Well really, he will do math 5 days a week- 3 days from our curriculum, 1 on memory work and multiplication drills and 1 day he will attend a math-science-art co-op.

I am looking at it now and it looks to be very user friendly and at my son's level. I've hesitated to use a workbook because we used Abeka this past year for Language Arts and other than the Cursive workbook, I've been pretty unimpressed.

We did MUS Alpha, Beta and Gamma for K-2. This past year we switched to CLE 300 because I wanted a more traditional approach to math. DS has done great with both so I feel like I could do either for 4th, but I do feel like I would probably need to go ahead and stick with the same program from here on out. I really like CLE Math and so does DS but if you don't do 180 days of math a year (and we don't), it's hard to get it done. I like the way Demme teaches place value and math concepts but if DS has a problem, I have a hard time helping him because it's not the way I learned. CLE is closer to the math I grew up doing. I may have just made my own mind up :)

My homeschool appetite is always bigger than what is really manageable, AND we are about to have a new baby. I want next year to be an enriching and challenging year for my very bright 4th grader but not to the point of exhaustion or frustration. That being said, what would you cut or change to lighten our load next year. We do focused schoolwork 3 days a week (he also has a sister that will be in 2nd grade) and then 2 days are spent at co-ops and/or field trips, special projects, etc. Here is our current plan: Math- CLE 400 or MUS Delta (3x week) Spelling- Phonetic Zoo (2x week) Copywork / Penmanship- Queen's Copywork for Boys in Cursive (2x week) Grammar / Composition- My plan right now is to alternate one week of Fix-It Grammar, with one week of IEW SWI-A but I'm not married to this idea… This will be our first year of a formal writing program, we've mostly used Sonlight and Abeka in the past Assigned Reading / Listening Log- This will be a combo of audiobooks, SOTW selections, readers, etc., some done as a family and some independently. (daily) CC Memory Work Notebook- to be done independently as a way to review the Memory Work that is not dependent on me- includes fill-in-the-blank and blank notebooking pages (daily) I feel like *most* of this can be done independently or with minimal help from me assuming I have the materials organized for him and a clear check list. My biggest concern is the Grammar / Composition and how much time that will take and if there is a more efficient option...

We have decided not to do CC Essentials next year, instead I want to use IEW Fix-It Grammar and SWI-A. I am having a hard time figuring out what SWI looks like on practical daily/weekly basis. I understand you can go through the program at your own pace, correct? If you have experience with SWI, would you mind sharing how you implement it in your homeschool? My DS will be in 4th grade and this will be the first formal writing program we have used.

My DS9 has always been a very sensitive child. He also does not have SPD or anything on the Autism Spectrum and is intellectually very gifted. He is a late bloomer physically and emotionally. Things have gotten so much better in the past couple of years and I think a lot of that has to do with general growth and maturity. So hang in there Mama! In the meantime, here are some things that helped us: Lots of outside time, sunlight, fresh air, free creative play Gymnastics and yoga- especially if it gets the kids upside down a lot, this actually helps the vestibular system Cutting out dairy (except for raw), processed foods, food dyes and try to keep sugar low Essential oils- peace & calming or similar blends Decreasing screen time and other stimulating environments I do think there is an increase in sensitivity around growth spurts, developmental leaps, etc. When he was a baby, we tracked the Wonder Weeks and his fussiness almost alway increased on schedule.

I have a similar 9.5 year old boy! He has enjoyed: Henry Huggins, Ralph S. Mouse, Socks and anything by Beverly Cleary really Homer Price The entire How to Train Your Dragon series Hank the Cowdog Calvin and Hobbes Stuart Little Charlotte's Web The Black Stallion According to Humphrey series The Littles Third Grade Detective series Geronimo Stilton Cam Jansen Indian in the Cupboard Detectives in Togas Cricket in Times Square

What is your favorite resource that teaches copywork and penmanship at the same time? For 2nd grade... Bonus points if it is Charlotte Mason-ey :)

My DD7 is finishing CLE Math 100 and has done GREAT with it. Next year, we will have to switch to the math her co-op is using for 2nd grade, which is Saxon. For those of you familiar with both, do you think CLE 100 will have adequately prepared her for 2nd grade Saxon? If not, is there anything we can do over the summer to prep her?

