so that we can progress and become like Him. He wants us to return to Him and receive a fulness of joy. Because there is a God and He loves us, He surely does answer every sincere prayer offered in faith. He speaks according to our faith, by the power of the Spirit or Holy Ghost. Moroni 10:4-5 "...and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." Jacob 4:14 "...for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls." The only evidence of this reality or truth is my testimony that I know these things are true, because I have experimented and continue to experiment and the results are consistent and powerful. I have heard the voice of God, my prayers have been answered, I have witnessed miracles. It fills me with hope, peace, and knowledge. The way is plain and the invitation is open to everyone. 2 Nephi 26 13. "...he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith." 24. "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. 33. "..and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."

This is great advice! ETA I am married to a man very like your husband OP. I can totally see us having this exact same exchange.

Short and sweet: When God speaks it is called revelation. It can come in the form of visions, dreams, or angelic visitations. But most often God speaks to our minds and our hearts through the Holy Ghost. We both feel and understand it. It is accompanied with a feeling of peace, love, and enlightenment. It has been described as a still, small voice, yet powerful and piercing.

I think it's great! Or you could do three days of history, then the next week three days of geography, and the next week three days of science, and so on.

And THERE'S the punchline. Again.