I want to play, too! However, this past year's plans were derailed, so who knows if this year will go any better. MATH Saxon, Khan, and Kumon LANGUAGE ARTS BookShark 7 Zaner Bloser GUM 8 Killgallon's Grammar for Middle School HISTORY BookShark 7 SCIENCE PAC Integrated Physics and Chemistry FOREIGN LANGUAGE I have an old Power Glide High School Spanish that one of my older boys used a little. I think we will try to cover one semester during grade 7. ART child-led Thiis is what we have. We'll see how it goes.

We have a upstairs gameroom that I use to warehouse books. It is also the location of my big 7' farm table and the desk top that we use for online schoolwork. However, ds sort of wanders the house while studying. He isn't super young- 11yo. If he needs to research online or wants to work on Khan Academy, Big History, or something, he is fine going to the gameroom without me. At this point, I don't sit with him or monitor him much, but he does usually hang out near me. Currently, he has a couch downstairs where he prefers to sit and work. Anyway, we keep whatever he is currently using in a bag. This makes it not only easy to carry up, down, and around the house, but it is also easy to toss in the vehicle. Positives- A warehouse, a designated spot, for everything makes for easier clean-up and storage. Even if it is a bookshelf in a room that primarily has a title other than school room, a designated area for everything just makes for easier organization. A bag, backpack or tote, where your child places the primary books, folders, etc. that he is using that week will allow him to school wherever it is convenient. When he is finished, it goes back in the bag, and, at the end of the day, it goes back where everything is stored. This is efficient. Time is not spent gathering at the beginning or end of the day, and, when the student finishes one thing, he doesn't need to get up, put stuff up, and gather the next thing (thus breaking momentum) in order to move on. As I am now only schooling one child who is moving toward more independent learning, a warehousing area and a book bag help him keep everything more organized. I have never been concerned about where my children work. If they are comfortable at the table in the gameroom, on one of the couches, or on their bed, that's great. I just want them working on whatever they are working on. I only have cared about location when a child was having difficulty completing tasks. Sometimes, this meant the child needed to be where I could see him, or to work at a flat surface, or to go to his room where it was quiet, or to be separated from his sibling. Anyway, I can't imagine saying that everyday we must sit in a single, particular location for a certain portion of our day that I will refer to as school time. It just isn't how I operate. I don't sit still in one spot, and I never expected the kids to do so either. I am also not very good at compartmentalizing my day so that there is a certain time to do school where that school looks like a classroom and when the child is finished with it, school is done. Although I love books, including textbooks and workbooks, and I like having a dedicated place to store those things, I also know that learning happens everywhere and all the time. ;) HTH- Mandy

I am not sure exactly, but I had the spines cut off of, I think, 19 workbooks, and it was under 40 dollars including tax. I can't remember how close it was to thirty. Why don't you call and ask someplace local? HTH- Mandy

This topic has been covered ad nauseam in many threads. The bottom line: If you want to pursue a classical education for your children and you feel you can use Charlotte Mason or pieces of CM to achieve that goal, go for it. You don't need anyone's approval or buy in. Do what works for you. If you want to pursue a classical education for your children and you don't feel that anything from Charlotte Mason will help you meet that goal, stop bashing others who do and move along to something that you feel will work for you. If you are simply offended by someone's use of the word classical by a definition with which you disagree, I don't know that I can help you, but I will try. Classical is just a word that has no one true definition. It may mean something different to you than to someone else. For that matter, Charlotte Mason may mean something different to you than someone else. Let it go. Release it to the universe. HTH- Mandy

Near is a very relative term. ;) I attend a park day that is 30 miles from my home. My library is close- nearly 15 miles away. However, it is located through a commercial area and on the other side of a major interstate. If I get caught at the library and try to drive home during rush hour, it takes me an hour to get home. If I drive from the park during rush hour, it is just sad, sad, sad. For four years of high school, my oldest attended a tutorial that was 20 miles away through the backwoods on narrow hilly roads with no emergency lanes. Nothing is close in middle TN like it is in say Memphis, TN. When I am in Memphis, I feel like everything is around the corner. However, like I said, close is relative. In middle TN, close is a 50-60 mile radius from my home. Middle TN is where I live, and this is just how far we must drive to participate. <shrug> It is what it is. Mandy

