We have used the 9th grade world history set (just the books), Kickstart, and How the World Runs. My kids found them ok if not super exciting. I thought How the World Runs was the best of these. I am still considering using the US materials in a year but haven't seen them yet.

Beautiful Feet has a history of science curriculum. Master Books sells a set of books titled Exploring the World of Chemistry/Biology/Medicine/Physics. They cover the topic in a historic timeline way. Berean Builders has an elementary science series that is history based. None of these are secular though.

I saw a video of a teacher showing how to tweak the system so she could easily see who is using AI for their writing. In the writing assignment she creates a paragraph half way through and at the end of the first paragraph adds a sentence that says something like, "the assignment will also use the words Frankenstein and Batman" Then makes the font white and very small. Kids who cut and paste the assignment into AI won't see the extra vocab but the AI will. All the teacher has to do is search for those extra key words and she knows who has cheated. l thought it was genius.

My daughter informed me how Temu is stealing all my information and two days later I received a package with a container of face cream that I hadn't ordered. Not sure if I should be offended or not. At one point FB sent me all sorts of divorce lawyer ads. Not sure what I did to inspire that. Hubby was not pleased.

So far none of my kids have been college prep although my oldest went to college later without a problem. I do the four core - math, language arts, science, history and 2 electives every year although the actual classes vary depending on their interest (one of mine is going into massage therapy so her science is more Bio/Anatomy heavy). Some of our elective credits in fine arts, P.E./health, and Bible were earned over the course of all four years. I have typically done a subject based transcript to more easily reflect that. The local university has a pretty easy requirement list and a recent DE program that homeschoolers can get into, so my youngest two will probably go that route in the last one or two years of high school which will boost their credit count significantly.

We have a wide mix in our area, but we also have pretty established coops and a public school coop program. We do have CC and a CC like program. We have so many options that I usually end up encouraging moms that they can choose not to use a coop or online program and still educate their children well. I run a homeschool library and a lot of people ask for TGTB. Or they come in and ask for "fifth grade" as if there is a common core for homeschoolers. A lot of the new parents don't want to learn to teach, they want something very open and go. TGTB and Masterbooks are the 'new and shiny' curriculum I get asked about the most. Or they want the latest version of Abeka and have no intention of looking at other things even if their child has a deep passion in a specific area. There are some parents, and even young ones, who come in and pick out a variety of interesting materials to use with their families, so I have hope that homeschooling won't end up falling into just three pits - online, coop, boxed (as in, we use only one thing and don't adjust for our children's needs).

I was just coming to post the Ancient Civ meme as well.

They need to add a bullet point about how people visiting from areas with humidity above 50% on a regular basis don't understand that you need more than a 12oz water bottle to hike for more than an hour in a semi-desert area where the air is happy to suck you dry just standing there let alone moving.

I had digital files of work the kiddos had done, test scores, book lists, pictures of art. We had a drive failure and lost it. I cried, the kids (some were adults at the time) didn't care. Their favorites were physically kept by them in a designated under bed bin or trunk. When we went through my mother's belongings she had kept a salt dough map of Nebraska my sister had done in 5th grade. The thing was 40 years old and had survived multiple moves. My sister tossed it into the trash. I'd buy a reasonably sized bin for each child and let them choose their favorites from your files. Then the bin lives with them and the chest can hold your favorite picture books in style.

Masterbooks has a newer Forensics Science course. Could be a simpler, get it done, course that would leave time for his DE classes.

My kids suggest: Anything by Chuck Black - The Kingdom Series is the longest series plus he has a space based trilogy. Five Kingdoms Keeper of the Lost Cities Leven Thumps Wizard of Oz James Riley author Jessica Day George author One Hundred Cupboards The Roman Eagle series by Sutcliff Guardians series by William Joyce Princess Diaries Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch

I'll mostly do the traditional, not overdone, decorating that I do every year because visual clutter drives me batty. But I got some Christmas village themed off brand Lego sets that we are going to put together as a Christmas eve activity. I do plan on buying some extra greenery since everyone is coming to our house this year including my Christmas loving in laws and so I am going to do a bit more than usual.

I once lost my wedding ring while making egg rolls. Hubby was the one to find it while eating dinner. He was disappointed because he wanted to buy me a new one.

I have given all my kids four years past graduation to get settled before moving out. They didn't go to college right away (if at all) but this allowed them time to do a bit of travel and find a job that could support them. My oldest two got out within that time. I'm not sure if the next two will make it since the market is really bad here for both buying and renting. We'll see. I expect mutual respect and a continuation of my health expectations (no smoking/drugs and responsible drinking). Plus helping some with chores. Also communication if they will be out really late, but I don't expect to know exact itineraries like with my teens. Answering your questions....

My 23yo DD was able to get evaluated for ADHD just this year through an understanding primary care provider. She had already self-evaluated but she had gotten to a point where she needed medication (adult life had gotten complicated enough she couldn't cope with just herbs, etc) so having an 'official' diagnosis was useful. We are pushing for more testing for the kiddos for various issues now that we have a provider who is willing to actually listen. In general, our issues are mild so I could accommodate in homeschooling but they won't be in the nest for long. I was told you need an "adult" testing diagnosis for college accommodations, but that you can do that testing starting at 16. So I can't understand why your child would be too "old" for testing. Sorry they are being a pain.

We are using a 'for profit' evaluation place right now. It took us 6 months to get in. They have only been in town for a few years. We are on the docket through the medical Dr too but the referrals take 6 months for them to process then they are scheduling 6 months out. So 1 year just to start evaluations. This is partially because he has to take the public school kids as a higher priority. If you aren't in the system it is hard to get services in our town.

Got a call at 10:30pm last night from adult child who needed us to meet her at a gas station with a credit card. Her debit card had been cancelled after being compromised - I had offered my card that afternoon but she thought she could make it to the next morning.....

discoveryk12.com is similar to Easy Peasy but is secular. A complete program for grades 6, 7, 8 athomemiddleschool.com A one year grammar course: www.englishgrammar101.com Middle school (grades 6-8) math videos and worksheets at MasterMath. History program mostly for middle schoolers up https://www.heritage-history.com/ The above are all free. Have her check the e-resources on her public library system. Ours has free access to Universal Class and others.

My son did I Can Do All Things and there was some in there. I believe Lambs book of Art also has it. It looks like the high school version of those is The Book of Many Colors. Hope that helps some.