I'm planning on extensive hours playing Age of Empires to satisfy this req. :) Honestly, I haven't a clue. I guess since they're getting to that age, I should figure out what an ex-pat is expected to provide in that arena and what they want to do about it. I've never kept a record or portfolio so I guess I need a primer on, well, I'm not even sure what I need a primer on. :) I suppose I should head to the highschool board but maybe I'll check with some unschooling board first and see what other ex-pat unschoolers do (do about what? gawds I'm clueless...) Oh, and Latin Prep has been repeatedly recommended so thanks to both of you for continuing the rave reviews. I think we'll probably go with that. Thanks so much!

My 14yo wants to learn Latin. TBH, so do I. So the level should be geared towards a more mature audience. He has been unschooled his entire life so I'm not looking for anything with grading (we can self evaluate without grades or tests, one would think) and we'd like it to be if not fun, then humorous at a minimum. I started to address this in another post I wrote but thought I might glean more info from a thread dedicated to Latin by itself. Oh, and we definitely want nothing with a religious bent. We are somewhat :) rabidly secular. (can you be somewhat rabid?)

I would think (XP and OSX) you could create accounts for each child and then install TT to each child's user account and keep records that way. You will also need to get a new code from TT for the 2nd install. But check with them. their Live Chat is really nice (most especially if you live outside the US).

ACK! I had Artistic Pursuits Jr High in my cart (it was on sale for $25 something), read one chapter of "The Emerald City of Oz" to my 6yo and someone else got it. I hope whomever got it enjoys it! :)

(for those wondering, CBD is Christian Book Distributors and they have secular materials as well) I just tried to use the code and it only works if your order is over $50USD.

I might be the only voice saying this, but I honestly don't think it is necessary, in most cases, to teach reading. Both my boys have taught themselves. The (just turned) 14yo I tested last night at reading at an 11th grade level. The 12yo I haven't tested but he is definitely at grade level. He started reading at 10. I believe the 8yo can read as she is sounding out words and wriiting them but will say she "can't" read. No problem; I still read to the boys as well. We do a LOT of (me) reading and have LOTS of books around at all times.

My 6yo and 8yo are not yet reading, so definitely no formal study for them and the boys (12 and 14) have not yet been exposed to formal grammar. I'm thinking of starting something more formal this year. we do a LOT of reading (outloud) to the kids though and think they pick up sentence structure from listening to good literature. I forgot to add the why - I just don't feel it necessary to bog them down with grammar (unless it was an interest of theirs) when they should be playing and exploring life.

My boys (12 and 14) and I are, as I type, listening to those same Science Songs. I was going to post about them recently but kept forgetting. I LOVE those songs. This morning, the 6yo was singing the kinetic-potential energy song.

Thanks to everyone for the Latin advice, and Sailmom for (yet another :)) science choice. I've been doing NOTHING but looking at curriculum for the past 3 days and I think I might be going just a little insane. :) I had pretty much decided to go with Usborne books, "Science Experiments You Can Eat", "Secret Science" and TOPS, but now I'm off to check Oak Meadow. Well, after dinner. :)

(can someone decipher OPG and OPGTR?)

I have been thinking that my boys (recently turned 12 and 14) would even have fun with the K-3 books (1 and 2) I'm getting for my girls, but thought I'd throw the book 1 4-6 in there for them just incase. I know they'd enjoy more color than b&w - would the Jr. High work for them better than the 4-6? I'm going to have them look at the site and see what they think also. I can't just try a book because we live in Mexico and I have to do all my purchasing at one time and we won't get another chance for a year.

