I have two boys, 12 & 14. They don't especially like coloring in maps and such now. We have tired of the cutting and pasting of lapbooking. I have been making our own notebooking pages similar to History Scribe in the beginning with a pic from the internet and a blurb at the bottom they would write. I began to add in more details so it looked like a lapbook, just on a notebook page. :lol: Now, its just overwhelming. I do not want to sit at the computer for hours on end and make these pages any longer. I try to include something for every little item we cover. The Civil War has darn near killed me! I need something more open and go for notebooking. I was looking at History Portfolio. Looks like it includes some neat things, especially if you use the TM with the suggestions for the boxes. They wouldn't just want to draw in the boxes either though! I wonder if I just got the TM of History Portfolio and made my own template of the student pages. Then I could include the suggestions from the TM that would fit us and maybe use the SOTW Student pdf pages to fit where the HP doesn't? What about using the student pages from some other program, say MFW or WinterPromise? In the fall we are starting Learning Adventure's AWOA. I don't really know how they address the history notebook yet. But I do want to have something to show for our studies. Its hard with boys who don't like coloring, cutting, gluing, or writing!:confused: Thanks for any suggestions! Kim

:)

What type of planner do you use? I'm finding myself doing this now and really need a simpler system! Right now, I'm printing my own planning pages, but am always looking at how other people do it. Thanks! Kim

Well see, when you explain it, I get it! :lol: This has just been a bad day all around! I just couldn't wrap my head around that this morning and my son was looking at me like I had three heads. I have to admit, we've gone to MM6 from TT7 and it has been an adjustment! No more simple, easy word problems. But, that is why we changed, to be challenged more. Sometimes the brief explanations leave me hanging though. I'm sure if I emailed her with ??, she'd responded happily, but I knew I could get what I needed right here! Thanks again. Maybe tomorrow I need two cups of coffee before math! Kim

1) The volume of a cube is 64 cu in. How long is its side? The answer key says: "Since 4 raised to the 3rd=4x4x4=64, a cube with a volume of 64 in cubed has sides that are 4 in long." Well, that's great if you just know in your head that 4 to the 3rd is 64, but what if you don't?!? How do you back out of the problem to find the answer? 2) The area of a square is 121m squared. What is its perimeter? If the square’s area is 121 m2, then the length of one side is 11 m. So the perimeter is 4 × 11 = 44 m. 3) The area of one face of a cube is 64 in squared. What is its volume? Since each face of a cube is a square, and the area of the face is given as 64 in2, the length of one side (edge) is 8 in.The volume is thus (8 in)3 = 512 in3. I don't even see where she would have explained this concept well enough to figure these out. The answer key is even sketchy to me. Can someone please help me understand better? Thanks, Kim

I just want it to be tender. Seems like they're always tough. Just a simple roast recipe. I want to make gravy with it. Thanks, Kim

Thanks for all the suggestions! I was able to find all but one or two of these at my library. Now to figure out notebooking pages to get all the Civil War info taken down! I really don't want to do another lapbook. I'm so tired of cutting and pasting. I just need to figure out the most important things and go from there I guess. Thanks! Kim

Glad to hear you liked Across Five Aprils. I just had a friend tell me they just couldn't get through it, it was so bad. :confused: Off to check my library for the other suggestions. Thanks! Kim

I have "Across Five Aprils" and "Shades of Gray". Opinions on these? I haven't read them myself. Any others we shouldn't miss? Thanks, Kim BTW, these would be for boys, 12 & 14.

My sil and bil are being sued now. Their 18 yo dd bumped a car in the backend 2 yrs ago. The man and his son said they were fine at the accident, told the police they didn't need to go to the ER. The damage to the cars was minimal, only scratches. They were actually in a parking lot. Apparently they found out the driver was on her parents insurance and are quite well-off. It took them 2 yrs to do all the digging. Just a few weeks ago bil, sil, and niece were served with papers. Now the people in the other car are "suffering severe mental and physical damage" and seeking lifetime support. My niece said, "If they could only sue me, they'd only get a Blackberry and some really nice clothes and jewelry." I see now, maybe she has a point. Just something for all of us parents to think about. Kim

Very cool! I'm sending the link to some hsing friends! Thanks so much, Kim

Thanks for the input! Of course, it wasn't what I wanted to hear though!:tongue_smilie: Science barely gets done around here now. I can't imagine two sciences in a day. Thanks again, Kim

I'm visiting here from the K-8. I have an upcoming 8th grader and a 6th. I try to keep them together for most all content subjects including science. I bought Rainbow and AGS at a used book sale for really great prices, thinking I would decide which to use for next year and just sell the other. Problem is, I like them both! And they are so different. My questions are: Would either of them be suitable for credit in 9th? I've read lots of threads here and a few other places on the 'net saying yes, saying no, saying maybe! If I "beef" one up with additional resources? I think I'm leaning towards Rainbow for them next year. Doesn't seem as overwhelming and looks pretty hands-on. I will do it in one year, not two though. So, that would leave AGS for 9th. To me it has a lot of info and shouldn't take much to make it worthy of a credit. We are in GA and I got this of the net: Under the new graduation rule, all students will be required to successfully meet four science requirements. They are: 1. Biology (26.012) 2. Physical Science (40.011) or Physics (40.081) 3. Chemistry (40.051), Earth Systems (40.062), Environmental Science (26.061), or an AP/IB course. 4. A science requirement that may be met using identified courses from the academic sciences or elective areas as designated in the List of State Funded Courses and K-8 Subjects Rule (IDA2). I'm assuming this 4th science is for a career-related field, right? Also, if you have two students close in age and try to keep them together for subjects, how do you handle when one "crosses over" into HS and earns credits for things the younger may do along side? Thanks for any insight. Kim

