Wow! These are so great! Super encouraging and helpful, thanks! Keep 'em coming! :)

Hi all, We have one more year before my oldest starts high school (we plan to continue homeschooling). My other kids aren't far behind, so I feel like we have this one last year before things start to really "count" in terms of transcripts and staying on topic (not rabbit-trailing) and less pressure, etc ... I'd love to hear from some parents of high schoolers: What are you glad you/your student did before high school? What do you wish you had done that you didn't? What did you spend more time and energy and money on that you realize now wasn't really important? Any books/curriculum/focus you're particularly grateful for? Any other wisdom from veterans would be appreciated! Thank you in advance!!

I'm teaching WWS2 to a group of 8th graders this year, and we want to take a little break & focus on some creative writing. We plan to continue in WWS2, just need a change of scenery for awhile. Ideally, I'd like something: I can pick up and teach (not a lot of prep on my part) we can do for a week or two here-and-there; and with a grading Rubric Admittedly, I may be asking too much :) Do any of you know of anything that might fit the bill, or come close? TIA!

Well, as usual, ya'll have been a wealth of information and encouragement. Thank you! I think we will go ahead and test through the R&S 6 chapters, find out where she is exactly, and go from there. I think I said earlier that I really do appreciate how thorough the curriculum is. Perhaps after this we'll check out AG, but for now we'll give book 6 a go. :) I also recently noticed that TWTM Academy has at least two grammar courses (Beginning and Advanced), along with a quick placement test (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6peV77xQYK_bnlLUURnUjIzcW8/view). I may check that out as well, possibly for next year. I imagine TWTMA courses cover most of what she will need!! Thanks again!

This year my older two girls, ages 11 & 13, started R&S English 8 & 6, respectively. This is our first year with R&S. We finished FLL4 a couple of years ago, and haven't done a lot with grammar since then. Well, we realized very quickly that R&S 8 was way over the 13 yo's head (and mine too! ack!). She's now in grammar-limbo (having stopped R&S in Oct/Nov). My 11 yo is appropriately challenged in R&S 6. I'm concerned/curious now for a couple of reasons: 1. Grammar has always been a very easy subject for my girls. The struggle in R&S 8 felt like a big blow to my 13 yo ~ since there are so many other "really difficult" things about being 13, having a subject that's always been a "win" turn into a "fail" just kinda stinks. In large part, it's my fault - I should've done more homework, to see that R&S would be so different/difficult {poor first-born guinea pig!} 2. While I appreciate how in-depth and thorough R&S is, I wonder if it's a little overkill? Book 6 is challenging, but reasonably so. I haven't looked at book 7 yet. Book 8 felt altogether over-the-top. Even my husband - who has a PhD and teaches at a private university - didn't understand much past the first few chapters. Is learning grammar THAT in-depth really necessary? Am I so old that I can't remember ever having done grammar in such depth? Or is it not really as crazy-advanced as I feel like it is, and it's really perfectly reasonable and normal expectations for middle school? And if so, what grammar are they doing in (gasp) high school?? Clearly (I see now) it's a curriculum where you can't just jump into a higher level without having progressed through the lower levels first. But it still feels like a lot more grammar than necessary at this level. Thoughts? 3. At this point, do you think I should have the 13 yo start in book 6, and maybe skip/progress quickly through the parts she already knows well? Or should we just throw in the R&S towel for her, and pick up something else altogether? (& if so, what?) 4. I have two more kids in the wings ... I'm determined to get everything right with them (haha, I wish!). To avoid repeating this scenario in a few years, is it best to begin R&S directly after FLL4? And if so, what R&S level? 5? 6? Depends of what age/grade level they are at that point? TIA!

Ahhh! I'm so late to the party! Can anyone recommend specific sessions that just really should not be missed? I'm sure they're all really wonderful ...

Thanks, Moms. Setting the timer is sometimes helpful ... I just need to come up with some good incentives that will be motivating to her, yet not crazy-making to me :) OneStepAtATime, I really like your idea. She loves all things crafty ... maybe she & I can pick a specific hobby to target for awhile & really delve into it (history, biographies, etc). Thanks! Also, that could potentially fit into your idea, mom2bee ~ there's sure to be some tangible incentives there ... !

Gah! So I know that a lot of it is "natural" for her age, but ... My 12 year old daughter is very bright, and most things come very naturally and easily to her. Most of her learning up til now has happened mainly through reading a TON of books. As she's gotten older, though, and exposed to more "exciting" books (Percy Jackson, Harry Potter), the books I give her tend to lose her interest. It seems that pretty much anything I suggest (books & otherwise) is immediately pooh-poohed. Of course I'm still "making" her read other books (we use a lot of the Sonlight recommendations), but the constant battle is exhausting. She isn't disrespectful or having a bad attitude (thankfully!), but there's still a lot of resistance when it comes to "school." Perhaps a separate subject (but connected??) ~ she also can take All. Day. Long. to finish her math. If there's an incentive (someplace she wants to go, or a friend coming over, for example), she is able to finish in a reasonable timeframe. Otherwise, she could literally whittle the day away staring at the page, then getting distracted, or crying over the difficulties of math, ... you get the idea - anything but math. Anyone been here before? Any ideas?? I have four other kiddos (ages 10, 8 & 7), so she just can't have my undivided attention all day long (nor do I suppose that would be the best thing for her, anyway). Help! And ThAnK yOu!!!

