He's bright and enjoys math but isn't passionate about it. He still needs a lot of support using AOPS. I guess you would just have to meet him IRL. He's just not math-oriented. This is really interesting. I definitely agree. That is also how I mean the word "mathy".

For *just* reading (no games or frills), my favorite is the original Nook (The Simple Touch Reader one). This is the ideal e-reader, IMO, for people who read just one or two books at a time and aren't looking for anything beyond bare-bones functionality. They are quite reliable and, as the name suggests, simple. The screen is e-ink, which is easy on the eyes, but you need an external light to read it in the dark (just like a paper book). For something that's more than an e-reader but not quite a tablet, I like the Nook Color. You can buy apps/games and browse the web, but it's not a full-blown tablet. There are various restrictions that parents can set if they are giving it to their dc. The reading experience is a tad nicer than the original Nook, because the pages don't flash, but the screen is LED/back lit which some people don't like. It's just a matter of preference.

We do it during Circle Time using an adapted form of the Simply Charlotte Mason method. Memory pieces depend on the age. For a 3rd-grader, I would do scripture, poetry, facts related to schoolwork (such as multiplication facts), famous quotes and proverbs, etc.

A healthy dose of patience.

Oh, the student I am talking about is not related to me. But thank you. :001_smile:

He just takes a long time on them.

SO... I have a non-mathy kid (not my own) who is successfully using and loving AOPS. He loves math and is very bright overall but not what I would call mathy. AOPS takes him longer then it probably should (more time per day and more days overall), but he really enjoys it and is understanding everything perfectly. I tried AOPS as a last-ditch effort (after trying approx. 8,000 other math currics) and it WORKS! This is making me rethink the way I approach AOPS. I don't think it's a program for mathy kids. I think it's a program for a certain type of thinker who is *usually* mathy but not always. Just wanted to let y'all know that.

An eclectic mix of AO, HUFI, and SOTW. Plus LOTS of supplemental books. I tweak like a madman. For most of my kids, the sequence will end up being a five-year cycle, one year off to study Eastern cultures and world religion and other odds'n'ends, a four-year cycle, and the last two years will be for interest-based study, civics, government, and more odds'n'ends. ETA: We secular-ize everything. We do history in a very CM manner (narration, Book of Centuries, etc).

:iagree: My dd(13) and dd(12) both read the books, fine, no problem. IMO, the books *sound* bad until you actually read them.

We start once the child is solid in reading and handwriting. My dd(12) and dd(13) both learned to type around age 7 or 8 and now strongly prefer typing to handwriting (but that's a trait that runs in the family... not a result of learning to type young). Twin A is nowhere near typing yet (great reading, awful handwriting) but Twin B is near-fluent in typing now. The local ps is supposed to teach typing in 3rd grade (whether they actually do or not is a different story).

I was merely offering a starting place from which further research could be conducted. What are your language goals? Is your ultimate goal just familiarity with the language, or are you working toward the AP Latin exam?

I apologize. I was speaking about this curriculum.

Alrighty.

Are you looking for secular or religious? Classical or Ecclesiastical? Teacher-led or self-directed? What type of format? Here is a good comparison of programs; scroll down to "Comparision of Intensive Latin Programs" at the very bottom to see high-school level programs.

We have one TV in the den. That's all.

:iagree: and I also agree with what Jenny in Florida said, but I can't find her post to multi-quote it. Yes. I feel like HLSDA *realizes* that it is the main organization of its kind. It has a monopoly on its "industry". So even homeschoolers (in my neighborhood, at least) who don't agree with HLSDA join it anyway because they want to feel protected and they don't know of any similar options. That's why I'm grateful for organizations like HLA... they offer another option. I live in a fairly low-reg state, and my wife and I have a great lawyer, so I don't feel the need to secure any further "protection".

:iagree:

Thank you both for the websites and other suggestions. I have a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card that I have been holding on to... I fear I will not be able to resist using it now, because those books look so fascinating. :glare::D ETA: I did not mean that sarcastically.

Go for it. You can always go back and brush up on the basics if you need to. None of my dc have ever used a spelling curriculum. They're turning out just fine. :D

It's my understanding that Climbing to Good English is designed for students studying English as an additional (non-native) language.

I have been self-educating in math for about a year now. I brushed up on K-8 math using a cobbled-together program of mostly free, online resources (and I also studied quite a bit of geometry). I totally understood all of the formulaic stuff, and I had a basic conceptual understanding, too. Currently I am about five months in to an Algebra 1 program. I am doing OK but not as great as I could be doing. I have always been a "Why?" kind of person, and so I feel my lack of conceptual understanding is holding me back. I mean, I'm doing fine on the actual algebra part. But I don't understand how to creatively manipulate numbers in my head. Does that make sense? Basically, I'd like to take a pause on my algebra study and focus on number theory-type stuff. Any favorite resources? AOPS is an option, but I'd like to see if there are any other good choices. If you do recommend AOPS, please tell why. I am a global-type learner and I love logic puzzles and the like, if that's helpful at all. Thanks, SuperDad

Yeah, I do it that way too.

:bigear: Thank you for the helpful links. I am all ears for just a quick summary of the discussion. Thanks again.

If she seems to enjoy it and is getting something out of it, there's no reason to stop. My advice would be to either have her a) take private lessons, b) seek out group lessons specifically targeted to slower learners, c) seek out a different teacher who is *known* for being slow and gentle with the younger ages, or some combination of those. No matter what you choose for next year, there is still the rest of this year to finish out. So, I would march up to the piano teacher and explain to her exactly what you have told us.

Topics of off the top of my head... Human Body (basic A&P) Personal Hygiene (surprisingly, proper and regular tooth-brushing and hair-washing oftentimes must be explicitly taught) Mental & Emotional Health Disease Prevention and Injury Prevention Sexual Health (puberty, STDs, childbirth, the act of sexual intercourse, hormones, etc.) Nutrition Exercise Stress Sleep First Aid ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs) Aging Common Illnesses (such as asthma, cancer, stuff like that) Community & Environmental Health