So glad to finally be able to participate in these kinds of threads. This will be our first year at home, I will have one DS in 5th and one in a 6/7 mash-up. I have spent inordinate amounts of time planning for the older kid, who is gifted, AS (and assorted other goodies), but not too much time planning for the younger one. He is a competitive tennis player and would rather be hitting balls all day than doing schoolwork, but he is excited to start homeschooling. Anyway, I have been trying to involve them in the planning and curriculum selection. Here is what we have so far for 5th: MBTP 9-11: I am thinking of starting with 2 full concepts, before committing to the whole year. DS really liked the idea of no textbooks and having the social studies and science connect with the LA units. Writing Tales 2 For vocab, someone gave me a copy of Wordly Wise 5, but I also have a couple of books from Scholastic Dollar Downloads that I like, including Vocabulary Words your 5th Grader Should Know. Other LA: Evan Moor Daily Paragraph Editing and Daily Reading Comprehension to use for morning work He loves Geography so we will do a bunch of that, I have EM Daily Geo, some Scholastic stuff and Discovering the World of Geography. He chose Teaching Textbooks from the math programs I showed him--we will use TT6. Logic: Building Thinking Skills 2, Mindbenders, Analogies Foreign Language; They have been taking Spanish at school, so we will continue that. They use Duo Lingo for fun, we will continue that and possibly add something else for Spanish. Music: Meet the Great Composers Art: Not sure I am sure this will change a few times before August :)

Thanks Taryn, the links worked!

Thanks! I am having trouble finding a link to Galore Park Science though. The UK site was not working for me and it doesn't look like Horrible Ray had them on his site.

Any suggestions for an integrated middle school science experience? DS loves science, and said he would rather not just focus on just one branch next year.. Textbooks are great with him, as long as they are engaging. I do have McHenry's Elements and I just downloaded Mr. Q's Advanced Bio: Anatomy & Physiology from the sale, so that is a start. From a quick glance I liked the look of the Holt Science & Technology texts, but I would have to get all 3 and then basically do 1/3 of each. I was also looking at some of the MBTP science units and the TOPS rocks & minerals one. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

Well huh. I was all set to use Elemental Science Earth/Astronomy for DS1 when he tells me that he thinks he would rather do a little of a few sciences, than 1 thing all year. I guess it is good that I am asking their opinions before we buy (next year is our first year fully at home). I was planning on getting 2 or 3 complete MBtP concepts for DS2 to use, so maybe I will try some of the science for DS1. I am thinking of the 10-12 rather than 11-13 to start. He loves science but I am worried about the output required for 11-13. Has anyone used 10-12?

We also thought Angleberger's Fake Mustache was hilarious. DS1 also recently liked The Name of the Book is Secret. Younger DS & I are reading Mousenet, and Older DS and I are about to start The Fantastic Family Whipple, which I looks light and entertaining.

Yes, I would definitely be an active participant in the daily lessons. I also plan on supplementing with LOF and assorted other things. Thanks for all the feedback!

Thanks for the response. I have looked at AOPS, but I do not know if it is the right fit. He is a super bright, mathy kid, but has a very low frustration threshold. I love the idea of a worktext with enough white space to prevent him from getting overwhelmed. I will probably go ahead with the CDs as well and save them for DS2. Thanks!

Probably a silly question, but does anyone use TT without the computer component? DS1 is not a fan of computer instruction, but I think he would really like the worktext. This would be for prealgebra for next year. Thanks!

Pretty please, does anyone have a schedule for this? DS is a box checker and would love something already planned out. Thanks!!

My DS has flat feet and wears Asics Gel Kayano running shoes every day. The podiatrist recommended the blue Powerstep inserts and they have made a huge difference.

Usborne? Their Kane Miller division has some nice fiction.

Thanks everyone! I am going to have a closer look at Wordsmith Apprentice and Writing Strands. I think I would like to save WWS for 7th grade--mainly because I'm a little intimidated by it.

Planning for next year--boys will be in 5th and 6th, both very bright, but neither are natural writers. They are coming out of private school, and have not done any classical-style writing instruction. Older boy is vehemently opposed to any DVD curricula. (He is 2e--Aspergers and has very definite opinions on things, so it is just best to go with it.) He is a math/science, just-cut-to-the-chase guy, younger is mainly interested in sports :) Writing Tales? Winning with Writing? There are a whole slew of programs that I have seen mentioned here but I am not sure if they are religious. (Wordsmith Apprentice, Writing Strands) TIA!

Thanks, that is helpful. I have a feeling if I choose OM for next year, I will have to do some tweaking (which I am OK with, but it is nice to know going in). Decisions, decisions...

Ben and Me Mousenet

Tina Fey's Bossypants was the last book that made me literally LOL.

I am planning to use OM 5 and 6 with my guys next year. I know there are plenty of writing assignments, but is there writing instruction? Or is that something I will have to add? TIA!

Quick hijack Halcyon--I know there are quite a few writing projects in OM6, but is there any writing instruction? I am planning to use OM5 and 6 for my guys next year, (our first year at home!) and I am not sure if I will need to add additional writing. (Now math, that's another story...) T!A!

My boys really enjoyed the 2 Justin Case books.

Thanks, I just downloaded it!

Stack the States and Stack the Countries are big hits here, but we also like the National Geographic GeoBee.

We like Blokus and Scrabble for pass and play games.

My 10 year old weighs about 62 pounds. He is really, really skinny, but perfectly healthy.

Great resources, thanks so much!