I think I know who you are speaking of, and know that there are other homeschooling freethinker groups out there ;)

I wasn't trying to insinuate that you didn't understand what it means, only pointing out that it isn't synonymous with atheism, so a person can be an atheist and not be a freethinker. It's definitely not for everyone and I understand that.

Comments like that are just more proof that I never will be a Christian ever again. Insulting.

To be fair, freethinker does have a different meaning from atheism so I can understand that some would have issues with it.

There are many freethinker groups on FB (including some homeschooling ones) I find extremely helpful. I've recently crossed over to the atheist side after being agnostic for many years. I'm not "out yet" on Facebook, but I can definitely see the benefit in being so. I also see the benefit in sharing such posts on fb. Not trolling other's pages, but sharing on your own page or engaging in discussions on other's pages if they offer it for debate. My own ideologies *have* been persuaded by fb posts.

My daughter is into historical fiction and "ancients" right now. She absolutely loves the Roman Mysteries series and also recently devoured The Odyssey books by Mary Pope Osborne. She has already read most of the Magic Treehouse books and the Little House books. Are there any other historical fiction-type books or ones that will go along with our Ancients history? She's a first grader, but reads at about a fifth-sixth grade level.

Am I the only one obsessed with book lists? I go through all the book lists for the various curriculums -Book Shark, Build Your Library, History Odyssey, etc and check them all out of the library for my daughter to read. I make lists of all the lists. Is it just me? ETA: my daughter is a voracious reader and checks out 20+ chapter books to read every week, so it's not like I'm "forcing her" to read ;)

My daughter enjoyed listening to the audiobooks. I read one aloud, but the formula of each of them being so similar irritated me so I didn't read the others aloud.

And a billion scholastic e-books from all their dollar sales. I'm a digital hoarder...

I have so much curricula. If it's available in an e-book and secular, I probably have it. Plus oak meadow for grades pre-k through second.

I print some books. I Don't usually mess with the margins or make booklets. I print multiple pages on one page, duplex and then hole punch and put them in a folder or binder depending on the book.

My advice is just to jump in and go for it. Don't overthink it and try to plan out a bunch of topics ahead of time. I get overwhelmed by it when I try to do that and end up putting it off until I have it planned and prepared perfectly. I'm much better using it "on the fly" as long as I have the supplies. There's a fb group with some links that I've found helpful if you do a search for the curriculum.

Our plans: SOTW secularly using Histoey Odyssey Singapore Primary 2 BFSU I also have Build Your Library. I use it for book lists and the nature stuff to add. Maybe all about spelling? My daughter needs some spelling help to give her writing confidence, but we haven't been using a formal reading program because she reads all.day.long and at a fifth or sixth grade level. We do a weekly co-op, hike at least weekly and am probably going to sign her up for elementary music through a local homeschool program.

Yes! I bought a box at my local teacher/art store and love them! I prefer non painted and real wood and they are perfect.

I used to be a mirado fan, but I just switched to general's cedar pencils and LOVE them.

We picked this up yesterday at the library and she's already halfway through! We both love it- thank you!

Sadly, our library has very few paperbacks mixed in with everything else in the juvenile fiction section. Of course, they have a whole shelf of Magic Treehouse which she finds boring and the mentioned Junie B. And SO many early chapter books are mysteries, which she doesn't care for Thanks for the great lists- I put a bunch on reserve to be sent from elsewhere. Our library has very little for this stage, so it's really disappointing for her to browse.

Thank you! What a great list- I will start library reserving the next time I'm on my pc :)

Most of those we have done as read alouds already... Beverly clearly, EB White, The Borrowers, Pippi. I will look into the Droon series but it might be too scary. Thanks for the recs!

My daughter is six years old and obsessed with reading. She wants to read chapter books but it seems most "easier" chapter books are not so great. She was not impressed with the Magic Treehouse series, does not like mysteries, and I do not like the Junie B. Jones books (too many "stupids" and "dumb" and general snottiness IMHO). Is there anything out there that is appropriate, but not over her ability? She's already read all the Mudge, Cam Jansen, Amelia Bedelia, Frog and Toad, Mouse Soup, etc that's on most k-2 lists. I'm not sure she's ready for the American Girl books but maybe she is...

Not BOOKS perse, but my kids LOVE sparkle stories. http://www.sparklestories.com/ Some of them are on their podcast and free on itunes.

cookie sheet with magnets magna doodle or aqua doodle stickers lacing cards (maybe more for 3+) duplos window/cling stickers

The DIA is fantastic as well.

We love the Henry ford museum! Greenfield Village is nice, but it bores my dh so we don't go often. There are some really great ethnic restaurants in the area. Just search yelp for Dearborn, MI.

I use fido jars with the bail-top lids.