I agree with the above poster. Dd12 is only half way through Lial's Pre-Algebra and it has been a life saver. I tried so many different programs thinking this is how I want her to learn. Finally she looked at me one day and said "Mom is there just a textbook that I could read and do?" :001_huh: So after researching and looking at several used editions I settled on Lial's and it is perfect! She self teaches with it, which she loves, and comes to me with questions and for grading.

Elizabeth, can I just send dd12 to your house???? Her life would be soooooooo great if I good get my head around more of your ideas and actually implement them!

I think they normally recommend using the provided notebook http://www.bhibooks.net/catalog/item/4154895/4031211.htm here. We also use the rule cards but at his age I wouldn't push them too hard. You will retest him every year to determine where you should start. They will repeat list until they test completely out of them and move on. This year dd9 is using here own notebook for the first time. This is her 3rd year using it. At the beginning of the year we tested and she started in P level. We just took our end of the yer testing and she tested into S level. At the beginning of next year we will retest and she should place somewhere close to S level depending on how much she forgets. Here is our schedule; day 1 quickly, verbally review phonogram cards first 10 words including any rule pages to build Day 2 same but with next 10 words Day 3 original sentences on first 10 words Day 4 original sentences next 10 words day 5 test on all 20 words You can really tweak the system how it works best for you. We don't cover 40 words a week or anything but dd9 is a great speller and I have no complaints.

Around 1 hour a day, self teaching through Lial's Pre-Algebra.

I am looking at this now. I am actually thinking 4 week units on each. I have my basic schedule and plan down and now I am looking for natural breaking points. Luckily the history we are using is broken into 4 week units so that part is easy.

http://welovetheprairieprimer.blogspot.com/ This is the one I referred to the most. We did this over the last 2 years. It was a great time and not much planning time involved. I spent about an hour checking for books at library, made a list and then picked them all up. I always checked out enough for the next 2 weeks so I didn't have to make several trips. Any specific questions you have?

Thank you I will check it out. Have you all seen the PBS Blue Eye/Brow Eye from mrs. Elliot in 1968? We watched this today and it was a real eye opener for my kids.

Ages 9 and 12. Any suggestions? I want something that gives them a good understanding of the times and struggles. Thanks!!

So my original pan was to combine my 5th grader and 8th grader and do a really great, fun year of Physical science together. Main spines were CK-12 Physical Science Text and RS4K. Then several supplemental books, kits and labs. So why am I waffeling now???? I was looking at the DIVE science, which has been my plan for HS, and I see that in 9th they do ICP. If 8th grader does our original plan this year would she do ICP in 9th as well? Wont it be overlap or no? I dont want to put her in ICP this year for a couple of reasons. Math is #1, she is only about half way through Lial's Pre-Algebra and wont finish until middle of 8th grade. She will also start Latin next year (yes, I know I should not have waited so long,lol) so I dont want to weigh her down in all subjects. I also need to be able to combine them as I also work from home on average about 20-20 hour a week. So, trying to teach them separate on everything never gets done. Dd12 really prefers to interact rather than do on her own so we share Bible, History and Science. So can you please give me your opinions!!!??? Good or bad..lol Suggestions, anything at this point! I have money saved to spend on several different kits but want to make sure before I start spending money.

I know they are very different programs so I am not lookig for a side by side comparision but more of an overview. Is one more in depth than the other? Does one seem to have better experiments (not demonstrations) than the other. This would be Level 1 of RS4K and II for Noeo.

I actually really like that approach. i just think I am too chicken to do it. I am also not sure I have the basics myself to do it.

Ok Elizabeth, you know you have to explain!! How are you going to explain concepts. What is your set up? Sounds like what I would love to do but not quite sure how, can I please hear your plan.....

Hands down Learning Adventures A World of Adventures!

I finally gave up and am building my own. I am using CK-12 Flex book for dd12 main text. http://www.ck12.org/...-Middle-School/ RS4K Middle Grades Phyics, http://www.gravitasp...-school-physics pulling experiments from the Apologia Physical Text additional reading from World of Science http://www.amazon.co...n/dp/0890516189 and I am spending the bulk of the money on Hands on Kits (not sure which ones yet) Since I either already have or got the resources fairly cheap (CK-12 is online free) I can devote more money to the good stuff!

Right there with you. On book 2 of LOTR and talking about it non stop! :banghead:

My kiddos still do some interest led. It sparks from anything. Example, while reading Little House on The Prairie Dd12 got interested in rabies (this was when she was 9). So off to the library we went. I bought a nice new journel for her and told her that was for anything she found interesting. Sometimes she writes, draws, or glues pictures in it. Anyway she recorded a bunch of things she learned about rabies but not much came out of it. Then she moved into blood having learned that rabies goes into the bloodstream, a few things here and there but again not much. Well somehow that led into a study on Malaria and that became a big thing. She read everything she could about Malaria and mosquitos then ended up putting together a great power point presentation on it. So all that to say that sometimes you really just have to let them go. If he likes Legos why not start there. He may be more mecahnically inclined than into the life sciences. Or maybe let him get a tadpole and see if that sparks. I think the hardest part of interest led studies is turning loose of the notion that they have to learn certain things at certain times. Just have fun with it.

I have it. I do use it but basically just as a checklist for what the kiddos have studied and what we need to study. It is also a great spring board if you want to create unit studies. You must also remember that there is no way you will ever cover everything listed in there so do not let it stress you out. lol

So how much time does this take? On a daily or weekly basis? What subjects are considered covered with this. Dd12 jut finished book number 1 and is loing the series! So she is very excited about this for next year. Trying to figure out what else we need for the year. So of course: Math Science History What other main subjects do we need to add?

So I just wanted to inform you, so that you do not give out false info, that this can and is a real deformity! My little girl is only 9 and has suffered from major neck spasms and headache most of her life. We were recently seen by a team of nuero specialists at John Hopkins hospital and she has a "head forward lack of curvature in her upper spine neck area". She was probably born this way since there has been no accident to cause it and she is too young for it to be caused over time. She is having to undergo intense and sometimes painful therapy both massage and physical. So you might want to look into it before you make the assumption that is is not a real deformity ever. As for your opinion of Chiro's I neither agree or disagree because I have always been too chicken to try one for either myself or my daughter. lol

This is how Dd9 leaned to read. I used the program exclusively and it worked great! She nows read on a 7th grade level in 4th grade. However she has also been taught to read and use the KJV bible since she started reading and I think this has added to her level. I think PP is great!

We will be usng Diana Waring's Ancient Civilizations and The Bible. I can't wait!

I think if your 4th grader loves science you might want to feed that love. I would not be so worried about rigorous at this age but exposure. What does he love? What are his interest? If he love science why not do a year of interest led to really get his juices flowing.

Ok so my 5th grader did not know these and my 7th grader did not know that other thread words!!! What vocab program are you ladies using???!!!!

I have the Physical science books but it seems somewhat dry. Do the teaching DVD's add anything to it?

I think it could be used as Pre-Algebra. I looked through it and Lial's Pre-Algebra and decided to go with the Pre-Algebra because it goes more in depth with the actual Algebra side of things. Also, Dd12 is very STEM focused so I wanted to have her prepared for more advanced math earlier. we love Lial's. It has proven to be the best program we have chosen, and trust me there have been alot!