Great ideas in the essay, too many words. Oh, way too many words.

Very cool!

Thanks very much, Kinsa and Ellie. Ellie, do you have any other recommendations r/t the lower grades , particularly Social Studies?

Thank you, Kinsa! Did you add anything to their high school English those years? What did you do with your younger children?

Good to know. In your assessment would research skills need to be added? Thanks again.

Thanks, Ellie. I was hoping you'd respond. We entirely embrace theistic creation, just not 6- day, as you said. I appreciate your input! Do you know anything about the grade 9&10 English?

Do you think all Rod and Staff, excepting Bible, would be a solid academic foundation through grade 8? I really like the Rod and Staff we are using. My kids are ready to move up a grade now, money is ( as always) tight, and I am tired of pulling together material. I am comfortable adding living books and creativity to text books, and we are happy with pacifist themes. I think the only negative is the creation-based and providential slant. Am I missing other cons? Oh- we are currently using English, Spelling, and science. Thanks for any insights.

Yes, we are. I realized we were essentially doubling up on several subjects, and that I do better when we do fewer subjects more in-depth. I am just re-organizing things to address all that . For example, we have been using R&S English. It is excellent, but I feel like not an efficient use of time since we're also doing Latin. So, my ( not very well thought-out) plan is to continue Grammar Recitation and then work on the concepts within the context of each kid's reading, writing, and copywork. Math is great, no changes needed there. We're doing R&S spelling, also great. I think we'll just do history as a family. Once I sat down to write our what we've already covered this year I realized we do way more history than I thought and that it happens rather organically. I've also finally let go. If we basically follow our routine and get reading, spelling, Latin, writing, math, and a read aloud done, I am content it's enough. Finally. Only took six years of homeschooling!

I did a research project in college about adults with undiagnosed ADD. I felt like I was researching myself. I had never considered I might be diagnosed as such until then. I am highly organized , but it is because I am not. I haveearned how to be as a coping mechanism. It takes so, so much energy to keep myself and my family organized. I described it to my husband as " thinking through cobwebs". In terms of school, my mental disorganization effects everything. I also have to treat school like a job. I have to have lesson plans written out for the year for each child or I get all confused and we do nothing. I need very simple materials. ( I would cry if someone made me use TOG!) These are some things I use that fit well for us: Rod and Staff Science ( we are Christian, but not YEC, so I edit a bit) Rod and Staff English Rod and Staff Spelling Study Time Arithmetic and MEP CLE reading Sonlight and Ambleside as book lists

We are using Rod and Staff. It is excellent. We have used Seton, and tried CHC and SL in the past. Rod and Staff is preferred by all of us.

We are using Creek Edge Press Recitation. I think it's excellent. It was $36.

Some Eminem has led to great sociology- themed discussion for us, and it's fabulous running noise!

Have you used this and, if yes, what were the strengths and weaknesses? Do you know how it might compare to CLE reading? Thank you.

Character cards are probably 50% catholic influence, not including the specifically catholic illustrations in almost all. They are really good, though!

Sonlight Core D for read Alouds, selections from AO for school. I really like their free reads, literature, natural history, geography, and biography suggestions.

We use them as read alouds. They are so fun for us!

Rod and Staff. I love it.

Thank you. Very helpful. I started the placement tests today.

Thank you so, so much. I hadn't thought to look for a used TM. Glad to know it has been that for you. I considered Rod and Staff as well, but prefer the presentation of Horizons.

Do you think the teacher manuals for Horizons math are needed? They seem to have poor reviews. The workbooks appear quite straightforward, and from what I can gather from online samples I am not sure if the TM would be helpful. And it's more $ ! Also, can anyone compare Horizons to TT? I am considering using TT without the cd's. I am looking for a straight-forward, simple to teach program that presents things in an easily understood manner while not sacrificing quality. Thanks much for any input.

Love it! This is what I am doing to simplify this year: Combining approaches of various methods- this is for dd 11 Math daily Essay Mon, copy work Tue, dictation We'd, correct essay Thur English daily Read ( through reading list, like Robinson) Latin and recitation work Narrate That is it

I feel the same. We don't fit at all with the homeschoolers in our area. I told my sister some time ago that I think we need to stop hanging out with homeschoolers. In our area, very generally, the homeschooling culture is one of extremism and what I can only describe as a conspiracy theory mentality. It's tough for our family.

Well, this is just my take on it and why I don't want to be involved in the AO forum.I find the culture that has been created by the AO leadership to be dysfunctional. To me, the Forum environment is sort of cult- like. It seems they almost worship their definition of a CM education, which, to me , seems counter to what Charlotte was trying to promote. That is just my opinion, but it was helpful for me to figure that out in deciding whether and how I was going to use AO. This is simply a personal issue for me. Once I figured all that out for myself I knew it wouldn't be healthy or profitable( to use the forum to implement the program).

Wow. Thank you for sharing.

I keep missing questions! Sorry! I aim to have 2-3 words a day they are looking up. So, I go through the dictionary orally with them, which I have found is a great exercise as defining words out loud is often difficult. If they can define the word verbally we move on until I have 8-12 words for the week. Then on T, W, R they look up and copy the definitions. For my oldest I will also have her list synonyms next year.