Welcome :-)...I homeschool 3 boys in NJ as well...

:iagree: It is this way in my house as well...My youngest son loves dinosaurs and wanted to learn more about them...My middle son loves orcas and wanted to learn more about them...I bought them a few books and checked some out of the library, and they read them on their own, looked at the pictures, made drawings of them, etc...They have time to explore these things, but it does not change what I plan to teach them... I know a lot of people change their educational plans based on their children's interests, but I do not...There is plenty of time for the boys to explore their own interests, and they have taken many "rabbit trails" based on their school work, but I don't change the plans to fit their interests...If you know me, you know that I don't mean that in a stuffy kind of way, I am just more of a parent led educator and not much of a child led one...Nothing wrong with child led if it works for you or you feel inclined to it, I just don't feel inclined to it ;)

Thanks Hunter, I will read this...It was on my Amazon wishlist so I went ahead and ordered it...I have been eying it for at least a year and finally am ready to read it ;)

Oh Hunter, do explain if you can...I have both editions of LCC and would like to know more of your thoughts on this...

This is the way I think about it - homeschooling and learning is a part of life, and life is not always fun...Parenting is not always fun, being married no matter how much you love your spouse is not always fun, working is not always fun...At the same time, it shouldn't be terrible either...I think we do our children a disservice when we teach them that life is their idea of fun all the time...Life and learning is a mix of wonder, frustration, fun, and difficult times, sometimes all at the same time...I would expect a homeschool experience to be no different...

This... I am using both Prima and Latina 1 with two different boys and we all like it...We use the DVDs and I also use Ludere Latin (games and puzzles) along with Latina... A parent with no experience in Latin whatsoever can teach Prima or Latina with the DVDs...I watch with them and learn along side of them... We are moving on to First Form when we are finished...I think the MP Latin is very easy to teach, just get the set and it will come with the DVDs...

Thanks for this thread, Hunter...Great timeline ideas and thanks for listing the different BC eras...

No...I agree with Ellie and Lavender Girl, there is no need to do spelling or grammar with a first grader who is still learning how to read...Spelling and grammar can take the place of phonics instruction once she learns how to read...

It's Well Trained Mind...Susan Wise Bauer's book... I am using my phone and can't link to anything so hopefully others will chime in...

I would get the SOTW2 Activity guide...Not only does it have lots of book suggestions, the suggestions are about each topic and are on grade level...No list anyone can give you here will top it...

Rod and Staff would work for you, but I would keep the levels separate...The 6th grade is a jump up, so I would put them in two different levels, the 4th and the 6th...

Yes, one guide would definitely work...That is what we are doing...In your shoes, I would start with the K enrichment guide so you don't miss any of the art and just move forward...Even my seventh grader is with us for the art and music parts...The K enrichment guide would be plenty for your 6 year old... I would not try and do more than one enrichment guide in a year...

We are using this...MMASC is right about the poetry coming from two books only...I bought them on Amazon...You may be able to find some at your library, but I am buying what I need as I go along...Print the book list and use it to check what your library would have...The art cards they sell is what is used and I love them...The science is one book too, and the guide contains much more than I thought it did... Even if you don't use every book or do all of the science, etc. the guide is worth it to me for the books you do use and for the art and music background info...It is like a good literature guide that spans a few subjects... I think those enrichment guides are amomg MP's best products...I think they are a little known gem...

After re-reading your original post, I would recommend you start with the K and 2nd grade packages for your younger two...Since your middle son is not a lover of language arts and is still working on parts of speech, the 2nd grade package with the 3rd grade math would be a better fit...Prima Latina covers parts of speech where Latina Christiana assumes you know it already...The second grade literature is challenging enough for third grader...My current 3rd grader is doing that now after starting with the 3rd grade package...I felt it would be best to back up a bit...He will do the 3rd grade package for his 4th grade year in the fall, and he will be better prepared for it... With your oldest, I am not sure...If you decide to start with the 5th, just start with Fable Stage writing and either Latina 1 or First Form Latin...I would start with Latina... I am not good at keeping track, but I would plan at least a four hour day plus lunch to get everything done with everyone...I have to work with all three of them at some level each day...My oldest can do a lot more on his own, but we have more to discuss...I plan for a 5 hour day so I spend about 1.5hrs with each of them teaching a math lesson or working on something...Someone will get an extra half hour a day it seems, so I expect a 5 hour work day for me...They do what they can independently while I am working with someone else...

