We are using Declaration of Statesmanship.

I agree with the person that said it wasn't that much more work to get an Honors designation instead of a K designation. Would someone looking at transcripts appreciate a K designation? We are trying to decide what to do also.

These are awesome! Thank you so much!

You can use a fluorescent or regular bulb and it works great! Stuff grows like crazy!

This is what we are doing also! Our Kingfisher time is outlining and we are also doing the SOTW tests. We have additional literature that is just for reading (with no lit guide work) as well as other interesting books from the library and Netflix videos. History is the highlight of our day! I have DS2 doing SOTW 2 and DS1 doing SOTW 3 & 4. That's just how it worked out and there's no fixing it. :001_rolleyes: Oh, and DS2 is doing IEW Middle Ages and DS1 is doing IEW Narnia so the time periods covered are the same as their history. Its nice! Kelly

We are on week 4 of PZ level B and are loving it also. I have two who are doing this level and my 6th grader is slightly ahead of my 8th grader. The best part is that no one cares! They're each doing their own thing. Awesome!

I am required by my state to teach science every year and I get reviewed. I have already spent a ton of $$ this year, so I'm going to use what I have. If I spend any more $$, it would be on enrolling in MODG for support. We start Concepts and Challenges on Tuesday. Wish me luck!

Oh you ladies are helping me so much! It does not need to be all or nothing. It's been two years since we finished a science book. I know he's tired of skipping around and wants to feel like he's accomplished something. He doesn't want it to be easy, but it can't be so hard that he learns nothing. I do feel like I need help though and MODG can give me that. Here are my goals for him: (1) Learn some science that sticks! (2) Master lab write-ups (3) Take a test closed-book (4) Work on grade level I think all these goals are reasonable. Science is the last subject that we have to find what works. Kelly

Thank you! I was able to pick up the VanCleave Physics book from the library today. I'll take a look at it. I was up really late last night (yes, I'm losing sleep over this) and decided I have no idea what I'm doing and I can't wing it. We will stick to the Concepts & Challenges in Physical Science with the MODG syllabus b/c: (1) I need to be told what to do by someone else on this (2) someone else has determined this is 8th grade level and I can't determine what is grade level anymore (3) if we finish this, it should mean we are prepared for her high school sequence, which I would like to use (4) if I get stuck, I can always contact MODG school or the yahoo groups for ideas. I tend to get overwhelmed by the cacophony of ideas on boards like this. I come looking for advice and leave feeling overwhelmed. I probably would do better to stick to one thing and follow it. There's always someone to tell you what you're doing is too easy or not grade level, or that you've done your kids a disservice by not pacing them for AP or college classes by 9th grade. DS's only requirement is that we pick something grade level and finish it. He didn't want to quit Apologia -- I just knew it wasn't going to work. C&C is easy b/s it's concise. We will support with the Usborne encyclopedia, biographies and living books/videos from the library. Thank you all for your help!

We rented this from the library! Don't forget to check the library. Ours has many Great Courses!

Actually, I thought my proposed science was what SWB recommended? The biography angle would tempt him with something he really enjoyed as a way to lure him toward something science-y. I got Concepts and Challenges in Physical Science (2nd edition) in the mail today (MODG recommended). I thought it looked easy, but Laura Berquist has it for 8th grade. Anyone familiar with this?

We have been hsing 3 years and I have yet to reach my non-science 8th grader. We've tried Apologia with no success. I've examined what works for him: he's great at history, loves biographies and is addicted to encyclopedias. So I'm thinking Usborne Dictionary of Physics and Chemistry (if we get to it) with important scientists biographies and Janice VanCleave's Physics for Every Kid. Is this doable? My DH thinks we shouldn't give up on "textbooks" but honestly, that's not how DS learns! I need to figure this out before high school starts next year! Help!! Kelly

Drama, Art and PE are only on Thurs. at co-op. IEW Narnia does not involve reading the books, rather it uses excerpts for writing. Phys Science is every day with labs at the co-op. MUS will be 4 days (A+D, B+E, C+F, Test), SL is 4 days and any readers that don't get done will be the summer reading. LC1 is easy, I know, but none of us has any experience with Latin, so that was the recommended place to start. He has a study hall period at co-op where he can work on something. Other than that, Thursdays completely belong to co-op. I would like for him to begin to learn to study outside of regular school hours. He doesn't realize that kids who go to school do this! Bible is also required by the umbrella group we use for reporting, plus he's being confirmed this year (we are Catholic). Should I make the EHE more of a project thing? Maybe he can choose one country per month, use the EHE, and make some kind of project for it? So its not every day? Thank you all for helping me give this some thought!!:grouphug:

I am required by my state to teach art, PE, music and health (which I did not put down, but he's doing a merit badge). We enjoy our co-op very much and those activities all happen only on Thursdays. I am a little concerned about the EHE, but I need him to learn how to do research. He doesn't care much for the computer and that needs to change. The piano lady comes to my house, but we have to travel for saxophone and trumpet lessons.

I get the feeling that I'm doing/using too much. Once I put it down on paper, I'm a little overwhelmed by it. Am I overreacting? Here it is -- DS1 Grade 8 Sonlight Core H - Year 2 of 2 World History Core F EHE (the old one -just the EHE learning researching) MUS Zeta Apologia Physical Science (with our co-op) IEW Narnia (with our co-op) Latina Christiana 1/Roots of English Phonetic Zoo B Worldy Wise 7 Easy Grammar Plus (second half of the book) piano and saxophone lessons also Art, PE, Drama/Public Speaking through our co-op DS2 grade 6 has a similar schedule but is a totally different child (your classic overachiever) Is this too much or am I being nit-picky by listing it all and going "aarrrggghh!!" ???? Help!