Hi, I'm looking for a syllabus for Foester's Algebra II and Trigonometry. I'm wondering how many problems I should assign each school day. My oldest completed chapters 1-8 of this text last year but it just about killed him doing all the problems even using 2 days for most lessons. I also have them watch the Math Without Borders DVDs that teach the lessons. I plan to have him complete the text this year and have his younger brother, the 9th grader, do the first 8 chapters like his brother this school year. I'm fine with them not doing all the problems as long as they are mastering the concepts. My problem is that I am not certain which problems to assign. Just doing odds or evens seems so random to me. Should I just assign the evens since the answers for the odds are in the text? If he makes a 90 or above on the chapter texts does that mean he's mastered the concepts?:confused: Jennifer VA homeschooling 4 boys; 10th, 9th, 7th & 5th grades

We're in our 10th year.:D Jennifer VA homeschooling 4 boys: 10th, 9th, 7th & 5th grade

I used to keep a super clean house until a year and a half into homeschooling. I got tired trying to do it all. I have boys who like to put grass stains on their pants, and are blind to clods of dirt stuck to their shoes (yes, I have a shoe shelf). I'm training them slowly, and they have chores, but...right now I succeed in getting my "really clean house" one or maybe two days a week when I host something like a co-op committee meeting. My house is almost always picked up, but it's so difficult to get to those deep cleaning chores. Also, I realized that I'm the type of person who gets pleasure from completing jobs--checking things off the list. So, cleaning can be a little demoralizing for me because it's a job that gets undone so easily. Thankfully, the germ-a-phobe in me overrides the task and I do the hygenic thing. I have Proverbs 14:4 taped to my desk, "Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox." Just insert "boy(s)" for oxen and "house" for trough and you'll know why I have that verse taped to my desk. The verse reminds me that what's a little mess compared with raising 4 princes. Mom to 4 boys, ages 12, 10, 8 & 6

I call it chop meat. I grew up in VA, but my parents are from Long Island, NY. My mom always referred to it as chop meat. My dh has been in VA all his life and his family called it hamburger. Jen mom to 4boys

Do you think that Great Expectations by C. Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities by C. Dickens, Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, and Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis would be too hard for a 7th-8th grade book club. Another homeschool mom I know is trying to offer this class at our co-op, but I'm afraid her choices are a little too hard and her offer to teach will be rejected. I'm on the steering committee that approves/rejects co-op classes. She has been a fantastic teacher for the younger grades this year, so I'd like to work with her on this and give her a better shot. Does anyone have any ideas for a 16 class book list that meets once a week for this age range. Thanks. BTW, parents would pay tuition for the class, if that makes a difference. Thanks.

we don't have a home phone anymore. We're trying to save money and get perfect cell reception at our home. I thought that at 12 and a half that I could start leaving him at home for an hour or less. Afterall, I babysat at 12 way back when. So, it's a security issue for us. Also, the phone was free with our family plan and it only costs us $10 a month. We also had our service provider block texting, because we don't even want to start that nonsense.

My dh and 8yo have environmental allergies. Specifically my 8yo has allergies to tree pollens and dust mites. After a few convos with our family allergist we plunked the money down and removed the carpeting in our family room and the 8yo's bedroom. We have noticed a change already for the better in him since we took the carpet out. We also took the carpet out of the schoolroom last weekend to improve his daily environment even more. He has had less sinus problems and has lost the cough I normally see when things start to bloom. He's even noticed that he is "sick" less often. We're almost a carpet free house now...only 3 bedrooms to go! That being said, we do plan to keep the two area rugs in the living and family rooms; but, I'll never put even one little throw rug in the 8yo's bedroom because the less of that stuff the better for his health.

I use Classical Writing, but voted other because I didn't read the note that "Creative Writing" is supposed to be "Classical Writing.

I pretty much did the same thing as Julie in Austin with my 4ds. Though with two of my boys, I found it helpful to make a bingo game out of the cvc words and play it for a week before moving on. We also completed Explode the Code and read Bob Books along with PP. I've been very happy with the PP and ETC combo. I can't thank SWB enough for the recommendation. Jen mom to 4ds, ages 12, 10, 8, and 6

"climb up to the roof and wrap something around that vent.... even just a flapping piece of cloth or tape should work....... like a couple pieces of ribbon or something" Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'll ask dh to tie some ribbons on the vent. I mentioned tape to him already, but he thought the heat would bake it off.

Our house roof vent is being attacked by a noisy pecking bird. It wakes us up at 6am pecking on our roof and shaking the house (we like to get up at 7am). My dh was able to sneak out and catch the bird in action twice before flying off to a nearly tree. My dh wants to pelt it with a BB gun because he thinks it won't stop otherwise, but I'm wondering if there is a more humane way. I can't imagine there would be anything tasty on our roof, we have a contract with an exterminator because our backyard was overrun with carpenter ants when we moved in. We have zero pest problems now, minus the woodpecker/flicker. BTW, dh and I enjoy bird watching with the exception of roosters of course:D Thoughts?

I don't have any advice to offer, but I can commisserate a little. My 12 and 8yo sons don't make friends as easily as their other brothers. The 12yo is reserved and speaks a little stiffly (think "English butler"). He does have 1 friend his age we can invite over from time to time, but it's been difficult to work out due to distance. The 8yo is very black and white and needs to learn a little more grace if he is going to form more than an acquaintance outside the family. My 12yo is content with his social life, but my 8yo moans about it. He's especially jealous at the ease at which my charismatic 10yo makes friends. Dh and I do what we can to foster opportunities (sports, co-op, Rangers, inviting boys to our home after church on Sunday afternoon), but I also try to focus his attention on the positives because he's such an analyst;). I remind him while friends are good, they will come and go, but a brother is a friend for life. I'm so thankful he has 3 brothers close in age to play with, while he's waiting for "other" good friends. Jen

I don't know if I read your post correctly, but I interpreted it to mean that it is typical for him to do all those subjects daily. It might be a lot for him to do all of them thoroughly on a daily basis. My 12yo ds has 14 subjects, but he doesn't do all of them daily. Each day he has 5 or 6 "individual subjects" including guitar practice and 3 "together things". He is comfortably ahead a year or more in most subjects, and we're able to complete each year's academic goals planning this way. BTW, the "together things" title has nothing to do with my participation, because I help out whenever needed with all 4 of my boys. He has 3 school-aged brothers so there are 3 subjects we do together daily which the boys and I call "together things". If your 12yo has some free time to explore areas of interest, then he probably isn't doing too much. If he doesn't have free time you may want to cut back unless it's a procrastination/discipline issue. Peace, Jen

looking up all your suggestions and considering what will work for us. Thanks again Hive mind, Jen

I'd like some advice. I've barely begun researching what my upcoming 7th grader should do come August, when our family starts the next school year. I would like to know what curriculum you thought was wonderful and also what you thought was a waste of time and money. He will not be doing any more spelling and grammar. He is doing well in all his subjects, but is weak in logic (haven't done much in this area). We will continue with CW for composition work and will be studying some systematic theology with his father. He is completing SWO H and Shurley 7 in a few weeks. He is doing Henle I, parts 3-5 with the Memoria Press guide and Saxon 8/7 (not tied to Saxon, would prefer another program). I need recommendations for Latin, math, literature, history, science and logic (or anything else that I might be leaving out). Feeling a little lost right now regarding 7th grade stuff, but excited and hopeful that the lightbulb will go on soon, Jen Mom to 4 great boys, ages 12, 10, 8 & 6