Any suggestions on what to do at home this year to prepare us for Essentials in 5th grade? We've done a hodge lodge of Language Arts over the years- Sonlight, Abeka, etc... Was thinking if we stayed home we might do Fix-It Grammar and maybe the Student Writing Intensive A? Can i do the student intensive without investing in the entire TWSS package?

If we skipped Essentials this year, my understanding is he would only get 2 years of it before Challenge, I am wondering if that is enough?

Ack, y'all are making me nervous!! But I appreciate the honest feedback… I'm still trying to mull over what will work best. The good news is the Cottage School co-ops are month to month, so if we decide by October this isn't working, we can drop out without losing any money. I am seriously reconsidering Essentials. That is such a long day… But if we wait until 5th grade to start, we will only get 2 years before Challenge… And I'm not sure that long of a day will get any easier with a 1-yr-old than it will be with an infant. Although maybe I will be less sleep-deprived at that point (wishful thinking??)… My DS does pick up stuff very quickly and so 2 years may be enough for him... We have friends to help with carpool and my DH can take in the mornings so I won't be the only one driving... The bottom line is, I have zero help here except for 1 day a week of paid childcare (no family to sit with kids). My goal in this is to free up some time to workout, run errands, ride my horse without just paying a sitter to hang out with the kids for a few hours- if they can be in a school setting during that time, I feel like everyone is getting what they need... Plus, my daughter is craving some more social time and my son needs to develop a little bit of independence... Sorry, not arguing with anybody, just thinking out loud...

Tell me about Modern Speller? I've never heard of it and I'm interested in possibly switching up spelling next year.

Well we have TOTALLY switched gears for our plans for 4th grade next year… Here's the current plan: Spring: Finish up or continue over the next few weeks: CLE Math 300, Abeka Cursive, Phonetic Zoo, SOTW Vol 1, CC Memory Work, lots of reading and readalouds Summer: Welcome new baby!! Use Fun Schooling journals from Thinking Tree (kids have LOVED these so far), math facts practice and review all 3 cycles of CC English Grammar memory work in preparation for Essentials. Read read read, local day camps, visit grandparents 2016/2017: MUS Delta CC Foundations & Essentials Phonetic Zoo (?) Integrated, somewhat interest-led science, art and math co-op day SOTW Vol 2 Books, books, books Soccer, gymnastics, horseback riding, maybe Scouts? (not all at the same time)

Good questions and concerns to bring up and certainly gives me something to think about. I *think* the schedule would be doable for the following reasons- The youngest will only do CC Foundations and other than preparing an extremely simple presentation, there is no homework for that (we just listen to the memory work CDs in the car). CC will actually be the "easiest" co-op in that sense. Essentials, as I understand it, is quite the workload, HOWEVER, we have been advised to go into this first year with plans to mostly audit/observe the EEL part and do the best we can with the IEW. So that's my plan. My biggest concern for CC is that doing both F & E puts us there from 9-3… looooong day with a baby. Some weeks we may skip Foundations, some weeks we may skip Essentials. CC also happens to be my social outlet for the week and since I tend to hibernate with a new baby, I think this will be a nice outing for me. The other co-ops are drop off co-ops and honestly, if they are not working, we will drop out. This schedule does give me one day a week- Thursdays- to run errands and catch up on housework- I have a sitter that day for the baby. So our schedule would look like this- Mondays- everybody home- 4th grader: Math, Essentials work, any projects/assignments for co-op Tuesdays- CC Day Wednesdays- 2nd grader at co-op; 4th grader at home: Math, Essentials work, any projects/assignments for co-op Thursdays- BOTH kids at co-op and baby with sitter- errands, housework, barn chores Friday- everybody home- catch up on work from week, nature walks, field trips, play time together I think the hardest thing about this will be letting go of my own control over curriculum choices, but again, if it's not working, we will adjust.

New baby plus co-op opportunities have changed our plan for the next year with my 2nd and 4th graders... DD7, Grade 2: Cottage School Co-op- 2 days a week, covers Math, Phonics, Spelling, Writing, Art, Music and Chapel Classical Conversations Foundations- 1 day a week Home- 2 days a week- Cottage School assignments, Memory Work practice, SOTW and Family Readalouds DS9, Grade 4: Cottage School Co-op- 1 day a week- Integrated Science, Art, Math and Special Projects CC Foundations and Essentials- 1 day a week Home- 3 days a week- Essentials work, MUS Delta, Memory Work practice, SOTW and Family Readalouds Does this sound like all the bases are covered? Any gaps or suggestions?

