Does anyone else offer something similar to the Landry 2-day science lab Intensive courses? I would really like to do one for chemistry but they only offer biology in my region. Thanks,

Has anyone figured out how to use the new "concepts" portions of the CK-12 biology? I am going to start the Honors Bio flexbook with my 9th grader this week, but I feel overwhelmed by all the different segments. For those who have already done this - did you do ALL the readings with videos, the chapter reviews, the workbook and quizzes? What about labs? I bought the Illustrated Guide to Home Biology - but it seems like SO much. The workbook seems like busywork with multiple choice and T/F type questions. So I am considering just doing the concepts instead of the workbook since these include online quizzes, but they might be redundant. Any ideas?

I just finished a one hour webinar with the folks at CK-12. They were very helpful, personable and VERY excited about thier services. They are open to suggestions and want as much input as we (the users) can give. The CK-12 folks are in the process of switching to a new, much better site, thank goodness. Originally I had planned on using their Honors Biology as is for 9th grade, but I am now considering creating my own integrated science book (or books). I will be able to pick and choose chapters from all the science disciplines and spread them out over the next few years. I might even create integrated math books. Right now we are using Singapore's DM, which is integrated Algebra and Geometry, but its getting pricey. I could possibly follow the DM sequencing and create an interactive (videos, links, exercises) Ck-12 book. I haven't even start all of this yet, but I am excited by the possibilities! I have lurked here for many years - only posting a few times. Since both the idea of integrated science and the Ck-12 information came from you guys, I thought I would share! Its all FREE. CK-12 BETA CK-12

I just finished a one hour webinar with the folks at CK-12. They were very helpful, personable and VERY excited about thier services. They are open to suggestions and want as much input as we (the users) can give. The CK-12 folks are in the process of switching to a new, much better site, thank goodness. Originally I had planned on using their Honors Biology as is for 9th grade, but I am now considering creating my own integrated science book (or books). I will be able to pick and choose chapters from all the science disciplines and spread them out over the next few years. I might even create integrated math books. Right now we are using Singapore's DM, which is integrated Algebra and Geometry, but its getting pricey. I could possibly follow the DM sequencing and create an interactive (videos, links, exercises) Ck-12 book. I haven't even start all of this yet, but I am excited by the possibilities! I have lurked here for many years - only posting a few times. Since both the idea of integrated science and the Ck-12 information came from you guys, I thought I would share! CK-12 BETA CK-12

I'm a Mississippi ex-pat. A friend just sent me this link, it really makes me miss the deep south.:001_smile: Mississippi Believe It! ad campaign This might be old news for some, but I loved it. I'll be sending this to my friends who just don't "get" the south.

Did y'all know that you can download audio versions of these books for FREE from Librivox?? I love, love, love, audio books! :bigear:

Absolutely!! At the same time I don't believe any one source can be trusted. I no longer watch news. I couldn't stomach it anymore. These days I get my news online from a wide variety of different sources. I actually prefer to know the bias of the news sources up front. I read from conservative, liberal, and moderate voices. There is no such thing as unbiased reporting. This way I think I can get a feel for the truth of a situation.

"... responsibility for our children's education must begin at home." President Barack Obama (last night) I've been tracking this kind of stuff for several weeks now. I, too, want to know how the economy will effect the public schools and ultimately the homeschool world. Many districts across the country are considering a 4 day school week, among other things. This will cause all kinds of problems, especially as more people are looking for work and will need someone to watch the kids...

I, too, cannot focus to read (or do much of anything) for very long. Fifteen minutes reading in bed before I doze off is about all I can manage. Pathetic...and I once thought of myself as an intellectual! (HA! I am long over that assumption these days:D) However, I have come up with an alternative....my iPod. I use it only for audio books or podcasts. It's been wonderful! I listen to stuff while cleaning, cooking dinner, and at parks (if there are no grown-ups to talk to). I have managed to "read" more books in the last few months, than I have in the in the last 9 years! I am totally addicted.

THANKS guys! Y'all really helped me calm down a bit. I am sure I'll be able to figure something out that will work. I panicked a bit the other day because I started applying for 9-5 office style jobs. Up until now I've been looking for part-time or shift work (hospitals, grocery stores, etc.) I hate to tell y'all, but there is no work out there! I actually thought it would be easy to make extra money over christmas with retail, but no go, nothing. I've been calling all the groceries and Costcos in the area and they are freaking out themselves. Most of them told me they were expecting lay-offs any minute. Scary. Wish me luck!

