Here's my reply to the original article. It includes a possible definition of liberal homeschooling as well. Comments appreciated. Liberal Homeschoolers: What We Really Are

I've just updated the links on Quarks and Quirks. If any fail to work, please leave a comment letting me know what is broken so I can either repair or replace it. It's quite satisfying to see so many people make use of that syllabus! Sarah

We are using MCT for grammar, vocab, and composition, with lots of additional assignments from me. Both boys, 10 and 14 need more editing and sentence combining exercises than these provide. Any ideas are appreciated, and, for editing, the longer the works to be edited, the better.

Ack! Almost makes me wish I had a younger one to use the program for. Should be good stuff.

Just a note: there isn't much to elementary math. Bright kids can whiz through it pretty quickly. Rounding it out with "fun" math can help. We also use Theoni Pappas books (Penrose and the like) along with Teaching Company books, expanding what math is beyond the choices you've listed. Math can be really fun, but that's rarely evident in elem or upper level texts. You may need to think in another direction to make it "sing".

FWIW, my older son started Algebra just before turning 10 and still couldn't do long division. His times tables weren't so hot either. He picked it up easily in Algebra, thanks to synthetic division and dividing polynomials. In my opinion, math talented kids are NOT always arithmetic whizzes, and many a gifted kid doesn't excel at straight arithmetic. Arithmetic in a vacuum (and risking being shot down, I'd say Saxon is largely this) is boring and not nearly as useful as math in context. We're Singapore users, including Challenging Word Problems. That program allows math talented kids to do real math while working on the mechanical stuff, like long division and the like, esp in their CWP series. TT is much more rote, but if the issue is the format, for elem math, it's likely to do the job as well as Saxon. Consider ALEKS, if it is arithmetic you are after. Only what isn't already known needs to be studies, which can be a boon to the math-talented kids with a few holes. Yes, TT is light (and their version of 4 grade math and on up seems mighty off to me). Compacting with Saxon may also work, although I'd strongly suggest adding either an Art of Problem Solving book, a supplement by Zaccaro, or Singapore to build thinking skills and learn about the application of math.

Parenthesis first, so subtract the temps to begin with. Then multiply grams times temp in Kelvin. Finally, divide. No need to convert, since a change of degree in K is the same as the change of degree in K (remember -- Kelvin is just Celsius from a different starting point).

My Aspie likes Keens. I love anything from REI, who will accept returns even AFTER the shoes have been worn outside or sat in the closet for 3 months.

For my son, 14, the answers are Theater at the local high school Co-op class once a week with other homeschool highschoolers (we pick less-than traditional topics -- This semester included Film as Literature and Bioethics courses) Piano lessons Karate class (Black Belt in spring!) Informal "Science Friday", entering year three, with two hs aged friends. Stand back. Religious ed at UU church No wonder we struggle to get our school work done. ;)

Key Press Algebra goes very slowly, and the first book is all prealg skills. PreAlgebra with Life of Fred is a friendly option. Do you know where the "holes" are? Targeting those may make more sense than prealgebra again in entirely. The Key Press books are great for filling in those holes, as are the LoF books.

Shoe-buying for my shoe-rejecting Aspie son, 10, is done at REI. He's a fan of Keens,but more importantly, they'll accept returns even if shoes have been worn. Same for online sales. Even if you never return, it's reassuring knowing you can and that they won't even blink.

We weren't thrilled with the program and only lasted about 2/3 of the way through (see my review on Quarks and Quirks below), but we skipped date memorization and focused on the bigger picture. I, too, had an overloaded kid last year, and this was something I could do to reduce the work load.

My DS 14 has been working at the high school level for a few years, and while his ability to grasp higher level topics is strong, his ability to study for a test or take notes is, well, not so swift. He is dysgraphic and has ADHD, so I know these are playing a role in the development of these skills, but he needs to develop these before moving on to classroom experiences in the next few years. For note taking, he'll try taking notes to the Teaching Company course he's selected, Meteorology. He'll also be taking notes from his reading, likely guided by a set of questions at first (working on creating that). The piece I'm missing is assessment. Last year, he took Chemistry tests I wrote for him and a buddy. For some of the tests, he did beautifully. For others, he really crashed. For ALL the tests, he was sure he knew all the material, even AFTER taking the test. He seems to have no insight into his handle on the material. I really can't fathom that, but it's true. I could certainly predict which tests he'd do well on, given HOW he studied, but he couldn't see the difference until I pointed it out. And still he'd bomb. Any ideas for test preparation are welcome (Except for standardized tests -- he's amazingly good at those. But then there's no studying required.) Thanks!

