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I'm hoping I can get some help making some decisions (or at least get some suggestions) regarding my ds's English subject for 9th grade. Right now I'm planning: Either IEW Elegant Essay, Writing Strands (which I have no experience with), or an online class for writing; GWG for Grammar; English From the Roots Up or Vocab From Classical Roots for vocab; and possibly Lightning Lit (British Lit) for his literature. He took an advanced American Lit class this year that was superb, so that's off his plate. Is this too much or do you think this is balanced? Any add'l suggestions to make it better? Thank so much!

These are all great suggestions. I'm checking into the Runkle's book as well as BJU, but am wondering if anyone has experience with Holt World Geography Today, as a geography spine? My tentative plan is to use this as the core to the course and MTWBH as a supplement. Any thoughts on this plan? Thanks!

Where have you all fit in Geography? I've seen it as the year's History class and I've seen it added in with history, like a combo. I've also seen it added in as a separate class, so the student has a History class as well as a Geography class in one school year. I'm just wondering how the majority of parents/students prefer to do it. I know it's a "to each his own" type of thing, I'm just curious as to our options. Thanks for your suggestions!

Has anyone who has students who "self-learn" used MTWBH? I've seen the results at our co-op but haven't actually seen the text/curriculum. I suppose one can turn any curriculum into what you need it to be, but I amhoping to get the been-there-done-that experiences from the group. Thank you!

Yes, upon further research I found this site. I will discuss it with the instructor, just in case. I will be purchasing it for my son and I to use during the class. Thank you!

I usually think of doing that but for some reason, it didn't occur to me today! Must be too much high-school planning and panic! :confused: Thank you...I'm off to do that now!

Oh my, this isn't a good sign... :glare: I was hoping someone would have some experience with it. Anyone? Thanks.

This is the text that is going to be used in the high school US History class for our co-op. My ds will be entering 9th grade and I've signed him up for this class. Does anyone have any insight and/or experience with this text? I intend on seeing if the library has it before I buy it so I can prepare add'l resources to supplement his class work. I don't know if this will be necessary but I want to be prepared in case it is. Any information you can share about this text would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

I'll have to check into Omnibus and Spielvogel since I haven't heard of either. My ds loves history, too, so if this is the way we go, I'm sure he'll enjoy these books. Thanks! I didn't catch this while reading TWTM...thanks for the heads-up. I'll go read my copy more carefully! :D I'm looking forward to reading through these, they look great. Thanks for taking the time to post them! :) Good idea to pre-read them. I think I'm going to order the Ancient World and see what my ds and I think. I'm sure he'll love it. I think I may have History's box checked for 9th grade! Just a quick question, for anyone who has read this far! History of the Ancient World can be a Class Title, correct? I'm brand new to this (high school) and I'm worried about transcripts. Thanks everyone!

Here's the link to a thread that may give you some ideas. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=365945&highlight=easter+baskets HTH.

What nice ideas!! I want to be that kind of MIL when my time comes! ;) Thanks.

These are all great ideas! I was about to post this question but decided to do a search first to see if it is already being addressed...and I hit the jackpot! I will include an i-Tunes gift card, some candy, a yo-yo, a kite, a set of earbuds, and maybe a small bottle of cologne (I liked that idea). I'd like to include a book but don't have any ideas about what to buy. I'd better stop there... Thanks.

Thanks, I'm really excited to be teaching it. We meet for an hour once a week, and I think I'm going to assign a month to each book. This gives us enough time to read each book, discuss it, and (hopefully) do a fun activity for it, as a culmination. I'm a teacher and have taught all three Apologia Zoology books as well as a Study Skills course each fall, but this will be my first Lit class and, honestly, I can't wait! :001_smile:

Great list, thank you! I have many of these on my list but you're the second poster to recommend Number the Stars, so I'm going to add that. I also like how you simplified your list by organizing it by month. I've been thinking about how to know how long it will take to read each book but this way, we have enough time to read each book as well as have group discussions and possibly a fun activity for each. Thank you!

Yes, I understand your point. I'm looking forward to checking them out at the convention to see if they're enough of a "text." In elementary, it seemed ok (desirable, even) for us to start off with a book (SOTW, for example), and go off track a little by reading some additional resources to supplement the parts we were most interested in. In high school, however, I don't have the feeling of freedom to do that... There is much more internal pressure for us to stay put with a book, if you will, to make sure it gets finished. Anyway, just wondered if there was a SWB high school history book that I wasn't aware of. Thanks.

Thanks, Sue, that's what I thought, too. I thought they were for adults. I am going to the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati so I'll look at their booth while I'm there. I just needed to know whether I'd missed something... Thanks again.

My goodness, over the years we have listened to SO many, but I'm having a hard time remembering ones that will work for your age kiddos. We did enjoy Mr. Popper's Penguins and anything by E.B. White (he reads the stories himself and he has such a wonderful "Grandfatherly" voice!). HTH. :)

I'd read a member of my local homeschool group mention "Susan Wise Bauer's new high school history books" and I was curious, as I hadn't heard of any "new" books for high schoolers. Thus, my question... Does anyone have any information about this? Did I get something wrong? Thank you!

Are SWB's History of the Ancient World and History of the Medieval World used for high school? Are they meant for high schoolers? Have I been missing something here? Thanks!

I will check this out immediately. Thanks for the suggestion! I've started reading this on Amazon and I'm hooked. I want to read the entire story! Interlibrary loan, here I come! It may end up on our class list. I love finding out about what others' read and enjoy... I have found some fantastic books this way! This is why I've asked for suggestions for this class. I want the class titles to be exciting, enticing, and really enjoyable for everyone. Please, if you have any more suggestions...tell us! Thank you.

This book sounds fantastic. I will add it as Historical Fiction. Thank you for the suggestion!

I love this idea because then if a spur-of-the-moment vacation comes up, or some other event that puts you a little behind, you don't have the rest of the year to "fix," only a few weeks. Then you start fresh for the next semester. Great idea! :iagree: These are the kinds of things I need to find and put aside at the beginning of the year, too, so instead of putting off reading a book that hasn't come in from the library yet, or a science experiment that I don't have litmus paper for until I run to the store, I can do these things because it's all there, in my house and ready to go. Also, I would almost rather buy reading books used from Amazon a few at a time and have those on the ready than relying too much on the library, although I adore interlibrary loan and use it all the time. I just know myself and know that I'll be a lot more relaxed if all supplies and plans are ready and waiting at each 12-week period. Great ideas!

Have any of you read any of these books and can, therefore, recommend them or not recommend them? Are there any genres I'm not considering that I need to? Are there any books that are better than the ones I've listed? Thank you for any help you can give. :)

I only have experience with BF Geography and my ds and I love it! There are four very interesting and high quality story books we're reading, and as we read them we're filling in four large maps and making a notebook with glossary definitions, drawings my son is making, and short summaries (this is from me!). The guide is short and sweet (no teacher dialogue, for example), but is definitely enough to follow. The story books are interesting and have fantastic illustrations...they are not for picture books, however (lots of text, large colorful illustrations, detailed b&w drawings to supplement). We've really enjoyed our Geography this year and I will be purchasing another of their sets for the fall. HTH.