Not formal, but here is a great little booklet that teaches about the elements and principles of design. http://www.awesomeartists.com/ART/AWESOMEARTISTS_PDFs_ETC/ABCsOfART_BOOKLET_Color_ElementsAndPrinciplesOfDesign_2015.pdf BTW, It is easy to break down and create art lessons from the elements and principles of design using youtube and links found on the internet. Here is how I use it. Example: Element #1 Line 1. Learn about Line: https://youtu.be/SFTkg3mpP3w 2. Recreate the line posters from the above booklet. 3. Make a contour line drawing. https://youtu.be/RpZ1TwGaugM https://youtu.be/oPM9FBPf7OU 4. Make a continuous line drawing; https://youtu.be/2t_evhNwAjo 5. Make a blind contour drawing. https://youtu.be/KoGAXg6m4Gc 6. Make a drawing that emphasizes line quality. https://youtu.be/MRL7gvbZudw 7. Draw with cross contour lines. https://youtu.be/QiPT75pHL_8 https://youtu.be/YiMmYQ52QgE 8. View works of art that show line: Link: http://artcuratorforkids.com/artworks-that-show-line/ 9. Make line drawing Doodles - Flowers https://youtu.be/hgdK3L7SMP0 Faces https://youtu.be/O5u1apUkYV0 Harry Potter https://youtu.be/f5VEu2SfhhY etc... 10. Make Zentangle line drawings - https://youtu.be/qBwHUKHUdD8 ​https://youtu.be/ycsONJVXcac Honestly, a whole year could just be spent exploring line and drawing simple line drawings (doodles) in a sketchbook. : ) I also agree with shinyhappypeople. Just jump in and do art. Draw, paint, etc.. every day. : ) It doesn't need to be difficult. Just a sketchbook and a box of art supplies. If you pick up mixed media sketchbooks they can also paint in their sketchbooks. For art history, YouTube has loads of great videos. I love the videos from Goodbye-Art Academy https://youtu.be/ibp_i7bekQU BTW, when your children are older, here is one of the helpful sites I recommend. It is a fully designed art curriculum for JH and HS: http://juliannakunstler.com/class.php#.WRnJb2grKCg (scroll down for courses) HTH

I like Dive Science. Each week the student learns thought text, lectures, and labs. Practically any text can be used with the curriculum. He also provides an online text can be used instead. Here is the link to the site. http://www.diveintomath.com/earth-science-7th-8th-grade/

You may want to pick up some gesso in the future. Gesso is used to prime canvases, but can also be used to prime almost any surface for painting. It can even be used to prime regular sketch pad paper, so that it can be painted on. Other surfaces you could have her try painting on is cardboard, paper bags, and wood. Here are a couple of YouTube videos that describe the how and whys of gesso. ,

I mostly use the videos on The Virtual Instructor site. He has free videos of the elements and principles on his YouTube channel. Here is one on line . If you search YouTube, you will find loads of helpful videos to choose from. Awesomeartist.com has a great booklet on the elements and principles. http://www.awesomeartists.com/ We copied the the information into our sketchbooks.

This is what I do. I do purchase a membership to The Virtual Artist, but videos can easily be found on YouTube. Some favorite sites: The Art of Apex - http://artofapexportal.weebly.com/how-do-i.html, Student Art Guide - http://www.studentartguide.com/, The Art of Education - http://www.theartofed.com/ The easiest way to find a lesson or project is to go to Pinterest and search. I am planning a unit on printmaking right now, and have found a wealth of help on Pinterest and YouTube. Below is a table (I am not sure it will post) of a portion of our Drawing and Painting scope and sequence. It didn't post properly. Here is a link. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u_XBJnvUZxRN9KYEFHhRW6pYuG3G2fi-GxcEJI6R-bw/edit?usp=sharing

He may want to start with student "classroom" grade acrylics as he is learning. I use the ones from Blick Art for the art class I teach. 6 pints for 27.00 I can't find the video, but I once ran across an wonderful acrylic artist that used mostly craft paints like Folk Art to paint by choice. Perhaps it would work for your son.

