Ok, cool. I found it after a bit of googling: http://www.onlineg3.com/OnlineG3/Course_Descriptions/Entries/2014/6/12_Literary_Lessons_from_the_Lord_of_the_Rings.html It looks like they basically take the LLftLOTR curriculum and use it as a part of their online semester literature course. I will be interested to hear how G3 goes for you this Fall. I hadn't heard of them before your posting.

Lost Tools of Writing (LToW) is primarily a writing program which allows you to 'choose' which literature to use with it. So some will use Lord of the Rings as part or all of the literary component. It is very flexible in this way. Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings (LLftLOTR) is a literature program which some have used 'with' LToW. This combination will then cover both the composition and literary components of English. There was a post by one of our forum members, Lisa, who did this here. Regarding an online class that uses both, I have not heard of such a thing. Though there are definitely LToW online classes like the one I posted above which use a variety of literature.

There are lots of good options for programming courses. Here are several we've looked at using this Summer: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/begin-programming?utm_campaign=Courses+feed&utm_medium=courses-feed&utm_source=courses-feed https://www.class-central.com/mooc/320/udacity-intro-to-computer-science https://www.udacity.com/course/intro-to-computer-science--cs101 Currently, ds13 is going through this one and likes it: https://www.udemy.com/java-tutorial/?dtcode=sC1a6xg2Q6n5 For the Fall we're considering an AP course, both of which are free: https://www.edx.org/course/preparing-ap-computer-science-exam-level-uc-berkeleyx-lucs-1x#! https://users-mooc.amplify.com/about-apcs.html We also used WilsonHillAcdemy for 8th grade math (Geometry) and it was a great experience. They have many different types of courses available.

AoPS is very good at explaining concepts and it is written directly to the students. While most use it as a spine, we've found it makes a great supplemental as well. This is especially the case when combined with their online video lessons. The videos only cover through Algebra, currently. I don't know if RR has plans to provide lessons for the higher levels as well. Have you considered any other online options for concept elaboration? While textbooks alone are fine for some, having instructors who elaborate on the textbooks can really help as well. ds13 went through AoPS Algebra using the text primarily. Though he did supplement with the videos at times. Then we moved to Wilson Hill Academy this year for Geometry. He 'really' enjoyed the live, interactive nature of the course more after doing things primarily solo from a book before.

We went from MUS Pre-Algebra to TabletClass Pre-A which was one of the best things we have done for ds13, educationally. We had used MUS from the very beginning with him. However, by the time we got to Pre-A I felt it was very weak as did he. Consequently, we covered some of the somewhat odd MUS S&S topics which are left out until Pre-A. Then we moved over to TC which was a much stronger program for him in every regard. Its definitely a step up in challenge. Yet it has very clear explanations as well as fully worked out solutions. Right now they are also having their half-off sale which really can't be beat at $50 for the full course. I can highly recommend this program, especially in your case when coming from something lighter like MUS. TC will add a depth and rigor which is simply not there with MUS.

Also, take a look at TabletClass Pre-Algebra. DS13 did this prior to AoPS Intro to Algebra and it prepared him well for it. They are having their 50% off sale now. So the course is only $50. I would say it would be less frustrating for her than AoPS Pre-A, but still challenging. We actually used both together, AoPS Pre-A videos and sample chapter problems along with TC as the spine, which worked well. It's just another option rather than diving fully into AoPS Pre-A at this stage if a student is not ready for that yet. In our case, ds13 wasn't ready for it and this worked better through easing him into it. ETA: I just noticed she will be going back to private school in the Fall. If that is the case, you could still use any of these things in part which would more than prepare her for the next level up. Though AoPS by itself may be too intense for a Summer of math.

I just noticed your long thread on this subject last month here which provided a lot more background. So I guess there is no need to rehash all of that. I was wondering some of the same things about possible LDs, ADHD, etc... Based upon what was stated there I would say TabletClass might be too difficult. Maybe MUS, TT or some of the programs which are known to work better with struggling students would be the best fit. Lials may not be the best fit either as it is more textbook style learning which might not be the easiest for remediation, depending on his learning style. You received some excellent advice already in that prior thread. I would focus on the three Rs with him and outsource as much as possible. It looked like you had a tutor already, correct? How has that been going? How has he been progressing thus far with you?

