Cleo, I hear you...while I've always admired the pure classical model but it doesn't seem to fit my guy. He's just not drawn to the humanities, but it takes all kinds to run the world! I am realizing my need to stay flexible as a result. (How nice that France offers such a curriculum!) Thanks, Beth. We probably won't be going with BJU due to various issues, but I like your approach...lay out several alternatives and let ds choose which way to go. Hmmmm! Ds would LOVE this approach, but many of the colleges I've researched have admissions guidelines which include a minimum of (1) yr World History and (1) yr American History. I think others have also mentioned U.S. Government, but I can't remember the specifics right now. He might be able to study "The History of Science/Math" for one year of Social Studies, but for the rest of high school we'll probably go the conventional route. Thank you for the replies. I appreciate the feedback a lot!

I'm rethinking my history plans for my engineer/math/science guy. Next year he wants to take a computer programming class and possibly join a math club. We already don't have a lot of extra time; something's gotta give. We are currently using TOG Year 2 at the D level. We're using the Core books, In-Depth (just listening to the Librivox audio), World View, Geography, and Literature. He LOVES the literature selections, but history is just a subject to endure. Most weeks we discuss accountability and thinking questions, and ds is not really fond of this time ("it's hard"). Each week I have him write 1-2 paragraph summaries of the main topic/historical character he studied that week. I don't know if we should stay with TOG after we're done with the D level. I honestly don't think he will do well with the R level core books when it's time for that level. Or he may do well but hate slogging through some of those books. He reads the core level history books because they're assigned, but his real passions are programming, science, and tinkering with his physics stuff. I'm beginning to think that for him to excel in his area of passion, I will need to lighten the load in history for him. I've read the reviews of the other high school alternatives (Sonlight, Notgrass, Spielvogel) but they each seem to have their drawbacks... Would anyone have wisdom or advice to share? If not TOG, then what?

Which physics textbook did he use?

:lurk5:

:bigear:

Mariann and Michele, thanks for the feedback. Today I skipped the "write an imaginary conversation" assignment and just had each child write ten sentences with a line separating the subjects from the predicates. Then we mixed them up so that one child's predicate completed another child's subject. It made for some fun sentences! :001_smile: Michele, I just bought that Outlining book for my son in the Town level! I like the looks of it. Any tips on how you're using it?

Cleo: hope your son finds success with it! MBM: that makes sense now, LOL. Thanks for your feedback. Violet: I understand your predicament; it sounds similar to mine. Btw, did you know that the Algebra 1 class only covers half of the Intro to Algebra book? Their Algebra 2 class covers the second half. Their Intermediate Algebra book is what schools normally teach as Algebra 2, but AoPS calls that class Algebra 3. It can be a bit confusing. All that said, Algebra is such a foundational math level that I don't want to rush my ds through it, especially since he need to tackle a lot of math in the years ahead to pursue engineering or science as a career.

Thanks, Pam & Pam! :001_smile:

:lurk5:

How many of your kids are doing the writing assignments in Sentence Island? We love, love, love Grammar Island and Practice Island...my two younger kids and I have learned and retained much! We just started on SI and the kids enjoy the clever stories, but when it comes time to do the writing assignment ("write a dialogue between"...) they give me blank stares. Both kids have done well with WWE, so writing is not a huge struggle. I just wonder if the MCT exercises are too "creative" for them. Are your kids actually doing these assignments on their own? Or are you skipping/tweaking/editing exercises? Do the lessons become more doable as they progress in the book? I really want to use MCT for writing in addition to the other components because his books resonate with me!

MBM, so it sounds like your son already had algebra once (in high school) before AoPS. It seems as though many people are using the AoPS Algebra as a supplement and not the sole curriculum. I'd really like to avoid two programs if possible...:)

Hi Nancy, thanks for the link! :001_smile: I did see that thread, however most of the posters had experience with other AoPS classes. The one poster had experience with Alg 1 sounded like an afterschooler, so it sounded like she was supplementing a traditional Algebra class. I'm really drawn to the class, but because Algebra is so important for upper level math I want to be sure it's enough.

Hi Nancy, thanks for the link! :001_smile: I did see that thread, however most of the posters had experience with other AoPS classes. The one poster had experience with Alg 1 sounded like an afterschooler, so it sounded like she was supplementing a traditional Algebra class. I'm really drawn to the class, but because Algebra is so important for upper level math I want to be sure it's enough.

(x-post on high school board) I'm considering the Art of Problem Solving Algebra I class for the fall. I have read many rave reviews about the other AoPS classes (Number Theory, Counting & Prob, Geometry, etc.) but would really appreciate feedback from anyone who has specifically completed the Algebra 1 class. I've heard the class moves quickly. Do you feel your child has received a solid Algebra foundation? Or did you supplement AoPS with something else? TIA!

I'm considering the Art of Problem Solving Algebra I class for the fall. I have read many rave reviews about the other AoPS classes (Number Theory, Counting & Prob, Geometry, etc.) but would really appreciate feedback from anyone who has specifically completed the Algebra 1 class. I've heard the class moves quickly. Do you feel your child has received a solid Algebra foundation? Or did you supplement AoPS with something else? TIA!

The Physics would be Conceptual Physics if it begins the sequence. If the student is gearing for a STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) major he/she could then take Calculus-based Physics as a fourth science in the sequence.

There is a movement called Physics First which promotes teaching science in this sequence: physics > chemistry > biology. If you do a search on these boards you'll find a number of discussions about this.

Barb, another idea is to do advanced physics. The Robinson Curriculum includes the Apostol physics text which Caltech uses with their students. You could buy the disks used or look for the text elsewhere if you didn't want buy their disks...

This looks fantastic as my ds already has an NXT and loves it! Question: on the website for the first link one of the sample activities says that it is geared for grades 5-8, not high school. Are there other activities that that are listed for high school level? Thanks! ETA: I just noticed that you need both Levels I and II for 18 weeks of instruction. Quite pricey!

A friend ordered announcements from HSLDA last year and they looked fabulous.

Thanks, Laura! That's helpful. I'm not sure ds wants to learn game programming, so we may end up with the fall class after all.

Laura, where did Mr. Conner teach the Python class last summer? My ds is big into Python right now and I'm thinking of signing him up for the fall at Potter's, but a summer course might be even more attractive for our schedule.

If you really want to re-do pre-algebra, you could use Lial's Basic College Mathematics (essentially a pre-alg text). Perhaps using a text that doesn't have the word pre-algebra in the title wouldn't make her feel discouraged about repeating the same content.

Homeschool Buyer's Co-op has just announced that they will be doing a group buy through Pearson/Prentice Hall soon, so you may be able to get the latest edition of Miller/Levine Biology at a decent price. It's free to sign up for the co-op.

Re: the word "Reserve" in the title--is the military obligation for ROTC similar to being in the reserves (one weekend a month) or is it a full-time obligation?