My oldest is going into 3rd grade this year and we've been pretty relaxed up to this point. We've mostly focused on the 3 R's and read through several books from AO. I guess I would define my style as relaxed/CM/classical with a dash of waldorf/Beechick in the early years. :lol: But now I feel he's ready for a bit more rigor and I need a bit more guidance. Through the years, I've looked at all the literature-based programs out there (AO, SCM, Sonlight, MFW, HOD, LBC, TWTM, WP....on and on...) and none ever seemed like just the right fit. But this year, I'm feeling drawn to Heart of Dakota's "Bigger" program. I like the layout of the guides and most of the book selections. I like the idea of doing American history this year, a one year history overview next year and then a 4 year chronological cycle. I like the idea that it's planned out to include projects and all the subjects. I like that it's designed to gently guide students into more independent learning as the years go on. My hesitation is the "Christian" content. We are Christians and I want my kids to learn about scripture and the history of the church, etc. However, I am not a hard line young earth creationist and do not want to teach only from that view. I do not believe in the "Providential" history of the US and I do not want "character training" with a punitive slant. Those of you that have used HOD... is this sort of teaching really pervasive? Or is it fairly neutral/easy to change? My other hesitation is that I won't be able to stick to the schedule. How easily tweakable is HOD? Is it easy to fall behind? And if you fall behind, does it feel like you are behind? :tongue_smilie: Any thoughts you have are appreciated! :001_smile:

Thank you all for your replies. The more reading I do about architecture as a career, the less I think it would work for me. It sounds like the schooling is just going to be too intense. I think it's time to say good bye to that dream. I think, for now, I'm going to work on self-education in science, math, history and literature and also work on honing my photography skills. Maybe in a few years I will take some graphic design and business/marketing classes and see if I can make a go as a freelance photographer/designer.

Well, I don't really expect to be able to take on a full time course load while homeschooling, so I would imagine it would probably take a good five years at least to complete my degree. I wouldn't be starting right away anyway.... I'm just trying to see if it would even be fesable, or if everything would end up suffering.

I'm wanting to go back to school to be an architect, but I homeschool my 4 young children. Has anyone else pursued graduate studies while homeschooling? Is it crazy to even attempt?

I love MEP. We use it as a stand alone, for the most part, and would continue to do so even if we had to pay for it. I do supplement for American money and measurements and occasionally add in components from other programs for extra practice/understanding. But I think I would do that with any program. :001_smile:

Every day.

I am a huge introvert and I agree that my need for alone time is the same as a need for water, food and air. Thankfully, my DH is an introvert too, so he gets it. I am tandem nursing my 5mo and 2yo and cosleeping, so I'm really feeling touched out right now. My best solution for taking time off is shutting myself behind a closed, locked door (taking a bath, relaxing in the school room or my bedroom) and putting something in my ears (ear plugs or headphones). Our house is small and I can hear everything otherwise, so I need the sound blocked to feel like I am truly "off duty". Going out by myself helps, too, but it's not as refreshing as being totally alone. As soon as my babies are weaned, the first thing I'm going to do is go on a weekend retreat by myself. Oh, that sounds so heavenly! I hope you can get your DH to really trust that you need alone time, even if he doesn't understand it. Maybe let him read this thread so he can see that you are not the only introvert mama out there?

We use MEP as our main program. I quickly look over the teacher's guide to see if any activities might work for us and then I help ds work through the problems on the sheet. I also have Miquon materials, RightStart's ALabacus books and game set, and Singapore's CWP books and I rarely feel the need to supplement MEP. We love it!

My last three we homebirths (my first was born in a hospital). My homebirths were wonderful and a huge reason for that was because of my excellent, experienced midwife. I didn't feel relaxed in the hospital and I am convinced that is why my labor took so long (30+ hours). My homebirths were just so.... beautiful. Oh, and my last baby was 9lbs. 7oz. and it was my easiest and quickest labor and birth!

