I have coined 2016 as "the year of reading" in my life. Okay, it hasn't even started, yet, so I don't know how things will play out, but I have a deep desire to dig into all the classics I missed in my own education. I opened up The WEM this morning (I only wrapped it myself so I wouldn't start reading it the day it arrived from Amazon) and I am eager to start. I will say I am a little upset that Susan recommends reading chronologically. I envisioned a year with lovely classics maybe starting with Pride and Prejudice. Seriously, Don Quixote first?!? Yet, I'm somehow still interested in Susan's method, as I really respect her and she has a lot more wisdom as to where I should start than I do. Anyways, anyone else currently working through the list? Also, I have been reading older threads on the topic and saw mention of a 52 books in 52 weeks group. Is this still active and where do they post?

I am very interested in this program. Can someone link these? I only see two? Although, I always get so confused looking into MCT's products.

I'm planning on starting in January with my two girls, as well! Yes, I do hope someone has a review. If not, hopefully one of us will have something to say about it soon!

Has anyone used the Bible Road Trip curriculum? Can you weigh in on it?

I am in Virginia and we have a huge influx with migration. Although we have our few local residents, I haven't seen the masses here, yet.

We had a chalkboard wall outside under an overhang. We lived in Houston then, so it was ALWAYS humid. We never had a single problem with it warping. All I did was paint it with kilz primer then chalk board paint. The kids loved it!

I think Math Mammoth would fit my needs. Thank you so much for the suggestion! I looked over the sample pages and I think it is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks!

We have currently been working through the Horizon math books, but it is starting to bother me. My daughter does about 3 pages (front and back) a day, but I only have her do about 30% of the problems. I like spiral review, but not that much spiral. If she can show me she is competent in 2 problems of a type, I do not have her do the other 6 of the same kind. We are at the end of the Grade 2 books, and I need to decide where to go next. I was thinking Beast Academy, since she is already working a full grade level ahead in Horizon math with ease. I would like her to be challenged in life a little. Like I said, I do like some review, so Beast Academy makes me a little nervous since there is none. I am fine using Horizon math, again, but wonder if I can better use my money in another program, since we end up answering less than half of the problems. Can someone recommend another program I might use to supplement BA? I can't use anything too teacher intensive, as she has 3 other siblings below her. This is actually how we ended up at Horizon in the first place. She pretty much does everything independently, although I help when she gets to a new concept. I am not interested in Saxon math 3 meeting times. Maybe the intermediate? Any other suggestions? I am only interested in adding one additional math.

We have a creek in our backyard and I was thinking it would be cool to test for bacteria in the water, specifically what kinds might be there. Is there any such thing that someone knows about?

Has anyone used Horizon in the beginning, planning to switch to Saxon later on? When did you make the switch over? (I am interested in Saxon, but have tried to avoid the "meeting time" in the lower levels by using Horizon Math.)

Okay, so next question... Should I hold off history until we can go to the places? The first week of history is Jamestown. I have younger kids, so I figured it would really help to go there WHEN they are studying it. But, is that even necessary? Should I just start history now and take the trips later?

We started studying colonial times last August, and two weeks in, we found out we were moving to Virginia -- from Texas. I said, "forget that," and put all history on hold. This area is so rich with history that I wanted to be able to explore the land while we were studying about it. So, now 9 months without any history, I'm dying to dive back in. BUT... its the summer... and school is out. I'm wondering if I am crazy to start now. Should I wait for the fall? I am just so anxious! I guess if we are miserable, I could relate it to the harsh conditions the early colonists experienced? I just don't want it to be a miserable trip. Thoughts? (I added an additional question a couple of responses down...)

I will say that I just couldn't wrap my head around buying anything else for child #1 just because someone said that I should hold off. If the other children are folded into the program, then it would couldn't #1 start early? And, again, I feel it is giving me a low-pressure situation to get my feet wet.

I started in K, and, two years later, I'm still in love with the program. I will say we are doing it loosely and take big breaks some. This doesn't bother me, though, because my kids are so young. It was an investment and I feel I can slowly learn the program. I figure I will buy all the years the first round and use library books. Then, next go when I already have all the units, I can focus on buying books. I feel this will spread out the expense some.

