This...We went from MM to Rod & Staff when my middle son was in 1st grade and I like it better...That son is going to 4th in September and we are still using it...My other two are using it as well...

I have nothing to add...I just wish I was at the convention with you :tongue_smilie:

Hi LeahMarie... Welcome to the boards! I read your post and feel like I understand what you are saying and what you are wanting, please let me know if I am wrong...What I hear you saying is that you never really intended to homeschool but decided to do it because it is what is best for your son...Your son is a really smart boy who is not giving you a problem about doing his work, you just are having a hard time being disciplined enough to make the work happen as consistently as you think it should...You know that his working a couple days a week or less may be okay now because he is still young, but you worry what will happen in the future if this pattern continues...You don't feel like you are good at homeschooling and want something that is planned for you where all you have to do is implement it, thus building in some sort of accountability that is lacking when you make up your own plans using various sources? Like I said, I may be wrong, but this is what I am hearing so this is what my response will address... First of all, kuddos to you!...You are doing what you feel is best for your son over what you would have wanted to do, and that is always difficult, but it is a sign of good parenting...Lots of people do what is best for them, not what is best for their children...Second, more kuddos are in order because you are recognizing this potential problem early in the game...It took me YEARS to see how my lack of discipline was affecting my oldest son's education...He is a smart boy who would be farther ahead if I had been more consistent with him, if I was able to "get my act together" while he was still very young...We are doing the best we can now and are moving forward, but I do feel regret over things we did not do in the past that I know I am responsible for...All of the :grouphug: (hugs) in the world won't change that fact... I can also relate to what you said about not being a homeschooling mom...People homeschool for different reasons and end up here for different reasons...Some knew before they even had children that they would homeschool one day...They read about it, made plans, and started with enthusiasm when their first born was old enough to do anything...Some discovered homeschooling after they already had children...They, like the former, read and made plans and started with enthusiasm...The above mentioned examples are what many people think about when they think of a homeschooling mom, or someone who is "cut out" for this sort of thing...But there are others who homeschool - those who never intended to be doing this, the "accidental homeschoolers" who ended up doing this because a school situation did not work out for their children due to unsafe neighborhoods, school not providing a good or even decent education, bullying issues, children not be challenged enough in that environment, children not doing well or being sick often, developmental issues, and many other reasons...If you fall into one of those categories, then you may not feel like your idea of a "homeschooling mom"...I can understand that, but you can still be successful at it...There are people in all of those situations above and many situations I did not name who have done this successfully...You just have to figure out what works for YOU and your kids, and be disciplined enough to do it...I think a lack of discipline is at the root of many homeschooling attempts that turn out to be unsuccessful...To be successful in my mind means you accomplish what you set out to do...That your goals were realistic and you were able to do it...Since we all want different things, success looks different to all of us...But we all know when we didn't do what we set out to do, and that is what makes us feel like failures... My advice to you (finally you must be thinking :laugh: ) is to think about what you want to accomplish and work on that...Since your son is young, you can set small goals and work your way up to being as disciplined as you will need to be in the future...For pre-K, you can make a goal of twice a week of school work, on the same two days if possible, and do everything to make it happen...Next year for K, make a goal of three days and do the same thing...Ay first grade you will be up to four days, which is good...You can stay at four days as long as you are able to get the work you set out to do done...Many people only school four days a week even with older kids...The kids may have work to do on the 5th day but you don't... As far as curriculum goes, if you want an all in one I suggest Memoria Press...They start at pre-K and it is a challenging classical program that includes everything you would need and a schedule...It is christian but can be used secularly if that is what you need...I love making lesson plans, I just don't love making them happen, so this is what we are doing now...It may be difficult at first to follow a schedule, but it could make all the difference for someone who struggles with being disciplined...Making my own plans using various sources is my preferred method of teaching, but I always seem to compromise on my plans during the year...Having what needs to be accomplished etched out for me is really helpful...If Memoria Press is not for you, I still suggest that you find something that lines up with your philosophy in as few curricula books as possible and just do it!... You are ahead of the game by thinking about this now :hurray: ...Good luck to you and your son and I hope some of this was helpful...

This thread is from 4 years ago...

