I loved the Internet Junkie post, too. That was me a few years back until a year and a half ago when a friend and I committed to walking the wildlife refuge every Friday. Unbeknownst to us, God wanted to have a whole school walking it, which is what we did today. Oh, and I'm even inspired enough to do a tree study this spring of the pear tree in my yard. :D

Thanks for sharing the gravity post. Will have to chew on that later!

Bravo! CM was able to discern what books were the best and what were not because she was able to study exams from children in England and throughout the British Empire. When you design your own curriculum, you lack the wisdom of experience. Time after time, someone is skeptical about having little ones hear and then narrate Pyle's Robin Hood or Trial and Triumph until they see it in action. I'm afraid I would probably underestimate the abilities of children if left to my own devices. I, too, am so thankful for AO.

On state songs, we've been learning South Carolina folk songs from the Ruth Seeger book using the CD recorded by her children.

Even though I enjoyed seeing Middle Earth come to life, I agree with Christopher Tolkien. I wanted to see Goldberry and Tom Bombadill, Old Man Willow, the Scouring of the Shire, and other things Jackson cut to see one orc head after another get lopped off!

Since we group kids by age ranges (1st-3rd grades, 4th-7th grades, etc.) in our school and pivot the curricula around a period in history (content), I would if we fit the idea of grouping by content level.

As a special needs parent trying to help my daughter face the challenges of autism and aphasia, I love this: "We must think out for ourselves, as well as work out, those things that belong to the perfect bringing-up of our children." When I get stuck on the next step, digging deep and thinking help me see the path.