My eldest daughter did this very thing. She read extensively, all genres and most subjects. She started requesting to read the classics after seeing them mentioned so often in her fiction books. I had to insist on science but she read enough to get what I titled a survey curse on her transcripts (she is not going to college at this time and it would not be for a stem career if she did). Her spelling/grammar/writing developed a little later but mostly because she was trying to copy the quality literature she was reading. Second eldest has been similar but not as voracious. I have a book list that she is required to get through. Third child is not much of a reader and I am doing more direct instruction with her. Fourth child will probably follow in elders foot steps. The boys will probably be more direct instruction with projects. So in my experience it can be done but certain learning types will need more direction in the choice of books. But you also have to be patient. The knowledge base develops later because books tend to focus on a single life or event so it takes more books to cover the same ground as a textbook. But the information tends to be more in-depth and remembered.

I have considered this very thing and kind of do it each year. Actually, what I do is try and use a more typical text but then get bogged down or bored and we go back to our living books and other materials we own. I have decided to embrace diversity. :) Shorter workbooks or materials that can be accomplished without taking the whole year. This reduces the boredom factor plus they often don't cost as much if we decide we don't like it or don't want to use the whole thing. Next year I am using the core knowledge books as my check list but you might want to look at Maximum Math for a good list. We are also going to use living math books, Hands on Equations, Complete Book of Math (I have one workbook lover), Arithmetic Village, math games, Mathtacular, Success with Math from Scholastic, Math Galaxy from Currclick, and possibly the daily math sheets mentioned in the free curriculum group. Sounds like a lot but it is for three different children. We will work on something for a while and then switch when needed or when I think they have mastered the material. Most of this I bought used or on sale and so didn't spend more than I would have on one level of a "real" math set, let alone three. It's a bit scary for me because I like having a simple, complete plan for the year but I think we will enjoy this so much more. Good luck with your planning!

Pecos Pasta Cook enough pasta for your family. While cooking heat up 2 cans of chili and one can of kernal corn (drained). Add seasoning/onion/garlic to taste. Drain pasta and return to pot. Mix in chili mixture and 1-2 cups of cheese (more or less based on your tastes). Serve with fresh veggies. This is a big hit at our house and can be adjusted for less or more raelly easily.

Considering our less than wonderful public schools in our town - it is not an option for us. There is a decent private school but we couldn't afford it for all the children. I will say, unless there was a dire situation (like both of us died) we would never send our children to public middle school.

I have used the workbooks for several children and enjoy them. The new ones are like mini unit studies with a nature theme. Very well done. We enjoy the Bible stories but they are not needed for the other workbooks. If you buy the set you can choose with or without the Bible reader. The Bible workbook is only a coloring book and easily skipped if desired.

I think even if you don't read every word of the originals knowing about the books and plot lines is important. So many of our current plot lines are rehashed Austen or Shakespeare. Not to mention allusions to cliches or characters in these classics. Many of these can be introduced in elementary in some way. I don't think every book that is considered a classic needs to be read by every student, but awareness of great literature and how it impacted other literature, art, movies is important for everyone.

We used the fractions book with one of my daughters. It did fine for explaining but I didn't find it fantastic. My daughter liked that it was to the point and easy to get through each day. I have one friend who liked them for some of her children. She has a large family and it allowed the children to get some work done without her being by their side every moment. If you do decide to buy them I would contact the company directly. Last I heard there were some levels that were out of print. I wouldn't want to start something I couldn't find parts of easily.

Is there a teenager with a scanner (or a desk top that can use your scanner) that could do it for you for a reasonable fee? Might be cheaper than buying another scanner or at least sending it off. Also see if a local print shop has a scanning option on one of their machines with an automatic feed. That at least would save you hours and a bunch of boring work. I once scanned in Practical Arithmetic so I could increase the page size for a child. Yuck It took a long time at the scanner, and making sure I didn't skip pages. Then I had to rotate the pages and print to PDF. At least make sure you have something good to listen to while working. Hopefully you'll find a good option that is at least close to your budget and patience threshold.

Double post.

