Frog and Toad have one about seasons. I find Brambly Hedge to be gardeny... :lurk5:

I love the IDEA of Oak Meadow... but I don't think it's for me or my son. I have looked at the Great Books Academy SOOO many times thinking about it as a core for us to work off of. I love their book selections... I might give it a try again. thank you!

Thank you so much! I really love the sound of the BFIAR/FIAR program... but I've never really known if it would work at all with my son. I worked with LD/ADHD teenagers a long time ago as a tutor, and so luckily I have enough experience with different learning styles and I can usually figure out what might work or not work... but my son is a challenge, I LOVE incorporating your idea of the mat and physical study. Very important for him I think. He also isn't naturally physically dexterous, so I think it would help him.

thank you thank you... this all sounds VERY VERY familiar!

My 3 year old needs some more routine/structure. I'm pretty Charlotte-Masony and don't really want to HS until K or 1st... but my son needs something. Our lives are currently pretty crazy and it's been really really hard for me, no matter how hard I try, to set up some routine/activities to interest him. He's highly-sensitive and stubborn... and just isn't happy if he hasn't had interesting stuff to do. I've planned more weekly activities (story-time type stuff, playground dates, etc...) but need more at home. SO - I've decided to get a "curriculum" that's drawn out for me and follow it VERY loosely.... just stay super super flexible with it. I have some montessori resources and plan to use them - but I really just need some kind of coat-hanger to hang it all on. I need something that's drawn out completely to get us going on a routine. So - would you recommend Before Five In A Row, Flowering Baby or some other? He knows all ABCs, letter sounds, can count to 100, and when he feels like it he's sounded out short words before. I never push him on it, so I don't know how much he actually knows.

Just now finally getting back on here. You are all FANTASTIC! Thank you, seriously, for your input. I've been trying to find people IRL, trying to google, and your ideas and information feels more grounding to me than ANYTHING else!!! Seriously thank you for your time. the PhD route appeals to me because of the possibility of college teaching down the road. I'm 33, with a masters in a related field, a field that I think would help me develop a "niche" private practice eventually. I know with private practice there's still the aspect of marketing yourself, but I'm a pretty cautious person and I think in my community I might be able to build something. Thank you thank you! I think I'm going to pursue it, just look into school options and costs and such and see if I find a good fit. I don't know how many times I'll say I'm done with school only to go back again! AChK! :)

I'm going to the hive - 'cause I can't find help in real life. I'm considering getting a second MA/MS in psychology/counseling to try to get licensed. Anyone who is an active MHC or LCSW or LPC or any of the many other options out there? I'm wanting it so that my family has a more secure "back-up" plan in terms of finances - as our "careers" require more creativity and luck I think to succeed. Basically I'm wanting to hear if anyone is out there - and if there is, if they're happy they did the master's, if they feel PhD is more appropriate, and if they're able to get work. I'd like to move toward a part time private practice, but, to be honest, don't think I'm willing to work away from the kids full time to build up hours and reputation at a clinic - any thoughts?

I think it's normal. Mine will sit still and listen... but books are just his thing. Ask him to pay attention to anything else for more than 30 seconds and it doesn't go well. So while he'll sit still and listen to chapter books, he won't do crafts, games, or much else for long stretches. He has a cousin who won't... but started to with super short books about trains. He has another friend who refuses to be read to at all. I think they're all just different.

Wonderful - thank you!!!

Thank you thank you thank you! I found it and it plays on my kindle. SOOO perfect for what I needed right now. Seriously thank you!

I've been trying to figure out some CDs to get or order from the library - but I just can't find what I"m looking for. I want to have several CDs to start listening to with my kids, so I can have the month of Mozart, month of Bach, month of Chopin, etc... etc... Anyway - I really want to find CDs that have some of the most recognizable songs, a mix so to speak... one or two from each composer. The problem I'm finding is that some of the "best of" CDs seem REALLy poor quality. I'd also love love love love love love to find some that are JUST piano, no orchestra or accompaniment. Anyone? :)

I posted a new thread in the "Following Charlotte" group for us to use. We can continue to chat, ask questions, that kind of thing. It's HERE

I so agree with you! Off and on I've had some great (and some not so great) little learning centers, montessor style stuff. If I HAD to pick one "category", I'm totally Charlotte Mason. It's interesting, though. Our lives were in some chaos for the past 6-12 months and I think because of the stress and business I just haven't been really on the ball. For me it takes energy and thought to be really engaging about montessori type activities. I guess it's like parenting in general, especially Homeschooling probably. When I need a break to catch up on "life" I don't do as good a job for the kids, which makes me feel horrible, which makes me even more stressed, which makes me do even worse for the kids. You know? Or maybe I've just unnecessarily venting - haha. Anyhoo - I think I'm going to break down and get Flowering Baby. Between that and the list of activities in the montessori book - it's something for me to start with when my brain is on vacation. Just descriptions, gather materials, etc... My son doesn't really fit well into any "curriculum" for his age group. he's behind in some physical stuff, doesn't focus for long on much, but already is trying to blend phonics sounds... so this is at least a way for me to have 2 big places to pick from once in a while... Just to have entertaining stuff for him to do on the days when my brain and body are just not up to par.

Alright - I'm making a trip tomorrow afternoon with the husband to the dollar stores and a few other places... I never go shopping with help, and it's so hard to look carefully and think creatively at stuff to come up with activities... i think I might get the Montessori house binders eventually, depending on our money flow closer to fall. The Montessori at Home book has so many amazing links all organized to other free sources as well! I had to print most of it out because I'm just not an ebook person... but the links are so handy!

Thank you for this! I think that's exactly whey I've struggled to find something for my son. He's very very gregarious and social (read needy and not an independent player) haha! He's deliciously interactive, but not one that you can suggest an activity and expect him to do it. And it's interesting, as much as he'll sit and "read" books, even by himself, he's not interested in any kind of printout/workbook kind of thing at all. I ended up searching online a LOT last night. Couldn't sleep well, and found the montessori at home book. It's so affordable and so far full of great ideas and links to other sites. I think I"ll just have to gather my own stuff together. But - I keep stumbling across Flowering Baby lately so I'll go check it out! Thank you!