Ha! Coming back 5 years later to eat my words. I decided to do the abridged version as a family read aloud. I just couldn't bring myself to read aloud the entire thing, as much as I love it. We started it about two weeks ago and I've already noticed some details that were missing. After reading through this thread, though, I picked up the original and started where we had left off. The kids liked it much better and even my 3rd grader gets sucked in. I think this is different from Les Mis (which I do assign as abridged) in that so much of the book is the story line, packed with action and dialogue, and not just lengthy background descriptions.

Ha! It's always interesting and humbling to read previous posts. We have gone back and forth between AO/ CM and MP a few times over the years. A definite common denominator is the high literary quality of the books used by both methods. I really like the history progression of both as well, and that with both you are constantly studying Shakespeare and classics, as opposed to only reading those when you happen to be studying middle ages or ancients. MP obviously emphasizes Latin to a greater degree than most AO users but a true CM education does have Latin from 4th grade up. And we have kept with MP for Latin, my dd is going to be doing Henle 3 with MPOA in the fall. Charlotte Mason's books have really resonated with me. I especially love her saying that it doesn't matter how much the child knows but how much the child cares. Both MP and a CM education offer a child an "abundant feast" of subjects with many ideas that are food for the child's brain. The most obvious difference in the approach, in my opinion, is that while MP includes student guides complete with quizzes and tests (and often flashcards to enhance memorization), AO/ CM leaves the work in the domain of the student's brain. They need to narrate, which includes taking the material, thinking it through, connecting it to other ideas, and then communicating the ideas with increasing effectiveness and clarity. This approach has been wonderful for my oldest. She consistently got high grades on her MP tests because she is great at memorizing, but was so relieved when each book was finished because she was stressed about the tests. With AO, she loves her books and never wants them to end. She gives the most thoughtful, insightful narrations and really has great ideas about what she reads. I see the connections happening in her mind, and it's a joy to discuss the material with her. Now I do see value in tests and learning to study and memorize information. Obviously that is a necessary skill that will serve them well in college. We're using science textbooks, and also have regular tests in math and Latin. I just don't feel that my kids need that particular form of evaluation for history, literature, Bible, etc. I plan to still use MP geography alongside AO for my youngest, and I might use some Classical Composition with him. I do really like the MP lit guides for the extra helpful info they provide, and we've really enjoyed their poetry books. I also have to say that they have consistently given me about the best costumer service that I've ever had anywhere, and they are unbelievably helpful when we are stuck with Latin. Now I'm wondering what we'll be using in a few year's time if I happen to reread this post...

Math: CLE 4 Language Arts: Handwriting Without Tears Cursive, Spelling Workout C, Rod and Staff English 2, copywork from books we read, readers I assign Literature: Ambleside Online Year 2 books (Understood Betsy, Pilgrim's Progress, The Wind and the Willows, Robin Hood, Tales from Shakespeare, poetry) History: Middle Ages with Ambleside Online Year 2 )A Child's History of the World, Our Island Story, This Country of Ours, Joan of Arc plus fun supplemental books about the Middle Ages) Science: Burgess Animal Book, Apologia Astronomy, Nature Study Geography: A Tree in the Trail, Seabird Bible: Community Bible Study, New City Catechism Extras: Tae Kwon Do, soccer, extreme Lego building

I'm specifically talking about the higher number problems in each lesson. She and I both understand and can easily do all the basic "math" problems, and then we can sometimes do the first word problem or so with no issue. Then they get tricky. Often even with watching the video solutions we're not 100% sure what they were asking or how he arrived at the solutions. This is super frustrating for both of us, who are perfectionists and are accustomed to learning to mastery and thoroughly "getting" everything before moving on. We haven't had great success using the MWB graphing program, Geogebra, either. The word problems at the end of each chapter don't seem as hard for some reason. I know ultimately it's up to me and I don't need permission to skip anything. But, it would be helpful to hear from anyone else who has used this book and culled certain material (word problems or whole chapters, specifically). Could that still set her up for precalculus (NOT with Foerster, probably Mr.D or DE).

I know this has been asked before and have read all the previous threads. My dd is in Ch 6 (logarithms) and has done okay with the text so far. We're using the Math Without Borders videos and doing the problems he assigns. The word problems are becoming more and more difficult and even with me putting in an hour or so of personal study each night, I'm not understanding the material to the extent that I can help her (and she needs me to be able to help her). I was good at this in school and enjoy math, but these word problems are killing me! What are our options? We have covered a significant amount of material and invested lots of time into this curriculum. Is it fair to continue from this point without doing the word problems? I'm thinking that would really limit the benefits of the book and even cut out some of the learning since some properties are "discovered" through solving the problems. Can we just get through, say chapter 8 or 9 and call it good and move on to something easier for Precalculus? I guess I'm asking what is the bare minimum we can do of Foerster in order to say she's completed Algebra 2 and can move on? Some lessons really seem like they could be "extras" intended for very mathy students who want to take concepts further. I'm so tempted to just throw in the towel and find something easy that makes us feel successful and gets the job done, but I also want her to get a solid Algebra foundation, which is why I chose this book.

