I REALLY wanted to do CC until I talked with the director about it. I spent hours looking at all the information and discussing the program. I could be completely wrong, but what was relayed to me is that memorizing all that information was the program. (At least 1st-6th). I kept thinking - this can't be right - surely not. What other books do you read - what supplements do you use? There were none. Other groups could be different. The director had her daughter sing one of the songs about the Greek Gods she learned. She was very proud of her. That was great, but did they discuss them further? No - right now was just focused on memorization. Well, my kids know all the Greek/Roman Gods, not b/c they memorized them - but b/c we read about them and talked about them. I walked away from that meeting completely stunned. I so wanted to be connected with other parents who were likeminded. However, I couldn't get over the fact that what the director showed me (the VP cards, cds, printed forms) was all that was being covered. That was the only focus! When I asked her - could I as a tutor talk about the history or background of what we were memorizing - she said there really wouldn't be time. Maybe I could say something breifly, but that wasn't a priority now. I know parents can cover whatever they want at home, but if the director is basically starting a new group and not using any additional materials - aren't alot of the people joining going to do as she is doing??? Please tell me not all groups are like that and that groups do more.

I love homeschooling and the fact that we don't have to do a certain "grade". My son is going in to "third". His spelling skills are horrible - he's in "first grade" spelling books, but he excels in math and is doing "4th grade work". Everything else falls somewhere in between. I've decided to keep my children in the "grade" they would be in school according to their age. Yes, I said my son was in 1st grade even though he could not read at all and had a terrible time writing just because that was his age group. However, it all worked out and now I have to get on to him for spending hours in the bathroom reading!! The only time a grade is an issue with us is when we are going to church and they want to know what class he should be in or if we sign up for a field trip and they want to know what grade. I have expectation that I want my children to know certain skills by the time they are 11 or equivalent to 6th grade. If one of my children is struggling at that time, then I would consider whether that child needed additional tutors/classes or if we needed to slow down and rethink our expectations. Maybe they won't finish highschool courses until later. I LOVE homescholing and I LOVE that we can work with our children - each one being unique and having wonderful gifts/talents/abilites.

We started ove this year with Year 1. I have a younger child, so I would read SOTW aloud. I found my 5th grader could add alot to our discussions - from what she remembered or what she was reading about. (I would assign her books to read on whatever topic we were studying.) I also gave her sole responsibility for the time line and had her ouline many chapters in the KFHE. This year, I'm going to look at combining SOTW and TOG. I have a friend who is going to loan me her TOG, and I'm going to see how they work together. I'm looking ahead 4 more years, and I think I may need TOG!!!

I've not done CC; however, I met with the director in our area to discuss being a mentor - so I'm familiar with the program. I don't see why you couldn't buy the memory cd and the cd that has the printables and do this by yourself (or with a few friends). In fact, I've thought about buying the audio cd just to listen to for fun as a reinforcement to what we're learning.

Thank you so much for your feedback!!!!!! I was really doubting myself - although I thought we could do it. The Astronomy and Botany books do seem easier than the Anatomy - just b/c there is so much information packed in each chapter. I do wish I had known about Apologia before. However, I'm excited that I discovered them now. :001_smile: Thanks!

My thoughts on Biblioplan - I do use the library, but had to use ILL for ALOT of books on their list. (I borrowed it from a friend to consider buying.) Since there was no additional information, but the schedule, I don't think this would be a very good choice. You have to have the books to read through and some of them are very hard to find which makes them more expensive. We've used SOTW, but I am familiar with TOG. If you were going to school all the way through then TOG would probably be a good investment. However, if you're unsure about the future, then you could easily pick up a used SOTW book and AG. (You really wouldn't need the AG if you're not going to use it for a book resource; however, I love the coloring sheets and maps for my young ones.) Then, you would need UBWH or Kingfisher Encyclopedia. You said you can not use the library - do you have access to thrift stores or local homeschool group sales or yard sales. You can find so much used. I always find lots of books at Goodwill. If you are using SOTW, it doesn't have to be the books listed in the AG (although there are some good books), you can get any that will help with that time period. However, TOG does have specefic books for their history. Best of luck!!

