We are definitely of the philosophy that less is more in my house. We do math, writing, reading (I rotate content subjects for general exposure, read lit aloud daily, and we all read to ourselves). Then the kids pursue their own interests, which you can see in my signature. We love documentaries too, so they get a lot of mileage. Lots of hands-on for science... we love Citizen Science projects, and the kids are very excited that our local homeschool association is holding a science fair this year. And lots of nature related science too, as it is something they can see and participate in. I will, and do often, suggest further resources to expand on their interests. For example, ds is interested in astronomy, so I found a book for him that looks good, and the Neil deGrasse Tyson Teaching Co/Great Courses series that is available on Netlfix. We also plan to attend shows at the local Planetarium as often as they change. My daughter is looking at doing the Great Backyard Bird Count in November, so she suggested we read through All About Birds tgether (she's dyslexic and her reading is still slow), and I suggested she watch David Attenborough's Life of Birds. We also use local events as a jumping off point -- example: we're reading about the Renaissance before attending a Renaissance Faire in October. I do insist on mom-chosen math and writing. And a certain amount of time spent reading/pursuing studies each day.

We read it a few years ago, and this thread is really making me want to pull it back out and read it aloud again!

I wrote a weekly wrap-up of sorts!

Both/either. And thank you for the recommendations!

We should resurrect this. I always loved seeing what people did with their weeks!

We're doing a unit on the Renaissance period, so I am looking for your favorite historical fiction/classic from that era to read aloud. Thanks!

We're doing a unit on the Renaissance period, so I am looking for your favorite historical fiction/classic from that era to read aloud. Thanks!

Thanks. I was leaning toward the newer version, and this cemented it. As I can use it with both kids, I think it'll be worth the money!

I see that used I can buy the older edition of Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1 quite inexpensively. Is the automated grading the largest perk with the newer version, or is the program itself improved? Thanks!

My ds14 started his classes today at our local junior college. He's taking a 3D art class, and Machine Tool Technology (basically a fairly high tech metal shop class). My stomach was all butterflies when we went in this morning, riding the bus so he would know where to transfer, etc., but all seems to have gone very well! No homework in art, unless he falls behind in class. The other class has homework, but they only meet once a week, so he has time to get the work done. He liked both teachers, and has two homeschool friends (one is his absolute best friend) in the machining class. My nervousness is giving way to excitement for him. A whole new world is opening up for him, and I think he'll thrive. We'll be starting up homeschooling again in September, to give him some adjustment time first.

Teach the kids to each cook one night a week. We're another everything-from-scratch family, and it takes time! Limit screentime. I made these awesome charts of what needs to be done, cleaning-wise, in each room over the course of a week. I even laminated them so the kids could check stuff off, and I could change who is assigned to which room. The problem is, we haven't put them into use yet, so I am still running around trying to get everything done. So my goal is to start using them! Teaching ds to ride the bus to and from the junior college. Get the kids, and myself, out and moving more! We have nearby hiking trails, bike paths, etc. that we should make more use of. Learning to juggle a busier schedule more smoothly! I'm tutoring a fair amount on the side now, work part-time (mornings) outside the home, have kids in sports that each require two evening practices a week, and am taking a class in language and literacy while getting ready to start a credentialing program.

Came across this and thought I would share! https://www.curiositystream.com/ It's educational videos, lectures, documentaries, etc., and they offer a free trial month!

I have recently had a lady inquire about having me tutor her children -- twins, age 7, and a 5 y.o. The twins are leaving a private Waldorf school to homeschool, partly because of California's SB277, and partly because they want to know why, at 7, they can't read like the kids down the street. So I am looking for remedial tools for learning to read. From what I understand so far, they are not particularly familiar with letter sounds either. As many (all?) Waldorf schools do, this one discouraged the kids learning to read before a certain age/stage, so I am not surprised, but am a little unsure as to the best approach to bring them up to speed. Their mom did go out and buy a bunch of Kumon workbooks, but they seem to be resisting those. I think I am going to recommend, overall, Oak Meadow as a possible curriculum for them, but would like to get the twins familiar with their alphabets/letter sounds quickly first, so that they can be placed in the second grade with OM. This of course, depends on how involved the mother wants to be in the day to day learning, as I can only meet with them once or twice a week. A friend (who connected us) seemed to think the mother might not want to be as hands on as that, so I will be suggesting other options as well. I am hoping that, since leaving the Waldorf school with some apparent dissatisfaction, the mother will be open to computer games/software (I am thinking Starfall and such), but would love any and all recommendations the Hive can throw my way! Thanks in advance!

I have never eaten at a McDonald's. Got horrible food poisoning from Carl's Junior. I really dislike fast food and chain restaurants. We go out to eat so rarely that if I'm going to do it at all, I will eat somewhere worthwhile. Having said that, I do like an occasional coffee from Starbucks, and I love the taco truck down the street -- amazing carnitas! And I like Trader Joe's., mainly for dairy products, and baking supplies (coconut oil, etc.). Not such a huge fan of the packaged stuff. I really should go check out Costco.

