As I'm scrolling through, some of these I've heard of, or read, but many I haven't. This is exactly why I wanted to spread the net and find out what's out there. Suggestions like the book by Ann Voskamp and Randy Allcorn's Heaven are great because, though they don't deal with grief specifically, they address a lot of the emotion and questions that come up in grief and loss. Please feel free to add to the list, no matter what kind of loss is addressed or what angle the book takes. Thank you!

Lol, we listened to it on audio and I'm so glad we did. I probably wouldn't have finished if I was reading it aloud. I'd always seen it on some recommended lists (Sonlight I think?) but NO. It is a not a must read by any means. I didn't hate it but my boys will still every once in while say "The Great Braaaaaiiiin" in a mocking tone.

You all are AWESOME. I knew I'd get a variety from this board because we're living it and we are book people. I'm happy with the wide variety -- for a sibling, loss of a child or miscarriage, devotionals that helped with loss. I'd love a book for teenagers. I ordered one but found it less than when we read through it. So, keep adding whatever book you're aware of to this list. I'll be happy to compile them all and re-post. This is actually a great resource to have when you have a friend suddenly in a situation where you'd love to give her a book. That's one reason why I'd like a comprehensive list. Thank you all!

As some of you may know, my husband died unexpectedly 4 years ago. I immediately wanted books -- books on what I could expect, how to parent my children in their grief, books to give to my kids. It was actually harder than you'd think to find a really good book on these topics. Maybe because we weren't connected to hospice or other services since his death was sudden and unexpected. People keep asking me for resources and I feel like there must be more out there. I'd love Christian or secular books and resources for adults, teens and children. Maybe something that's helped you or something you're aware of. Thanks so much! Lisa

Make 2 weeks' worth of file folders for each child filled with their independent work: math worksheets, Explode the Code, Logic workbooks, handwriting, spelling. Use different cuts for different days OR different cuts for each child. Fill the 2 weeks on Sunday night. If something is missed, just put it into the next day's folder. Cut the binders off of workbooks so the sheets can be easily filed. After checking independent seat work, have the kids file it in their own accordion folder. Use one of these portable file boxes to keep teacher guides, answer keys, red pens, sticky notes, etc in for correcting. This is for grading math and writing and science tests that may take longer than the quick check for lower level seat work. Forgive the formatting. It's easier to read double-spaced but I can't make it do that!

When you tell your kids, "I'm off the clock, get in your room and turn the fan on for white noise." :D Aagghh. We were out for 8 HOURS today schooling at the library, Chick-Fil-A and in the car while waiting on ds' to do dual enrollment. It's fend-for-yourself dinner night too. We all need a few hours of unwind.

This looks great. I'm the mom who doesn't do art. I did crafts with my olders when they were in primary grades but I'm not an artist and can't really teach it. THANK YOU for sharing this! I can see this being the dessert for our school next year. Do you set aside one day for art (Friday Art?) or is it a masterly activity they can spend free time on or is it scheduled everyday?

Continuing to pray for him and you and your ds! :grouphug:

We LOVED our year with Exploration Education. LOVED.

DP

We haven't yet used the Omnibus, but we've been using the self-paced history for 4 years. I love it. It really holds the attention of my kids with interactive games, vocabulary, videos with characters in costume that give all of the information There are quizzes and weekly tests. VP seamlessly integrates secular and Biblical/church history which we've always loved (used it with my olders before they were online). And that tackle meaty subjects at a manageable level for kids. Last week, my kids studied the controversy between Calvin and Arminius. I love that I can be working in the vicinity and it's easy enough for me to step in if my youngest needs help. Ds11 is completely independent. So two thumbs up for us.

Just like I was always going to work, we were going to have 2-3 kids and I thought homeschooling was a bit overprotective. :D There's no way in the world a young person can say with certainty what will never happen. I know folks that were adamant they didn't want children. Until all of sudden, the clock ticked and they did. Release it as much as possible b/c it's out of your hands. Don't take it personally or own it and just see what may in store down the road. :grouphug:

Praying for you all now. What a mix of emotions I'm sure in this whole process. :grouphug:

I'd forgotten about Kumon for more math fun. Is Connect the Thoughts a workbook or something online?

Yes, I'm thinking about keeping *formal* science in the summer. I do have a science loving kid though so he needs lots and lots of informal, discovery-based science activities and I'm finding I don't have the massive amounts of time and brain space to do some bang-up projects like we did with his olders. Just a few other important projects right now. My wheels are turning though and I wonder if I could put together some science boxes that could be done independently. We have the Knex wheels, axles, pulley kit and bridges kit unused that I'd dearly love to let him take and run with them. He'd eat it up by spoonfuls.

Praying for you all right now. Praying that the recovery continues to progress without any complications and this will be a great turning point for you all. And praying for the family who donated the liver. (((((Hugs )))))

I need to shift our homeschool next year and have my then 4th and 6th graders do more of their work independently. Ds11 will eat that up. He's always chomping at the bit to get to his schoolwork first thing in the morning and doesn't like to wait for me to have to teach the lesson. He's an early riser and many mornings starts off with his VP self-paced history before the rest of us are up. Not sure how much will need to be independent, but more than I ever did with my others. I'm looking for top-quality, kid-tested and approved books, classes, etc. Thanks all!

I don't know. I bought them years ago from a small school supply store in our town that had started stocking them.You might call VP and see though.

Garga, You can laugh at my expense: My freshman son came home from college and in the middle of washing his plate after supper he stopped and said, "Wait. Why am I doing this? I'm not at the scholarship house!" :huh: :lol: He's in a co-op scholarship house where all 14 boys clean their own dishes right after they use the kitchen. They clean (deep clean) every week. But that boy wanted to revert as soon as he was home!

So cute that y'all made it a family affair!

Seriously! I know after Alice made sandwiches, Mrs. Brady put them in the paper bags and handed them off to kids happily skipping off to school for the day. She wore cute 70s outfits and bothered Mike in his study whenever she needed immediate kid advice. :svengo: Now I wanna go watch the Brady Bunch and pretend. :D

You might like a few of the others by Eric Metaxes. I just discovered his program and was super happy to have something to add to my walks!

You might like a few of the others by Eric Metaxes. I just discovered his program and was super happy to have something to add to my walks!

Over the holidays, I listened to this podcast of Walter Hooper, the secretary to C.S. Lewis who organized much of his writings after Lewis' death. It was an interesting insight into Lewis, the Inklings, and Lewis' interaction with his readers. It was actually a radio series as part of Socrates in Oxford by Eric Metaxes, but it's still available and made great listening while on the treadmill. Sharing here: Walter Hooper, secretary to C.S. Lewis, Part I (of 6)

The Elson readers? Or the Veritas Press primers? We used the VP primers and were very happy with them.