Here are our tentative 7th grade plans for a pretty advanced student. We're newbies so I'd appreciate any input... Curric: Math:Saxon Alg1 w/Dive (finished Alg 1/2 last year) Science:BJU 7 (life science) History:BJU 7 ( world history from middle ages-present) Reading: selections from each of WTM's years 2 and 3 Grammar:Abeka Gr6 *we've been working a year behind and am not sure whether to just jump up to grade level at some point Spelling/Vocab: WW3000 Levels 7 and 8 *new to series, is this a good placement? Writing:Writing Stands 4 *again, new to series Latin:Latina Christiana 1 lessons 11-end Logic:Mind benders A1,A2 *can we also cover Critical Thinking 1 this year? Tentative Schedule: Math:M-F 60 mins History:MWF 60 mins Science:T/Th 75 mins Latin:M,W,Th 30 mins Logic:T,F 30 mins Language Arts: Spelling/Vocab MWF 30 mins Grammar: MWF 30 mins Writing: T/Th 45 min Reading: 90 mins (45 mins assigned, 45 mins free) Thanks for any input!

Here are my tentative 5th grade choices and a rough schedule. I'd appreciate any feedback as we're relative newbies. Thanks! Math:Singapore 4A/4B (based on placement test, we're coming from Saxon). Science:BJU Science 5 History: Ancients, listening to SOTW being read to 1st grader, supplementing with timelining and outlining using Kingfisher Latin: Lessons 11-25 of Latina Christiana 1 (covered 1-10 last year) Logic: Mindbenders A1,A2 * Could we also cover Critical Thinking 1? Spelling: Abeka gr5 Grammar: Abeka gr6 Reading: Ancient suggestions from WTM Writing: Writing Strands 4 *New to series... is this a good starting point for an above average 5th grade writer? Tentative schedule: Math: M-Th45 min, Fri 45 min challenging word problems History:MWF 60 min Science:T/Th 60 min Latin:M,W,Th 30 min Logic:T,F 30 min Language Arts: M-F Spelling:MWF 15 min Grammar:MWF 30 min Writing:T/Th 45 min Reading:M-F 60 mins (30 mins assigned, 30 mins free reading) Thanks for you input! Beth

Here are my tentative curric. choices and schedule for next year. We're relative newbies to all of this (began h/s last January). Is this complete and reasonable? Dd is not a terribly motivated student so I don't want to bite off more than we can chew. Math: Singapore 1B/2A (tested out of 1A, using textbooks and IP) *should I get the CWP? Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting Spelling: AVKO sequential spelling1 Phonics: MCP Plaid level A *New to series is this a good placement after after completing 100EZL? Grammar: FLL Reading: various primers for dd to read orally, other reading suggestions from WTM and SOTW History: SOTW vol1 and AG Science: some animals, human body, an plants as suggested in WTM *tossed between using materials from Answers in Genesis http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Gods-Design-for-Life-3-textbook-set,5457,191.aspx or just getting Kingfisher type references and exploring on our own Bible: ??? any ideas for a simple one Our tentative schedule: (are time expectations reasonable?) Math: M-F 30 mins History: MWF 45 mins Science: T/Th 30 mins Language Arts: 1hr, 20 minutes Spelling: M-F 15 min Phonics: MWF 15 min Handwriting: T/Th 15 min Grammar: M-Th 20 min Reading: M-F 30 min (dd read orally on T/Th for 15 min) Thanks for any feedback! Beth

My dh teaches science in a public highschool so I'm basing this on advice from him... He strongly recommends 3-4 of science study to his college bound students. This should included Bio, Chem (both with labs), and one other component. Physics is a good one for math/science oriented kids, others could take an anatomy, marine biology, or an environmental science course.

We finished Abeka's gr5 course last year and plan to stay with it for next year. I've not tried the others, but since it works for us we'll stay with it.

I was going to get Key To for my dd but have been using these free worksheets for extra drill... http://www.homeschoolmath.net/worksheets/ We've used the ones with fractions this summer. Search by grade level or topic some are pre-made, others allow you to set paramaters and generate new/additional sheets. Answer keys are available.

My older daughters (11, 10) read it easily last year and really liked it. I thought it was pretty good.

Agreeing with many other posters, I'd say "No" to both. We're basically 'courtship' minded. My dh (public hs teacher) has seen way too many teenage realtionships take painful turns, not to mention pregnancy risks, etc.

