No, strong Christian but don’t need or actually prefer YE. Secular is usually fine.

Neutral is good. And either online or home. She’s done two live online sciences the past two years, and I was thinking of directing the funds into some different online classes this year and maybe sticking with less spendy options, but am open to considering. I will check out Great Courses, and look at the marine biology course, that sounds intriguing.

I’m going crazy here trying to find a good option. Any recommendations for a year DD requested of Astronomy/Geology/Earth Science, OR Zoology for 8th grader?? I feel like I’ve looked all over at too many options, but keep getting distracted by something else. She initially requested studying mammals, but I had to break it to her that is a bit too simplistic for her age.... So, I suppose Zoology for 8th could be an option? She’s done MPOA MS Science 1 and 2 and so has covered Tiner’s books of Planet Earth, History of Medicine, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. She has struggled with Physics, so decided not to do MP Physical Science. Argh.

Are there times of the year when you typically see sales roll around? I’m considering the Focus On Astronomy and Geology for my 8th grader next year. We’ve done Memoria Press online science these last two years, but when I asked her what she’s like to study in her last year before HS, she requested astronomy. Pondering...

LOL, I just totally checked out your blog between your two posts!!!! So helpful, thanks!

I’m planning a trip with the kids and me to go the Badlands in June. I’m thinking we will have 1 day in the Badlands, and then go on to the southern Black Hills for 3-4 days. I am planning on having us tent camp, as we’re generally experienced. We’d be driving in from the east side of SD, heading west for reference. So, for those who have visited/camped out there. Are there any favorite campsites in either location you would recommend? I like the more primitive camps, less glamorous, and can handle pit toilets but running water is always a nice bonus 🙂. I think I read somewhere about “free camping” or something like that - where we can just pitch a tent anywhere in a national park as long as XYZ parameters are met - should I consider this out there? How about favorite places to visit? Again, less Wall Drug and more historical sites. Custer National Park and Crazy Horse are obvious. Any other information from those who live in the area or are familiar with it would be greatly appreciated! Oh yes, kids are 13, 11, 9.

This is exactly the type of very specific sorting I hadn’t been able to find yet on the sites I was on. Thanks.

So I’m trying to find a soaker tub, ideally free-standing, but not wanting to spend more than about 1500. Am I on a wild goose chase, is this even possible to find? I’m not finding anything. 20 inches would be ideal, and 18 is the absolute minimum it could be to overflow drain. Does anyone have any leads?

That ThinkFun game looks awesome.... Adding for future present ideas.

I’m sorry for having so many questions, but would you be able to find that first one you listed? I see a few with that title and I’m trying to guess which you were meaning....

Do you have a suggestion for what this book of puzzles would be? If i just search “chess puzzles,” will that get me close?

No, he does not know how to notate. I have no idea what that even means!! A tournament set is a great idea! Looking into How to Beat Your Dad now.....

Oh my goodness, all wonderful ideas. Looking forward to checking them out and trying to decide!

DS turning 9 and is really having fun with chess for past few months. We have 1-2 kids books on learning and strategies, but I haven’t perused them too closely to see how far they would take him. We have a decent magnetic board with drawers for the pieces. He does like to travel with it, which is a bit of a bother. I’m thinking of getting him a fun chess t-shirt. I am wondering if he’d enjoy a DVD for kids on learning and strategies, but have no idea where to find a good one that would fit this age. Any recommendations on that? I think he’s to the stage where he would love learning specific strategies. Or DVDs of recorded games for him to then emulate? Again, no idea if that’s even a thing or what they would look like or if they’d even be helpful. I’ve just played randomly here and there for fun, and it’s hard to beat him sometimes! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

So, FWIW, I decided against TFL. I’d not heard that it was a beast, but I was suspicious that that might be the case. DD is doing adequately in SFL, but I’m afraid pushing into TFL without my ability to greatly guide her might be problematic. So, instead, I forked out more (ugh) money and decided to do CLRC HS Latin 1 with Anne Fossen (or something close to that) based on recommendations above. I think the change in text and focus, as well as having two x week classes with a live instructor will be good for her. Here’s hoping....

Adding to the voices for Miele. Heard about here here a few years ago, and might never go back.

Just bumping this to see if anyone else has experience with this DVD course....

When you say he is “taking her next class,” do you mean the different section of the Intro class? I see it listed as Cycle B for this coming year. Or do you mean Literature and Composition for Underclassmen? Trying to make sense of how her classes work.

Oh my goodness, so many questions. So I keep hearing people rave about Anne Van Fossen. Looks like she only teaches HS levels. So do I start HS levels in 8th? Looks like maybe I could? Again, in which level? Argh. So not ready to think about HS planning!

@fourisenough, what level of MS Latin did you place your DD into? Was it MS Latin, or a HS class? Trying to figure out where DD would place after 2 years of decent Latin learning with MP.

DD heading into 8th next year. She’s completed 3 (4?) years of IEW tracks, and while they have served her decently, I’m ready for her to move into something else. I had great writing instruction myself growing up, but have heard rave reviews on Cindy Lange and IA. I’m really thinking this might just be an investment that we’re willing to make 1 class per kid as they grow up. I’m leaning towards having her do this in 8th grade to give a really strong base for high school writing. Plus, I can perhaps make the rest of 8th grade a bit “lighter” if IA ends being heavier rather than lightening up a HS year. If you’ve had experience with her classes, when would you recommend one to be taken to have the most benefit? Any other thoughts? Thanks!

Good to know. Maybe we’ll suffer through a couple more books to finish out 7 and then be a bit more lenient on 8.

Momto6inIN, I like your answer! She knows how to do it, but there are so many problems and it takes so long!

DD is in CLE 7 this year, looking to CLE 8 next year. They do allow calculator use on some problems, but still have a lot of work done manually. Do you start to allow more calculator use than they prefer in these years? Some of the lessons are so long and arduous..... Should I stay strong and stay the course as written, or allow some more calculator use?

Yes, I’m really hopeful that languages in particular will be as close to a breeze as possible after even 2 years of Latin. Languages came easily for me, and I’m hoping the same for her. Does Third Form really take a big step up after Second Form? I’m curious about this. If this is the case, I wonder if I should switch to something new this year after two years with MP. If I did, what should I look at? Did you like Wheelocks or Henle better? I think I have a Wheelocks on my shelf....