I think it helps to have something to study for. DS took the National Mythology Exam in 6th and 7th. This year he will take the National Latin Exam. What I like is that these are low stakes tests. I mean, really...nothing bad would happen if he didn't do well. There is a syllabus to guide us and sample tests. But since I don't know what will be on the test, I can't artificially teach to the test or drop super obvious hints as to what might be on the test. What I can do is work with him, let him benefit from my experience, and help him figure out study strategies.

My son took Latin 1 with the Harvey Center this year, and he will continue with Latin 2 next year. Feel free to ask about specifics or PM me.

We are trying out a new vocab program this week: Science Roots. My hope is that it will help prepare him for 9th grade biology.

This is what we are doing: We started the year with some progymnastama exercises and I would like to do some more yet this year. Reading the Lord of the Rings. I have the Progeny Press Guides and we use a little bit of them. I am not sure what we will read when we finish the triology, but I would like to get in a Shakespeare in this year. Working through Windows to the World. Rod and Staff 8 (grammar lessons only) We do speling bees or dictation once in a while b/c he likes this. We have done no formal vocabulary program this year, but we are starting Science Roots this week. I am hoping that this will help him with biology next year. I always reserve April for poetry to coincide with National Poetry Month. I am planning to use selections from Journeys Through Bookland, Jabberwocky Poetry Studies for Junior High, and the poetry writing section of the Creative Writer. We might read Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes.

That's too bad, but at least an ebook edition will be available. If someone wants a print copy before they become scarce, you could try Kolbe.

It sounds like you are mostly focusing your question on history and literature. I think that self-study for these subjects is decidedly different from self-study in math. I am not sure what your classics book club is reading, but if you are reading and discussing classic literature then you are on the right track. I would try to get myself comfortable with a variety of lit - everything from the classic epic poems to postmodern novels. I would not fret over which specific works to read unless you are 100% sure what books your kids will read in high school. This is what I would do for history: Skim and survey first. If I feel weak in a subject, I like to skim through several books on the subject before the heavy reading. I am trying to determine what is really important about this subject and what is detail. I am looking for common topics. Hey, Topic X must be important if every single book about the subject addresses it :) Skim some logic stage or early high school textbooks or watch crash course videos or read a survey book (Van Loon Story of Mankind / Gobrich A Little History of the World). Try to get a sense of flow so that you have some major anchors in your mind. Next, I would start determining what skills I was comfortable with and where I need shoring up. Can I read a college level textbook in this subject? Can I discuss primary source documents? I don't think there is really a right or a wrong way to go about your self-ed any more than there is only one way to homeschool. This is just what I would do!

swimmermom3, sorry to go OT but how would you describe a student who is ready for AP Lit with PAHS in 10th grade?

Well, once upon a time I left a three ring binder open with the rings open. I stepped on it and had to go get stitches and a tetanus shot. Does that help talk you into it ? lol Seriously, I love love love my proclick. I hate the bulk of binders.

T'smom is it a blog post you would be willing to link to? It sounds inspiring :)

We do what Gratia271 suggested. I know that *I* would cry if I had to do all of those word problems straight on through. ETA we are not to Chapter 10, but this is what we do whenever we hit those word problems.

Artistic Pursuits is releasing a new sculpture series. I really like the looks of the Construct book.

We had a great week. Yay for that. We made bread today with Mr. Q's Advanced Chemistry and it was really good. DS was so proud of the bread :) And it gave us the chance to review some chemistry vocab (colloids, pure substances, etc.). This is the third recipe from Mr. Q that we have really liked.We made a field trip to the produce market with the Danish tutor for DS to practice Danish. It is a good place to practice b/c you can go from stall to stall and have multiple conversations in short period of time. It was a big confidence booster for him. Big win.He worked his way through his whole OneNote list with only a reasonable amount reading left to do this weekend.I have implemented a Thursday evening movie. Last week was a win, but this week was such a dud that we didn't even finish watching it. Bummer. I continue to torture myself trying to figure out his classes for next year. I go round and round and round inside my head over history. And fretting over lab supplies. Ugh. To do this weekend: Choose a translation for the Odyssey (for next year). I have Lattimore, Fitzgerald and Fagles home from the library. Finish and submit homeschool application for next year. Keep researching biology labs. Organize next week. Try to get some self-studying done.