I really really really have wanted Morning Time to work in our school and after the control freak in me ruined many mornings trying to make it look the way it "should", I've given in to scattering what would be in our Morning Basket throughout the day. So, instead of giving you my ideal, this is the actual: I'm normally an early bird but this pregnancy has kicked my tail, therefore our days start a little bit late even though the kids have been up for awhile doing chores, drawing, playing. My DH does Morning Devotions with them before he leaves for work, sometimes I am awake for that :). During breakfast- we listen to 5 Scripture Memory songs, our CC memory work for the week and sometimes classical music (I try to note the composer or era). Sometimes we also listen to an audiobook or SOTW, occasionally we get the iPad out and watch a BrainPop or educational something together. During lunch or in the car- Sometimes I read to them, sometimes we listen to audiobooks or podcasts- selections include poetry, SOTW, Kids AudioBible, Psalm of the Day or current family audiobook During or after Supper- we fill out our Gratitude Journal, DH reads aloud from family reading- something Bible or character focused (right now it's TheOlogy) and something fun (Socks by Beverly Cleary). Every once in a while I send the kids outside with their sketch books for Nature Study. Would really love to add a Hymn Study, Picture / Artist Study and Catechism or Poetry Recitation but it's just not happening. Next year will be even more scattered as we add a newborn to the mix and 2 days of co-op for the big kids...

We've been doing Phonetic Zoo since the first of the year. We do a lesson (or less) a week, right now he is on Lesson 7. The first day, he listens to the instructional CD and writes the words. The second day he does the same, both times he lets me know how many mistakes he's made and if there are any, we go over the rule/jingle and correct the words. The last day we do a "test" where I dictate the words to him. If the test includes words ONLY from that week's lesson, he gets them right. However, every few weeks I include words from the previous lessons, and very often he misses those. So something is not "sticking"...

Spelling help!! We used AAS thru level 3 and recently switched to Phonetic Zoo. AAS works buts wasn't getting done... Phonetic Zoo gets done but doesn't seem to be working... I don't want to switch back to AAS bc it's not independent... Any suggestions?

Is this an app or on the computer?

We've done both and liked both. I really wish I could figure out a way to combine the two without it being overkill. As of right now, I am planning to do CLE during the school year and MUS as a summer supplement...

One of my goals for the summer is for my kids to get their math facts down- addition and subtraction for the younger, and multiplication for the older... What is the best, simplest, hands-off-for-Mom way you have helped your kids get these mastered? They understand the concepts and can get the answers but not as quickly as I would like. We know all our skip counting backwards and forwards. We have flashcards but haven't really utilized them consistently. We also have a Math Facts app (Quick Math) that we use but also not as consistently as we should... Haven't been able to find any good songs to help. Times Tales was a total flop. Should I just continue with the app but more consistently? Have them study and recite the flashcards? Any great tools out there that have worked for your kids? Help please!!! :)

Mine are not ready for sleepaway camp but we are signed up for Art Camp, WinShape Camp, Soccer Camp, Pony Camp and maybe Theater Camp. New baby comes in July, gotta keep these kids busy :)

We have all kinds in our community- unschoolers, Charlotte Mason, Sonlighters, Abeka Boxed curriculum, interest-led- even some that are in private school and just come for community day! I would say most of our community are eclectic- combining the best of several methods and curriculums that work for their kids, trying to stay mostly on or above grade level with what traditional school kids are doing.

I agree and disagree... on the one hand I appreciate CC's recommendation to keep it simple in the early years, I see so many parents (myself included) burn themselves out trying to add ridiculous amounts of curriculum to CC. And I think if you go into Essentials with the plan to repeat it for 3 years and basically audit/observe the first year, then you don't "need" to do any formal grammar before. And I certainly wouldn't add grammar for kids who are struggling with reading and spelling. HOWEVER, if you want to get your money's worth the first year of Essentials and/or don't intent to repeat, OR if you have a child that will be frustrated at not keeping up with the other kids, then I can certainly see how having some previous years of grammar would be important. I wish CC would at least recommend an optional prepatory grammar curriculum to help prepare kids (and parents!).