Yeah, that is the key. I'm finding myself drawn to several different programs for different reasons, but none of them seem to use everything I want to use, the way I want to use it. I'll throw this out there just for fun. Here's what I like about each program I'm drawn to: MFW: I really like the history rotation and a lot of their book selections AO: Love many of the book selections and the fact that it is free. I've learned a lot about how to schedule just by looking at theirs. Oak Meadow: LOVED the science and the layout of the TM's SCM: Lots of wonderful resources! TWTM: Straight forward, easy to follow There are several other programs I look at just for their book list: Sonlight, LBC, Guest hollow, HOD.... I feel like I have learned enough about teaching methods from TWTM, CM, Beechick, etc. to apply them to pretty much any book list (at least in the grammar stage). So I feel like I would be wasting money if I bought a laid out program and then proceeded to tweak it to include different resources I like better. If I'm going to buy a program, I feel like I need to use it pretty much as-is.... otherwise, what's the point? Then again, as everyone says, there is no "perfect" curriculum and the best one is the one that gets done. So back to my quandary.... which one is most likely to get done here: the "less perfect" one that is already laid out, or the "more perfect" one that I have to put together..... think, think, think.... :tongue_smilie:

OK, so to clarify, when I say "boxed" I mean any program with subjects scheduled out for you (ie. "read this chapter of this book on this day"). As opposed to pieced together, which, to me, means I decide on each book/movie/project/ect. we will use and come up with my own plan for when/how to use them. And when I say we have only been consistent with MEP and copywork/narration, I mean that whenever we have "done school" those things have gotten done, along with bits of various other programs we have tried, but that the doing of school has not been very consistent here. :thumbdown:I had a baby in September and the pregnancy/new baby thing has really thrown me off. That's why I'm looking for perspectives on what would be easiest to get done consistently starting in the new year. And I realize it's a decision only I can make, but I find it helpful to "talk" it out with other homeschoolers. :001_smile: This thread has been very helpful to me, so far. Lots of ideas to consider. Any other thoughts would be appreciated. :bigear:

Thanks for your help! I was thinking I would use Betsy Maestro's books for my spine. And I do have All Through the Ages. I think I will start by planning out a Native American unit and see how it goes. Since my focus will mostly be on the time before Columbus, I don't think there would be too much overlap with Adv. if I decide I want to go in that direction. Off topic, but I see you are using A Child's Geography with your 2nd grader... do you find it to be a good fit for that age? I've been curious about that program. :001_smile:

Yeah, except I can't make up my mind because both methods sound good for different reasons! :lol:

I have been homeschooling my kids from birth and my oldest is in 2nd. Up to this point we have been very relaxed, but, come January, I would really like ramp up our frequency of "doing school". Apparently, I have a really hard time sticking with things. :glare: So far, we've tried AO, Oak Meadow, SOTW, WWE, BFSU, topic "units" that I pulled together, and we just started MFW K for dd (my second child). MEP and copywork/narration are the only things we've stuck with consistently. MFW K looks cute, but I'm not all "woo hoo" about it. :tongue_smilie:But I've been thinking about going with Adventures for my 2nd grader. I wanted to do some American history with him this year instead of continuing with SOTW 2. But I am also tempted to just pull some units together myself this year, starting with Native Americans and moving on to different topics based on our history or science interests. I do enjoy researching different materials, but I am not very organized. So what do you think would be easier to implement and more enjoyable: Something already planned out that we can just hunker down and get done, or piecing together things based on interest or whim to keep things fresh?

I am very interested in seeing this finished list! :)

Yeah, I'm not knocking the book at all and I do want to use them with my kids... I'm just thinking not yet. I did make a point of telling them that it was a myth, not real, and that did seem to help a bit. And we do read unsanitized fairy tales and Bible stories, but for some reason this was different for them. :confused: Thank you all for the different perspectives. I still have some thinking to do, but it is helpful to be able to bounce ideas off of others. :001_smile:

:bigear: I'm interested in an answer to this, as well.