I appreciate the responses and especially the reading list!

Okay, seems mostly unanimous that most would go with option 2. Now may I complicate things a bit further?!? I'd like her to get through 2-4 in the next two school years as I'd like her to finished a cycle completely before starting 9th grade. Will it be possible for her to get through 3 vols. in two years? The sonlight suggestion sounds intriguing, but she's just finished a through study of ancients last year, so I'm really not wanting to repeat all that. Am I missing something?

We have a 5th and 7th grader next fall and we'll be using the 2nd edition life science text (think you and I have *chatted* about that on another thread). We are opting not to roll in our 5th grader. She'll do BJU's 5th grade book. I think the key here is reading level. It's a well written, but challenging text and it's intimidating looking. I showed it to my 5th grader and she was not interested. But, if you're 6th grader is a high level reader it might work well in your case. If you were having her do narrations or outlines you could monitor her understanding and give additional explanation as needed. Perhaps if you go to the BJUP site and look at a few sample pages you might get a better idea of the reading level. Even if they only have the 3rd edition available content is similiar. I do have friends locally with a 5th and 7th grader also who will be combining into BJU 7th this year. But, their younger daughter did 6th grade science this year whereas my child did 4th with Abeka. Their child works at least a grade ahead in all subjects also. My student although bright and motivated works only slightly ahead of grade level. HTH

I plan to use SOTW for the first time this year with my 1st and 5th grader. I'll just adjust the activities and related readings as necessary. My dilemma is what to do with my 7th grader... She completed Abeka's Old World History last year easily. We chose that course as she pulled from p/s and we wanted to finish out with similiar material. Before deciding on SOTW for the youngers I had purchased BJU's 7th grade materials for her. This is a the second part of a two year history cycle (ancients through dark ages one year and then middle ages to present the second). I'm considering two possible scenarios, but I'm a newbie and would be open to other suggestions also.:001_smile: 1)Having the 7th grader listen to SOTW 1 with the others as a read aloud only, but then having her work through BJU seperately. Pull her reading from WTM lists for year 2 and 3 suggestions for logic stage so they'd sort of relate more closely to her History material. 2) Toss the BJU (or rather re-sell it on Ebay) have her work through SOTW vol2 using Kingfisher as a reference and year 2 activities and materials. Pull her reading from WTM year two suggestions for logic stage. I'd like to get her in-sync on a four year sequence for years 9-12. So I need to get there somehow by combining or skipping a year. She's an advanced student and is quite self-motivated. A mostly student led approach would work better for both dd and I. Thoughts? If anyone has an applicable reading list they've used I'd also be appreciative!

We grew up in New England though we migrated south two years ago. We love the "Butterfly Place" mentioned above, great for a few hours of fun. Kimballs is also amazing, the best ice cream I've ever eaten. We look forward to eating it all year! Davis Farmland is nice, but pricey IMO. I agree that driving and parking in Boston is a pain, but they have a great public transportation system. I would check into taking the "T" if there's anything you'd like to do in the city. The public gardens, duck boat tours, aquarium, and Quincy Marekt are awesome. If there's a sports fan in the family the tours of Fenway are neat too.

I'm considered 'sub clinincal' but have many symptoms. I have had some success with taking coconut oil and by taking B12. My energy level is up and I'm able to shed a bit of weight now.

We will be doing the 2nd edition BJU text with my 7th grader this fall. She did Abeka's 6th grade program which gave her a bit of earth, space, and physical science. The materials arrived several weeks ago and look good, quite a rigorous and comprehensive course. We may co-op with a few other families, but it looks quite feasible for the hs with some slight modifications. Since my dd already has quite a bit of earth science under her belt we will most likely skip the 8th grade course and do Physical Science as an 8th grader instead. My dh (chemistry teacher) feels that it's a good idea for a college bound student to start with Biology as a freshman. That way they can get extra coursework in. So our planned sequence looks something like this: 7th- BJU lifescience 8th-BJU physical science 9th-Biology (either BJU or Apologia, dh will select) 10th-Chemistry(either BJU or Apologia as above) 11th/12th Physics and either AP Chem or Bio (dd will help select) It's important to consider where the student will be in math when planning a science sequence as well. You need at least a firm grasp of Algebra to do well in Chem. and Alg2/Trig to tackle Physics. We are conservative Christians and are firmly in the creationist camp. Dh has researched lots of the ins and outs of that. We will use a Christian text but will use a secular text (luckily dh has access to plenty at his school) and will assign her to do those extra chapters on evolutionary topics, just so that she has an understanding of them. The Answers in Genesis site has some great resources, you could simply get some additional readings there for your child as well. We won't tackle this piece of it next year, but will do some in 9th grade during our study of Biology and some additional in conjuction with AP Bio. She's already pretty well versed in this as it's a hot topic around here. I do agree with the AP that an exposure at least to these ideas is important for a college bound student.

