I might be wrong, but I was pretty sure that Easy Grammar Plus (the 7th grade book) is supposed to be a stand-alone, learn-all-the-grammar-at-once kind of book. You don't need to do previous books and the Ultimate books that come afterwards are more like review.

I don't think there is anything wrong with W&R writing programs. Although I have no personal experience with them, they have been very popular on these boards and I don't think I've seen anything negative posted about them. I wouldn't hesitate to use them. If your daughter loves it, I would let her use it. I like LLATL Green, but there isn't much for writing in it, so if you are looking for an all-in-one English, this might not be it. I have my kids do other writing on the side, so you would still maybe want to add W&R to it. Also, the grammar coverage is basic. Out of the whole series, I think it's covered the best in Green (and Gray) but it isn't anywhere on par with something like R&S English. It depends on how much grammar coverage you want. I would check the scope & sequence and the table of contents to see if it's what you want.

I don't think anyone started a planning thread for 11th grade for this fall. Does anyone else have a rising 11th grade student? These are our plans, all classes at home: Math - Applied Math (from our province) - will have to add in another half-credit math when this is complete English - homemade CM/SWB-style literature and composition Science - CLE Agriscience Economics - Notgrass World Geography - A Beka (so tempted to try the new Notgrass but maybe not yet) Bible - Bible Quest study He's only doing one elective this year because the Bible Quest study is a full credit. Anyone else planning 11th grade?

I guess it depends on what you think a lot of reading is. Most Notgrass World History lessons have the lesson reading, then an original source document to read, plus a Bible reading (and sometimes 5 chapters of the Bible at once). If you only count it as history and not Bible or English, you could cut out the Bible reading and that would cut it down. My boys have sometimes found it to be a lot, but on the other hand, if you count all of that for three subjects, it makes sense to me.

Honestly, if MUS is working for her, I wouldn't switch. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? I would also be cautious about wanting to be "hands off" about math. Math is one of those subjects to keep an eye on, because you don't want your child taking shortcuts or gaming the system, as the PP mentioned. You will want to at least check in with her every day and talk her through problems she's missed, etc. That said, it is possible to adjust TT by skipping problems or lessons, or backing up if needed. But it will probably take her longer each day than MUS (at least that is my experience). Also, I would try a TT placement test to make sure she tests into pre-algebra before starting, just to be sure.

Take a look at Simply Charlotte Mason if you haven't already. I think they offer just about everything as a PDF.

I have the speech and public speaking course, and it looks really good. Unfortunately, none of my teens so far have wanted to do it. Here's hoping one of them will at some point!

Thanks for this! It does look really interesting. I'm going to see if my 12yo is interested in doing this next year or the year after.

I did some more digging in various sample pages and reviews on different sites and I found a Q & A at Rainbow Resource about the experiments. The answer only says, "The Applied Engineering Teacher book has pages 101-188 for experiments/applied learning. It lists what science it is covering, the focus, materials needed, the experiment and what the take away is." That sort of makes it sound like every worksheet for the Made in Heaven book is an experiment/lab, but I could be wrong about that. All the labs in the sample pages I've seen are for that book. I think I'm right about that, because the description at RR partially reads: "As students read Made in Heaven, they'll also explore God's design through hands-on activities." The examples of what kind of labs are included: Discover how the orientation of material determines a structures overall strength Explore light waves Observe the limitations of man-made camera lenses compared to the human eye Investigate the complexity of the human brain So that's maybe good and bad. There are lots of activities for that book, but maybe not many or none for the other books.

I have not used it but based on my experience with other Master Books' science courses, I can tell you that this one looks like a pretty full program. All of their courses follow a "read this and do this worksheet" format, and it looks like this course has kids reading and doing the worksheet on the same day. Their other courses spread it out more so they read and do the worksheets on separate days. There are hands-on activities built into the schedules and worksheets - there's one in the sample pages - but I can't tell how many there are overall. From looking at the sample, it looks like one of the more well-done ones they have. It looks pretty interesting, too.

What are you working on during the summer in order to be a better teacher this fall? It could be courses you're previewing or designing, books you're reading, whatever. I am working through a Grade 11 Applied math course. I feel very accomplished because it's not easy but I really wanted to be familiar with the content before my son tackles it. No one else in my life gets excited about me doing math. Haha. I thought you all would at least understand. 😄 So what are you working on?

finish doing Gr. 11 math course so that I am familiar with the topics and have a sort of answer key make sure TT algebra is installed on a computer somewhere print courses that need printing buy first day of school candy and presents complete notification forms for province I have until September so I'm not really in any rush, but I am working on the math currently.