Hunter, have you ever heard of Don Marco the master crayon artist? I am amazed with what he can produce with crayons! http://www.themastercrayonartist.biz/

For fantasy, have you ever read The Obsidian Trilogy? The series has been around for a while, but is one of my all time favorites by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory.

I really enjoyed the Unbounded series by Teyla Branton. She also writes under the name of Rachel Ann Nunes. I am currently reading her Autumn Rain series, and it has been an okay read. Both of these series are clean reads that I feel comfortable recommending to my daughter.

Just found out about Complete Curriculum. http://www.completecurriculum.com/ It is only 39.95 for a yearly family membership. It looks like it covers all levels K-12 for Language Arts, Math, Science, and History. There would be printing costs involved, but I can see that if it is done decently it would be a blessing for many. Here is the link to the Cathy Duffy review: http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grade-level-packages/complete-curriculum.htm If it were paired up with library books, I bet it would work just fine.

We also use thevirtualinstructor.com. The instruction is top quality, and a subscription is only 37.00 per year. There is also a lot of free content on the site and his youtube channel. Speaking of YouTube, there are wonderful instructional videos on every art medium. I teach an art class to a group of Jr High/High School kids each week, and have have successfully integrated many YouTube instructional videos into the curriculum. I embed the videos into a private blog that has been created for the class, so that the children are not subjected to the sometimes inappropriate images on the sidebar. This guy's (award winning illustrator, Shoo Rayner) YouTube channel is fun for younger kids I also love this book for daily sketching - How to Draw Cool Stuff by Catherine V Holmes http://www.amazon.com/How-Draw-Cool-Stuff-Teachers/dp/0615991424

We've had some success with Talking Fingers. We use it for review and fluency. I also liked the fact that they are learning how to type in this program.

I think my kids would have an excellent education if I packed the following items. The homework books are very thin, so I think all the below would fit well. Edit: I checked the size of a carry-on and it is much smaller that I thought (22" x 14" x 9".) I will try and trim my list. Math: Saxon 8/7 (Basically all pre-algebra material is covered) Saxon Algebra I & 2 Understanding Mathematics from Counting to Calculus Everything you need to know about Math Homework History/Geography: Everything you need to know about World History Homework Everything you need to know about American History Homework Everything you need to know about Geography Homework An Atlas CHOW The Usborne Encyclopedia of World History Edit: U.S. History for Dummies Science: Everything you need to know about Science Homework The Usborne Science Encyclopedia English Everything you need to know about English Homework - by Zeman and Kelly Grammar & Diagramming Sentences - by Gianni DeVencentis-Hayes The Elements of Style by Strunk and White Small Dictionary and Thesaurus Literature: Pride and Prejudice Lord of the Rings Series I would wait until the end to see if I could shove in other classics. Phonics: Ordinary Parent's Guide to Reading or Alpha-phonics The Writing Road to Reading One of the many children's storybook compilations I own. Spelling: Spelling Power Bible: The Bible Egermeier's Bible Story Book Edit: How to Read the Bible book by Book: A guided Tour by Fee and Stuart Music: The Celebration Hymnal Tin Whistles Art: One of the Art History Compilations I have Art Pencils, Crayons, water color sticks/crayons, water-brushes (the kind you fill with water), scissors, and Sketchbooks Extras: Whiteboards and Markers (Now I am feeling bad for not having slate and chalk.) Paper, pencils, sharpener, and erasers That's it. I can't trim anymore! I'm breaking the rules and having each person carry a book in their hands. Also, my purse will have books in it. I am clearly not a minimalist when it comes to home school books, but thanks this was a wonderful exercise. : )

This! I thought my son (9) would never learn to read before we switched to Rod and Staff. We were totally phonics, and it wasn't working. I have since learned that my son struggles with dysphonetic dyslexia. Had we continued on the phonics only road, I'm not sure he would have ever learned to read well. He is still behind in reading but progressing well. Rod and Staff is very strong in phonics as well. It has a different series of books just for phonics instructions. The phonics is going slow for him, but he can decode words slowly now. The reading is purely based on sight words in the beginning, and assumes knowledge in phonics (from their program) as they progress. Each day they have Sound words (using phonics already learned), Key words (based on prior words learned), and learn words (sight words.) The nice thing for us is that because of the sight word approach, the reading curriculum ends up being above grade level. This (so far) is allowing his reading level to progress at a faster rate than he would with some other programs.

