I am interested in using the K12 World History: Our Human Story next year for my 8th and 10th graders. Does anyone know if there is a teacher guide available for this without buying the teacher-supported course? I am not good at coming up with discussion questions or essay assignments. I am much better at following a teaching guide. Please help! Thanks.

Thanks for the comments. I don't mean the problems in the regular lessons - we did do every problem in every lesson. And I don't mean supplemental problems. What I mean is the 10 shorter lessons on "Additional Topics" in the Appendix. My daughter is pretty burnt out, and though these are new topics, not a review of those from the regular lessons, she is so tired of math she needs a break, What I need to know is, if you have a child in Algebra I, did you find that doing these topics at the end of Algebra 1/2 helped, or did you find that skipping these topics hurt? I may consider putting them in at the beginning of next year, after she has a break this summer. Or doing some in August, before we start. More opinions welcome. Thank you.

Anyone out there using Saxon Algebra 1/2? We finally got to the end of the lessons and see there are 10 more lessons in the Appendix called additional topics. I am not clear on whether these are necessary or not. Won't the material be covered anyway in the regular lessons next year anyway? We really don't have the energy to plow through them this summer. What are other people doing?

Has anyone heard when Writing with Skill Level 2 will be published?

I am reading the new Rainbow catalog, and there do appear to be some changes to Saxon Math Homeschool. There are now two different tracks available, with Geometry split out separately or with Geometry integrated in Algebra. The Rainbow catalog tries to explain it, but I really don't completely understand the two progressions. If they have time, I'm hoping Susan or Jessie will weigh in and help figure this out, as far as a recommended track for homeschoolers that are college-bound and want to get Geometry in before the PSATs. Anyone out there clear on the new Saxon math books and the progression that is recommended? Please help out... ~Confused in VA:confused:

What is Brain Gym? Is that a book, a program, or what? My daughter is not ADD, but just daydreamy. When it is something she loves, like art, she can focus for hours. I think standing her up for jumping jacks may help - I sometimes have her run a couple of laps to get her blood moving (round the kitchen and dining room, though when she is really distracted, I'm tempted to send her round the house on a cold day...) I also like the white board idea. Anything that is hands-on, project-oriented and gets her really involved, she loves. She likes science because of the experiments, so maybe adding the white board to Math will motivate her to be more focused. We already have a big one, and markers, so easy to do. What's coming out as suggestions that I think will really work for her are to make everything more active, where possible. Thanks to all for the great advice. Keep it coming if you have any more ideas! ~Mary

I like the squirt gun suggestion! It might actually get her attention! BUT, I think I may try to do some sort of reward system, since the "stick" of losing break time is not working, maybe the "carrot" of gaining a reward will work. Maybe some time for art projects or play a game with Mommy. I'll try that and see what happens. Anyone else more suggestions of what has worked for you? Thanks. ~Mary

Yes, I already use a timer and yes, I do sit with her. She still takes forever to do everything. Daydreaming, fiddling with pencil, staring out the window. I feel like I constantly nag her, "Focus, focus, get it done." When she goes past the timer, I move on to the next thing and tell her she has to finish it during break time, but this happens so frequently that she loses breaks all the time and then her productivity suffers even more. Any other ideas? I am so worn out with the stack of stuff she doesn't get done that accumulates. Losing her free time does not work as an incentive for her.

Has anyone found anything that works to get a dawdler/daydreamer moving on her work? I am at my wit's end! My 8 year old daughter takes forever to do EVERYTHING. Please make some suggestions.

Please don't forget to include lots of art projects. Your kids are so young, and when lots of other critical learning begins, you will have less and less time for art and music. Do it now! We did at least 3 or 4 art projects a week when mine were that age, and we struggle to fit it in now. ~Mary in VA

Thanks to all for the advice. We already use a timer, but she just wouldn't accomplish the work. I may try that timer with the warning lights - that might clue her in to the fact that time is passing. Today went much better - I had a discussion with her last night about dawdling and about how much more fun her day would be if she didn't have to use all her breaks to finish her work. She actually got her work done on time or ahead today and was able to enjoy more breaks. I think I may also offer some incentive such as a particularly interesting thing she might want to do on her break - some game or activity that hasn't been out lately, or some craft material or something she'd be interested in, or let her choose where we go for a walk on the break. Thanks to all for the support. ~Mary in VA

Please help with any suggestions. My daughter (age 8) is the queen dawdler - I feel like I have to drag her through the entire school day. It is not ability that is the problem. It is lack of focus. She does EVERYTHING so slowly and with so much dawdling. Please help with suggestions that might help. Desperate in Vienna, VA. ~Mary

Catch 22 - hated it in college, hated it when I tried it again as an adult.