I'd recommend the Island series, and as others have said, you only need the TE for each. I've written extensive review of the first three levels (and a bit on higher levels), and links to all are available on this page. Keep in mind the writing component tends to be FAR beyond the level of the other components.It's not uncommon to be a few series' back on the writing portion. Additionally, while the movement from the other three texts is smooth, level to level, the writing jumps are not. We've used the lower level materials extensively, and I'm glad to answer any questions.

We're working our way through physics with CPO's Foundations of Physics (first edition of TE and student book are readily available on Amazon and quite affordable). Don't Touch the Photons is the site I keep for the our schedule, labs, assignments, and videos. Overall, I like the presentation of the book. We do use the lab book (Investigations), but we don't buy the equipment pack. On my website, there's an image of the track we use for kinetics, which is fairly simple. The sensors/technology used with the track are pricy -- we borrowed them from a techy friend. I'm completely blanking out on the reputable lab kit company that I considered (rejected because - embarrassingly -- I already had most of the equipment. While I think a hands-on lab is essential, there is plenty that can be done with good simulation software. PhET has a fine collection, with ideas for how to guide explorations as well. Questions about the material on the Photons site are always welcome.

We will use some of the CPO Investigation as well. The CPO books are set up to use CPO equipment, which is pricey. We will create some of our own, but the labs in Physics Matters require equipment that is more accessible than the other. I have some equipment, will borrow some, build a bit, and substitute labs as needed. I can never seem to settle on a single curriculum for science and end up pulling what I need from multiple sources. Physics is a stretch for me, but somehow, it will work.

I do agree that beyond Algebra I (and some geometry, which is actually quite useful in many disciplines), that there should be other options. I'd love to see statistics classes that teach how to read stats and understand what flies by the news. For example, I'd like to see better consumer math taught to all kids (I had a fantastic class called basic consumer studies -- I learned plumbing, heating/cooling, electric basics along with basic auto repair, tax preparation, check book keeping, and budgeting.). No, math beyond that isn't for everyone. But it's worth working at algebra and geometry. Without these, doors close and parts of our increasingly complex world don't make sense. I'd say the same about a certain degree of science literacy, reading comprehension, and writing skill.

We're using CPO's Foundations in Physics. I'll be teaching it to four kids, including one of my own, ranging in ages from 14 to 17. This is either brave on insane, and I've yet to pick which. Here's the website I've set up for the class, including all the books we'll be using. I'll post the syllabus periodically to my blog, Quarks and Quirks (see my signature line). I vetted a number of books for the course, including Singapore's Physics Matters (and we're using the lab book for that). In the end, CPO won out because it covers some crucial points that I didn't want to miss, namely parabolic motion, more on rotational motion, and quantum physics. Two of the kids I'm teaching will be taking the SAT Subject test in physics, and these items (and others I'm not thinking of now) will be on the test. Thus my choice. Questions are welcome.

Thanks!

I'm likely late on this, but I can't find a post on it on this forum. I'm continuing to feel frustrated with the New York Times op/ed Is Algebra Necessary? from a few days back. Here's my reply: Math Matters: A Reply to "Is Algebra Necessary?" I'd be interested to read here or there what others thought.

Any agar can grow pathogens. Be careful. Don't open petri dishes, aside from when you add bleach before disposing of them. We built a simple incubator. Here's a link to that adventure: A Homemade Incubator and Inquiry Science.

Here's what we did a few years back: HS Biology. I used some labs from Biology Inquiry (see link in syllabus) and used some I found on the web. If you have questions or find broken links, please let me know. Sarah

Royal Fireworks Press makes one that's nice: http://www.rfwp.com/book/guide-to-literary-terms

My 15 year old is in the course. It is a large reading load, so he's been reading ahead for the past few weeks. I'm optimistic (and not put off by the content of the first few videos).

Jenny, That sounds like an amazing course you're putting together! Thanks for the ideas. I definitely would like him to read some of those titles. Now I have more looking to do.

Thanks, Doodler, for the fine ideas. My DS isn't on the spectrum (his younger brother is), but he has some of the Aspie traits that make analysis hard. He did take a short "Film as Literature" course last fall, which was an excellent way to start thinking more about the elements of fiction writing. I definitely don't expect fine literary analysis from him, but I'd like a better understanding of how fiction works and some more exposure to fine literature. He struggles when reading dialect and quickly becomes lost if the English is too stilted or just from another era. The writing element is far more important to me, and I feel fairly confident working on that piece with him. He has is eyes set on some small Liberal Arts Colleges (Oberlin, right now), and he's aware he has to beef up the English piece if he wants to be admitted to places like that. While we don't make every choice based on college decisions down the road, strengthening this piece is essential for what he wants down the road. Thanks for the links! I'll be looking through them over the next few days and seeing what might work for us. I'm glad for some feedback regarding letting this area go a bit, or at least reshaping it. The classical literature route is just not going to work for him. I appreciate the reminder. Sarah

I just found the Coursera course yesterday after posting the message. We don't generally homeschool in the summer, but having only one class might make the work go a bit better. )My younger son is signed up for one of their history classes for fall, and I might add my older to that as well, if his schedule allows it.) Thanks!