Well I have been blessed with a MIL that is a sweetie-pie, but sometimes she can be clueless. She was raised in a time when it was thought important to marry young. She asked when I was going to send my oldest to school? The funny thing is that she was not concerned about his education she was just wondering because, "Well, how else was he going to meet a girl to marry?" She also doesn't seem to understand age appropriate content. For example, when the TV show Glee first came out she was so excited to chat with my 10 y.o. daughter about the show. Why in the world would I let my 10 y.o. daughter watch that show? :scared: For a period of time I had to block her email messages, because she kept sending me dirty jokes. My husband was horrified!

This chart is not helpful in proving probable cause. Below the chart PBS clearly states that, "The chart above doesn’t reveal who was right or wrong about what happened that day, but it is a clear indication that perceptions and memories can vary dramatically." For the chart to be truly helpful towards proving probable cause, it should state which of the witnesses recounted their testimony when faced with the forensic data, and which of of the witnesses were inconsistent. PBS also states, "McCulloch highlighted the variations in witness accounts . “In subsequent interviews with law enforcement, or their testimony before the grand jury, many of the same witnesses acknowledged that they didn’t actually see the shooting,†McCulloch said. “Some were running for cover. Some were relating what they heard from others or as I said, what they assumed happened.†But many witnesses held steadfast to their interviews. “Several other witnesses maintained their original statement that Mr. Brown had his hands int he air and was not moving toward the officer when he was shot,†McCulloch said There is not enough information here to draw conclusions.

This is what has been rambling inside of my head... I've been asking myself what I would do, think, feel if this was one of my boys. Also, what would I feel and do in the officers place. First, obviously, I would be heartbroken that I lost my child. Second, I would be appalled that my child was a thief, and disrespectful of both the Law and Law enforcement. Third, I would question the use of such excessive force on my child. Was it warranted? In the car, yes I think so. How dare my son attack another human! The officer surely feared for his life. What about out of the car? I wish the officer didn't persue....but he did. How would I feel if a 300 lb man was coming at me like a linebacker? Yes, I think I would defend myself. As a parent, I wouldn't like the results, but I would understand them. My boy would have been wrong. He set this scenario in motion. Every action he chose led to this. He could have stopped this at any time. He was in the wrong. He was acting like a tug. Then, I would want to start a conversation. I would say that I wish the officer would have waited for backup, instead of pursuing. I wish that he (the officer) wasn't alone in his car. Why isn't two officers mandatory? What could have been done differently to have changed the results? What can we do as parents to help? What can we do as a community to help? Why are news networks allowed to incite people with misinformation? Why is it important for our news networks and our politicians to divide us? Is it so they can conquer us? etc... This is a truly so sad.

The thing is (at least in MO) your children can take any of the classes they want to take, if you don't care about your child receiving their diploma. It is only the diploma that gives them power over your child's courses. We didn't fully enroll my oldest, but he did take three classes from the local public school. I just added those courses to his Home School diploma just like I added the college courses that he took. Easy Peasy. No issues with the college that gave him full scholarship.

For me Classical Style represents a method of learning material, so the curriculum, although it can be helpful in implementing the style, makes very little difference in educating classically. This is the Classical process of learning I am referring to: 1. Grammar Stage - Learn the facts. 2. Dialectic Stage - Learn to explore, question, and discuss the facts. 3. Rhetoric Stage - Have an output about the facts and the information explored. Present the the material learned through presentation, writing, demonstration, etc... So, for me, most any curriculum can be used to implement the method. If you feel that having a boxed type of curriculum will aid you, go for it! You are the teacher. You can implement the process. As for the discipline issue, I think most everyone goes through this. Just stick to your guns, and don't take it personally. They are children. They will try and find the line. They will try to cross the line. It is our job to tow the line.

