Interested in other homeschool graduates pathways into medicine My 12 yo wants to be a surgeon, has had her heart set on this since before she started school, so this isn't just a phase. I'm mapping out her education for the next few years and wanting to be sure we are covering everything we need to so she is prepared to go to University and be accepted in Medicine as soon as she is ready. What skills are good to be focusing on for this year and the rest of high school? What curriculum and levels should we be working through? Currently she is using: Saxon math 8/7 Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology Visual Latin 1 Essentials in Writing 7 Sonlight Core F history and literature. Don't want to get to the end of high school and find out there were skills we could have been developing all this time and therefore it will now take several years of catch up work before she can even get into medicine. I would love to hear of any skills we can begin focusing on now.

Interested in other homeschool graduates pathways into medicine My 12 yo wants to be a surgeon, has had her heart set on this since before she started school, so this isn't just a phase. I'm mapping out her education for the next few years and wanting to be sure we are covering everything we need to so she is prepared to go to University and be accepted in Medicine as soon as she is ready. What skills are good to be focusing on for this year and the rest of high school? What curriculum and levels should we be working through? Currently she is using: Saxon math 8/7 Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology Visual Latin 1 Essentials in Writing 7 Sonlight Core F history and literature. Don't want to get to the end of high school and find out there were skills we could have been developing all this time and therefore it will now take several years of catch up work before she can even get into medicine. I would love to hear of any skills we can begin focusing on now.

How does a homeschool mother guide their child in improving their writing once they are in high school, especially when she isn't trained in writing/composition? My high school children are using Sonlights Literature 230, and LA core G, and neither program gives enough directions for the creative expression. I really need guidance in correcting and challenging them in their writing. I'm unsure of how to edit, correct and challenge their writing, other than the basic spelling, punctuation and "Well done".

I don't feel competent grading my daughters writing pieces. She is in grade 10 and working through Sonlights 230. I read her piece and think, yeah that's great. I know there needs to be some changes but I'm unsure what, and I don't know how to challenge her. Is there any guidance or help to go with the Sonlight core? Do I need yet another curriculum? Or is there some sort of natural style writing such as narrations, or weekly creative writing time or I really don't know how to help her or challenge her. She loves reading and writing, but I feel so inadequate in challenging her or encouraging her to improve.

I'm looking for books for teens that deal with hurt, betrayal, rejection, loneliness. Fiction and non-fiction. I have Honey for a Teens Heart, they have sections for romance, grief, and other topics but I'm specifically looking for those other topics.

I'm looking for books for teens that deal with hurt, betrayal, rejection, loneliness. Fiction and non-fiction. I have Honey for a Teens Heart, they have sections for romance, grief, and other topics but I'm specifically looking for those other topics.

Thanks for the replies 🙂 Does it look like my plan will help with my quoted above?

Just an update: I have withdrawn my 10 yr old from the DE school - see this post. I am incorporating morning basket and afternoon basket again 🙂 Everyone reads for 30 minutes daily. I'm still working on including the others.

I have withdrawn my 10 year old from the DE school (only there for several weeks). (see previous post) Tears every day as she struggled with the English (Language Arts) workbooks provided. The sorts of questions asked of her I wouldn't expect until high school, but I understand it is conventional type schooling. I don't want to have her interest for books and reading (that is only just coming alive) destroyed because of this type of education. This girl is working and testing a grade level above in math and is very smart. She comprehends and communicates extremely well for her age. She really dislikes writing and can't see the point in wasting time answering perceived silly questions. When the science component arrived, it was more of the same, read, read and write, write. She is a science loving gal and anticipated a fun science program, so you can imagine her disappointment. She is very hands on type of person. So to have all these English books and then science that just looked like more English, it just wasn't working. I am planning on working with her with curriculum that her and I choose together over the next year or two or three, that will bring up her confidence and skills in the area of writing. My plans for her now include: AAS (used previously) Essentials in Writing grade 5 Winston Grammar alternating with Prima Latina Handwriting Sound Waves - (the phonics, spelling book provided that has been challenging for her but she is responding well to it. No tears with this one) SOTW2 with mapping (used previously and she really enjoyed the mapping) Apologia Swimming Creatures - she can read this independently. Maybe adding fun living books such as those from Sonlight science and their Discover and Do DVDs. German - Duolingo (used previously) All other curriculum I already own and have used with my older girls. I'll have her read for 30 minutes after lunch each day from a list of books I have assigned her. Also, will include her in our family morning/afternoon baskets and if I have time, will read literature aloud to her for 15mins daily. Does this look okay and reasonable? Is there anything else I should focus on or do to help her?

Oh thanks! Homeschool provider, so instead of me finding the curriculum and reporting to the state, the Distance education school cover all that. They choose and provide the curriculum and report to the government.

