Standardized tests do a good job of finding out who takes standardized tests well. Of who can play their little game well. I have to by law, give my children a standardized test each year. There are always those questions that show how the test makers can't escape the context from where the child is coming from. For example, this vocabulary test question states (8 year old's test), "To wander away is to..." a- worry b- stray c-follow d- belong. My ds picked "worry" because in his mind, if he wandered away, he would worry. I can see my daughter answering the same question "follow" because when she wanders away, she is usually following someone. And to think, we have a whole nation only measuring students success and their teacher's success in these very ridiculous tests!!!! Beth

What about Heart of Dakota?

I am looking at this program for ds. What do I need? I don't really need a schedule, but there are options on Amazon - textbook, Workbook, Level A, and Teacher's Express (which includes tests and the tm?). I looked at Kolbe.org schedules and plans, but I can schedule out what we need - we may do it at a slower pace. Beth

I am looking at this program for ds. What do I need? I don't really need a schedule, but there are options on Amazon - textbook, Workbook, Level A, and Teacher's Express (which includes tests and the tm?). I looked at Kolbe.org schedules and plans, but I can schedule out what we need - we may do it at a slower pace. Beth

I've been tossing around a multitude of ideas for next years science also. I gave ds a few options to pick from for physical science (Apologia, Prentice Hall concepts in action, and exploration education advanced). He chose PH CIA. It's a hefty textbook, but uses lots of real life examples and pictures. I read the thread mentioned above and am glad it has some tips for how to study a textbook. I've come to realize that the downfall in homeschooling is that I can't be the expert teacher on everything. I can't devote hours and hours to lesson planning for just one subject. BUT, what I can give him is the ability to learn himself and the ability to teach himself. My ds wants the easy way- just tell me what I need to know and I'll do just that. But life doesn't always give you that path for learning. So, textbook, here we come. A bonus about the CIA text is that it only has 21 chapters so it can give him the time he needs to really learn it. Beth

We use the Classical Conversations memory songs for history events. I just co-ordinate the songs with what we're learning. Be aware though, if you do it that way, you almost have to buy all 3 years of their cds because they sequence things very differently. Beth

I started my 5 year old in Saxon math. It goes slowly and gently with lots of manipulatives. There is no writing involved. My dd could barely count objects up to 10 when she started. Beth

I saw this article recently. I would like to have my ds start programming simple things but the program mentioned in the article (free to public schools) won't let me access it as a homeschooler (they said they are working on a home-based option, but I'm not holding my breath). Are there other things out there that teach simple programming? I've looked at Lego education, but the price point seems a little high for what you get. Beth

My home and it's "style" is basically picked ideas from someone else or my artsy mother-in-law who told me what would look good for colors. My curriculum is much the same. I have tried to make up a program per the well trained mind, but it never works. I like having a set plan that someone else has put together for me. The stuff I make up always flops about 1/3 of the way into the year. I'm also one of those people who wishes all the clothes in a department store were on manikins so that I wouldn't have to figure out what matches what. We also have books pouring out of every cranny and did so before we started homeschooling. So, I tend to gravitate toward curriculum that tells me what to do every week but gives me a little leeway into how I implement it. This is why I pick Tapestry of Grace over Beautiful Feet Curriculum. Beautiful feet had too many book choices to choose from, but Tapestry limits the books while giving me a pick and choose on the extras. I would love to do a science program like BSFU, but I know that I would never get it done because there's no "this is how you do it". Instead, I picked something like Nancy Larson for my two youngest next year - a box, tell me what to do when, and here are all the supplies for it. I always admire the people who are able to put together random things in their house and make it look beautiful. The same is with homeschoolers who can just pull together random curriculum pieces/suggestions and make a great year of learning. I am just not that person and when I figured that out about myself, picking homeschooling materials became a lot easier. Beth

