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Well, I wasn't ready, but the kids needed structure. Since everything was not in place (and since we still wanted to go to the pool and have friends over) I started 1/2 pace. We are using the pages off of internet introductory week for CTC until the manual gets here, and we are also doing BIgger and LHTH. I was thrilled with how saturated CTC was with the word of God. My daughter is loving the 10 generations history project. She LOVES her new books. The younger boys in Bigger are thrilled too, and of course my 2 and 4 year olds beg to do school (The 14 and 16 year old just don't get this!). I took Drawn to Staples (since we can copy for our own family) and had the oldest daughter's workbook copied and spiraled (love it!). I also took my older boys' schedules (36 weeks of assignments, calendar, reading list, etc.) and had them bound and spiraled. No more losing the assignment sheets. This was the only part the older boys were excited about--they made their own cover pages for their planners on the computer (with pictures of themselves and their friends). Now the youngers want one, but they don't need a planner with HOD. I have never had anything cut and three-ring bound or spiraled at Staples before. I may become a Staples' groupee now. However, I won't do anything to my manuals. I have really enjoyed the perfect bound. If any of you are contemplating 1/2 pace (to start), I heartily recommend it. With the move and the new baby, I wasn't as prepared as I had hoped. 1/2 pace is giving me time to find boxes for the markers and crayons, etc. I will post schedules after we hit full speed. I am still working on the schedule and chore chart as well.

Hi,

I enjoyed reading how you've gotten prepared for HOD this year! Can I ask, which workbooks did you spiral? Are they HOD workbooks or your own?

Just contemplating how to organize our materials,
Shannon

Shannon, I spiraled the Drawn workbook and planners that I designed for my high schoolers.

8arrows,

I can't believe you jumped in! I'm so proud of you for getting underway while still organizing your life after the craziness of your summer!

I am thrilled that you are enjoying CTC's saturation in God's word. That is a prayer we have for that guide. Your CTC guide should be winging its way to you today!

Blessings,
Carrie

8arrows - I'm so glad you started half-speed. Moving could throw me off for a whole year! I'm impressed you got started and thrilled to hear you are enjoying half-speed. I just got done finalizing our chore charts last week, and it's been a summer long project. Making chore charts is a real chore, you know it?!? I feel like we're doing laundry all of the time, but you really must feel that way. You are an amazing lady - enjoy your half-speed! A happy start to school goes a long way - it's the "first impression rose". If that goes well, the rest of the year seems to follow suit.

In Christ,
Julie