We just joined a distance education school this year. My children are in grades 9, 7 and 5. While I love and prefer homeschooling and being able to plan and prepare all the lessons, picking and choosing the curriculum, circumstances beyond my control mean that we have had to go ahead with DE instead. It's been 5 weeks now and we are finally finding our grove. As they only cover the basics of education, I'd love to incorporate some other subjects myself now but need some advice. My 9th and 7th graders are taking about 4hrs to cover their work which includes: math, English, Science and Humanities and Social Studies. They have been given access to Rosetta Stone for French but I'd also like to include the curricula they were using for French previously. My 5th grader is usually done within 2hrs. Some things I'd like to incorporate include: Latin, French/German, lots of literature including Shakespeare, poetry, other living books (we own heaps of books). I had great plans for using living books and Sonlight for history and Science all through high school and am saddened that I can't use those now. I'm wondering how I can possibly use any of these without overloading my girls. I want to continue providing them with a rich reading learning and not just filling in worksheets in books, which is partly what some of their new work involves. I would really like to continue working through AAS for my younger 2 and possibly use Easy Grammar (just once through for each of them). Any suggestions or recommendations how I can realistically make this work? I understand I can't use everything I have, but would love to have balance between DE and literature/living books curricula.

We just joined a distance education school this year. My children are in grades 9, 7 and 5. While I love and prefer homeschooling and being able to plan and prepare all the lessons, picking and choosing the curriculum, circumstances beyond my control mean that we have had to go ahead with DE instead. It's been 5 weeks now and we are finally finding our grove. As they only cover the basics of education, I'd love to incorporate some other subjects myself now but need some advice. My 9th and 7th graders are taking about 4hrs to cover their work which includes: math, English, Science and Humanities and Social Studies. They have been given access to Rosetta Stone for French but I'd also like to include the curricula they were using for French previously. My 5th grader is usually done within 2hrs. Some things I'd like to incorporate include: Latin, French/German, lots of literature including Shakespeare, poetry, other living books (we own heaps of books). I had great plans for using living books and Sonlight for history and Science all through high school and am saddened that I can't use those now. I'm wondering how I can possibly use any of these without overloading my girls. I want to continue providing them with a rich reading learning and not just filling in worksheets in books, which is partly what some of their new work involves. I would really like to continue working through AAS for my younger 2 and possibly use Easy Grammar (just once through for each of them). Any suggestions or recommendations how I can realistically make this work? I understand I can't use everything I have, but would love to have balance between DE and literature/living books curricula.

We school 4 terms each 10 weeks long and our school year begins at the end of January. For term 1 we were grieving the loss of a loved one so school pretty much didn't get done. I have been suffering an illness for the past few months which has put me to bed many days, so we have lost nearly all of term 2. While my girls have managed to get a little amount of independent work complete (I hadn't been marking or following up so not a lot has been done), hardly anything has been done that includes me: Maths, AAS, grammar, Latin, read alouds, history, science, foreign languages, fine arts, any Charlotte Mason extras like nature study. I understand that sometimes life takes over and other things are a higher priority for a time. We have always had a regular routine and gotten a lot of ground covered, so this past 6 months has been quite a learning curve for me. My question is basically - what do we do now? It's another six months before they move onto the next grade and so I know that with some subjects we can just put the book or curriculum away and move onto the next one. However, with subjects like Math and AAS, we can't just move on. If the girls were in school and the teacher missed out some lessons the kids would just move onto the next level or next topic. I'm just not quite sure how to move forward. Granted I am still not completely over my illness so I may need to take it slow some days. However, mentally I am doing much better and can guide the girls in following up on their independent work. Two mornings a week we are out of the house until 11am/12pm. Up until now I haven't been doing lessons those days, so perhaps I need to start with ensuring that Math and AAS happen 5 days each week? I know there will be other homeschoolers out there who have similar experiences. I would welcome your advice or encouragement ?

Yes they are perforated ?

Thanks Merry ? Yes I love your workbox ideas! My children do work well independently and I'm very thankful for that. Some of the curriculum we have is parent intensive though, so I need to ensure that I have enough time in our week for me to sit with them for those subjects. Currently this is what needs my time: AAS x3 Singapore Math x2 Sonlight Read Aloud x3 Grammar, Latin and reading with youngest All other subjects they do independently. We do a morning basket style together which mainly covers Bible and history. I usually allow an hour for this in the morning. Then when our day is going well, we do science together after our lunch time read aloud. We are using Apologia Anatomy. I would love to have time for all the fun extras - Shakespeare, French, Poetry, Nature Study, Art, Music. My original plan was that hour at lunchtime would cover most of these if I loop them. But that isn't happening most days. I usually manage an hour of uni study before they wake up, then I would do some school with them then do another hour of study before lunch. Some afternoons I can manage an hour of study, so that is 3 hours by then. But to ensure that I'm covering school well with them, I need to forego my late morning hour of study. You are right, I need to only focus on what is really important. My house has not been as tidy this year ?

