I just wanted to add that we didn't do AO last year so this is our first year using AO and CM methods. This year is going MUCH better than last year. My daughter is enjoying it, it feels low-key to her and yet she's learning a lot and making great connections. I'm convinced that for this time in our lives, this is the best curriculum we could be doing. Big fan here!

I love AO, in a very tweaked way. :lol: My 9 year old is doing a mixture of AO year 1 and year 2 for 3rd grade. I've dropped a lot of things that don't pertain to us, added other things we love and just made it ours. That's the most important reason for us to homeschool, to have a truly individualized education. I consider us as doing AO but we are definitely making it our own. The yahoo groups really are wonderful. I learn a ton and glean lots of great ideas from the posts there.

Can't help with a menu but have some ideas you could share with him. Vegetable beef soup 1 lb hamburger (or less), browned and drained 1 small can tomato sauce 1 bag frozen veggies for soup 1/2 cabbage chopped 1 can kidney beans salt and pepper Cover with water, cook until veggies are tender. Will last for days in the fridge and is hearty and delicious. He can cook the rest of the cabbage with some butter, salt and pepper for a side another night. I'd also suggest chili. It freezes well so it would be great to make once or twice a month and then freeze extra portions. I make chili from scratch but he could just use one of those seasoning packets with the recipe if that's easier. Chili over rice is a great way to stretch the $. In my family we also make something called Granddad's Chili which is super easy. Brown a pound of hamburger (or less to save money!), add onion if wanted, then add one regular can of tomato sauce, plus 3 or 4 cups of water (maybe more, I eyeball it) and 1/2 lb of dry spaghetti. Add chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook until pasta is done. Soup beans (pinto bean soup) is another cheap idea. Apples and milk at Aldi are well priced. Do you have an Aldi store nearby?

My daughter is 9 and can't. She does have motor planning problems (dyspraxia) and fine motor delays.

Really loving our modified Ambleside Online curriculum. Also loving Math Mammoth and Khan Academy for my math loving DD. The best thing about this year? Being comfortable doing our own thing. I worried far too much last year. I am thrilled with the kind of thinker my DD is becoming.

I homeschool because it's the absolute best thing for my daughter. Her emotional health, her physical health, her academic health all have improved since I pulled her out of PS. She has a lot of "stuff" going on due to a congenital brain malformation and PS, even with an IEP (a lame one), did NOT meet her needs at all. After 2 years of special needs preschool, regular ed K and regular ed 1st grade she was a mess in all ways except academics. Homeschooling has allowed us to meet ALL of her needs and see her academic skills increase, too. I also homeschool because it's best for our family. We have much more time together, less stress on our schedules, more fun, more cuddles, more vacations and complete control over what she is exposed to. I also homeschool because I enjoy it. It gives me direction and focus. It's a bit of an obsession. :tongue_smilie:

My third grader is 9 (very late Sept birthday). We did hold her out of K an extra year (Sept 30 cutoff in my state) because she was so close to the cutoff and has special needs. I've never regretted a second but it was a tough decision. Academically and socially, it was very good for her. :grouphug:

My favorite "geography" item I've used yet (and I've used a bunch because it's MY favorite subject) is Paddle-to-the Sea by Holling C Holling. Hands down! It doesn't sound like it's really what you are looking for but it's well worth the time to read it. Very enjoyable and interesting. So whatever else you choose, choose it, too. I also just started using a vintage text called Home Geography for Primary Grades by Long and I really like it, too.

I don't have great advice. My daughter just turned 9 and is still a very choppy, struggling reader. She can figure out more and more words and her comprehension has improved a lot but the fluency leaves much to be desired. She has improved enormously but still is reading only at a beginning 2nd grade level. She also has vision issues along with a lot of other special needs. I've found that the best way is to just encourage and give praise and find things she actually enjoys reading. Slowly but surely she makes progress and sometimes now will even pick up an early reader (Fancy Nancy books) to read by herself. That gives me hope! Hang in there!

:seeya: I am a CM-type. :001_smile:

Thank you!!

