It's only taken me 7 years of homeschooling to realize that while I really like the Waldorf approach for early childhood (birth through age 8), I would prefer to transition into a more classical approach beginning around 4th grade. Does anyone have any experience with this? Specifically, is it possible? What are some pitfalls to this? What are the best resources/curriculum to use once we get to fourth? Are there certain things I should add into first through third, like Latin, or can I just wait and start that in fourth? Thanks!

Great news! We were planning on staying with family in Lancaster.

http://jshomeschool.com/registration.aspx You have to scroll down a bit.

How about C S Lewis's space trilogy? http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Planet-Space-Trilogy-Book/dp/0743234901 And the Wrinkle in Time books, of course, if he hasn't already read them.

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! :(

Oh, this is so disappointing. I was going to register on Monday. :( Can someone give me the name of the FB page so I can like it and get any updates? Thanks!

I pick and choose as well! I've really found that I can piece together my own main lesson blocks just poking around on the internet and using a basic Waldorf curriculum guide. This has the added bonus of letting me feel connected to the lesson because I'm the one who created it and I can also tailor it for each child and our particular situation.

This is the first time I have ever heard the phrase "Harry Potter Christians" and it seals the deal that I officially love this board. As for the rest... it's certainly been enlightening. I have been homeschooling for 7 years now and didn't realize there was so much infighting.

I have 4 month old twins that were born at 38 weeks. They're absolutely amazing. My birth before this was a homebirth, but the twins were born in the hospital. It was a vaginal birth with a midwife who was awesome.

I do. My husband is a pastor so our info is kind of out there anyway.

Richard just won. :D

Thanks so much for this. I've been wanting to do something like this for ages. We really need to. Tonight my 12-year-old asked me when exactly Jesus lived. Sigh.

We're year rounders, but do it a little differently. From September through April (give or take) we do school 5 days a week, with one day a week being a co-op day. Each month, we tend to do an intensive 3-week main lesson block followed by one week of something "soft". We pick themes for the summer- we've done Hogwarts Summer School, Camp Half-Blood, and this summer we're having a family detective agency-- and usually have a literature focus. Our vacations tend to be somewhat educational, so we count those as school as well. They have lots of time to socialize, play outside, etc.

The Ramona books read by Beverly Cleary The Boxcar Children Everything on a Waffle Ella Enchanted Chasing Vermeer The Penderwicks

I don't think it's best for everyone. As a matter of fact, I can think of a few people who probably *shouldn't* homeschool. And just as I wouldn't want anyone telling me I had to put my kids in school, I wouldn't tell others they had to keep their children home.