Well, I think you could start him on several things right away. There are free options like Khan Academy. For a more complete program which is 'very' affordable I recommend TabletClass. They have a sale going on right now for half off. So a full course is only $50. The courses are very solid with excellent instruction including fully worked out solutions to the problems. A tutor could then come along side and help out where additional work may be needed, if any. Regarding Assessment Testing, there are many of those available both online and through the school system such as the PSAT and College Board. Our ds13 just took the College Board's Accuplacer which is very thorough. Then there are quite a few curriculum providers who offer basic placement tests such as MUS, AoPS, Keystone, Thinkwell, etc... It would also help if you provided more information including math background (what has he taken so far?) and any prior testing, if any. ETA: Here is one more that looks good, though I haven't heard any reviews on it: http://www.elmprep.com/

I think one needs to 'very' careful if only using Khan. This is especially true if assuming mastery of a certain grade level based upon Khan results only. See this recent thread demonstrating some of the pitfalls of this approach: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/551062-help-me-find-a-new-math-curriculum/ I agree that testing should be independent from Khan.

We did MUS from the beginning through Pre-A with ds13. However, I cannot recommend it for Pre-A and beyond. Though I know some like it. So take this as our experience. We found the Pre-A to be especially weak. I didn't care for the S&S either, though we needed to cover some topics which were left out due to MUS's S&S in the prior level. It was at this point I decided to move ds13 out of MUS and into something more rigorous - TabletClass in our case. This was one of the best decisions I've ever made for him, educationally. From TC Pre-A we moved into AoPS Algebra and then into Jurgensen's Geometry this year. Had we stuck with MUS Pre-A, there would have been no way he could have moved into these more challenging, interesting programs. In your dd's case, have you considered CLE 700/800 or another solid Pre-A program, of which there are many? MUS is not known to cover topics as in-depth as the majority of programs available. The problems are generally easier/lighter and the scope is limited. Consequently, some use MUS Algebra as a Pre-A for a more rigorous Algebra courses to follow. Though, it has been known to help struggling students. So for certain applications I can see its benefits. Just my 2c.

I think that's a good decision and I respect the instructor for saying this rather than trying to push him too much, possibly. I agree with your concern as well since he'll be busy with those other solid courses, including WHA. Which creative writing course are you thinking of?

Those are some difficult decisions to make. Much will depend on what you can find that works best for her. I'm not sure keeping her on track for 9th grade should be the main priority, especially since she is currently behind in 6th grade math. I recommend looking for the best program that helps her complete primary mathematics well - to mastery. That should be the number one goal. Now, if you are thinking, yes, I agree with this. But I still want her to try to catch up. Then you may have to ask more of her than you have before in terms of math. This may also require a shifting of your current educational priorities. Since she is behind, its time to spend more time on math per day and less on other subjects. Some folks double up on math in a variety of ways. This could include upping math from one to two hours a day in either one block or doing some in the morning and some in the afternoon/evening. Regarding going back, its really not about going back when you think about it. She has to start from 'where she it at' with her current level of understanding. Otherwise, she will always be weak in these areas. There are no shortcuts in math. However, there are some divide and conquer approaches you can take to forge ahead a bit faster. Here is one approach I would suggest considering. Instead of worrying about going back or going ahead you can actually do a bit of both. I would do a catch-up program for lets say three to four days a week. Then spend one to two days on introducing the next level up. I did this with my son as he finished elementary math. He was simply getting bored with it and therefore somewhat burnt out. So we did Pre-Algebra once a week on Fridays as something new and interesting. It gave him something to look forward to and a mental break from the drudgery of 6th grade math. Start from where she was last strongest. Then work on areas where she began doing poorly on tests. Take a step back to asses this. Look at which areas 'specifically' she had a hard time with. Was it long division, percents, decimals, etc...? Where in this year did that begin? Look for patterns to help target areas to strengthen rather than starting everything over again. Then provide lessons in those areas until she demonstrates mastery. To help with this, take placement tests which provide results pointing toward weaker areas. Math Mammoth has free placement tests among many other curriculum providers. As to which programs, honestly, there are many more mastery style programs to choose from. Based upon what you've described with your dd, I think it would be a good idea to move toward something more mastery oriented. It will only be to complete this last year of elementary, anyway. I would recommend taking a look at several 'with' her. One I can recommend highly is Math Mammoth. It's very good for targeting areas which need work. They even have books which target certain areas called the blue series. Or you can simply pick the appropriate grade level, 6th in this case, and take the sections you need from there. Then, in terms of introducing her to the next level up, you need to consider the vast array of pre-Algebra options. Yes, I know! This is a task in and of itself. But its an important one. Maria Miller of MM is also writing Pre-A with the first semester already available. However, it is also at this age that I find it good to consider an outside instructor. There are many 'live' and asynchronous math classes available. I would look for an 'asynchronous' option, like Derek Owens, if you decide to start Pre-A earlier and go at her pace.

