My oldest two check their daily math assignments with the answer key and report how many they got wrong. They are responsible for telling me if they made simple errors or if they don't understand a concept. They are around lesson 25 now, so they've learned that they need to ask me to explain a concept more to them until they are comfortable with it because Saxon has a test every five lessons and they need to know how to do it by then or it will affect their grade. Since they take science together, we go over quizzes and tests together. All other subjects are either discussion based or writing assignments. It's going well now, but it took some getting used to.

This wishy washy type of word solving is one of the reasons why my children are now homeschooled. I remember sitting with my children and listening to them read these print out "books" and wondered why they made up their own stories instead of reading what is there and they said that they were using "picture clues". That was many years ago.

nm I stand corrected. Thanks Smily!

I haven't considered FluMist because it is a live virus in your nose that can shed up to 21 days meaning your spreading the virus around for 3 weeks through secretions and sneezing. Also, I don't want live virus in my child's nasal passage because of the high risk of it reaching the brain.

Sure, I try to combine my children whenever possible. It makes it easier for me and they enjoy doing some things together. This is our first year to try MCTLA. My older two just started yesterday with level 5. They are 8th and 9th grade. I chose with the youngest in mind, but thought the grammar would work well for the oldest. We'll push through the first 6 weeks with them sharing the student book and then they will each have their own practice book to reinforce concepts taught for the rest of the year. My 9th grader will have other English work to do alongside MCT, though. My 8th grader will be using the rest of the MCT materials; vocab. book, poetry, Essay Voyage, and The Shadow Trilogy.

I have tried microfiber sheets and didn't like them. The fabric doesn't breathe like cotton and makes me sweat. I agree with pp that they seem soft at first, but then scratchy. It's weird like that. We prefer cotton.

My son has this desk in his room. It's adjustable. It holds up really well. I'm okay with it. I wish it had drawers instead of open storage. http://www.schooloutlet.com/765_ASAP_Student_Classroom_Desk_p/virco-765-asap.htm?gclid=CPWFzq3qlM4CFYtahgodiacDeg&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=google&back=2

I've had my Instant Pot for a couple years. Before that, I used stove top pressure cookers. I like that the IP takes the place of so many appliances; pressure cookers (I had three different sizes), slow cookers, steamers, yogurt maker, saute pan, etc. saving me storage space. (I kept my rice cooker because I usually make rice alongside my IP meals.) I used to hate it when a slow cooker recipe would require to cook stuff on the stove first. With the IP, it's no big deal, just saute in the IP then switch to slow cook. There's no extra dirty dishes. Then it switches to keep warm when it's done cooking which I love, and it doesn't heat up the house either. I use it to make fresh soft boiled eggs about 3 mornings a week. I love that my eggs peel so easily. Today, I made beef and broccoli. I also use it to make meatballs. I know most people are using the IP as a pressure cooker for the quick meals, but the meatballs are better on the slow cooker setting. You can use the pressurized setting if you are pressed for time though. I want to try the pasta recipe someone posted before, but I'm not gonna use frozen meat. I didn't know that was possible. I guess that's fine in a pinch if you forgot, but I normally would thaw the meat, season it, saute it in the IP, then add the other ingredients. For me, the IP is a space saver and it looks good on the counter, so I just leave it out. Beef and Broccoli or Chicken and Broccoli 1+ lbs. of beef strips or chicken strips 1/2 cup onions, diced 2-3 cloves garlic, minced fresh ginger, minced (If you don't have ginger, leave it out. It will still taste good.) 1 cup chicken or beef broth (I usually use chicken stock no matter what meat I'm cooking up.) 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tbsp sesame oil pinch of red pepper flakes 2 tbsp cornstarch broccoli rice 1 add meat, onions, garlic, ginger to IP 2 stir together broth, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil 3 pour mixture into IP, add pinch of red pepper flakes if desired 4 Put on lid, close vent, press either Meat/Stew or Poultry setting depending on what you used. Meat will come out tender. 5 When it's done release pressure, take out some broth and mix it with CS in a small bowl. Add back to IP, stir. I steam my broccoli while the rice is cooking and add it to the IP right before serving on top of rice

I came back to post again since there weren't many responses. I've noticed there aren't as many people using this in eighth grade and beyond. This will be our first year to use MCT. DD will be using level five minus the writing. MCT recommended we start with Essay Voyage rather than AAW1. She is also going to use the Shadow Trilogy for literature. I will be doing the teaching and I'm using the recommended schedule in the back of the parent manual.

You can find some state studies here: http://www.lampposthomeschool.com/social-studies/state-history/ I purchased our PA state history curriculum from here for elementary and High School.