I'm just now thinking about how I want our homeschool to look this year. I would like to start implementing artist studies. I'm thinking that I take one artist a month, and have their work hanging around our homeschool room. Does anyone know where I can find already printed work from different artists? Ideally, there would be 5+ works from each artist.

I know these are meant to be done together, but from what I can tell, there seems to be a lot of repetition. Can someone tell me, who has been using the program, if this is the case? How do you schedule these out? I think I remember seeing somewhere that people work one level ahead in one of the books. If I feel my daughter (advanced 1st grader) is capable of both, should I start them both in book 1, or skip a level in one of the books? Thank for your help!

Can someone tell me how sentence family works? Is it just a read aloud?

Yes! This is exactly what I want! So, you started with your DS when he was 6? Do you still like the combination of both FLL and MCT?

I have always loved the look of MCT, but I just don't understand it. Is is just a book you read, or are there any worksheets? How do you implement it? Do you just read it?

Does anyone have a suggestion of a good program to use with everyone? I am hoping to go slow and repeat several times, so it is okay if it is over their head a little. My oldest is 2nd grade, so really she will be the only person I am teaching to right now, but then I will fold the others in naturally.

We love having these handy pocket guides when we are out... http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1583551891/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1417060297&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SY200_QL40 This link is for raptors, I believe, but they have all kinds of variety... Shorebirds, birds for each state, etc. They even have these pocket guides on trees, mushrooms, plants, etc. They are folded up pamphlets that are laminated and very durable. We keep them in the glove compartment to have whenever we need to identify something quickly. They are so durable, that they double as a car distraction/chew toy for my 9 month old. My mom who is quite the birder, has about 10 birding books. This is what she ends up taking with her out in the field. She then can take some pictures, note differences from the pamphlets, and then go home to the more in depth books to learn more or find out exactly what she saw.

It has been an ongoing journey to purge my life of distractions. I would like to believe that I am not alone. I'm not even sure how I got here, but I recently realized that I do not know how to just sit and be. Although, maybe I never did? I have general ADHD tendencies, but I don't like labels. Despite having that personality, I still want my children to see me at rest. I don't want to constantly feel like I need to have my mind distracted, as it often turns to my phone or the computer. Again, I can't be alone here, right? I mean, what did pioneer women do? I yearn for the simple life. I limit our weekly commitments because I don't want to be on the go all the time and become a slave to our schedules or the world. I'm good during school time, but then afterwards, I'm at a loss. I want to use my time wisely and set an example for my children. The Lord has been saying, "Find rest in Me." But how? It really hit me recently when I realized that I get anxious if I don't have something to distract me during nursings. I always turn to my phone. I don't like that. The internet can be such a resource for us, as homeschooling moms, but too much can be a bad thing. Does anyone else have a difficult time getting back to the goodness of the old days without all the distractions? I've tried to add in more reading, but I have just about maxed out on my daily limit there. Maybe I need to pick up a craft? Maybe there is something I am not thinking about? I want to be like the woman of yesteryear who sits rocking on her porch as her children play. I'm just not there, yet. Maybe that is just an unrealistic expectation for me? How do you wisely spend your time? Someone please tell me I'm not alone in this journey.

I absolutely loved this. Thank you!

Thanks all. I'm feeling better. We have no problem reading, and reading a lot, but I just feel like i have been shelving the really good books for later. I hate reading subpar books. And I think Sonlight did me over the edge. I felt like I had to wait for certain books because of when they offered them. I'm just going to goodreads, selecting all my favorites, and then will pick one. I need a site that doesn't have them arranged, any way, by age or grade level.

I know we, as homeschooling parents, tend to overthink things. I have a whole list of examples, but read-alouds make the top of the list over here. As a kid, I never liked to read a book more than once. In case my children are the same way, I freak out over when we should read certain books... - "Oh, but that book should be used for literary analysis in a couple of years." - "But what if we want to do a full year studying the Little House books?" - "That book will align perfectly with history later, so I won't read it now." - "They are too young to fully appreciate this classic!" So, we end up with all these great books that I dream about reading one day, but TODAY, we read NONE. Someone tell me I am overreacting. Someone tell me that even if we read all the books I want to read right now, there will be plenty of amazing books to read later. Someone tell me that there will be plenty of other books to read for that historical time period. Someone tell me that I'm not alone in this craziness and tell me that it all turned out okay in their own experience.