First, I have to confess that although I am homeschooling my third child, I never TAUGHT anyone to read. Public school taught ds; I did some remedial phonics with him in 3rd. Dd, who was always homeschooled, used Phonics Pathways but really taught herself. She read very well by age 4 1/2. I am using Phonics Pathways with youngest dd, about to turn 6. We began phonics instruction last Sep. and have had periods where we were sporadic. We are still in the section on 4 letter words with ending blends. She can read Some BOB books and other short vowel readers, but she still often laboriously sounds out each individual letter in many 3 letter words and nearly all 4 letter words. It seems in Phonics Pathways, they teach an ending blend first as opposed to a beginning blend, and the child is to blend the beginning consonant with the vowel and add the ending consonant blend. Dd seems, when we can get past individual sounds, to want to blend the vowel with the ending consonant blend then add the beginning consonant when she finally says the word smoothly. Should I “correct” this? I have a copy of Alpha Phonics somewhere, and I seem to remember that is what they do. Does it make any difference? Do I need to change programs? Should I not worry about it? I feel like we are making such slow progress. Maybe I should have started sooner. I know kids learn at different rates. Do I just need to be patient? I have read some good threads about the phonics programs that people are using, but I'm not sure that's the issue! Advice appreciated! Thanks. Mary

I think most bit of our high school studies qualified as traditional, but I awarded credit and "made up" electives that went along with ds's interests. Ds was (and is) interested in computer programming. He taught himself Python, C++, and C#. He did projects of his own choosing including some video game design. I awarded him 2 years credit in computer science electives. Also, since he played select soccer, that was our P.E. I think anytime a dc has a particular interest or desire to do service in some capacity those activities can be counted as something academic. Mary

That sounds great. Dd (12) alternates days of distance and sprints. Distance is about 2.5 miles. On sprint days she does other exercises as well. The distance day does not get done if it's really cold out. She is required to condition for soccer. She is a good athlete and runner, unlike her mother here who ran flat footed in high school, got horrible shin splints, and now has significant cartilage loss in the knees. I make sure dd comes down on her foot properly. One thing I wonder about is if she will go the same way in middle age as me, and will lots of running in her youth hasten these problems? Mary

After reading about this book here on the board, I went to Amazon to look at it. I've put it reserve through inter-library loan, but I think I may buy it before it even gets in! I'm on my second go-round with Kingfisher, finishing up modern history, and I have been ready for a change. Dd will begin the history cycle with ancients next year in 7th grade, and I think this will be a much more interesting book than the KF. Thank you to everyone who looked into this book and wrote reviews for us on the board! Mary

Yes, there are LifePacs for Spanish 1 & 2. At Least there were as of two years ago. I don't know that one is better than the other. I used SOS for Spanish 1 but bought the LifePacs for supplemental work. Ds struggled with learning foreign language, and he pretty much just muddled through to meet graduation requirements. He needed more parental involvement than I was able to give on that subject at the time. I never experienced any software problems, and I thought the software was nicely done. There are still items the teacher has to grade, and I seem to remember that as much as I had to help him with translation I would rather have had book in hand although you can print out the exercises. I think it all depends on what style you and dc prefer. I will now shamelessly say that I have Spanish 1 LifePac box set and the Spanish 2 LifePac box set. The first 2 workbooks of Spanish 1 are used. I think they will replace individual workbooks. The Spanish 2 set is completely unused. If you choose the paper and pencil route, I would be so happy to get rid of these things taking up my shelf space! Mary

My red Kingfisher is falling apart. The spine has come off. My old white one is in much better condition although it was used long.

