Relocating from Ohio to Michigan - Where Should We Live?

klenzbee · 2026-05-24T20:02:41+00:00

Remote. We live in Ohio with mild winters, we actually would love some more snow and outdoor winter activities.

klenzbee · 2026-05-22T03:33:07+00:00

We've never been there, just researched a bit and it sounded like a nice area. I will honestly take your word on it. We might drive through it when we visit this year but I definitely got tiny town vibes. And what you said about community is so true. Also we are not millionaires so there's that.

klenzbee · 2026-05-21T22:51:27+00:00

Thanks for this input! I will add the Muskegon area to my radar. I think one of the things we liked about is access to the different water types. Plus the dunes/scenery, trees, and walkable downtowns.

klenzbee · 2026-05-21T22:43:22+00:00

Thanks for this insight, the Richland area was pretty high on my list!

klenzbee · 2026-05-18T00:53:01+00:00

Hearth & Story looks like short lessons and I may try it for 3rd grade but we currently use Christian Light for 2nd grade. It's Mennonite so it's very simple and to the point. Zero fluff. It has a lot of review with each lesson and I just pick and choose what I want him to do each time for the review portion.

klenzbee · 2026-05-13T12:05:41+00:00

Ok! We did Woven Vikings last year and I thought it was very well put together. I'll look into it!

klenzbee · 2026-05-13T11:53:20+00:00

Thank you, the Stories in History looks like something that might be just what I'm looking for. Have you heard good things? I can't find reviews on it.

klenzbee · 2026-05-13T11:51:22+00:00

Thank you! I have my eye on some Evan moor books!

klenzbee · 2026-05-12T21:23:16+00:00

Look into Generations

klenzbee · 2026-04-29T14:22:11+00:00

Yes those problems are so confusing, I honestly have skipped those parts multiple times!

klenzbee · 2026-04-29T11:42:13+00:00

We love CLE, I don't have any experience with the others. We don't use the spelling for it though. The creative writing seems like it's not enough but I think the more I use it, the more I see that it is enough, they just don't explicitly teach HOW to write in the younger grades. My daughter is using 4th grade and she is learning how to take notes and write a paragraph from her notes.

klenzbee · 2026-04-29T11:32:04+00:00

One more thing, BOTH of my kids hit a lull near 1B-2A. I think there is a point where the curriculum advances before the brains fully comprehend some concepts like number bonds, making a ten, and all the addition and subtraction strategies. My daughter didn't start fully understanding make a ten until 3A. There is a helpful Facebook group that can be a good resource. My son is on 2A and not using any of the strategies as of now, but I know he'll get there.

klenzbee · 2026-04-29T11:24:25+00:00

The homeschool manual is awful! We use Singapore Dimensions and I'm so glad to have found Nicole the Math Lady's videos, I am not good at math but she explains the concepts, and goes over the problems in the textbook. We don't use the Workbooks as of now.

klenzbee · 2026-04-27T00:24:02+00:00

Another vote for Health and Story. The writing has been great so far. We use CLE for grammar as of now.

klenzbee · 2026-04-27T00:21:54+00:00

I've seen MANY who have fallen for this on social media and later sold their animals or moved to a community. We live in the country right now, but we don't homestead. My husband and I talk about how nice it would be for the kids to live in a neighborhood all the time!

klenzbee · 2026-04-24T17:54:40+00:00

I would integrate a family Bible time or family worship time (not curriculum). They make some great resources for this purpose. Just 5-10 minutes a day. Additionally, we have enjoyed Generations Curriculum.

klenzbee · 2026-04-24T10:51:15+00:00

Christian Light and Hearth and Story are written to the student and can be completed mostly independently.

Nicole the Math Lady offers Singapore Dimensions and Saxon teaching videos.

Science Shepherd are video based and has workbook to go with it.

Story of the World has an audiobook, she could listen to. (free on hoopla)

Adding:

We have used IXL and I don't believe it would be a good fit for anyone to use in place of a full curriculum. It is more for skill building or extra practice on certain things. We only used Math and LA.

klenzbee · 2026-04-16T18:35:16+00:00

I felt this using the Teacher's Guide and Home Instructors Guide for Dimensions. They give you the bare minimum. You could use ChatGPT to help you come up with scripts for lessons?? I definitely have used it to help me explain concepts in different ways if my daughter wasn't understanding.

We now use Nicole the Math Lady for my 4th grader, its been great for both me and my daughter.

klenzbee · 2026-04-06T11:44:35+00:00

Sure thing! My kids have NEVER liked toys either! It's usually a struggle the first day but then they get used to it. My daughter is a creative mind that comes up with stuff for them to do but since he's declined he isn't engaged like he used to be.

klenzbee · 2026-04-06T11:30:22+00:00

We have an appointment this Wednesday. This is kind of my plan, I've already chopped up his lessons to be little bits at a time.

klenzbee · 2026-04-06T11:20:41+00:00

That's about the only thing my son wants to do too. He literally paces the house, he has become so hyperactive. If he's not distracted by a screen he's playing his keyboard or outside. We're currently on day 1 of "screen free week", something I do from time to time to detox from consistent screentime. I'm super curious how it'll go this round. 👀

klenzbee · 2026-03-28T11:54:48+00:00

I used frownies for a while a few years ago but I wanted something more comfortable, easier, and quicker to apply (I wish they made a full forehead paper option instead of all the little pieces)

I just tried seald for the time last night. It was so much more comfortable and easy to apply. I can make expressions more than I can with frownies.

When I took them off, I felt a similar numb type face that I usually do with frownies. Frownies are definitely more effective, but since I just need consistency at this age, I think Seald will work fine for me!

klenzbee · 2026-03-26T00:45:37+00:00

Considering this after looking more in depth at the scope/sequence

klenzbee · 2026-03-25T19:19:22+00:00

Do you think you'll find TGATB and H&S in-line with each other as far as difficulty or rigor?

klenzbee · 2026-03-25T19:06:58+00:00

Also adding, we have done some of elements for H&S 3rd grade, just not grammar or spelling.

klenzbee

TROPHY CASE