double post - sorry!

My ds really likes BJU. He actually disliked Notgrass, he felt like the reading level was too simplistic and he appreciated the step up in BJU. The only year they add Easy Grammar is year 3. The writing instruction has been fine especially since he had been through Writing Strands 7 and Rod and Staff 9/10. We have absolutely loved the Bible instruction. We have felt that it has challenged him as well as laying a thorough foundation. This year he has been doing Worldview in year 3 and we have had fantastic conversations as well as feeling that it will prepare him to think critically and handle some of the challenges in college. I also have really liked the integration between History, English and Bible. It has helped him make connections and see a bigger picture. Overall, we have been very pleased and are looking forward to our twins entering the program in a year.

Just because I am a Curriculum Junkie and I like to know what's out there, anybody seen HOD's new first year of high school? Curious minds want to know! And no, I am not planning on switching from MFW to HOD. I like the classical structure of MFW and it has worked well for us.

Oh, my ds says it doesn't. Sorry!

MFW's year three includes Worldview. They include "Thinking Like a Christian", "Assumptions That Affect Our Lives" and several others. My ds also went to Summit Ministries this year which is a two week Worldview Camp and is absolutely amazing. We have also done The Truth Project. Having my ds go through theses Worldview courses makes me more comfortable with the thought of him going off to college. At least I know he has been taught to think critically. Everyone has a worldview and it has taught him to look for those Worldviews and evaluate them. We have tried to be very careful in not creating a child who is judgemental but one who knows what he believes and why.

My ds is doing the AP Comp Sci book from Barrons but there is also a class through PA Homeschoolers.

Have you checked out CodeAcademy ? That's what my ds swears by.

Bare Minerals has worked well for me. I changed over a year ago and my skin cleared up and it feels light on.

The Scarlet Letter Godel, Escher, Bach Schrodinger's Kitten and the Search for Reality and to be able to talk to some of his friends, The Hunger Game series.

I am a fairly rigorous Homeschooler but that's because it is who I am and what my children thrive on. They thrive on the challenge and generally excel. They all have goals that include STEM majors and because of that we have structured our homeschool accordingly. One of the great benefits if homeschooling is the ability to tailor our children's education to what they need. If your children thrive on the education you are giving them and it fits the goals they have for themselves then I firmly believe you are doing what you are supposed to.

Thinking Like A Christian. We also sent our son to a 2 week Worldview Camp at Summit Ministries which was amazing. www.summit.org Oh and I really love how MFW has it integrated into year 3 of High School.

Thanks Gwen. That was really helpful!

My ds wants to apply to MIT and they require a math and a science Subject test. He thinks he also wants to apply to Cambridge and that needs an English Subject test.

Help! I need some advice! I am assuming that it is a better to plan to have my ds take the SAT on a different day than the subject tests. To apply to some of the schools my ds wants, he needs to take 3 subject tests. Should those be scheduled on the same day? I was planning on him doing some APs but is it better to do SAT subject tests?

When I was 5, I wanted a Holly Hobbie Easy Bake Oven but I knew it was too expensive for my family so I wrote Santa and refused to tell anyone what I had asked for. Of course, I didn't get my Easy Bake Oven and my belief in Santa was shattered. Forward 20+ years, my dh found and bought the exact Easy Bake Oven and gave it to me. One of my favorite presents ever! When my dd wanted an Easy Bake Oven, I bought her one for Christmas and she was thrilled. We made homemade mixes and she used it for about a year before transitioning to the real oven. It was worth every penny. Buy her the Easy Bake, not for practicality, but for the joy on Christmas morning.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell comes to mind.

But if they already have the originals they might want the new ones. I know we own all the different versions.

I might be a snob but this is by far my favorite tea - Snowflake with Natural Bliss Creamer. http://www.englishtealeaves.com/flavored-teas.html

No popcorn ceiling now, thank goodness! This week we tried baking eggs for boiled eggs and it turned out great. 325 for 25 min and then popped in cold water. My oven was already hot from bread so it was so easy to put the eggs in a cupcake tin and pop them in the oven. Much easier than paying attention to them boiling on the stove and the shells peeled over really easily!

My ds is gifted and we use MFW for Bible, History & English with some other reading assigned from Memoria Press. Math has been LOF, AoPS. Khan Academy and some Great Courses. Science has been Apologia with extra reading. Spanish - Homeschool Spanish Academy Henle Latin 1 Piano Karate Memoria Press Logic 1&2 and now Art of Argument The best thing for him so far has been reading,"How to be a High School Superstar". It helped us structure his time to follow his passion which has been Computer Science. He has programmed robots to work with SCRATCH, flew to Barcelona to speak to Computer Science Educators on his program, now is developing e-textiles with a friend, and daily corresponds with Computer Science Professors and educators. This has not been my plan but his. We have said, " What do you need and how can we help you?". This has been wonderful and a definite God send.

This is what I use. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/overnight-oatmeal-recipe/index.html In the morning, I put blueberries on the bottom of my bowl and put the oatmeal over it which cooks the blueberries. I also use the leftover oatmeal in bread which is fantastic.

I'm in! I once drove 18 hours to hear SWB speak. I would be willing to help!

Dd12 - give me real sausage every day, buy real bacon instead of turkey and let me read any book I want. Ds12- Real sausage and let me have a Merry Un-Birthday every day. Ds15- I refuse to answer because it might have negative repercussions.

My ds is taking a textbook Physics course but he loves to read and has read several of these books but there were several we weren't aware of, so I put them on hold at the library. I think this list could also round out a more traditional a Physics class nicely. Thank you for all your hard work!

Bought ours today! Woohoo!