Hi, I have very limited experience with the curricula you're looking at, but I very much agree that Stobaugh would be very hard to use. It's a program I have wanted to like, but just could not make work. I have LLATL Gold, but I only used it briefly as a supplement. I thought the assignments and writing instruction were pretty good, howewer I understand that the upper level high school LLATL differs from the others in format. I do not have any high school level TLP guides, just jr high level. My problem with these guides is they move through the book so slowly, and my dd can't stand that. (Can you tell I've been something of a curriculum junkie?) To stir your pot some more, I've seen many posters here say they like Lightning Literature from Hewitt. (I have one level of this as well, but never used it.) It meets your requirement of all-inclusive LA. Decisions, decisions! Mary

[quote name= #1. How important is it to give them (kids) a strong foundation in all of the different sciences (Biology' date=' Astronomy, Chemistry, and Physics) before they reach it in high school? Do you feel your kids were prepared? What would you or wouldn't you do differently? Do you feel a simple introduction would be adequate (for me to give my kids)? Maybe not even spending an entire year on a specific science. We love biology and learning about animals, plants, and doing nature study. I would love to keep doing that (with a bit of Astronomy thrown in) until 7th grade or so, but I am afraid that I would be limiting their knowledge of the other sciences and actually doing them a disservice by the time they hit high school science. What are your thoughts? You raise really good questions. My oldest is in his 2nd year at college now. My youngest is K. I'll tell you what I think. I think that the most important thing is to foster kids' curiosity and desire to learn. When they have questions look up the answers and teach them to do that. Let them study what they enjoy. As they get older, teach them the scientific method and have them employ it in their projects. If you all love nature study, throw in some physics and chem as it relates to phenomena in nature. Ds, my oldest, never studied anything related to chem or phys before high school. He did very well in high school and college science courses. His biggest struggle was writing the lab reports. I have done some of the chem and phys recommendations in TWTM with my logic stage dd, but I think she has retained nothing. Her interests are also nature. I am sure this varies from child to child. Some show definite aptitudes and preferences for different sciences. I can't say anything about keeping different age kids in the same study, because mine are all 6 years apart! I look forward to other responses. Science is probably my weakest area. Blessings, Mary

Thank you all for your recommendations. I kinda figured that most movies dealing with this subject would be too mature for dd. I have only seen one of the movies above and that is The Joy Luck Club. It made a big impression on me, and I had no knowledge of the historical context at the time I saw it. The scene where one of the desperate characters allows her baby boy to drown in the bath has stuck with me since. Definitely not for 12 year-olds! I've been through study of this time period before, but I think we glossed over this particular event. Dd and I are reading Red Scarf Girl now, and I think it does a pretty good job of imparting the tone of the times from a young person's point of view. My library system does have Life and Death.. and Little Seamstress, so I think I will get those even if they're just for me. And I have to say I am very grateful to be able to homeschool because I probably would otherwise still be pretty ignorant of history! When I was in school, it was the subject that I loathed. I never learned anything. Mary

This would be for a 12 year old. Thanks! Mary

AG worked very well for my diagramming challenged ds. You might want JAG for that age. It is very methodical, and the sentences are interesting You also might want to look at something very hands on like Winston Grammar. I used that with ds (I can't remember at what age.) We used AG in 8th and 9th, I think. It seems so long ago! Mary

There is a butterfly pavilion that comes with a certificate for caterpillars to raise. Could you research what butterflies are common to your area, then plant plants in the early spring that the caterpillars like to eat? It may take well into summer, but once the butterflies find those plants they'll lay eggs there. Then you can bring some in to raise. One year we were blessed with a passion vine (maypop) delivered by some animal to our front flower bed. Gulf and variegated fritillaries lay their eggs on it. We clip some off and bring the caterpillars in to raise. We supply them with fresh vine cuttings, and after a while, they attach themselves to the top of the container and transform. It is so cool. We do this every year. The passion vine is a perennial. My neighbor grows evening primrose which luna moths like to lay their eggs on. We've overwintered a couple of luna moth pupae which later became moths. Sometimes in the winter, you can find cocoons in sheltered places like under leaves and bring them in where a moth will emerge later. I've never tried tadpoles from a science kit. The ones we've gotten from local puddles and creeks have not done very well. I need to figure out what we're doing wrong! Have fun! Mary

Take the sure thing. He's building a really good reference, and that will certainly pay off when prospects get better. Like other posters, many teens we know are having hours cut or can't even get work. My ds works at the college he attends as a student tutor which does not pay well. He is very blessed, however, with seasonal work as a soccer coach/trainer and that does pay well. He, too, has to cover many school and life expenses. Good luck to your ds. Mary