There's a CC group in my area, though we haven't joined yet. I do know that they run several open house type events and even some three day conferences each summer. I'd check out the main web site and see. I'm planning on attending one locally in July. I'm considering them for the future when we don't have an infant's schedule to contend with.

Wow! That's quite a figure. Financial concerns were huge for us when we pulled our girls from school. I try very hard to stay within budget. We are blessed to have a great homeshool consignment shop about 15 mins. from us. A homeschool mom runs it out of her home. They always have a wonderful selection and I'm able to get many things there. We will spend about $750 or so for three students (12, 10, 6) for this year. In general: 1) I buy used whenever possible. I use Ebay extensively as well as local book sales. 2) I try to 'try before I buy', getting things from the library or borrowing from my fellow homeschoolers. My local group is great for that. 3) I streamline whenever possible, I often don't get teacher's manuals, lesson plan guides, etc. Sometimes I don't buy prepackaged tests, etc. either. I often make my own. This depends on the program a bit, but in general I opt out of lots of the extras. 4) I use my library extensively, including inter-library loans, etc. Just because my library doesn't have it on the shelf doesn't mean they can't get it for me. 5) We use non-consumable programs when we can (though we don't choose curric. just for that reason). 6)We don't write in all of our consumables and we photocopy extensively. 7) I resell (usually Ebay) when we're finished and recycle immediately towards new materials. 8)I found RR has the best prices on much of what we do need to buy new. CBD is my next go to source.

Glad it's not just me, it really bugs me when people don't RVSP. It seems to have become the norm, at least around here. If it were me I would call and ask my good friend (or at least send an email). With others I would just assume that they aren't planning to attend.

:grouphug: A close friend of mine's mom was diagnosed with IBC this spring. From what I understand it's quite a bit different from more common forms of breast cancer. She had a course of radiation this spring before having a mastectomy. I guess this can really make a difference with IBC, many women have the surgery first which does not work as well. My friend has flown to MN to be with her mom this summer as she recovers from surgery. Even with this improved approach (Mayo clinic I believe) the prognosis is still poor. I have been following and praying for another family who I don't know IRL with a critically ill infant. I understand how attached and upsetting it can be though there's no real life connection. I sobbing as I read yesterday's update from the family I mentioned, dh just kind of looked at me like, "Huh, are you okay?" Sorry that you're feeling so sad, ((hugs))

For general motherhood I've liked, "The Mommy Manual" by Barbara Curtis, as well as some of the above mentioned.

TFS! I just downloaded mine and added this site to my favorites!

:iagree: My dh teaches public high school science and math. The reason for the traditional Bio. then Chem. sequence is strictly math based. It's impossible to do Chem. very successfully w/o a 'firm' grasp of Algebraic math. Even when taking it as juniors many of my dh's students still struggle. But scientifically speaking you don't need any Bio. understanding to take Chem., but Chem. info is greatly helpful in Bio. So from a science point of view, if the student had the math down pat, reversing the sequence would make more sense. True Physics needs even more math, after Alg2/Trig. would be best. A 'strong' Alg2 and Trig. course would eliminate the need for Pre-Cal. I don't have any knowledge of the IB requirements though. I can say that I took AP Calculus back in school myself and tested out of Calculus 1 at the college level. I had no trouble diving in the with the second course (public, state university though). So I feel that in this case the AP prepared me well enough.

Yup, AVKO's sequential spelling (link from AP) is what I've used with one of mine. I'd go ahead and recommend starting at the beginning of the series as the words aren't arranged as per a traditional program at all. She could always do two lists per day for several weeks until she found her spot in the program.

We made our own using some bits and pieces from Lowe's or HD (don't remember which). We attached plastic pulley and bracket to our house and then put a wooden post by part of our fence and strung another pulley and bracket there. The clothes line rope itself came from Walmart I believe. The whole project cost less than $20. If you need more specific info. let me know and I'd be happy to get additional details from my dh.

I'm about two hours out, but head into the city fairly often.