but here's my experience... My dd, who was in public school until half-way through 1st grade...which was fall of 2006...didn't get math at all!! She had such a hard time even understanding what was going on with addition. Anyway, when we brought all the kids home from school last year, we started her on K12's program. A very "traditional" program. While the pages were cute and fun, and it seemed like a pretty rigorous, well thought-out program. She just kept getting further and further behind and more and more confused. We switched her to MUS Alpha at the beginning of the year, this year. At the time she was just a little over 7, and what would be typically seen as a "2nd grader." I was so worried that she would never, never catch up in in math, due to her confusion and switching programs so many times, so early on. Well, we started with MUS Alpha for her, along with her 6yo and 5yo sibblings. It was truly amazing. After a month or two of watching the MUS videos...which I had her do, because I was sure that it was being taught "correctly" that way...she was totally understanding math!! She got it! In fact, she got through the entire alpha book in about 3 months, and is working on Beta now. She's doing awesome, and we hope to have her to Gamma by fall. It is like night and day difference. I don't know if it is/was the MUS that did the trick, or if it was just the fact that she matured enough to understand the concepts (she is super-good at reading and all her language arts, so I knew we weren't dealing with any sort of "issues" with her learning abilities). Perhaps, and this is my guess, it was a combination of both. Maturity, and a program that really spoke to her and helped her understand. All 3 of my youngest use MUS, and we love it here. In fact, one of my older children used Rod and Staff 4th grade this year. She is really good in math, and has no issues with concepts and understanding abstract ideas. I thought that a more "mainstream" program may be good for her. Well, after a year of it, she is bored stiff and can't stand math. She is begin to do MUS! We are going to have her finish out the year, then do Delta at super-speed over the summer, and go into Epsilon in the fall. I do believe in MUS. It is a great program, and I would highly recommend it. Rod and Staff is great too...but in a totally different way. They are so different from eachother. I would think that a child would love one or the other, but not both. HTH! Kelly

I think I've got my hands on 2 sets of Teaching Company lectures... American History American Identity They look too good to pick just one, and dd *loves* this sort of thing. I plan to suppliment with biographies of some of the people covered, or their own writings, as we go through. Then, I'd like to use Lies My Teacher Told Me...as dd also loves this sort of thing. I guess I still need some sort of text?

My dd has the same desires and was thrilled to read this thread! Thanks for the info! We also learned that we have a Culinary school only 2 hours from our house! Who knew?! It looks like entrance is rather typical, with the addition of some hands-on experience? Kelly

We are actually using the Astronomy one this year, and really do like it. I was just wondering about other publishers for life sciences. I would do it in the same order that you are saying, if I would continue with Apologia.

Oops, not, sorry, I meant one of the zoology or botany courses with Apologia. RS4K is only a ten week course??? I knew that it was only 10 chapters, but I was thinking that they were meant to be covered in longer than a week each? No?

I'm using this for a 10yo, 8yo, 7yo and 6yo next year! :)

Hi! Well, we are definately doing Biology here next year, and I've narrowed to these 3 programs. Can anyone compare them for me? Which ones are easier to teach, more or less experiments, more information, more actual science, accuracy, etc? TIA!

Forgot to say, that all mine are doing English and Math seperately, with the exception of the youngest two. That 11 month space has always seemed remarkably small, and they have always functioned more as twins than different-aged sibblings. They have always done everything together...from the time they were about 2.5 and 1.5 years. My youngest has some idea that he has to catch up with his sister and do everything she does. He has never been left behind. Kelly

We've got five, and our first space is larger, but the second space is 22 months, then a 15 month space, and then an 11 month space. Our 4 youngest do history and science together...they are all grammar stage now. We will continue to try to integrate as long as possible without holding the older ones up. Kids 2 and 3 do Writing Tales together, in addition to history and science. Kids 4 and 5 do everything together. These youngest two, are 5 and 6 years old, with birthdays in September, and work well together. My 6yo catches on to things more quickly than the 5yo, and her handwriting is incredible compared to his, but he is keeping up and learning well. I have them both doing a 1st grade program this year...and a very rigorous one at that. At least, in my opinion...as all the older children were in public school for kindergarten and at least the beginning of 1st grade. Anyway, it works well for this year. I have to re-evaluate each year. At some point, my #2 child will need to be doing more advanced work in history and science, and I'll need to figure that out. (Hoping for some good advice on how to use SOTW for logic stage!) The younger 3, however, will stay grouped with those subjects for a long time. Anyway, I've got a Kindergartener, 1st, 2nd, 4th and then one that is 3 years older. I just think you have to look at their abilities each year, and evaluate. Some years, I would think, you could have tons of overlap, and some years, you may have one struggling, or one surging ahead. In order to meet everyone's needs, it needs to be a constantly revisited decision. :) Kelly

I never thought of some of this! The universities that are good option for dd, including our local, state university, only require 2 years of a lab science. Is it possible to skip the lab for biology, and do it with her other science courses?