Good Luck on your review! I have copied the review from the book, the review from the workbook, and the review from the extra practice workbooks. I've told the boys that we will just go through them until they get most of them right on their own. I, too, tend to use multiple curricula in order to get at concepts from many different angles. We'll be using the "Key too..." series as well, hopefully that will help.:001_smile:

I recently gave my guys the reviews for Singapore Math (5A) and they missed MOST of the answers!!! When we work together they know their business. When they do independent workbook pages they get them correct. What is the deal?? After the first review segment I copied it out again and worked through it orally with them. "How would you solve this problem?" They seemed to know how to approach each problem... but when I had them do another review, no go. I am very frustrated. If they know what to do when we are talking about it and on routine workbook assignments, why can't they master a review??? If they simply didn't GET it I would at least understand, but this! Right now I have told them that we will sit here in review mode until they can pass 2 reviews. It takes focus and patience to pass a test. Perhaps that's the main problem. Or PERHAPS I'M JUST A FAILURE AS A TEACHER!!!! (Arrgh) Should I start the year over? Thanks for giving me a place to rant... I fell better now. :D

We finished LL1 this fall. I had been using the Minimus series in conjunction with LL to break things up a bit. After LL1 we took a long break and started Cambridge Latin (designed to be used after Minimus Secundus). It is a whole language approach, which is a huge switch from LL. Together we just read the stories line by line and translated. Sometimes I would read them out loud and have the guys kind of intuit the meanings. It is actually fun! We just started LL2 and it is MUCH slower going than LL1! I wouldn't worry about catching up to her. It is a very rich curriculum and we just take our time. I still take breaks and switch to Cambridge for reading practice. The stories are really fun.:001_smile:

It looks like I will be going back to work. I am agonizing over my resume right now. (I haven't worked in 10 years!!!) I REALLY want to avoid putting my guys in school, but I am not sure about the logistics of this. I have family who can watch the boys during the day... so can homeschooling mostly evenings after work WORK? Right now or schooling is very teacher intensive. My guys are 11 and 9. We do a lot of read-alouds for history, Lively latin, Prof B math, and other teacher dependent things. As I contemplate schedules and work weariness in the evenings I was beginning to consider something like the Robinson Curriculum. It would be a radical change! I know I am not the only one in this situation. Anyone here have ideas or suggestions? Thanks

Oh, thats true. I just got an email from the Prof B folks and they mentioned that they were going to stop making the Master Teacher CDs, but it will be available on-line as a subscription service. I hadn't thought about the upper level books, though. I'll email them and get an answer...

LCC! I read LCC and basically boiled it all down to: Math, Writing, and Latin daily, everything else is icing. If we get those done then we are fine. Mind you our Latin includes grammar, writing, history, and even art studies! (Lively Latin) Other than that I don't really follow the scheduling or curriculum recommendations. Although I do want to get the 2nd edition of LCC eventually. I found that as soon as I changed my thinking we actually got a lot more done! History and science happen 2-3 times a week, but I have let go of the angst about scheduling them.

Good to know someone has used Prof B algebra. Right now I have the "Key to..." series for geometry. (We use this series for extra practice and review usually) Perhaps I will see how that goes and then move into Prof B Algebra later. I fell a kind of loyalty to the Prof B folks, and want to give the algebra a try. Thanks for the responses!

Anyone use this?? We are most of the way through the third book of Prof B... and we LOVE it. OK, I love it and the boys don't realize how good they have it for math! I was wondering if anyone here has used the algebra level. How does it compare with other curricula? Should we do something else before starting algebra??? Thanks

I'm am guessing this is a "negative" thing. There is no law explicitly stating that its the parents' sole responsibility to educate their children, but I bet most of the states have a mandate to "provide" a free education to everyone. How, then, can we have truancy police? Why do the states think they can regulate homeschooling at all??? How did it move from a public offer of service to a mandatory requirement???? Hmph. Still if there is any legal precedent. I'd like to find it. Soph the Vet: Sorry about hijacking your name! What is the etiquette? Should I change mine?

When I first started researching homeschooling I was told that despite perceptions parents are legally responsible for their children's education. As proof I was told that parents can't sue the public schools for having failed to teach their kids. Ultimately its the parents' fault. Now, I believe it is our responsibility and not the state's, but is there a law or something I can cite? I would love to have a reference to quote when I am in discussions with folks who think homeschooling is dangerous, weird, or simply not my job! Thanks, Soph

Does anyone know of a website that reviews books with kids in mind? My oldest (11yo) is reading beyond his level, but I worry about the contents of some of these books. Most would things wouldn't bother me -- but disturbing situations/or images would. For example, I am thinking about having him read "The Red Badge of Courage", but I can't remember if it is too traumatizing for someone younger to deal with. I usually try to pre read, but he is going faster than I can keep up! This is beginning to be a problem particularly with books I am unfamiliar with. We have found LOTS of historical fiction at our library...but I have no idea whether it is all appropriate or even if it is just twaddle/fluff. Thanks, Soph

I, too, would like to hear more about GP Science. We have just finished MPH (Singapore) Science 4 and I am looking for other options. MPH is fine, but I am always looking for better. Can anyone compare the two programs? I do read that Singapore gets more challenging as it goes along....so we might just stick with it. However, if GP sounds WONDERFUL then we'll give it a try! Soph