Nevermind, decision made!

If you can swing it I would put the 7th grader in bju science online. What math does your third grader use? Put the first grader in that or use something like CLE. The lessons are fast-paced and keep the little ones moving right along. Alternatively, you could look into Abeka's math track or mus. I think you are doing fantastic. Focus on what you can teach and do it well; outsource the rest! :)

Lavender's Blue

I have a crew the same ages as yours :). I voted "other" because I think Abeka grammar and IEW would be a great combo. I switched from R&S to Abeka because I wanted strong grammar but I wanted the time I work with them to focus on writing. My kiddos do Abeka mostly independently and it takes maybe 5-10 minutes tops. We do not use quizzes or tests. HTH!

Your siggy already looks fun :) Do you not want to continue with FIAR? You could make units based on a book, a theme (apples,sharks), holidays, current events, etc... I would include cooking, art projects, library books, homeschool share, coloring pages,.... If you want something already scheduled you could pick up a mfw k manual (not the whole shebang). Ants and butterflies are always a hit :) Schedule field trips and library days and make them happen. The most important thing is to find a balance you are comfortable with. Don't get so stressed feeling like you have to keep up with xyz science curriculum in k because you bought it, kwim? Don't underestimate the value of those classic childhood games and songs. I love to hear my girls run around singing "Bluebird bluebird through my window". So precious! We play heads up 7up and 4 corners and hide and seek. Art! You could go cheap with Deep Space Sparkle or free chalk tutorials or you could look into something like Home Art Studio, Atelier, or Artistic Pursuits. Peaceful and productive.

I love the early years! I do phonics, math, fine motor, and read alouds DAILY. Math can be c-rods, games, pattern blocks, workbooks, whatever. Fine motor is handwriting, coloring, cutting, playdo... I like to keep them focused and intense for a short period of time. What I really want them to learn is that school is not negotiable. I want them to find enjoyment in focusing their attention and satisfaction in seeing something through to completion. THEN nature study, childhood games, sing songs and hymns together, chores, handicrafts, glitter, markers, googly eyes, tissue paper, field trips, unit studies, races, missionary stories, audio books, baking cookies, writing letters, drawing pictures for neighbors, Peter Rabbit and Half-Pint, library trips, park days, art books and prints,memory work... Do what makes you feel happy and at peace! :001_smile:

Is there somewhere I can have color copies printed and mailed to my house for a reasonable price? I don't have an office supply store nearby so I couldn't pick them up in person. Thanks :)

What about Hands and Hearts kits?

bump :)

Is it possible to use Story of the US with a first edition manual that schedules Exploring American History? How much trouble would it be to try to line the readings up and write them into the tm? Thanks!

Me too :( I loved reading about their notebooking and her curriculum reviews. I came here to pm her but I can't find her name in the list anymore... Hope everything is okay! Maybe she just needed some privacy...

The Simply Charlotte Mason forum is great! I think the 4real forums are Catholic CM--not sure though.

Road Trip USA rounding out with recommended history books Beautiful Feet Early American History Guest Hollow American History (free) MFW Adventures (might save you from reinventing the wheel) HOD Bigger Abeka grade 3 history adding living books Homeschool in the Woods This Country of Ours (free, public domain)

Your Story Hour is used with BF early american We like them :)

I can't get the captcha right to register for their forums, so I thought I would ask here. :D I have a k'er who taught himself to read when he was 4. He needs more phonics work but despises OPGTR so I think I am going to start him in AAS 1. I also have a little one who is ready for phonics instruction so I am considering AAR pre-1 and AAR1. Finally, I have a second grader who never did any phonics work beyond OPGTR. She is a terrific reader and I sometimes have her read through McGuffey's for fluency, but I would like to help her with the skills to decode words she has never encountered before. Her spelling is fantastic (she uses Rod and Staff) so I'm not even sure if AAS is what she needs. What do I need to order? I'm so confused between the items that are used in every level, how many of each because of multiple students...just finding the program difficult to wrap my mind around...:confused:

They are somewhat intertwined per day and by unit. Sometimes it may work to combine a few days but others it does not work well. I won't say that it can't be done, just that the curriculum does not lend itself well towards that end. I'll have to sit with my manual some more and see how this might be done, or if I can provide you with more concrete examples. :)

Keri- I'm in a similar boat :). My kids are the same age as yours and we are expecting #5, but we are doing Bigger and LHFHG this year. Bigger is WONDERFUL. DD (2nd grade) and I are still enamored, even though the honeymoon phase should have been over long ago :lol:. BUT we are leaving HOD after this year. I just can not handle 2+ guides every year. I am also having trouble with the daily schedule format. Everything is so intertwined that you can't get behind on any of the boxes. Poetry is related to the history which is related to Bible and science... We are so behind on our HOD work because if we don't have time to finish all of the boxes one day then we have to finish them the next day before we move on to the next day's lessons-- it never ends! We are doing great in English and math because those are stand-alone subjects! I considered switching to Adventures this year and next year but I finally realized that MFW isn't open-and-go enough for me. I've switched to using Bigger my own way and we are so much happier. Next year I am considering a switch to SCM for history/geography/Bible (adding hands and hearts kits, etc...) so I can combine but in a way that is easier on me than MFW would be. I am also considering designing my own thing. I dread this up front I think we will be happier on a daily basis. Not sure if my blathering has helped at all... let me know what you end up deciding on, it might inspire ME! :D

A pull down screen for MAPS!!! I seem to remember that Kel at Fawkes Academy posted about them on her blog...

Thank you for the book recommendation! It looks like the author has a blog. :)

I knew I could count on you ladies! I think maybe I should add a morning walk before I get dressed for the day. I also think I need to hit the ground running (thanks Kalanamak) since mornings are my most productive hours. I may shift things like computer and bible time to the late afternoon and do my housework early. I like that. :) Pegging idea--genius! I have always liked the Ma Ingalls idea of different work for different days. I'm surprised how similar my days are to many of yours. My worst hours are between 2 and 6. Maybe I should join the YMCA and head there in the afternoons... Thanks to everyone who shared!

I have a terribly difficult time ordering my days. I know if I had some sort of external motivation (e.g. getting ready for school, dropping kids off at school...) then I would feel more grounded. I don't want the kids in school and I don't want to leave the house but I need something. I feel lost and unmotivated. How do you order your days! Please no flylady or MOTH schedules :D.

:lol::tongue_smilie: You must be really awful to manage that in only three weeks! The fact that you discovered this at an ice cream social shows how absolutely weird and unsocialized your kids really are :tongue_smilie:. Seriously, don't pass the bean dip. I find a hearty "Are you kidding me?!" to be appropriate here. Nip it in the bud!

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I purchased both and decided on HOD with our 2nd child. Selling points for me: -TM layout -Biblical/heart focus -No need for book baskets, reference books or strange supplies -Activities that are easy to get done (MFW activities look adorable but I simply can't handle things like that) -Phonics is separate, not an integral part of the program (DS is already reading) -Fun lesson plans to go along with SM I do like that MFW uses more picture books and I anticipate that ds will struggle a bit with HOD read-alouds. It will be good for him, though. If I was looking for my oldest child, didn't have a bunch of littles, and was a naturally organized mama then I might have gone with MFW.

I have had two wonderful transactions that started with my posts on the WTB board. I am most grateful that they took the time to message me first :).