OK, so I just went to talk to my kids about dropping SOTW and no longer doing the co-op to do American History instead. They both said they want to continue with SOTW and the co-op. :glare: It's hard because some of our best friends attend the co-op and I know that's why they want to continue... to be with friends. And there are only four families in the group, including us, so I would hate to back out now and leave the group without a fourth teacher (we all take turns teaching... we only meet every other week, so it's not so bad). It's a good group and the kids have fun. On the other hand, I am having a baby in September and it's already been difficult getting a group lesson prepared while pregnant. And the time is right during our toddler's nap time, which makes things even more complicated. Plus all the issues my kids are having with the content. Gah! Do I continue using an iffy (for my kids) program just so they get the group experience, or go with one that will probably be a better fit for us, but makes them give up the fun group? :confused: My other thought was to do American History as our school work, but just get SOTW on audio for the kids to listen to before our co-ops. That means I would still need to plan a lesson every other month and it still may be too much to keep going with a toddler and a new baby. And they are still being exposed to all those "scary" stories. But they would get to do all the fun projects with their friends. :willy_nilly:I'm driving myself crazy here... someone tell me what to do! :lol:

Thank you all for confirming what my gut is telling me. I did a quick search on here for American History options and came across the new Elemental History program and I think it will be absolutely perfect for us this year! It seems like it has everything I liked about MFW without all the extras (we already have a plan for Bible, Science, LA, etc.) and cheap enough that I won't feel guilty about tweaking. And it's secular! Yay! (I'm a Christian, but I am not a fan of Providential History.) Thank you all for your insights. :001_smile:

We've just started our school year yesterday and we are picking up where we left off last year with SOTW ancients. (DS is second grade and DD is K) We joined a co-op using this book back in January and, while they seem to have fun doing the projects with the other kids, I think 90% of the reading has gone over their heads. So I have already been wavering about staying with SOTW this year or doing a year of American history or geography instead. Then today we read the story about the Minotaur in SOTW and my DS was so upset about the idea of them sending the 7 boys and 7 girls off to be eaten by the Minotaur. DD was upset, too, and said, "Well, I hope we never read that story again!" :001_huh: My kids are both sensitive and still have so much innocence.... I'm just wondering if I'm trying to push too much on them too soon IRT the reality of history and human nature. Any thoughts about this? I'm seriously thinking of dropping SOTW and going with something like MFW Adventures this year and revisiting it when they get a bit older (maybe just continuing with MFW's cycle, if this year goes well).

I think we will be using the Outdoor Secrets book + guide from Simply Charlotte Mason

Well, I don't mind hearing from affiliates (I don't understand why you would be one if you didn't love the product) and I'm still leaning towards the AAS/AAR side of the fence.... But I will take a look at the other recommendations that have been made for things that I haven't seen yet before I make my final decision. Thank you all! It is so helpful for me to get some outside perspective on this.

*sigh* Everyone is talking me out of it :tongue_smilie: Does no one think it's worth it? :bigear:

I do appreciate what you are saying, but my goal for dd is not necessarily to get her reading right away, it's to have something fun (for both of us) to do with her so she doesn't get lost in the shuffle of the new baby/toddler/2nd grader craziness that will be our year this year. And if I get AAS, I will buy levels one and two now, while knowing I may need level three before the year is up (which I figure I could buy later with the new AAR level, if we decide to go that route).

Yeah, I've seen LOTW and Hubbard's Cupboard before... and to be perfectly honest, I can't stand all the cutesy crafts. :tongue_smilie:There seems to be only a little of that in AAR (which I know dd would love, so this would be the compromise) and I find AAR's much more... how do I say it? Aesthetically pleasing? ;) Plus they have the cute alphabet and poetry books, fun games all laid out, and that adorable zebra! :svengo: