So here is what I am doing to pull together our Robinson inspired school

[Wilma]

I have spent the greater part of the day on the computer compiling reading lists. We are covering the Fall of Rome through the Age of Exploration in history next year. While we have a ton a books in this house, there is little on that time period here. It looks like I'll have to purchase some books on that time period. I think we have Adam of the Road and The Door in the Wall and that is about it. Anyhoo, I am also putting the fiction for the girls in some sort of order according to reading level. I have lots of classics from my childhood, Newberry Award winners and ones that just looked interesting at the used booksales and used bookstores.

On another bookshelf, I have put together science and math. Again, I have a ton of science from early elementary through college. Some are secular, some are religious (dh and I want the girls to hear both sides of the debate so they can argue intelligently). Some are texts, some are by individual topics.

I had heard Dr. Robinson does not like science until the student has had calculus, but after viewing his video, I see he sees a difference between learning and putzing around with science and actually doing it, which requires knowledge of higher math. I can see a lot of playing around with science in this house.

So, while Dr. Robinson recommends his book list following his idea of how a child is progressing, I am organizing the order of books by what we are studying in co-op. As a result, I will not be using his vocabulary list but will use English from the Roots Up. I also have some grammar laying around that I will use in little bites to round out grammar. Projects will be covered in co-op. Writing will be done daily. The 2 younger ones need some spelling reinforcement so we'll be doing Sequential Spelling.

We like TV, especially the History and Science Channels, so that will stay. We are not schooling 6 days a week, but this will be easy to implement year round.

I'm excited, but all this organizing is going to take forever.

[crazymama]

Ahhh the reason I love homeschooling.. find something you like, tear it apart and make into something that fits you perfectly!

[Wilma]

I think it was more a matter of I had to use all the books I accumulate. I never saw a library book sale or used bookstore I didn't like. I completely forgot I had some of these books. A couple of weeks ago I spent too much time trying to get the best price on a Science Explorer book only to find I already owned it. Very sad.

[reversemigration]

I think it was more a matter of I had to use all the books I accumulate. I never saw a library book sale or used bookstore I didn't like. I completely forgot I had some of these books. A couple of weeks ago I spent too much time trying to get the best price on a Science Explorer book only to find I already owned it. Very sad.

Isn't it nice, though, to be so well-stocked? Even if it's not something that's officially included in a reading list, it's there to be tugged off the shelf and browsed. I can remember many lazy afternoons spent rummaging through my parent's shelves for something interesting!

[crazymama]

I have issues with books.. I am big on yardsaling and bringing home books by the box loads! It's a horrible habit, but has it's benefits as well. We have well over 2,000 books in our house (I am dying for the money to buy one of those book catalogue things with a scanner so I don't have to enter them all in by hand.... just to see how many books I actually have..lol). Some may never be read, but I never pay more than a buck for a book (unless it's something specific I want), so I don't worry. Our town library sucks, we haven't been there in about 4 years now, if we read it, we own it

[Wilma]

I sometimes look at my books and think of the Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith and his broken glasses.

[jessicalb]

What books do you still need? I know I have a few leftover from when we did Sonlight that the used bookstore here wouldn't take.

[Wilma]

At this point anything, but especially the Middle Ages. I do have a couple of things from SL covering the MA, but I can't find our copy of Robin Hood. The only one I have is the Pyle version and the language is too difficult for my youngest. Are you offering?

[inmom]

I sometimes look at my books and think of the Twilight Zone episode with Burgess Meredith and his broken glasses.

We thought we were the only ones who rememebered that episode, Time Enough At Last. We rented it for our daughter last year. Her eyesight is sooo bad, she is almost legally blind. However, she is one of the biggest bookworms I've ever known. She is usually reading 10-12 books at a time and always has one with her--even for a 5 minute trip in the car. We're at the library at least 2-3 times a week. She would be soooo lost without her glasses, and thus, her books and reading. That show is Lizzie's horror movie!

BTW, we love your signature. Hubby has turned the kiddos into huge Monty Python fans. At one point when they were about 8 & 9, he thought it would be a good idea to show them "The Search for the Holy Grail," completely forgetting the scene in the castle with all the "maidens." There was a lot of "what was that?" and fast-forwarding going on. Men.......

[Wilma]

We were talking about showing The Holy Grail to the kids and I was worried about the "huge tracts of land" reference. Dh was also thinking of Life of Brian and then quickly thought better of it, although it is quite funny. Always look on the bright side of life!