I agree with above posters and if I could add any is for you to just sit down and weigh the pros and cons. I wouldn't stress to much on the younger ones except reading, math, writing, etc. Also, you can combine so much of your kids together and tackle a lot! I don't have that many but I can combine my 6 yr. old with my 14 yr. old with many subjects. It is amazing what the younger ones will pick up. Like others have said get the older to help with the younger. Set times and stick to them! Even if you don't "finish" a lesson just set times to work on certain children and then move on. Keep morning time for school and then give yourself a break for the afternoon to get the other stuff done. Let your older kids work in the afternoon on stuff on their own. Know it is a season and do what you can do. I like the ideas of getting others to help with household responsibilities...in essence you will have to decide what is most important whether to homeschool or not. I have had to let a lot go...uhmmm my house. :sad: Which was SO hard for me...but my perfectionist tendencies had to go! Pray and ask God to give you the wisdom to make the right decision...hugs!

With my credit and wanting to get some back...I had my son this past fall take the 2 day lab course with him which was wonderful because it was in my city and I didn't have to pay for it! Ha! My son had a great time and learned a lot....but as for going in and paying more money for a class...I would be a bit hesitant. That's my opinion though... However, the lab was a nice addition to our course this year and if you have credits...I say use them! HTH

My son did Composition in 7th grade at VP and did fine but he had come from Shurley so not familiar with CC but should be okay. Just be prepared to write! I believe that taking that course plus Omni Primary & Secondary is overkill at VP...my son did it and it about killed him. He is gifted and very self motivated and it was a tough year for him granted he is a perfectionist and was striving always for the A. Besides those courses he did Latin there that year too...it was a lot and I did not go back after that...too much!! I recommend if you want to do Omnibus to try the combined course like where Wilson Hill Academy started because the reading is more doable and they only need to meet half the time as if you were doing two courses. VP might be doing that now too but I am not familiar with the caliber of the class. I can speak for WHA that the Omnibus courses are good but are not overkill like VP is. In regards to Omni 1 I didn't think my kids were ready for that so I had them start with Omni 3 and one kid I started with Omni 2 and it worked out just fine for them. Then we circled back around. I know many do it in 7th but 6th I think would be too young. There are many books they include that I would not want my young kids to read much less when they were older so we skipped those. You will have to make the call on that. HTH

Ha...I hear ya! I had two of my kids using Saxon up until Algebra and then we switched but it did lay a good foundation. My kids liked it but ONLY because they liked "not" to think outside the box which could be a problem in higher math but it didn't cause a problem for my kids. I liked it because I am NOT a math teacher and that is my weakest subject it was nice to have it laid out and where I "couldn't" mess up. Ha! My kids liked worksheets and the independence...crazy! So if it is because it is taking too long which might be part of the reason... I would cut it in half....do odd one day and in the next lesson do odd. That's what we did. It seemed to work just fine. I think there are too many problems for a day! However, with my youngest I am coming out of my comfort zone and trying something new...less problems more deep understanding and oral problems....not worksheets. Funny I think he'd prefer Saxon because of the love of worksheets and not having to explain himself and how he got an answer...ha ha! Too bad....anyway I would try that if you want to stay with Saxon...its not all bad and it is tried and true. Good luck!

Awesome...thanks for doing this...great list!!

My son has been reading the original Pilgrim's Progress and has done well with it (he is 6 yrs.) I am partial to reading the real deal...you will be amazed at how well they catch on. And if your child already has some familiarity with the story then they should be fine. :) My two cents..

There are so many ways to go about it and you are right classical/CM has many varieties. I would try to see first what you are trying to accomplish and your goals before diving into a curriculum. There are SO many choices now a days. My son was in 1st grade this year and this is what we did but we focus more on a CM here. I didn't need to teach reading since my son picked it up on his own too .... but there are many programs out there just need to decide what's best for your child. Math- used this new program at SCM and have loved it!! https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/charlotte-mason-elementary-arithmetic-series-book-1/ Science- we used many living good books but we also did Christian Liberty Reader level 1 & 2 (so he could read most himself) Other than those changes we joined a new group that had lesson plans laid out for ALL subjects and it has been GREAT this year! I particularly love the foreign language that they incorporate into the program. It has been amazing! Here is the link below it is great for those who want the planning done for you. :) Charlotte Mason Institute HTH :)

Thanks everyone, I guess I shouldn't be too concerned when he reads aloud he reads well and not too fast. It is only when he reads silently on his own that he goes quickly. I guess for free reading and extra reading I shouldn't be concerned. Thanks for the great tips and links!

Awesome...thanks for sharing!

