Thanks for the suggestions and resources! I have a GREAT list for animal observation from Elemental Science that will serve us well for all of our creature studies... but my Googling efforts did not yield a similar list that we could apply to all plants... and so Lily Grace - I really appreciate your list - this is great!

Oh I ADORE Duck Dynasty!!

I'm reading this very book right now! Its a page-turner indeed! I've only been at it for about 1 1/2 weeks.... and hope to be finished by the end of May... I'm not using a lit guide...

I'm too lazy to create my own.... does anyone have a link or suggestion of a book that contains a list of questions for plant observation that would be appropriate for an elementary aged child? Thanks in advance!

Grammar: First Language Lessons 2 Writing: Writing with Ease 2 Copywork, Dictation from McGuffey Readers A Reason for Handwriting T Spelling: Spelling Workout B & C McGuffey Readers Literature: Combination of Ambleside selections and Sonlight selections Story of the World selections (corresponding literature recommendations for each chapter) McGuffey Readers (these obviously don't include any additional books that my son chooses or that I choose for him) History: Story of the World 2 Science: Continue with Jay Wile's Free Ancient Science curriculum Elemental Earth Science and Astronomy Nature Studies French: N'allenart Mango Language Math: Math Mammoth Khan Academy Art: Drawing with Children Learning to play the recorder Extras: Morning Basket Time Great Brain Projects Contenders for the Faith badge program Scouts, AWANA, Tae Kwon Doe, Swimming, Soccer, Hiking, snow shoeing, biking, and Nordic skiing

Wow - thanks! We're actually scheduled to do Earth Science and Astronomy next year!

I deleted my old facebook account... but then realized that there are lots of my IRL homeschooling groups that only post event info on Facebook.... plus I have a facebook page for my little business.... SO, I created a new profile to join the groups but I have NO facebook friends... its just a profile to allow me access to the various groups. I LOVE Facebook so much more now... :)

Or has anyone ever done any of the studies from Michelle Zoppa (Queen's Homeschool supply) - because here is one on the Armor of God: https://www.queensho...products_id=269

Great suggestions!! Thank you! Anyone have any feedback for this resource? http://www.christianbook.com/kids-travel-guide-the-armour-god/9780764426957/pd/26958?item_code=WW&netp_id=357988&event=ESRCQ&view=details Or even if you've used another title in the same "Kids Travel Guide" series?

Do you have any suggestions for a really great study for Ephesians 6:10-20 (The Armor of God) for boys? Or any other outstanding ideas, activities, resources for the Armor of God? Thanks in advance!

One that hasn't been mentioned yet is Rascal by Sterling North... we read that when my son was almost 5 and we LOVED it... :)

I personally never think of completely cutting ties with people unless they become quite toxic... it just seems to me that your friendship WAS at a more intimate, intense level and now has morphed into a more casual friendship..... granted, sometimes it hurts to know that a friendship has moved to a more casual status and you may need to grieve over that a bit... but I'd be okay with continuing a casual friendship in this situation. It doesn't have to be all or nothing...

Wonderful! I'll look into this one! Many thanks! Anyone else have any suggestions?

He's almost 7yo...

A local Shakespeare theater company is putting on park performances all summer long of Merry Wives of Windsor. It will be suitable for all ages. Perfect - I thought that might be the next Shakespeare play we study..... BUT I can't find any children's versions to read, nor any other resources.... Any suggestions??

OOOH! Thanks for this recommendation - my library has a copy... plus the field guide.... my teacher reading 'stack' is getting taller! :)

My son was 5yo when we read the Hobbit - he adored it! AND I'm amazed by how much he remembers, a year later... Some other books we've read aloud to him (he's now 6): - Chronicles of Narnia - Little Britches - highly recommend - Rascal, by Sterling North - highly recommend - All of E.B White's books - Henry Huggins Actually - here is a fairly accurate list of the books we've read together as a family (I'm missing a few): http://asformeandmyhome.blogspot.ca/p/books-weve-read-aloud-as-family.html We're now starting on Little Pilgrim's Progress...

Yes, that's the one! I guess only the audio version has the same subtitle as the one I listed...

Oh my, yes they were volatile! LOL!! And thanks for the tip - I may just do that - skip to part 2... and then go back to part 1 later...

Climbing Parnassus (although I too am finding this a bit stuffy - but have only just started) The Talent Code: Unlocking the Secret of Skill in Sports, Art, Music, Math, and Just About Everything Else The Great Tradition: Classic Readings on What it Means to be an Educated Human Being Marva Collins Way Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens (reread for me)

Reading from the actual bible with my son has been very rewarding. We read a chapter a day... and then we answer the corresponding questions from Balance the Sword (I can't recommend this product highly enough! Its awesome!)

WOW!! I wish you were starting SOTW 2 instead!! LOL!! Great resource!

I left Sonlight for a few reasons: 1) Language Arts program did NOT work for me at all... 2) Their constant yearly changes and the near panic, hype that they would stir up on the forums... then they'd only give you a couple of weeks to purchase the existing IG (which annoyed the people who already HAD all of the books to go with the existing IG). 3) I could be totally wrong about this - but my worry was that they were leaning more and more towards choosing literature selections that could only be purchased exclusively through Sonlight (or that were hard to locate). It seemed to me that they are not interested in the client who only wants to purchase portions of their curriculum... they really seemed to prefer the client to purchase the entire Core program.

I use FLL and WWE and OPGTR.... all of them scripted and I LOVE them... saves time! But I think this only works for me because I trust SWB almost implicitly.

My son is 7 and we are working our way through the Annotated Grimm (love that edition)..... next year we'll do the Annotated Andersen (but not the stories identified for adults)... We don't find Grimm too mature... and we've never read sanitized versions.... ETA: I also second "Tending the Heart of Virtue" - GREAT read....