Thanks for sharing Melissa, really appreciate your insight ?

Wow! That is a great effort ? If I did that, I don't think I would get enough sleep ? I find it difficult to focus at night. With those hours, would you mind sharing when you tended to household tasks, meal prep and organising, and other things that take up time?

I am currently studying for my degree and need to devote about about 4 hrs a day to my studying. I am homeschooling my three daughters and when all is going well, I spend between 5 & 6 hours teaching them. My question is how do other homeschooling mothers who work or study, fit it all in? What does your look like?

We have been blessed with a school room that will be separated from our home. I'd like some tips in organising this space. Our home is only small (8m X 9m) and our homeschool supplies have taken over. I'm planning on moving all school related items to our new school room. This includes the student desks and several bookshelves/cupboards. I'm excited at the prospect of having an area for experiments, art in progress, perhaps a nature display, and maps on the walls, all without the concern of having no beech or table space left on the kitchen. I'm wondering if it's best to have a seperate area for each of these. I thought we could have bookshelves all at one end with desks at the other, but now I'm wondering if the girls would work better if their desks were separated by a bookshelf. Perhaps the girls items could be stored in the bookshelf closest to them. My other question is how read alouds will work. I currently work with each child for about an hour each day which includes me reading aloud to them, I often take the RA into the bedroom for a little privacy but I'm not sure how this going to work in our new school room. The cabin will be 10ft X 21ft, so not huge but big enough to meet our homeschool needs. I'll also like a dining table with four chairs for us to work on together. I'd really appreciate any ideas or suggestions. Thanks so much 😃

Thanks Ellie! DD12 already has a lot going on in her school day, so adding EG Plus and Dg is probably too much. For my 10yo, her reading level is above grade 5 so I see your point that EG3 might be too easy for her. If I did EG5 now, then next year DG, followed by EG Plus, would I use DG6?

So I have decided to use Plus for 12yo, and EG3 for 10yo. Which daily grams should I use for them?

If you were to use Easy Grammar plus with 12yo who has had minimal instruction in grammar, what level of daily grams would you use at the same time? Also, same question for 10yo about to do EG3?

So I asked in a previous thread about which Easy Grammar level to use with my children. I think I have decided on Easy Grammar Plus for 12yo, Easy Grammar Grade 3 (because I already have it) for 10yo, and nothing at this stage with 8yo as I think it would unnecessarily overload her day. I also own Winston Grammar and Fix It! Nose tree and wondered if adding these to my older girls day would be too much. Winston for 12yo and Fix it for 10yo. Or should I do a year of EG first, followed by one of these? I don't want to not use these and they appear to be good programs. My sister in law who is a grammar queen, looked over these the other day and told me that EG is fantastic, the way it teaches grammar and has that daily repetition so the student can really understand it. I was looking at Daily grams last night and it looks amazing. These worksheets are the exact type of thing I would like to incorporate into our day. I really like the look of those and wonder how those could fit in our day. For my 12yo (half way through grade 7), if I did EG Plus with her now, what Daily Grams would be best to go with it? Or is it even necessary? Then Winston Grammar once we finished. 10yo (half way through grade 5) - EG3 now, Daily Grams?, then Fix It nose tree next year.

I need motivation or suggestions on how to fit in morning basket type activities. At times we have had a really good run with this and then at other times, it is the first part of our school day to get dropped. At the moment the plan is to be up and ready with all chores done by 7:30. This is then how my day would look, as the teacher (they do independent work while not working with me): 7:30 morning basket 8:30 maths 9:30 break 10:00 one on one with 8yo 11:00 one on one with 10yo 12:00 one on one with 12yo 1pm lunch and read aloud. Previously, my teaching day would cease here, but I have just begun with adding in one more thing after lunchtime read aloud such as art lesson or nature walk/journal. We tend to need slower/later mornings and then we begin our maths at 8:30. Which means that morning basket gets dropped so all the goodies in that are just not getting done. I had thought that 8am is a more reasonable start so perhaps we could do 30 minutes worth, then another 30 minutes after lunch? But it just seems that 5 hours of teaching time seems like a lot, and that is without art lesson, handicrafts and nature walk/journal.. Is it a lot? I'd love to know how others fit in all the teaching in one day/week. Perhaps I could change our times a little so that we start morning basket at 8, math at 9, break at 10. Then I could work with the younger two before lunch and 12yo after lunch, or split her time with me before and after lunch. How much time is considered right for this stage?

Oh thanks so much! Would EG3 be too below my 12yo?