I have a big fat three-hole punch that I have had for years that has been worth every penny. I used the three-hole punch and put the work in folders with fasteners. It makes a week's worth of work travel friendly and very easy to tote for use in the car or at the library. ;) Mandy

Based on this thread, I feel very lucky in that all of my big boys' buddies from the first year we homeschooled when they were in third and fifth grade continued to homeschool through high school. There is definitely a large population of homeschooled high schoolers in my area. There are also a ton of opportunities for interaction with peers and separation from parents for learning activities and service projects. There are a ton of high school tutorials that meet one or two days each week with highly qualified instructors. A lot of homeschoolers participate in dual enrollment especially in grades 11 and 12 when in TN they qualify for dual enrollment scholarship funds. There is a very active Boy Scout troop in my area that has a large percentage of homeschoolers. There is a large very active homeschool 4-H group. I don't know if it still happens, but there was a church that had regular swing dances that my middle ds attended some. Locally, we have both a prom and a senior banquet. There are volunteer positions for teens everywhere from the zoo to the food bank that recruit homeshool teens. Last year, a mom started a FB teen group for social activities. This year, we have a mom who is starting a Navigators group. We have moms who stay active in the community after their children graduate when they have time to pull off amazing things for other people's children. I must admit that I am homebody, and, although we don't participate in much, even I know that a ton of stuff is out there. If you don't see it in your area, it may just mean that no one has stepped up to make it happen. Talk to your local 2 or 4 year institution. Ours have dedicated dual enrollment staff. That contact person can probably give you a clue as to the number of homeschooled teens who are dual enrolled. They may be out there, but so busy you just don't see them. :) HTH- Mandy

I took all of ours to FedEx/Kinkos and had the bindings removed so that I could make weekly folders. :) It is the second year I have done so, and it is definitely worth it! Mandy

I worked while my big boys were in early elementary school, and nearly daily I felt a surge of anger that someone else was spending the day with my child. It was worst the last year they were in school when absolutely daily I knew that they were not having their emotional needs met, and I could was absolutely certain that I could do also provide an education that was designed to meet their specific needs. There were days I was furious with he entire situation. It is fulfilling knowing that my child's specific needs have been met, it is rewarding knowing that I have been a part of that, the relationships I have had with my sons, especially trough their teen years, are stronger, more honest, and more loving, and education and, gee, books in general are energizing. For me, I just love being in an educational environment with my kids or others. I find that energizing. In addition to tutoring and having extra students in me home, I have worked with the early learners at a Kumon for over five years. My time working at Kumon is my me-time. Teaching little people the alphabet and counting and beginning reading and arithmetic is rewarding, brings me joy/ fulfillment, leaves me excited to come back and do it again. HTH- Mandy

I have to say I have been at this for 13 years, and I have never, ever, not once heave-cried over homeschooling or thought I would rather hang by my toes. I may be angry at a bad day or frustrated with a naughty offspring, but the actual thought of homeschooling itself has never made me cry. And- I probably would suggest that this poor woman send her kids to school or outsource something somehow. :( (ETA- I certainly wouldn't be cheering her on to do something that makes her this miserable. This isn't anything like her cheering for her dh in a marathon, because she is working with her children. I am certain they feel how miserable she is, and this can't be good for their relationship.) I love teaching little people how to read and beginning arithmetic. I love tutoring other children. I love books and curriculum. I love having high school age children. I love college planning. I love moving into that role of high school guidance counselor. I may heave-cry when my last little man graduates, but I am sure I will continue working with students. And, yes, if I am so lucky as to have grandchildren that live close and have a dil who asks me to help homeschool them, I would be so excited I would jump up and down and maybe even be so happy I cried! Mandy

Look into what all is expected of music majors. If she is starting high school and wants to major in music, there may be things she should be doing or lining up. I have no idea really. I just know that a friend's dd wants to major in music. Her twin went on and started high school, but she waited a year to get stuff lined up. She also started a second instrument because apparently that is something to do? She takes lessons and theory, but she also does chamber music and stuff at Blair in Nashville. She does performance or competitions or something, and she has been visiting music schools. As far as academics, I think most or maybe all of her academic classes are dual enrollment last year and will be again this year. As far as the music thing, I have absolutely no idea. It's just maybe something to check on. Mandy

If your dd is interested in majoring in music, have you looked into schools yet? Even if she is ahead academically, she may qualify for more music scholarship money if you hold off on high school for a year. HTH- Mandy

I was typing while you were posting.