We have used Cambridge 1 and 2, and have done Henle 1 and 2. She'll be fine for grammar, but there are many vocabulary words in Cambridge that would be helpful to know as they'll show up in the translations right off the bat. If possible, you might want to just expose her to that so that she can be prepared. The vocabulary is pretty interesting and not too difficult. A solid base of grammar with Henle will help her tons!

I submitted on Sunday and was approved early Monday morning, so I assume that it might have been more immediate if I had submitted on a weekday. Thanks again for this recommendation! That saved me TONS of time.

Wow! Thanks for pointing me in this direction. I submitted it and am waiting approval. What a game changer this is! I thought I had heard about this option months ago but couldn't find it anywhere on the College Board site so assumed it wasn't a valid option anymore.

I'm in the process of attempting this so I can submit my syllabus to the College Board and call my dd's class "AP" on her transcript. My head is spinning, because while I am used to designing courses for our homeschool, I have never written this type of a syllabus. How detailed does it need to be? I printed off the sample from the CB website, so I do have that to go from. Basically, I have a paragraph for a course overview, a paragraph about student assignments, and then her reading list. After that, I've divided the year into 9 units (rotating poetry, short fiction, longer fiction, drama). Under each unit I have copied the skill objectives from the CB course info, then listed the specific short stories/ poems/ etc. for that unit. Then I have a section called "Assignments," where I have bullet points describing what chapters are read from Structure, Sound, and Sense and The Lively Art of Writing, then a bunch of written and oral discussion topics for that unit. What I don't have are specific due dates of anything, or super clear timelines of when the longer novels need to be read. From the sample syllabus, it doesn't seem like I need those more technical details. How does that sound? Am I going in the right direction? (Please tell me that I am because I've already sunk a bunch of hours into this!)

CLE Algebra Conceptual Physics (Hewitt), science biographies (Kepler, Newton, Einstein), A Briefer History of Time Literature (King Arthur, Watership Down, Beowulf, Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare, poetry) Middle Ages History using Ambleside Online Year 7 Lite Easy Grammar, writing will mainly consist of daily written narrations with occasional assigned short essay topics Getting Started with Spanish Mapping the World with Art (I think, but I haven't actually bought this yet. He loves Ellen McHenry's science books so I think this might be an enjoyable way to cover geography for a kid who doesn't especially like geography) Whatever Happened to Justice? Logic- maybe? We've done Fallacy Detective so maybe The Thinking Toolbox, thinking I'll save Art of Argument for 9th grade but still unsure Coding using a variety of sources Tae Kwon Do Community Bible Study

I have worked through the texts ahead of my dd, but not that far ahead. Honestly, I would probably forget it if I attempted it years in advance. I just stay somewhat ahead and work through as many problems in the lessons as I can, focusing on ones that look more challenging. I then make little pencil notes in the solutions manuals about helpful hints for a problem or alternate solutions that may also be valid. We have used CLE Algebra I, Jacobs Geometry, and are currently in Foerster's Algebra II. All of them have been a success here.

There are no hard and fast rules here! It really just depends on what you and she want from it. My dd has through all 4 forms and Henle I and II. She will keep going through AP Latin and has no desire to add a modern language to that. My ds went through Second Form and then moved on to Spanish. He dreaded Latin and wanted something that felt more immediately practical. That was hard for me because I have been so committed to Latin and have learned it right along with my kids. I think the ideal would be to do both a modern language and continue a classical language to some degree, but that's not going to be realistic for everyone. If you just want vocabulary, there are other ways to accomplish that. Probably the most useful Latin vocabulary to know are the prepositions and how they combine with verbs to vary the meanings. Obviously, the further you progress in Latin the more vocabulary you will have.

I'm planning to have my ds work through this text (the high school one) for 8th grade. I have bought the book but would love to have solutions for the chapter review questions at the end of each chapter. Does anyone know whether the Teacher Edition of the book includes those answers? I'd rather not purchase accompanying workbooks, unless those include an answer key within them.

Math: Foerster's Algebra 2 Latin: Mueller's Caesar Henle 3 with MPOA Science: Discovering Design with Chemistry History: American History I, using Ambleside Online year 9/10. Government: Going to try to self-study for AP Government (still using mainly AO books but adding AP prep materials, too) English: Ambleside Online year 9/10 plus self study for AP Literature and Composition using AO books and some additions Partial credits: Bible, worldview, Fine Arts using Ambleside Online materials + Community Bible Study Extra Curricular: Taekwondo will happen for sure, hoping recreational soccer starts up again, and mostly hoping to raise a guide puppy for the Guide Dog Foundation (we're on a waiting list but things have slowed down in their program due to COVID) Update: We have our little future guide puppy!! No idea how this AP stuff will pan out! But she's extremely motivated and hard working and wants to go for it, so we'll take a shot. The courses will not be labelled AP but will just have the exams. Got College Board approval so we're legit!

