I have had times where we did little to no read alouds. We don't learn as much and I start to feel like we are all in our own world instead of a unit. Maybe its your choice of book? Choose some interesting fiction to help create a new habit. Your kiddos are old enough to discuss appropriate behavior while reading and expect it. And sometimes you just have to face the fact that it won't always be an idyllic scene of them sitting on the floor at your feet with faces upturned in rapt attention. :-D Maybe a book on tape would be better suited for you and you can sit and listen doing something quietly with your hands as an example. I would try to find what works for you but don't drop it all together.

It looks like an answer key was written, but finding a copy online could be difficult. https://books.google.com/books?id=v--tHAAACAAJ&dq=inauthor:%22David+Eugene+Smith%22+junior&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwidrvjBuaPOAhXH5IMKHXzQC58Q6AEIKzAC

King of Math Jr. You can't choose what exactly is being drilled but it has all the operations. The app isn't timed. It's more drill than game but my kiddos enjoyed it.

Teach Your Monster To Read could help reinforce the phonics. Bob books are very phonics based and would help with the blending practice. You can read How to Tutor for free here: http://blumenfeld.campconstitution.net/Tutor.htm It is the book Alpha Phonics was based on and you can read how he teaches cursive which should correspond well with the Alpha Phonics.

You might look at Math Lessons for a Living Education sold by Master Books. It is skill based rather than grade level. It has a story line (Christian if that is an issue), but could be a very sit on the couch and work together type curriculum. Not scripted but something you could do easily together. You could accelerate by only doing the "new" material and some of the review instead of all of it. That way you could get through a week of material in a couple of days. You might try Xtra Math for the math facts review.

We have used The Elegant Essay from IEW. We never bought all the other parts, I just picked up at that one workbook. My daughters were able to use it just fine. You could try Jensen's Format Writing. It's very reasonably priced. http://www.masterbooks.com/jensens-format-writing

Jacobs Algebra is being reprinted by Master Books. It's not on their web site yet but is supposed to come out late this summer. The news came out on their Facebook page.

I've looked at these off and on for years but the price is just too prohibitive.

My favorite "old school" catalog is the Elijah Company. They were the first ones to help me really understand the different "flavors" of homeschooling back in the late 90's when I began.

There are quite a few cute apps for drilling math facts, but something that really lets you understand the concept of how numbers work? I have not seen any other than the ones mentioned. Maybe we could start a writing campaign to get Dragonbox to create one for multiplication.

You could see what integrated looks like on the MEP site. Levels 7-9 would be about the level you are at. There are review tests for each unit. One year I had my daughter do the logic/algebra/geometry units and just take the review test for the arithmetic review units. But unless she is in an advanced class she is probably prepared if she has already done Pre-Algebra. Maybe some pre-geometry and basic statistics since those will be covered as well in grade 9.

Thank you. Free is always nice. :-) I will take a look at them. I think through all the options mentioned I should be able to get some inspiring excerpts.

Those look good, especially if they are excerpts and not adaptations. Thanks

I actually have that book. I could flip through it again but I found the selections too long for lunch reading. Thanks for reminding me though!

I was thinking various lengths from sentences to a page or two but I will check the book out. Thanks

Thank you, katilac. That looks promising. I'll look into those as well Carol, thanks.

Thank you for the information and especially the thread with content listing! I will check these out.

Those look interesting but I really don't want contemporary literature. Now that I think of it though, it doesn't have to be in print. Is there a web site with excerpts of great writing? Anyway, thank you for the ideas OhElizabeth. I'll see where the Amazon "those who bought this..." rabbit trails lead me.

I am looking for a single volume that shows excerpts of great writing. A well crafted description by Dickens or a great passage from Moby Dick. I don't want an anthology, just examples of wonderful writing. Has something like that ever been created? I am not looking for a textbook that gives analysis just an enjoyable foray into excellent writing. Something I could read a selection or two during lunch to inspire my budding writers. I have tried multiple searches on Amazon and this board but haven't found anything. I am beginning to worry it doesn't exist but am hoping someone can correct me and send me in the right direction. Thank you!

Is there a comparison anywhere with the previous version(s)? What is new and improved about this version? Thanks!

I download them as PDFs then print using Fine Print in booklet format. They take a half page doing it that way but don't have the large margins I get when using the Canon booklet function.

Things that are "fussy". If it takes too long to organize (or print) for use or takes too long to clean up then it tends to get left on the shelf (or the computer). If I can grab it and use it there is a better chance that will get used. I have gotten rid of a lot so can't give many examples. C Rods/base ten blocks is one though. It took too much to sort at the beginning or at the end to be really useful. I prefer place value "houses" and any item sitting around at the moment (usually Legos).

CTC Math? Its on sale at Homeschool Buyers Coop at the moment. https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/ctc-math/?source=107721

In a way I am newly educated but in a way not. My parents got their Masters in Counseling together when I was in high school. My mother went on to get her Masters in Nursing 10 years later. I have a BS in Chemistry. But my parents didn't read much (that I saw and certainly not classics). We didn't listen to classical music or have discussions at the dinner table. The TV was on most evenings all evening. They accepted the status quo in almost everything (most notably in medicine which I think has done them more harm than good). I question everything. We have lots of discussions with our children, we read aloud, we listen to all types of music, etc, etc. I think my children will be the newly educated. I think they could have an intelligent conversation with the "old educated" but their knowledge base is skewed to the modern so it would be obvious that they are different. Yet they find the conversations of many of their peers shallow and frustrating even when discussing pop culture. They just look at things differently (although I acknowledge that it might be more personality than education). I don't think the new education can be lost by that person but it can be failed to be passed on to the next generation.

Kitchen Table Math might be what you are looking for http://www.drwrightskitchentablemath.com/