The link didn't work for me...It sent me to a page without the info on it...

Here is the link for the MP Poetry I referenced above...Finally on a real computer :)

I need a little help figuring out how I feel about lit guides...I listened to SWB's talk about literature and how a guide isn't needed until about high school really, and I have read MP's thoughts about lit guides and even talked with Martin Cothran in person about the whole thing...Trouble is, I am still on the fence about them...Part of me likes the way the lit guides help students understand things and aspects of the story they would have otherwise missed...You cover fewer books, but can glean more info from them...The other part of me just want the boys to read the book like SWB suggests, and discuss the things I feel need to be discussed without having to spend so much time on the same book...I don't really like the "read this then answer questions to make sure you understood what happened" format of lit guides, but then I want to make sure they understood what happened :confused1: What do you think?...Do you do lit guides?

I have considered trying many things, or have at least looked into them...These are the popular things that I have never even considered trying because I haven't had an interest in them... Beast Academy Math U See Sonlight My Father's World Heart of Dakota K-12 I also do not like lapbooks and never considered making one... I am sure there are other things but this is all I can think of right now :-)

What about Memoria Press poetry books?...There is one that lasts a few years and then a couple more for seventh grade and up...I would link to it but can't figure out how to do that on this Nook :-)...

What about the New King James Version (NKJV)?...I don't think it is going anywhere...

This is my experience here as well...

I was thinking to myself that it wasn't that important until I read your response...That is actually the most convincing reason I have heard... Thanks for giving me a new way to look at it...

I still don't know what it means and I read this entire thread...I never heard of that cartoon either... Okay, I watched the cartoon clip...Is an aglet the end of a shoelace?

This is my first time hearing about this, and I spent $13 on E-Books...Mostly math practice and the Paragraph Writing one...I already have the workbook, but wanted to be able to print pages...I was looking for math practice sheets for the boys and this was perfect...

I am pretty sure this article was actually a speech given, so I figured it was probably said as a joke...The burn the books part anyway :) ...That's the only thing about transcribed speeches, you never really know how something was said in person...Andrew Kern says some things during lectures that if they were written down might sound insane, but it is funny and said in a joking manner in person...

We don't even have a TV or video game system, so if you are harsh, I must really be a shrew...Your limits sound fine to me...

This... Work is work and play is play, even a child knows the difference...I don't expect for everything we do to be pleasurable... Homeschooling is like building and decorating or moving to a house...I don't look back with pleasure at painting walls or moving around furniture, but it was necessary steps for me to be able to enjoy my home once those things are done...Getting an education is work...There are necessary steps to take while getting an education that are just not fun...I don't expect my kids to look back on studying with pleasure, but the end result of the education is what will be enjoyed in the future... We are not at all over the top with academics here, but I realize that work is work and there is no way around that...We have plenty of memories that do not involve school work ;)

I was a 34A when I started out, was maybe a 34B while nursing, and am back to a 34A...I can't even imagine a D, H, or even a C...My cups have never runeth over :-)

Wait a minute, you are not joking?!?

No, the DVDs have never been changed...I bought mine used years ago and am using them now with current printed materials...

I am using a phone and can't find the agree smiley, but I agree with this...Prima Latina with the DVDs is a good place to start for an 8 year old...It teaches both of you, has a clear plan each week, and progresses nicely...

Happy Birthday!...What a great day to be born :hurray:

Maybe I could have been considered "eclectic", not sure...I use to piece together different things but switched to a box - Memoria Press...This is my first week using the entire packages, so I will have to wait to give a real report of how it is going, but it is fine so far ;) ...I am in the process of adjusting the 5 day week and making it a 4 day, but other than that, no tweaking is planned...

We just started the Memoria Press packages yesterday :001_smile: ...I am glad to hear it is going well for you...So far so good for us too, but it has only been two days (well one and a half, the boys are having lunch now)... We are doing the 1st, 3rd, and 6th grade packages...My 7th grader is doing the 6th grade package, my other two are in 1st and 3rd...

We are doing this too, I just wanted to mention that you could always let the kids listen to SOTW on CD...My boys LOVE listening to Jim Weiss, and they LOVE SOTW :)