Lisa, My guy just finished level C of Connecting Math Concepts. I have the all the materials (teachers presentation books, workbook, text, answer key). If you're interested in buying e-mail me. :) stacyg@ patmedia.net

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If he already knows how to read drop the phonics (ETC) and focus on spelling and handwriting instead.

I'd invest in and casually listen to the SOTW audio book, then just let them read non-fiction books related to any 20th century history topic that interested them. I really recommend the Landmark books and almost anything written by Albert Marrin. These are really well written and interesting non-fiction. They're perfect for 6th, 7th, 8th grade. We're studying American History this year with The Story of US. We really enjoy it, but in addition we listen to all the SOTW cds we own, just for review and fun.

We're Presbyterians, but not particularly "religious". We do a bible study, but attend don't attend any church regularly. Most of the groups, both Co-ops and social groups, are one of two varieties; either they're religious or tree-hugging, garbage separating, organic eating unschoolers. Not that there's any thing wrong with that. We haven't been able to find a group that was, as baby bear would say, "just right." We have alot of ps friends.

Mastering Essential Math Skills by Richard Fisher. There's one for Elementary (grades 4th-6th) and one for Middle/Jr. High (6th-8th). I'd put a rising 6th grader in the Elementary book. You can find them at amazon.

In several of her books she express some interesting opinions regarding education. How she describes Mrs. Goddard's school, that Harriet attends in Emma, is funny and appropo. "Mrs. Goddard was the mistress of a school - not of a seminary, or an establishment, or anything which professed, in long sentences of refined nonsense, to combine liberal acquirements with elegant morality, upon new principles and new systems - and where young ladies for enormous pay might be screwed out of health and into vanity - but a real, honest, old-fashioned boarding school, where a reasonable quantity of accomplishments were sold at a reasonable price, and where girls might be sent to be out of the way, and scramble themselves into a little education, without any danger of coming back prodigies." Of course, it all depends upon you're goals. Mine are to provide my son's with a reasonable, useful, challenging education with out the danger of turning them into prodigies.

Regarding Villette, if you're Catholic you may find her attitude somewhat condescending.

He'll do about 5 hrs per day, 4 days per week as follows: 4 Days per week: LA: Spelling, Composition & Vocab - 1 hr. Math: Pre-Algebra/Algebra (we'll see) - 1 hr. Classical Studies/Lit (alternating Memoria's Bible & Greek Myths with my lit choices): 30 min. Independent Reading for History - 30 min. 3 Days per week: French - 20 min. Geography - 20 min. 2 Days per week: History - 40 min. Science - 40 min. Homework Assignments (Mon-Thur): 45 min to 1 hr. We attend a Co-op on Friday for Music, Art, PE, Chess and other enrichment. So, We school 4 days per week. I also assign homework: math, composition and either a bit of science or history, just for practice and reinforcement. Notice we aren't doing a formal grammar program for 6th. This commming year I've added geography, the following year (7th) I'll drop geography and add grammar (AG). There just isn't enough time in the day for it all. I may make some minor changes, but that should be about it for 6th. Stacy

fiction or non-fiction, either together or independently? Layer with multiple resources really helps retention. I love the narrative style of SOTW, but the weekly jumping from topic to topic drove me a bit crazy. It didn't give us enough time to read those extra books. One week would be on the Phonicians, the next on Egypt, the next on India or China. That doesn't leave enough time really read any extra material.

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of total screen time daily, this includes: Wii, PS2, TV and computer games. They're only allowed screen time after school time and chores are completed.

Use a good lit guide. Cliff's Notes or Sparknotes are good. It would really be a huge waste of an entire year to choose a program based on the need to teach those elements. Search Wikepedia for "literary elements" or get a cheap workbook from amazon, something like Teaching Literary Elements with Short Stories.

Ginger, My 8 yo has been similar and is also ADD. For the most I let him choose the books I read aloud to him. I usually read to him at night and to my 10 yo during the day. It would be nice if he would cooperate and listen in with his brother, but that hasn't happened yet. I think it's way more important that he learn to stretch out his attention span, and if listening to books that appeal to him keeps his attention, then I'm willing to go along with that. Robert Clyde Bulla is a good author for transitioning from Magic Tree House type books. I little bit more wordy, but nothing overwhelming at all. Sonlight uses a lot of his books in Core 3, I think. Does your son read independently? A lot of my concern regrading my ds has eased since he began reading to himself. He now reads 3rd or 4th grade books alone with good understanding and retention. He's not an enthusiastic reader, but is competent. I require he read for 30 minutes daily. I keep a basket filled with appropriate level chapter books and let him choose. HTH, Stacy