RSO Bio 2 Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

I use the Usborne Art cards combined with Artrageous episodes on YouTube.

There are different philosophies and methods of home education and some are more time consuming for parents than others. Some people buy a whole grade-level box of school books for each child from a single publisher; DVD or online lessons are also available. Others choose to mix and match materials for each subject and child according to their needs and interests. This would likely be more time consuming than the first option. Obviously, it depends on how many children you have and whether they have special learning needs. It would also depend on what subjects you teach and how familiar you are with the subject matter. I choose for it to be more time consuming than it could be. I enjoy the research and being able to customize my children's experience. I am trying to give them a fairly rigorous classical education. It's definitely a full-time job for me with kids in grades 2, 5 and 7 (plus a preschooler tagging along.) When I just had one first grader and was using an online virtual school, the time commitment was far less.

I have one child that is frequently on Prednisone for respiratory issues. He's normally a noisy sleeper due to a floppy airway but when on Prednisone, he sleeps like a dream ... Another child of mine has taken it on occasion for asthma and it seriously causes him to lose all control of his emotions and behavior. My brother, as a child, was on it for asthma and it also had a serious, but temporary impact on his mental health. It's odd how it affects everyone so differently. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It's 3.97/month. It takes 5-10 minutes. My kids say it's cheesy but they are constantly singing the songs around the house and ask for them every day. Nothing has made memory work so easy for us so I consider the price worth it! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

I think they're overwhelmed with orders right now. Customer service was very apologetic when my order took longer than expected. The prices are definitely right, though, so I was willing to wait.

I've seen this topic in the past and find it fascinating. I've also gotten some really good advice on curricula to check out or avoid! My school-age kiddos are in grades 7, 5 and 2. Hits: Claritas Classical Academy memory work using Cross Seven videos. They make Morning Time and memorization effortless! Math in Focus 2. DD is making great progress and enjoying math! I'm also using Math Lessons for a Living Education alongside as review/reinforcement and that's going well. Beast Academy 4/Math Lesson for a Living Education 5 for DS10. He likes Beast but needs some review/more independent math, hence MLLE. G&B Space Science. We did Mystery Science last year and it was a huge hit, but there just aren't enough new lessons to use it as our main curriculum this year. My 2nd and 5th graders love science with G&B and want to do it every day. Misses: The Good and Beautiful History 1. We didn't like jumping all over time and are happily back with SOTW. Not sure yet: G&B Lang Arts. They're doing levels 2, 4 and 6. I love the integration of art and geography but I'm not loving the all-in-one aspect. I'd also wanted a lighter grammar year to focus on writing and this isn't it ... We switched from CLE so I should have been cognizant of the all-in-one aspect beforehand, but it's just so pretty ... :) Math Mammoth 7. DS came from CLE and is having a hard time adjusting to this new format.

If you're willing to be a few miles off the lake, look at Caribou Highlands near Lutsen. For those not familiar with the area, this is not just a podunk Midwest location. The North Shore of Lake Superior is really quite spectacular and lodging is in great demand. I wouldn't pay it personally, but choose to stay slightly off the lake to save some money. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

My extracurricular activities were similar to my kids' -- church on Wednesday (Awana or youth group) and Sunday, plus two or three sports seasons per year (soccer or basketball.) Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

My kids and I like them, to a point. We allow one sport or activity per kid, per season. Two are playing fall soccer right now and one will start basketball in a month. As homeschoolers, it's harder for them to get the social time they want and sports fills that niche. It helps that DH usually stays home with the kids who aren't practicing or playing. They've thankfully never asked to quit, but I would make them finish out the season. We also do church-related activities two nights a week plus Sundays. I'm an introvert, too, but they love all of it. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

I just used them for several projects and had absolutely no problems. The quality was good and the customer service excellent. The only issue was that it took longer than I'd hoped because they are so busy right now. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

I like Komplete from Kate Farms.

I've brought my kids to my grandparents' funerals but I don't force them to go to a funeral for someone they didn't know.

I bought the history and sold it for this very reason! I'm doing the Space Science with my 2nd and 5th graders and they LOVE it. They ask for it every day. I agree that the writing in the upper levels is not enough, at least for my liking. I'm using Writing and Rhetoric alongside it.

I am using language arts levels 2, 4 and 6, a couple of handwriting levels, the nature journal and a couple of the science units. So far, I am pleased. The nature journal in particular is really well-done and is exactly what I've been looking to find for ages. The language arts is pretty good. It's an all-in-one so there are the issues inherent with that. For example, my 2nd grader is reading at a much higher level than level 2 but the spelling and grammar at at the right level of difficulty. There is some geography included but it's fairly light. I wouldn't consider it a full course for geography.

I intended to use it this year for my 7th, 5th and 2nd graders. I purchased it, purchased the readaloud books and downloaded the Student Explorers. In looking at the upper level Student Explorers, it is fairly robust. However, we ultimately decided not to use it in favor of returning to the four year cycle. (We'd just done a full year of American history and TG&TB has a heavy focus on US history.) Kara

I started my 7th and 5th graders in Visual Latin this year and it's going over like a lead balloon for the 5th grader. I love it for the 7th grader, though! Meanwhile, my 2nd grader also wants to try Latin. Recommendations for something that might fit both of them, preferably with a minimum of writing? Thanks! Kara

I'm still waiting for it to arrive!

It goes on sale a few times a year and yes, they'll let you know if you're on their newsletter list.

I am anxiously awaiting my copy but it's backordered at Rainbow Resource!

We also use Prodigy for review; you can set up assignments with whatever skills you want to practice.

Yes, we've used it. It served our need well. We also use or have used: Use It, Don't Lose It Daily Math (from Chalkboard Publishing)

I don't really stock up on anything but I do tend to order more household supplies from Walmart.com instead of going out to the store. (I hate going to Walmart but ordering online is easy and painless and online shopping tends to take the place of Target trips during the winter.)

This is why I stopped using BA with my son last year. We're picking it back up again this year, but using it alongside a more traditional curriculum for more review.

My lefty gets frustrated with most handwriting books that have left-handed bindings. I bought this one for him and it has been great. http://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?id=044986 After we finish this, we'll use The Good and the Beautiful handwriting -- I bought the PDF and had it bound on the top.