Saxon math- scripted which works for a "brain challenged" mother with a newborn, a phonics program, and a handwriting program (I like handwriting without tears). Then just get picture books on different subjects like science and history and read those. I would have her just stick to those basics because she can feel more successful and not be too overwhelmed with a new baby while learning how to homeschool. If she feels like it, she can always add in stuff 1/2 way through the year. Beth

Room for a wheelchair. Our church added onto a tiny church and then stuffed the new main room with as many chairs as they could. Unless the chairs are situated just right, we can't get down the aisles. That means that we don't take communion as a family because the aisles are too narrow. We also are stuck in one place after church because every where else is too small to fit a wheelchair with all the people. We just wait until most everyone is gone before we can move. My greatest wish is that our church ran a group home for adults with disabilities. A place where the residents were prayed for and God's presence was welcomed. There's a lady in our church that is picking up an older man with Down syndrome that she connected with again after 35 years of not seeing him (she worked at his group home). She found out that for 35 years, he had wanted to go to church but no one took him or connected him with someone who would. 35 years! Anyway, that would be the greatest thing a church could ever do for us. Beth

I have been struggling with figuring out science for the future years for my kids. I've got an 8th grader next year. The science curriculum they're using at the local high school is all the texts that have appealed to me- conceptual physics, prentice hall concepts in action, but they are done with the lab equipment, the teacher whose only job is to figure out how to teach only 2-3 classes (while as a homeschooler, I have 3 kids with multiple classes), and special projects that I would have never figured out or thought of. I want my kids to have a great science experience apart from the public school. I guess I'm feeling inadequate to teach high school overall in a rigorous manner. I'm not opposed to outside classes, but especially with science, it's hard to do that with a class that only meets once a week while not being able to really do a lab component that can cost hundreds of dollars. Maybe I'm just having a "the grass is greener" syndrome. I need a kick in the butt or pat on the back. Beth

:lol: I am teaching phonics to my youngest. I hear you on the twitching eye thing only our conversations goes something like this..."H-O-T, hot! Just like when you tell me not to touch the stove because it's hot. I don't always want to listen sometimes. When is it going to be hot again? In two sleeps? I like it when it's hot outside because then I can ride my scooter. When is my birthday coming up? When can I ride my scooter again? When the snow is gone?" I'm sitting there with my head in my hands wondering if this child will ever learn to read when a five minute phonics lesson takes 1/2 hour. I can feel my blood pressure rising and eventually, we get to the next word which prompts another random flow of thoughts. I just have to ride the word stream. I can't get her back on track until she finishes her thought stream. There are two things I don't like teaching - how to go to the potty and phonics. I never have delegated either of them to someone else though. I am delegating junior high courses - history which requires more discussion with a group and English so that someone else can grade my son's work. I wish I could delegate science also, but there's only so much money. Maybe when Miss Random Thought can finally read, I won't feel so burnt out and can take back history also. I actually like history. Beth

I got a homeschooling magazine that looked interesting and had a very cheap price point. I have yet to read an article about homeschooling in the homeschooling magazine. It bugs me. The only time homeschooling is mention is a "oh, and this wonderful family with 5 children whose parents volunteer at 10 different places are homeschoolers!" The last issue was about adoption - no how to teach, how to motivate, etc. I would like something that had special focus subjects. Right now, I would LOVE to have a whole bunch of articles on options for science in the junior high and high school years. I also don't read reviews by the TOS people because they're always positive with nothing negative to say. It makes me suspicious that everything they review is wonderful. Beth

That sounds like a plan. I am getting a lot of different books from the library so I can give him that as his homework. I've looked at the udacity course and liked it, but I thought it was just too short for a full year. Now I'm looking at it as an "add on" to another possible course. Teaching the same thing a different way. With the how things work course...do you know how often they offer that course. It looks very interesting. Beth

I've heard that also which has made me stay away from considering it right now. I'd like to be wrong. Beth