That's great he's got Latin and Greek. I personally love Latin. It seems like too much work to me to try something new, but it might be good for me. Your ds is still young. I allowed my ds to drop Latin after 9th grade. I explained to him that the decision meant he still had to take 2 years of FL because the college entrance/high school graduation requirements stipulated 2 years in one language. Half way through his first year of Spanish he wanted to know why I let him drop Latin???!??:lol: Mary

We are on round 2 now. I have learned so much from it! Mary

If you look at the College Board website under AP Physics, they have some recommendations. Mary

That does seem really odd. First let me say I have no direct experience with AP classes. Possibly the class could be stretched over 2 years as World Hist 1 and World Hist 2. I don't think the title of the class is nearly as important to a college as the test score. I see this for for a 9th grader. My personal opinion of AP classes is that they are not often an effective use of time. The student spends a year in AP history or English or whatever, takes the test, and maybe gets credit, depending on the test score and the university considering it, for one semester of that subject. It was for these reasons we opted for dual enrollment over AP, although I realize that not everyone has access to local colleges or universities. I will also say that some AP classes must follow incredible pacing. We initially thought we would follow the AP syllabus with ds for calc in high school. He absolutely could not have followed the AP text we chose, Foerster's, and completed it in one year's time to take the bc syllabus test. I'm sure others could. However, the study he did complete prepared him to go on to dual enrollment where he made As in his first 2 semesters of calc so far. So, no real advice here. Just an opinion and a different approach. Mary

K12 The Human Odyssey Vol 1

Please excuse my ignorance. I can't figure out how to link to another thread! I stumbled on it searching "Kingfisher outlining". I too am interested in this book. Mary

I'll just add that I think people get a little stressed because the typical scope and sequence of American math books is so expansive compared to the scope and sequence of Singapore Math. I used to. I don't believe it's necessary to cover all those additional topics at the time the math books introduce them. Mary

I'll chime in and agree with the posters who are saying that if you like LL, stick with it! I love LP and switched to it when we were part way through LFC B, but only because that program was driving me nuts. If you're enjoying it continue! Mary

I use only Singapore in 1-5. I add in work from Extra Practice and Intensive Practice. However, when they get to 6th I do supplement from another curriculum just to give exposure to coordinate graphing, negative numbers, and a few other topics that pop up on standardized tests about that time. If it wasn't for the standardized testing, I probably wouldn't supplement at all. All these topics get covered in algebra I. I think Singapore does a great job preparing for high school math. Mary

Yes, I thought poetry was fun! Dd did too. However, and this is OT for this thread, I got seriously bogged down with Homer. I have gone through the core and picked out what seem to be the salient points and exercises and try to work through them in our own way. I think the problem for me in the case of Homer was that the workbooks move too slowly through the lessons and broke things down into too much minutiae. Homer was taking up considerably more time than I was willing to spend on it. I have Diogenes and I like the format better, but I have not yet decided whether to move into it or just save the rest of the progym for later doing it in a more condensed format using the D'Angelo book. That is what I did with my oldest. At that time there was no CW! I do have Intermediate Poetry and plan to use it next year.:001_smile: Mary

Sounds like you want the best of everything all rolled into one! Like me! For me personally, what drives me nutty the most is to skip around in my "spine" book for grammar stage history. I can handle it better for the other stages after we've been through the story once. That is what makes me crazy about TOG, SL, Biblioplan. When I'm using SOTW, I feel like if I skip around I'm losing some of the flow. I don't like the multiple chapters in one week thing either. I get out my SOTW AG, and my SL catalog, and my TOG year plans, and my Biblioplan (they have some of the best RAs), and make a list of time period readers and RAs, then fit them in where they would correspond to SOTW (we are in 4 now as well.) SOmetimes I don't get around to using many on my list. It can be a pain. I know I have made some lists in excel in the past, and if I had them still I'd volunteer them. Now I just get the curricula out every few weeks and see what my library has. Oh, and did I mention we had ANWOA too which I bought for greater focus on American history during SOTW 2 or 3? So I did have literature comprehension questions for early American history! I am OVER that now. I don't think I've been at all helpful, but I really can empathize. Mary

When we did CW Poetry I had my own workbook, and I often did the work along with dd. I thought it was fun. Much of it was new to me. Mary