I just bought Exploring Creation with Antaomy and Physiology for my children going in to 3rd and 6th. Here are my thoughts. I would like to do this book the fall semester and the Astronomy book the spring semester and then do Botany the summer before 7th grade. Although we've done some science, we've not done alot. I'm feeling the need to get my dd prepared for 7th grade Apologia General Science. For those of you who have done the Exploring Creation Science with older children - do you think this is doable? Would you mind sharing your schedule? Any words of wisdom/advice? I have another friend who wants to do the exact same thing - except she will have a 6th grader and 4th grader. We plan to meet at least a few times a month to do more detailed projects/experiments together. Thanks for any help or direction you can give me!

This is us EXACTLY!! I'm so glad you asked the question. I've not heard of the programs listed above. I look forward to researching them.

When I lived in SC, I used Homeward Education Association 6 Professional Court Sumter, SC 29150 rachelward@homewarded.com 803.469.4927

Ya'll are some awesome!!! Thanks!!!!

CC will be starting in our area of town. I would love to hear from people who have been invovled. My children will be in 6th grade and 3rd grade. My 6th grader is right on target - my 3rd grader does well in all subjects except spelling!!! We are still working in a first grade book. Would love any feedback you can give me regarding these grades - was it a positive experience for your family, worth the money and time you spent, would you recommend it??? Thanks!!

A friend of mine is applying to teach at a private school. They have asked her to define what classical education means to her and if she could only have a child read 5 books (not inluding the bible) what books would she have the child read. I've racked my brain - if I could only pick FIVE! I can't do it. She's having a hard time to and asking for input. What would your five be???? There is no age range given - so that makes it even harder. She is applying for an elementary position - so I would think anything from K-6th grade. Any suggestions???? Thanks!!!

She has read the Moffats series, Nancy Drew, Ann of Green Gables, etc.. However, I've not heard of the Mysterious Benedict Society or Enid Blyton. I'll have to check in to those. I don't usually preread all her books, but did the last series b/c it seems focused on boyfriends. She has a homeschool friend that is OBSESSED with boys and that is the one who recommended the Christy Miller series. I'm looking for anything age appropriate that doesn't focus on witchcraft or boys!! (She has all her teen years to think about boys!) Thanks!!

I've done both and of course there are pros and cons to both. When we lived in the country, it was about 20 minutes to a town that had about 7,000 people and at least an hour to a decent size city. My kids were very lonely at first, because they moved from a neighborhood with other children their own age. They loved being able to build forts, run around and fish in the river behind the house, but they really wanted some other children to experience this with. We had to drive an hour to the library (the one in our little town didn't carry many books suggested in TWTM). My children went to a P.E. class in town once a week with other homeschoolers - which was nice for them. We live in the city now. I love being so close to everything - the library is 3 miles, church is 5 miles, swim team about 5 miles. We can go to the museum, zoo, parks, etc.... We can invite friends over to play!! Of course, the trade off is my small back yard:sad:. We are in the process of building a tree house though and planting some veggies in containers. Best of luck!!

My daugther is going to be 11 in a few months. She is having a terrible time finding books to read at the library. She has been reading since she was 4 1/2. So, she has read ALOT of books. She is reading all the time - in the car, in the bathroom, at the table and of course any free moment she has. She has read and reread books over and over - ex. Phantom Tollbooth at least 6 times, Chronicles of Narnia and Little House on the Prairie - too many times to even count. We are Christians and don't approve of some books that focus solely on witchcraft or that type of thing. One of her friends, who just turned 11, suggested the Christy Miller series. While it is Christian, the content seems a little too old. Have any of your children read the books? The one I read focused solely on boyfriends. And one of the ones focused on the college years. I don't think my 10 yr old daughter needs to be reading about a girl a guy and the college years - even if it is from a Christian perspective. Do you have a good resource that lists age/grade appropriate books? Thanks!!

