Wow! Thank you for this amazing guide. I am working through digesting this process that you suggest. Lots to think about, but I appreciate it after having resisted investing in foreign language "programs." (We did get the first Muzzy set off of eBay a while ago when the children were in Kindergarten and nursery school.)

On the idea of challenging your daughter: Have you explored the Classical Model of teaching? It sounds like she might be ready for the challenge of pursuing the Logic Stage, for discussion and writing about her readings... especially as it sounds like you have covered the Grammar Stage for her (meaning she has great comprehension skills, for the most part; and there may be a few areas where she needs exposure to the grammar of other subjects, but in general she will continue to be refreshed on these as you cover it for the others). I would recommend looking at Veritas Press's webiste veritaspress.com. Their 7th and 8th grade Transition and Omnibus materials are what I will most probably reach for when I get to the point you are describing. Additionally, use this time to work on her writing abilities!!! That will take her far and challenge her. I have always heard wonderful things about IEW, and finally ordered their TWSS dvd/kit this summer from their website http://excellenceinwriting.com. If that is more than you have time to research and learn, then I would recommend just downloading some of Andrew Pudewa's lectures on writing and reading along with looking at classicalwriting.com. Another great way to challenge her and give her the gift of excellent writing abilities! Also, look at The Potter's School online. http://www.pottersschool.org/ It's pricey but oh, so challenging! (Something to consider.) On the idea of telling or not: My husband and I both were gifted learners. My in-laws enrolled him in all the gifted summer classes, sent him to THE BEST school in the area, and talked about how gifted he was every time his name came up. It definitely created several achievement/potential issues that overwhelmed him and caused him arrogance and conflict in college, which could have been an exciting journey but was begun with pressure and distraction. He's a small town civil engineer now, gifted in the diversity of his job, and has a beautiful community-minded perspective on public service and responsibility. He doesn't like to admit that he is still a great reader, always enjoying a strong theological or intellectual tome along with a popular classic! That's what makes him a great dad, and will really substantiate our HSing efforts later in the Logic & Dialectic stages. He will be the one to challenge our children when they arrive at that level where their mere readings need to sum up to something greater! (It sounds like this is where your daugther is.) On the other hand, my parents never told me until I had my own children and began to embark on the process of gifted evaluation and special classes at a local university for our oldest son (at my Mother-in-law's urging). It was then that my mother nonchalantly told me that I was a gifted child too. (She Never told me!) That moment had me think and rethink the learning process and its objectives for my children as a whole. At the time I was obsessed with the potential that Montessori methods held for my children, so I explored that, reading Dr. Montessori's bio and one of her books on education...because it offered an exploratory method of teaching children to pursue knowledge to greater depths. That was a long journey that took me back around to my convictions about the classical education process and the concept of Poetic Knowledge as our ultimate philosophical objective in education. Now that we're on our way, our eldest son is 9 and entering 4th grade, 2nd son is 7 and starting 2nd, and our 3 y.o. daughter is running a one-girl campaign for becoming holy roman empress of our home : ) As I begin the process of testing and evaluating our children , I know the gifts that I will see in each of them. Some will shine brighter and others will send me reeling! That's what breathes life into homeschooling: knowing the challenges of addressing our children's strengths and weaknesses, and teaching them along the way how to pursue knowledge that will challenge their thought faculties! All of my children are gifted readers. I have chosen to ignore that fact and still give them the grammar stage (because that's where we are... but always preparing myself and having materials on hand to reach into the Logic Stage when I see those breakthrough moments), but reward them by providing them with upper high school and college level text books for their own independent reading to delve deeper into the subjects. We still do read alouds, for practice of expression, and for a discussion that all three can engage in or be drawn into. But as a whole, my husband and I feel that this method encourages and rewards our little readers and makes their intellectual pursuits seem normal. It seems to reward them with a self-propelled desire to achieve more from their readings. You're a bit further down the road on this...I look forward to hearing how your science pursuits turn out. (Sorry for giving you my thesis! It's been on my mind, and your discussion really tapped that well!) Best in everything!

I hope you enjoyed it! I just attended my first CC practicum this summer while my 3 children were in the day camps. (They thoroughly enjoyed their camps: GeoDrawing & Logic) I was going with mixed ideas about what to expect as I did not know anyone attending nor had I visited a CC open house before. While I wished that there would have been more "how-to" advice and discussion in the lecture part of the afternoon, I truly appreciated the encouragement and challenge given for parents to continue their own education in a classical manner. I know some of the first-time (to classical) homescool moms attending wanted more information on "Classical Education." The practicum offered more in-depth probing on how as parents we should transform our own thinking and challenge ourselves to be more logical and analytical as we are teaching our little ones! I encourage you to go with an open mind and a willingness to be challenged!

We have an adorable eeboo US map well as a world map about the same size as yours, and my mom bought an attractive black, wide poster frame from Hobby Lobby to slip them into. With a regular weekly H.L. coupon, it was more affordable and durable than laminating. Now, since we hung them in the boys' room, where they have their desk and love reading, the kids can use a dry erase marker on the glass to make notes, and the maps are still protected and look like a classic part of their decor!