I’ve always eyed those systems but I personally don’t think just one would Work. I’d need at least two. We enter through our garage (Into laundry room) and put hooks up on the wall. Each person has their own and there is enough spacing between them that things fit well without falling or being crowded. They can hang their enter coats and snow pants there. In the summer it’s their backpack for outings, swim gear and a lite jacket. Winter boats and wet or dirty shoes go on boot trays along the wall and since we have an inside door in that hallway I use an over the door shoe organizer for flip flops and gym shoes. DH and I keep our shoes in our room to save space being crowded.

This is very much what it currently looks like in our school day. I was thinking of having the whole day look more like the second hald, but I do think there is value in instruction. This is what I'm trying to sort through.

Thank you for all the thoughts. The more I think about it, the more I'm realizing is I'd prefer child-led and it is already much of what we do. We aren't the types to throw all the curriculum away as I have a couple who request it. There is still much we value is parts of a structured school morning and so I think I'll look into child-led more than unschooling.

We are currently eclectic leaning more Charlotte mason of anything. I do see more joy in learning from my kids when it is purely interest led and self directed and less dread of schoolwork when we attempted a more classical education I’m not sure if it’s more desirable but may work better for the rhythm of our family I already see my kids exploring their interests on their own through what they play, their library choices and what they talk about. I’m wondering if I should allow more of their education be like this especially as they grow older. I suppose we already do this for elementary are we explore interests through the books we read, take rabbit trials and learn skills. We also don’t do formal writing until older and they have explored that successfully on their own. They have helped choose curriculum which they enjoy and topics they want to study but I still very much guide, Instruct as needed, assign and make sure they see things to completion. But I also know I have at least one who wouldn’t do much beyond history and trying to think how to structure this in a way that could work. So I’m not sure sure how of structure it and why I’m asking to get an idea of it would work.

And this is very much is which is why I’m considering this approach. We are very much doing educational things together in fun ways- trips to historical days nearby, discovering things together through our play, watching documentaries, lots of reading together and discussing. That’s just a natural part of our lives. My kids discovered a crayfish in our backyard earlier this year and decided to go to research on their own about it. We were reading about the universe and they went off and looked up more info on throngs they are interested in. I’m more cautious about the taking the enjoyment of writing (ie my kids write magazines, comics and books on their own, publish them for family and friends) and how to help guide them through those skills. Perhaps I’m too anxious to try this approach since I want to make sure they have these skills needed (or at least I feel they need) even if they don’t feel the need. Especially with a child who doesn’t want to be taught or done anything beyond the basic.

I know many of you lean more classical, but I’m beginning to think about unschooling/child-led for some or all of my kids. I’m still early in the process of reading that I’m not sure if I completely understand how it works but from what I do know it could work beautifully for a couple of my kids. So I’d appreciate any insight, what others are doing, etc. Im particularly interested in hearing about it and learning to read, write and math as that’s what I can’t currently wrap my mind around. And how it looks with multiple kids throughout the day.

I think this is my plan for 2nd grade: Bible- Memory verses and Indescribable Reading, Grammar, Spelling: Barton Math: Math for a Living Education 4 Handwritint- copywork for continual practice Everything else- FIAR

This is the one grade I think I actually know what we’re going to do: Bible: continue working through Apologias Worldview series, Discover 4 Yourself studies probably 4-5, a few Not Consumed studies I have on hand. Reading: Either continue working through Barton or switch to AAR- I’ll decide when we finish level 4 later this year Spelling: Either Barton or AAS Grammar: This is my one undecided. We have a ton on hand so I’ll probably use one of those resources- Fix it, Grammar Galaxy, Evan moor workbook writing- Writeshop D or E; copy work, I also may work in some IEW mainly the first unit or two to work on note taking math- MM5 with Ed Zaccaro Challenge Math science- Sassafras Geology and Botany combined with TGATB units to complement history- Notgrass 50 states with picture books to go along with each state, Abekas State report and Notgrass lit pack as interested Literature- Beyond FIAR and FIAR volume 4 as we are interested. We already do a ton of read alouds as a family and discussion Electives/family work- Robotics, Scratch, Phython, Woodworking, 4H, co-op, typing.com, Nature journal, Logic, Cooking, Safety unit

I like the look of this and it may be a good fit. When signing up for the year, is it just for one course or if they finish can they continue on to the next level?

