We're using Latin Prep and I know exactly what you're wanting! First of all, we started making our own reference guide in a small binder with page protectors. I made up some blank forms for nouns (with the cases, masc, fem, a place for declension, gender), adjectives, verbs, and printed blanks. We've fill them all out and file them in our binder so we have our own reference guide. It's great because there's also room to add notes. I also made a verb sheet that gives the four principal parts, definition and conjugation type for each verb. Then we've added in some miscellaneous pages like all those adverbs that pop up all the time. It's been a great way to summarize and reinforce what we've learned. Secondly, I also bought a copy of Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, which is a reference book. I hardly ever open it since we've made our own reference guide, because I know where to find stuff. Now my only goal is to get that stuff in the binder memorized. . . yikes! It makes me appreciate how much we've covered.

It sounds to me like you have to decide what your priority is. From your post, I hear a conflict between wanting to get your academic work done, but a lot of social activities impinging on your school time. I know that we keep our morning hours free for school work almost without exception: no field trips, no play dates, no coops, etc. That time is productive time and I rarely give it up! Good luck!

I would definitely get one with a light rather than just a mirror, and I would also consider the kind that has an attachment to show the image on your computer screen. Many of them have this feature and it's not expensive. It's easier if you've got multiple kids wanting to look at things and if you want to discuss them together.

You can set up a standing order that ships regularly if you like. They have coffee, hot choc and tea. Yum!

Using Classical Writing, which combines grammar, vocabulary, spelling, writing and a lot of reading.

We're just starting highschool at home this year and I have a question about diplomas and financial aid. As I understand it, I don't have to worry about getting a high school diploma to apply to colleges as long as we have met entrance requirements as shown by our transcript, SAT, SATII, etc. But if we want to apply for financial aid at a school, which requires the FAFSA form, that requires either a GED or a high school diploma. If we don't want to take the GED for various reasons, is a high school diploma, issued by our homeschool, acceptable? Does anyone know anything about this? Thanks!

So, has anyone actually tried to read Bede's "An Ecclesiastical History" or Beowulf at the ninth grade level? Looking for encouragement here because I'm not sure I can understand a lot of the books on our Middle Ages reading list. . .tell me I can do it!

We've also been using Latin Prep and love it. We'll be finishing Book 2/starting Book 3 next year, and my older DD will be taking a Latin immersion class at a homeschool academy. They will be using Lingua Latin, which I gather is a reading course. Since she loves Latin, I thought it'd be a nice combo for her, so she'll get 1 1/2 credits on Latin work next year. My younger and I will continue with Latin Prep at home, so it'll be interesting to see how my older one progresses past us!

We buy cheddar cheese powder from King Arthur Flour, buy our own whole wheat pasta, plus a little butter and voila. . . just like Annie's mac and cheese in the box. I expect there are other places that sell cheddar cheese powder as well, but we've stuck with King Arthur because they are close by. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/vermont-cheese-powder-8-oz

My dd is going into 9th grade next year. We are finishing up Foerster's but I've decided to complete the AoPS' Algebra book before we move on to Geometry. Even though she is doing fine with Foerster's, I sense a lack of maturity in her understanding in Algebra, and since it's critical for the rest of higher math, we decided to spend more time on it. Since the AoPS book comes at it from a different angle and is more challenging, it should be a good reinforcement. BTW, I emailed the author to see what he thought of this plan (which of course he liked!) but you might considered asking if you have any specific questions. . . they seemed very helpful.

I haven't ordered the book yet, but their thing is presenting math topics from a different angle than the traditional textbook approach. Their materials are geared toward kids entering math competitions. Not a lot of people seem to know much about it, which is why I'm asking!

I'm thinking of doing an extra semester or so of Algebra once we finish Foerster's. My dd is doing fine with Foerster's, but I sense she could, developmentally, use another year of Algebra. I'm thinking of working through the Algebra book from the Art of Problem Solving series. I have the AoPS book, which looks great, so I was wondering if anyone out there has any experience with the Algebra book.

Does anyone have experience trying to do Lit Lessons from LOTR and Classical Writing - Diogenes together? I'd like to spread out LLLOTR over a year (and we've already read half of the epic literature selections) but hate to drop CW-Diogenes. I'm not too worried at moving at a brisk pace through the programs either. Anyone tried this?

If you are going for a highschool diploma from your state, check their requirements. If you're not concerned about that, I think you only need to check what the colleges he'd be apply to want. Look in one of those huge college application guides or check some college websites. Some colleges seems to be more specific about what they want to see. I do think chemistry and biology are considered the basics, though.

I just talked two friends into buying this great curriculum at the convention, and I thought it might help them get over the initial hump. . .

Tutus, tuta, tutum is an adjective of first declension. That's why he has to memorize those three endings because they all take the same pattern. Same with nouns: you memorize stella, -ae, feminine, which is nom. sing, genitive singular, and gender. Those three things tell you which declension and gender the noun falls into (first declension, feminine in that case). He might find a reference book such as Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar or The New College Latin & English Dictionary helpful for seeing the big picture. Or he might find it helpful to build his own reference manual with all the declensions written out in charts. HTH

We're finishing up year one this year. I've broken up "The Human Odyssey" into four sections, and then just selected the literature recommendations from TWTM to read along. We've read the expected Herodotus, Homer (Iliad and Odyssey), Aeneid, Oedipus Rex, Gilgamesh, etc., and then any books we find at the library that fit in with the topic. I use the "Study Guide: The Human Odyssey" for review and testing, although in general the guide doesn't seem to ask the important questions. It's more busy work.

We've been enjoying Joy Hakim's "The Story of Science" series which we read along with our chronological history. There's also alot of math in it.

What is the difference between these two? In planning our high school Latin, would we rather take one or the other?

Two triangular ends at 1/2(4x6) gives you 24. Two sides at 5x10 gives you 100. One side at 6x10 gives you 60, for a total of 24+100+60=184 sq. inches.

I'll have a ninth grader next year who wants a cooking elective. She already knows how to do a lot in the kitchen, but I'd like to write an elective for credit this summer. In fact, it's a great idea to include some nutrition stuff, too. I'll keep you posted. In the mean time, there must be a book out there that works through basic cooking skills. . .

I am wanting to fit this into our high school plan somewhere. I was wondering if it is a full or half year of work from anyone who has used it. How did you count it toward high school credit?

We are listening to Robert Fagles' translation of "The Aeneid" and enjoying it very much. We had read a children's adaptation earlier, Penelope Lively's "In Search of a Homeland" so they were familiar with the story. We also had listened to Fagles' "Odyssey" with great success. My kids are 10 and 13.

Phonics Pathways, one book, probably easy to find used, piece of cake!

If you place them in a program like Adobe Illustrator you can size them any way you want.