I just read your blog post on history cycles and I LOVE how you tackle history! Thank you so much for sharing, it’s really helping me to bring my thoughts and goals into focus. I’ll check out Bonnie Landry’s booklet as well.

I actually spelled it with the extra ‘'l' but my autocorrect removed it, lol. So this is probably a big can of worms to open here, but I think you can still read all of the drama on Cindy Rollins-Writer Facebook page and in the Mere Motherhood group on Facebook. The main gist is that when CiRCE published Cindy’s Morning Time handbook there was no contract and she understood them to be publishing it as a free pamphlet to give away at events. They actually sold it for a profit and she doesn’t receive royalties, though she was paid a small fee when she gave them the publishing rights. She has also posted several vague posts calling her publisher (CiRCE) a wolf in sheep’s clothing, questioning their honor, and accusing them of using spiritual rhetoric to dupe naive homeschool moms. Yesterday she made a post calling the men and publishers of Christian classical education companies ”vultures.”. So...there’s that. I find a lot of her rhetoric on the issue over the top. If moms want to use certain curricula or programs, I don’t think they’ve necessarily been duped. At the same time, some of her posts have been concerning and given me pause. CiRCE has been publicly silent on all of this. And yes, Circe is entangled with CC and they have deleted negative comments about CC from Facebook groups that they manage. It’s also rumored at this point that CiRCE is involved in whatever “big announcement” CC is rolling out with later this week.

The shenanigans with Classical Conversations and the latest kerfuffle with Cindy Rollins have made me take big step back. I love all of the big conversations and philosophy, and I have a tendency to buy into idealism and then judge myself harshly when I don’t live up to it. I’m finally realizing none of this is helping me on on a Monday morning with my atypical learners. Airy-fairy nonsense is an apt description 😂 and it looks like many of you have recognized it for what it is far more quickly than I have. I’m going to go off-road this year with a stack of good books and topics that the kids care about. We can always go back to someone else’s tidy plan next year if it’s a total bust.

This is what I’m beginning to do. We’ve always followed some kind of outside scope and sequence like Ambleside or Memoria Press, so it’s a little nerve wracking for me, but we’re breaking out of the mold and doing what works.

Tell me more. I’ve been moving to more of a BraveWriter/ Brave Learner mindset in a lot of our practices including book choices lately. Right now, we’re having a blast reading the Percy Jackson series, I find my kids connect more and have far better conversations when they find the book engaging and humorous. At the same time, we really find historical fiction dull and we do enjoy the classic fairy tales and mythology, so in that regard some of the older stuff is a good fit for us. I’d love to hear where you pull some of your literature choices from. We’ve been homeschooling for six years, and I have been enamored with Charlotte Mason and CiRCE’s ideal vision for much of that time, but it honestly doesn’t work well for my kids and I’m becoming disillusioned with much of it. I still want to have a strong literature focus but I’m also hoping to shake things up and breathe some life and joy into our homeschool.

Yes! This sounds exactly like what I’ve been thinking. Thank you for sharing how you are doing this. I think I will move forward with confidence putting together my on plan for the fall.

I’m sorry for not communicating more clearly! I’m not looking for a literature-based history. I’m referring to the old Circe threads where many said they were moving their focus away from historical fiction to make more room for great literature. Angelina Stanford recently did a podcast interview on how history as the center of the curriculum does not hold; so I know there are others out there thinking about this. However, when I look at most box curriculum it is centered around history and includes a lot of historical fiction, biographies, etc. If one does all of the scheduled history readings with these programs it really crowds out the ability to read plenty of mythology, tales, epics, poetry, Shakespeare, etc. I was hoping to hear from some who have prioritized literature. Do you pretty much make your own book lists, plans, etc? Do you just stick to one or two history and science readings a week from a spine book to keep time carved out for other studies? I love the look of all of the book packages from curricula providers but the quality literature seems light and the history is heavy. Looking for insight from others who have taken a different approach. I hope that makes more sense!

For those that take a more literature-centered approach a la the great CiRCE threads from years ago as opposed to box curricula that is heavy on historical fiction, do you just plan it all yourself or is there a curriculum out there that balances this well? We’ve been doing AO up to year 4, but as we keep going my kids just aren’t connecting with several of the books, and dragging out a book you don’t particularly love for an entire year is really killing the joy of learning. We’ve been doing some Layers of Learning units for a change of pace and while we’re enjoying it, the amount of time devoted to history and science reading doesn’t leave a lot of time for great literature. I’ve been looking at various curricula (SCM, Winter Promise, Biblioplan) and they all seem heavy on historical fiction and light on literature (specifically fairy tales, myths, good/great books). I’m pretty sure I need to make diy plans for our upcoming year, but the pull of new shiny curriculum is strong right now. I’ve been looking through the “plague purchases” thread, the uncertainty right now has me itching to buy, but nothing really fits what I’m looking for. Any curricula I’m overlooking? Tell me about your literature focused diy plans!

My upcoming dentist appointment, mammogram and ultrasound were all cancelled. I have a pulmonologist appointment on April 1st that I may cancel if they don’t.

This is really helpful, thank you! It sounds like my boys are similar to your son with writing. I think this might be enough to mix things up and help them put pencil to paper a bit more readily. I showed them a few samples and I think they’re most excited for the sea monsters.

