My little ones love these. My daughter is starting to speak w/ a British accent :)

You are so right! I've been reading Lies My Teacher Told Me by Loewen, People's History of the US by Zinn, and A History Of The American People by Johnson. They all have a different angle (and w/ the first 2 authors -- an extreme bias IMHO!) Moira, What do you think of Spielvogel's perspective. What book(s) would balance him out? Thanks!!

Amber, Netflix has an awesome selection of every type of movie, documentary, etc. I only wish they had The Teaching Company dvds. For the price, you can't beat it! My kids think this is what everyone watches "for fun" (history documentaries) :)

Don't forget these FREE dvds from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. I received all 5 dvds in about a week. They look awesome! http://www.hhmi.org/catalog/main?action=home

:iagree::iagree::iagree: I never thought I'd be "sucked in" to a history text. The dark circles under my eyes are testament to this...

Thanks, gang! This is just what I needed. We're watching A & E's version of Ivanhoe this week from Netflix. Its great, although I have no context for the story (again, my history is weak, but improving day-by-day) :) Next, I'll be hitting you up for book lists for that era.

Thank you all. I would like to take this opportunity to thank so many people for this most prestigious award.... :) Ha! Actually I am the most illiterate history student here! I'm trying to catch up on years of raising kids, adopting kids and getting lazy!! Well time's they are a changin! I guess pushin' 40 will do that. We want to get back to our roots. Thanks for the laugh, Michelle!

Its a great summer read, oddly. I'm curious about the author's background. His treatment of the early church seems so fair, that I'm thinking he must be religious in some shape or form. Anyway, I love the book and I highly recommend it. I have no idea if his facts are straight as I am very weak on world history. Veritas uses it for Omni, so I'm thinking its right on point. Thoughts? Thanks!

Thanks in advance!!

Care to share? Thanks! :)

Yes, Cynthia, that helps :) It sounds like you have a great plan! Doesn't it feel good to know what's around the corner?

TT has worked well for us in certain areas. I wanted Chalkdust to increase the rigor for the Algebra series. My kiddos are 6th & 8th and this is our tentative plan: 5th: TT 6 6th: TT 7 7th: Chalkdust Pre-Alg 8th: Chalkdust Alg 1 9th: Chalkdust Alg 2/ TT Geometry 10th: finish TT Geometry/ Chalkdust Pre-Calc 11th: Community College math (Running Start)

Hi Cynthia, My 6th'er dd will also be doing Middle Ages, a la WTM :) Can we compare notes? I just bought SOTW 2 text (it will take her a few hours to read -- then what?) :), we'll do KF readings and lit selections. What are you assigning for reading/writing? I see you use IEW -- so will that include the Medieval writing lessons? I'm reading ahead in Spielvogel's Western Civilization and I'll be assigning reading and writing from that source as well. I have an assortment of books coming from Amazon this week: Sir Gawain, Canterbury Tales, Pilgrims Progress, Inferno. I already own a few Shakespeare. I own Famous Men of Middle Ages (text & guide), Our Island Story, and The Door In The Wall. I'm planning on Foxes Book Of Martyrs also. Do you have a Netflix list for Middle Ages/Medieval? Ivanhoe arrives today and that is our fun movie for the week. I'm curious what you have up your sleeve. Thanks in advance :)

A 13 year old who loves to read could read the original, I'm sure: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0192803611 My kiddos, 11 & 13 will read this soon. It is arriving today from Amazon. I also downloaded the audio from http://www.LearnOutLoud.com. It was a free download a month ago.

For CD Prealgebra, ds does this type of routine: Day 1: watch video, do half the problems in one Section Day 2: finish last half of problems in Section This was roughly 1.5 hours of math per day on average. On test days, it was more like 30 - 45 minutes.

http://www.Starfall.com Lots of reading w/ library books (free) :) Download free books from StoryNory at http://www.Lit2Go.com. My little girls listen to all the stories in bed at night and at naps. Also download all the Beatrix Potter books. My dd 5 uses words like "replete" now due to these audio books. Count everything, skip count, sing counting songs. Keep us posted on what you decide and how things are going :)

Great suggestions, Michelle. That is my current plan for US History in a couple years. I have so much to learn before then! 6pack, I'll check that link out. Thanks!!

I have a 6th'er also. I suggest ramping up the reading, if that is a concern. Spread your school days to about 4-5 hours. Have her type her papers. And of course, read SWB's book TWTM, if you haven't already. Her section on Logic Stage is fantastic.

I second this recommendation. Prof Mosely is wonderful!!

That is my goal also, which is why my house is always a mess! Too much reading! :)

I'm a conservative Christian also -- and it did not offend me at all. The author, Emily Bronte, is a minister's daughter who was a devout Christian. It is dark and bizarre -- but very intriguing. I've never been so enthralled in a book (since I read Jane Eyre years ago). Maybe others will chime in. Let us know what you decide. You could always try it and see what your comfort-level is.

Nick Nolte as Jefferson seems a bit odd, but I'm rolling w/ it. For those who have watched it, can you tell me anything I should be aware of. Did you let kiddos watch it? :lurk5: I will say, I LOVE the costumes in the movie... :)

Hi ThelmaLou, We are in the same boat w/ our sons, I think. My son is 13 and is registered w/ the state as a 7th grader. He didn't start K until age 6. It seemed like a great idea at the time, but he was never challenged appropriately in his private school. We brought him home at age 12 for what I called 6th/7th. This upcoming year he is in 8th doing high school level work in nearly all subjects. We are going to keep him at the younger grade "on paper" w/ the school district. He will be in Running Start at our local community college at 18 finishing up his high school credits. Actually we anticipate he will have 99% of his credits completed by that time, but we want that "free" year of college while technically still in high school. He is a firecracker baby, born on July 4. This way he will be 19 when he heads off to college, rather than 18. Anything could change between now and then. Keeping him at the younger grade "legally" leaves us w/ a few more options as needed later. Am I making any sense?

My focus is history-related reading. I'm also reading tons of classics that I should have read in high school and college. I have learned more during this last year of hs'ing than I did in high school -- specifically related to history and lit. I'm loving it. The hive spurs me on! Thanks gang! :)

UPDATE! The dvd series is on sale at Costco this week for $24.99 :)