We are having great success with Rod and Staff for grammar. It is rigorous and reviews concepts often. We skip the writing assignments as we another curriculum for that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you so much, everyone! These responses are very helpful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

DS12 is entering 7th grade and will be taking his first online course this year. Our desire is Logic, and Art of Argument looks like our choice. However, although English grammar and reading are not a problem, he has only completed two years of IEW material, so may be "behind the curve" in terms of writing skill. Will this hold him back in AOA? Or should we not worry and go ahead with registration?

I would recommend starting with Year 2, but only because Unit 4 is critical for US History. This is where the revolution and the Constitution are covered, and without these, Years 3 and 4 aren't as effective. If you feel your 10 y.o. has a grip on these, then jump into Year 3.

This sounds exactly like our grammar school science. Our oldest hits 7th grade next year and will start the Apologia science set himself.

If you can afford it, you could only cover those concepts in Saxon 2 that you need to, then move on to Saxon 3. We switched to Saxon for the exact same reasons and it has been wonderful.

Lots of great responses! I will try not to repeat too many, but here are a couple key items that come to mind... 1. Alignment with your spouse. Are you both on the same page about the vision for your children? That needs to drive everything else. 2. Stay off social media. It is a waste of time and can teach the kids poor habits. We often have to remind ourselves: the founding fathers pulled off some impressive accomplishments without the benefit of Facebook. 3. Track the number of times you have to get in the car. Try to make all of these trips on one day of the week and stay at home otherwise. Trips to town are a time sink. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would recommend Latin - it is the most valuable language with the exception of one case (if anyone in his household is native speaker of another language). Latin makes up 80% of English and is the perfect introduction to English grammar. We start Latin in 3rd grade with Prima Latina from Memoria Press.

Eric Carle has a good one with shapes and colors. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We are preparing to sign up DS11 for his first online classes next year. Thinking about effectiveness, affordability and ease of use, which online programs are the best? I am not looking for individual classes, rather the umbrella organization (Memoria Press, WTMA, etc.). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We have been very happy with the Iowa test through Seton. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Amen! Founding Brothers was so, so wonderful. John Adams by David McCullough was my introduction to well-done biography.

To quote Andrew Pudewa at this year's GHC in Cincinnati: "On a transcript, call it whatever you want and put it down, because that's what the public schools do. Transcripts are a record of time served; not a record of material mastered." In other words, don't worry about the transcript if you know your child has learned the material.

Rod and Staff grammar would fit the bill as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am a checklist-type person and Saxon fits us really well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would head to Barnes and Noble or such a store and get some of the kid-friendly science kits. We have some (Dangerous Book for Boys Chemistry Set) that would not work for independent work by a second grader, so you would need to check the reading level of the set. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We love Artistic Pursuits - history focused and multi-modal for sure. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This may not be what you had in mind, but GA Henty's novels are a wonderful history resource, written as historic fiction. Oodles of good British aisles history can be gleaned from novels such as Beric the Briton, In Freedoms Cause, and The Dragon and the Raven. These are considered middle school level. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I found my kid who is best at memorizing what books we have, and we rarely buy one without his stamp of approval. Thankfully we take them out book buying often enough that I am not too torn up if I don't buy a book I see on sale. We have tried the tracking idea but it frankly takes too much time. It wasn't worth the benefit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not an article per se, but Technopoly by Neil Postman is quite prolific on the general topic, out of which the technological arms race in education flows. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

About one hour is normal for us including the worksheet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Abolition of Man by CS Lewis Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The original "Cheaper by the Dozen" book is a hoot! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the suggestions! Yes - I was referring to Circe. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Percy Jackson, Jim Weiss's GA Henty recordings, anything by Howard Pyle. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk