I was just coming up here to ask this very question. We've used Tapestry of Grace, and my oldest daughter is a junior. She's frustrated by the messiness of divvying up history and making a transcript. My second daughter dislikes TOG and the extra reading and is taking a more textbook approach to high school. She's a freshman. She plans to do US History next year, but we need to choose a World History course for her still. I'm having a hard time with switching gears like this from TOG to the texts. It's so not what I wanted for my kids as a homeschooler ... but ... it seems to be what they want.

Thank you! I'll look at those. My second daughter has asked that we use textbooks for her high school career instead of Tapestry of Grace, and now my oldest is wanting more of the same for herself.

Central Kansas ... avoid the North-Eastern portion of the state because it has a higher cost of living. Avoid the western area because it is the really flat part of the state with fewer big cities. LOL!!

I do live in Kansas, and I love it. I moved here to attend college in the Kansas City area. I was so glad when I was finally able to move south, out of the KC Metro area. I was even more thrilled when we moved to central Kansas into a rural area. I love being surrounded by farms and farmers. I love raising my kids in the country. I love the beautiful big sky, the storms, the wind, and the color of the wheat fields as they change. We find it to be very family friendly, and even homeschool friendly. We are actively involved in our church, 4H, a homeschool group, and frequent-flyers at the local library. We've been here (in the rural area) 4 years, and all of my kids say it's the best place to grow up.

I didn't realize more had died. I'd better watch the news tonight. :(

When I am using FIAR, I supplement with math, handwriting, phonics until completed, and Christian Liberty Nature Readers for a combination of science/reading. I do not do grammar yet at that age, but I do begin spelling lessons once they are reading quite well on their own. I do not do any additional history or geography ... but I really focus on that area in our FIAR studies. We use a lot of supplemental books and maps for history and geography.

We have used Tapestry of Grace and Mystery of History, using a history rotation. My oldest daughter, would like to study a US History textbook, but I'm not sure what to get her. She doesn't care for her BJU Geography text, so I doubt that I want to go the BJU route. (Though we are Christian, she feels their texts have too much editorial commentary.) We have All American History, but I am looking for a text that is all in one year's study. We prefer curriculum like MOH and AAH that are interesting and engaging, but that may not be possible. Is there anything else out there that I haven't already mentioned? LOL! She's in high school.

Our homeschool group leader applied for the Art package and received it. We'll be trying to work that into our co-op next year. I haven't seen it yet, but will soon since I'm working with another member to arrange our lessons for next year.

Well, I admit when I have time to read like that, I often reach for mystery fluff. So it may not be your cup of tea, but I really enjoy Laura Child's Teashop Mystery series. (pun not intended) http://www.laurachilds.com/ And Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen mysteries, especially the earlier ones ... http://www.stephaniebarron.com/books.html They're slower, and may not hold your attention as well, but I also really like the Beatrix Potter Cottage Mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert. http://www.cottagetales.com/index.shtml

When we register in Kansas we have to have a name for our "unaccredited private school". It was early in our homeschool career and we weren't feeling that creative. We simply went with "OurLastName Christian Academy". I remember I was stressing over it and my husband said ... just be simple. I sometimes still wish I'd been more creative.