My wife actually wanted to use EIW this coming year for ds13. We had heard some good things about it. But the more I reviewed it the more it really bugged me. Its most likely my own bias, I know. I found the presentation style off putting with all those colors on the board and the instructor's voice was annoying. Sorry, but it reminded me too much of Pee-wee Herman. :) There are also some complaints with the recorded audio quality. Here are a few more reviews. I'm sure its fine for many students, however. So I recommend taking a look at the samples 'with' your son. Here are a couple of them, for example:

Many have done this including our ds13 who will be taking Algebra 2 in 9th grade this Fall. Even some of the public schools are now offering geometry in 8th grade. There is no problem being ahead of the curve when it comes to math. But first I would have him try one of the other placement tests for his level such as CLE or Math Mammoth. If you haven't done so already, I would do that before jumping into AoPS Pre-A. Regarding what comes before Pre-A, its your basic arithmetic along with some introductions to advanced topics such as variables, negative numbers, the number line, simple geometry, etc... Both Math Mammoth and CLE have these topics built-in. For example, here are the main topics covered in MM 6 which our dd11 will be in this coming Fall: review of the basic operations with whole numbers beginning algebra topics: expressions, equations, and inequalities review of all decimal arithmetic introduction to ratios and percent prime factorization, GCF, and LCM a review of fraction arithmetic from 5th grade, plus a focus on division of fractions the concept of integers, coordinate grid, addition & subtraction of integers geometry: review of quadrilaterals & drawing problems; area of triangles & polygons; volume of rectangular prisms with fractional edge lengths; surface area statistics: concept of distribution, measures of center, measures of variation, boxplots, stem-and-leaf plots, histograms

CLE created 700 & 800 to be Pre-A, combined - a two year program. So that is why many try to accelerate them or even skip 800. Though the later is not advisable, quite a few have done it successfully going into a gentler Algebra 1 with plenty of review like Jacobs.

I like the idea of filling in the gaps where she needs it with 600. One of the benefits of CLE is that because its spiral there is a lot of review. So many folks have been able to accelerate it. Of course, how much you can accelerate will depend on the child. But since your dd13 has had some exposure to Pre-A concepts, I would still see how she does with the 700 test. Maybe there are things in 700 which can be skipped as well or quickly reviewed. If you can move faster through 700, then you can start 800 before 9th grade. There are actually quite a few old threads discussing accelerating CLE. Here is one and another. Generally speaking, I would target finishing CLE 700/800 before 9th grade. That might mean spending more time on math than she is used too. But it wouldn't be the end of the world if she simply needed a little more time. Before doing all of that, however, I would first see how she does with 600 once you get it. If she doesn't like it at all I would still push through 600 in the areas she in weakest and needs the practice. Then start Pre-Algebra with one of the other many options. At that point, Derek Owens Pre-A workbooks and videos may be a good fit or something else.

Hm, those results are interesting. I would say that CLE is not advanced, necessarily. My approach would be to use those placements more as tool to help target certain areas that need strengthening. So for your dd13, you could work on certain skills from 600 *without* restarting 6th grade math. I would also give them the next level up to see how they do. Regarding the AoPS Pre-A placement test, I've heard it tends to be on the easy side in relation to AoPS itself which is far from easy. For a second perspective, I recommend trying the free MM assessment. We have used CLE and MM together at times. While we find MM covers concepts a bit deeper than CLE, CLE still provides a good foundation. At the very least this will help in being a 'tie breaker' or provide another perspective on actual level. http://www.mathmammoth.com/complete/placement_tests.php I'm not sure I would trust Khan Academy alone for a final word on what level they are at. My guess would be they are somewhere in between.

ds13 has been a reluctant writer and has complained about having to do it. He went through WWS I & II and it was painful! I think his favorite part was his 'last' assignment which was a research paper he got to do on telescopes. Then we started this little book which I cannot recommend highly enough called The Lively Art of Writing. Talk about a great find! Though compact, its filled with great lessons. For the first time he's actually said he has enjoyed writing! I'm not sure if it could be used for a full credit by itself. But its absolutely worth picking up and supplementing with for reluctant writers. Maybe try combining it with BraveWriter or something else which will help turn around his disdain for writing. Or at least provide some options which he hates 'less.' I would hesitate to force WWS given his experience thus far. He may simply need a change of pace to make writing a tiny bit more enjoyable.

