I know that Saxon Phonics, for example, do require lots of teacher time. But it is something that I cannot trade for something else (I've tried sooo many phonics approaches, since my oldest had trouble learning to read and still struggles a bit). This is working really well, but I'm combining the kids with it, so it's going ok (we started already). For grammar we use R&S. I'll be using FLL for my 1st grader and am thinking of having my oldest give the lesson to him since it's all oral and he can just read the book to him. Do you have any suggestions? We use AA and really have loved using them, but I can't stretch myself too thin. I love all the suggestions and have been adjusting my schedule!!! Thanks, Liz

6 kids and 6800 square feet.

This is my first year fully homeschooling 3 kids, a preschooler, a toddler, and a baby. I'm working on our daily schedule and there isn't enough of me to go around!!! I have a 4th grader, 2nd grade, K/1st grader, and preschooler that I want to do things with and they need my time for one-on-one teaching for things (math, science, etc.). I'm combining where I can, but I can't figure it out. How do you moms of many handle teaching 3 or more young kids?? My kids are on different levels for math, grammar, spelling, and religion. The older kids share phonics, history, and music; while the younger ones do different things for those subjects. Would love to see/hear about how others make it work!! Thanks, Liz

We've been using Angelicum for almost 4 years and we really like it. You pick and choose what you want your kids to do and are not locked into any grade level. Example, my 1st grader used some of their 2nd and 3rd grade lessons. You set the school year on your own schedule (if you choose to enroll), so they are a bit more flexible than other Catholic programs I've researched. In the past there were a lot of complaints about Angelicum being slow to answer email and mail plans, etc. I have not encountered any of that since we have been with them. I had my kids enrolled in the past, but won't be doing so this year. I'm just going with the lesson plans. There is no need for me to have grading services as of yet (my oldest is going into 4th). But if you want to have that additional support, then I would recommend to enroll. Out of most programs, Angelicum is really very affordable. HTH! Liz

We are going to be moving into WWE 4 for this upcoming year and wonder if anyone knows if that will be the end of the program or if a level 5 is coming. Of course, I know these things take time to write. So I guess I'm also asking if I should transition my ds into IEW instead of using WWE? I really like IEW and it's my second choice for writing, but I really like continuity. :) Thanks in advance!!! Liz

Oh! I made the mini paper tissue flowers as well. The pirate ship was all me too!! I forget to give myself credit sometimes! It took me a week of working on the cones cutting stuff out, gluing, etc. But it was worth it to see the look on the kids' faces and they were counting down the days for WEEKS!! They were begging to start school because they knew that they would get their cones, they would get crowned into a new grade, and we would do our first day of school march. Liz

I did make and draw the princess...St. George and the dragon were clip art from the computer that I printed, put on cardstock, cut and colored. :001_smile: Liz

I made ours from poster board and just formed the cone. Then I just decorated them! Liz

Check out how our day went!! We did our schultutes and crowns again! Kids loved it...I loved it!!!!! http://hfclassicalacademy.blogspot.com/2010/08/first-day-of-school-2010.html Liz:D:D

Here is the link to last year's schedule. It was a lot different having a kinder, pre-k, and 2nd grader. I never really worried about the young kids too much because part of their learning was from having fun and playing. Things are getting a bit more serious now! I know that if I had just 2 or 3 kids, I would not feel the need to be as scheduled as I am. But with 5 kids, I NEED to be on a schedule or we would never accomplish anything! I do take lots of time for field trips and fun days, which is one of the major reasons why we homeschool year-round. Working it that way also helps break up the routine and burn-out. My biggest fear is having 3 school-age children who all need my help at the same time, while the two little ones need me too. But we'll see how it goes. I do want to stress that I have always been flexible with our time and I have never been one to feel bad because we didn't do what we had scheduled. I just keep going! Thanks for the comments!! Also, I just made my own template using word and the table feature. I use Managers of Their Homes as well. Liz

would you all post your schedules? I have a kinder, 1st, and 3rd grader. I keep wondering how I'm going to do it once my next 2 kids join the party!! I have 3 different schedules for different days. And I'm going to be BUSY! But last year, my schedule looked very similar and it worked out well. But....how do you moms of many split your time when you have kids who need you? I welcome advice and comments!! My schedule is here...Schedule. I don't know how to paste it in here. Thanks!! Looking forward to seeing how others schedule their days too! Liz

Awesome find!! I got the cd (full price:glare:) and plan to use it this year along with history. You scored, big time!!! Liz

I got them a few years ago at Costco and they have been so handy!! They help me tame papers and keep me organized!! Thanks for all the comments everyone!!! :D Liz

I posted pictures of our new school room in our new house on my blog!! So excited that it's finally unpacked!!! New School Room Liz:)

We haven't done Abeka, but I can say that I love Rod and Staff. We finished 2nd and are going into 3rd. It is rigorous and offers enough practice and review. My son actually doesn't complain about it either!! Having both oral and written problems really work for us too. HTH, Liz

