My son who is 14 jumped into Latin 2 at Lukeion this year. He had done Memoria Press First & Second Form Latin already and I had him take the placement test. He did well on that and we spent some time reviewing the Wheelock's chapters covered in Latin 1 over the summer. The class has been excellent (he likes the online time, and the teacher -- Dr. Fisher) but he has to study! Intensely! And coming into Wheelock's halfway through has been quite an adjustment. LOTS of translation. So, like Corraleno, I would also lean towards Latin 1 for an 11yo.

Aliki is the author/illustrator of My Visit to the Zoo. She has written lots of books, many of which probably fit your critera. Check your library!

I'm not sure TOG would be cheaper (although I don't know the cost for CC) -- the unit manuals are extensive, and therefore pricey, and so are all the actual books. And you still have to buy math and language arts. And science. I used TOG Ancients twice with my children (once when oldest was about 10, and then again when she was about 15). I still own it because I *did* love it. But I don't know that I want to use it again. Okay, I know I won't use it again. But for some reason I haven't parted with it yet. The first time I used it myself, and the second time a friend and I did it together (co-op style), but we still each had to have our own copy of the unit manuals and all the books!

I'm glad to know you've used this! Do you write out the assignments the night before? Tawlas -- which website? They're both fantastic! :laugh:

I discovered that the little lightswitch-looking icon deletes everything I write and then does odd things to fonts and makes me unable to link. Here is the shortened, ultra-condensed version of week 2 (of 18): Something I found and tried Reading the Alphabet has been a great change from OPGTR for my 5yo. She loves the worksheets and the coloring. Something I want to start this coming week Spiral notebooks for assignment sheets instead of printed daily sheets (which I didn't even get to this past week)

Well, so they do! I had no idea -- and will have to remember for next year. I can highly recommend Mr. Barr as a teacher!

My 14yo is enjoying Lukion Latin 2 and Greek 1 this year -- but I don't think they offer a grammar course. I'd sign him up for it if they did!

I have graduated two -- both are finishing associates at the community college this calendar year and plan to go on to get degrees at 4 year schools. They could not be more different as far as academic processing and that led me to do very different things with them in "high school" here at home -- in fact, I can't think of anything they did together school-wise or even using the same textbooks once they were both high school age. My oldest is very artistic and not-math minded. She did 3-5 hours of school a day. I've posted about her (our) struggles over the years. I'm not sorry she had such a tailored education (and neither is she), but we've talked about it and for the younger 4 agree that: 1) math to pre-calc s a MUST...she and I both thought she would not go into a career that required math in any way. Big mistake. 2) science beyond biology is a MUST...see above. 3) foreign langauge for 2 years is a MUST...because some colleges require it. 4) a frustrated, unmotivated, non-academic homeschool student can be a 4.0 college student. Finding passion AND mentors does amazing things! My 2nd is very logical and her major is engineering. She did 5-7 hours of school a day. She took math, science, Latin, and Greek -- not because of what I'd learned from oldest but because that's the kind of student she was. The only thing about college that has been hard for her has been contacting her teachers if she has a struggle. My 3rd is very similar to my 2nd -- this is his first year of "high school" and I have no concerns about his academic preparedness for college. The one that worries me now is my 12yo, but seeing how my 1st has thrown herself into studying at college, I have hope. I will NOT send another child college who can't get directly into pre-calc, and hasn't had 2 years of foreign language, and some solid foundational science. But I do not see HOW to do it with him. Like my 1st, he just doesn't have that academic-mindedness. Thankfully, we have 6 or so years left! And he is probably the main reason why I've come back to these boards...I'm struggling to figure out a better path for him!

That is a new one to me! It looks well laid out...and now I want to start a Geography Club.

I think I remember saving that to a pinterest board...is it GeoGuesser?

I wish I could think of some good wolf books -- I've read some, but the titles escape me right now! She (and you) might enjoy Waggit's Tale by Peter Howe -- it is told by a dog. Not "great literature" but good storyline and decent sized print.

Since I posted in the “who is back to school thread†I thought I’d post here as well. I really thought after that initial post I’d be here every day dispensing helpful nuggets of wisdom. Hah! Monday – drove oldest dd to work at 6:30am, let younger ones play on computer, teens slept in. Welcome to the new semester! Printed assignment sheets, handed out. Much complaining, but much work being accomplished as well. Picked dd up from work while kids had computer time and lunch. At 3pm I was on the couch reading our chapter of SOTW 2 and the dog came bounding in, ready to play. Once I’d calmed the dog down (she really needed a walk and exercise!) I realized I had spent much of the day shouting. I hate that feeling. I told the children that I was done shouting. The only reason I would raise my voice would be to correct the dog. I have stuck to that! Still doing MCT and Latin & Greek review with high schooler at 7pm. Tuesday – the alarm didn’t go off! When dh & I finally woke up he decided he’d just call into his meetings and work from home. I went down stairs and discovered it was snowing! I had no idea it was supposed to snow. School got done and we played outside a lot. Evening meeting was cancelled due to weather. Yay! And good because I was still doing MCT with 6th grader and Latin & Greek review with high schooler at 7pm. Which is too late for grammar in any language. Wednesday – Completed monthly newsletter I help with before kids got up, and actually had a good school day, took 3 younger ones and the dog out to play in the snow. Ended up walking through the woods and being outside for an hour. Kids very cold when we got home. My dh had a doctor’s appointment and decided to make some serious diet changes. Printed a new menu (no grain, no sugar) and we went together to the grocery store at 8pm. Skipped reviewing with the high schooler. Thursday – both 6th and 4th grader whined through writing assignments. Didn’t do any activities at all with PreK’r other than read aloud. Another hour walk in the woods. Cold! But good for us and the dog. Dropped dd off at work and stopped at the library. Tried to pay $12.90 library fine with the automated machine. It wouldn’t take my $1 bill after taking my $10, and then gave me $10 back…in dimes and nickels. Prek'r sat beside the machine and "read" a DK book on scuba diving while I fed a 100 coins or so back into the machine. Sat with high schooler and checked Alg 2 tests and assignments. I do not understand math. Thankfully he does! Friday – however did we get to the end of the week?! Assignment sheets are light for today as planned and 4th & 6th grader both completed their checklists so far. High schooler will take his biology test this morning and do math, then spend the afternoon at friend’s house. I will take the college students to buy books and grocery shop. Boo! Tonight is archery. Yay! One week down…seventeen to go! And then it will be summer! And warm! Didn’t do (or do enough) and need to improve for next week: Work with high schooler (need a SET time) Work with PreK’r (need a PLAN) Work on Coursera Orion class! (need to do before kids get up, if it will get done) Clean off dining/school table before dinner (we ate around books, or standing up...I don't mind that for lunch, but if I am going to COOK dinner, then I want us to sit down as a family to eat it!)