I have been looking into Science all morning for my brood: We're unschoolers but living outside the US, I have to make all my material purchases once a year and hope they satisfy the kids' needs. I have a 14 and 12yo boys and 8 and 6yo girls. We have never done "school" or tests and I have no idea of grade level. They are all off the charts in reading comprehension and the eldest reads at an adult level. I suppose the 12yo reads at level - we have Sonlight and he can read and enjoy all the Core 5 books. The boys are interested in doing experiments this year and I've been looking into the following science curriculum. Real Science - this seems a bit babyish but could be something for the girls. Realistically, I know the girls are going to be involved in whatever the boys do so I don't think getting 2 different levels will be really what we want to do. But I'm open. Also, I've seen reference to a level 2 that would encompass the Middle School years, but I'm not seeing it on their site. Apologia - this seems to me to really talk down to the kids (instructor knows best and is superior) and is overly religious (I could really do without all the references to "Creation") but very easy to understand and doesn't seem to heavy and dry. But it doesn't sem like something we can do with the girls. And after looking at 3 different texts it is just WAY too religious for me. Prentice Hall Science Explorer - I am having a hard time evaluating this one as I can find no links that show what is inside the books. I am, however, leaning towards having the boys pick out 3-5 TOPS experiments and then getting the PH books that relate to each TOPS experiment. But that is a huge outlay of cash for something I can't look at... AHA! I found it! It is the "request sample". But apparently you have to lie and say you're a school, even though they have "homeschool" as an option. Exploration Education - I could tell right away from the Demo this wouldn't work. WAY too schooly and polished. Also looks like it teaches to a test instead of understanding. I really prefer more hands-on in the form of books instead of computer time too. The boys already do Teaching Textbooks on the computer and play Runescape until about 3am, so I don't think they need more time inside on the computer. Sonlight Science - We already have many of the books Sonlight suggests for 1+2 and 5, and I really disagree with segreggating the girls from the boys - my boys need to know about girls menstruation, pregnancy and body changes as much as they do their own. I really don't think we need much sex ed anyway as we have been talking about sex from a very early age as it comes up. Also the Jason DVDs look good, but again, I don't need them on the computer MORE. :) I might pick up a book or two from their selections though, unless I go with something else. Glencoe Science - This looks like another public school textbook thing? Since I can't find samples, I'm going to guess this is just like Prentice Hall? TOPS - I am really leaning towards having the boys pick out 5 of these and I'll get some PH/Glencoe books and just read to them while they play Runescape. I like the simple format, the use of everyday (though maybe not here in Mexico :)) materials and the experimental nature of the material. It seems to be easy to read and understand also. Beautiful Feet History of Science - We actually, thanks to Sonlight, have many of these books. And there are no experiment books. But (oh, how my grammar suffers online) if we didn't have the books I would definitely get many of the books in this series, and I will probably pick up a couple books we don't have. Galore Park Science - We're leaning towards the Latin Prep I and II (need to find out how long each book should last) and this would fit well but I have no idea what the books are like. Sigh. I wish there was some way to explore the books so I could decide. I'm guessing something like PH and Glencoe but without all the tests? You can download samples from the publisher - Here is Science 1 Looking at the product, it seems really engaging. Here is Book 2 Does anyone have any input? I'm really leaning towards the TOPS + something else for all 4 and the girls will absorb whatever from the boys' experiments. Also, I hope this has helped the OP also, I included the links so she could explore on her own.

That was one of the first ones I looked at and since Spectrum does not currently have samples, I relied on Rainbow. There is just too much religion for me. I don't mind a casual mention here or there, but the text is really based on religion and at one point, in order to study a subject, the text says, "let's play a game (and pretend this is real)". I'll have the boys look at it, but I think it is going to be way too religious for us. THANKS though!

Thanks again for all the advice. This is what I've decided on. Please keep in mind we're going from a radical unschooling philosphy to curriculum and I will not coerce the kids into "schoolwork" as that really goes against my parenting philosophy - we are really a very consentual household. The boys (very recently turned 12 and just turned 14) are very taken with Teaching Textbooks and are already working on lessons 1-10 of Math 7. The 14yo is on lesson 6 and the 12yo on lesson 3. I know they are most likely "behind" in math, but are grasping the concepts very quickly and completely understanding. So I don't think I need to consider any other math (and I personally LOVE math and can't wait until we get to Trig!) The girls (8 and 6) will occasionally do Math workbooks we have here and I have Singapore 1A and 1B coming. I currently have 2B, 3A and 3B, but these seem too hard so we're just doing other workbooks (they asked me to buy, the last time we were in the US) for now. I am going to do the Bravewriter program with everyone - the boys read the entire website yesterday and are really looking forward to "tea Time". :) The girls do a lot of tracing with Spanish language cursive books (they asked for) and a LOT of drawing and tracing throughout the day. We'll all do copywork and dictation together, daily. Mom included. I am giddy with anticipation over Artistic Pursuits. I am getting K-3 books 1 and 2 and 4-6 book 1. I think the boys will be excited to do both the K-3 and 4-6 and the girls will LOVE all the K-3 stuff. To be perfectly honest, I expect to be doing all the work alongside them. Unfortunately, I have to know exactly what we are going to be ready for all year as I get but one chance to purchase materials (when we go to the US this fall). Do you think that kids who draw all day and love drawing would go through more than one book a year (i.e. book 1, book 2)? My 14yo wants to learn Latin and I'm still deciding between Galore Park and another that escapes me. We'll be doing Latin together. I have just started the Science research, but am looking into TOPS (the 14yo wants to do experiments), Real Science, Science Explorer, Sonlight Science, Beautiful Feet, History of Science, Apologia (briefly looked and it looks really "schooly"), Exploration Education, Glencoe, Prentice Hall (looks really schooly), Galore Park. Ugh. The list is overwhelming. I'm leaning towards TOPS as it is all experiment-based and that is what he is wanting to do, but are concepts covered also? Does this sound like too much for a family which has been radically unschooling since day 1?