I'm going to WM today, so I'll check there. I'm, ummm, frugal and my dh loves to tell me, "Well, you get what you pay for." Sometimes he's right, sometimes not so much! :) Guess I need to price shop this a bit. Thanks ladies, Kim

Oh, that's right. Kind of makes me question the program now! Thanks for the help. Kim

I copied it directly from the supply list, so what do you think he meant? Something else all together, or did he just not know what he was doing either?:lol: Does G mean something? Thanks! Kim Going to see if there's a "Key to... Metric" available!

The things we have to measure out are: 1G iron filings (just to use the magnet under the paper) 0.7G sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, right) 0.5G sodium chloride (salt, right) 5G clayey sand w/silt (guess we'll use a tsp of just dirt) 5G potassium chloride (sea salt, right) I think for right now, we'll be ok eyeballing. But I've definitely got that scale on my wishlist before we get to the dangerous stuff! Please let me know if I've made any errors. Thanks, Kim

Works for me! What a lifesaver. I'll keep those scales on my wishlist for now. We'll just make do. Just knowing 5G is 1 tsp is a HUGE help. Thanks again, Kim

I was afraid you would say one of those scales! I'd been looking at those today at HST. I don't want to spend that much though. Looks like the cheapest one that would detect the small amount is about $40. Maybe we'll tinker with the experiment and just use a smidge or maybe a pinch or a dash. We're not using dangerous chemicals yet!:lol: Thanks! Kim

If an experiment calls for .5 G or 5 G, how would I measure that out and what would I use? I can't figure out what to use, especially for such a small amount.:blushing: Thanks, Kim Born in raised in the South where we don't use metric, but measurements like "from here to yonder" and a "smidge" more.

Yep, I'm pleased as punch. I've been going thru the Rainbow and ECGS today trying to decide which to use next year with my 6th and 8th graders. I'd like to use Rainbow in one yr next yr and the ECGS after but my oldest will be in 9th then. I may do a post on the HS board and see about how to cover those in the next two years and be able to have something count toward one HS credit. I hope we do well with the MUS. We've tried SOOOO many programs. He just really needs things to make the light bulbs go on. Even the test prep for $1 was exciting to me! I always feel like we're "behind" and dred testing. Now I have that to go thru for next year and make sure we're on track. I also got an unused copy of Beth Moore's "A Heart Like His" for $6, a Kay Arthur "Lord, Teach Me to Pray" for $1, and "The Power of a Positive Mom" for $1. Everything's in excellent condition. I was also really surprised about Dana Mosley in person. He is soooo tall, well over 6'. I'm 5'8" and he towered over me by a good head. He also looks a good bit older than on the DVDs. But, he said he has 5 yr old twins! I guess they keep him busy. Off to read my "new" books from my "Nerd Convention", as my boys call it!:lol: Kim

No replies? Now I just feel silly.

I went to GHEA in Atlanta today and it was a great success. I sold most everything I took to the used sale and scored some great deals! The biggies were: The Rainbow Science Set (Text, TM, & Lab) for $25!!! The older edition of Exploring Creation with General Science with Tests/Answers for $12.50!! I couldn't decide between those two programs for 8th grade science. At those prices, I bought them both! Now to decide which to use or what to use when. I was about to order a test prep by Steck Vaughn last night but didn't and got it today for $1!!!! Also got to meet and talk with Dana Mosley! After reading so much about him here, I felt like I was meeting Elvis. I told him I felt like I needed to ask for his autograph bc at TWTM, he was the king of math! And for my last steal, despite meeting Mr. Mosley and looking at CD, I decided my ds would probably deal better with MUS, at least for now. I snagged the Pre-Algebra TM, DVD, Starter Set of Blocks, Completer Set, Fraction Overlays, and Algebra/Decimal Inserts for.......... $40! What a GREAT day! Just had to share. I hardly ever luck up on any good deals. Kim

:bigear: Kim

This post was a response to a question I must have missed on the yahoo group this morning: MEP yrs 7,8,and 9 are basically the same as yrs 4,5, and 6. Yrs 7,8,and 9 are intended for older children, while 4,5,and 6 are not as dry so appeal to the younger set...but the material is the same. If a child completes yr6 and does well they could do GCSE OR...could begin a traditional Algebra 1 class (non-MEP) or perhaps skip A1 and begin Geometry (A2 is review of A1 plus more, so strong students could skip it and then just review and take the intermediate portions taught in A2 in 10-11th grades). My dd who is now in a non-MEP Algebra 1 class (8th grade), went from yr5 to A1. She found that pre-A was what was taught in yr5. She is a strong maths student so take that into account. I hope I have not further confused you, but it sounds like you would want to do GCSE or go to A1. It sounds like from this you could go into A1 after MEP 6. I didn't realize 7,8,9 were review or that in the UK upper math is mixed instead of split out here in the US. The GCSE is mixed math. Guess that explains why no one uses it here for HS. I was looking thru it all last night and was so confused as to the layout, but this post cleared it up about the upper levels. Still, from what I see though, 6 certainly covers a good bit of ground to me when I compare it to pre-al here. Thanks for the replies! Kim