:iagree::iagree: We do a morning rosary and offering every morning before we start school. With little kids, I don't expect them to sit down and be still. They each have their rosary (I keep LOTS of them so they can choose) and are allowed to walk around the room (they must be quiet, however) or sit on the floor. They have all know the rosary prayers by the time they are in preschool and it only takes about 20 minutes (not much to devote to Our Lady!!). We also did Image of God for preschool and kindergarten before moving into the Faith and Life Series. Live and celebrate the liturgical year by making crafts, going to Mass, going to confession, visiting the chapel, inviting priests over, etc. My kids have also been "playing" Mass since they were about 2 years old. It's a great way for you to teach them Mass prayers, how to behave at Mass, and explain what every element in Mass is about (check out the book "Children Discover the Mass."). Fr. Lovasik books are also great for little kids. We read about saints and the kids color while I read. You can also get Catholic Mosaic coloring book that has lots of pictures of saints. Don't be afraid to live your faith!!! This is especially true if your husband is agnostic, but accepting of the religious education you give your children. You never know...seeing you in "action" might some day inspire him!! There are soooo many resources for living your Catholic faith!!! Catholic Icing is a great blog with LOTS of Catholic crafts to help you live the liturgical year!!! HTH! Liz

We actually really like Saxon and have been doing it since the beginning. I think it's important to find something and stick with it if it's getting the job done. But I also understand that kids learn differently and the benefit of homeschooling is the flexibility and ability we have to teach to our kids to match their needs. This year we'll have a K, 1, & 3 with two little ones behind them. Only you know what will be best!! But we do like Saxon and plan on sticking with it!! Liz

We've had a school room from the beginning and I've loved it! Couldn't live without one!! We are in a new house now and I haven't posted pictures of our new school room, but here are pictures to our school room where we used to live. http://hfclassicalacademy.blogspot.com/search/label/School%20Room Liz

We have been doing science with our co-op and this year we will be using Apologia Astronomy. It looks really great, and although not from a Catholic provider, many Catholic programs use it. If you prefer textbooks, Angelicum uses HSP science (their lesson plans are only $10!!) and Kolbe uses Harcourt...yep, same publisher, but different books (couldn't tell you the difference!!). HTH! Liz

I know there are some Catholic users of Angelicum Academy on here...I'm one of them! Anyways, just wanted to get out there that I started a new Yahoo Group for Angelicum users, since the old group was full of spam and was unmoderated. I'd love to hear from more families who are choosing them for the classical homeschool. Here is the address for the new yahoo group if you are interested! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/angelicumchatbookswap/ Thanks! Liz

I have a friend who uses Kolbe and she is very happy with it. I am going with Angelicum Academy (I used it in the past) and am excited about it! Just bummed that they are not at the conferences (I've been going to the IHM in Dulles for 2 years...this might be my 3rd!). Liz

I did BFIAR this past semester with my co-op and will be doing it again in the fall. We only meet once a week and the class is 45 minutes to an hour. I pick out a book for each class and use many of the activities from Homeschool Share. It is impossible to do everything in a day, let alone an hour! But the children loved the class and the parents did too (which is why I'm teaching it again!). My class schedule goes something like this: 1. Snack time 2. Read Book 3. Ask questions about book/review 4. Craft time to go along with book 5. If time allowed, do extra activity/game/song to go-along Most of the parents with kids in my class continued reading the book at home for the rest of the week and I always sent the kids home with an extra activity/craft for the kids to do at home later in the week that went along with the story we read. Good Luck! Liz in NC

After lots of research and wanting to keep things Catholic, I went with Angelicum Academy. They are rigorous too, but you can mix levels (example, my K ds does both 1st grade work and some K). I like that they are classical and offer a variety of sources for their texts. That means they don't make their own curriculum, like Seton. They pull from a lot of secular providers. I actually like it!! We follow our own religion, however. We do Faith & Life along with the St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism, reading about saints, and basically celebrating the Liturgical Year. I didn't do Angelicum this year, and made a mish-mash of our own things....but with 5 kids, I think that I'll be going back to them again this new year. A lot of our materials coincide with what they offer anyways!! Check them out. They just revamped their website and curriculum choices. www.angelicum.net Liz in NC

We are doing R&S English 2 and have been also doing WWE 1. My ds is in 2nd grade and we are moving at a fast pace through WWE. It almost seems like I just want to skip right into WWE 2. Would that be advisable? We started with WWE 1 just because we had not done grammar in 1st grade. I don't know. What do you all think?? Go into WWE 2? He is doing so good with it anyways and I feel like its a supplement to his grammar at this point. Liz in NC

Yes, I agree with you...which is why I stated that Catholics do not take the Bible literally. Just keeping my answer as simple as possible! Liz in NC