My DS15 is exceptionally bright and exceptionally resistant to literature study. He completed Lightning Lit 7 and The Lord of the Rings lit study in 7th and 8th grade then read an assortment of literature that went along with his other courses for 9th grade. He really needs some more formal literature study. I'm considering Hewitt for American Lit, but I'd like to find something that better fits his interests to make it more palatable. I'd love to find a utopia/dystopia literature study or science fiction lit course, but I'm coming up with nothing. I have nothing against the classics presented by Hewitt's offerings, but this child needs to be wooed a bit to get over an aversion to literary analysis. He's interested in psychology, science, math, and history. Thanks for any ideas (and we're open to online courses as well). Sarah

We're using Singapore Discovering Mathematics for AlgebraI, Algebra II, Trig, and Geometry. We're still in the first of the four sets of books (designed for four years), and there is plenty of integration of old material into the new lessons and work. It's an integrated math program, meaning the topics aren't separated out by year. This is another way of spiraling, IMO. My son is quite happy with it. My older loved Jacob's Algebra, and I found it easy to teach and quite thorough. Here's my review on that one: Jacobs Elementary Algebra.

Thanks, Ruth, for that summary. I'm teaching four teens physics this fall, and I'm concerned that the GCE 'O' level Physics Matters book is just not meaty enough for the crowd (and lacking centripetal force, parabolic motion, and quantum physics). Did you use the teacher's CD?

That one is mine. Feel free to fire any questions my way via the comment section or email (found in the about section on my blog). Physics is in the works next. Yikes! Sarah

I'll be teaching high school level physics to my DS14 and two to four of his friends, all then between 14 and 17. I've insisted upon a strong grasp of algebra and some basic trig understanding. We'll be using Singapore's Physics Matters book and should be managing most of the labs in the practical book, although some with modifications to be named later. Our last pass at physics was in 6th grade (this course will be 10th grade), where my son and I used some of Conceptual Physics by Hewitt. After that, we did HS level Biology and HS Chemistry (my own plans, on Quarks and Quirks, link below, for both), with this year being the Earth Science we neglected all the way along because he studied so much of it on his own when he was younger. The second pass for bio and chem will be at a local university. Honestly, I'd rather he did physics there, too, but he already has a schedule with 8 college credits this fall, and I can't see adding four more for the physics his first year in a university classroom. (He's taking Calc I and a sign language class). Physics first makes sense. I think it's best done on a bit different timeline, with somewhat different expectations, especially from a physics class taken before much upper level math has been taken. Taking the algebra out of physics or chemistry just seems to be a waste, IMO, so if those aren't underway, starting with bio or earth science might make more sense. I suppose conceptual chem and physics are possibilities if waiting for the math skills to be in place. This is kind of rambly and based on nothing but our own experience.

We have an (unused) NXT at home. I'd forgotten about that possibility. My older son does have a TI-84, so that's another possibility. Thanks!

I'm teaching Physics Matters (Singapore) in the fall for three to five high schoolers. I've longed for a data logger and software(largely for temperature, but a photo gate would be awesome) for some time, and now I've begun the search. I've not come up with much as of yet. Any suggestions? I have a younger son coming along the science path, so it would be useful for his turn through HS Physics and Chemistry as well. Thanks.

Understanding where the behavior is coming from was huge for me. No, there isn't a specific therapy what will help a kid with Aspergers "get" life the way I "get" life. Therapy for anxiety, aggression, or even to learn social skills can help, as can meds for some kids. But for us, most of the power of the diagnosis of Asperger's has been in understanding that he has a different brain. He understands it, as do I, and we both see it as different, not bad, not sick, not wrong. That focus helps tremendously.

Could it be impulsive (ADHD) related? ADHD walks with spectrum disorders quite frequently, and this might be worth pursuing.

Consider anxiety, too. Kids with Aspergers have high rates of anxiety disorders. Anxiety in kids can look oppositional. When one is worried and tense, noncompliance to what makes one more worried and tense makes sense. My DS10 has Aspergers and anxiety. The anxiety started to rise when he became more aware of what he couldn't figure out about the world and when social expectations became higher. Tantrums increased about a host of things, from school work to the prospect of going into a group of people. He worked hard to avoid situations that made him anxious, and his anxiety came out as opposition. Certainly rigidity and resistance to change are hallmarks of Asperger's, but what you're describing sounds like an anxious child. A measure of impulsivity can also be at play. My son has described these explosive events (after the fact) and the inability to pause before acting. For us, therapy and low dose antianxiety meds (Celexa, an SSRI) helped enormously. His anxiety level is way down, and he's more likely to be able to think before reacting. When he does start to become oppositional, it is almost always due to feeling anxious. If he can find what he's anxious about, most of the battle is won.

I've been dragging my feet for some time, but earlier this week I finally created a transcript for my ninth grader. The pressure was on, since he needed one for the dual enrollment classes he's taking in the fall (registration was this week), and I'd seriously panicked about this task. I created one with no grades and a separate set of pages describing course work. I wrote about the process, hoping that our experience helps someone else: We Have a Transcript! I'd love to hear what others have done along with outcomes that others have had with narrative-type transcripts.