Has anyone used this, and can give me a review? Dd is NOT excited about Biology next year. I'm looking for a way to present it in a non-traditional format, that may keep her more interested. She definately will not be doing dissections, due to her predisposition to fainting and/or throwing up when she's around stuff like that. (Definately not a doctor in the making here!) This year she is doing Apologia Physical Science, and just loves it. She much prefers climate and rocks! She just isn't sure that she is interested in Biology in a textbook format. I did notice on the SOS site that they do a Physical Science II course for 9th grade science, followed by Biology in 10th, then Chemistry, then Physics. These are the classes that I took in high school, but it seems that more is required these days...or would that be an acceptable sequence also? From my thinking, all it would rule out is the option of an advanced science course? Or am I forgetting something? TIA!! Kelly

I found it by looking at the old boards and got the link!:)

I've been looking for it, but can only find a 3 hour trial. TIA!!!

Too many random thoughts floating around in my head! For American history, I would prefer something on the secular end of the spectrum...since I think even a secular text has so much in the way of the author's personal perspective, that it is hard to wade through at times, and in certain subject material. Religous ideas complicate this even more so. We can add that on our own. I'm looking for something that is probably text-based, but not necessarily. I'm interested in adding in lots of "extras" to make it more interesting for her. History is one of my strong subjects...so I have a lot of ideas...but I really would like a good solid spine to work from. Also, this particular child is big, real big, on organization. She doesn't like suprizes. I was looking at Hewitt's AP American history course this evening. It appeals to me, simply because of the syllabus. I have no idea if the material is good or not. Dd can handle some very heavy reading, plenty of writing, and some pretty in-depth discussion for a kid her age. I would like something that really makes us think. Thanks!

Well...math is covered for now, so now I'm on to history! Dd wants to do a year of American History next year. What are your favorite programs?

All of this upper level math stuff is starting to make more sense to me. Dd and Dh have decided to try out VT first, this spring, and see how it goes. If it isn't what we are hoping, then I think we'll try Lial's! Many thanks! Kelly

Wow!! Thanks so much for all that great info! I'm starting to understand better. One thing I wanted to clarify is the statement below... If anything the Lial's texts make an excellent 'reference' text--sometimes it helps to see a lesson from a different viewpoint...and the cost is great! Does this mean that Lial's is mostly used as a suppliment, but not a stand-alone course? Perhaps I'm just misunderstanding?

I can't find the dvd's at all, and all the solutions books that I find are used. Does anyone have the current publisher info? I'm going to keep looking!

It is hard to know what to choose, even based on the samples. I wish that I could see samples of all of the print materials that go with all of these programs. I think that would help me make a sound decision. Our nearest conference is a long distance away however, and not until the end of June. I do spend a great deal of time with my dd with her math lessons, however, my input in similar to what a fellow student would have to offer. My understanding of math is not on a "teacher level," but more on a student level. I learn, and make mistakes, and am confused, along with her. At this point, she doesn't aspire to go into a math or science related field, but at the age of 12, I really don't know if I can bank on that. I want her to have wide-open options, and as much learning and understanding as possible when she goes off to college, whether it is a subject that I am highly comfortable with, or not. Thanks so much!

Ok, after lots of board searching, I'm now seeing that I may have one more option, in addition to TT, Chalkdust and VT. I see that Lial's has DVT's and a thorough solutions guide. I've googled Lial's, and am not coming up with where I can buy all of the pieces to this program, that people are discussing here. Is there anywhere to see samples? Can someone explain Lial's Algebra to me? How the program works, where it comes from (as in public schools or a homeschool publisher) and if it is a program that is highly recommended for going all the way through high school? I keep seeing so many positive comments about it, but am having a really hard time finding any solid info. TIA!!

