You could consider Exploration Education - I bet a 3rd grader could do the Intermediate level along with the 6th grader (who could either do Intermediate standard or Advanced, which just adds 2 more lessons each week). I haven't tried Exploration Education yet but will be starting it in Aug. or Sept.. http://www.explorationeducation.com/index.htm

I'm in the same boat so I'm hoping for more thoughts from people who have BTDT. I've decided not to line it up with SOTW as I like the flow of the book itself, but I'm just not sure what I'm going to require as far as output from my DD right now. I'm buying a used copy of the K12 TM and student pages so that I can check them out, but I know that we won't use it all (if any).

I think the one mentioned here most often is Maps Charts and Graphs. I haven't used that one, but I have used Maps, Globes, and Graphs. It's an easy-to-do, colorful, fast workbook of about 50 pages.

I used it as a supplement for my oldest for awhile when life was really hectic, and she enjoyed it (maybe 2nd - 3rd gradeish?). I also used the 1st grade reading as a supplement when my 2nd child was in K as she liked it too, but I was always right there with her while she was doing it. I will say that my kids are not on the computer very often, so they saw it as a treat. I personally would not use it as my main curriculum, but as a supplement, I think it's fine.

This is copied from another post. I know that some people feel that SOTW is not secular enough, but we have no problem using it. As far as I know, the rest of my material is secular (or else I'll be in for a surprise! :tongue_smilie:). 6th grade: MM 6A & B K12 Human Odyssey Ancients book as spine Mapping the World with Art (McHenry) Exploration Education (Physics) + other related reading, maybe AHA Science supplement WWS GWG 6 Sadlier Vocab. Workshop A Fiction to go along with History Piano, dance, etc.. Philosophy for Kids or something like it Rosetta Stone Spanish 2nd grade: MM 2A & B SOTW 1 Maps, Globes, and Graphs B Exploration Education Physics, maybe AHA Science as supplement WWE, FLL, maybe WWW, maybe Draw Write Now AAS Read, read, read Piano, dance, etc. PreK: (currently very motivated, but if changes her mind, I'm in no rush for formal academics) HWOT Pre-K What Your Preschooler Needs to Know with workbooks (she loves this right now) Phonics Pathways (slowly as interested) Maybe AAR (doing Pre-level now) Sit in on 2nd grade science and history as interested

6th grade: MM 6A & B K12 Human Odyssey Ancients book as spine Mapping the World with Art (McHenry) Exploration Education (Physics) + other related reading, maybe AHA Science supplement WWS GWG 6 Sadlier Vocab. Workshop A Fiction to go along with History Piano, dance, etc.. Philosophy for Kids or something like it Rosetta Stone Spanish 2nd grade: MM 2A & B SOTW 1 Maps, Globes, and Graphs B Exploration Education Physics, maybe AHA Science as supplement WWE, FLL, maybe WWW, maybe Draw Write Now AAS Read, read, read Piano, dance, etc. PreK: (currently very motivated, but if changes her mind, I'm in no rush for formal academics) HWOT Pre-K What Your Preschooler Needs to Know with workbooks (she loves this right now) Phonics Pathways (slowly as interested) Sit in on 2nd grade science and history as interested

You can look at Exploration Education as a possibility. http://www.explorationeducation.com/index.htm

Real Science Odyssey (RSO) by Pandia Press is very hands-on and we've enjoyed it here. It's also secular. http://www.pandiapress.com/?page_id=50

My kids have taken a few months of classes with EMH Sports and really enjoyed them. We're not doing this month as May is just too packed for us, but we'll definitely be going back in a few months.

We used Elemental Science Intro. to Science in K which uses the book More Mudpies to Magnets for the experiments. The 2 children I did this with really enjoyed it, and I will probably do it with my youngest at some point. They sell an experiment kit on the site, but really, most material is easy to find, so I don't think that it's necessary. http://www.elementalscience.com/intro.html

I bought What Your Preschooler Needs to Know and the 2 Activity Books to go along with it, and my DD loves it. She wants to "do lessons" like her siblings, so this is hers alone. It's a little pricey for a preschooler, but for me it was worth it. There are punch-outs for retelling stories that are read, sticker activities, coloring activities, etc.... I think it runs about $60 for the 3 books total.