I will have an older 7th grader next year (he will turn 13 in September) and the "mommy wars" have started. I have already farmed out two classes that involve discussion and writing (history and English). If he doesn't understand something right away, he gets irritated with me and all learning comes to a stop. I will teach him math, but I'm wondering if that may be my limit in order to preserve our relationship. I was planning on also teaching him a harder physical science like Prentice Hall concepts in action but am wondering if he really just needs something he can do himself. I am out of money for online classes. I think he has the potential to actually like science, but the Apologia series doesn't excite him. General science, while it bored him, did teach him some skills (like studying for a test and lab write ups). He did like Rainbow science when he did it in 5th grade (he did the physics and chemistry portion of it). I think he liked the labs and having the kit of stuff. I feel like I've given up trying to make things interesting for him. He doesn't really care and has no opinion on what he learns. His younger brother and sister are interested in loads of topics and excited about learning. It's fun to teach them. My oldest student has always been a "get it done so I can go on with my life" kind of kid. I really don't know what to do. I feel like just handing him the Physical Science Apologia book to just get the science portion taken care of - he'll learn something, but it won't excite him - he'll continue to think science is boring. Maybe I just need to give up and let God figure the boy out and give him something to be excited about. Beth

What are some algebra based Physics courses? :bigear: Beth

I would do a Lego education unit. They always look like such fun, but the expense is too much for one family. Beth

This was my coolest find. Answers in Genesis videos on most any topic you could desire. For adults: http://www.answersingenesis.org/media#/ for kids: http://www.answersingenesis.org/kids/videos Beth

I am loaning it from a friend to look at. It looks a little difficult. I have a math smart student, but not a motivated student to try to figure out stuff that is too difficult. He has the ability, but not the motivation at this point. I need to challenge him, but not over-do it. Beth

I don't know what else to do! I could switch the conceptual chemistry and have ds do that in 8th grade followed by the bio course. I really don't know what's out there. I am not good at making a bunch of books work into a cohesive program. It has always failed me somewhere in the second quarter. It seems like a year each of conceptual physics and conceptual chemistry would replace my physical science year (I know it would take two years, but he could do both by high school), but conceptual physics doesn't have an easy to figure out plan for homeschoolers. Frankly, the whole thing confuses me and I really don't know what to buy or how to schedule it - does it even have a DVD teacher component? I would be using the 8th grade program which has some earth science in it, but I would just skip that section. Beth

I've been having an "issue" with science lately. I don't like Apologia. It doesn't excite me as a teacher to teach it and I've come to realize if I dislike it, my children will also. We've only completed General Science and I have no desire to move to the next level. I've thought about BJU, but from what I understand, it requires a teacher (not me at this point) and I'm not willing to rent a DVD for the same price that an online class would cost. I may as well fork over money for a real teacher who can actually grade my student's work. Here's what I've been considering. I need a plan. I really want to avoid evolution in the actual textbook. It will get taught, but I want to use other resources. I like the thought of Conceptual physics, but I also like having homeschool helps like the conceptual chemistry site and the Holt books have. How does this plan look? 7th - Holt Physical Science 8th - Shepherd Biology 9th - Conceptual Chemistry 10th - Saxon Physics (he will have completed Calculus by this time - I think - we'll adjust if not) 11th- college science 12th - college science (we have a college in high school option here) I'm open to suggestions. Science has been my nemesis. Beth

Anyone else having trouble with the virtual labs? Can I just buy a cheap used textbook off of amazon and use the above links for everything else? Does this include "do-able" labs that don't require expensive equipment? (I'm comparing to the $1200 CPO lab kit for physical science). Also, what about this package? http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/050234/81c808471f1cdfa7f6c08011 Beth

I like color, so I chose print initially. As I'm going through the years again, I am upgrading to DE - mostly because they do keep improving their product, and secondly, their online classes require it. I don't buy the SAP packs because I figure I can do it for much less. Beth