We do pictures and I also give my kids presents. Not big stuff, but usually t-shirts and school supplies, maybe books they want, and a bunch of candy. 🙂

I think LA is an area where a lot of people do their own thing, because hardly anyone (that I know of anyway) loves every aspect of a "boxed" LA curriculum. It's a good subject to talk about. Probably the answers to the questions you posted are very individual, depending on the family and the child, but I will answer for my own family. When they're young, and especially with boys, I try not to require too much. Reading every day, copywork or narration (alternating days) and some written phonics work (like 2 pages of Explode the Code for example). Once they get to doing formal English or grammar and spelling, then I alternate spelling and English and keep requiring the narration and copywork/dictation. I've never felt the need for anything more than that. I embrace the "bitsy" approach. I've never liked a single English program enough to use it exclusively for every aspect of LA. I'm not sure there are even many LA programs out there that cover everything in one package. If I use spelling from here and grammar from there and writing from somewhere else, I can tailor it to my kid much more easily. I've done a mix of classic and modern literature, but probably more classic. One reason for that is because I didn't read many classics as a child, and *I* wanted to read them, plus I find the language of older literature to be more complex. I like that brain stretching.

So far I have: Math - TT Algebra 1 English - homemade CM/SWB mix of literature and composition Science - Survey of Astronomy (Master Books) History - Notgrass Exploring World History Book 1 with some things added Electives - probably Computer Science 101 with Stanford Online plus some other things, and he's doing a beginner Python course from Udemy

There is maybe some busywork, but we'll skip all the written work (fill in the blank stuff). I might do some of the questions orally, but we'll mostly just read it, colour any pictures, and do projects. It's really cute. I wish R&S had more levels of science like this one.

This is what I've been thinking for my daughter: Math - finish MM 1B and complete 2A. I'm not sure if we'll get further than that. English - R&S English and spelling 2, WWE 2 (loosely) and Pathway reading 3 (just reading practice aloud to me) Science - Patterns of Nature (R&S). I think she'll love this because there are lots of little projects and most of it is nature topics so we can find things outside. History - Ancient history with older brother, using R&S and Diana Waring audios Extra - Canada My Country (just a cute intro to Canadian stuff), and all the usual hymns, piano lessons, art and Scripture memory.

Well, that's okay. You don't have to agree with me. But I've been using it this way for 4 kids from 3rd grade through Algebra 1 and it's been great. Soooo.... different strokes. 🙂

Read alouds past the age of about 10. I have felt guilty for this in the past. I know it's good for me to keep reading to them, etc. etc. but once they can read well, they just want to read their own books and they have so many other things they want to do than sit around and listen to Mom read. I do catch my 11yo listening sometimes while I read to my 6yo, but that's it. Science experiments. Most of my kids don't enjoy them, and I don't really care. I make the older ones do some since they can do them without me, but I just don't care if my younger kids don't want to. Unfortunately, my 6yo LOVES them. Outside classes. I know I would hate them and the time commitment required to go to them. I have never been interested in being part of any kind of co-op.

I'm not disagreeing, because I know this is very possible, but if this is a problem, TT can also be used with just the book so the lessons are read or taught by the parent, and the problems done on paper. That's how I use it with my kids until they hit algebra 1.

Agreeing with Merry. Especially if your kids are older(ish), it's doable to get through one book in a semester.

I would suggest Math U See or Teaching Textbooks. I have only ever used TT for pre-algebra with my kids, and I've been happy with it. It's spiral, and has video teaching and someone else teaches. 🙂

As far as I know, there is no daily writing component about books read. It's just weekly (like the literary essays she talks about from 5th grade up), or after the book is finished.

I've been thinking about it lately, too. ETA: more decisions made. Math: TT 7 English: Easy Grammar Plus, Spelling Workout, WTM writing (written narrations, 3-level outlines, rewrites, lit. essays) I was going to have him do LLATL Green like I've done with his older brothers, but I think he'll find it confusing and scattered. I think EG will be much clearer and systematic, plus he'll do well with all the repetition. I'm also going to have him go through the Remedia Outlining book before he starts 3-level outlines and rewrites Science: Apologia's Swimming Creatures, probably another Apologia book for second semester History: Ancient history with R&S and Diana Waring audios Canadian geography: Geography, Province to Province Logic: Logic Lift-off Other stuff: Bible memory work and singing hymns (until his voice changes)

CLE emailed me back and told me that the student materials consist of a schedule, questions that are not in the text, instructions to do some of the questions in the text (I'm guessing that means the end-of-chapter reviews), an answer key, and tests. They feel that this material is enough to equal high school credit. I also noticed that the text contains projects at the end of every chapter so there is definitely potential to add hands-on stuff.