Being a 24 hr caretaker is exhausting. I hope you have some ground rules in place regarding what you are and are not taking care if when it comes to your mom and her male companion. Knowing expectations from both sides (and how they compare to what you can logistically do) will save you a tremendous headache and burnout later on. I'm not sure which programs that you'd planned on using, but if she was really looking forward to it, do you think she's be self-motivated to do history & science on her own? What is she currently using for math? Saxon can be pretty self-led, especially when using Saxon Teacher. I'm sure money is a huge concern. Worst case, would Khan Academy be possible for math? It's independent, and it's free.

I think this is one of those times where YMMV. I found the TE very beneficial when addressing topics that I needed help teaching. It is written to a classroom setting, but I found it easy to omit what wasn't relative. Again, YMMV. It was great for us, but I can understand that it wouldn't be right for everyone. ETA: I will say that my experience is only from 1A/1B-5A/5B, but the samples for the middle school program look quite similar.

Math in Focus has a middle school program. Their TEs are pretty scripted. Saxon is written to the student, so it would be fairly easy to teach from the written instruction. Those are two fairly different programs, though.

It does not in terms of sentence dictation. The lists are divided up by phonetic rules. Lesson 1 is "ai" and "ay" for all three levels. The only difference is the difficulty level of the word lists. The words are read for the student to write down. The "hint" that explains the phonetic rule is read sporadically throughout which enables the student to memorize the rule in addition to the words. It's basically a spelling test every day. When the student receives a 100% 2 days in a row, he advances to the next level. A personal lesson is every 5 lessons. You pick 15 words that he has been struggling with, and that's his list. I was skeptical at first, but it has worked really well for us.

IEW's Phonetic Zoo is a phonics-based spelling program that is designed to be the last program you ever use. After they complete level C, which I find to be challenging, they shouldn't need a spelling program anymore. If you purchase the full kit, the cost is $99ish for one level. You would have all the materials for every level minus the CDs for the level you did not purchase. You could purchase the value kit for $30ish, but it doesn't include the CDs. The CDs make the program completely independent, although for the money, I prefer to read off the lists and hints/jingles myself.

Have you looked into IEW's Phonetic Zoo?

Totally off-topic, but I'm curious as to what Okinawan martial arts you trained in. I trained in Goju Ryu back in high school.

Have you looked into spellingcity.com?

I'm so glad to hear this! He sounds really similar to my 10 yr old DD. We're starting Math in Focus 5A/5B in the fall (5th) with the idea of doing AOPS Pre-Algebra in 6th. I'm glad to hear it's working so well for your son!

I don't think it's quite what you're looking for, but Literature Pockets might be along those lines. It doesnt include full books, but it has short stories.

Awesome!

http://iew.com/shop/products/teaching-writing-structure-and-style-second-edition-seminar-and-practicum-workbook

Lol I got really lucky a few years back, and I scored the old book & old DVDs second-hand. The next year, they updated. Since I didn't purchase mine through IEW,I couldn't update them. (Sidenote - I can't remember if you said where you purchased yours, but if you bought them through IEW, that might be an option.) Anyway, so there I was with the old book & DVDs. When my oldest moved up to Essentials in Classical Conversations, We had to watch the videos as a group. By that time, the DVDs were the new ones. I couldn't see spending the extra for the new book, so I made the old one work. :)

A lot of the first grade stuff we have is from when my oldest was in 1st. I'm not sure they'd all be my top picks now, but they'll work and didn't cost any additional money. Reading - Horizons Phonics & Reading grade 1 (omitting writing composition lessons), free reading books from Mensa's list, and reading comprehension practice on readtheory.org. Spelling & Vocabulary - Horizons Spelling & Vocabulary grade 1 Grammar & Writing - Houghton Mifflin English grade 1 Math - Math in Focus 2A/2B, math facts practice on xtramath, and utilizing khan academy for further help/practice when necessary Science - interest led with science facts from CC, some unit studies from Ranger Rick Big Books, and some additional work from McGraw-Hill's online science resources to cover certain topics in order to prep for end-of-year testing History/Civics/Geography - US history facts & geography from CC Cycle 3 with supplemental US history & geography work from Harcourt Horizons grade 1. We'll also be working through History Pocket's Explorers of North America & Native Americans books. Art - CC & Artistic Pursuits Gr K-3, Bk 1 Music - Musical appreciation, tin whistle, & composers through CC, piano Foreign Language - Latin through CC & ASL through Lifeprint if he wants to follow along with his sister Computer - typing.com & Scratch Extras - Tiger Cub Scouts elective adventures, Wednesday night classes at church, t-ball

Reading - Great Works Illustrated studies of Tuck Everlasting & The Watsons Go to Birmingham, free reading books from Mensa's list, and reading comprehension practice on readtheory.org. Spelling - Phonetic Zoo B Grammar - Essentials of the English Language with Classical Conversations Writing & Vocabulary - IEW's US History-based Writing Math - Math in Focus 5A/5B, math facts practice on xtramath, and utilizing khan academy for further help/practice when necessary. Contemplating ordering BA 5A-D to work on for enrichment. I don't want to overload her, but the goal is to start AOPS next year. It might be good for her. Science - interest led with science facts from CC, some unit studies from Ranger Rick Big Books, and some additional work from McGraw-Hill's online science resources to cover certain topics in order to prep for end-of-year testing History/Civics/Geography - US history facts & geography from CC Cycle 3 with supplemental US history & geography work from Harcourt Horizons grade 5. We'll also be working through History Pocket's Explorers of North America & Native Americans books. Art - CC & Artistic Pursuits Gr 4-5, Bk 1 Music - Music appreciation, tin whistle, & composers through CC, home school band through her fine arts co-op (she wanted to take guitar, but the class was full, and guitar lessons Foreign Language - Latin through CC & ASL through Lifeprint Computer - typing.com & Scratch burningcargo.com & code.org Extras - Girl Scout Bronze award & other badge work, Wednesday night classes at church, softball, speech class with her fine arts co-op (drama students are selected from speech class, and that's her goal)

I have the old book that I use with the newer DVDs. There are some differences, but the old book mostly lines up with the new DVDs. There is a section in the new that is missing from the old, but it lines up okay. I've watched the old DVDs and the new ones. The updates made in the new ones are great, but the concepts and the source materials are the same with the possible exception of one or two source materials toward the end. I'm assuming if I can use the old book okay with the new DVDs, you should be able to use the new book with the old DVDs.