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!

My third girl will be in first grade come fall. I am combining her with my very young soon-to-be-third-grade girl for all content areas, plus some things that are family activities. We use CM methods and I build all of my own lists. Here's her plan so far: Math - RightStart Phonics - First Start Reading, AlphaPhonics, Classical Phonics, and BOB Books, then..... ? Possibly some Explode the Code books. She really likes little workbooks. History - A Picturesque Tale of Progress, books 1 and 2; just listening, no oral narration Science - just lots of Nature Study and some really good picture books as often as we can, especially through the winter; maybe Blood and Guts with older sister; she'll narrate her nature journal entries/dictate what she wants written Geography - Home Geography lessons and Paddle to the Sea, both with oral narrations; listening in on Haliburton's Book of Marvels with her 6th grade sister Literature - Fifty Famous Stories, Aesop's Fables, The King of the Golden River, The Matchlock Gun, all with oral narrations; listening in on Kim with biggest sister Mythology - The Age of Fable with Tanglewood Tales, oral narrations Shakespeare - either here at home or at co-op, not sure yet; we do this all together and really love it Plutarch - just listening in Nature Lore - The Burgess Bird Book, read to them by their older sister, with oral narration; James Herriot's Treasury for Children, oral narrations Plus Picture Study, Composer, Folk Songs/Hymns, Poetry, and Art, all together. I haven't figured out music yet. That's it so far. I'm enjoying reading what everyone else is sharing. I hope we all have productive planning summers!

We use a CM approach, but with Mom's book lists, as opposed to AO or something. Because I'm picky, mostly. 😉 Here is what I have so far for my going to be third grade girl, who is definitely a young third grade. I'll be combining her with my soon to be first grader for all content areas. Math - Math Mammoth for math (working through the topical books right now after dropping RightStart B after 71 lessons - it wasn't sticking in her brain at all; she LOVES these Math Mammoth books and it seems to work a lot better for her), with RightStart games as I can work them in Language Arts - Primary Language Lessons (mostly the 2nd half), finish Traditional Spelling 2, and finish Dancing Bears C. Spelling and Bears will end long before the school year does, though, so I need to decide what will be next for her. I'm thinking Spelling by Sound and Structure would be right up her alley and possibly the upper levels of Explode the Code if I think she needs more phonics practice. I'll also have her read to me out loud a few times a week, but I'm not sure if I want a leveled resource (I have all of McGuffey's sitting here) or if we'll just grab random books off our shelves. History - A Picturesque Tale of Progress, books 1 and 2, with oral narration Science - just lots of Nature Study and some really good picture books as often as we can, especially through the winter; maybe Blood and Guts with older sister Geography - Home Geography lessons and Paddle to the Sea with oral narration and mapwork; listening in on Haliburton's Book of Marvels with her 6th grade sister Literature - Fifty Famous Stories, Aesop's Fables, The King of the Golden River, The Matchlock Gun, all with oral narration; listening in on Kim with her older sister Mythology - The Age of Fable with Tanglewood Tales, with oral narration Shakespeare - either at home or at co-op, we aren't sure yet, but there will be the Bard - we all love having Shakespeare "class" together Plutarch - just listening in on big sister's narrations Nature Lore - The Burgess Bird Book, read to them by their older sister; James Herriot's Treasury for Children, again both with oral narration Plus Picture Study, Composer, Folk Songs/Hymns, Poetry, and Art, with all the girls together. I haven't figured out music, yet. My plan is oral narration only, but lately she really wants to write about things we have read, so I may start having her do one written narration per week on a book of her choice and see how it goes. That's it so far. I'm enjoying reading what everyone else is sharing. I hope we all have productive planning summers!

I love Plum Paper - I buy two every year, one for school and one or everything else. From what I can tell, it is MUCH more customizable than an Erin Condren, cheaper, and not covered in inspirational blurbs, which would annoy me (though obviously not everyone). I do, however, covet those Erin Condren stickers....

We have a classical/CM approach and try to combine work where we can. We have three school age girls (next year they will be 11, 8, and 6) plus a little monster, I mean, two year old 😉 For my up and coming 6th (WHAT?!WHEN?!) grade daughter, I have: Singapore Math 5A and 5B, then Jousting Armadillos, most likely Bards and Poets I from Cottage Press for LA, stretched to cover the whole year plus a bit more if needed Apples and Pears for spelling - finishing up the final level in the beginning of the year. We'll switch to only studied dictation after that, either once or twice a week. History books to be read and orally narrated/written narration (History Notebook?, not sure yet) twice a week: The Book of the Ancient Greeks The Book of the Ancient Romans The Book of the Middle Ages These are all by Dorothy Mills and it may be too much for one year, so we'll start with Greeks and see how it goes - I may drop Middle Ages and cover two books instead of three if the pace is too fast. Science: Astronomy from Sabbath Mood Homeschool, keeping a Science Journal Blood and Guts (with her two younger sisters and Mom), keeping a Science Journal Botany from Sabbath Mood Homeschool, keeping a Science Journal Nature Journals all together Mythology: Legends from FairyLand The Golden Fleece by Colum The Children's Homer by Colum Literature Unknown to History, with oral narration and one weekly written narration (possibly a "creative" option) Kim (with younger sisters and Mom), oral narration and one weekly written narration(possibly a "creative" option Geography: Haliburton's Book of Marvels, Occident (with younger sisters and Mom), weekly mapwork and her choice of oral or written narration The Book of Discovery (just one chapter a week, with oral narration and weekly mapwork) Plutarch once a week, but probably not all year, with younger sisters and Mom, oral narration Latin for Children Primer A will finish up and she'll start B. Art lesson once a week, all together Music lesson once a week, with Mom Shakespeare all year all together, because we love him , plays to be decided🙂 Weekly poetry tea time, all together Commonplace book entry several times a week Picture Study weekly, all together Handicrafts as we have time, both together and individually - cross stitching, embroidery, painting, drawing, clay sculpture, origami, possibly calligraphy, sewing projects Memory Work - right now, all poetry and Shakespeare, some together, others for each child individually. I can't wait for next year!

When my daughter needed a light year, I read her one great literature book at a time and asked her to narrate it back. The second half of the year, I asked for a written retelling once per week. We kept up with spelling a few times a week and that was it for language arts. She adored that book (Understood Betsy), she solidified basics of spelling and writing a good sentence, and it was totally fine to pick up more formal stuff the next year. You should absolutely follow your instincts and lighten it up a bit. Good for you! Have a wonderful year!

Guerber is lighter and would probably be better for that age, especially with little prior history.

Did you work through all of A Human Endeavor, beginning in 7th? And is Beginning Algebra the same as Elementary Algebra? My daughter is in the same place. I'm also trying to decide if we need to stick with 6A and 6B...isn't 6th grade a review year?

Thank you!

I'm sure the answer exists somewhere on this board, but my searches aren't working. For those of you who use W&R, is it possible to only use the Teacher's Guide? Thanks!

I think that if you already have plans for poetry memorization, picture study, and literature selections AND plan on doing copy work at home, then CP may not be a good fit. The Primer series is light on grammar and includes literature to read and narrate, picture study, nature study, and dictation. I suppose you could run through multiple light grammar lessons and that would work. You'll just be skipping a lot of the book (which is okay). Fable and Song has lots more grammar and may be a better fit - parts of speech and diagramming and the like. However, you'll still be skipping a large portion of the program as it is meant to teach beginning composition as well as grammar. Perhaps a good diagramming handbook, if you are wanting to teach diagramming, and just going through marking and parts of speech and diagramming a sentence or two together would better fit what you already have planned.