Thank you for your input. Dh is currently reviewing math programs to help me out on this, and so far, prefers VT for our situation. Perhaps that is a better program for us. The presentation of all the materials, including written text and solutions, is extremely important to us. I'm trying hard to find something that works well in our situation. Decisions, decisions, decisions!!! :eek:

My 12yo dd has been using TT Alg 1 this year, and we are in the process of choosing a different program for next year. We are comparing TT to Chalkdust and Videotext. At this point, Chalkdust is her favorite. She liked how things were explained in the samples better. Anyway, while I am glad that she gravitated toward what is said to be the more in-depth program, I am worried a great deal! I am NOT a mathy person. I took my one math class that I had to have in college, and ran! My biggest concern with Chalkdust, is that it looks to me like there is not a solution for all of the problems, and perhaps no answers for all of the problems either. I can't even comprehend trying to correct her work, without the solutions written out for me, or even the answer. Am I correct in this? I hope not... I also, have not seen the textbooks for Chalkdust. On the website, it makes it sound like a student could use different books?? This seems a little scary to me. Almost sounds disjointed?? I'm really feeling that it could be impossible for her to use this program, if the video lessons don't directly correspond to the text, and if we don't have a great deal of guidance with answers. Am I stuck using a program for her, that is "easier," because I don't get math? So many people seem to love Chalkdust. I just can't imagine that it is really as complicated to use, as it seems like it might be. TIA!!!

No charter schools or any sort of state assistance with schooling if you are at home. Nothing whatsoever.

I don't usually post on this board, but I really need a list of pro's and con's right now. My dh is in the building industry. Not a builder, but his job is heavily affected by the housing slump. We moved to our current location almost 2 years ago, amid great promises of a wonderful career move and prosperity in the future. Things have not panned out, and while dh could possibly make a job move to a different company/industry, that is not his plan. Anyway, when we moved here, I finally made the decision to do what I had always wanted to do, and brought my kids home and started homeschooling them. This was only a little over a year ago. My children are thriving at home, and all of them, when asked if they want to continue, say that they absolutely do. We've overcome huge problems that we had with the ps system. My oldest is being challenged for the first time in her life. My 2nd dd has moved up 3.5 grade levels in reading in the past year or so. My 3rd dd understands math for the first time ever (thank you MUS!). And, I taught my 2 youngest to read this fall! The list goes on. We love homeschooling. My huge problem right now is the fact that, when we started, we still were banking on a bright financial future. Piano lessons, football, theater lessons, art lessons, swimming, etc, etc, etc. Reality is that, last year, this year, and for who knows how long, we can't afford any of it. We are absolutely stuck. Because we live in a smaller town, where there are very few homeschoolers, there are no co-ops. There are very few free or inexpensive activities at all. The schools here, however, are wealthy, well-equipped and over-flowing with children. People here don't homeschool, because the school system is so "great." Lots of money, very little concern, imho. That doesn't change the fact that my dd who wants to play the piano doesn't have access to lessons. My little artist doesn't have access to supplies and lessons. My singer doesn't have a choir. I pay my taxes, and it all goes to other people's kids right now. Mine get none of it. My question...Do I send them off to public school in the fall, to try to survive the system that we already proved is not adequate? They would have access to everything that they lack here at home. Sports, arts, music, etc. However, they would leave behind everything that has brought them great success in the past year. I could go to work. I have a degree, and jobs here are plentiful. It has been a great, great year. How can I send them back? But, for their own good, do I need to send them back? Are they going to miss out on too much if they are here, because of our financial issues? I guess I need to add that we don't go without anything else. It is just the extras. We have a beautiful home, nice vehicles, and too many bills, and my children are well cared for and have all that they really, really need...including school items. We are only talking the "extras" here. Please help me sort this out. Oh...and for those believers out there...yes, I prayed about the decision to bring them home, and home is where they are suppose to be...at least for this year. Any and all input would be wonderful.

We are using Apologia Astronomy, and while the kids were so very excited to learn about the planets, etc, at the beginning of the year, at this point, we feel like we are sick of astronomy! It is all I can do to get my children to sit down and do a science lesson. This is just so sad to me, as this is one subject that they all really enjoy. I'm just wondering if there is anything out there, that is less expensive than K12, that goes about it in much the same way? 6 weeks or so on one subject, and then moves on to something else? Unit study approach to science, religious or secular is fine, and it has to be under 100 dollars for a year. Thanks!