I'm not really sure one ever masters essay writing as it encompasses so many areas. It is as much an art form as it is following accepted scholastic formats/patterns/norms. I think I know what you mean though, regarding practicing more of what he has already learned. Quite honestly, I wish LAoW had a volume two. He definitely needs more practice in general along with more advanced concepts to help stimulate the 'invention' process. So, if LToW can help with that, I think it can benefit him this year. We'll just have to see how it goes. I was also considering Bravewriter Expository Essay as well. I guess one always risks 'some' degree of redundancy when using a variety of writing programs. And that's not always a bad thing. As a student, ds14 is feels the need to consistently move forward to more advanced topics/concepts, never backwards (to him). He thinks very linearly in this driven sort of way - onward and upward! So repeating anything for him is more of a mental chore than with our dds. He is the same way with math, science and every other subject. If he's got it, its time to move on as in Next!

Well, the good news for us is that the workshop this weekend helped to answer some of my wife's questions and concerns. Initially, there seemed to be some uncertainty about the best way to approach the weekly lessons. And yes, the ANI work does seem a bit painful for ds. But I think 'we' see more value in it now. So, it will be easier to convey it to him and encourage him to stick with it. While the new text has been improved, it was still somewhat confusing for dw, even after reviewing it and listening to the video lessons. I can see why some may not be using it correctly or may find it less open and go than other curriculum. That's not to say its not worthwhile. However, it does take more time and effort to try to implement it effectively. And if your time is limited as a teacher with other siblings, subjects, etc... it may not be the best fit. Regarding some repetition from other things already learned, ds14 completed WWS I&II and most recently The Lively Art of Writing. The LAoW was such a breath of fresh air for ds14. It was first time I could seem him actually enjoying the writing process. It goes beyond formulas and strives to encourage original thought. I think that might also contribute a bit to the let down he experienced going into LToW after just finishing LAoW and really enjoying it. It's kind of hard for him to get back to more formulaic things again. DS14: "Is all this ANI stuff really necessary?" Obviously, there is a purpose for it. I just think its a little hard for him at this stage after the writing work he has already done. We saw lots of growth in his writing skills toward the end of last year. We've decided to give it more time. I think it's too early to move to something else before giving it a chance. Hopefully, over some time, it will start to come together and become a little less drudgery work for him. Only time will tell.

Well, we've started school and LToW. Unfortunately, it hasn't started very well for student or teacher (my wife). ds14 finds it very repetitive and somewhat redundant based on other work he has done in previous years. I've read that the first part does have a lot of this repetitive stuff like doing ANI charts which is supposed to build the foundation for better writing. The good news is, my wife will be attending a LToW workshop this weekend which she can hopefully get some further guidance. So, we'll see how things go. I just don't want them both dreading writing all year. I'm not that committed to any curriculum. I wouldn't know where to go from here if we were to switch. Well, we're not ready for that yet. I'm just not sure how long we should go before cutting our losses if it truly isn't a good fit. Hmm...

Hi Junie, It's hard for me to answer details about it since we just got curriculum in the mail. We purchased the workbook and TM. I'm not sure if you could just use the student workbook by itself. Also, one thing to note is that while LToW has excellent content and methods, one of its critiques has been that it is not the easiest to teach. That, in part, is why they have released the newest edition, to be more teacher friendly. There are quite a few here who have used it with great success as well as others who have struggled. You could post a new thread asking questions about it and/or search the archives where you will find a lot of discussions about LToW. We are going to attend a LToW teacher's workshop here in Monterey which I put together with Leah Lutz. I've heard their workshops are 'very' helpful.

Glad to help, historymatters. At these prices, your reasons to not jump in have been reduced even further. For all that you get for $50, its really hard to beat. John is an excellent instructor with a great curriculum set. I say give it a go if you are on the fence. Halcyon and I were both 'fence straddlers' at one point ourselves if you go back and read the old threads. :D ;)

There are many, many good options. Here are a few recent threads on the same subject: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/544386-online-writing-for-high-school-whats-your-favorite/ http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/551390-writing-for-a-very-reluctant-9th-grader/ http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/542164-high-school-writing-program-options/ Then there is Ruth's epic curriculum review: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/348864-my-evaluation-of-numerous-writing-curricula/?hl=%20ruth We'll be using Lost Tools of Writing this Fall.

If you are thinking about TC, their Big Sale is back! It's hard to beat at half off classes. I just got this email: TabletClass Math Super Sale Is Back! Deals That Are 50% OFF And Better!! We have been flooded with this sales request- so in an effort to help families join TabletClass we have decided to run this sale one more time this year!! 1 Full Course $50 (Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2) 4 Course Power Pack $100 100 hours of video per course Deep instruction by a master math teacher Many, many problems with FULL video solutions All course material included (worksheets, tests/keys, notes) Final Exams, pacing chart, grading chart supplement Sale End Date To Be Determined PS: Tell your friends.....they will thank you! ** LIMITED TIME OFFER -Click The Link Below To Secure Your HUGE SAVINGS Today!! TabletClass Math Super Sale 2015 Happy Homeschooling! John

We've decided to use LToW this year and have the newest edition. We also have a LToW training workshop planned in our area which will be taught by Leah Lutz. So I think that will definitely help in learning how to better implement the materials and follow their approach. We'll see how it goes. Classical Conversations is also using it in our area. So there will be a lot of families using it. Time will tell how easy or not it will be for us to implement. But either way, we plan to use it. I can always report back what our experiences are with it.