The sketchbook is just a book with space to draw and write...It is not a blank top, more like a big box on a page to contain the sketch... The Enrichment Guide is the lesson plans for the read alouds...I love the enrichment guide!...I have the first grade one and it has a lot of valuable information about the books, authors, the art study cards, different aspects of history and science...It is much more than I expected it to be and I am glad I got it...Honestly, the art study cards and the enrichment guides are two of my favorite things MP makes... As far as being dry and boring, it is hard to answer that question...Everyone has a different idea of what work should be like...It is not boring to us, but I don't really think any school work would really be fun...I would always rather do something else no matter how the material is presented and I am sure my boys would too...Learning is enjoyable, but getting an education is tough work...It is fine for what it is I guess...I think it is engaing as long as you are there to guide and help, as is anything I would think... As far as writing goes, I do find there is a lot of it once you get to the third grade level...We do some things orally to alleviate some of the writing...I have them write when it makes sense to, and we discuss what we can too...K-2nd is a bit different than the other grades...K-2nd is easier to get done..The third grade package is tough and is a jump from 2nd, but you can modify it to fit your needs, eliminate some things, or slow it down...I do feel it is harder to jump in and start the third grade package with a third grader if you are not use to MP...They are actually planning to offer an alternative 3rd grade package at a slower pace because they know it is too much for many people... Overall, we like it...All three of my boys want to continue with it in the fall...I am always the one on the fence about it because I like the idea of making my own plans, but my boys would rather do MP :-)...If I ever do piece my stuff together, I would be using everything I could from MP anyway...Their books are eay to use, lightweight, and are easy to store...Not exactly academic reasons, but still a few pros in my book! Hope this helps...

Thanks Pam :-)

What is CtGE and LLATL?...I have been on the forum for a few years now and still have no idea what half the abbreviations mean :-)

My husband is not really involved in our homeschooling other than working to support us...I talk to him about what I want to do, but he has no clue what I am really talking about more than half of the time...He will also help someone with math if they really don't get it since he is good in math, or step in to discipline someone if he witnesses or hears of them giving me a hard time... It is pretty much what Ellie said except he might complain if the house is a complete mess ;)...He is much neater than I am and would make a much better house keeper...But he says he would not be a good teacher :p

If you don't intend to have your child write anything, then maybe you can use the the teacher's manual...I wouldn't buy just the student book... I use the DVDs and prefer them, but it could be done...

I had Maypo oatmeal...

The most unusual things I can think of that I keep in my car is a bag with two blankets and a tote with paper cups, napkins, plates, and cutlery in case we need to eat something outdoors...I will sometime buy a big smoothie or lemonade and divide it up with the cups I have in the tote...Or use the plates for sandwiches or pizza...The tote really comes in handy ;)

I like this idea, Hunter...I have also been thinking about seasonal goals and plans...I am working on plans to start next week, but am not done yet so don't have much to post :001_smile: ...I have plans to simplify our home and eating habits, finish a book I just started and part 2 of the book, plant some herbs to use during the summer fresh and dry and use during the winter...Those are goals for myself...For the boys, my oldest will continue to work on math, my youngest will continue to work on phonics, and my middle son will work on reading as well... That is as far as I have gotten...I have been giving a lot of thought to switching to planning for the season (every three months) instead of an entire year at a time...

NM

Yes...I read it all the way through at least once...I have re-read parts of it many times...I own the 1st and 3rd editions...I read the 3rd edition all the way through and parts of the 1st edition...I read it a few years ago, right before I joined the forums...

Yes, Andrew Kern is an Orthodox Christian...This I know...