Thanks for the input. Red Squirrel, I think you raise several good points. She really isn't lazy, she's just very clever and bright :) I think your point about possibly needing a greater academic challenge may be close to home ... and I'm just not really sure how to go about it, and maintain my sanity! (truth be told, maybe I'm the lazy one ~ or just feeling very stretched, having the other kids ... I'm sure there's got to be a board/conversation thread here about that?!) Thanks for the other suggestions as well ~ I have a few other things I can add to her schedule (including art, which she loves). The Creative Writer program through Peace Hill Press looks intriguing as well. Her writing could be beefed up some. Admittedly, I've not pushed her much, as it's been easier on me to keep her and my 9yo together in most subjects, but over the last 6-8 months or so there has been a marked growth and change in her in a number of ways. I guess that's what happens, huh?! Thanks again, sarah

So my oldest child (a girl ~ turning 11 in 2 weeks) doesn't fit the typical First Born stereotypes. (My second child,9 yo girl, however, does. sigh!) We're using Sonlight Core E this year & loving it, but I'm challenged. Oldest (Z) reads very quickly and rushes through her work. Second child (A) reads more slowly and this core is an overall good pace for her. I also have two youngers (K and 1st graders), so my one-on-one time is a little limited. Oldest needs some more work. We haven't added Latin yet ... is there a program that's pretty independent that she could start in on? Any other ideas? I'm wanting to create more work (that's meaningful, not just busy work) for HER, not for me. :) Thanks, folks. I'm only here on rare occasion, but am always so grateful for the wisdom and insight your perspectives and experiences lend.

Thank you, thank you, Luann! I appreciated all you said. I'm pm'ing you now ... And thanks again, moms. Your truth-speaking and ideas and experience are greatly helpful. Many of you are AHH-mazing, too ... I wish I could be a fly on your wall for a few days, and have some of your energy. whew. grace.

So grateful for this true reminder ~ thank you!!! It's the whole reason we started homeschooling in the first place ...

Have you tried the Artisian Bread in 5 minutes a day? It seriously is ahh-mazing! I use it to make pizza crust, cinnamon rolls, bread ... truly, the biggest pain in the process is having to clean the container and the stir-er thing (danish dough hook?). Oh, and having to wait 2 hours for it to rise. But that's simple to remedy: just always have some in your fridge, ready to go! ;)

Thanks, oh seasoned ones :) . I so appreciate the encouragement and the suggestions! It's helpful to know that our house is pretty "normal" (ha!!) ... Perhaps one of my greatest obstacles is in my own head and heart ~ I need to slow down and be fully awake and alive in the moment and realize how quickly these years are f l y i n g by ... ack!! grace, sarah

Help! I've got 4 kids ~ they're in 4th, 3rd, K & pre-K, so I naturally divide them into two groups for schooling. This year, more than ever, I feel like I'm constantly rushing from child to child to child to child and back again, helping with an assignment or making sure letters are formed properly, answering questions and doling out the next bit of work ... and then there's the inevitable interruptions, like this morning when my neighbor's crazy friendly dog came bounding into our driveway (where I was doing a reading lesson in chalk), so the next 15 minutes were lost. I think I've failed at instilling a good work ethic in my older kids too, because it seems that unless I'm hovering over them, they'll quickly finish one assignment and then run off to read or play ... and it's frustrating to have to call them back so many times a day... Is this just the way it is, schooling multiple kids? It feels like it's all I can do to get through Language Arts and Math with everyone everyday (if even that!!). And that's not the really fun, this-is-why-I'm-homeschooling- stuff. Anyone with many kids have any advice?? I really feel exhausted and on edge and not fully present because I'm having to shift gears in my brain so frequently that I can't keep up! I know I tend to have (absurdly) high expectations of myself ... Thanks in advance, seasoned mommas! sarah

Magnificent Baby, What's GWG? I'm so glad to hear I'm not alone in this struggle!! It feels a little bit like I'd be taking a small step backwards, going to PLL from FLL3 ~ but there are definitely things my girls haven't really learned yet at all (letter writing, for instance). So today I had them focus on that. And I'm surprised how they don't know how to space/center on a blank paper - too many workbooks thus far?? Anyway, thanks to each of you for your insight! So helpful! grace, s

Thus far, I've had my girls (8 & 9) in the same level of Grammar ~ currently FLL3. We've all been enjoying it, but my 9yo is ready to move more quickly than her 8yo sister. At the same time, I've just started working more intentionally with my 5 and 4 year olds, reading, math, etc. My olders aren't doing much independently, and FLL3 is pretty teacher-involvement-heavy. I really need them to be a bit more independent and I'm wondering if switching them to PLL and ILL will help? {I'm looking into these books first, since I happen to have copies of them on hand. Plus, the covers are cute. ha.} Anyone have any advice? I am feeling like I've got too many balls in the air right now and I want to surrender a few before they all come tumbling down on my head! Thanks!! sarah