I'll join that Instant Pot club. :party:

We used the Homeschool in the Woods lap pack for US Elections and Our Constitution Rocks

I have an eighth grader this coming year and I've been researching MCT the last couple days trying to get a feel for how it all fits together throughout the year and where to start. Thanks for asking this question. I'll be listening in. :bigear:

There are some free cooking classes on Craftsy including knife skills. http://www.craftsy.com/classes/food-and-cooking/free I'll second The Food Lab. I bought it for us to work through. I like the geeky food science behind the cooking. After you read about it, there are "labs/experiments" to test out the science. There are also "Knife Skills" sections throughout the book and lots of color photos. It retails for $50 in the box store, but it's $27 on Amazon. After I saw it in person, I had to have it. :) It's almost 1000 pages. https://www.amazon.com/Food-Lab-Cooking-Through-Science/dp/0393081087/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466531963&sr=8-1&keywords=the+food+lab Edited to add the blog to go with the book: http://www.seriouseats.com/the-food-lab

I just came across this "Teach with Movies" site today and thought you might be able to glean from it. It has background information and discussion questions for each film. http://www.teachwithmovies.org/best-world-history-hs.html

I'm late to this thread, but in case anyone else is looking for planners I'll go ahead and post. These planners can also be found on Amazon, but here is their main website. They are very inexpensive. I bought the undated ones a few years back for around $3 each. http://www.successbydesign.com/planners/middle-school-planners.html The Blue Sky Target ones are pretty.

Classical Historian comes to mind.

The only one I know of that there is a sub for is Jenny's Surprise Summer. Here's a link: http://www.fiveinarowforums.com/showthread.php?58512-Jenny-s-Surprise-Summer-Alternative

Thank you! I also picked up the Get Ready to Garden unit study. :thumbup1:

You can access parental controls from the settings menu. You can block internet access, specific content (news, books, audiobooks, music, apps, etc), email, contacts, video, etc. I block purchases (1-click buying) on my kindle in case my toddler is playing on it. Make sure to enable password protect for purchases or you might get some accidental purchases. You don't want that surprise. We have three kindle fires and I really like that I can purchase a book and we all get to follow along and read it together. You can enable "whisper sync" so that you all get it or just download to each device separately.

I have an 8th grader next year, too! I'm still tweaking and hoping not to overload her since I want her to have lots of free time to explore music. Here's what I have for now. Bible: Journibles History: PA State history: Keystones 2 with literature and research paper; CLE Changing Frontiers? Math: Saxon 1/2 with Saxon Teacher Science: I'm considering using Ellen McHenry's Carbon Chemistry or A Beka Physical Science with her brother. ENGLISH: Grammar/Writing: Rod and Staff English 6/7, Teaching the Essay, MCT Magic Lens 1 (and practice book 1), Essay Voyage Literature: In addition to her history reading, she usually has plenty of interests of her own, so I'm not sure I will add any books. Maybe a book study. Adding MCT's Shadow Trilogy, Poetry and Humanity Vocabulary: Marie’s Words, Word Within a Word 1 Foreign Language: Spanish-Fluenz DD decided she wanted to learn Japanese, so she will be using Japanese from Zero Music: Continue with piano lessons and street performing in the summer when the town puts pianos out on Main Street. Looking for a violin teacher. She loves to perform outside and wants to learn a more portable instrument. Other: Food Science that I'll piece together myself. Sewing-She has an interest in cosplay.

Check Jerry's Artarama for Home Art Studio supply kits. http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/dvds/home-school-art-studio-program/k-5.htm

Homeschool in the Woods just came out with an elections unit study for grades 3-8. I have it, but it is so new that there aren't any reviews yet. I plan to start it in February. Samples here: http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/elections.html

My dd is the headphone queen. I like the Klipsch wired headphones. Quality sound and comes with different size plug in adapters so we can use it with the computer, music devices and the larger adapter plugs into the piano so they can practice quietly when little one is sleeping. My children have been using these for about three years now. http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Image-ONE--Ear-Discontinued/dp/B0096QYNRA/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1449370920&sr=1-1&keywords=klipsch+headphones Dd loves her Puma headphones. They were a pleasant surprise as far as quality. Dd likes that they are "over the ear" instead of "on ear", so they are very comfortable if you wear glasses. http://www.amazon.com/PUMA-PMAD6010-BLK-Vortice-Over-Ear-Headphone/dp/B00EQAXRRS/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1449370998&sr=1-1&keywords=puma+headphones We've had lots of others that didn't hold up including the ones from Pottery Barn and Nakamichi. The ear cups eventually fell off of these. :( edited for typo

Analytical Grammar