(I haven't read everyone else's responses, so this is just a response to the OP's original post.) Lots of people, especially the people you love the most, will say very hurtful things to you. They are saying these hurtful things because they are trying to save your children from damage and harm. In their minds, you are planning to ruin the children through homeschooling. Their motives are actually good, and they care about your family. That is the reason they are saying these things. If you can keep that in mind, it will help you not to be as offended and discouraged. You must do what is right for your children, even if no one else understands--yet. Someday they will probably come around, especially if you have good results. I have been homeschooling for eight years, and now my parents can finally appreciate the tremendous benefits my kids have received through our homeschooling. The negative comments have completely ceased. If you do your best to provide your children with a quality academic program and work hard each school day to teach them, you will probably be able to outdo anything the public or private schools can provide. If you also help your kids have opportunities to interact socially and make friends, they should have no problems with "socialization." In fact, your children will likely be far better socialized and mature than most kids their age.

MYSTERY SCIENCE. Easy to implement and a great program.

Eighth grade has been fine for me mostly because I outsourced algebra, German, and science. There would not have been enough time in the day for me to teach those three classes in addition to the rest of 8th grade and in addition to the rest of my other kids' courses.

Math-- Horizons 5, Flashcards, add ins (Mind Benders, Balance Benders, Challenging Word Problems, Mental Math workbooks) Science--science with co-op, Mystery Science Grammar/Lit--R&S 5, Vocabulary Workshop, R&S Spelling, TOG lit books, plus add ins (Daily Paragraph Editing, Daily Reading Comprehension, practice with dictionary and cursive) Writing--IEW SICC B Public Speaking--through co-op History/Geography--TOG through co-op, Maps Charts and Graphs workbook German--Duolingo Art--Atelier

This is for my STEM kid Algebra 1--through local middle school Spanish 1-- through local middle school Science class--through Johns Hopkins CTY hopefully English/Lit--R&S English 8, Word Wealth Jr., lit books and Progeny Press guides through co-op, writing through co-op (IEW and LTOW mishmash) History/Geography-- Notgrass U.S., Maps Charts and Graphs workbook, Continue drawing the whole world through: http://map-of-the-whole-world.weebly.com/ Public speaking--Speech club and tournaments, co-op oral presentations. Logic--Java programming course through local friend, Fallacy Detective, test prep resources (Khan Academy SAT practice, EM Daily Reading Comprehension, EM Daily Paragraph Editing)

We use two things. Maps, Charts, and Graphs workbooks for map reading practice. My kids also do map drawing to learn to draw the whole world by heart. I use this to teach map drawing which has been excellent: http://map-of-the-whole-world.weebly.com/

I think it depends on how you teach and view the subject of science. For people who don't do any or don't do much science in their homeschools, Mystery Science is a perfect stand-alone program. It is easy, it gets done, and it is high quality. If you want a systematic program which is all-encompassing, more like a textbook, that is different. You could use Mystery Science as your main program along with supplemental books, or you could use Mystery Science as a supplement to something else. I use Mystery Science as our main program because I consider science in elementary years to be mostly about exposure. Once my kids get to middle school (6th, 7th, and 8th grades), I change to a textbook-type of program (BJU Science).

BJU science 6 is a great course. If you use the videos, it is independent. My 4th grader does Mystery Science independently. It is excellent, too. She does one discovery per week which takes two days. Then she journals what she learned on the third day. Then she works on a science lapbook on the fourth day. On the fifth day, she reads a science book from the library.

I have been looking for one of those for a long time. The only one I ever found was an old fashioned, out-of-print book which my kids and I think is highly entertaining. It may not be PC (FYI). I buy quite a few old books and have become adept at editing on the fly when necessary. Virginia's history and geography, including: Our home, Virginia and the world ISBN-13: 978-0684515120, ISBN-10: 0684515121

I use my grammar program to teach and practice detailed concepts in isolation. Then we do application of the grammar when we are editing compositions as part of our writing program. Students need to know the vocabulary before they can learn to apply it. When we are editing compositions, I can talk about where commas go because of where the clauses are, verb agreement, and why something would be in nominative case instead of objective case. These are the types of things kids can understand if they have diligently worked though a detailed grammar program. We need to learn about the trees before we can talk about the forest. The other area where I have especially seen my son apply his grammar knowledge is in German class. German grammar is difficult, but my son knows English grammar so well that German grammar seems quite simple and easy to him.

This is the best program for learning to draw all the countries of the world. I have been using this with my kids for about two years. It is only $15 for all the PDFs. You can try it for free: http://map-of-the-whole-world.weebly.com/

Just curious why you don't like your grammar programs. Is it because they don't work, or is it because you don't like teaching them? Is it something like the Circe thread where you are looking for the beauty or the delight in learning and can't find it in your English book? I tell my kids that grammar is 15-20 minutes of torture per day. By the end of 8th grade R&S English, they will be prepared for writing and foreign language, and they will know more grammar than almost anyone they will meet for the rest of their lives. Look at grammar like flossing.

Start your 8th grader in the 5th or 6th grade book.

You people haven't bought R&S English yet. Why not? Think about how much money you could have saved if you just started there.

Daily: Math Writing Grammar Reading Spelling Vocabulary Science History Once or twice per week: Map workbook Map drawing Logic workbook Cursive Dictionary practice Art/drawing Daily editing Daily reading comprehension Test practice Khan Academy programming Typing

Dp

My kids have done CC Foundations for four years. It has been well worth the cost for us because it has provided a way to do many aspects of school that I was not able to accomplish at home by ourselves. My kids have memorized large volumes of information (history, English grammar, math, science, geography). They have prepared and given 2-3 minute oral presentations almost every week which has dramatically improved their public speaking skills. They have had extra art and music instruction. They have had the experience of being in a class where they are expected to be quiet, listen to a teacher, and raise their hands if they have something to say. They have a great social time at lunch and recess with many kids who are like them and with whom they have become good friends. These are the benefits we have received from being the Foundations program which I consider worth the cost.

Phoenix, the reason for marking the clauses is so you will know where commas need to go. That is the point of the exercise, so it is actually important to understand (at least in my opinion).

I think the "spanned by a narrow bridge" is actually a dependent clause. It is an adjective clause where the "which was" at the beginning was left off/implied. The clause would be: "which was spanned by a narrow bridge" and it modifies the noun "stream." Maybe the grammar gurus can weigh in. I am merely an amateur grammar enthusiast.

"The, calm, mysterious" These words modify the subject "giant," so they are included in the clause. They are all adjectives. "Sturdily, upon his staff, then, to await them" These words and phrases all modify the verb "leaned," so they are included in the clause. They are all acting as adverbs.

Here is a feeble try-- A clause would have a subject and a predicate, including all the words and phrases that modify them.

If you could diagram the sentence, I think it would be easy to see. Your question illustrates why my kids do Rod and Staff English and not Fix It.

BJU 6 Science is an excellent quality course. That is one of my favorites.

My fourth grader is using Mystery Science. That is my favorite science program for elementary. My kids use BJU Science for middle school.

I am stopping at 8. We just do the grammar portions. However, I think stopping at 6 or 7 would be okay, too.