If it helps, my kids are RARELY sitting next to me when I read. The boys are playing Runescape or the girls or playing Polly Pockets or whatever. It is only in bed that they are quiet and still. They all seem to get the story (I frequently interrupt the story with questions) and will read on their own without any prompting from me. Last night my 14yo was playing Runescape, watching a movie on another window (of his computer), talking to his brother and listening to the book I was reading him. At least ONE male in the family can multitask! :)

wow! Maybe I got it mixed up with another one. I'll probably never know as I've been looking at a bazillion programs from Art to Math so I'll rescind my statement and look again. Well, I'm looking at Pandia Press and that is NOTHING of what I remembered so I've obviously confused Real Science with a Christian-based science program. So sorry for the confusion! This is driving me crazy - I think I remember the website, it was blue background and a picture of the family and it was definitely science. Oh, I think my brain is full. AHA! I FOUND IT!!! Rainbow Science. (sheesh!) :) I love the story-like format of the program but it is just way too religious for me.

Somewhere there is a link that gives you the first 10 lessons free. I only saved the link for Level 7. My boy who HATED math really did NOT like the demo lessons but he is finding the Level 7 lessons "quite intriguing". Here is the link to Level 7 (but somewhere here there is a link to Algebra and beyond). http://d30063190.purehost.com/free/Math7.htm

I am REALLY excited by this program. I thought I was ok without any program as my kids are ALWAYS drawing, but I am just in love with the program. Honestly, I don't care if *they* love it - I'll have fun doing the stuff. It would be too cool to have a website to share all the artwork from each lesson. I just might do that on mine (http://www.hopalog.com). There is apparently one art supply store at our closest town and I'll have to see if they have the materials. Otherwise we'll have to wait until we head up to the US and stock up on stuff to get materials. I haven't exactly decided which should do which level; I have a (brand new) 14yo, 12yo, 8yo and 6yo. Both the 8 and 6yo's will be a year older in the fall. I think I'll get Book 1 of K-3, 4-6 and the next level, just to be prepared. I'm really looking forward to this! (unfortunately, I have a long wait as we won't even receive the book until September or so)

I really liked the Real Science samples on their website and really liked the course, but the God stuff was just too much. I can usually deal with some God stuff but Real Science, well, it is overwhelming.

I gave that battle up when I saw how my eldest blossomed with TT and had been HATING math previously. I LOVE math and really hoped he'd find the same love, but no matter what we did he hated it. He now happily does a lesson (including practices and exercises) in 1-2 days time and REALLY GETS IT. That's enough for me.

thank you so much! I'm really leaning towards Bravewriter myself and just posted a WTB in the purchasing forums. Thank you all so very much!

THANK YOU, whomever recommended Brave Writer! This looks like something I can do with all 4 and would fit our lifestyle very well. I had investigated the subscription side of the project yesterday and rejected it, not realizing there was another side. So, again, thank you! http://www.bravewriter.com I am now looking at the Lively Art of Writing.

Thank you, I'll add it to the list. :) I've never used anything to teach the kids reading; they all have learned on their own. I'm sure the 8yo will do the same - the 6yo really enjoys Headsprout so that's why she is doing that. With the Sonlight literature, we do a LOT of reading, and she does a LOT of writing (very Waldorfish in timeline) and so far exhibits no dyslexia so I'm content letting her come to it in her own time. What sort of Montessori games would you recommend? I'm always up for a non-rigid recommendation. :)

I thought I had yesterday (I spent the ENTIRE day looking at Math, Grammar and Writing) but apparently I missed it. Thank you! I am simply overwhelmed with all these choices! I certainly had no idea when my eldest was a 5yo... :) I am happy, however, to have nailed down Math and turned my math-hating 14yo into a Math-enduring 14yo. The other day he remarked, "I loathe to admit that I am finding the material quite intriguing." I LOVE math, so this is quite joyous for me.

Thank you. What is the difference between Prep and "So you really want to learn..."? I visited the Galore Park website (they are having a sale until July 31) but am not finding that information. Thanks so much!