Tentative plans for next year: Math: MM 2 L.A.: FLL 2, WWE, reading - read every day, cursive practice, maybe WWW Science: RSO Earth and Space History: SOTW 1 Art: Atelier Piano and dance classes

I bought the 5th grade Teacher manuals and student work pages on either amazon or ebay and used parts of it with my 5th grader this year. It worked very well and I didn't feel like I needed any more from an online component (although I don't know what the online part adds for this age group). You can sometimes get the readers on paperback swap or just buy them used on amazon too. It saves a ton of money.

I'm still in the planning stages. Usually I'm way ahead on this, but I'm torn about a few things this year. As you can see, many things are a "maybe." Math: MM 6 History: K12 Human Odyssey book with many extras thrown in Maybe Mapping the World by Art this year, maybe next Science: maybe outside class, maybe ES Logic Stage Earth/Space, other Grammar: maybe GWG 6, maybe switch to Hake for a change Lit: LL 7, then a number of novels afterward Writing: probably continue just writing across curriculum Language: Rosetta Stone Spanish Maybe throw in Lively Latin this summer and see how it goes? Philosophy for Kids (maybe) or something along those lines

MM SOTW

-How about a subscription to Brainpop or Discovery Streaming? -Meet the Masters online (art) or Atelier (although you'd have to turn this one in) -magazine subscription -printer cartridges and paper

While we do use the word school, we frequently say that it's time to do lessons instead.

My oldest started cursive about halfway through 1st grade. Her printing improved dramatically as we focused on cursive. I am very happy with the results for her (currently 5th grade). My current first grader is now starting cursive and we're taking it slow. Her printing isn't pretty at all, so I'm hoping that the cursive will help. She is very motivated to learn cursive.

Mapping the World with Art by Ellen McHenry would probably work really well in a co-op setting for Geography.

I know many people love the Intelligo units, but I don't care for them. I'm just not comfortable doing so much online. I've only tried one though. There were some good links, but again, it didn't work for our family. I have used RSO Chemistry and (currently) Life and like them both. You can do a "try before you buy" and download a bunch of lessons on the pandia press website (I'm thinking maybe around the 1st 20 lessons but don't remember). That way you can take a look to see if it seems like enough for your child without spending the money.

Current 1st grader: MM 1 RSO Life Elemental History (early American) ETC, WWE 1, FLL 1 A mish-mash of phonics programs/books Atelier when we have the time and she feels like it Dance, Piano May add AAS as I have it

My 6th grade year is still up in the air. Here's what I know and what I'm considering. MM 6 Lightning Lit. 7 GWG 6 Continue with Rosetta Stone Spanish Science: Maybe Elemental Science Earth and Space for Logic Stage, maybe textbooks.....not sure at this point History: Either Human Odyssey (K12) or HO Ancients 2 Logic: We did Nous this year and I'd love to continue with the next level, but it's pretty expensive - maybe Philosophy for Kids or something similar Writing: unsure....maybe just continue as is writing across the curriculum as she's a strong writer. Maybe WWS or WWW. Continue with piano, dance, and speech class (1X/month) I felt much more confident in what I was doing last year at this time! ETA: Mapping the World with Art - Ellen Mchenry

I haven't used this, but it looks like something that may interest you. http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Story-Elements-Favorite-Grades/dp/059076988X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1IM4VAPUGTXV&colid=3SYU04RW1YH8Z

You can find released test questions from old CA exams here by grade and subject: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/css05rtq.asp ETA: You can print out the pages for free and have your kids go through them if you want. HTH

The writing assignment each week is to either do an outline, do a summary, or do both from the reading for the week. The teacher's manual gives examples of each I believe. We do various things here. Sometimes I ask DD to write 5 interesting facts, sometimes I ask her to write a paragraph on a particular topic, etc..... My DD does most of her writing in other topics, so I base what I want her to write each week in Science on how heavy the rest of the week is for writing. HTH.