My son taught himself to read very early around 3 yrs. old and is quite a fluent reader and has been reading broadly and quite advanced books for a couple of years now. He is now 6 1/2 and I am struggling with him reading way too fast and believe he is missing pieces of the story or only getting highlights. I have decided since he is young for his school books I read them to him so I know we are going at a slower pace and therefore will get most out of his reading. Any suggestions on how to slow him up for his other reading? I know if I had him read aloud it might slow him down but he likes to read for long periods of time and I know he would get tired of reading aloud and then want to know why I was making him. Plus I don't want his enjoyment of reading to be squashed by me making him do things that would stifle it. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

Well definitely should check where planning on attending but we are in VA and they transferred to state schools here and also Liberty U which is where I think my son will end up. Yes make sure to do your homework...😉

Yes, it is. That price is for normal college students or for online college students. For dual enrollment the price is $150 per course. Can't beat the price. :) You need to contact the Admissions counselor and request dual enrollment. They will get you where you need to be. I know most people over there now and they are easy to work with. PM if you want specific contact info. HTH

No, I decided I wanted my son to have "in person" labs so we didn't do science with them. I am funny with that subject. ;)

My son has taken courses through them for the past three years. They have grown and so getting into the courses you need is a bit of a challenge but it was worth it due to the cost being so cheap at $150 (I believe that is what it is now) a course. His teachers have varied some great, some okay. If you are really wanting to major in a particular subject then I probably wouldn't go that route but it has been perfect for getting rid of prerequisites for college. Classes are structured in an 8 wk. time frame. You don't have to log in at a certain time but you have to complete each weeks coursework within a period of time. My son often worked ahead in case of needing time off or unforeseen circumstances. You do need to buy books for each course but most can rent or find used pretty cheap. Assignments and tests are all done through the online portal. Tests vary depending on the teacher in regards to open book or essays...etc. Honor code I know is big here...No special "monitoring" is done. My son took the following there if you have specific questions: Fundamentals of Speech, Statistics, Microeconomics, British Lit, Sociology, Personal Computers, Eng 1023 & Eng 1013, Music Appreciation Hope this helps. :)

I'm so glad! I did too....I was dragging my feet trying to decide which books to buy my kids for Christmas and for once it paid off. :laugh:

Right now $5 off of any book(s) purchase of $15 or more. Enjoy! https://www.dealnews.com/Books-at-Amazon-5-off-15-free-shipping-w-Prime/2155298.html

I will take a stab and a suggestion that I have really liked if you are looking for something planned, not Apologia, not textbooky, and where you have your kids think. If you don't mind it not being "classical" it is more CM based but I personally really enjoyed. She has many schedules already planned and I love that you can focus on a few topics not just one subject for the year. http://sabbathmoodhomeschool.com/living-science-curriculum/ HTH :)

This year (for my 1st grader we did the following but the ideas are endless): Museums: Historical since that was the time period we were studying this year: Mary Washington's house, Ferry Farm, Mount Vernon, etc. We also did an area museum that focused on Indians and if you can get a few families together many times they will do a homeschool field trip like they would with the schools. That is what I do for many of these and they make them fun! Also Science museums and children's museums! Art museums too!! Farm: a definite must for one time of the year. :) Theater- must attend one a year or even concerts. Zoos- many types from Aquariums to walk through zoos. We also did a nature day one day each month with a local lady who works for the parks and rec. It's been great.

Will do.... :-)

Thanks for chiming in. :-)

My son got it too....it is based just on GPA and your SAT score and once you apply and are accepted; the scholarship is automatically applied so we heard a few weeks after applying he was being given full tuition too. It is a great opportunity...and one of two schools my son is considering. Another board member on here was telling me recently that her son is attending there on a full ride and is really enjoying it. Looks like a great school for engineering!! :)

Gotcha....we moved here 14 yrs. ago and LOVE it...sorry to derail. :)

When everyone has signed for our 2018 graduating class....we will have to start a new thread in the spring of where they end up! I love to see where they all go! :)

Are you all in VA? I noticed your schools are VA schools. Funny we live in Fredericksburg but never considered UMW because of majors.

Congrats to you all! So exciting! I agree the forum has helped many of us in finding scholarships and helps! I think my son is fairly confident that he will be going to Liberty. With that being the best financial decision as well as majors and being in our state makes the most sense. With getting full tuition and the VA in state scholarship it is looking like the best. I am happy for him my husband and I both graduated there but it has changed quite a bit! :( I think if I had my way I'd send him to Pensacola or Bob Jones (which he has considered) :laugh: so hard letting go! It sure will be nice when he signs and is for sure settled...hate to rush him though such a big decision!