I saw that as well, though I don't know if there is now a cost. You may also want to consider Berkeley's AP CS course which looks really good as well: https://www.edx.org/course/preparing-ap-computer-science-exam-level-uc-berkeleyx-lucs-1x

Have you considered something a bit more interactive vs textbook only? Some students do better with interactive, live elements. We discovered our son thrives in this sort of environment. He attended Wilson Hill Academy last year for Geometry. This Fall he will being taking Algebra 2 there as well. I can highly recommend their math program. They use Dolciani for both Algebra 1 & 2 which are classic, straightforward texts. The greatest benefit comes in taking a live class providing interaction with the teacher and other students. http://www.wilsonhillacademy.com/academics/algebra/ Another good choice to take a look at is Jann in Texas. Many forum members' students enjoy her classes: http://www.myhomeschoolmathclass.com/course-descriptions.html She also offers tutoring to her students at no extra charge.

Thanks for the input, guys. Yes, I am considering Python for the Fall as well. Actually, our local CC has Python as their first CS course; then Java follows. ds13 is taking a Summer Jazz class there right now and I plan on him taking more dual enrollment courses for Fall. So eventually I know he will be learning Python. I've heard some that say Python is easiest first programming language to learn. Since he's already learning Java this Summer and seems to understand it just fine, I'm not too concerned about which one he does first this Fall. Either would work. I did find this great looking Python MOOC which is an Intro to Computer Science from University of Virginia. I like that they do some web application work. Its also nice that it is free, like the many other CS MOOCs emerging: https://www.class-central.com/mooc/320/udacity-intro-to-computer-science Regarding AP CS, I'm still not sure we will go that route in terms of the test. I haven't decided how many APs, if any, we will pursue. But that is really a different topic all together.

Wow, you have a lot of great information there! Thanks for this contribution to the forum. My son is interested in CS as a profession. So the more resources the better. You know, I was thinking about the need for something like that as well for the broader field of study. It might be nice to have a master thread on Computer Science under which we had sub areas like programming courses in Java, C/C++, Python, etc... I'm not sure if it is one which would warrant 'sticky note' status. However, I do know it is one of great interest for many of the families on this forum. Your thread seems to have some really great initial information and thought about the general topic at large. Then it focuses on Java which I am a big fan of, BTW, as a software engineer myself. I do think it would be good to include other areas as well within the overall discipline. What are your thoughts?

Hi All, I am wondering what others are planning to take or have taken? If your dc took a course, what were some of the pros/cons? I know this is a reoccurring theme. But it is also one which changes quite a bit based on new offerings. I have a somewhat flexible plan for ds13 this Fall as I consider a few different online programming/CS courses. One of the courses on my short list from UC Berkeley is new. I don't think its been offered before as a MOOC. I really like the sounds of the Berkeley course the more I read about it. So i'm leaning slightly in that direction. Here both which I'm strongly considering for Fall: Berkeley's Preparing for the AP* Computer Science A Exam — Level Up! Amplify AP Computer Science - Fall My educational goal for ds13 is focused more on learning good programming skills rather than practicing for the AP test. We may not even take that test. So I'm not sure I want to dedicate that much time on test prep. Though, I'm not opposed to studying CS principles. So I am still open to other suggestions/options. Ds13 is also taking another shorter programming course this Summer which he enjoys so far. The course is: Beginning Programming on Android using Java So far, I like the teaching method in making learning fun while working on an Android game. The only negative I can think of is that the Android development setup instructions are somewhat sparse. So I had to help him more in the beginning to get things up and running. But now that everything is configured, he finds it fairly straightforward to move through the lessons independently. Another great free course we started a few weeks before the Android course began is through Udemy. Its very flexible in that you can start at any time and go at your own pace: Java Tutorial for Complete Beginners We both like this Udemy MOOC a lot. So, between these two beginner courses this Summer, I am now starting to wonder if the AP CS Courses may be too easy or too repetitive for him over the span of two semesters. I actually downloaded the syllabus from the Amplify course and it looks very similar to what he is already doing - basic programming logic stuff (strings, loops, arrays, etc...). The only addition I can see is the AP Exam Prep. Though there may be more 'depth' in the course once started. They are definitely longer than the other ones he is working on now.

ds13 just finished LAoW at the end of 8th grade. It was 'the' best little writing book we've used, bar none. Next Fall we plan to use LToW. While we thoroughly enjoyed LAoW as an excellent supplemental and highly recommend it, I wouldn't consider it a complete, standalone writing program. Though, I guess one could add to it to lengthen it. It took ds13 a little over two months to complete all the writing assignments toward the end of 8th grade. He had finished WWSII a bit early. So it was the perfect thing to use to finish out the year on a great note. LToW, by contrast, is a full writing curriculum which can be used over multiple years with varying levels including different areas of focus.