I was in this situation. I also had a degree, but it was in social work- not exactly great pay - and alot of hours. So, I enrolled and was accepted into nursing school. Before I entered school, I took two sciences classes at night - after the kids went to bed - during the day we homeschooled as usual. (My parents watched my children the two evenings I was at class.) I chose to pursue a nursing degree b/c I could work a flexible schedule, earn a decent income and finish in 1 1/2 yrs. My husband and I reconciled and we moved out of state, so I didn't end up getting my nursing degree. I think alot depends on the age of the children and where you live. Opening an in-home daycare would be a good option for some. My mother did this for years to support our family. This is a great way to be home with your children. (I would have considered this, but I lived out in the country with no one around!)

I have a 2nd and 5th grader. We sit together for spelling and math. They each do their own work. However, my 2nd grader is in the room when my 5th grader watcher the MUS video - and he often answers the questions - which makes her mad! I read history and science to them both. If we are doing an experiment or game we all play it. For example, they both dissected an earthworm. However, I give them different books to read. They both sit and listen to the read alouds, but do their own summaries or narrations/outlines. I also gave the 5th grader the job of doing the time line - knowing that my 2nd grader would eventually get a turn doing his own. My 5th grader does Latin - and my 2nd grader often chooses to sit and watch the video. He is not doing Latin now, but I know he has picked up on a few things...not much, but a few. My 5th grader does Logic on her own, but my 2nd grader can't stand that and begs to do the Logic Mind Benders. So, we're together all throughout the day. This is the way we've always done it and it works for us. Definitely would be harder with a larger age gap I think.

I love their website - I've found lots of great books from their reading list. However, we've never actually followed their program. Best of luck!! Keep us posted!

Maybe you can get it through ILL. However, I can't imagine not owning it. I've read and looked at it soooo many time!! It was a life changer for me. I only knew unschoolers and eclectic homeschoolers. Then, one day I met a gal who used TWTM. I went over to her house and fell in love with the history and science notebooks her son had made. When I checked the book out from the library and read it - I knew I had to fork out the money and buy my own copy. (It was ALOT of money for me at the time.) I've learned sooo much over the past 5 years!! I can't imagine schooling any other way. I love CM too. However, I feel TWTM gives me more direction - yet still fosters the love of learning.....and we read awesome books and do alot of hands on activities too.

All I can tell you is that I didn't get it. I bought several level of books and rods - so excited to get started. However, I just couldn't grasp what to do. I sold everything and bought MUS. :) I know lots of people who LOVE it and it works for them. Hope they post and give you some feedback.

We only have ONE grocery store chain here in San Antonio. You can go to Whole Foods or Sun Harvest, but I don't count them b/c they have higher end products any way. So, our choices are - Walmart, Target or our local grocery store chain HEB. (I've never lived in a city with only one choice.) I have found that Big Lots sometimes has food that I will buy. One time they had organic canned pumpkin. I bought all they had and made chocolate chip pumpkin bread for Christmas gifts. I've also found organic tom. products and the cereal my husband likes. The only drawback is anything there is going to be packaged or canned. You can't go there for fresh food items.

Hmmmm - didn't know there was a homeschool set and that it is different from the regular set. We borrowed a kit from a local homeschool organization to compete in GEAR. A family on our team purchased the new kit that just came out in hopes that we might use that instead. I can only comment on the old kit versus the new kit. My children preferred the older version, but I think it's b/c they were familiar with it. The new kit had different pieces, but not neccessarily better peices for what they wanted to do. It has an extra sensor - which we couldn't use and it didn't have the claw pieces. In the end, we took the old kit to competition. I'm off to research the homeschool kit and see what that is about. There are numerous sites online. There is an excellent one that shows you step by step how to build different robots and how to program. There are also book that you can buy (or check out from the library) that do this also. Best of luck!!

R & S - we used FLL 1 and 2 and then R & S 3-5th. There is alot of diagramming. I made my daughter do this in the earlier grades, but no so much this year. She could easily do the assignmnets and then check the work using the teacher's guide. Best of luck!!

Those of you with young children and older children can rejoice with me!! I'm sooo excited!!! I am going to get rid of that BIG pile of cloth diapers in my bedroom. No more changing, washing or dealing with diapers!! Yipee!!!

No, I don't say it. My kids think it's a curse word - as well as the word stupid. My son tried to read a Time Warp Trio book, but it used the word stupid several times in the first chapter, and he refused to read any more.