Hey thanks! The info and recommendations are helpful!

I am looking at these for my 9th grade daughter, and they both look great. I've used only Apologia for science in the past but I'm a touch worried that the Apologia Biology may be a bit heavy for her, she's not very sciency. So was thinking about the Biology 101 DVD's but don't know anyone who's used them. Thanks!!:001_smile: MP

Hi ladies, This is a little known curriculum that I recently heard about. I can't find any reviews anywhere though. Just wondering if anyone has used it or know someone who has. Thanks!!:)

Yes, love it. We used it with extensions as well for one of our dc, without extensions for another. If you have specific questions let me know. :)

I do love BF also, but it doesn't have much hands on, at least not what I consider hands on.

HOD would fit well with what you described. Use Bigger Hearts, I used it this year for my 9 an 11 yo's with extensions and it was great.

We haven't used Preparing yet, but are using CTC. My girls don't seem to have any problems getting their research done. They use Wiki and google whatever else. I also don't dig Wiki much, or the internet in general (for my kids anyway ;)). I have to keep an eye on them while they do their research. I much prefer books too. Hmm, I think I might post this question on the HOD board...

Wowsers that's a lot of supplementing. :001_smile: That's awesome you could do that! The only thing I supplement is primarily with more independent reading books. I draw from SL's list and Milestones Academy, things like that. Sometimes I coordinate with the time period, sometimes not. I also am doing BF's History of Classical Music with everyone together. I will say the extension books for Bigger make good read alouds for even for kids that aren't extension age. That's an easy way to supplement Bigger. I've also used the book list in the appendix of Little hearts to supplement. Mostly with the D'aulaire books. We also do nature days now and then sketching and things. Some of my kids read the Apologia books for fun. HOD is very full and complete as is.

:iagree:This is what I was thinking too. Although it does promote independence in some things, each guide, even in the upper levels, schedules in daily teaching times with mom that are focused on meaningful things - bible/spiritual discussions, character building, and good books. We do want some independence though...right? :tongue_smilie: I'm curious why SL isn't accomplishing this for you?

What is MCT? :001_huh:

I understand your dilemma. :grouphug: My oldest two have pressed for this on and off for a couple of years now. I have almost sent them a couple of times, but have stayed the course and am glad, so far, that I have. My second dd especially was VERY "persistent", like yours, ;), for a while. Now she flip flops and sometimes tells me she's glad I haven't given in. Then later she'll be back to whining and being angry about it. Kids this age are so emotionally volatile and they don't always know what is good for them. I listen and consider their viewpoints, I really do, but when it comes down to it I still feel this is their best route. Life is full of good, better, and best decisions and I still feel homeschooling is best. I feel they'll be glad I "encouraged" them in this path later in life. If it were me in high school, I would have wanted to go too, but as I look back on high school I realize it was awful in every way and I hated most of it, and I would have been so much better off if I hadn't gone. I understand your worry about your dd hating you. I worry too. But ask yourself, what makes a happy home and family and what will make your dd have happy memories of her life during her high school years? I did this, made a list and refer to it often when the pressure starts to come again. Going to public high school fulltime didn't make my list. :) Having said that, I am planning on letting my 11th grader next year take two or three electives at the local high school. We are fortunate that our schools here allow part time enrollment. I feel this will be a great compromise. she can have her "high school experience" and time away from home, but I don't have to turn her over entirely to the public school, or turn her academics over to them either. As I've quizzed people in our situation, I've found it about 50/50 from people who say ps was good for their kids, and those who say it was horrible for them. Which doesn't help much. :tongue_smilie: Gotta pray about it lots, which I do. Blessings with your decision! MP

Since you have two so close in age, you should be able to easily combine in HOD. It's written for dc as close in age as yours to be combined, you shouldn't be running two different programs at any stage. If I had just two I'd be using HOD no question. I use it and I have eight. Part of MFW's strength is in combining, but you can combine in HOD just as easily with your two. MFW probably would provide more flexibility however since HOD's lesson plans are more detailed. So if you desire more flex and less scripted and detailed lesson plans that would be a consideration. :) It just depends on what you want in a program, you can combine easily in either one.

We've been using it for a little while now. I think it's an ingeniously set up program. I like that you can use any books you want with it and it still works. Since it goes through 9 different genres, we've read books we wouldn't have otherwise. The questions make the kids analyze and think, and are all open-ended, not fill in the blank type questions. There isn't writing in it exactly. I mean, they have to write to complete the assignment but it doesn't assign writing assignments. I know HOD recommends using Igniting Your Writing to students using DITHOR who want a writing component with it as well. We have this too and have used it a little, it seems really good. We don't have Book Projects to Send Home. At the end of each genre we've been using the character focus project option instead, which we LOVE. It doesn't teach writing book reports. HOD uses R&S English, and book reports are covered within that. HTH! MP

I haven't read all the replies yet but I hear your cry. :grouphug: I have 8 blessings, teens on down to babies. 1. These years with your kids being little will be over in a flash. So, ask yourself this: What will I regret doing/not doing after they are grown? Live with no regrets. Asking yourself this one question can give sudden clarity to an otherwise confused mess. Boil it down to your big rocks in the jar...put those in first...then add the small ones in as there is room. 2. Remember hsing during these intensive teaching years with a baby/toddler as well is THE most challenging thing you will ever do. Give yourself a break! Stay the course and you will be harvest the fruit later. Accept the fact that hsing and parenting many children is a very busy and full life, and will only become more so as they grow. 3. Set yourself up for success by setting reasonable expectations for yourself. :) 4. Recognize that there is no such thing as PERFECT curriculum. This was (and is) a hard one for me to wrap my mind around, as I am a perfectionist and idealist extraordinaire...which I can see you are as well from your posts. ;) This translates into continual researching, which translates into continual curriculum switching. Save yourself the trouble I and my kiddoes have been through and resist the urge to do this, ever hoping for the ultimate homeschooling and curriculum nirvana. It doesn't exist. Whatever you use, or switch to, will bug you in some way and feel lacking in some areas. :glare: So pick what you feel comfortable with and try not to look back, unless something is TRULY not working. I've used SL, ACE, CLE, R&S, and a gigantic mixture of a ton of other stuff. I switched to HOD two years ago, and sure enough, after the honeymoon, the dissatisfaction and "itch to switch" reared its head. I disliked some of the books, I felt a few things were lacking, blah blah blah. That's when it hit me that this would never end if I didn't end it. So I muscled over the hump and I have be contented ever since. Is it perfect for me? No. Do I do it perfectly? No. Might there be a better program out there for us? Possibly. Do I and my kids and husband have the time, energy, and money to keep changing things up? Nope. Is HOD an excellent curriculum? Yes. Do I like it? Yes. Does it fit most of my hsing goals? Yup. So I'm accepting any imperfections and going happily on our way. All that to say, pick what feels right to you, whatever that may be, and enjoy the ride! :) MP

I'd love to hear what "looping" is!