I would cut out quite a bit. Less worksheets, less handwriting. We block schedule and it works really, really well. Each day we do about 10-12 subjects but our lessons are short. For example, today we did cursive, read aloud, creative writing, geography, literature, art, music listening, artist study, scripture, math, vocabulary and reading. All of that only took 3 hours. We do have longer days during the week but we're still talking less than 4 or 5 hours. Is this your first year? If not, how did things go last year?

Thank you both for mentioning these two books. Very excited to check them out with my daughter next week! We love KISS Grammar, too.

Hits: Handwriting Without Tears cursive English from the Roots Up Ambleside year 1 and 2 choices KISS Grammar MEP Math Misses: CLE Math Elemental Science (earth science/astronomy and chemistry) TruthQuest history

Thanks so much!

My daughter is 8 and this is the list of "subjects" we cover each week (some lessons are very short, 5-10 minutes, so it's not overwhelming): History - daily Literature - 2 pieces daily, plus one read aloud as a family Reading - daily Phonics - daily Math - daily Grammar - 3x week or more Geography - 2x a week Biography - 1x a week Art - 1-2 x a week Artist Study - 1x a week Composer study - 1x a week Music listening - 2x or more a week Recorder playing - 2x or more a week Vocabulary (Latin and Greek root words) - 2x or more a week Spelling - 3x a week Physical Education - daily Science - 2-3x a week Nature Study - 1x a week Health - 1x a week Scripture stories and memorization - 2x or more a week Copywork - 1-2 x a week Cursive handwriting - 3x a week Might be a few ideas in there for you. Lessons don't have to be a big thing. Avoid busy work at all costs! We are actually much more relaxed this year but doing much more. It's working beautifully. Add in field trips, park days, library, etc and that should be plenty to choose from to "enrich" them. Have fun!!

I'm 37, never been able to get pregnant (almost 17 years of marriage and wanting a child all that time). I adopted my daughter at birth almost 9 years ago. Not having a bio child was hard for me but I gave up on that a long time ago. I still feel painful twinges with pregnant people and how easily some have babies sometimes. Much harder for me is not having been able to adopt again. We very much wanted to adopt again.

Year 4 would be difficult for most 2nd graders, even an advanced one. I would definitely rethink that idea. My third grader is a slightly below grade level for reading (and at or above grade level in other areas) and we are doing a combo of year 1 and year 2. It's plenty for her.

This is my view exactly! We use MCP Phonics, by the way.

Me, too! I interrrupt my own reading more often than my 8 year old does. :D Interruptions do not bother me in the least. I actually welcome her questions and comments. She doesn't stray from the topic so that makes it fine. If she was just chatting to hear her own voice, that wouldn't be tolerated. But asking vocabulary questions, clarifying what's going on and the like - encouraged around here. We just start the paragraph over after we are finished discussing.

Same here. The problems we've had were related to our DVD player since the discs that seemed damaged always played on our computers. You sure it isn't your DVD player?

Thank you!!

We're considering this ourselves for next year. Sell the house, leave the rat race for a while, travel the country and really spend time connecting as a family. We're really stressed and not living the lifestyle we want. We're ready for a "time out" so that we can reformulate our family life. Still working out the details but very serious about doing this.

Our official start date is going to be Aug 8. The night before, we'll do a fun family night to get ready for school to start. A friend of mine has some fun traditions we're adopting this year. On Aug 8th we'll take first day of school pictures, have a few special school related items as gifts and then jump right in. Can't wait!!!

Our first year of homeschooling (last year) was definitely a change from our previous public school life but not as much as it will be this year. *rubbing hands with an evil grin on my face* This year there will be no tv/computer until all chores are done in the morning. Also, there will be no tv/computer time between 10:30 and 3. :D Last year, we were too loosey-goosey about schedules/routines and I found that I had to fight with my DD all year with regards to "school time". I realize now how utterly ridiculous that was. Life is going to be a lot more structured around here! I've been setting the stage all summer for her so there will be no nasty surprises in a few weeks. As for enthusiasm - I really do think your attitude sets the stage. I was very enthusiastic last year but had to drag DD along kicking and screaming (literally, many days) but I absolutely notice some big differences in her now. She is coming around. I am so excited for the upcoming year! Have fun, be enthusiastic and set a good example of joyful learning.