Good to know! Geometry has been a fun challenge but I wouldn't say it's a walk in the park.

Okay, then we'll skip the videos. Every time I've purchased DVDs for any class it has ended up being a waste of money. I'll definitely have to brush up on my skills, but I've been doing that with Geometry and we've had no problems so far. She is a motivated and self-directed student so hopefully this will be fine.

What have you used to complete this book successfully? I will definitely buy the Solutions Manual. I see there is something called Math Without Borders that can be used with it. How necessary or helpful would that be? My dd does not like video instruction.

We're using Apologia at home and it hasn't been difficult at all. I do read the modules a bit ahead of my dd just to understand what she's doing, but that probably isn't necessary for everyone. I spent about $150 on a microscope and have mixed feelings about it. We have had some successful viewings through it and lots of misses. I often look the slides up online for comparison anyway.

Can you explain what you like better about CLE? I used CLE for Algebra for my dd last year and am currently using Jacobs for Geometry. I love Jacobs so much that I am considering purchasing his Algebra for my ds next year, but I do already own CLE (and he currently uses CLE for arithmetic). We were very successful with CLE, but I also love the variety of problems in Jacob and the interesting/ practical way lessons are introduced.

I'm 3/4 through War and Peace now after starting and quitting two previous tries years ago. I really, really love Anna Karenina and have reread it several times, so I know Tolstoy is worth it. That book struck something inside my heart and I feel like I'm constantly applying truths that I gleaned from it to real life relationships. W&P is surprisingly readable after persevering (with a who's who list of characters) and I'm even somewhat comprehending the political scenes. It's such a great book for learning more about Napoleon, too! For some reason, books set around the French Revolution seem to become favorites: Tale of Two Cities, Les Miserables, Count of Monte Cristo. It sure inspired great literature! I have to say Moby Dick didn't do it for me and I will not assign that one to my kids, as thrilling as the plot line is. I have grown to love Charles Dickens and most things from that era (Austen, Bronte, Thackeray, Eliot). I'm trying to appreciate older things like Beowulf but that's a struggle. Shakespeare is great, as long as I read it out loud. Iliad was a bloodbath and hard to get through in most chapters (books), but Odyssey was great. I'll probably just assign a retelling of the first for my next kids and an actual translation for Odyssey.

Math: CLE 7 Latin: Cambridge Latin LA: written narrations, CLE Language Arts or Easy Grammar (this is a dreaded subject but we need to cover a bit more before dropping it and letting Latin be our grammar) Literature: Little Women Treasure Island Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes) Adventures of Tom Sawyer Iliad and Odyssey (probably a retelling for this student, but maybe the actual one for Odyssey) Watership Down ....and more but I haven't decided yet History: Abraham Lincoln's World, This Country of Ours, Of Courage Undaunted to finish some American history, then start over with Augustus Caesar's World, Story of the Greeks and Story of the Romans Science: Elements by Ellen McHenry, Apologia's General Science human body modules, Secrets of the Universe, and weekly microscope projects using a few different resources Bible: Who Is My Neighbor?, How to be Your Own Selfish Pig, Community Bible Study, New City Catechism

Geometry: Jacobs History: Ambleside Online Year 7 (Middle Ages) with some additions English: Ambleside Online (I'll probably call it British Literature or maybe Middle Ages Literature) Biology: Apologia Health: Apologia Latin: Henle II Bible: Community Bible Study, AO Bible and Worldview readings

A Tale of Two Cities is shorter than Count of Monte Cristo, but both are equally interesting and action-packed IMO. Les Mis and Three Muskateers were less gripping to me, personally. I'd go with movies and/or abridged versions for those two. I found Hugo pretty long winded in some chapters and more of a slog to get through. One thing to consider may be that Dickens also has many other worthwhile reads, which may be a compelling reason to read Count first, with the plan to read at least something else by Dickens at some point (although I need to say that Tale of Two Cities is my personal favorite Dickens book). Both are similar in their historical context, plot of intrigue, and theme of redemption. You won't be disappointed whichever you choose!

We're using Algebra I with the Light Units right now and I really wish I had waited to buy the textbook instead. With either way you still have to copy the problems on separate paper (and that was the huge benefit of the LU's before IMO). Like a PP said, it's tricky to find previously taught concepts and it's just a lot to keep up with since you can't just toss a used LU into the recycling like you can with other levels (as long as you have the TM for explanations). The textbook also looks much more appealing and engaging, and while my dd doesn't really care about that, I think a lot of kids would enjoy it over the LU's.

I really don't have the funds to buy a microscope right now, especially since I still need the dissection kit and would also have to buy all the slides and things. This is for my daughter's biology class. We're using the Miller Levine textbook and I want to do enough labs to call it a lab science. She's especially interested in dissection and I do have a friend that has a microscope that we could use a couple of times. I'm looking for an economical kit that will allow us to do many different experiments for the first half of the book (cells, DNA, stuff like that). I can figure out the plant ones pretty easily.