Thanks, Lisa!

I'm following you now. Thanks! :D

Thanks!

Sounds good, everyone! Thanks for your help and resource suggestions!

I like that -- spread it out! :thumbup1:

Thank you! That does give me ideas!

Thanks for your input!! I appreciate your help!

[quote name=cpresz;3856519 While I didn't mind 100EZ Lessons' date=' I am worried it didn't give DD7 the phonics foundation she needs to be able to decode words and become a great speller. It's why I haven't started it with DD5, even though she's more than ready to start. [/quote] My vote is Funnix! It's by the same people as 100EZ (or maybe the son of 100EZ, but same basic philosophy), but it's more fun, colorful, etc.! There are also two levels, so we've used Funnix 2 after 100EZ with two dc now. I even paid the $249 that it used to cost!! It's now $38, I believe -- not sure why they dropped the price, but maybe because it's software and they didn't update? If I were starting again, I might use Funnix 1 instead of 100EZ, before continuing to Funnix 2. My kids love Funnix!

We're doing CC this year in 1st, but unexpected things (other dc's academics, health issues, etc.) took extra time at home. We accomplished our main priorities, but we didn't spend as much time on CC as I had planned. I'm having a bit of a problem thinking through how to use CC effectively with a younger child who doesn't understand everything being memorized. I decided at one point not to push her to become a memory master, but then I didn't know how to do it part way. Does that make sense? If we're not going for memory master, it was harder for me to see the point and see exactly how to make it beneficial for her. If you like it for your younger ones, will you tell me exactly how you use CC at home? I'm trying to decide whether to continue with CC next year for 2nd grade or wait to rejoin until 4th-6th grades. :bigear: (My ds was a memory master in 6th grade, so I'm having trouble translating what I did with him to what I should be doing with a 1st/2nd grader who isn't going for memory master.)

I'm contemplating whether or not to rejoin CC next year when my dd will be in 2nd grade. As I look over the memory work, most seems more appropriate for older kids, perhaps 4th - 6th grades, the final 3 grades in Foundations. I think CC's philosophy would be that it doesn't matter if the kids understand what they are memorizing, but they would probably also say that it's the parent's job to provide the context. (Nevermind if they move rather quickly through history, especially with the timeline.) So, what do you think about 2nd graders memorizing things like: "The Roman Republic fought the Punic Wars which were followed by the Pax Romana. In 296 A.D., the empire divided into the Western and Eastern empires until the barbaric Huns defeated the Western Empire, in 476 A.D." And, "What are the invertebrate classifications?" "Sponges, Mollusks, Stinging-Cell Animals, Flatworms, Sea Stars, Roundworms, Arthropods, Segmented Worms." (Two items from cycle 1, week 5.) I'm just trying to think this through. 2nd graders can do it, especially since the history is set to music, but is this really the best for their age? I agree with memorizing, but I'm not sure about this particular material for my 2nd grader. And I say this a parent of a 6th grade memory master, which is probably what is throwing me off when I consider my younger dd. It just made more sense for him to be memorizing the material because he had much more understanding of what he was memorizing. Your thoughts??? I would love to have help thinking this through. :bigear:

If you were putting together your own program with memory work, what resources would you pull together for 2nd grade? We've done CC this year, but I'm wondering about doing our own thing for a couple of years and then considering re-joining CC when she's older and has more understanding of the memory work. (Which, I know, isn't the point according to CC, but I'm not totally convinced.) So...Bible passages, poetry from Harp and Laurel Wreath (or maybe that poetry memory curriculum -- name on the tip of my tongue...), and what else?? I've heard of science memory work to songs, Lyrical Science?? or something like that, but haven't look into it. What would you include?

Good to know! Thanks! We may just stick with her class then! (He's enrolled in her class and on the waiting list for Miss Shearon.) How long has she taught at TPS?

Great! Thank you! My son likes Mrs. Johnson's class time better, but we're on the waiting list for Miss Shearon's. I still haven't found anyone who has had any experience with Mrs. Johnson, but I noticed that one of Miss Shearon's classes has a waiting list already (as do many of Mrs. Frederick's).

That's good to know! Unfortunately, Mrs. Frederick's sections, as many as there are, do not work in his schedule! One of Miss Shearon's does, but he is on the wait list. Has anyone heard anything about Mrs. Johnson? Thanks for your help!