It looks like I'm a little late to the conversation, but perhaps this information will help to sort things out. I have used the chart below successfully many times when dealing with catty adults. In your situation I would recommend mediation or arbitration. I have found that in situation like this, where there will be ongoing interaction with the perpetrator, it is best to gently call out the offenders and solve it with a mediator. I highly recommend The Peacemaker (and it's chart below) as a tool in handling conflict. This could be a wonderful opportunity for your daughter to develop strong conflict management skills. No one wants to develop the skills, but all are better off having learned to use them. Here is the link to The Peacemaker site. http://www.peacemaker.net/site/c.aqKFLTOBIpH/b.958151/k.5236/The_Slippery_Slope_of_Conflict.htm . I also would recommend litigation as a last resort. It is an attack response and rarely results in resolution.

I had my 5th child at 42. It has been wonderful to have her. She is a joy. I have loads of willing helpers, which is good because I don't have nearly as much energy as I did with the others. I did have a negative experience with what I think must have been a hormonal issue. I plunged into a deep depression starting three weeks before I found out I was pregnant, and it lasted until well after she was born. The doctors did give me the you are a geriatric mom speech, but I had a midwife/nurse practitioner who was very supportive. Carrying her was difficult, because I was already overweight. My heart would pound and pound every time I would exert myself. Delivery was great though. She is healthy child with no issues.

:grouphug: Praying here as well. Don't hesitate to let people near and dear to you know about your needs. It is just as much of a blessing to help someone as it is to be helped.

I am currently teaching a Sharpie Art Class at our "just for fun" Co-op. The class filled up so quick that we had to cap the class at 16 students just a couple of days after signups began. I have had a blast preparing for this class. If you are interested, here is the link to the blog that I created to support the class. It is only a one hour class, so the students who have had the most success spend a little time planning their project in advance (otherwise they run out of time or rush with varying results.) HTH

I have never said, and never will say that that parents were not capable of providing a wonderful higher level thinking skills education. In fact, homeschooling parents are the tutors within the CC program, and many other worthy programs as well. We are not enrolled in CC. We are homeschooling at home and doing well. If I didn't believe we could do well, we would be doing something different. The fact that our family has chosen not to attend CC doesn't negate my belief that CC offers something unique and of value. I support other organizations as well that try to implement a classical skill set. There is, after all, more than one way to skin a cat. (I really don’t like that idiom, but I am too disconcerted to say it more elegantly.) Because I’m feeling attacked, I will add that I also support organizations that don’t offer a classical skill set. For instance, we have attended a “just for fun†coop off and on since my oldest was 8 (he is 23 now.) It is a wonderful organization that I whole-heartedly support. This coop offers something totally different than CC, but still of value and still worthy of support. Furthermore, I support the WTM method. Here is the kicker, I believe TWTM method to be different and superior to what most classes offer. (Another blanket statement :001_smile: ) One thing I always teach my children and students is that discussions need to happen in a safe place to be productive. If a person feels belittled or attacked (or in this case mocked), then they will fear taking part in the discussion (as I have every since reading this statement.) It really only takes one statement to create this environment of fear and shut down discourse. My only hope in this discussion was to show some reasons behind the organization and methods of CC. Are there shortcomings? Sure, but that doesn't mean they don't offer a good classical program. They were a blessing to me, and I am grateful for the time I spent learning and exploring their methods. I have witnessed first hand how children and adults have blossomed under their guidance. In fact, we are now on our own due, in part, to the confidence and knowledge gained through our experience with CC. As I have stated before CC isn't for everyone, and I don't agree with everything. In fact, for one, I am saddened that by the stark age requirements. I didn't realize this had changed. They have clearly moved away from their original vision of Challenge levels. I don't know if it will make any difference, but I do intend to do as WinsomCreek urged, and speak to CC about this requirement. Just as I hope others will do. Enjoy your day. I will be away for a while as we are celebrating Easter with family this weekend.

I would be interested in learning more about the differences. If you remember the name of the neurologist, could you PM me?