Thank you! I have been considering Apologia ~ but CC covers such a broad range of topics in one year, while Apologia delves deeply into one subject at a time (a whole year on botany, for instance). I do love how thorough it is, but for now I think I just want to touch on the topics, and delve deeper maybe in the middle school years. I hadn't heard of the other curriculum ... we are believers, but my husband would prefer we try to avoid the young earth-old earth conversation until we've covered the basics a bit more (again, perhaps in middle school). Thanks! Anyone else?

My kids are going into 4th, 3rd, K & pre-K this year. We are (loosely) using much of the memory work content from Classical Conversations (in addition to several other things :)), & I really don't think I have time or energy to do a whole separate science curriculum. So at first I thought we will just do the CC memory work each week & i will delve a little deeper into that week's content (plant/animal classification, parts of a flower, volcanos, etc, for example). I will have my older two create science notebooks as we go. As I'm planning, however, I'm realizing it would be REALLY helpful to have a one-source go-to -- I'm picturing possibly a curriculum that I can pick and choose weekly discussions (& possibly activities/experiments), without having to necessarily have to do the entire curriculum, and possibly not in the order it's written. Does that make sense? Am I living in a fantasy world? :) I welcome any suggestions! Thanks in advance! Sarah

Whew! It's me, the OP here ... I was almost scared away (not really, I just haven't checked the forum in a day or so ~ imagine my surprise to see so many responses!) ... You guys are funny!! The french fry thing was killing me! I really appreciate all of your feedback. (And just for the record, I can double a recipe pretty easily. ;) ) At this point I think I'll have my daughter play around with the sample pages on TT's website, to see if it may pique her interest even slightly. I'll likely continue using Singapore's challenging word problems, for the extra practice. I'm going to investigate MM ~ that wasn't even a consideration before now. (thanks!) I'm especially grateful to have heard from everyone whose child has had a definite change in attitude toward math since switching to TT. I tend toward academic snobbery, but I'm just human (flawed!), holy cow!! I need to continually remind myself why I'm homeschooling in the first place. Academics is part of it - but there are a few other things that are more important than academics in our homeschooling journey ... I certainly will not let math deter us from what is (in my mind) most important. Thanks for the grounding! Thanks for the lively discussion ... I'll be back!

Thank you , thank you, thank you, dears! All of your wisdom is SO greatly appreciated!! I think we'll plunge into TT and see how it goes. I especially appreciate the notion that the best curriculum choice is the one that gets done. Amen and amen.

Thanks for the permission! :) I needed it!

I didn't make it past 3rd grade math myself. Really. My eldest is in 3rd now ... we've been "enjoying" Singapore (truthfully, she loathes math, but I've enjoyed math for the first time ever! ha!). So now that we're encountering long division, I'm maxed out as far as ability and patience and time. I've got three youngers & I just really don't want to spend a lot of time on math. I know math is important buuuuut ... I'm torn because in my head Singapore (and other such programs - mastery??) is superior, while doing something like TT feels like I'm bailing out. I definitely put far too high standards on myself as a teacher/mom (yikes! don't we all?!) ... I just want to do what's BEST & I'm realizing that the greater good is that we do math at all these days. (yikes again!) I'd love any wisdom/encouragement/advice from you all. I mostly just lurk here when I have a free moment, but I'm grateful for the community here!! Thanks in advance, sarah

What do you all do with old school work? Initially I thought I would keep one binder per child per school year, but with 4 kids, I'm realizing that will end up being a LOT of binders. Two of my kids aren't even school age yet and I'm already feeling like I've got a lot of "stuff." And then what? I give them the binders for a wedding present? :) I saw one idea ~ to keep a file box (one of the plastic kinds you can carry around, with a removable lid/handle on top) with papers - one box per child for their whole schooling. That seems like it may not be enough space though?? Any advice from moms with older kiddos? Am I going to regret throwing away too many sweet copy work papers and art papers and etc etc? Thanks in advance!

I'm trying to plan ahead ... anyone out there do/have done (or even just researched) Classical Conversations Essentials and/or IEW, and if so, can you compare/contrast it to Susan Wise Bauer's materials (specifically Writing With Ease and First Language Lessons)?? I'm trying to plan for next year (2012-2013), but it matters now as well, as I've heard that if you enroll in CC Essentials, you don't necessarily have to have done any grammar or writing prior, because the program is so thorough and complete. But if we choose not to do Essentials, then I will need to be intentional this year about grammar and writing, to lay that foundation for my current 3rd and 2nd graders. I know that SWB's materials are relatively new. I know that IEW has a great reputation. I know that I over-analyze and over-think and want the very best curriculum (ha! don't we all!?). ;) Thoughts? Thanks all! sarah