War Against the Idols: Reformation of Worship from Erasmus to Calvin by Carlos M. N. Eire Scholarly, but very readable.

I've seen these mentioned recently, but don't know anyone IRL who has them to see. Which are your kids/your favorites and why? :bigear:

Loving Right Start here with my K'er. Love how it teachers her (and me!) to think! Very hands-on; not workbooky.

We do a few activities or crafts from these books: Before and After Easter by Debbie Trafton O'Neal Christ in Easter: A Family Celebration of Holy Week from Navpress We use Joni Eareckson Tada's Passion Hymns for a Kid's Heart too. I also find ideas on http://www.ministry-to-children.com

Apologia is publishing an updated edition of Educating the Wholehearted Child. I don't think it's out yet, but I keep checking Amazon...

I learned in 7th grade and loved it! :D Made grammar so clear. We spent over half the year on it!

some of my favorites: The Well Adjusted Child by Rachel Gathercole - addresses the big S. Well documented, though the research is about 10 yrs old now. Homeschooling: A Family's Journey by Gregory and Martine Millman Well written and compelling. They are moderate Catholics in NJ; very intellectual. She's Chinese. They began HS because of financially conservative house purchase had them in a neighborhood with poor schools and then they fell in love with HS for the educational and relational benefits. Ruth Beechick for basics and common sense, you can do this, how-to.

Rest time - 1.5 to 2 hrs almost every afternoon. They play quietly in their rooms. I have peace and quiet! Outside time. They play in the back yard for 30 minutes + (up to 2 hours) most days. :)

:iagree::iagree: If you are not a troll, which I doubt, please do your homework and be more polite and respectful. A good read on the topic of socialization and home education is Rachel Gathercole's The Well-Adjusted Child.

Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome The Black Stallion series. I too loved My Side of the Mountain! Scribner's Storybook Classics are lovely illustrated (by N. C. Wyeth!) carefully abridged versions of classic works like Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island. The reading is still challenging, but the book seems less intimidating because it is a large, thin book like a picture book. Great boy books!

We don't have a very structured schedule, but here is what we do. Daily: Bible (Vos and First Catechism), Read aloud, DD reads to me 4x a week: Math (RS A), handwriting/copywork, Phonics (Phonics Pathways) 2x a week: Nature study/informal Science We do school in the mornings, usually for about an hour, depending on how much time we spend on math. In addition, DD has a very low key co-op class once a week which covers Missions and so includes geography, history, other cultures and countries etc as well as some Bible. We go to library storytime most weeks and DD has choir and ballet each 1x a week.

5 for sure, sometimes 6 or 7. Too many! Next year we're consolidating some things so that I have at least two whole weekdays with no outside obligations. I stay sane better when I'm at home more!

I am not musical either. I feel totally unable to teach music to my kids! My DD is getting some excellent, fun music instruction in a church choir program and I have friends whose children are having a similar experience in a local chorus for school aged kids (public, run by the city, just sign up, small fee - though there are several private or by-audition ones too). We may do piano lessons later, but for now, DD is enjoying the social aspect and learning too!

7 here. Very interesting to see that the elementary school in my lower middle class neighborhood ranked a bit higher than the one in my SIL's very upscale neighborhood.

We have some nice ones that we got from Kindermusik. Some were part of curriculum packages and others we just bought. Drums, shakers, bells etc.

:iagree: This is what we are doing and it works great. We may use some of the suggested writing exercises next year, as review. :)

bumping for you. I love her family devotional book on the WSC, Training Hearts, Teaching Minds.

We are using Catherine Vos' The Child's Story Bible this year with the Coloring pages from Great Commission Publications. This may take us well into next year. We are going to add in a timeline next year when we begin history. Then we'll do Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan Hunt, which is the First Catechism presented with stories. I like What the Bible Is All About for Young Explorers as a good reference or framework book for mid to older elementary age kids.

From To Kill A Mockingbird. And I live in Tennessee. I've been Scout on several boards and am just stuck in my ways, I guess.

Enjoy the shower and her kindness! :) Ignore your MIL's attitude as best you can. Easier said than done, I know! ;)

Thank you! Just what I needed to know.

So far, we are doing the SCM system just for Bible, but I love the color- coded cards by subject idea! Next year! We find the system easy to do and effective. Even DH is learning verses since we often do our review at the table right after meals. :)

The authors have a Christian perspective/worldview. A friend started it recently and I've enjoyed it. Thought I'd mention it here since there are so many who love good literature for kids and think about it carefully. Take a look! :) www.redeemedreader.com

We are about 10 lessons away from finishing RS A and I need to order a few things for B. I have a set of base 10 blocks. Can I sub these for the picture cards or not? Thanks!

I agree with the others. Find another church. I wouldn't go back, ever. There are no perfect churches or perfect pastors, but seems to me that this situation is untenable.