Thanks this is great to know. Were trying the 15 lesson trial and it seems like a good fit BUT I’m still hesitant for the reasons you mentioned and the paying for a year per level. I’m currently not sure it’ll take him a year for the currently level. He is the kid who needs to algorithm though and doesn’t care why.

My DS is currently Using MUS which works well but because of changing circumstances we are looking for something online for him to take on the go. I’ve been looking at Teaching Textbooks for him. He’s an average student and math is not his strong subject so he needs good instruction. Is this a good transition? What other programs should I look into?

I really like our dyson. I was against it but DH found deal and grabbed it. It works so well on our carpet, rugs, tile floor and wood floors. If this one ever breaks, I’ll splurge for one again. I do use an attachment for the wooden and tiled floors for it to work best on those surfaces but does a pretty good job with just the normal vacuum.

I like this idea for my younger ones!

I love this idea and I'm thinking of how I can modify this idea for next year to work for my learners! Thanks for sharing!

I hadn’t intended to, but MIL brought it up to a child who then obsessed about it (even though his won’t be until much later in life and he’s not living here anymore) and so we did acknowledge it this year for two DSs. I used gold candles and wrapping paper. That was it and they were content.

This is what I’m working with for this particular child. He wakes up thinking of how quickly he can finish the needed stuff so he can do his own projects. So trying to teach him methods to better organize his day and still get to his goal. Unfortunately I’ve been more focused on SN kiddos that he hasn’t gotten this attention and perhaps why I’m fretting he will fail. So I’m trying to implement what would work best for him yet also be age appropriate. We’ve tried the slotted bin instead of workboxes, the lakeshore type bins and so on. What I’m doing currently is working for him but I guess I’m just second guessing myself and it being age appropriate and preparing him for the future.

This is what I’m thinking 🤔 Hmm...this may be a good goal for 8th grade to prep him for. Lol, it’s just my lesson plans for the week. I may a program so I can select the weekly assignments and then it generates an assignment sheet for each child to follow. So it doesn’t take any more time for me than planning out our week. We did workboxes when they were that age too but he became more resistant to them as he got older. I’m not sure why.

I’m another for FIAR. It’s an all time favorite for our family. I’m starting all over again with Before FIAR with my preschooler and 1st grader and ALL my kids come and decide to sit in and recall our days of FIAR. The new manuals are more expensive so I’d buy the old ones used. They are the same content just with a few added things like worksheets. Most of the books are easy to find at the library or used. Anything out of print I just skip over if we can’t find it except for one favorite I splurged on when I found a “good” price. I’m planning our volume 1&2 for next year and I love the memories that keep coming up.

So thankful for all the responses. The more I think about it, the more I realize I am doing so much of this already, I just wasn't confident I was doing enough.

I’m trying to keep my middle schooler for more independent work and responsibility to get the work done. I have been typing up a master plan for the week, it then prints off his daily assignments for the week. Then daily I’m going over the expectations and have him plan the order to complete the assignments. is this too much help? As a past ms ps teacher I know it was verbally assigned and they needed to write it down. Is there more merit in this at this age 11/12? How do you do it?

Thank you for your advice! Much needed and a great reminder. I'm currently feeling like a homeschool mom failure as I'm noticing gaps and things lacking after some other things taking my attention away . Now maybe I'm overcompensating to try to do it all where I may not need to.

I've been eyeing it, but the price is making me uncertain.

Thanks! I already have the further up on hold at the library to see if it would be a good fit for us. I know they’d enjoy the LOR study too since it’s another favorite. They are well read just not much in study so these may be good steps. I did wonder if the course would help me learn better so I could apply it myself to all the ages. I have toddler up to 13 so a wide range Id like to focus on (starting my youngest off better)

I’d personally grab games since educational ones seem to be so expensive, audiobooks, kegs planks, hands on kits (science, art, history things to build). There are some neat knex learning kits, lego learning kits. I’d look for things they could do on their own when you’re helping someone else. art supplies too if you can do subs I’d do kiwi crates, Ivy kids for the younger or making a cooling thing.

I like that idea!