I understand. It was a scary switch for me, too, but I am SO glad we did. Total freedom and so rich and so fun. I combine kids all the time with a ton, which helps. And I don't schedule as much as something like AO, or choose "easier" books. I build the list every year myself for each kids and for our family studies. You can really do whatever you want. 🙂

We are full on CM, grades K, 4th, 6th, and 9th currently. We use dictation even for the 9th grader because it is great brain exercise. If you have questions or want to chat, let me know! 🙂

The website Sabbathmoodhomeschool has excellent book lists. Many of the selections would be secular friendly.

We love sabbathmoodhomeschool.com resources. 🙂

Thanks, all! Lots to investigate!

Trying to decide on next year's 9th grade history. Would the Oxford University Press: The World in Ancient Times and the seven follow up books for the middle ages and renaissance be appropriate? I keep reading middle school as an age level, but then saw someone recommend them through age 15, another through 10th grade...if I spread out the entire series over two years, would that work? Or is it really too "easy" for a high school student?

I am trying to find a geography workbook geared toward an older child (upper middle to lower high) that would help remediate map skills and basic geographical knowledge. The only thing that I have found that is anything like what I'm thinking is Legends and Leagues, but I know that is geared toward elementary. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

Has anyone here used History of the World? I am considering it for my soon-to-be 9th grader, but I'm wary of giving her anything too dry. I like that it is chronological, that it includes critical thinking exercises...I just can't seem to find a good review anywhere. Thanks!

My eldest daughter will be my very first 9th grader! We lean heavily on CM methods. This is what I've got so far. Arithmetic: Need advice here. We are behind, like, actually behind. Looking for what path to take to get her graduated on time. Elocution: Oliver Twist, read aloud to me and her siblings Spelling: Spelling Wisdom, probably the final book in the series Grammar & Composition: Poetics and Progym level 1 from Cottage Press; written narrations with one edit every two weeks; begin the book "On Writing Well" and possibly use the book: "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" Literature: British Anthology from Memoria Press, Greek Drama (TBD), Mansfield Park, Count of Monte Cristo, Plutarch with Anne White guides, Shakespeare of my own making, and she'll be finishing up Joan of Arc by Twain Geography: The Brenden Voyage, Where the Heather Grows, mapdrill, concepts, possibly a map workbook, and Eat Your Way Around the Worl with her sisters US & World History: Abraham Lincoln's World, A Short History of the World, Humanitas from CAP, Modern Scholar lectures that pair by time period with Humanitas (I think) Science: Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy, The Sixth Extinction, Anatomy Study of my own making, and one of the following - The Sea Around Us, Chemistry or Physics or Weather from sabbathmoodhomeschool. Probably The Sea Around Us. Plus we'll have picture and composer study, handiwork, poetry tea time, and ballet.

Unless you have a natural speller, I find that a spelling program is helpful through about 6th or 7th grade. The trick is finding the one that fits your child! None of my kids have benefited from just studying a list. Some of the programs we have used successfully: Apples and Pears from Soundfoundations (fabulous for my struggling speller!) Traditional Spelling from Memoria Press Spelling You See Spelling Wisdom (love this one!) from Simply Charlotte Mason

My second eldest daughter will turn 11 in July and be a sixth grader in August. It goes too fast! Arithmetic: Horizons, finish 5 and start 6 Spelling: Spelling Wisdom Elocution: Treadwell Reader, then reading aloud from one of two of our all together books (either Shakespeare retellings or American History stories) Literature (read independently, with me and her 4th grade sister, or all together): Plutarch with Anne White guides, Shakespeare study of my own making, In the Time of Alfred the Great, Famous Men of Rome, Oliver Twist, Undine, The Wind in the Willows, and one more independent read TBD Composition & Grammar: Intermediate Language Lessons, Using Language Well, Writing and Rhetoric 1, oral and written narrations Geography: The Book of Marvels, Eat Your Way Around the World, The Book of Discovery, mapdrill TBD, concepts, Minn of the Mississippi, Tree in the Trail, possibly a workbook US & World History: The Matchlock Gun, Johnny Tremain, Story of the World (vlm 2, begin 3), picture books, The Story of Civilization vlm 2, Famous Men of Rome, Famous Men of the Middle Ages, MP Timeline Program Science: Rain, Sleet, Hail, and Snow (sabbathmoodhomeschool), The Story of Salt, podcasts, Nature Journal, Home Science Kits And, being CM fans, there will be picture study and composer study and handicrafts. Not sure about fitting in art and music lessons. Weekly Poetry Tea Time.

My third girl will be 9 in June and a 4th grader come August. What the heck?! Do kids grow faster as their mothers get older? The time just flies anymore. So far, this is her list. We lean heavily on CM methodology and love it. Arithmetic: Continue test pilot of Math with Confidence, grade 4 Elocution: Treadwell and Cardinal Readers, then reading aloud from one of two all-together books (Shakespeare retellings and American history stories) Spelling: Finish Traditional Spelling III, continue with Spelling Wisdom, possibly start Spellwell after TS is done Grammar & Composition: Primary Language Lessons, Primer Two from Cottage Press, Using Language Well, copywork, oral and written narrations Literature (read all together, just us and her 6th grade sister, or independently): Oliver Twist, Famous Men of Greece, The Wind in the Willows, Plutarch with Anne White guides, Shakespeare study of my own making, In the Time of Alfred the Great, Undine, Tanglewood Tales Nature Lore: have to figure this one out still Science: Home Science Kits; Rain, Sleet, Hail, and Snow (sabbathmood), nature journal, podcasts, The Story of Salt Geography: The Book Of Marvels, Minn of the Mississippi, Tree in the Trail, Eat Your Way Around the World (with sisters), mapdrill with Draw the USA, concepts, possibly a workbook US and World History: Johnny Tremain, The Matchlock Gun, Story of the World (vlm 2 and start 3), MP Timeline Program, Middle Ages in Pictures, picture books, Famous Men of the Middle Ages, The Story of Civilization vlm 2 Plus Picture Study, Composer Study, art/music lessons if we can manage them, handiwork, memory work, lots of saint stories/biographies during Morning Time, and our much beloved weekly Poetry Tea Time

I am looking at using SOTW with two of my daughters. I used the program with my eldest and honestly felt like the activity book, which I only purchased for years three and four, was mostly a waste of my money, as we couldn't get to most of the activities and extra reading. We did, however, love the map work and coloring pages. I was considering buying the student pages only, but then we'd have no map directions. Is there a way to get only those? Thanks!

They might be nicer, but the covers and paper that come with Plum Paper are perfectly functional, pretty, and have never been an issue for me. They wouldn't be a deal breaker, so to speak.

Has anyone gone from Singapore to Armadillos? I keep looking at Grade 5 Singapore and wondering if she really needs it before Armadillos, but it's hard to tell from the online samples. Thanks for any input!