I wouldn't go out of my way to watch the Duggars, but if it's on when I happen to turn on the TV, I enjoy watching it -- in the same way that I kind of like watching Hoarders or Toddlers and Tiaras or Lockup (which I think are all on the same channel). It's a life so different from mine... My only concern about them... is what will happen when one of their children rebels or wants to wear pants or not have any children or questions their faith or wants to go off to a secular college or date somebody that JimBob doesn't like.. what if they're gay? I'm curious how the Duggars would approach this. I'd like to see that episode!

I was not impressed by the samples of CLE History or Science. We are using their LA, though will be moving to something secular when we finish. If you want secular workbooks in science or history, I'd browse an educational book store or rainbow resource for the time period and topics you are interested in. As you know... some workbooks are better than others. I've found that Evan Moor and Teacher Created Resources are pretty good. Also the Everyday Life workbooks are great for history (Good Year Book). If you want a more complete program -- maybe look into the Critical Thinking Company's history or science detective? Galore Park's Jr. Science and Jr. History is also pretty independent. We've used the history series and might start the jr. science with my youngest next year.

I'm sure there are other resources, but we're definitely learning about it in Joy Hakim's Story of Science "Aristotle Leads the Way" -- totally appropriate for middle school. Also, there's also a cool picture book called "Starry Messenger" that you might consider checking out of the library. It's surprisingly interesting, but won't likely have the depth you're looking for.

Saxon/Hake Grammar & Writing

I have no experience with any of these, but you might look into: - Critical Thinking Company Reading Detective (on CD) - K-12 Language arts - I think you can take a single class through them? - Switched on Schoolhouse Language arts (on CD) -Time4learning (online)

When I taught in a public elementary school, it was common to do a number of the day to start the day. We'd do a kind of routine - Where is it on a numberline? How many tens and ones? Was it odd or even? I can't remember it exactly... Then on the 100th day, you have a "party".

We have a "schoolroom" but it is not technically a room. At the top of our stairs is a space (like a landing) tucked into the eves of the house. It's about 6ft by 6 ft. There's enough space for a 2ftx2ft table and three chairs and a neat storage unit that holds our books and materials (we just had this made). On the wall we have a map and a times table chart and a hundreds chart. It's not fancy, but it works perfectly for us.

Around 1988, my high school had a computer in the library with a modem. During lunch, we would connect and talk with the other high school in town. I think that year, we got Prodigy at home. In 1992, I went to college and I remember using the actual internet... It was probably a year or so later when we would use a text web browser called Lynx.

Once a child learns to read, I can't see any value in a basal reading program. You can get practice with vocabulary and reading comprehension from content books on history and science. I do think it's worthwhile to begin learning how to talk about literature -- about plot and figurative language and character and such... By older elementary or middle school, it's a good time to start that.

I'd stay away from anything online. If you are hoping for an academic job, you need an academic PhD. In this world, a PhD is worth more than an EdD or PsyD or other professional type doctorate. I Also, if you're going to do an academic PhD, you should not pay for it. They should pay you (or at least provide you with some kind of funding opportunity like RA or TAships).

I think LL would be fine for 5th and 6th grade. We did LL1 last year with my 3rd grader and her 5th grade friend. It was perfect for them. You could always go through it a little faster than intended if it's easy. For 4th/6th grade, we'll probably continue with LL2 or start GP Latin Prep.

We used RS4K chemistry level 1 last year, and I wasn't that impressed. It's okay... We read it chapter-by-chapter and tried to do the activities, but it didn't ignite any passion for chemistry or anything.

One thing that works for us is this: When I get my kids into their beds, I offer them the option of turning off the light or reading silently for X amount of minutes (usually like 30 minutes) and then turning off the light. The opportunity to stay up later can sometimes be a real motivator for my 7 yr old non-book-lover.

Actually, many states do have a kindergarten entrance date in December, so on the first day of first grade, children will be 5yr 9m-6yr8m. In Singapore schools, children must turn 7 in the year of first grade entrance (so born in 2004 for admission to Primary 1 in 2011). With a January start day, kids on their first day of first grade will be 6y1m-7y. I'm not sure whether that makes much difference in the end though...

I add milk... and then I add a handfull of cheese and some chopped up herbs.