Dd had Mrs. Tittel and really liked her! Unfortunately, it doesn't look like her timeslot will work for ds this year. Below are the other available English 2 teachers. Who would you recommend? (PMs are fine too!) Mrs. Frederick Miss Shearon Mrs. Johnson I would appreciate your help!

Thank you for all your advice! I obviously didn't realize that he would need so much math for computer science! So, how can I assess readiness? He's in pre-algebra now for 7th, but he seems to make more silly math errors than I'd like. Consequently, his test average is 84%.

For a student who doesn't seem to be heading in the math/science direction, what are the advantages of taking Algebra 1 in 8th vs. 9th? He is interested in Computer Science, though, does that field require lots of math? Either way, what are the advantages of taking Algebra 1 in 8th? Is it mostly for Algebra 2 in 10th before the PSAT for National Merit Scholarship possibilities?

I think they vary by teacher -- each writes his/her own, but dd's tests are longer than Apologia's and contain a variety of types of questions (multiple choice, T/F, sometimes matching/drop down box with vocabulary, and about 5 requiring some writing -- compare/contrast, etc. Dd recommends her teacher, Lori McKeeman. She's turned in 3 formal lab reports so far (but others are required to be completed and tallied). This teacher comments on their first copy, and then they revise it for the grade. (Ds' General Science teacher has them turn in a draft on the first report only and all the others are final copies.) Overall, I think one of TPS's goals for science is that the students know how to prepare real lab reports, in correct form, in 3rd person, with extra research, in-text citations, and works cited page, etc. I think these have been a valuable addition.

What's your experience and/or what have you heard? :) We're needing Algebra 2 and have never taken classes from VP. This is all I know: ~ Twice a week classes ~ homework is turned in to the teacher ~ Text is Foerster ~ Placement test required

I know moms who are doing a great job without outsourcing! For high school, I've noticed that most of these have the dads quite involved in teaching too (such as teaching or overseeing a couple of subjects), unless they are using something like workbooks for every subject. I hope you find just the amount of outside support and accountability that you want, and continue being as involved as you want to be. You can make it and do well! :thumbup1: Whether or not I am intimately involved in every aspect of my dc's education isn't as important to me -- this is partly because I feel spread thinly as it is. I admit I wish I knew more of the details of my dd's TPS Classical Track education -- I keep tabs on it, but don't have time to read every book. (Maybe with my last dc!) In this case, I am happy because I can see that what she's doing is perfect for who she is. With the particular ds that I was considering putting into Challenge, I will need to continue to be more involved no matter which option we choose because he's still learning organization, study skills, etc. Those of us who do more outsourcing also face pressures and comments from others, such as that what we are doing is not really homeschooling. If you ask TPS or a public school, they would say we are homeschooling, but, in the end, it doesn't bother me whether or not I fit a particular person's (or even the majority's) definition of homeschooling. We all just have to pray and do what we feel God is leading us to do with each child. Anyway...:) I appreciate all of you taking the time to help me think through this decision! Each of your comments have been very beneficial! Kim, I have downloaded Echos in Celebration too! Thanks again!

We've had two years with TPS science, even though the same classes are offered at co-op for less. I do believe the TPS classes are stronger, and the formal lab report requirements are one of the main reasons -- not every lab, but some each year must be formal reports with correct form, extra research, in-text citations, etc. (Also, TPS writes their own tests vs. using Apologia's and add to the class if they feel the text is lacking in something important, which mostly affects Biology, I think.) This coming year, for Chemistry, dd is wondering if it might be nice to have a lighter class at co-op instead. I, too, am wondering if it would hurt to let her. She's definitely a humanities girl and is participating in a strong program in those classes.

I'll bump for you & also tell you that I've always heard he's really good! Next year, dd will take his Ancient history (Classical Track), and ds will take his junior high U.S. History survey.

We're on our 2nd year of Potter's School (TPS) English classes, and they fit your description exactly -- writing, literature & analysis, Christian! I have been very impressed with the detailed feedback throughout and at the end of the papers! My kids have taken Writer's Workshop, English 1 (typically 7th grade), English 2 (typically 8th grade), and 9th grade English in the Classical Track, which I would think would be similar in many ways to English 3. :thumbup1:

I think most high school courses are $478. Semester & summer courses are less. At this link http://courses.pottersschool.org/p/tps/courses.jsp, you can select a class and the price will be at the bottom of the paragraph description that appears on the right.

Thank you, Brenda! Thank you, Heather! Your posts are very helpful!!