Have you looked at the American Chemical Society's free offering, Middle School Chemistry? It's easy to do at home, has plenty of content, and you can't beat the price. I've recently reviewed it and created a material list here.

They're available through Royal Fireworks Press. We're fans of Singapore Science (elem level and MS level), and, more recently, Middle School Chemistry -- free, inquiry based science from the American Chemical Society.(reviewed here) It's very doable in elem with a gifted kid.

My older son was the same way. The advice we were given by his Montessori teacher at the time (age 4/5) was to hand him pencils, etc at his midline and that he would settle which one worked better for him. We did that, and somewhere along the way, he picked his right hand. He was learning handwriting that whole time, and his teacher just patiently let him figure it out. Some kids take longer than others to pick a hand, especially if they're not as dominant in a hand than other kids. I'd not force the issue at all but let her body pick when ready. FWIW, that same child didn't cross midline -- if he was coloring, he'd switch hands with the crayon when he was at the middle of his body. That stopped on its own as well.

Older son: 14 years old, Concert pianist with MS in performance and pedagogy, 60 minutes lessons once a week. $55 per lesson ($220-275 per month), Midwest. NOTE: He's quite advanced in his ability. Younger son: 10 years old, unsure of qual. (don't recall), 30 min lessons once a week, $24/lesson ($96-120/month), Midwest. We've looked around recently for a teacher, and these rates are pretty standard in our part of Michigan.

Given that a number of folks (like us) find their children can move directly from Singapore 6B to algebra (we used Jacob's), I'd say it is ahead. If you're using the Challenging Word Problems, it's WAY ahead. Those are fantastic supplements that really take a child far beyond what any other math program I've seen does. Okay, we're Singapore fans.

I'll be using it as a supplement for my sons, 10 and 14, this fall. We're Singapore fans for elementary math, and I'm pretty sure the problems will look simple after using Challenging Math Problems. I'm interested in the higher levels that introduce some principles they've had yet to encounter.

MCT suggests moving through the grammar book in a few months at the beginning of the school year. The book is short and (for my kids) fun to read, and 20 minutes a few times a week would get you through it in 2 months, IMO. We went through faster at my sons' insistence. The practice part of the program is the Practice Town book. For the rest of the year, my kids would work about a sentence a day either on their own or together with me. (This is MCT's four level analysis -- parts of speech, parts of sentence, phrases, clauses). For families using vocabulary (Caesar's English I at this point) and/or Paragraph Town, the grammar principles are reinforced in these spots. But certainly the grammar and practice books could be used independently. Just watch for the vocabulary words that leak into the grammar books, since they are made to do together. Hope that helps!

I've had those thoughts plenty of times, too. We really have to plan carefully so as not to overwhelm my son with AS, almost 10. Honestly, some good therapy and small doses of medication for his severe anxiety help a bit. It's not everyone's choice, but for him (and my other son and I), it's helped us broaden our horizons. Still, it's far from smooth sailing. Accepting the limits is hard. Accepting the meltdowns is hard, too. My friends with older Aspies say it gets easier. I know I can look a year back and realize he's come a long way -- we're all out and about more. But in the middle of it, it's hard. One day at a time.

I'm looking at nonfiction, too, but that's been easy to find. Your recommendations are new to me, however. Thanks! He's interested in how geologic and meteorological events shaped history. I insist that he read some fiction and learn some analysis skills.

There are 38 lessons, and we spend 45 minutes to an hour on each. Some are shorter; others are longer. I don't know how much time we spend on rabbit trails and other discussion. Hope that helps.

My son LOVES that book. It's a winner all around.

I'm looking for classics that are based around a meteorological or geological event for a year-long study of meteorology for my 14 year old son. Aside from "The Grapes of Wrath" (Dust Bowl), I'm at a loss. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!