DD loves the Danica Mckellar books (we have them all), and I started that Asimov thread so we have them coming. They are out of print and our local library doesn't have them so they are more costly than I would spend on used books, but I ordered them both so I can report back eventually!

I'm reluctant to read the PDF online, but I bought Realm of Algebra and Realm of Numbers. It looks just like something DD would love!

Has anyone used this book? The Amazon reviews make it sound very appealing!

Are you using graph paper? My DD is 2e with ADD inattentive, working memory and processing speed issues. Math was frustrating for her for a long time (and still is for random topics) because she got the concepts right away but struggled with output mostly in terms of sequencing and organization. I found graph paper with 1/2" squares rather than the typical 1/4" and it has saved us. She can now work in the regular graph paper and blank paper but for new things I go back to the larger graph paper and it helps considerably. She actually claimed to dislike multiplication but loved long division which completely surprised me! I was sure it was going to be a struggle with all the steps but she took to it without a problem. I kept explaining that she obviously understood multiplication if she were able to complete long division but she just oddly loves it!

I learned them. Graduated high school in '87 so probably learned them in the late 70s.

We're in this region, and we really love it. DD isn't PG (she's MG with 2e issues), but I do keep my eye on gifted programs. The Natural Math site is based in Cary: http://www.naturalmath.com and I think they have a math circle. Duke TIP program is based here. DD cares far more about excelling at circus arts than being involved in the stereotypical things that appeal to STEM kids, but we have lego leagues, Science Olympiad, and tons of museums and lots of science and tech things happening. We do have a ton of resources, but nothing quite as big as some of the other cities noted. But, we've lived in the SF, Austin, DC, Boston areas, and the quality of life is awesome here.

We have no technical issues, but I think the sign-in screen has too many clicks to it. The UI could be significantly improved. Plus, I hate that there is no reporting or insight for parents to know what the kids are working on or struggling with. DD likes it enough that we're using it mostly because she hates the chaos and noise of all other typing programs. It was inexpensive too, but I'd pay more if it got me some reporting.

We had originally just kept moving forward with math since she could work them out adequately with skip counting and other mental math strategies. However, she started to get frustrated that calculations were taking too long (from her perspective). So, we tried a bunch of things--games like Speed, flash cards, wrap-ups, Times Tales, songs, 100s charts, etc. We don't use much technology for learning, but one day we went through all the different computer-based iPhone and Mac apps and websites. She fell in love with Reflex Math during a trial run, which I never would have guessed. So, I got it at a discount through HSBC, and it has been a magical elixir. She uses it happily, and it only takes about 20-30 minutes. She earns points to decorate her avatar and tree. She loves the characters and the games. It's all incredibly gentle. She tends to spike high anxiety with timed exercises and gets overwhelmed with most video games. But, she really enjoys this. I can easily see which facts are still stumping her and we work on them a bit just with songs to get her over the last few humps.

My DD didn't have any interest in ancients and strongly disliked SOTW when we tried it. So, we just did interest-led history, and she fell in love with history. That was more important to me than studying time periods someone else told me we had to at a particular point. Now in 5th we are using Human Odyssey K12 and Oxford University Press World in Ancient Times plus a bunch of Great Courses audio books and loads of other things, and she loves it. She's engaged and interested, and we are having a great time.

This site, created by a WTM mama, does a great job of showing how to use rods. http://www.educationunboxed.com

I think most of the homeschoolers we know here in NC have chosen it for reasons that are not related to religion nor school quality.

We loved Prehistoric Autopsy. It's from the BBC but it's available on Discovery Education which is free from Homeschool Buyer's Coop until the end of the month. They went through research and recreated models of 3 hominid species. The series name makes it sound creepy but it was great.

My DD turns 10 in a month and she loves Danica McKellar books and videos on nerdist and Vi Hart's videos. She loves the BA characters too. She liked Pet Shop Math for several months until she got bored with it. But, she doesn't like anything called "cute" though she loves fashion and chevron patterns, etc. She has always disliked the cartoony feel of Singapore's graphics. We have our eyes on the http://www.horseloversmath.com site too.

DH and I both work full time. I telecommute, and we are a global company. Most of my co-workers are 3 hours behind me so DD and I do school from about 7am-10am. Then she has independent work and then DH drops her off for afternoon activities. His schedule and work location is flexible but his 3 offices are all between or near our house and her activities. It's hard and DH and I both work weird hours if we have any deadlines or middle-of-the-night work needed. We both work in high tech so both those situations are common. We only have a sitter in the summer afternoons if she isn't doing camps because her normal afternoon activities aren't happening. We don't use any outside childcare during the school year.

We used them in 3rd, but they were just some of many resources we used. I thought they were great but not enough for us as a full curriculum.

Hakim's Story of US has audio versions available on Audible.

If she dropped out of high school, is it possible that she felt like she missed some opportunities by doing so and regrets it? Maybe homeschooling high school seems too close to her personal regrets. Just thinking about it from a different perspective!

I have a few more to recommend, and I think these work for older kids. Third Chimpanzee for Young People--I pre-read a bunch of this because the age on Amazon said grade 9 and up, and my DD is a rising 5th grader. However, it's working well for us to read together. She is sensitive so there are a few bits in different chapters that I'm skipping over, but would be fine for middle school and up for sure. This really focuses on the social and cultural aspects of being modern human and how they evolved. So, less emphasis on the hominid ancestry and more on us. The Early Human World--part of the OUP World in Ancient Times. Great summary of information with interesting details from the finds, and it's written in such an approachable voice and tone. We were actually just cracking up reading the most recent chapter. Prehistoric Autopsy from the BBC--this is actually available on Discovery Education, which is free from HSBC this summer. It reviews evidence from a Neandertal, Turkana Boy, and Lucy and creates models from the evidence. Our whole family really enjoyed this.

Just a few parts of Chapter 3 and 9 that she's not quite ready for, not entire chapters though. Actually, I haven't gotten to some of the later chapters either, but looking at them now, I'll probably edit some of them too, parts about war, etc. She's a sensitive kid so I have to just edit based on that. I think it's all fine for an older or less sensitive kid.

Just a few parts of Chapter 3 and 9 that she's not quite ready for, not entire chapters though.

I responded on your other thread.

I have it, have pre-read a good bit of it, and I've started using it with my mature 9-year-old. However, I'm probably skipping a few chapters that I think are a bit too mature for her to grasp right now. What specific questions do you have? It focuses primarily more on the social and cultural constructs of what makes us human, in evolutionary terms.

No, multiplication and division are assigned together so it can assess fact families.

We don't really use technology much but DD surprised me and loved the Reflex Math trial so we purchased an account. She has processing speed issues and in the short time we have used it so far, her recall speed has jumped significantly. She had all the mental math tricks in her bag already but needed help getting that immediate recall. It has been excellent! She loves Crabby. Loves styling the avatar. Loves the gentle approach of the games. We would love something similar for spelling rules! Spelling City is not it. She doesn't like any of the games and it just doesn't have the same appeal. I want Reflex Spelling with OG rules!!

We are using K12 Human Odyssey 1 and the OUP World in Ancient Times series.