This reminds me of the Lamplighter book Willy's Trunk. Unfortunately I couldn't find a free copy online. In the book Willy is set to inherit his grandmother's estate which is sizable. But she knows Willy is a bit lazy and the money will bring him to no good. So she creates a trunk for him filled with good books. He has to read them in order and have the pastor sign off each one when he is done. The books start with things he is interested in and then branches off and increases in difficulty. He also has to finish within a set amount of time. After doing all this he has matured and learned and is given the full inheritance I have often considered what would be in the trunk for my children but never made a list. I like the idea of having a streamlined foundation that gives plenty of time to develop their individual interests/gifts. Thanks for starting the thread and giving me some ideas.

If you are still interested in Strayer Upton you can find a similar text online. It is titled Efficiency Arithmetic. It has a year one and two component unlike SU in the first book.

If filling time is your goal, how about these sites? This one has a daily 5-7 problem set. You could start them at any grade and let them do as many as they want each day. There are answers so they could correct their own. http://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/math/resources/daily-routines This one has your typical school textbook sort of pages. They could do just the research or homework pages for an independent review. http://www.harcourtschool.com/teacher_resources/math04_ancillaries/index.html Both are free so would fit your budget.

The Mathematicians are people too series almost made my math hater(but history lover) interested in higher math. :) Great series. I tend to mix them into our read aloud time but don't really schedule them as part of Math time unless we really need a break.

I have a daughter like this. When put on the spot or timed she just freezes. Even if she knew the answers well if I asked her to go as fast as she could, she would forget everything. It was so bad that if you caught her off guard she couldn't even remember her name. :) She is much better now at 16 but it took time. For standardized tests I would glance at the clock and let her think she had all the time in the world. She always finished in time. I didn't do speed drills or flashcards, but did do games like Timezattack. If you want to do the oral questions why not take regular turns so that she isn't put on the spot and you can tell a little easier if it's stage fright or just a wandering mind. Maturity will help. Be patient and see her as an individual not as an aberration from her other siblings.

I don't think it is critical what order you do it in, but I do feel strongly that every child should have some basic statistics under their belt before they graduate. I believe stats is more practical and useful than calculus for many people. Statistics is so often used as a scare tactic and I want my children to be able to understand what is being said. I took several calc classes for my Chemistry degree but no statistics. When working though, the computers did the calculus but I used statistics every day.

The Great Source company has a good series of Math books. They cover all the topics with good explanations but no practice problems. Math on Call is the middle school level. They also have a science series but I have not actually seen these. They are more colorful than Core Knowledge and so may be more interesting. You might also look at Math Clues on Currclick. It reviews elementary math with problems.

I'll have to pick up a few of these. I think my children would enjoy the comic book style. Thanks for mentioning them.

Thank you every one I will look into these.

My 13year old is interested in the cell and I would like to find a colorful, interesting book on just that topic. A good DVD would work too. I can only seem to find textbooks when I search or books on genetics. We will be covering Biology next year but I would like to encourage her interest now. Thank you!

I second the math suggestions. Turn of the Century by Ellen Jackson, How Children Lived by Rice, Come Look with Me art series, Usborne Complete Book of Nature, Childhood of Famous Americans

Unfortunately its not free on Amazon for the kindle. Bummer.

There is a book on Amazon called Verbal Math. There are several levels and you can get a paperback or electronic version. You could just do a few problems before you do your other math for the day. For Ray's, Primary is considered a first/second grade level but could be used as a basic facts review at any level. Intellectual would be fine for grades 3-4, but again, if you are just using it for the mental math ability then it could be used at any level. The Intellectual book was intended to be done as mentally as possible. So it probably could be stretched as a review for most of elementary school if you only wanted to get one book. I have used Ray's Primary with my early elementary children but tended to switch to something else after that. Hope that helps

I went years ago while working for a pharmaceutical company. When I went to my first "huge" homeschool conference I just laughed. It was nothing compared to Pittcon.

When I read the title I thought of Pittcon. It's an absolutely massive conference for scientific equipment. :) But then I read your note and figured it wasn't what you were looking for. The cost is rather high, but it does look like they have a free day if you are in the Chicago area.

We had disc one and my girls thought it funny. Not sure how much they picked up from it but it was fun edutainment. I plan on getting them again for my boys who are definitely visual learners. I am hoping to use them as spring boards for their K level math.