The Sea and Sky package looks really intriguing! I was pretty settled on my upcoming 4th and 5th grader’s history plans, but this looks like something they would love. They hate narration and almost every approach to writing we’ve tried. The captain’s log looks engaging and fun. We have always used a living books approach, would you say the WP core books are more narrative or text bookish? Do you feel like there is a lot of busy work or has it helped your son retain? Are you able to easily add in other readings or is the schedule pretty full? I’ve been poring over the samples but would love to hear from you since you’re currently using it. Thanks!

I know you’re right, but baby steps!

I do have a dust mite allergy, along with mold, cats and dogs. I’ve been on daily allergy meds since I was 11, different combinations over the years. I began a daily maintenance inhaler 3 years ago after being hospitalized with pneumonia. Unfortunately, my medication doesn’t seem to be effective anymore. We’ve put off doing substantial home changes to reduce dust due to cost and general life craziness, but my health is reaching a point that can’t be ignored.

You’re the 3rd person this week that I’ve heard recommend oral drop therapy. I’ll definitely check into it. Thanks!

I’ve had this same problem with the fluffy dusters. I seem to scatter dust all over the place with them and can’t get them clean. I definitely think the vacuum with HEPA filter would be best; I just need to find one with an attachment that will fit. I’ve tried to use mine that way in the past but it’s very awkward. I’ve started wearing a mask and gloves when cleaning as well. I tested positive for dust allergies when I was 11 but it’s gotten so much worse since I developed asthma after having pneumonia 3 years ago.

I’m technically a millennial too, lol. I read a lot on my kindle, but it’s just not a replacement for real books for me yet. Maybe I’ll get there one day.

Thanks for the tip on finding a duct cleaner, that’s on our list and I wouldn’t have thought that most only clean a few feet. No mold signs, but I’ll have dh check around the attic as well.

Thanks! Mind if I ask what kind of vacuum you have? I have a shark that I really like, but the attachments don’t fit between the tops of the books and the shelf above.

My allergy triggered asthma is getting progressively worse and I’m ready to make big changes to manage it. I’ve been trying to work with my primary care doctor but I’m requesting a referral to a specialist so that I have a better medication plan in action. We’re planning to use our tax return to rip up the carpet and install vinyl plank floorings. I’ve purchased hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers and I’ve been decluttering to make weekly dusting easier. I’ve read most of these recommendations here on the boards, so thank you for that! My question is how does everyone deal with dust on all of your books? We have multiple bookshelves in every room and while I’ve pared down the collection quite a bit, I’m not ready to part with what is left. Also, what have you found works best for window coverings? I’m planning to remove our long drapes. We have wide slat vinyl blinds, but I’m realistically not going to be able to wipe them all down each week and they seem to be dust magnets. Any low maintenance options out there?

I’m in the thick of planning for my upcoming 5th grader. He’s my ASD kiddo and very asynchronous. I’m using multiple resources for everything, not because we’re trying to do it all but because I’ve found I have to dip in and out of various approaches to make things work for him. I’m hoping to mix things up this year, play to his strengths and bring some hands-on fun back to our learning. Math: continue on with MUS, most likely Delta and Epsilon, this is an area where we’ve slowed down and we’re just doing what works, throwing in LOF and Right Start games each week Language Arts: Dictation Day by Day, MCT grammar and vocabulary, Writing Strands, a few Brave Writer style projects, and using Story Grammar Marker to continue remediating narrative skills History: 2 streams of history M/W/F we’ll do world history ancients using A Picturesque Tale of Progress as our main spine and pull in activities from SOTW, Konos, etc T/TH we’ll continue on with American history from the time of the Revolutionary War Science: living science books, some fun experiment books and KONOS activities, leaning towards physics and astronomy focus this year Geography: SCM visits to North America Literature: Retellings of the Iliad and Odyssey by Sutcliff or Colum, selections from My Book House, a Shakespeare play Continue on with typing.com He will continue working on scratch coding and lego boost coding in his free time. Looking into lego league mindstorms as well.

Today I love homeschooling because we’re watching old Disney movies on Disney plus during this cold, rainy weather. It’s my kids first time watching Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Little Mermaid, etc and they’re talking about how the Disney versions differ from all of the fairy tales and literature we’ve read over the years. I never knew the original versions growing up, I’m so thankful for the rich literature my boys have grown up with.

Exactly! Not sure what our state’s official program is called but this is the idea. I understand that the goal is to vaccinate as many as possible, but our most vulnerable kids are being thrown under the bus in the name of financial gain. This is problematic.

That’s certainly possible and I should dig into it more. It’s concerning to me to see money preventing what’s best for individual patients.

Right, I get that. I’ve been reading here long enough to know that everyone’s experience varies, and it sounds like some of you have wonderful doctors. I wouldn’t be so wary if I had the same. Like I said above, my close friend’s son had a seizure following his MMR, he has a medical exemption. He has cerebral palsy, autism, and various other conditions. He’s been a patient of our pediatrician for over a decade and was told this year, despite his complicated medical needs and his exemption he would have to leave the practice because they are pushing for 100% compliance. The doctor claimed that the entire practice receives an incentive for having 100% compliance. Yes, it’s just anecdotal, but it gives me pause, and it does concur with my experience at this pediatrician and other local doctors. I live in a suburb of a large city, I’m in several special needs Facebook groups that span my area and people are constantly searching for quality doctors that will work with their medical exemption kids. Yes, an urgent care or hospital doctor can’t turn you away, but with these complex kiddos this is just the last headache these moms need. I don’t have documentation, statistics, etc. just my experience, so take it for what it’s worth. I only share it, because I assume that others are unaware that this is happening in other areas of the country and because my local experience has been so different from what many of you describe.