In spite of reading every thread I could find, I am still confused about ordering Miller Levine biology from the publisher and I don't want to make an expensive mistake. What is the Teacher's Access Pack ? Is that different from the Teacher's Edition book? Do you access it (the access pack) online? ETA: And what are you supposed to be able to get for free if you buy a student book? Thanks.

I just wanted to thank you for the link to those forms. I think making my own similar form will really help my son see the big picture.

Oh, don't let the request for a teacher recommendation turn you away. If you ask, you might be told that a reference from a coach or youth group leader will suffice.

K12 Human Odyssey Volume 3 starts with 1914 and K12 uses it in their 9th grade course. We are in the same situation in that we will finish through 1914 this year (K12 volume 2). I want to do two years of world history over 9th and 10th but do not really want to jump over the post-1914 world either. I am still working it out in my mind.

Sometimes that means protecting her him from all the voices inside my head. Oh my goodness. DS asked me this morning if it was possible to study cooking in college, and within moments I was blabbering about kitchen chemistry and cooking as an extracurricular and how we could incorporate it...totally overeager homeschool parent moment. :lol:

Once you are in the area, it should be easy enough to swing through Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, Elon, and Wake Forest. They are all fairly close to each other. Durham to Winston-Salem should only be about an hour and a half drive. Are you a North Carolina resident? UNC Chapel Hill has an 18% cap on out-of-state admissions, which of course should not discourage a qualified out-of-state applicant. How about Davidson?

Mostly listening, but... I know one of the reasons my son wants to continue w/ homeschool is the wider choice of electives that I can give him. So, yes I do think that my student should choose his electives. That being said, something needs to be left over for extracurriculars. Not everything explored needs to be a class. And high school isn't the end point for exploration. Your college student will have access to a wide range of electives, too. And I think that the teacher should have some fun too. Or else this becomes a slog and that doesn't seem good for the homeschool either. Even if she doesn't choose to take multiple sciences, you can still enjoy creating fantastic core science courses for her.

I have at least a passing familiarity with the NC schools on your list. Does she know what she wants to major in?

Nice reference link - thanks :) The only thing I will add is that I suggest looking into (1) how much the host country requires the sponsor (usually the parent) to provide the student as part of the residency visa and (2) investigate the cost of living parts of Europe (Scandinavia in particular) will seem shockingly high if you come from a low cost-of-living part of the USA. My suggestions apply to study abroad, too.

foxbridgeacademy, maybe take a look at the Cambridge IGCSE Geography textbooks that are available through iTunes. There are three books for the three themes: (1) Population and Settlement, (2) Natural Environment and (3) Economic Development and the Use of Resources. What I like about these books is the emphasis on diagram and data analysis.

FaithManor, if you need help finding resources for Danish, let me know. I have a list a mile long and would be glad to help :) loesje22000, I don't even know what I am looking for yet. It is just that read about these lab kits filled with chemicals (even for biology - the Home Scientist comes to mind) and I don't know if how I am going to find supplies on my own. So far I have a microscope though!!

DS will be in 9th grade next year. Like many who have gone before me, I never planned to homeschool high school. But here we are! I am elated and nervous :) What I know so far: The plan is to register with Clonlara. Math: Either Geometry or we will opt for an officially Integrated Math sequence that we will integrate ourselves. History: World History Part One. I am planning for two years of World History with the SAT Subject Test and possibly the AP World History test at the end of 10th. Geography: Probably a 1/2 credit of Homegrown Geography spread over two years., but I want to take a look at Luckymama's AP Human Geography if she will be kind enough to send it to me, too. English: Homegrown. Content TBD. Science: Biology. Leaning towards Miller / Levine. SAT Subject test? I am worried about labs because I have a really hard time gathering supplies here and I am not sure if I will be allowed to ship in lab kits. Working hard on this one now... Latin: Latin 2 with Harvey Center Danish: Continuing with tutor and other resources. I don't know what to call the class. I probably will call it Danish 2. Elective(s): ?????????? He wants something for Programming and we need to figure out how to spread PE and Fine Arts credits out over the years. Extracurriculars: Except for continuing to swim, DS wants to make some changes. I agree that he should make some changes, and I really have to do some research and help him find some new opportunities.

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman is one of my all-time favorite essay collections. It is not a formal essay about literature, but it celebrates reading, writing and the love of words. Well written and a quick read.