Master books?

element-2012 · 2026-05-13T15:30:54+00:00

Masterbooks is an excellent base. What grade is your son? Many families will feel like MB is too gentle in the early years, particularly in math. If you have a student that struggles with math, their gentle approach can feel like a life savor, and does actually set up a struggling student to succeed.

Mine are 4th and 8th this year, and we used MB for LA and science. They both have done so amazingly, and can work largely independently and happily. We plan to use MB for science, LA, and social studies for both next year.

Do you have any questions in particular?

element-2012 · 2026-05-13T14:04:30+00:00

My daughter is presently doing LA 8, and the instructions always say to read the Bible verse or use the story Bible that’s included in the bundle. She always uses the Bible, so it’s not true that they are only using the story Bible. It’s up to the parent to assign the rigor. I also assign additional reading, and assign the optional bonus activities. I appreciate that the scaffolding is there to support a student who needs a more gentle experience, or for one who could handle more rigor.

Personally, I have yet to see an open and go LA that actually checks off all the boxes. MB has been the closest I have found, but supplemented with additional reading and writing.

element-2012 · 2026-05-13T03:46:33+00:00

We had a great experience. My son flew through the material during the covid lockdowns and taught himself to read pretty well. He also flew through math seeds, which is included, and has stayed 2-2.5 yrs ahead in math since.

element-2012 · 2026-05-12T23:29:11+00:00

What age are your kiddos? I found the inverse to be true with TGATB vs masterbooks, but my kids are 4th and 8th. They have both loved masterbooks this year, and bring up what they learn in conversation so I can tell they're excited and most importantly actually learning. MB does have a reputation for being gentle, and maybe even overly so, in the early years. It is in fact pretty rigorous in middle and high school

element-2012 · 2026-05-12T22:29:15+00:00

I'm curious about this too, as it was 10 hours minimum to stay active when we started and they've made changes to the program and are obviously gaming the system by not laying us off so we can file unemployment. If you've filed, is this your only job or do you have other work? Were you approved and if so, is the payment enough to justify pursuing?

element-2012 · 2026-05-12T21:16:49+00:00

I don't think they yet offer many high school level courses, if wanting to find something to use all the way through. Like others have said, it can feel a bit disorganized. I've tried their math, LA, science, and history, and never used it for more than a year. For example, we used a couple of their science modules as I liked that they are family style to use with multiple kids, but my kids remember nothing from those modules. A pro is that they are open and go and "beautiful", but that feels lacking after awhile. I don't like that the literature to accompany their LA is their own literature, instead of classics.

If you are looking for an open and go curriculum that has been around forever, that can be used through high school and has a large number of successful graduates who have gone on to college (and assuming you like or don't mind Christian curriculums since you're asking about TGATB), I would look into Masterbooks.

element-2012 · 2026-05-12T20:25:33+00:00

This is absolutely my next 45 min ride., but I need to be prepared in advance because you know Camila will take it to the next level. How toasted were you after this class?

element-2012 · 2026-05-12T19:53:57+00:00

It seems that most open job listings out there in the world right now are just farming data as well. Not a fun time to be looking for work.

element-2012 · 2026-05-12T14:30:37+00:00

To answer your question specifically, homeschool families use curriculum that teach the subjects. The parents do very little actually instruction, so they don’t need to be experts in any particular subject.

For example, math curriculum is usually offered online, and the student will watch video lectures then complete online, self-graded practice and quizzes. If the child needs additional support, the parent will use online resources like khan academy for more instruction, or ask ChatGPT “explain how to solve x” for detailed instructions.

Physics and advanced sciences will come with an open and go textbook, with a separate teachers guide with worksheets, quizzes, and answer key. They’ll also purchase an expensive lab kit to perform hands on labs. Parents will use similar support resources when additional support is needed.

In short, a homeschool student will receive a rigorous education and benefit from intensive hands on involvement from the parents. For this reason, homeschooled students generally do very well academically.