It sounds like they are going to at least need to device-their-own-motivation and work independently. If they are unable to at least do that, you either need some help or they need to go to a b&m school. No matter how wonderful your plans, if they don't do anything, they will have a hard time just getting into college. (((hugs))) :( Mandy

My 11yo needs to feel more independent, so he loves his weekly folders! http://www.chaosappreciation.com/blog/2013/07/homeschool-organization-weekly-folders/ HOW TO CREATE FOLDERS: This is not my blog, but it pretty much how I do it with two exceptions. First, I hole punch our material and use folders with fasteners. Second, I divide our materials into 32 folders instead of 36. This builds in 10 days each semester toward our annual 180 day requirement for field trips and other stuff. In addition to his weekly folders, we have a monthly calendar where I have listed things like books to be read and science/ social studies topics to study that month. Before I wrote in any school, I wrote in birthdays, holidays, and anything that might take time from our regularly scheduled program. This gives me a clue as to which months might need to be a little lighter. Here is a video showing how to make a monthly calendar. Yay, folders! :D Mandy

oops- I typed it correctly the first time and have now corrected the title where I mentioned it the second time. It should read- The Quiet Way Home. The author is Bonny Becker.

Of these, family is the story in It's Not Easy Being a Bunny and Mara in the Morning. In It's Not Easy- PJ FunnyBunny decides to try living with other animal families only to discover that his family is perfect for him. You could row it and study all the animals, their habitats, and how they raise their young. In Mara in the Morning, Mara gets up early and looks at all her sleeping family members- mom, dad, and baby brother. She listens to all the morning noises of the house. There is a family cat that jumps on her robe and she feeds her. Mara sits in a comfy chair with a book. Mom gets up, tiptoes in with cups of cocoa, and sits with Mara. I used the activities designed to go with The Quiet Way Home. HTH- Mandy

Mara in the Morning by C.B. Christiansen I used this as a replacement for the B4FIAR book The Quiet Way Home.

One Morning in Maine by McCloskey?

The Babar books?

The Little Critter books? Our favorite was Just Go to Bed.

Pj FunnyBunny is about family ETA- I am thinking specifically of It's Not Easy Being a Bunny

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear is a B4FIAR book that is set in a family.

I have not used the Aeneid by Church. My boys used In Search of a Homeland by Penelope Lively. Tales of heroes were typically a hit with my boys. Use whatever version works for y'all. We used mainly Nesbitt's Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare. I do own Lamb, but honestly I find that the way they condensed the stories makes them more confusing than the actual play. I am another who occassionally made finger puppets or figures glued to popsicle sticks to help keep the characters straight. We use No Fear Shakespeare starting in about grade five. I have my son read the modern language side independently. Then, he listens to a fully dramatized audio of the original work while reading along. I try to follow up with the play or a video of the play. I am another who is not certain about the value of reading a version of Chaucer in grade four. There is plenty of wonderful literature for this age. However, if you just want a quick story to put Chaucer on the map so to speak, Barbara Cooney wrote a picture book version of one of the tales- The Chanticleer and the Fox. You can do it in one sitting, talk about Chaucer, and move on. HTH- Mandy

Oh, and we don't school early in the mornings. This is our third week of grade six, and I don't think there is a single day that Doodle started on folder or calendar work before 10:30-11. Of course, I also don't think that there has been a single night that he was asleep before midnight. Our entire schedule is shifted to accommodate my dh's work schedule. :) This is one of the benefits of homeschooling. Find a schedule that works for your family. It certainly doesn't need to match the schedule of the ps down the street. Mandy