I would ask Halcyon since I think her son is taking it now.

I highly recommend starting him on TabletClass Pre-Algebra. It is rigorous and excellent preparation for Algebra. They are having their half off sale now as well. That means you get the whole course for only $50. My son did this prior to AoPS Intro to Algebra and he was very well prepared for AoPS. We also own Dolciani as well. I felt TabletClass offered a greater level of challenge which was just what he needed prior to AoPS. We also supplemented with some AoPS pre-A sample problems and their videos which are excellent. If he is gifted, you may end up spending too much time on Pre-A with AoPS versus just finishing Pre-A with another program such as MM, Dolciani and TC. Then let him move into the AoPS Intro to Algebra course. You can always spend more time on Algebra itself if need be. I wouldn't spend excessive time on Pre-A unless he is simply not getting it and struggling with the subject matter.

I've been thinking about this a lot as well since ds13 will be taking a 'Physics First' approach meaning he'll start with Algebra based Physics in 9th grade. Then he can follow with Chemistry and Bio in later years. Three years of high school physics does sound like overkill, even for a STEM student. For a final year of science I will leave it open ended. Since he will have taken Calculus by then, he could even take college physics. What about other interesting science/STEM options at that point as well such as Computer Science, Oceanography, Astronomy, Intro to Engineering, Robotics, etc..? Obviously some double up at this point. But still, I wouldn't want to burn him out on the same basic subject matter for three years. Then add on college physics his freshman year.

I think you have made the right choice even if it is a tough one. Of all the grades to keep a child out of school, 7th grade is it, followed closely by 8th. This puberty phase is not a good social time for girls or boys, necessarily. Sure, they can still make a few friends while going through it. But as I'm sure you know there is also a lot of meanness, inappropriate activities and other socially undesirable aspects to public middle school as well. This includes an obsession with the opposite sex along with the latest overpriced clothing brands, trendy fashions, etc... Its just a difficult phase to go through, period. All those hormones and insecurities seem to peak during this period of life. It's nice seeing my son getting through it now as he prepares for high school. There are going to be bumps in the road no matter what. But its so much better without all that extra social drama and peer pressure added to it. That is why we're determined to see them all homeschooled until after middle school as a minimum. Once high school rolls around there are many other options available.

Thanks, JadeOrchidSong. Teenage transition years can be challenging for everyone. I'm sure it was for my parents as well. It just seems like so much happens in such a brief time from when they were born and as you mentioned, being so cuddly, chubby, ticklish, etc... I'm glad I have memories and photos of those very special years. It is actually what launched my photographic hobby which he also picked up going on trips with me. He was such a character and still is at times. Here he is with our friends:

I tend to agree with 8Fill here. Obviously AoPS is different for each child that uses it regardless of what level they start from. But if your daughter enjoys math and did fairly well with Foerster I would let her try to start where she left off. Typically most begin Algebra 2 around chapter 14. Just learning the AoPS way will be the biggest hurdle, not necessarily the content, especially if its already been covered before. Of course AoPS will have harder challenge problems in every chapter. But that is to be expected. Here is a matrix I created which compares the various topics covered with other texts including Dolciani and Foerster: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EdMvaNNW28Nyx56jlaqD6RScoq5dQ_JEuobNCpbPiBE/edit#gid=0 You should notice that the 'sequence' is somewhat different. So you may be doing a little going back then ahead to fully cover all topics. Out of 22 chapters there are only ~ 9 which are considered Algebra 2. So if you finish early you could either move on to Algebra 3 or go back and cover areas which may need some review in Algebra 1. We're actually doing the opposite. ds13 did AoPS 1-13 for Algebra 1. Now he will be using Dolciani for Algebra 2 through Wilson Hill Academy. I don't see a problem with mixing and matching if a child is capable of working with AoPS including having the patience to deal with some of those really 'long' problems.

Everybody loves RR as an educator and communicator when it comes to explaining math concepts. He is very gifted and makes it fun for kids. His energy is contagious. The videos are actually my favorite part of AoPS and they're free. ;)