Brenda, I've heard from several folks that it's a significant improvement over the earlier edition when it comes to being more teacher friendly. Since CC will be using the latest edition at our church this Fall, most, if not all, of the families will be use that edition. We plan to purchase the latest one since we've heard good things about its more user friendly nature.

Thanks, Sebastian. Your further explanation really helps me to get a better sense of what the actual course content and focus is like. My son is doing a couple Summer Java short courses to warm up before Fall. I'm still uncertain which class we will go with. But I'm leaning toward this Amplify MOOC course. Although my goal at this stage is more to learn to good programming rather than to practice for the AP test. We may not even take that test. So I'm not sure I want to dedicate that much time on test prep.

Kelly, Glad to hear it! I hope it works for him. I've been given suggestions on numerous occasions that I may not have considered before. I guess that's why having a 'Hive' can be helpful at times. ;) Thanks again for the welcome to the HS forum.

Well, If he loves science and math I would recommend something interactive, whether that be online or at the CC. I'm not sure of the cost for CC in your area or the quality compared to other online options. But since he sounds like a STEM student this will be an important experience for him. Have you checked out the different physics courses at the CC which would be best suited for him? They obviously can't be Calculus based physics yet. Once you do that and look at schedules that 'could' work, take a look at RateMyProfessor. Then compare with online options like Derek Owens, Potters Schools, et al. Some online courses also offer a live, interactive component. That is something worth considering when weighing the pros/cons. Then, once you have several doable options, get his feedback as well. At this age, he will probably have a good idea of best fit. Additionally, he will gain a greater sense of ownership knowing he had input into the final decision.

I would do three important things: 1. First, ask the teacher what 'specific' areas of Algebra 2 will be required for her course? Then, make sure to really master those sections this Summer. 2. Find a solid course which is easy to accelerate with good explanations including fully worked out solutions. Then, if it takes a bit longer than the end of Summer, you will have at least covered the primary aspects for the Physics course. 3. Create a weekly schedule which realistically breaks up the lessons into the days you have available. Since he is already motivated, this will give him a good goal to shoot for. Let him know that if he misses a day, that's ok, because he can make up for it on the other days, weekends, etc... And if it does take him a little longer, it won't be the end of the world as long as he covers the areas the teacher emphasizes before Fall. I highly recommend TabletClass for the excellent, clear instruction and worked out solutions. While MUS could work, it tends to be a bit weaker than most. While that might make it easier to zip through, will it really provide the foundation and scope needed to build upon for future math and science courses to follow?

I agree with doing a Pre-A that is more challenging that also contains a wider scope than most. TabletClass Pre-A is a good one which covers many algebraic topics early on, similar to AoPS. ds13 wasn't ready for AoPS at that stage. But TC prepared him well for AoPS Intro to Algebra. I would look for something along these lines. One more thing to keep in mind. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using more than 'one' curriculum at a time when homeschooling. You have full freedom to tailor the program to his unique skills and abilities as well as areas which need strengthening. So you could potentially do a challenging Pre-A or Algebra course, for example, 4 days a week. Then spend one day a week working on fractions review and practice. It could be split any way which works best (3 days/2days, etc...). We actually finished elementary math 4 days a week while starting Pre-A once a week. That gave my very curious son something a bit more interesting to sink his teeth into while completing the drudgery of primary mathematics. It worked very well for his learning style and personality which is always interested in what's next.

Wow, it doesn't get much better than that! You can see why so many like working with DO.

There are *many* excellent alternatives to AoPS going forward. So please don't feel bad if its simply not the best fit for your DS1's next course. We went from AoPS Intro to Algebra to Jurgensen Geometry which was an fantastic choice. DS13 just finished his Geometry course at Wilson Hill Academy and found it challenging, interesting and very enjoyable. He thrived on the live, interactive nature of the course. The text is a classic which masterfully weaves proofs throughout. The teacher's instruction and support were excellent. We liked it so much, in fact, that he is signed up for Algebra 2 there this next Fall. WHA uses Dolciani for Algebra 1 & 2. Its a big relief to know math is covered with exceptional instruction all the through Calculus at WHA if we decide to continue on with them.

Thanks, BlsdMama and others as well. You posts is appreciated. It's both an exciting and challenging time with our first entering this new life stage. Quite a few of our local homeschool friends are sending their kids off to high school somewhere else (private, public schools). However, we still desire to homeschool during this period of life. Having the forum support is very helpful. You guys are awesome! There is so much shared knowledge about the process that I find it feel less daunting. Though I still can't help but stay up late sometimes thinking (possibly overthinking) about it all. It's just nice to know there are others going through it as well.

That seems strange that they would offer something else besides Pre-Calc after Algebra 2. I would go with Pre-Calc regardless of 'Sciences' direction. That is the standard sequence which most colleges would expect to see. And if you plan for Calc in 12th grade it's really the only one that makes sense.

Here are also a set of free college courses for Lord of the Rings from The Tolkien Professor, Corey Oslen: http://www.openculture.com/2014/01/free-online-courses-on-the-lord-of-the-rings.html These, like other literary analysis courses, do not have a composition component.