I have not been in here for a very long time I'm sure many who I corresponded with have also moved on, but I'm glad to see the community is continuing and growing. I had a call from my daughter tonight and was feeling reflective and grateful after our call. My daughter unofficially finished high school (no official diploma) 7 years ago entering University for her BA based on a portfolio of work. She is now doing her Masters and eager to begin her final semester. She finished last semester with all A and A+, 3 profs have offered to help her get published with work she handed in last semester and it has been recommended that she pursue her Doctorate. Thank You Susan Wise Bauer for writing The Well Trained Mind and providing the framework I needed to be able to keep moving forward. This community was also a great place to research, get additional reviews on materials and make a few friends who understood good days and bad days. I did not follow all the programs but the framework was a fantastic foundation. I ordered The Well Educated Mind tonight for myself, there were a number of items I remember thinking it would be good to come back to someday. I guess I'll pick away at Someday now. So many days I was unsure if I was doing the right thing but it has all been a wonderful journey. Thank you.

DD has decided on Acadia University (NS Canada) she's been waffling about her choices for a while but I think she'll do well there. Small school, close to home : ) but great academics, ranked #2 for undergrad degrees in Canada. Added bonus is I have a business in that town so she can work week-ends for me. Happy days but I'm sad to end my homeschool days although it's been pretty hands off the last 2 years.. Acceptance has been formalised and applications for residence made. I logged into the forum today to express my thanks to all as a group. My dog-eared copy of WTM will stay forever in my bookcase. Oh she is studying Sociology with a minor in French. Thanks to all for the help from K-8 board all the way to the high school and college boards and heartfelt thanks to SWB : )

Great list, thanks for sharing!

First year for me...so I guess I'll see how it goes. Perhaps I should be getting some freezer meals ready lol.

I did a business degree but didn't have the opportunity to take many literature & humanities classes. So I've decided to do a great books study. I have the Well Educated Mind as a guideline but I've added a bunch of books as I move along. I am really enjoying this. I don't have a ton of time to devote to my own studies as I run a business and still need to school with dd, but I fit my school reading in when she is doing hers. I'm planning on improving my French over the Winter, but I'm not sure what I'll be using. I think the real benefit is my daughters seeing that you never have to be done learning and that it's enjoyable.

Good for you- The local school board will only let dd write 1 so I'm still on the look out. I may have to drive to the city.

I'm also doing the Intro to Mathematical Thinking and Start the Greek & Roman Mythology next week. I had finished most of the course readings for the Mythology class already (through my Well Educated Mind lists) and then started working on the others that I didn't have read over the summer. I'm excited to hear the lectures : )

The cut off here when my youngest was to start was Oct 1, her birthday is Sept 29. If I hadn't h-s I might have considered holding her for another year. The option is up to the parent. At the time I felt it was too long of a day for a 4/5 year old- bus pick up at 7:30 and drop off at 4:10. We homeschooled and DD will enter university as a 17 year old. I had an October birthday myself and ended up starting University as a 17 year old as well.

Thanks for the links- sad but I'm still working on our biology lab plans for this year. Mom4peace I'm liking the look of the look of Biology Inquiries.

This for us too, which is fine but does make for a difficult time when you just want to let off some steam.

Here's the workbook ... http://www.classicalhomeeducation.com/How-to-Read-How-to-Read-a-Book_p_188.html I'm about halfway through the Adler but am thinking about getting the workbook for DD.

I too work home based mainly and out of the house 2 days per week... we tried a few small on-line classes last year and have signed up for 3 full-year classes (grade 11), that leaves me teaching 2 classes and DD doing her electives on her own. I'm planning 2-3 hours daily for our 2 classes and checking in on the rest.

My oldest (16- home school) is thinking about Psychology right now...I don't know though, she gets a little frustrated when people don't do what she thinks they should lol. She has also considered being a Dietitian. Honestly, I think she should do music- but she tells me that's her fall back on plan haha. Busking her way through University. DD 2 (15- public school) want to be a surgeon, for 2 years now. The only thing that's been optional is field, although she is very interested in genetics too, so we'll see, things change. I can see her as a surgeon. She is very artistic and detail oriented. At first I couldn't reconcile the artistic talents with surgeon, but it actually goes together in a weird sort of way. She's on a STEM path so doors are open anyway.

Off the top of my head, I would have to say Plato....in that Socrates was the "speaker or main character" in The Republic, but Plato the writer.

I have a rescue Border Collie and she has integrated very well with my other dog and cat. The cat was the issue at first haha, but it's fine now : ) She wouldn't let me out of her sight in the first month, but now is content to be left alone, and will explore in the yard on her own. Depending on the age of the dog and previous situations I think some quirks in the animal may always be there. Some will get better over time and it's difficult to know right away. Our B-C had obviously been kept confined to a small space and she is still quite timid, although extremely good natured, even 2 years later. I am still having to coax her on stairs, up is ok, down is still dicey for her and outside stairs are not as much of a problem. Not sure if she had been injured on stairs in the past or if it was just a lack of exposure but we just keep at it : ) Good Luck!