I think you could certainly use a science or history encyclopedias as a spine and have a fine education, but I think my kids and I would be bored by the format unless we supplemented heavilywith movies, museums, fun readings, songs, games, labs, etc... For us, a standard textbook (we like OUP and K12) for readings and outlining along with a History Portfolio and lots of supplementation has really worked well. Also, the most fun science materials we've ever used have been from Ellen McHenry. Definitely check her stuff out.

I'd give them some books like Horrible Science to read for fun to cover any gaps in knowledge.

No experience with it here, but the samples look pretty unimpressive and overpriced to me. Have you checked out these free downloadable lessons? https://sheg.stanford.edu/world We've been using the US history book version along with document based questions like these: http://www.amazon.com/Document-Based-Assessment-Global-History-Grade/dp/0825163374/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=03X52QQXQT8PDND5XQGP. I think they make a great supplement to history.

We used it along with history portfolio, historical fiction, primary sources, historical cooking and documentaries.

We did SM 6a and b, then switched to Galore Park SYRWL Maths 2 and 3. It was integrated and had a nice combination of arithmetic, geometry, algebra, statistics and probability, and basic trigonometry. I also added in lots of supplementary materials like SM CWP 5&6, Zaccaro, keys to algebra and hands on equations. This combination has really worked well for us and we're now halfway through Foersters algebra 1 with no troubles at all.

On All Saints day in Poland, it's a big deal to decorate graves with flowers and then in the evenings to take candles to the graves of your relatives. It's a neat procession.

We went from Singapore to Galore Park math books for middle school. I think they were a good pre-algebra type program and not as intimidatingly large as AOPS or Dolciani.

If Saxon is working well for you and your daughter, I'd stick with it and move on to Saxon 87. At the end of next year, reassess to decide whether to move to Algebra 1/2 or Algebra 1. Given her age, I'd probably do both Saxon 87 and Algebra 1/2 unless she's particularly enthusiastic or finds it very easy. We did several years of "pre-algebra" here and I'm glad that we took our time. With a good foundation, algebra is a breeze!

http://www.amazon.com/Grammar-Works-Grades-4-8-Halverson/dp/0590604201 is fun and grade appropriate. Says grade 4-8 on cover.

I first used Keys To... 20 years ago when I taught at a juvenile hall. They were perfect for independent work with kids who really needed to go back and learn fractions and decimals. Now I use the algebra ones with my own daughter on trips and during the summer as review.

Our foster son (almost 7), has some severe anger problems and I know how that feels. What helps? - He goes to a day treatment program that involves daily therapy and milieu work and a really high staff-student ratio (like 2:5). - I make sure he's fed and put to bed consistently and on time. Always. - I approach his behavior as a symptom of mental-illness, not as misbehavior - I try to prepare him for things that will be happening so he knows what to expect. - I never ever get angry myself, I always speak and act calmly around him.

I had pneumonia when my kids were 6mths and 2 1/2. I was off work for three weeks and it was months before I felt normal. Good luck!

I just took in an emergency foster placement last night. We don't usually have babies, so I was totally unprepared for an infant. I wrote a quick post to a local mom's group on Facebook asking if anyone had any extra baby stuff and within 10 minutes a bunch of strangers offered up clothes, bottles, diapers, baby gate, pack-and-play and stroller.

You're right that sometimes companies are using your guilt to sell their product. See if you can buy local - if not, check out ratings like this one: http://www.cornucopia.org/organic-egg-scorecard/. I've seen dairy ratings somewhere too. I don't think there's that much health benefit, but I'd like to avoid unethical companies trying to jump on an "organic" bandwagon for marketing purposes.

I've only been to one wedding with a coordinator. My brother in San Francisco paid $700 and I don't think anyone thought it was really worth it. With mothers and step-mothers and big sisters (me) also taking part, the wedding coordinator mostly stood back and let it all happen. Maybe if things got messy, she'd step in, but really I think we did the day-of work in terms of decisions and decorating and problem solving and directing people where to go, cleaning up, settling bills... The officiant took care of telling people where to stand and what to say. Actually, I'm not sure what the coordinator did?

I homeschooled my daughter and her friend until last February. We played lots of games and had lots of discussions and I genuinely liked working with both girls, so the shift to just one was hard for a few weeks. In time, we established a new rhythm though... We get a bit more done now, but it probably isn't really as fun.

I read "Scotland, a very peculiar history" vol I and II by Fiona MacDonald with my daughter (then 8 year old) and learned a lot. Its not enough for a deep study at high school age, but I really enjoyed it.

He wants to take them to the one in San Diego in July. I'm sure they'll keep track of the girls, I guess I just want assurance it's not some bacchanalian orgy I'm sending them off to. (Though I do trust my brother, so I'm sure it's fine, really. Right?)

My little brother and his wife are getting tickets for comic con next year and invited my girls to go with them. They go every year, but I don't know much about it... Is it kid-friendly? Is it pretty safe for 11 & 13 yr olds if my girls walk around together or do they need to stick closely with adults (they're independent travelers and like being on their own). My inclination is to send them down there to their uncle and have a fun adventure, but just want to double check that it's okay for kids.

The crucible The New World Or documentaries: American Experience - After the Mayflower Desperate crossing

A typical week for history for us would be - Monday and Tuesday - Read textbook chapter and outline (American Odyssey) Wednesday - watch a video (a Documentary or crash course) Thursday and Friday - Write paragraphs, make timelines, draw maps or pictures in portfolio A corresponding week in English would involve: Reading short stories, excerpts, poems or novel from the time period and answering questions or writing an essay Or Writing a DBQ or other short essay on a history topic related to the time period. Every week is different, but this is typical. She writes an essay probably every week or two plus a few paragraphs or summaries of events or books per week.

Even if you don't do the map drawing, Ellen McHenry has great geography activities.

At our studio, the auditions are held on one day with different levels auditioning at different times. We have a cast of about 80. I suspect the biggest roles are chosen long before the auditions because there are only about ten girls capable of performing well on pointe right now. For most roles, they consider level, height and previous roles. If a student was cast in a role, but turned it down, I don't think he or she would be cast again in the future. It'd be a pretty big deal -especially if they pulled out after the choreography was set...

What makes you like CLE? Is it the neat little self-contained size? The spiral? The workbook format? Check out Walch Power Basics.They're for high school but remedial so I think would be perfect for middle schoolers.

There are some well made videos called We Shall Remain about Native Americans after colonization. It's part of the American Experience series. We're watching them now in US history. The story is important to hear, but sometimes very difficult. It certainly wasn't a part of my history education...