We are! I haven't been on the boards for a year or two. I spent winter break researching "packaged" options for my 6th, 4th, and pre-k children. So many searches lead here! We almost made the leap to Bookshark, but decided to just continue on with what we already have going for the second semester. My oldest two are in community college & working, and my high schooler is almost completely independent. I'm half excited to get back to the learning routine, half dreading it.

I'd forgotten all about this! Is a 3.5yo too young to attend the younger children's sessions if I send my 16yo dd with her as a chaperone?

For me, a pre-printed, bound work/text book gets done. One I have to print doesn't. Either I can't bear to print it -- too many pages, too much ink, or *gasp* color required! Or I print parts, which are then crumpled, lost, used for some other purpose...and not done. Even pre-printed, unbound student pages fall into the above category. Actually, I can think of an exception. I had two kids go through The Great Latin Adventure I & II. I've always homeschooled. I *still* download a lot of "free" stuff. But I've learned that if I want something to get done, it has to be pre-printed and bound. I wonder why I'm this way?

Wow. Not at my DD's community college. Once you start a test (or certain other assignments) for any class you you're done. No coming back to edit, no redo. Quite a few of the tests are proctored at the testing lab also, instead of just online. In her early morning English class they had a few snow days and didn't get to a certain assignment in class. That assignment is optional now, but it doesn't count as extra credit but rather an additional assignment figured into your average, should you choose to do it. I suppose for homework, especially in an online class, the chance to redo, to really understand is important.

Thanks to everyone who posted links in this thread so far! Celestial Navigation is something I've wanted to learn after listening to this Furled Sails sailing podcast! :001_smile:

Just wanted to send you a :grouphug: and share that I also have a very similar daughter: a reader-artist who plans to live in the woods. Mine is 18 and finishing her freshman year at community college. She is getting an applied science associates degree in Horticulture. Schooling her has always been hard, for both of us. High School was a bit better -- I enrolled her in NARHS for the accountability, hand-holding, and diploma. And I graduated her a year early so she could go to the CC. She has thrived there -- her first semester she had 4 classes, 3 horticulture related (including Botany, which was tough for someone who hadn't done well in anything Biology related) and one required "Personal Fitness & Health" class, which she took online. She got A's in the horticulture classes and a B in the other, because she didn't do all the assignments! This semester she only has two horticulture classes and four other gen ed types. At this point she has A's in all of them...although the year has a few more weeks. Where this will take her, I don't know. She doesn't really want to be a landscaper -- but it is a start, a *real* start...not one of mom-imposed assignments that don't seem to have meaning. :) Arcadia -- thanks for posting all those links!

If you're testing him at home, I'd break the test up over the day AND/OR over the course of several days. Regardless of the results, next year he'll no doubt be a stronger reader and more able to concentrate...so the scores will go up. :)

Those all sound like great fun! We are currently in an academic Friday co-op. For middle school age this year there was the following: Latin Greek or Geography (North America this year) Earth Science Humanities -- American History Logic For High School: Latin Greek Biology Humanities -- American History Great Books -- American Literature It has been a great year for both my 13 and 16yo. Challenges that I could not give them at home -- writing, discussion, recitation, upper levels of Latin, Greek, etc...definitely not "enrichment" only. Rather, enriching on the basics in an amazing way...with plenty of homework. :) If anyone is in NoVA and wants to join a classical co-op, let me know!

I made this General Tso Chicken for the first time last night. It was pretty quick and tasted pretty good. I halved ginger and the sugar (and everyone thought it was still sweet), and I used granulated garlic instead of fresh. If you have ground beef in the freezer than this Korean Beef is delicious! Cookies & ice cream are always delicious! :drool5:

I remember seeing this recommended here before and my library didn't have it -- now they do! :laugh: I like your weekend plan! Glad to hear it is working!

:grouphug: :crying: :grouphug:

Just wanted to check in with you! I read your update...any update to that? Sending you a :grouphug:

Thanks for posting this! Too bad we can't just actually follow Hogwarts... :lol: