Hunter, These words are good for me, too. I flounder back and forth between wanting them all to learn calculus (just to see the beauty of math that supposedly exists), and not caring if they do any higher math as long as they can do practical math. Can you talk about the rhythm of the day? I like that phrase, but I admit that I don't really know what it means.

The baby did fine both days. We packed our lunch today and ate it on the way. We stayed four hours. And we brought our math, grammar, and phonics curriculum with us instead of relying on the library resources.

I just want to say that I am so excited! I went to our tiny library five minutes from our house that I didn't know existed and it was wonderful! Lots of tables to work at and lots of great books for kids. Almost no one else there during the day. The kids have to be quiet, so they get done much faster and the thrill of getting out of the house is a huge motivator for them. I can see us being able to get rid of a bunch of our books. I plan to go there four days a week to study. I did leave the two year old home both days (with my husband, of course) and today I left the four year old, too, but she was so sad. I only left her so the two year old would have a playmate. I will switch off leaving the four year old and the five year old from now on. I can't tell you the change I already see in my oldest...

Math It?

I haven't read it yet. I have at least four books on my Kindle wishlist and this is one of them. Also, Real Homeschooling, Hands-free Mama, and 7 (I think that is the name.)

Bump

Bump

http://www.nypl.org/blog/2012/09/04/back-homeschooling-library This is kind of what I'm talking about.

But don't they need a high school diploma? And aren't there requirements for that?

We don't have much money here and lots of debt and eight kids. I am trying more and more how to homeschool without buying much. Sometimes I think living and using what is right in front of us is an interesting way to live. Like what will we discover that is right in front of us today? I think people underestimate what the library and dollar store have to offer. Sometimes I think we think education has to be so systematic, but maybe the last generation didn't do it that way and still had excellent results.

I am wondering how unschoolers handle math. I know about math games and living books about math and all of that, but I wonder when and how they deal with math with older kids to make sure they have what they need to graduate.

Has anyone read this book by Rachel Jonat? The rest of the title is: A Minimalist Guide to a Simplified, Organized, and Happy Life. Any thoughts?

Well, the thing about the library is QUIET! It is hard for them to goof around or get distracted when the only thing to do there is read or study. And I don't think they would let you check things out if you are not student, staff, or a public school teacher. Also, you are probably right about the bookstore. But I think a weekly or bi-weekly stop there would encourage them to learn new things of their own motivation.......Or to look for those books in the library......

Is there somewhere I can read a basic summary of her suggestions?

I just looked up the library at our local university and it has a juvenile section. It also has a curriculum section and an educational lab but I don't know if visitors can use it while in the library. It even has a coffee shop with snacks. But the problem is that you have to pay for parking, and that can add up.

Reviews? http://www.compassclassroom.com/homeschooling/homeschool-made-simple.html

This is not going to happen for me for a variety of reasons, but I keep sort of fantasizing about this idea of having kids bring a backpack with a journal, a notebook, a graph paper notebook, and some index cards to a library or bookstore daily and let them learn whatever. (By the way, by journal I mean half lined and half blank for illustrations.) An alternative would be 3 moleskins- graph paper, blank, and ruled. Also, they would have their own school box of basic school supplies with them. And they would have their Bible with them. Anyway, I keep thinking that there are bound to be books on how to learn the various math subjects that need to be covered, as well as books with grammar exercises and books that even teach foreign language. There are three problems with this for me. 1) My little ones that would not behave in a library or bookstore for more than 15 minutes. I would only bring my readers. That would mean my husband would have to watch our 5, 4, and 2 year old. And now I have an infant so that won't work either. The alternative would be to let my husband go to the library or bookstore with the four oldest all day (after a huge breakfast) and let them study for several hours until they were all starving and then come home and eat. I would stay home with the little ones. He would have quiet to work and I could spend time with my little ones. Hmmmm...... 2) Our libraries here are so much smaller than the ones in Northern VA and don't have anywhere near the selection so when I go to them I think that there is no way my kids would actually like the selection there, but maybe I am underestimating. The bookstore is pretty decent, though, and might actually prompt them to want to buy a workbook on some particular subject. 3) There aren't very man Christian books in the bookstore, although there is a huge Christian bookstore in our town. But then, I don't think it has much in the way of history or science and it doesn't have a place to sit. They would have to buy the books. However, we do have quite a lot of Christian history and science books in our home library (though much of it is in storage), so if I kept those on shelves at home they would just bring those with them or read them at home in their spare time. So, this is just an idea. And it is a kind of unschoolingish I guess. And I don't think I am that radical (at least not yet), but sometimes I wish I were.

I buy wide-ruled for my 8 year old and college ruled for my 11 and 13 year olds. I was trying to do color coding, but I often can't find the colors I need so I think I give up on that. My plan for this coming year is that the kids will have one notebook that is graph paper for working out math problems and one that is lined for their math and grammar answers. Those we will toss when they are done with them. Then I will have one that is half blank and half lined for their drawings and writings after they read each day. That we will keep. I am planning to buy those from Mead right now unless I can find something else better. For my non-readers I buy the primary level with the dotted mid-line for their journals. They only use flashcards for math and they have a workbook for phonics so that is all they need. I don't have any lefties. I don't like perforated because then they tear out. And I don't like spiral because the pages come out. The ones I have bought from the dollar store have thinner paper, which I don't really like, but sometimes it has just been whatever is convenient. I am hoping to hit some back to school sales today and maybe I can pick up enough for the whole year.....

My kids don't write in the book and it doesn't add much time.

The book says 30-50 minutes, including the dictation or journal topic. They don't do the writing lessons on the same day as a grammar lesson. Mine can do it in 30 minutes usually.

I wish Moleskins came with one side ruled and the other side blank. Or one side graph paper and one side ruled. I know Mead sells composition books like this. Does anyone know of another brand that is sewn and has one half or one side blank and the other lined?

I so wanted to like the Frixion pens but the stores don't have the refills so I would have to order online all the time. Plus they are pretty expensive.... Hunter, now I want to see your art and art lessons.......I can't quite picture it but it sounds really interesting. Can twistables be used? My kids always break the regular kind.....

What are Pink Pearls?

We have bought so much in the past that I don't need much. Magic House pencils and refills Composition books of various kinds Papermate flair pens Red pens and blue pens Markers Watercolor paints Rulers Gluesticks Scotch tape A compass Pack of highlighters Printer paper and cardstock, ink, and toner Black sharpies in various sizes Some of these we go through regularly and others just need replacing once a year. I usually buy stuff at the dollar store if possible.

Maybe I am wrong. Maybe the sixth grade book is about authors and the seventh grade book is about folk tales and fairy tales? I am not sure. Hunter has Hake 7. Maybe she could chime in. I only own 4. I shouldn't make assumptions I guess....