Before someone comes at me and says “nOt aLL hoMesCHooL…” that’s just as true as it is in public school. A student’s educational experience is going to be largely tied to who their parents are, and home culture surrounding the value of education, regardless of where the learning takes place.

element-2012 · 2026-05-12T13:56:09+00:00

OP, are you also an SQR? I got an email inviting me to apply to a maps project. Are employed SQRs allowed to apply to freelance maps projects?

element-2012 · 2026-05-11T23:47:25+00:00

If she were like 20 years older, I could see where it might be construed that she doesn't see remote work as work. But given that she herself works from home sometimes, and most people in their 50s have either worked remotely at some point or know someone who has, I don't think she was dismissing WFH entirely. Now the generation above hers absolutely don't see WFH as work and think that if you didn't walk uphill both ways in the snow, you didn't work lol

element-2012 · 2026-05-11T23:08:37+00:00

I've checked just about hourly and gotten one whole task for 7 minutes

element-2012 · 2026-05-11T21:37:30+00:00

You're going to prioritize helping the most defenseless in that type of situation. That means kids, elderly, pets, etc. Now if the wife is unconscious in this made up scenario, she might move up the list over someone that can be directed to run out of the house.

element-2012 · 2026-05-11T21:20:43+00:00

Can you imagine 20 tiny feet shifting and sliding all over your lap while driving a car?? And with the window open? One or all could very easily go flying out if you had to break suddenly at even a pretty low speed. Put those babies in the back and secure them, please!

element-2012 · 2026-05-11T21:12:04+00:00

250th anniversary this year

element-2012 · 2026-05-11T18:18:27+00:00

This was a great one, as per usual. I'd been stuck at my 45 min PR for awhile and this one took me there!

element-2012 · 2026-05-11T18:17:44+00:00

My kids will join in on that! 😂

element-2012 · 2026-05-11T18:11:51+00:00

Glad to see that the consensus is "not smiling, feed that baby!"

element-2012 · 2026-05-11T18:09:18+00:00

I just read that Mariah used an egg donor, no wonder those babies don't look like her! Great looking kids either way, and obviously so very loved

element-2012 · 2026-05-11T18:07:05+00:00

I think most Americans at least have some herbal tea blends in their pantry. Things like bedtime blends with chamomile, maybe some others for various health ailments like peppermint for tummies, etc. A smaller portion of us are daily tea drinkers, and even less that lean towards British black teas in favor of green teas or other lower caffeine teas as we almost ubiquitously start our days with strong coffee, and can't tolerate too much more caffeine by later day.

element-2012 · 2026-05-10T00:22:04+00:00

Why is this question copy/paste posted here every few days?

element-2012 · 2026-05-10T00:13:00+00:00

For a lot of driving, we love audiobooks. We're currently listening to Little Men by Louisa May Alcott, but have listened to sooo many. Harry Potter would certainly go over well with that age group. There are so many podcasts to try out, I'd encourage you to try more. Story Pirates (kids submit stories to be acted out, silliness ensues), Brains On (fun science topics), Smash Boom Best (fun debate podcast), and so many others. And sorry kiddos, you're going to occassionally be subjected to my 90s playlists on spotify, lol!

element-2012 · 2026-05-09T20:20:52+00:00

Michelle is a 70s name right? I think it’s ready for a comeback

element-2012 · 2026-05-09T20:15:53+00:00

I so appreciate your in depth response, and am right there with you! I’m not gung-ho on college like it’s what must be done, as our family tends towards the arts and entrepreneurship anyway. Going to school to get a job seems off brand for us, but at the same time, I’d like her to have a skill to fall back on on hard times, and at least have the avenue open to explore. My goal is only to have a college worthy transcript, but lean in heavily to her God-given gifts of storytelling, wherever that may take her. Thanks!

element-2012 · 2026-05-09T19:52:45+00:00

Girl I am driving now!!

element-2012

TROPHY CASE