I don't think there's anything wrong with schooling year round, if it's working well for everyone. But I don't think you have to. I know you said that you were trying to "catch up", but isn't homeschooling an opportunity to focus on meeting your child's needs at whatever place he's at rather than focusing on catching up to what other kids in a given grade/school/district/state are doing and trying to meet that arbitrary standard? Given that, I kind of think it's nice to go a little bit lighter during the summer when there are more opportunities camping trips and swimming lessons and trips to the park and just hanging out being bored. Maybe just work on something like math or Latin or whatever is easily forgotten? Another thought is that you do work at a different time than you usually do. If your son gets his work done by 9 in the morning he could be playing all day. Or you could have him do his work right after dinner, from 7-8? I do think it's nice if you can make summer feel different from the rest of the school year in some way.

I took a German class at a CC when I was 11 -- with my mom, and two anthropology classes when I was 12 -- with my dad. I absolutely loved it. I felt so grown-up... and it was fun to work with my mom or dad on homework. If I recall, the math and writing test I took was a pleasant surprise. I believe I passed into Intermediate Algebra even though I'd only taken pre-algebra. And I'm pretty sure I passed into a freshman level writing course. It was probably more a reflection of the low standards of this CC than my own ability though ;-) But I don't think film studies would be the right class to send a younger child... alone. Are you comfortable with R rated movies and discussions on controversial topics?

I think AAS might be a great idea. You might want to look into the Megawords series, since it is both spelling, phonics, and vocabulary and aimed at middle schoolers. EPS also produces some other good programs for struggling middle-schoolers. Take a look at The Paragraph Book for helping with organization of writing.

I don't even combine my 7 and 9 yr old. They're too different from each other in terms of ability and interest and attention span and they're both a little needy at times. I start my 9 yr old off with a lesson and then send her to do some independent work and start my 7 yr old with her lesson. Since she can't do more than a few minutes of independent work, I'll have her do some chores or read something quietly or use the computer while I do another lesson with my 9 yr old and repeat the cycle.

Oh! Pick me! I have a cat obsessed daughter too. Here are some ideas of varying reading abilities... -Dewey the Library Cat -Time Cat -Miranda the Great -Pinky Pie -Amazing Maurice and his educated rodents - Warriors series - Jenny and the cat club - Catwings - The Cats of Roxville Station Plus... You could try some books like these which have some silly or inspirational stories -Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Cat Lover Companion - The Devious book for cats - Chicken soup for the cat lover - How to live with a neurotic cat - Catfantastic Also, if your daughter is up for reading adult mysteries, there are also some series like Rita Mae Brown's and Lillian Jackson Braun and Leann Sweeney, but my daughter didn't seem to find them appealing. Of course, don't forget TS Eliot's Book of Practical Cats -- and then watch the musical!

I was browsing the Duke TIP website too and was a little curious about the independent learning classes... There is a lot of information on the website, but weirdly I still don't really understand how to sign up, what tests are required, whether it's only available to kids in certain states... I did find, though, that incoming 4th graders can't register until December.

What I do is to start each math session off with a brief review of everything that I'm afraid my kids might forget. I give them 5 or 10 easy questions to help remind them... Like today for my older daughter, we did a long division problem and a reducing fractions problem and then I asked how many oz in a lb and how to write 24 as a roman numeral... It's all pretty random and aimed particularly at what I know she is likely to forget. Alternatively, you could add something like Evan Moor daily math review or Math Minute or some other mixed math review to keep up skills before focusing on the lesson.

I tried SOTW with my not-very-sophisticated first grader last year and it didn't work for her. She just wasn't ready for it. She wasn't interested and didn't understand even the most basic parts of it. It was a little heartbreaking because I love history and have another history-loving child. We ended up using the Usborne World History Sticker Atlas to focus on some geography and basic historical events instead. We've taken some bunny trails off of that. We'll continue it throughout the summer and fall. We'll try again with history next year. Meanwhile, I'm focusing on language arts and math.

We participate in something quite similar at our alternative PS. They do a great job with electives, but I haven't been all that pleased with the academic offerings -- so only some semesters do we participate in those. Still, I feel like we have the best of both worlds.

I bought and sold my Minimus book for about 60$ or so. The cost of the book really came to just shipping... it was definitely worth it.