Tubal ligation the day after dd's birth a little over 12 years ago. They did it laparoscopically with a small incision in the belly button, local anesthetic. No complications, no side effects, healed quickly. I've never regretted it.

It is aimed for ninth graders specifically if you follow the K12 program. I think it's accessible for 7th up through 11th really. Hakim's Concise version is really good. I'd highly recommend that!

http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/348864-my-evaluation-of-numerous-writing-curricula/

Wow, choosing a focal point for dd's history and/or lit studies next year is HARD! She doesn't really have any historical interests that have come to light, so I'm just throwing some options together. Current thoughts... I have two three four main ideas at the moment as to what she could do. Maybe some reader feedback could help a bit? Option A... The Fairytale Project: A comparative study of major fairy tale forms (Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella,etc.), using the The Classic Fairy Tales: A Norton Critical Edition, along with various versions of each fairy tale, including movies. Poetry, and even some Shakespeare (Midsummer Night's Dream) would be easy to work into this. I can see working in some world cultures too, as there are variations on the fairy tales throughout the world. This would also allow for bringing in more modern novels/fairy tales, such as The Sisters Grimm series, and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. I know this isn't "history", but rather more strictly a literature study, but then she is only going into the seventh grade, has studied a fair amount of history already, and will be tackling it again in high school. Option B... Pioneer Times: I'd use books like the Little House books, Abraham Lincoln's World, Pioneer Girl: A True Story of Growing Up on the Prairie, Caddie Woodlawn, and some Native American resources as well (Birchbark House?). She could do hands-on projects -- making butter, quilting, and so forth. And there are plenty of movies and documentaries that could flesh this out. I'm kind of taking notes from The Prairie Primer, but that resource on the whole is too religious for me, thus the piecing it together myself. I could see her going one of two ways with this... either really enjoying it, or really being bored by it by the end. And I don't know which is more likely, though if she enjoyed it, something fun to follow it up might be a homemade study based on Where the Brook and the River Meet (which features the Anne of Green Gables series, but again is too religious). Option C... Picture Perfect: We would use selections from A Picture Perfect Childhood, which contains fantastic monthly lists of [picture] books related to famous people, historical events, the arts, Shakespeare, and more. Before you say "picture books are too young", consider this passage from the book: There were times when I was dealing with my own teenagers that I found a picture book could better simplify things that were mournfully drawn-out and completely over a child's head in a dry text book. Sometimes a picture book made them care about a subject or a historical person whom they had not cared about before. Many times, a picture book condensed into a nutshell what I had spent the last hour trying to tell them. In history, a world and time zones that reach far and wide, I have found that a picture book can prove to be a capsule-size time machine which can be swallowed more easily than trying to climb and ride the whole elephant. And, Jim Trealease writes, in The Read Aloud Handbook: "A good story is a good story. Beautiful and stirring pictures can move fifteen-year-olds as well as five-year-olds. A picture(s) book should be someplace on the reading list of every class at every level." And Option 4... Science with More: My other thought was to pair up the Scientists in the Field series with either biographies or works of literature/story books, depending on the exact book. For example, perhaps Digging for Bird Dinosaurs with The Dragon in the Cliff; Wild Horse Scientists with Misty of Chincoteague; Gorilla Doctors with either something on Diane Fosse, or My Life with the Chimpanzees; and perhaps The Frog Scientist with The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Any thoughts? She's always been harder to plan for than ds. And no, she won't suggest ideas right now, or give me feedback... yet. :willy_nilly: :banghead:

I don't know of a chemistry text like this (been looking for one), but my ds recommends The (New) Way Things Work by David Macaulay as a physics book.

I am trying to nail down the writing portion of English for my ds14, for ninth grade this fall. I have narrowed it down to the following possibilities, so would LOVE some feedback that may help me reach a conclusion before fall actually gets here! Fwiw, he did Thinking in Threes and some across the curriculum writing, plus some Brave Writer Lifestyle stuff, this past year. Lively Art of Writing, followed by Writing with a Thesis Brave Writer's Help for High School Lost Tools of Writing, level 1 My goal is to have him really focused on writing solid essays by the end of the year. I am a reader for a college professor, and have seen more than a few very poorly written essays -- I don't want him to be lacking in those skills! Thanks!

Can I send MY kids there? Pretty please?

I did the same thing.

Because theoretically we keep them at home, closeted away from the rest of the world at all times, so they pose no threat. :glare:

Just bought it, and can't wait to read it! Thanks 8!

Technically we homeschool as a private school, not labeled as a "homeschool". Or you can sign up through a charter school, online or otherwise. I file an affidavit once a year as a private school.